MIKE PELLERITO, was recently named the new Managing Editor of Archie Comics. In addition to looking over the Archie universe he also editÃs some of Archie Comics most popular titles,
This column came about after having very few avenues to promote and find out about All Ages and Younger Reader Comics and Graphic Novels. Most knowledge seems to be passed along by word of mouth, so this is in the sprit the column is written. Now, sit back and join in the conversation!
To learn more about any of the above-mentioned projects please visit Archie Comics.com
What Time is it!
Is it that time already??
What the heck is going on lately, it feels like we hit warp drive and time is flying by faster than ever. It must be NY Comic Con time. Lots of people will be there if last year was any indication. Saturday the fire marshals shut the place down for a bit, turned away throngs of people. This year has the same kind of hype and now thankfully, twice the space. Also, come to the Archie Comics Booth #985 to meet many of your favorite Archie Comics creators and staff then join us on Sunday February 25th at 2:00 PM in room 1E04 for: 65 Years of Growing up with Archie.
Yours truly will be there the entire show, although Sunday you may find a certain editor/columnist sleeping in a corner. However before any napping takes place we have to discuss the pain of the con. Unfortunately, the most brilliant idea of marketing ever, thought up by yours truly, was shot down. Hopefully someone will use it one day, giving proper credit to the genius that thought it up. Rather than bore you with the details again, you can reread it here: Promotions With Punch!-Tuesday, October 17
The short version, readers of comics, even the friendly world of all ages comics can get upset with an editor. Having been physically threatened several times by readers much bigger and sometimes older than this kind editor can certainly tell you. So, the original idea was one reader each day of the convention after passing a series of tests could get the opportunity to punch said editor in the stomach. Really. After someone pointed out that that is how Houdini, brilliant escape artist and all around tough guy died, we moved on to the next option. Which is of course equally brilliant. A dunk tank. You know one of those things at carnivals and fairs, where you throw something at a target, and if you hit the target the person falls into a tank of water. Of course the person in the position to be dunk gets the opportunity to talk all sorts of trash, clean cut of course, at the people who wonder by.
Many people at the office seemed to like the idea, a lot. The lawyers, not so much. Meaning, no Archie Comics dunk tank this year. You have to admit that is loyalty to a product. As of yet no one has picked up on this idea somewhere else. It is perfect too, since Sonic The Hedgehog hates water! Note to self, contact friends at SEGA. So anyway what is a comic con you may ask? How, who what where and when?
A comic book convention is a large gathering of the people who make comics, sell comics and love comics. It is open to the public and there are hundreds of cons across the country and worldwide. You can meet artists, writers, editors, and publishers plus people in general who dig comics. Usually prizes and contests are going on, panels discussion, everything from the business side of comics to the creators of the comics you love fielding questions from you. The typical con can range in size. As mentioned previously, New York Comic Con last year had to hold off from letting people in for a few hours due to some concerns of the NYC Fire marshals. So figure tens of thousands on the big side and a few hundred people with smaller conventions Last year was a blast and lead directly to this column on this website. Originally the hope was someone would take the idea and concept and write a great column on All Ages comics. Similar to getting punched in the stomach or dropped in freezing water over and over again as people throw things at you. This column is just as tough to write as either of those tasks sometimes, but hopefully, and ultimately, for your pleasure. Things worked out in such a way that Archie comics was happy to help the All Ages genre and allow one of it’s editors to go out there and extol the virtues of Archie and the entire industry.
This year's Con looks more impressive in size and scope. Archie Comics will be giving out over 30,000 copies of ARCHIE #572, at the door, featuring the great story of Betty becoming a racecar driver. The Indy 500 was this past weekend, so the timing is perfect. Several All Ages creators contacted us about all the promotion that issue received, and one pointed out that Betty was a bit too young to be racing pro. Granted, but besides Betty who would you actually to be a good racecar driver? Jughead would stop for Hotdogs, Reggie would go crusin’ for girls, Archie would probably crash in some spectacular fashion (getting detention of course) and Veronica wouldn’t want to mess up her make-up, and have her butler drive. Actually Fernando Ruiz, who penciled the cover, Stan Goldberg who penciled the story, and Bob Smith who inked the whole thing, and Victor Gorelick who edited the whole thing (actually yelled to draw faster the whole time) will all be there signing autographs at he booth. Each one of those guys is incredibly talented and even friendlier.
We have quite a few creators at the Archie booth and walking around the show. Here is a partial list...
Terry Austin
Tana DelRio
Stan Goldberg
Dan Parent
Andrew Pepoy
Fernando Ruiz
Bob Smith
Patrick Spaziante
Also, on display is some Top Secret material from the new look Betty & Veronica that has been cover in newspapers, Blogs, TV shows, magazines and everything in between. The first issue of that by the way is Betty & Veronica Double Digest #151, on sale May. While you are checking out the B&V material, ask for your free Archie poster, featuring your favorite band, THE ARCHIES! And don’t forget the free giveaways! Lots of cool stuff. Already have one of those posters on the office wall. We also received the below email from John Gallagher, All Age creator and some info about his organization Kids Love Comics, who will be at Booth #939:
Kids Love Comics, a collection of all-ages creators and publishers promoting literacy through graphic novels, is gearing up for next week's New York Comic-Con, the first stop in a year of spreading the word on the power and magic of the comic art form. And just in time for Valentine's Day, many of the creators' sites house hidden Kids Love Comics collectors cards, which can be traded in for a signed and limited print at the New York Comic-Con. artlink: Sky-Dog Comics.com Appearing at Booth 939 (KLC/Sky-Dog Booth) at NYCC will be:
JIMMY GOWNLEY, award-winning creator of Amelia Rules, offering up his newly reprinted color Amelia Graphic novels, featuring the super cool kid with an attitude, Amelia McNBride.
(www.ameliarules.com)
MARK MCKENNA, an artistic inking force in the world of comics, will be unveiling his first all-ages character, Banana Tail, about a monkey who loves bananas so much; he starts to turn into one! Mark will have FREE Banana Tail coloring books for the first 50 attendees.
(www.ameliarules.com)
JOHN GALLAGHER, creator of Buzzboy, the "World's Coolest Super
Sidekick!" Gallagher will be handing out FREE Frank CHO Buzzboy poster, depicting the cover to the upcoming Buzzboy: Sidekicks Rule! #3
(www.skydogcomics.com)
JANE FISHER, writer/creator of WJHC, the tale of a teen-run radio station and the fun hi-jinks that ensue. A native Long Islander, Fisher will be offering up both WJHC graphic novels at the show.
(www.wjhc.com)
RICH FABER, another mainstream comics inker (and NYCer) joins the all-ages creators with the Roboy Red sketchbook, featuring a behind the scenes look at the upcoming Roboy GN.
(www.roboyred.com)
Each of these creators websites (as well as the www.kidslovecomics.com site) feature printable KLC character cards-- anyone collecting and handing in at least four of the cards will receive a limited edition, signable print featuring all 6 KLC cards. All creators will be on hand to sign comics show off sneak peeks, and meet the ever growing all-ages fans, including parents, librarians, and educators! See you there!
Contact info: John Gallagher
Sky-Dog Press
john@sky-dog.com
Next Tuesday not quite sure what we’ll have, certainly a little bit about originality, inspiration, imitation and what is truly flattery and what is just someone who can’t keep up. Plus, some big news on the All Ages news front! Then Tuesday after that the Con wrap up! Hopefully we will have all recouped by then! Keep you fingers crossed nobody decides to punch this editor in the stomach despite the promotions with punch idea getting shot down! If any of the readers of this column, or All Ages creators and friends of the genre is at the con please, come by! Send your thoughts and projects you’d like to see reviewed to: mikep@silverbulletcomicbooks.com
Check out some new All Ages reads on sale this week:
DEC063309 ARCHIE & FRIENDS #107 $2.25
DEC063314 BETTY & VERONICA SPECTACULAR #77 $2.25
JUN063364 BUZZBOY SIDEKICKS RULE #2 $2.99
DEC063538 PS238 #20 $2.99
DEC063422 SIMPSONS COMICS #127 $2.99
DEC063319 SONIC THE HEDGEHOG #172 $2.25
DEC063324 TALES FROM RIVERDALE DIGEST #18 $2.49
NOV060020 SOCK MONKEY THE INCHES INCIDENT #3 (OF 4) $2.99
DEC060255 KRYPTO THE SUPER DOG #6 (OF 6) $2.25
DEC060259 SCOOBY DOO #117 $2.25
DEC062325 MARVEL ADVENTURES AVENGERS #10 $2.99
DEC062390 MARVEL ADVENTURES FLIP MAGAZINE #22 $4.99
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