Reflections with Paul Dini on CBR

Thanksgiving is over, though its leftovers remain. Black Friday, with its traffic jams and “you take that and I’ll cut you” mentality, is past, though the bruises and scratches remain. And now you are either finished trimming the house or still putting it off until the last moment possible. After all that, don’t you deserve an early present?

While your loved ones may sneer and change the combination to the safe’s lock to keep the presents hidden, Paul Dini has something festive right up your alley.

This week, Dini’s Christmas-themed creation Jingle Belle returns in a new Top Cow one-shot that could only be called “Jingle Belle: Santa Claus Vs. Frankenstein.” Sounds like the perfect present, no? READ MORE.

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Mark Millar documentary

PART 1

can't see the video click here.

PART 2

can't see the video click here.

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Girls Entertainment Network interviews JINGLE BELLE artist Stephanie Gladden

Continued from Part One of the Dinicartoons interview …

WITA: Hey there!

Stephanie Gladden: Hey, Stephanie, nice to meet you!

WITA: To begin, tell us about yourself and your art, Stephanie. What made you get into drawing as a line of work, and what attracted you to comics?

Gladden: Well, according to my family, I’ve been drawing since I was two and a half years old, so my artistic career was inevitable. I’ve been a fan of comics since I was about five. I liked them so much I wanted to draw them as well as read them.

WITA: As a character artist at Cartoon Network, what shows are you presently working on and what have you had the most fun with in your experience there? What creation would you say you are most proud of, personally?

Gladden: Actually, I work as a character artist for Cartoon Network’s licensing department in Atlanta. There I draw art for products and advertising. I don’t work on the actual shows, although I do collaborate with the shows’ creators. I’ve drawn for The Powerpuff Girls, Foster’s Home for Imaginary Friends, and Billy & Mandy, to name a few. READ MORE.

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Girls Entertainment Network talks to JINGLE BELLE writer Paul Dini

I’m really honored to get the chance to talk with you, Paul! Thanks for taking the time. I’m a big fan of yours. But on to the questions! First let’s talk about your creation, Dinicartoons, which you’re bringing to Top Cow. What exactly is Dinicartoons, and how did it get started? What made you decide to incorporate it into the Top Cow line-up?

Paul Dini: Hey, Stephanie—wow, two Stephanies! How often does that happen? Nice to talk to you, too.
I had a really good experience with Top Cow on MADAME MIRAGE and we both agreed it would be fun to work on other projects together. Dinicartoons is the overall title for a new line of books that, like MIRAGE, are original creations of mine. Some of the characters come from other books I’ve published elsewhere, like JINGLE BELLE or MUTANT, TEXAS; others are brand-new creations. READ MORE.

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WEEK OF TOP COW: Marc Silvestri

In 1992, Marc Silvestri founded Top Cow Productions, Inc., one of six studios that comprised the newly formed independent publisher, Image Comics. Silvestri’s “Cyberforce” was one of Image’s launch titles, and it started off the fledging Top Cow with a bang. Eventually, strayed away from its superhero roots to create what have since become the pillars of the company, “The Darkness” and “Witchblade,” which also facilitated a rise to prominence of the late, great Michael Turner, just one of the many young artists Top Cow helped develop.

Top Cow has spearheaded pioneering initiatives like Pilot Season, whereby the publisher releases a selection of one-shots featuring new or underused characters, and readers will vote via MySpace to determine which title will graduate to ongoing series. Top Cow has also found great success in other media, with projects like “The Darkness” video game, the “Witchblade” anime, and the film adaptation of Mark Millar and J.G. Jones’ “Wanted."

READ MORE.

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Paul Dini spotlights Jingle Belle on Newsarama

EDITOR'S NOTE: Newsarama is hosting writer Paul Dini as he introduces the various characters who are center stage in his new "Dinicartoons" imprint at Top Cow. The imprint kicks off with the release of Jingle Belle: Santa Claus vs. Frankenstein this Thursday, Devember 4th.

CHARACTER: Jingle Belle

FIRST APPEARANCE: Oni (Dini) Double Feature #13

In most stories Santa Claus has no children. There’s Mrs. Claus, the elves, the reindeer and that’s about it. Then about 10 years ago I started thinking, if Santa had kids in today’s modern world, what would they be like? Here’s this guy who means so much to the kids of the world, but around the house, he’s just plain dad. How does his own kid relate him, warts and all? With that in mind, the rest of Jingle Belle’s character quickly fell into place.

READ MORE.

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CBR posts previews of Top Cow titles in stores on December 4th

Top Cow has provided CBR with advance looks at new comics on sale this Thursday, December 4th (shipping is delayed one day in the United States due to the American Thanksgiving Holiday) including "Broken Trinity: Witchblade," "The Darkness" #8 and "Jingle Belle: Santa Claus Vs. Frankenstein." When you're through checking out these exciting previews, don't forget to visit CBR's Image Comics forum to discuss these Top Cow titles with fellow readers. read the previews.

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