Saturday, January 31, 2009
Comicvine Reviews Witchblade #124
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Mark Waid posts Hunter-Killer proposal on MarkWaid.com
The difference between a pitch and the next stage of the development process—a proposal—is story. A proposal must demonstrate that your pitch has “legs” by providing a more specific outline of events, additional background on the characters, and some sample plots.
As with most every document in comics, there is no “right” way to format a proposal, but I’ve found through years of experience that this is what works best for me:
Lead with the high concept, a brief but dynamic one- or two-sentence description of the idea—
—follow that with a little more detail on the bigger picture, clarifying the who, what, where, when, how and why of it all—
—next, give brief bios of the main characters—no more than a short paragraph for each, but enough about them so that whoever’s reading your proposal can have a good handle on them by the time they get to—
—the outline, a more detailed version of “the bigger picture” that walks us gradually through the series an issue or two at a time. Provided it’s interesting to read, feel free to devote about a page to synopsizing issue one, a half-page or so to issue two, and gradually less detail for the next handful of installments. At this point, you’re still in the proposal stage, so you’re walking the fine line between showing you have confidence in your ideas and revealing that you’re so in love with them that you have every page of your opus worked out nine years in advance, which frightens every editor ever. If, as you’re writing your proposal, you’re not sure of the difference, imagine buying a car. Imagine buying it from a confident, knowledgeable salesman who demonstrates its most attractive features and then lets the merchandise do the talking. Then imagine buying it from a salesman who won’t let you leave the showroom until he explains in excruciating detail exactly how the high-performance fuel injection system interfaces with the 1.6L 4cyl VTEC-E engine and insists on giving you the 82-year history of the factory that tooled the camshaft. My point is, don’t overwhelm.
Then end your document with a fitting summary/conclusion.
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Top Cow Reveals February Participating Stores for "Let Us Win YOU Over"
The “Let Us Win YOU Over” initiative is a yearlong campaign by Top Cow Productions to give out free copies of its regular comics to potential fans in the U.S. and Canada through participating comic book stores. Each month, a different set of stores, each month a different free comic. The stores vary by geography and demographics. Top Cow has partnered with ComicsPRO to bring this promotion to fans and all of the retailers are members of ComicsPRO.
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MTV.com reviews Wanted: Weapons of Fate video game
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“I should have brought you the German version,” Pete Wanat, producer of the upcoming game “Wanted: Weapons of Fate” said as he greeted me last week for a demo of his game. German versions of games tend to be tamer than their global counterparts due to that country’s content restrictions. Wanat was joking. Sort of.
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Top Cow Announces First-Ever Witchblade Annual
"I had a great time working with all the guys at Top Cow during Pilot Season, so when they asked me to pitch ideas for the Witchblade Annual, I jumped at the chance. I love what Ron Marz is doing with the book, so I tried to remain true to the tone he set," commented writer Jay Faerber.
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Midtown Comics Announces New York Comic-Con
Midtown Comics returns to New York Comic Con with a vengeance! Exclusive comic books and con activities include:
Dark Avengers #1 Exclusive Midtown Comics NYCC 2009 Adi Granov Variant Cover from Marvel Comics.
Witchblade #124 Exclusive Midtown Comics NYCC 2009 Tyler Kirkham & Stjepen Sejic Variant Cover from Top Cow.
25% Off All Graphic Novels at booth, with many NYCC guests work available.
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Thursday, January 29, 2009
GEN reviews Witchblade #124
Now that I have the entire Oprah cult glued to the screen—because they’re definitely the target audience here, of course—we can discuss a little Witchblade. The “Crown Heights” epilogue definitely proves to be an essential issue, as it leaves Sara Pezzini and Danielle Baptiste’s friendship in tatters, their world in jeopardy, and introduces the next foe by the end of the book.
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Wednesday, January 28, 2009
New Downloads
This weeks new downloads only at topcow.com.
- 1 NEW Witchblade Wallpaper
- 2 NEW avatars from Impaler and Witchblade
Wanted: Weapons of Fate Progress Report
Graze Anatomy: Sketches from Your Publisher
Comic Book Resources previews Witchblade #124
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The Quarter Bin reviews Dragon Prince #4
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Jazma Online reviews Dragon Prince #4 and Darkness #10/74
Its all in the family. A family torn apart by what they think is right or wrong. Should dragons roam free?
A young dragon just learning his way has some serious adventures ahead. The art and colors bring out the magic within these pages giving it life. It is truely an artistic delight. The dragon is a majestic sight. The artwork brings out the power in it. READ MORE.
Darkness #10/74
Jackie has become a collections man. He now works for Sovereign. How the mighty have fallen. He is a shell of his former self.
Jackie can be one sadistic mean SOB. Phil Hester writes a compelling story. Jackie's character grabs your attention. Jackie is by no means shown as a good person he does though have a way of dealing with those who are outright evil. Jackie is an anti-hero he does whatever he feels is right and to hell with the consequences. His character is one of no morals where he is concerned with doing what he thinks is right. READ MORE.
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Common Grounds spotlighted on CBR's Comics Should Be Good! blog
I’m mostly going to try to keep from the biggest names as much as possible, because, really, do I need to talk more about the awesomeness of Alan Moore, Neil Gaiman and Warren Ellis?
Here is the archive of previously featured writers.
Today we look at the unannounced second part of our two-part feature on writers named Hickman!
Top Cow's $2.99 in 2009 mentioned during FbR Episode #500
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Comic Book Review reviews The Darkness #10
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Graze Anatomy: Sketches from Your Publisher
The next couple of days will feature some sketch ideas for the crest. I hope they amuse you. This one is a Griffon to symbolize the country club, regal nature of "The Old Balls".
Comic Book Resources reviews Dragon Prince #4
Aaron Chiang's adventures continue, so I sat down with my daughter, Amanda, and we took a look at the final issue in this first (I hope) "Dragon Prince" mini series.
"I like it! Good ending," are the words my eleven-year-old Amanda had to share following her reading of this issue. Amanda liked how it ended, but wonders how the Dragon Hunter's story is going to end. Does he find a family of his own? Will we see more adventures with him? Amanda is officially curious about what happens next, moreso with the Hunter than Aaron and his family.
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Monday, January 26, 2009
Graze Anatomy: Sketches from Your Publisher
Filip Sablik posts a new Blog @Newsarama
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Best Shots reviews Dragon Prince #4
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Friday, January 23, 2009
Impaler: Comics that should be Video Games
Twilight Guardian nominated twice for CGS Best of 2008 Awards
BEST NEW HERO OR TEAM (debut in 2008)
Nick Fury's Secret Warriors (Marvel)
the Twelve (Marvel)
Julie Martin (Terry Moore's Echo)
Twilight Guardian (Top Cow)
Zorro (D.E.)
Guardians of the Galaxy (Marvel)
Bucky as the new Captain America (Marvel)
BEST SLEEPER HIT/SURPRISE (in comics)
All Star Batman and Robin (DC)
Twilight Guardian (Top Cow)
Flash Gordon (Ardden Ent)
Project Superpowers (D.E.)
Northlanders (Vertigo)
Boy Who Made Silence (AAM Markosia)
Incredible Hercules (Marvel)
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Newsarama posts Dragon Prince #4 preview
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Quarter Bin reviews The Darkness #10/74
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Graze Anatomy: Sketches from Your Publisher
Thursday, January 22, 2009
Graze Anatomy: Sketches from Your Publisher
Filip Sablik to appear at ICv2 Graphic Novel Conference
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Another online reaction to $2.99 in 2009
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Wanted nominated for two Academy Awards!
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Darkness: Lodbrok's Hand artist Michael Avon Oeming signing at Comic Stop
After the show, the festivities don’t end as The Comic Stop hosts an after party with food and drinks, prizes and more!
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Graze Anatomy: Sketches from Your Publisher
ICV2 highlights Milo Ventimiglia's Appearance at NYCC
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Tuesday, January 20, 2009
Girls Entertainment Network reviews Wanted DVD
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Graze Anatomy: Sketches from Your Publisher
Stjepan Sejic interviewed by Wizard
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Monday, January 19, 2009
Pop Culture Zoo reveals Top Cow April Solicitations
Meanwhile, the bearer of the other half of the Witchblade, Dani Baptiste, goes to the aid of one of her dance students, but is she being reckless with her power? READ MORE.
Pop Culture Shock reviews Witchblade #123
Fanboy Review reveals Top Cow April Solicitaitons
The Quarter Bin reviews Witchblade #123
Milo Ventmiglia and the Berserker crew roll into NYCC!
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Graze Anatomy: Sketches from Your Publisher
Friday, January 16, 2009
Troy Hickman begins his column on Blog@Newsarama
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Weekly Comic Book Review reviews Witchblade #123
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Comicvine reviews Witchblade #123
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Broken Frontier reviews Witchblade #123
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Graze Anatomy: Sketches from Your Publisher
Thursday, January 15, 2009
Top Cow's $2.99 in 2009 featured in Colorado Springs Gazette
Comic book shops - home to high-flying heroes and colorful adventures - appear to be weathering the economic crisis better than many retailers.
"The conventional wisdom has long been that comics do well in a bad economy in that they are relatively cheap entertainment and they're escapism," said Mike Coco, manager of Bargain Comics in downtown Colorado Springs. In fact, comics first rose to popularity during the Great Depression.
Graze Anatomy: Sketches from Your Publisher
Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Graze Anatomy: Sketches from Your Publisher
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Graze Anatomy: Sketches from Your Publisher
LA Daily News profiles Earth-2 Comics
"Since the recession challenged even the most upwardly hip comic book buyers, owners of the award-winning comic book and graphic novel boutique said they've had to work doubly hard to engage their superhero-minded clientele. "
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Monday, January 12, 2009
Filip Sablik hosting Publishing panel at New York Comic-Con
Self-Publisher Secrets
3:15 – 4:15 Learn about self-publishing your comics by people who have become publishers. Some success stories…and some not so successful stories. Hear what to do, what to avoid…and much more!
Featuring:
Host: Filip Sablik – Top Cow
Darren Sanchez – After Hours Press
Sean O'Reilly – Arcana Studio
Ross Richie BOOM! Studios
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Graze Anatomy: Sketches from Your Publisher
The real winners in the movie though were of course Tom Cruise and Robert Downey Jr. Those guys really elevated the movie to higher comedic genius.