Comic Book Candy

Return to Wizard World: Nerd Organizer Panel

noreply@blogger.com (Comic Book Candy) — Wed, 19 Aug 2015 21:21:00 +0000

In addition to being a panelist on the Star Wars Fan Panel, I will also take part in the So You Want to Be a Nerd Organizer Panel at Wizard World Chicago this coming Saturday. The best part about being invited to speak on this panel is that I have plenty to share, but much more to learn. It will be as informative for me as the audience!

I am most looking forward to hearing from other organizers about their successes, struggles, what they have learned, and what they plan to do in the future. There are a ton of amazing nerdy organizations here in Chicago; it can be tough to gain momentum while planning events for specific groups. In my case, moderating events for Graham Crackers Comics Ladies' Night also comes with the double duty of being Editor-in-Chief of Ladies' Night Anthology. I cannot wait to walk away from this panel with more ideas for tackling community planning and event organizing. If you are interested in starting your own group, or volunteering (we all need help!), please join us on Saturday at Wizard World Chicago for this panel.

Saturday, August 22nd at Wizard World Chicago
So You Want to Be a Nerd Organizer Panel 3:30-4:15
Room 14

Whether you’re starting a podcast, a meet-up group, an online community, a con, a magazine, or a social movement, being a nerdy organizer of any kind means figuring out a lot of logistics. How do you choose who to work with? Where do you get started? How do you implement rules? How do you choose guests? On this panel, nerd con runners, community organizers, editors, and producers will share their experiences and advice about what's worked, and what hasn't.

For anyone who wants to Tweet about this panel, please use the hashtag #NerdOrganizer.

This panel sponsored in part by the Chicago Nerd Social Club

Panelists include:
Megan Byrd (Graham Cracker Comics Ladies Night),
Sondra de Jong (Nebula Awards Chicago, Capricon),
Tanya DePass (I Need Diverse Games),
Thomas Glen (ValorCon),
Matthew Peters (Mighty Ink Comics),
Michi Trota (Uncanny Magazine)

Return to Wizard World Chicago: A Star Wars Fan Panel

noreply@blogger.com (Comic Book Candy) — Tue, 18 Aug 2015 02:59:00 +0000

Eleven years ago this summer, I attended my first ever comic book convention. Wizard World Chicago 2004 was an overwhelmingly positive experience. Up until that point, I had enjoyed comics in a very isolated manner. Though many of my friends enjoyed nerdy things, very few read comic books. The summer before college, I vowed to "find my people" by finally attending a comic book convention.

I easily found a place within the comic book community at Wizard World. I met dozens of my favorite comic book creators, bought lots of comics, commissioned sketches in artist alley, and of course attended panels. Over the next several years, I would attend many more conventions as a fan, retailer, and cosplayer. Wizard World would still happen every August in Chicago, but I stopped attending as regularly. Like old friends that fell out of touch, my memories remained fond, even as the gaps between visits grew longer.

A little over a decade since my first time attending, I am happy to return to Wizard World Chicago this year and experience it anew once again as a panelist. One panel will see me discussing my experience as a nerd organizer, while the other will be about my experience as a lifelong Star Wars fan. The best part is that unlike my early years as a comic fan, this will be a decidedly social affair that you can join as well!

Saturday, August 22nd at Wizard World Chicago
Star Wars Fan Panel 4:30-5:15
Room 14
In four months, we will live in a world enlightened by the existence of Star Wars Episode VII! In preparation, we invite you to a panel dedicated to all things Star Wars. Professional nerds will challenge the crowd with Star Wars trivia, discuss the significance of Star Wars culture, and speculate on the future of living in a galaxy far, far away!

Tony Kim will be moderating the panel, and I will be a guest along with musician and sometimes Wookie bellydancer Dawn Xiana Moon, ValorCon organizer Thomas Glen, and creator Ed Siemienkowicz.

Come to the panel. Or do not come. There is no try.

Ladies' Night Anthology Vol. 2: Death & Prom

noreply@blogger.com (Comic Book Candy) — Wed, 21 May 2014 20:27:00 +0000

If I have learned one thing in my experience as an editor of Ladies' Night Anthology, it is that making comics takes time. So much time, in fact, that it leaves few opportunities to actually write about comics (let alone read them). My blogging has slowed down significantly over the last year and I apologize; it has been too long. But if you are wondering what I have been up to lately besides life stuff in general, this might give you a hint:

It is not just the theme that has us filled with a sense of dread; our fundraising deadline is looming and we are still short of our goal. You only have until midnight today to support these independent creators! Even if you are unable to monetarily support our efforts, signal boosts are free and much appreciated. Here are a few previews to whet your appetite for the bloody, sweet, and sensational stories to come from Ladies' Night Anthology Vol. 2: Death & Prom. If you're ready to crown this anthology prom queen, head over to our indiegogo now!

Death & Prom cover by Sarah Benkin (final artwork pending)

"Daddy Issues" By Wendi Freeman, art by Sarah Benkin

"Satan" By Kris Mackenzie, art by Brianna Parker

"Dead Technology" by Lisa Kwon

"Suitable" by Summer Sparacin, art by Alice Urbino

“Waxing Sanguine” by Rachel Simon, art by Emily Rosen

"Night of the Living Mallory" By Raven Moore, art by Ali Gator

Death & Prom print and tote bag design by Anissa Espinosa

And there's plenty more where that came from! With 60 plus pages of content, this barely scratches the surface of what is to come. $2 gets a digital copy and $10 and up gets you a physical copy of the anthology. Back our indiegogo while you still can!

What Mark Millar Doesn't Get

noreply@blogger.com (Comic Book Candy) — Tue, 13 Aug 2013 03:42:00 +0000

Could fill a lot more than one blog post as proven by Millar's recent tone-deaf comments concerning depictions of rape versus violence within his work. But two very different views of one comic in particular may shed a little light on what Millar and many more still don't get.

A few years ago when I still worked full time at Graham Crackers Comics, a lot of our time was spent talking about comics. A shocking pastime for comic shop employees, I know. We talked about what we liked more often than what we didn't, though we would oblige any customer that asked for our honest opinion (haunted vaginas and pentagram boob tassels - apparently there is a place in the world of comics for books like Tarot). Healthy debates about the merits of comics and creators thrived. Was the work of Alan Moore still the benchmark to which we compared the best of the best superhero titles? Was the ending of Final Crisis satisfying for anyone? Are there really readers out there that have read and disliked Preacher?

Top sellers were sure to be discussed, especially if they were receiving an upcoming movie adaptation. Casual readers would come into the store looking for these books and with their curiosity comes a lot of questions. When Mark Millar and J.G. Jone's Wanted was adapted for the big screen, the trade paperback was re-released with a special movie variant cover. We saw a lot of those books cross our counter, with Anegelina Jolie's photoshop disaster worthy manipulation gracing every cover. Much like its poster, the film bares little resemblance to the source material, so any time customers would ask about the comic, we'd be sure to let them know that it does not include a society of ancient weaver assassins. This is a story where the bad guys win and the protagonist never makes the leap from villain to anti-hero as the trajectory of the book implies.

Poor J.G. Jones did not draw these tangled human appendages

In one of our Tuesday morning discussions, a co-worker of mine asked what I thought of Mark Millar and I said that I enjoyed his licensed character work for Marvel and DC, but found his original concepts often had questionable uses of violence, particularly sexual violence. It felt like there was no editor sending feedback challenging these choices, so every ill advised decision made it into the final story. It's such a prevalent trend in his work that it makes one think that Millar's Civil War might have been a very different story without a PG-13 constraint. The conversation shifted to Wanted and I said that I found it greatly disturbing how Millar used rape in the story. My co-worker looked at me a bit puzzled and said, I don't remember there being a rape in that book. Think about that for a minute. The main character rapes someone and it is forgotten.

I refreshed my co-worker's fuzzy memory and reminded her of the brief use of rape in the story. After having discovered that he is the son of one of the world's most prominent super villains, the main character decides to embrace his legacy by embarking on a crime spree. He then complains to a fellow character that he is disappointed his rape of a movie starlet didn't make the evening news. It's a brief moment in the book, and the rape is not depicted. It is a flippant remark that readers like my co-worker (and many more I'm sure) would have read and quickly forgotten. Imagine how different the Wanted film would have been had James McAvoy's character bragged to Angelina Jolie about raping someone.

Millar has attempted to justify his use of rape within comics as a means to demonstrate the truly depraved nature of evil characters. But clearly this lazy insertion of rape as plot device had the exact opposite of intended consequences for Millar and the audience; readers could literally forget it even happened in Wanted. The only part about this interaction that feels authentic is that no one in the story is phased by this information. Mark Millar doesn't see the difference between rape and decapitation, so why should his characters?

No matter what terrible thing a creator makes a character do in a story, it is a decision made by the creator. Context matters as much as the actions depicted, and the frequency of said actions within the real world cannot be disregarded. If a person is mutilated in front of a crowd of people, there will be no debate as to whether the victim "wanted it". A victim of gun violence will not first be asked if they were drinking, by themselves, or what they were wearing. Women don't often worry about a drunk acquaintance attempting to cut off their head.

Sorry Mr. Millar but you might not know the difference between rape and decapitation, but 1 in 6 of your female readers know the difference all too well. I couldn't find any statistics on the prevalence of decapitation, though your readers with first hand experience in that area are most assuredly non existent.

The Death of Blogging: Long Live The Hivemind

noreply@blogger.com (Comic Book Candy) — Mon, 05 Aug 2013 03:05:00 +0000

As of late, readers may have noticed our absence from the world of comic book blogging. But visits to our tumblr, facebook, or twitter pages will reveal a different narrative. I recently provided photography coverage at San Diego Comic Con for the Comics Beat, a leading comic book news website. Soon we will begin a regular monthly column focused on the world of comic book retail, Sell It Like It Is, for Woman Write About Comics. In other words, despite appearances here on the homefront, we're busier than ever blogging about comics.

It is a little sad, but the one woman operation blogs have been on the decline for quite some time. I think I joined the comic blogging community right at the beginning of the end, when the growth of one's audience still depended more on the content than the place it was posted. With the rise of more interactive and timely platforms like tumblr and twitter, comic book blogging is still content driven, but depending on the outlet, some signals get a much larger boost than others. If people aren't reading the feed so to speak, blogging on a platform with a dwindling community yields smaller returns than say posting to tumblr. There are still plenty of homes for longform comic book essays and reviews, but more often bloggers are joining forces to form collectives. Over at Women Write About Comics, the success of their past blog carnivals showed that joining forces not only extended the scope of conversations on a single topic, but they brought a whole lot more eyeballs, too. In this sense, the rise of group blogs (or resurgance considering the once popular LiveJournal communities) is a good thing for fostering more in depth analysis of topics within comics.

Splitting ones' own thoughts up amongst the hive mind of various social media platforms feels both repetitious and fractured at times, but we will do our best to compile our internet footprint here at home. We'll start with our San Diego Comic Con coverage at the Comics Beat:

SDCC13: Thursday Photo Gallery

Tons of cosplay, crowd images, toys, and more; we were really overwhelmed by the convention on our first day. It's a lot to take in, especially for a sleep deprived first timer like myself.

SDCC13: Friday Photo Gallery Part 1

By Friday I had really found my stride as far as navigating the con floor and figuring out how to get the most out of the convention. I took more chances with attending signings and tried to engage in every interactive experience I could find, though I missed the Hannibal panel that I so desperately wanted to attend (I watched it online later).

SDCC13: Friday Photo Gallery Part 2

The second half of Friday was when things really got crazy and the events that transpired provided our most memorable comic con moments. I randomly ran into Grant Morrison on the street and asked him if he was cosplaying as Grant Morrison before realizing it was in fact him. Then I attended a special launch party for Petco's upcoming line of Star Wars themed pet accessories, an event that involved lots of cosplaying dogs. And to top off the day we attended the Eisner Awards, where we saw Challengers Comics + Conversation win the Spirit of Comics Retailer Award. Oh and we met Neil Gaiman. Best single day ever?

SDCC13: Saturday Photo Gallery Part 1

Saturday at Comic Con is as crazy and packed as one would imagine. Sadly, this was my last day on the con floor, so there was an added sense of panic to shoot all of the things and buy all of the gifts. We did not attend any panels, but we did get to see the cast of S.H.I.E.L.D. signing at the Marvel booth, and though we were not as close to see the cast of Captain America 2: Winter Soldier during their appearance, we will still brag that we did in fact breathe the same air as Chris Evans.

SDCC13: Saturday Photo Gallery Part 2

The end of the day and the end of our comic con experience. Plenty more cosplay photos, a picture of me looking extremely wonk-eyed next to Brandon Bird, and photos of the massive crowds leaving the convention floor.

SDCC'13 Wrap-Up: Haters, Be Quiet

"In the weeks and months leading up to the annual spectacle known as “San Diego Comic Con”, dread of this event is expressed as frequently as anticipation by attendees, professionals, and fans staying home. The cost, the planning, the con crud; these are a few of fandom’s least favorite things, and they are all mainstays of SDCC. But what about the comics, many say? Why must the news of films overshadow the beloved source material from which they came? Why should comic fans have to tolerate the droves of people only attending to get a glimpse of their favorite actors? For those that miss the comic con of yore, these are valid complaints...."

Like transporters of the future, being in many places at once (on the internet) is easier and more common than ever. We will still create original content here, but we hope you enjoy our expanded roles elsewhere, too.

Free Comic Book Day 2013: An Overview

noreply@blogger.com (Comic Book Candy) — Sun, 05 May 2013 18:06:00 +0000

Joker and Batdog hanging out in front of G-Mart

Oh boy. Who else is still recovering from the non-stop fun and insanity of Free Comic Book Day? No doubt comic book retailers are relaxing after what has quickly become one of the biggest sale days of their year. Other fans like myself that attempted to visit as many local comic shops as possible are likely feeling exhausted as well. We made it to seven stores all together and still did not get to visit every shop on our list (you can see a map of our progress here.) The newly opened Aw Yeah Comics in Skokie would have been a fun stop, as well as the downtown location of Graham Crackers Comics, and First Aid Comics in Hyde Park. Perhaps next year we will go in on a rental with friends and commit to covering more ground. Traveling an area of about 16 miles in a day doesn't sound like a lot, but to a city dweller relying on public transit carrying a large camera and an ever growing stack of free books, this was an epic odyssey of retail exploration. My shopping partner for the day was Wendi Freeman, host of the Double Page Spread podcast. We were later joined by Michelle Flamm, game designer and local cosplayer. Our first stop of the day was not a comic shop, but Hot Doug's, a well-known Chicago eatery. The delicious bacon hot dog and duck fat fries fueled us for the rest of day. Here is a rundown of all of our stops in the order we visited them. We do apologize to the later retailers as you will notice that our photo albums do become smaller and smaller throughout the day as we became more and more exhausted!

G-Mart Comics, 2641 N Kedzie Ave Chicago, IL 60647

Upon turning the corner onto Kedzie Avenue, we were excited to see the impressively long line snaked down the block for G-Mart Comics. Seeing how many people were this excited for free comics was a great way to start the day. Families, cosplayers, costumed pets, and curious pedestrians alike joined the line. Perhaps the saddest part of free comic book day is that you can go to many stores in one day, but you'll only be able to see this kind of frenzy when a store is first opening its doors to anxious customers. Once doors did open at G-Mart, staff offered a raffle ticket to each and every person for door prizes. I won the opportunity to grab 10 free Marvel Now! comics. These were books that were not part of the Free Comic Book Day event, and I was blown away by the store's generosity. Others won free trades, toys, even hardcovers. Snacks were plentiful, displays of recommendations were on every countertop, and traffic was maintained throughout our visit to ensure the store did not become over-congested. Considering how many free comics and books we walked out with, I will be sure to stop by in the next few weeks to throw more business their way. I did make one purchase while in store of Terry Moore's Rachel Rising Vol. 1. See photos of our visit here.

Challengers Comics + Conversation, 1845 N Western Ave #2R Chicago, IL 60647

Challengers had been open a few hours by the time we arrived yet it was still bustling with customers. They had two creators on hand, Jamal Igle, creator of Molly Danger, and Chris "Elio" Eliopoulos, creator of Okie Dokie Donuts. Both had created books that were being released this FCBD which means everyone could have their book signed. A few dedicated cosplayers were also on site for photographic opportunities, including a killer cross-dressing Storm, Spidey, and a Challengers themed superhero. Owners Pat Brower and Dal Bush both stated that this year's event was shaping up to be even bigger than last year, a sentiment expressed by retailers throughout the day. In addition to free comics, we also purchased Greg Rucka's Queen & Country Volume 1. See photos of our visit here.

Brainstorm Comics, 1648 W North Ave Chicago, IL 60622

This was actually our first time visiting Brainstorm, a shop known for its focus on independently created comics. They also offer video rental services, making it a bit of a hybrid comic shop. Local creator Dave Scheidt, writer of Monster Dudes, was on hand to sign copies of his comics. The set up for this shop didn't allow for as much space as the other stores we visited, so the free books were kept behind the counter and customers were able to give their requests to employees who would grab the comics for them. Plenty of original artwork was available to purchase in store as well. See photos of our visit here.

Alleycat Comics, 5304 N Clark St Chicago, IL 60640

The Andersonville neighborhood was plenty busy when we arrived at Alleycat and the store was no exception. We were pleasantly surprised to see many creators on hand, though I say surprised because there was no mention of them on the store's Facebook or Twitter pages. Maybe I've become spoiled by other local comic shops fully utilizing social media, but it does make a huge difference especially with an event like Free Comic Book Day. Like Brainstorm, the set up for free comics required customers to ask employees for the books of their choice housed behind a counter. There was still quite a large selection of books when we arrived, and we saw plenty of the more obscure kid friendly books that other stores had not opted to carry (or had already run out). See photos of our visit here.

Graham Crackers Comics in Edgewater, 5443 N. Broadway, Chicago, IL 60640

By this point in the day (it was nearly four when we arrived) the event was winding down, but it was still fairly busy for a store that does not get a lot of foot traffic. Store manager Shanna said she had even doubled her orders over last year and was still shocked by how many titles were already depleted. The store had just recently expanded their weekend hours and employees said this helped spread out some of the initial Free Comic Book Day craziness. Since this is my local comic shop that I visit nearly every week, I was less observant than some of our other store visits and realized later how few photos we took in store. But don't let that fool you, we still had a blast! See photos of our visit here.

Third Coast Comics, 6234 N Broadway St Chicago, IL 60660

Third Coast was still relatively busy when we arrived considering how late it was, though the number of comics left clearly indicated that the busiest part of the day had since passed. The store was hosting a karaoke event in the evening, and we cannot imagine how the employees maintained enough energy to continue the festivities late into the night. Two creators were still on hand, including Tom Kelly, though according to Third Coast's various social media sites there had been a rotating roster throughout the day of special guests. Each artist offered free sketches but also had prints and comics available for purchase. See photos of our visit here.

Dark Tower Comics, 4835 N Western Ave Chicago, IL 60625

The final stop of our day, Dark Tower was nearly out of free comics and their two special guests, artists Chris Burnham and Jenny Frison, had already gone for the day. Even the cosplayers left on hand looked exhausted! We so wish we could have stopped by earlier to get sketches, but were still happy to swing by and see how the day faired for the store. There were still plenty of customers milling around, which was not surprising considering the deep discounts offered on the other store merchandise. Nearly everything in store was on sale, including 50% back issues. Several stores offered sales in conjunction with FCBD, but Dark Tower had the most tempting offers. See photos of our visit here.

And that is a wrap for our Free Comic Book Day coverage! We came home with over 30 free comics, two trades that we paid for, lots of free posters, and some very sore feet. We hope you were able to make it out, but if not, perhaps coverage of this wonderful event has convinced you to mark your calendar for next year. Until the first Saturday in May of 2014, be sure to visit your local comic shops and maybe buy some books.

Free Comic Book Day 2013: Tips & Recommended Reading

noreply@blogger.com (Comic Book Candy) — Sat, 04 May 2013 15:07:00 +0000

May the 4th be with you this Free Comic Book Day (picture of Graham Crackers Comics in Edgewater during last year's FCBD)

It only comes but once a year, so be sure to set aside an hour or two today to enjoy Free Comic Book Day. It may be difficult to pry yourself away from the premiere of Iron Man 3 or Star Wars: May the 4th Be With You events; I can assure you, it is well worth doing. You would think free comics would be an easy sell but each year I meet fans that either don't know about the annual event or have never made the time to check it out. Here's a quick guide to how to get the most out of your FCBD experience.

Where do I go to obtain these "free comics"?

A good place to start! Most, but not all comic shops participate. The quickest way to find out if your store will have free comics is the FCBD store locator. Just enter your zip code and they will find the shops for you! Keep in mind that these comics are free for you, but not for the participating retailers. If you go to one store or many, try to throw some business their way while you're stopping by.

Who should I go with?

Your die hard fans will be easily convinced to join you on your trip, but one thing to keep in mind is that this event is specifically designed to engage new readers, specifically young ones. Bring your children, nieces and nephews, and those friends that keep borrowing your comics but haven't actually started buying their own yet. Every last one of them is new reader friendly as well, so whether you're looking to discover new comics to read or want to get a friend or family member hooked on comics, this is the perfect opportunity to do so.

What comics should I pick up?

Since there are so many FCBD releases, it can be hard to grab all of the comics that you want. Many stores limit each person to three comics each, so be choosey. Better yet, plan to visit a few shops to ensure you can grab all of the books you seek. Comics released by the larger companies like Marvel and DC will be abundant at each location and likely the last to run out. Be sure to grab the oddball stuff first, comics from the independent publishers, and comics with the original content. Ask the store employees for suggestions based on your current reading or what you like to watch. The cartoon tie-in comics will be the most tempting to children, but be sure to pick up something from Archaia or Top Shelf for them as well.

Recommended Reading

Here are the books we will be seeking on our FCBD outing, and we recommend you grab them if you can. Follow the link for more info and short previews as well!

Molly Danger / Princeless

Mouse Guard / Rust Flip Book

DC Nation Super Sampler #1

Top Shelf Kids Club

And a few that are not all ages friendly:

Mass Effect / Killjoys

The Walking Dead Special

The Strangers

2000 AD Special

We'll be posting photos from our adventures later today or tomorrow, so check back to see Free Comic Book Day in Chicagoland's finest comic shops. Share your favorite reads with us throughout the day on Facebook and Twitter!

Ladies' Night Anthology Volume 1: Chicago

noreply@blogger.com (Comic Book Candy) — Mon, 15 Apr 2013 04:06:00 +0000

Over the past several months, my roles as comic book fan and blogger have taken a back seat to a new position: come book collaborator. I have previously written about my role as moderator of Graham Crackers Ladies' Night, a monthly meeting of female comic book fans, but I have not devoted any time on my site to talk about the resulting comic book anthology. Ever since Hannah Chapman created the Ladies' Night event shortly over a year ago, participants kept bringing up the idea of creating our own comic. The initial concept was for it to be something the creators amongst us could work on and share with everyone and receive feedback. It didn't take long to realize what a large pool of talent we had in our group and we decided to make our project a little more ambitious. We assigned editors for each story, created deadlines for each stage of creation rather than setting a final date for completed stories, and organized workshops for writing, penciling, and lettering. My experience as editor-in-chief has also taught me to appreciate those comic book creators that are always up to date on their reading (as I have clearly fallen behind). It's hard to imagine working on more than one comic at a time, let alone more than one a month! And yet I'm not the only contributor anxious to start on volume two even though we have yet to print volume one. We're close but still have work to do including formatting final artwork for print and getting together the rewards for those that contributed to our crowd fund. This might be an eleventh hour plug, but there is still time to back the project as we are a little more than 24 hours from the end of the campaign:

GCC Ladies' Night Anthology

We're still taking pre-orders from comic book retailers and hope to raise enough to meet the minimum amount required for a price break from the printers. DIY comics, everybody! Everyone involved is just thrilled to see this thing come to fruition no matter how large or small the print run. Mark my words though, you will say many of these ladies creating comics on a larger scale in the near future. I truly believe any one of them could go on to make a name for themselves if they keep creating, and really that is the hardest part. But I've definitely got the bug for editing and may contribute a story for the next volume, so I am happy to continue supporting more opportunities for these and other creators to make comics. We're tossing around ideas for volume two now and a Star Trek zine is also in the works. We'll be sure to make more frequent updates about these endeavors as they form. Until then, keep checking back here for continued comic book blogging and you can also follow us on tumblr now where we can more easily make micro-updates and keep the long form writing on the main site. Here are a few panels from the upcoming Ladies' Night Anthology: Volume 1 Chicago. Unless specified, each artist completed all artwork and lettering:

From Ever Vigilant Art by Anissa Espinosa, words by KayPee Luczak

From Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight Art by Cynthia Bottomley, words and lettering by Jen Aprahamian

From Pre-Sliced Pickels Art by Kat Leyh, words by Hannah Chapman

From Passing Thoughts Art by Caitlin Peters, words by Kim Garvey

From Doors Closing Art by KayPee Luczak, story by Summer Sparacin

From Don't Move Art by Shay Barron, words and color by Kris Mackenzie

From Mylie and the Woman Art by Kris Mackenzie, Words by Tara Zuber

From The Vampire Hunters of Lincoln Park Art by Lisa Kwon, words by Lauren Burke

C2E2 2013: A Pre-Show Guide

noreply@blogger.com (Comic Book Candy) — Wed, 03 Apr 2013 18:39:00 +0000

Smell that? It's con season, baby. Consider your money already spent, and don't plan on getting any sun while you peruse the aisles of the large, open floors of exhibition halls. Hunt down those deals, get those autographs, and wear your most comfortable shoes. And most importantly: get your game plan together early.

C2E2 is still three weeks away, which gives you plenty of time to decide who you want to see and what you want to buy. In addition to our usual tips and tricks for conventions (see last year's guide), having attended three out of the last four years of C2E2 we have a few closely guarded secrets to share as well.

Make A List

This is always a good place to start. Write down everything and everyone you'd like to see, then prioritize because you most likely won't get to see everything. Attending the Patton Oswalt Q&A on Saturday will no doubt require a chunk of time spent standing in line. Attending the costume contest will also require careful planning. The panels have already been scheduled, so if you're not planning to go all weekend you will find that looking at the schedule will help you narrow down your day of choice as well.

Budget Yourself

Now that you know who and what you will be seeing, you can decide how you'll spend your money. Give yourself some wiggle room for impulse buys as well because you'll always find something on the con floor you can't live without. For example:

$30 for limited edition tees

$100 for sketches

$20 for food

$50 for back issues

$60 for signed picture of (insert guest television star)

$50 for impulse buys

Only bring cash if you don't trust yourself to stay on budget (and vendors always prefer cash). If your budget is modest, have no fear. One can go to a con and have just as much fun spending hundreds of dollars as those that only pay the entry fee. This is especially true of C2E2 where the programing is the real draw for many comic fans.

Get To Know Artist Alley

It's difficult to make a budget for art purchases if you don't know who will be at the show, so be sure to check ahead of time to see who will have a booth in artist alley. That way you won't be disappointed when you realize your favorite webcomic creator is in town but you didn't budget enough to purchase a print. Some of the bigger name creators will even have sketch sign ups before the actual convention which means they could potentially be all booked by the time you make your way to their table (Cliff Chiang was one such artist last year).

Start A Sketch Book

This is one piece of advice I have yet to undertake myself. Buy a nice sketchbook with thick bristol board paper, choose a theme, and pass it from artist to artist throughout convention season. For example, you could have a sketchbook that is comprised of your favorite characters eating hamburgers. Or you could create your favorite rogues gallery as teenagers. The best part is that each time you pass it to a new artist, they get to see what each artist before them has done. Once it is filled you'll have a unique and varied piece of artwork unlike anything else in your collection.

Download the C2E2 App

How many conventions have their own app? Reed Pop has clearly made interaction with con-goers a top priority. No need to carry around that multipage program (though we won't judge you if you still do), you can access the con schedule straight from your phone and stay up to date with changes as they happen. You can even plan your schedule with the app, ensuring that you won't miss a panel or signing.

Tweet Your Favorite Food Truck

As we stated in last year's guide, there are plenty of good eats around McCormick if you're willing to drive a few minutes, but if you want to stay in the immediate vicinity of McCormick, your options are limited. There is a mall-like food court and a few snack stands, but none of it does the city of Chicago justice. If you would like to see more options, contact your favorite food trucks and let them know about the show! We know at least one will be parking nearby, 5411empanadas, and we plan to tweet more of our favorite sweet and savory food vendors as well.

Plan Post Con Activities

If you have friends coming into town just for the show, know where you'd like to have dinner at the end of a busy day on the con floor. Plan a trip to the Hyatt bar to rub elbows with creators. See if anyone around town is having a Doctor Who viewing party of the new episode. Where there are cons, there are after parties.

Be sure to follow us on twitter as we'll be sharing our con schedule in the upcoming weeks! See you on the con floor.

Sure Signs That I'm Behind Reading Comics

noreply@blogger.com (Comic Book Candy) — Sun, 17 Mar 2013 19:26:00 +0000

Let's get the obvious out of the way. I have neglected to write about comics lately. One only need look at my "recent posts" to notice that they are in fact, not that recent. There was no year end wrap up, no best of 2012 list, and there is a serious lack of praise for books like Hawkeye and Mind MGMT (these titles deserve multiple posts of devotion). What has been taking up my leisure time? Why the ravenous consumption of other media! Specifically Game of Thrones.

Game. Of. Thrones. Now, the holidays are not an unusual time for a fan to fall behind on reading. Family engagements, holiday parities, gift shopping, and generally managing one's sanity before the passing of New Years can overtake favorite pasttimes like reading and blogging about comics. But what turned this seasonal absence into prolonged sabbatical was the receipt of one gift: the four book boxset of George R. R. Martin's series A Song of Ice and Fire (seen above). It's a good thing I became a comic book fan; my lack of self control could have led to far more destructive habits. But just because comics are my chosen addiction doesn't mean they can't be neglected by other obsessions. GoT took my comic loving heart and ran. The ever expanding cast of morally ambiguous characters that inhabit the world of Westoros left little room for else.

As I near the end of book four and complete watching season two of the HBO series, my pace has finally slowed enough to allow me to begin catch up on the last few months accumulation of comics. I'm not quite there, but this week I'm now current on several of my favorite titles: Saga, Hawkeye, Locke & Key, The Walking Dead, and the Buffyverse books. That still leaves me behind on quite a few titles, including (shamefully) Hellboy In Hell, Mind MGMT, Wonder Woman, Morning Glories, and many more.

I've missed reading comics, especially the community aspect I enjoy as a reader and blogger. Whether tweeting my thoughts, writing a review, or chatting about it with friends at the comic shop, I rarely read comic books in a vacuum. I can't wait to resume this shared enjoyment, and hopefully discover my next all consuming media. Maybe this time it will be a comic.

Next: Game of Thrones wasn't my only time suck these last few months. Instead of reading comics, I've also been contributing to creating one. More on Ladies' Night Anthology coming soon!

Equal Opportunity Objectification: Step In the Right Direction?

noreply@blogger.com (Comic Book Candy) — Tue, 22 Jan 2013 05:02:00 +0000

Well....Probably not. But one gaming journalist's view on a female targeted Nintendo event gives insight into what this rare role reversal looks like from the male perspective. The result? A refreshingly humorous response to what would have made many others uncomfortable.

In spite of himself, Grant Howitt seems to have enjoyed the far-from-subtle event. Nails, wine, Wii-enabled karaoke, celebrity impersonators, and a male model posing for a 3DS sketch contest. It's like the love-child of Carrie Bradshaw and Princess Peach, conceived in a Katy Perry fever dream. There aren't enough eye-rolling gifs on tumblr to express how an event like this would make me feel had I been an attendee. Yes, I enjoy having my nails done. Does that go well with a gaming event? Not if I actually want to deftly handle a controller. Singstar sure is fun, but I don't own it. WiiFit is probably the last game that I would break out amongst a group of friends. And I don't think I've ever used the sketch feature on my DS. But clearly Nintendo was aiming this event at potential customers and not established ones, what they might see as the "unlikely gamer": the girly girl. The unabashedly female.

There is a particularly resilient stereotype about female gamers only playing Nintendo, and this event is probably worse than what perpetrators envision. This would serve to feed the flames of those diligent gatekeepers of nerddom protecting the purity of the keep known as "true gaming culture". Imagine the horror! This isn't even girls playing Super Mario Brothers, this is an event attempting to convince women that gaming can be equally useful and entertaining. Singing with friends or counting calories puts gaming in the same wheelhouse as well, drinking wine and doing nails. So for their efforts, I cannot fault Nintendo. I can snobbishly claim that this is not my idea of gaming, but it is still a rare attempt to court the largely ignored female audience. For that I can be grateful.

Sex appeal was certainly a component of this event, but booth babes and beefcake are equally one dimensional and just as likely to titillate as offend their intended audience. But how often do we see men in hotpants hawking gaming hardware? It's a rare sight indeed. Grant Howitt sums up the difference between the far too common booth babe and Nintendo's nudish male model:

"I can’t imagine the sort of noise that Nintendo would have received for having a bloke-themed event where you draw women stood in their underwear on 3DS units, and I don’t want to pass judgement on them for what they did. Well, not that one thing, anyway. Everything else is pretty much fair game.

It’s not my place to do so, and as far as I’m concerned, the objectification of men is in such trace amounts across society that we shouldn’t really have to give a shit about it. I can say that fifteen men drawing an undressed woman at a party would be a very, very different vibe and not one I’d rush to participate in."

The sooner women are treated as an equally profitable customer base, the better. Even if the first step in that direction means being the recipient of stereotypical marketing campaigns. Perhaps having more half-undressed blokes at gaming events wouldn't be a bad thing after all.

2012 Geek Gift Guide: Star Wars Edition

noreply@blogger.com (Comic Book Candy) — Wed, 28 Nov 2012 04:46:00 +0000

Disney's recent acquisition of Lucasfilm has given Star Wars fans a new hope - could a new trilogy of sequels erase the bad taste left in our collective mouths by the much lauded prequels? That exciting possibility has also rekindled fans' love of the original series. Ironic that George Lucas financially divorcing himself from the series has made it socially acceptable once again to be a Star Wars fan, just in time for the holidays as well! Loving all things Jedi may have gone in and out of style over the past thirty years, but the merchandising machine never stopped making awesome Star Wars related items. These ARE the gifts your friends and family will be looking for this year:

Black Milk Clothing: Star Wars Collection

For the discerning Star Wars fan, the nerd couture clothing of Black Milk makes a perfect gift. Showing your love of Star Wars does not have to be limited to wearing tee's sold at big box stores! Choose from dresses, bathing suits, and leggings adorned with the characters of Star Wars.

Death Star Tea Infuser

If you decide to get this loose tea infuser as a gift, may I suggest getting black tea to go with it? Only the darkest of teas should be crated by the Death Star.

Star Wars Mad Libs

When you give this Star Wars' (noun) as a gift for (holiday), you will make (name of person) the (adjective) person on (holiday) morning.

Star Wars Dart Board

If you know someone looking for that final touch in their Jaba the Hutt-like party den, this dart board adorned with gold bikini Princess Leia will really tie the room together.

Dark Horse Star Wars Comics

Not only do you have 20 years worth of tie in stories to choose from, but some of the biggest names in comics have written Star Wars comics for Dark Horse. The likes of Chuck Dixon, Chris Claremont, John Ostrander, and Stan Sakai have penned stories while Adam Hughes and Tony Akins have penciled issues. One of my personal favorites (as seen above) is a Valentine's Day special written by Judd Winick and drawn by Paul Chadwick. Another reason to buy these comics as gifts this year is because Dark Horse may not have the rights to publish Star Wars comics for much longer. With Disney now owning Marvel and Lucasfilm, it is likely that they will decide to keep all of their intellectual property with one publisher, much the way Boom! Studios lost the rights to those Pixar books (those were hot sellers, especially for all ages titles).

Empire Propaganda Posters

This Etsy seller has several different Star Wars propaganda posters to choose from, each equally rousing as the last. Perfect for the friend that is equal part Star Wars fan and history buff.

Jeffrey Brown's Vader & Son, Vader's Little Princess

If you have yet to enjoy Jeffrey Brown's adorable Vader & Son, do yourself a favor and read it before passing it along as a gift (they won't know). If your friend already has this book, you can pre-order the eagerly anticipated sequel, Vader's Little Princess due for release in May. It's a long way off, so perhaps downloading these adorable Luke, Leia, and Vader themed present tags will make the wait feel a little shorter.

Next: Comic Book Gift Guide!

2012 Geek Gift Guide: Trekkie Edition

noreply@blogger.com (Comic Book Candy) — Mon, 19 Nov 2012 02:52:00 +0000

For this year's annual geek gift guide, we decided to make it even easier for our readers to find that perfect gift. Over the course of the next week, we will bring you guides specially catered to the different nerds in your life, whether they are Trekkies, Star Wars fans, or strictly comic book readers. See the perfect gift? Make it so by following the link!

Star Trek Tee's from We Love Fine

When it comes to custom licensed tee's, you won't find better options than We Love Fine's fan sourced designs. Open to professionals and amateurs alike, the t-shirt design contests that have been regular events at We Love Fine have resulted in unique and clever options for consumers. If you've ever lamented the lack of Uhura t-shirts, look no further! Several winning designs feature the communications officer. Another favorite winning design features all five captions as 8-bit characters in a fictional crossover game. Whether your Stark Trek loving friend is a man or woman, every design at We Love Fine comes in both men and women's sizes.

Bat'leth Letter Opener

Hands down, this has to be the most honorable way to open one's letters. Perfect for fans of Next Generation and Deep Space 9's resident klingon, Worf.

Star Trek The Next Generation Season 1 & Season 2 (Blu Ray)

You will find a special place in the Trek fan's heart when you purchase the TNG Blu Ray box set(s) for them this year. Season 2 is officially released on December 4th, so unless they pre-ordered, there's a good chance it will be a surprise for them to find it underneath their Christmas tree.

Star Trek Enterprise Print Skirt

With a large influx of copy-cat crafters and resellers of mass produced items, it is harder than ever to navigate Etsy if one is looking for truly unique handcrafted items. A search for Star Trek yields several hundred pages of results, and you'll still find several items that aren't related to the franchise in the slightest. We've done some of the legwork for you by picking out a few of the standout handmade items, including this Star Trek Enterprise print skirt. The seller also offers other nerdy prints, such as a Buffy skirt and NES remote skirt.

Scotty Star Trek IV Coffee Mug

This is for fans of the original series, particularly the fourth feature film The Voyage Home (aka, the whale movie). The cast of Star Trek finds themselves traveling back in time to 1980's San Francisco, and Scotty has a rather embarrassing but memorable interaction with an early computer as depicted on this mug. Great for your friend that works in IT!

Star Trek Cookie Collection

This etsy seller has been making these unique, delicious looking cookies for a while but I have yet to order these Star Trek baked goods. That will have to change in the near future. If you have several friends to buy for, you could even order a batch and divvy them out amongst several lucky recipients. Seeing Spock's hand greeting one from a stocking would be prosperous, indeed!

Tea. Earl Grey. Hot

'Nuff Said.

Star Trek Cookbook

Voyager's Neelix may be on the cover, but this collection of Star Trek themed recipes spans all of the various Star Trek's. Finally, you can give your friend the chance to make Klingon Gagh at their next dinner party!

Next: Star Wars Gift Guide!

Cover Art Appreciation: An Interview With David Yardin

noreply@blogger.com (Comic Book Candy) — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 13:40:00 +0000

At its best, comic book cover art gets you to buy a comic you would otherwise pass by. At its worst, the art is ridiculed and overshadows the content of the comic itself. But good or bad, how often does one mention cover art in a comic book review? Even the best designed cover may get a quick mention, but rarely is cover art extensively evaluated. When the series itself is under-appreciated, the cover art is even less likely to be discussed. One artist worthy of more recognition is David Yardin, who is doing standout work on the Marvel series X-Factor. The Peter David penned series about mutant private eye Madrox and company has remained under the radar since its relaunch in 2005, which is unfortunate since it is consistently one of Marvel's best books. It is hard to imagine that any title could survive for that long at Marvel without Captain, Amazing, or Wolverine in the name but the book has a lot going for it. From the stable character roster, humorous yet moving stories form David, and frequently excellent interior artists, the series also has David Yardin creating amazing cover artwork for the book, especially in the last year. Considering that a vast majority of cover work these days consists of barely informative character pin-ups, Yardin's work on X-Factor remains a standout on the stands, especially surrounded by the less than distinguishable x-titles. Here are some of our favorite X-Factor covers, followed by a few words from the artist himself on his process and experience working on X-Factor.

X-Factor #40

Yardin's first contribution to the series as cover artist was issue #40. A memorable turning point in the series, Madrox, seen with his priest dupe Maddox, is about to be confronted by a now much older Layla Miller. Yardin shows Jamie at his lowest point in the series, and doesn't hold back in displaying that vulnerability. The mixture of anguish and surprise on the face of Madrox is particularly well done, and can be further appreciated when viewed in black and white. You don't know it till you've read the book, but Layla, seen here on the cover, is most definitely the savior of Jamie as she brings him into light from the shadows.

X-Factor #216

What a fantastic way to show that Spidey is going to make a cameo in the book. We still have star Madrox on the cover, stopped in his tracks by an incriminating spotlight. This cover quickly reveals that Spider-Man will show up, and Madrox may be in trouble. I'm sold.

X-Factor #220

It's obvious to anyone familiar with the character of Rahne that Yardin has the character pegged. A conflicted soul convinced she is going to hell for her sins, this cover beautifully depicts the inner turmoil the character faces, and faces alone despite the willing support of her surrounding teammates. The splash of blood and the horror movie like tagline are perfect touches for the twist you know is coming.

X-Factor #224.1

Marvel's Point One initiative is meant to entice new readers by offering standalone issues as introductions to the titles. It makes sense for this issue to have a heroic portrait of our team, and Yardin appropriately focuses on featuring the core of characters and not the long ongoing plot lines. Simplicity at its best, and inviting to readers looking for a jumping on point.

X-Factor #228

This cover is my favorite of Yardin's X-Factor work thus far. In addition to the striking imagery, it is a great example of how Yardin uses color effectively. Is that blood dripping from Madrox's face? Sweat? Maybe both? That ambiguity comes from the sparsity in the color pallet. That combined with the use of negative space, your eyes go straight to those pupils surrounded by red. As a reader, seeing that fear and exhaustion makes me anxious to find out what has put Jamie in this state of shock.

X-Factor #237

Not every cover that grabs you has to be dramatic. One of X-Factor's many strengths is the title's ability to balance frequent humor amongst operatic tragedy. Would you believe that this is about Rahne's teammates trying to save her from a deep depression? You don't need to know why these ladies are taking a road trip, but it looks like a damn good time, and that's something that a lot of superhero books don't show often enough.

X-Factor #238

This was one cover that made me sit up and take notice. Often when cover art focuses on design elements, indications of the story within are sacrificed. That is not the case here, as the Mondrian inspired windows offer glimpses of intrigue into the book's multiple story lines. It is a cover that encourages further study, and maybe an unplanned purchase as well.

X-Factor #240

This cover for the Layla centric story implies that we may learn a bit more about her mysterious powers. Can she see into the future? Or does she travel through dimensions, time, and space? With multiple shadows of herself running in different directions, the answer may be all of the above. Even without knowing, readers will be intrigued by the possibilities.

X-Factor #243

Peter David always introduces the comics with a recap page, but he doesn't often hint at upcoming stories. That makes it all the more noticeable when he and editors says that something big is on the horizon. When Marvel released this cover artwork for X-Factor #243, we saw that the big storyline would involve Havok, Polaris, and her father Magneto. Things are not looking up for the mysterious couple, and judging by the sinister shadowed father figure in the background, Magneto is the likely cause of Polaris' strife. The issue came out this week, so you don't have to wait to find out more!

That's all for our cover analysis. Follow the jump to read the Q&A with the artist himself!

ComicBookCandy: David, thanks for taking the time to answer a few questions! You've made several tutorials on your drawing process for interiors (and coloring), but what makes doing covers different? How much does Peter David and editorial influence your design process?

David Yardin: Solicitation copy aside, covers are the first selling point of the book. They are the thing which must entice the reader to pick up the book off the shelf. They have to be eye catching, interesting or have some other hook which will make the potential buyer purchase the book. I always try and make my covers story related where possible, so I have to tell a story in one image without giving away too much of what is happening inside, but at the same time give enough story that there is that hook. There are so many new comics in stores each week that I also have to be aware of standing out on the shelves, so I have really been trying to push myself out of my comfort zone and try different things with the covers recently.

My editors and I have a lot of back and forth over the direction of the covers, especially since I need to get layout approvals from them before I can start on the final cover image, and they have the final say on what’s going to go on the cover. Sometimes they’ve even given me thumbnail layouts, and/or very specific briefs of what they’ve wanted, other times it’s been a lot looser ideas, or they’ve just given me the plot/script and let me come up with ideas. Direct contact between Peter David and myself has been to a much lesser extent. Obviously everything that I do on the covers is influenced by either Peter’s scripts or plots, but I don’t usually have direct contact with him while I’m working on the covers. It’s been nice to hear his thoughts and opinions when we have talked/emailed though. I remember the first time I got any direct feedback from him was at San Diego Comic-Con International 2009 (first time we met), he told me it was a nice touch me throwing Rictor’s arms around Shatterstar on the cover of issue #50.

X-Factor #50

CBC: Your X-Factor covers stand out particularly because they often indicate what is happening inside the book. Is that something you appreciate in cover artwork?

David: I definitely appreciate story related covers. The generic superhero posed covers can be fun to do too, but they can often be misleading about the actual contents of the books, and sometimes seem like they are just an easy way for companies to generate images for licensing purposes… they come off as less sincere to me. It’s more challenging, and interesting, for me to boil down a story into one image.

CBC: Have you done the colors for all of your X-Factor covers?

David: No. I think the variant for issue #200 was the first to feature my own colours. I had been colouring some of my other Marvel covers prior to that, but I think that was my first X-Factor colour job. I also redesigned all the characters costumes at that time. I was almost taken off X-Factor covers at that time (that’s why I was only on the variant cover for #200), because my editor was considering a change in creative direction with the title’s re-numbering, but I ended up back doing the regular covers with #201. I didn’t start regularly colouring my X-Factor covers though until around #219. I’ve coloured every cover since then except for #241. With that one I was away interstate for my brother’s wedding, and didn’t have time, or the computer set up, to do the colours.

X-Factor #200 Variant Cover, the first issue Yardin colored for the series

CBC: You've said in the past that your least favorite pieces are often the best received (a paraphrase from Yardin's Deviant Art page). What covers from X-Factor are you most proud? Which ones gave you the hardest time?

David: I don’t recall saying my “least favourite” pieces were best received, but often times I’m surprised by how much reaction some pieces get. What I thought were my worst covers definitely got that kind of reaction from the fans, but then others which I laboured long hours over also got little fan fare. One of my favourites #228 took me 2.5 hours to pencil, ink, dry, scan, and colour, but I spent quite a bit more time working on several unsuccessful layouts for that cover. My favourite covers from my run so far are 208, 216, 221, 223, 224.1, 228, 229, 233, 235, 236. The ones which gave me the hardest time are usually the ones where I wasn’t given a very clear brief for, or I had several layouts shot down (that always takes the wind out of my creative sails). There’s been a few of those, but even with those I usually get something I’m fairly happy with done in time for catalogue.

CBC: As you've mentioned previously, you've done quite a few covers for X-Factor! Have you ever been approached to take on the interiors?

David: I’d really love to do the interiors for X-Factor, and I have discussed it with my editors, but unfortunately it’s not something that I think will happen in the foreseeable future; it comes down to sales figures, page rates, and budgets.

Well a fan can still hope. Thank you again to David Yardin for answering these questions, we look forward to seeing more of his work on X-Factor and other books to come. Check out David Yardin's Deviant Art page to see his work in progress and final pieces, along with tutorials for aspiring comic book artists.

Batwoman: How Far The Mighty Fall

noreply@blogger.com (Comic Book Candy) — Tue, 21 Aug 2012 13:38:00 +0000

When DC first introduced readers to Kate Kane, the character and her story were met with universal praise. Not only was the story unique for featuring a gay female super heroine, but she was headlining one of DC's oldest properties, Detective Comics, and shocking above all else? It was really good. The stunning artwork of J. H. Williams III combined with Greg Rucka's pitch perfect take on the new character made for a memorable introduction, and it was an origin that was a hard act to follow. Over the last year since the beginning of DC's New 52, Kate Kane's solo title Batwoman has attempted to live up to that legacy forged in Detective Comics. It has failed to reach the same level of quality, proving that artwork alone cannot maintain a series.

Greg Rucka knows how to write women. Sadly, this is still a unique skill among comic book (and film and television) writers. Any writer, male or female that write women well (and the ladies don't do it well by default) is able to do so by depicting them as equally flawed and complex as their male counterparts. Accepting and recognizing that women face struggles differently is integral; but there is a thin line between realistically depicting women and relying on tropes. Mr. Rucka, in a piece for io9 about why he writes strong female characters, offers several reason why many writers falter in their depictions of women: ignorance and the acceptance of a lower standard are among them. Showing struggles unique to women is not evidence of doing the extensive research that is necessary as a writer. Without recognizing one's own ignorance, the final product may instead be unintentionally informed by popularly held (un)truths. Strong women = Bitch. Sex is power. A woman's body is a matter of public policy. She was asking for it. As long as these sentiments exist, the playing field is not even for understanding and portraying female characters, and writers need to be aware of the societally informed bias they bring to their depictions. With fewer women seen in the pages of superhero titles, the quality of those depictions is even more significant and determines what is acceptable.

The New NEW 52 Batwoman

Batwoman's story was once a beautifully drawn and engaging journey to read. It is now a beautifully drawn comic that is harder for people to recognize as another mediocre offering because it comes in such an appealing package. In issue #12 of Batwoman, we see Kate's story juxtaposed with one of DC's oldest super heroines. The flaws are a little more glaring when the writing is applied to the iconic Wonder Woman. Co-writers W. Haden Blackman and J. H. Williams III begin by presenting the myths surrounding the goddess as shared from her own point of view. But who is she trying to convince of the truth? She comes across as very godlike indeed; she is completely detached from the reader. This is in contrast to the way she is currently being written by Brian Azzarello. We don't need to be convinced by an inner monologue that she is strong. Her stoic nature, unwavering courage, and the intelligence demonstrated by her actions tells us everything we need to know. Meanwhile, Batwoman finds herself fighting a new foe. The Bloody Mary of legend is a new lead in her continued attempt to rescue Gotham's missing children. Bloody Mary was a child bride that turned murderous when her husband cheated on her (but mind you she only killed the potential mistresses). Of all of the myths that have inspired Bloody Mary, the writers instead chose to create a villain motivated by the threat that someone "might take her man" (direct quote from the comic). What could have been an interesting new villain to add to Batwoman's rogue's gallery is just another one dimensional tale of a woman scorned, compounded by an equally one dimensional philandering husband. To add insult, Bloody Mary has the ability to reveal the nightmarish view of her foes to themselves. What Batwoman sees in the mirror is a vampire-like temptress. So she sees herself in nightmares as dangerous, yet more of a sexual object? It would have been more meaningful had Batwoman looked truly grotesque as her werewolf companion sees himself. Mark my words, an even lazier writer of the future will remember this Starfire inspired costume and use it in a reboot.

Another element that was a staple of Rucka's original introduction of Batwoman was the supporting cast; what we have in the book now is a pale shadow of the formerly varied group of strong characters. In her time of need, Detective Maggie Sawyer fails to receive Kate's full support because of her duties as Batwoman. Maggie gives her an alternative to come clean about her frequent absences or end the relationship. This exchange is very similar to one between Kate and a former girlfriend in her first issue of Detective. It's a little soon in Kate's history as a character to repeat the same struggles without showing growth or a changed approach. Having recently failed to save her cousin and crime fighting partner Bette Kane from a brutal attack (the second time she's been seriously injured as Kate's partner), one would think Batwoman's interpersonal dynamics would have changed. In the brief view of Bette in this issue, her role as recovering victim is reaffirmed as she expresses fear that damage done by villain "The Hook" could still kill her. Her uncle even calls her his "little clipped wing". Both Kate and Bette are at the same place they were at the beginning of their stories, yet the wisdom of experience should have provided different approaches to similar obstacles (Kate and her relationships, Bette and recovering from bouts with villains).

Batwoman walks circles in her own book, which happens to mirror the direction of the storytelling

Without a strong writer to guide him, J. H. Williams III's artwork suffers as well. The layouts are as inventive as ever, Dave Stewarts' color still add to the uniquely gothic feel of the title, but what had once been admirable qualities are missing. The grimace seen on Kate's face when weightlifting or fighting; the motion and posturing informed by her military background; the strong presence demanded by Batwoman filling up a double page spread; none of these are present here. What we are left with is a character that appears to be briskly walking through her own book. Wonder Woman is shown as a buxom pouty lipped beauty, not the warrior of Cliff Chiang and Tony Akin (as seen in the current Brian Azzarello penned Wonder Woman). Our first frontal view of the warrior can be more easily compared to a blow-up doll than a fearsome goddess. We've seen better from Williams, stronger women that kick ass and hold their own beside Batman. Has he lost sight of those important distinctions because it isn't written in the script?

Which of these Wonder Women is more likely to kick your ass? (art by J.H. Williams III above, Cliff Chiang below)

Batwoman as a character is still rather new, and not all of her stories will be well written. But this early on, I won't settle for anything less than the high standard set by her iconic origin. There are too few superhero titles featuring female characters; there is no room for mediocrity. But because it resembles its former incarnation, this title will continue to garner undeserving praise. This is one reader that won't be fooled: a heroine can't just look strong, she has to be well written, too.

C2E2 2013: Still Taking Place at McCormick

noreply@blogger.com (Comic Book Candy) — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 03:25:00 +0000

8-16-12 UPDATE: Via their twitter, C2E2 organizers have confirmed that they are in fact keeping next year's show at McCormick (hears collective sigh of relief from fans).

Consider this story as seen through the lens of speculation, but several retailers at this past weekend's Chicago Comic Con (at Rosemont) were questioned by organizers of C2E2 concerning their convention location preferences. When it comes to feedback, C2E2 organizers Reed Pop are known for maintaining an open dialog with retailers, fans, and exhibitors. The McCormick convention center has been equally praised and derided by fans, and it is perhaps one of the only aspects of the show to be continually mentioned as a complaint. Hands down, Rosemont is more conveniently located to public transportation and has far more hotels considering the vicinity of the large O'Hare airport. But if you ask anyone attending C2E2 or Wizard World's Chicago Comic Con, convenience aside I would bet most would tell you McCormick is a far more attractive exhibition space than the older Rosemont. Personally, I would be disappointed to see C2E2 change spaces, especially if they moved to Rosemont, a space so heavily associated with the Wizard World of past. Despite the vastly different programming and guest lists, casual comic book fans still have a hard time distinguishing between the two conventions. Whether this loose polling of Chicago Comic Con attendees was an attempt to gauge the crowd for what attracts them to each of the shows or whether they are considering changing locations is yet to be seen. Either way, Reed Pop clearly wants to put on the best show possible and they are always open to listening to fans. If you feel strongly one way or the either, share your opinions with them via their Twitter or Facebook pages.

Chicago Comic Con 2012: Cons, They Are A Changing

noreply@blogger.com (Comic Book Candy) — Mon, 13 Aug 2012 03:46:00 +0000

Every year comic con gets bigger. The lines get longer, the guest list fills with more celebrities, the ticket prices go up, and a vocal group of fans are sure to lament how much it has changed. No, I'm not talking about International Comic Con, the show co-opted by Hollywood and universally lauded for being too big and too different from its previous incarnations. The comic con brand continues to be more about spectacle and less about comics, and that is as true of the Chicago show as San Diego. Despite it embracing the mainstream, San Diego remains the go-to convention for comic readers and creators. But with a complete absence of any comic book publishers on the con floor, Wizard World's Chicago Comic Con has become less relevant to the comic book community. It is not the same show it was 10 years ago (or even 5), but it is still a fun undertaking for fans that know what to expect of it.

The big draw this year was no doubt the impressively large amount of celebrity guests. The longest lines were for wrestlers like John Cena and CM Punk, comic book legend Stan Lee, and actor / convention favorite William Shatner. Other big names included Tom Felton of Harry Potter fame, Scott Bakula, and Bruce Campbell. With such a large focus on the television and film stars, the cancellations were more noticeable. Vampire Diaries actors Nina Dobrev and Paul Wesley were both no shows due to a change in their filming schedule; Kate Mulgrew's cancellation made the gathering of Star Trek captains less of an accomplishment; and Hayden Panettiere also found her filming schedule in conflict with the show. It is safe to say very few fans were sad to see that Mike "The Situation" Sorrentino was unable to attend the convention (the very announcement of him as a guest served as more of a deterrent than incentive). Not all of the long lines were for actors; comic book legends George Perez and Neal Adams had impressively large crowds queuing for sketches and signatures, as did Batman artist Greg Capullo. Whether fans came for the comics or the stars, the show was bustling even during Thursday's preview night and was pushing maximum capacity during its height on Saturday. The newer layout received equal amounts of praise and complaints. Having the celebrity signing area in the middle made more sense from years past when they were right in the front creating an immediate traffic jam upon entering the con floor; but booth numbering was difficult to navigate, with some vendors being shuffled around at the last minute. Very few creators in artist alley had positive sentiments to express about their experience. From the labyrinthian-like layout, last minute changes, and sometimes non-consecutive table numbering, many expressed feeling like they were given a poor position on the floor. Stretching against the back wall from one end of the con to the other, the position of artist alley felt like an afterthought. Lines for signings had no where to go and aisles were not consistently wide enough to navigate. If there is any aspect of the convention that has changed for the worse, it would be the disregard for this important area of the convention. Sadly, the damage may be done at this point since many local creators have vowed never to show at another Wizard World run convention due to past mistreatment. As a con goer and member of the press, I can say that my experiences with the Wizard World staff and volunteers was nothing short of pleasant and it is disappointing to hear that respected professionals cannot say the same. Local creators like Skottie Young, Brian Azzarello, Mike Norton, Jill Thompson, Tim Seeley, and Gene Ha were noticeably absent. Their reasons for not attending can only be left to speculation (or not if you follow some of their twitter feeds), but if you throw a show in a huge comic book town like Chicago, it reflects poorly to have such talented folks skipping your show.

The selection of vendors was varied enough to appeal to just about anyone coming through the doors. There were several apparel vendors, including Threadless, We Love Fine Tee's, and Superhero Stuff (these vendors appealed to men and women equally which was appreciated as well). I myself purchased a Black Widow tee from Superhero Stuff featuring the artwork of Daniel Acuna; since he was in attendance, I brought the shirt for him to sign and he claimed my request made him feel like a rockstar. Despite the many comic shop vendors, no one had a terribly impressive amount of discount trade paperbacks. Anyone that came to the show with a booth of $5 trade paperbacks would have cornered that market. The majority of comic shop vendors tended to lean towards the rare / key book market. This is unsurprising as long established vendors are more likely to commit to coming to show that has proven successful for them in the past (the newer show in town, C2E2 must be a younger vendor's game). Considering that attendance numbers have only gone up over the years, the potential for big sales is hard to resist.

Daniel Acuna signs my Black Widow t-shirt (like a rock star)

If this was my first Chicago Wizard World, I would have been more impressed by the experience. But knowing of the prestige it once held makes me nostalgic for the past. Chicago's was the first convention I ever attended and to have met John Romita Jr., Frank Miller, and Chris Claremont at the same show seems like an unheard of opportunity today. Back then, the likes of DC, Marvel, and Dark Horse were all in attendance and they hosted those legendary creators and many more. The number of panels on comic books used to be so numerous that it was impossible to attend each and every one; this year out of all of the panels, only 8 featured comic book creators. Attendants of Wizard World 2012 were more likely to have a difficult time managing the photo op schedule than panels. In attending two days of the convention, I also felt like I experienced everything the show had to offer and can't imagine I missed out by not attending all four days. As much fun as I had this weekend ogling the celebrities, buying comics and tees, and appreciating the impressive cos-play, I could not help but miss what once was. The evolution of the show from premiere comic convention to pop culture event is fairly recent and has yet to prove sustainable; the added competition from C2E2 will either make this show continue to differentiate itself by furthering the shift in focus from comics, or Wizard World could still step up their game to compete with the new show and claim its previous status as the second most important comic book convention in the country. Until next year's guest list and programming is announced, here's hoping the first time con goers of this year will have something new in store for them in the future, and something familiar for the rest of us.

One of my favorite cos-players of the weekend, Moon Knight

After spending two days at the convention, I ended up with quite a few images of cos-players and detail shots. In an effort to share as much of them as possible, I have created a Comic Book Candy Facebook page. This way anyone can more easily share the images by tagging themselves as well. You can find and "like" the page (and images) HERE

Cosplay and Crowdfunding: A Follow-Up With Molly McIsaac

noreply@blogger.com (Comic Book Candy) — Wed, 08 Aug 2012 14:57:00 +0000

Not too long ago, cosplayer Molly McIsaac expressed her desire to crowdfund her breast augmentation. Our response to her initial blog post garnered a lot of discussion, from other blog posts to angry unintelligible tweets. We reached out to Molly for a series of follow-up questions and she graciously answered; but before we get to her response, I'd like to talk a little further about the initial post / the response received.

First, I wanted to give the blog a break from b00b talk hence the delay in posting this interview. The recent search terms that have led to my blog have been heavily skewed towards breasts and that's something I'd like to avoid in the future. Despite all of the disappointed individuals that make their way to these posts in hopes of finding "comic book boobs" or "power girl porn", they can still stick around and read about the portrayal of women in comics and one woman's desire to have comic book boobs (they will immediately see the lack of photos and promptly move on to the next google image search results - but here's hoping they read this first). It is worth all of the creepy search terms because this topic is deserving of further analysis.

Borg cube cake has less hits than Power Girl porn? I'm disappointed in you, internet.

Feminism! And Stuff!

A lot of commenters liked to bring out the big, loaded "F" word! Sentiments shared included how getting a boob job isn't anti-feminist and how dare I imply as much, how telling another woman what to do was anti-feminist, how doing what you want with your body and making yourself happy was the ideal form of feminism, etc. My original post doesn't mention what feminism is or isn't, so it is interesting that so many people assumed that Molly and her decision went against my (unstated) feminist views. That is simply not the case. I believe one can get breast implants and still be a feminist. I believe one can still wear high heels, make-up, and (let's bring it back to the subject) cosplay and still be a feminist. There are women out there that would strongly disagree, and they have a right to their opinion. My original post was never about posing Molly's quest in relation to feminism, but in relation to the way she views herself because of cosplaying and depicting physically unrealistic characters. But while we're on the subject, the endgame for feminism isn't getting to the point where us women folk all agree on everything (or keep our opinions to ourselves when we don't). Sharing opposing views is an opportunity for learning, both for those speaking and listening.

Providing the ability to donate = Asking for donations

Many commenters brought up the notion of "if you don't want to donate you don't have to." This is very true. But you know how when you go to a coffee shop and see that tip jar on the counter? That's kind of what it's like when you visit Molly's website. She's not requiring anyone to donate, but the fact that is an option changes the dynamic of the conversation from responding to a personal choice to responding to a personal choice being partially funded by strangers. Comments are open on Molly's site as well, and she has engaged her followers on Twitter and Facebook concerning her decision. My post was just one more extension of the conversation, and I never discouraged individuals from contributing to her fund. The distinction between asking and allowing is something Molly and I disagree with as can be seen in her response later in this post.

Donating moral support

I never thought discouraging someone to get breast implants would be considered hateful, but boy did some readers think otherwise! What kind of bizarro universe do we live in where telling someone they don't need to have breast implants is considered negative? Dear readers, should I ever share my desire to surgically alter myself for cosmetic reasons, I would hope that more of you would offer discouragement than gleefully provide your support. If you think telling someone "go for the bigger boobs" is a positive sentiment, then you are most definitely a contributing factor to why women feel this way in the first place. Preceding that statement with "if it's what you really want" does not have the same impact as saying "you look beautiful no matter what".

Why getting new breasts isn't the same as other enhancements

Another baffling and frequent comment made was why did I care if Molly gets breast implants since it's like any other enhancement cosplayers undergo? This isn't coloring your hair, or putting on make up. This is an everyday, all day kind of deal so it is most certainly not the same. And while getting a tattoo or piercing can be just as permanent, those are meant to showcase the unique style of an individual. Getting breast implants is very much in part a desire to conform to a modern standard of beauty, even if your primary reason for doing so is to feel better about yourself. One commenter hit the nail on the head by stating "it [breast implants] is a temporary band-aid for a permanent wound." If someone states that they are getting breast implants to look a certain way, then yes, I believe it is possible for them to be truly satisfied. But if it is about wanting to feel a certain way? They probably aren't doing it for the right reasons and will likely be disappointed when their body issues remain unresolved.

Final Thoughts

Molly McIsaac definitely lives her life in a very public way, and I can understand why she would feel comfortable sharing this experience with her followers. I don't make it a habit to write posts about every woman considering this procedure, but her unique approach in accepting donations and her public status in the cosplay and comic blogging community made it a relevant topic for my blog. It was a "respond in kind" attempt at offering support, and sending an e-mail or leaving a comment on her site would not have had quite the same impact, nor would others benefit from the ability to participate in a larger discussion. Whether in private or public, encouraging Molly to keep her natural physique isn't going to hurt her in the long run.

The Interview

Many readers were equally curious about Molly's decision to accept donations and the implications of crowdfunding her surgery. Special thanks goes to Molly for answering these questions so thoroughly and offering further incite into her journey. Follow the jump to read the interview with Molly:

CBC: As you've stated in your post, you've been considering this procedure for a long time, but that allowing for donations was not always part of the plan. Even so, clearly a lot of thought has gone into the set up for accepting donations, from the donation button on your site, to the rewards section. But there are still a few missing elements that are usually present in any crowd funded endeavor: A fundraising goal, an end date, and clarification for refunds should the project fall through. Have you considered adding these elements to the site to protect yourself from future disputes?

Molly: Actually, yes. I kind of added the Paypal donate button on a complete whim. Essentially what happened is this: I wrote my blog entry about my decision to get breast augmentation and was suddenly drowning in an influx of emails from fans and friends alike. They were all along the lines of "we support you, and had no idea you felt this way!", but several people said: "if you had a way to accept donations, I would definitely help you out!". I asked the opinions of a few trusted confidants and they all agreed it might be a good idea -after all, it is something I feel strongly about and it will definitely benefit my career - and thus Quest2Cosplay was born.

I am actually thinking of switching it over to IndieGoGo instead of Paypal, so that people can see how much has been raised etc.

CBC: The difference between what you are doing and a crowd funded project means a lack of oversight, but also the ability for you to make certain changes. For instance, if a kickstarter project raises more funds than intended, they cannot tell their contributors where that money will go if they plan to donate it to charity. Since you have the ability to do this on your site, what will you do if you raise more than the cost of the procedure?

Molly: I don't foresee this being a problem, as I am going to have a goal set and as soon as we hit this goal I am closing donations.

CBC: Do you feel that part of the decision to have the procedure has been taken away from you by allowing strangers to pay for it? Will you feel more obligation to go through if the funds are made available?

Molly: Absolutely not. I have always been very open and friendly to my "fans" - I consider them all awesome people and value their input and involvement in my life. I am where I am in my career due to the fact that I am a very open book. I share my life with the entire world, and thus it feels fitting to allow people to help me out with this endeavor. I will feel no "obligation" because there is not even a small doubt in my mind about this procedure. I definitely want breast augmentation, so no: I feel no sort of pressure or lack of control.

CBC: One interesting point raised was the idea that you will in essence have a part of you that has been purchased / owned by strangers. Do you feel comfortable with the idea of having it entirely crowd funded, or do you intend to pay for a certain amount?

Molly: The fundraising is merely to take the edge of of the expenses. I don't think I am "owned" by anyone but myself - I am not losing my identity. People wanted to help me out, so I gave them the means to do so. I'm not holding a gun to anyone's head and demanding they give me money. I do not aggressively ask people to help me out. There's a button on my website - people can click it if they want to. I would never offer any "incentives" that I am not comfortable with.

CBC: The cosplaying community has always had members active in charity organizations; the Star Wars 501st Legion has a section dedicated to charity work on their site, and a cosplayer from New York has recently asked for pledges for a charity run for St. Jude's. You joke about donations going towards your "betterment fund" but have you considered incorporating charity events into your model? Such as participating in volunteer work to encourage people to meet a certain goal, or perhaps matching donations made to your betterment fund to go towards charities (in essence, you would crowd fund your procedure, but put your own equal amount towards charity in the process).

Molly: I wish I could afford to match charities! If I could afford that, I wouldn't be crowdfunding my breast augmentation, haha. I have an intense passion for animals and have volunteered at the humane society several times in the past, along with doing an incredible amount of work with my mother's wildlife rescue. I would happily share my charity work more openly with the world if it helped people feel more at ease to donate.

CBC: Many responses to my initial post were pretty negative, not about the actual procedure (which in and of itself isn't uncommon) but the donation aspect. Having seen these responses, have you considered changing the system to incorporate charities, or not taking donations at all?

Molly: Like I've said, people can donate if they choose to. I have no aggressive push for donations and I am not going to harass someone to give me money.

CBC: One of your followers made her own response to your request, stating that she supports your decision but thinks it would not be the same accomplishment if you paid for the procedure yourself. Do you think you will feel the same way if it is crowd funded as opposed to saving up for the procedure and sacrificing cosplaying at cons for a time as she suggests?

Molly: I highly doubt I will make the necessary amount from crowd sourcing. I've already been saving up for a couple of years for this. But as someone who essentially refuses to take out loans, any help is welcomed. Considering that it is likely that over half will be paid out of my own pocket, I will still feel accomplished.

Your rewards focus heavily on featuring the after effects of a breast augmentation, specifically offering photographs to backers. Have you considered shifting the focus to your abilities as a cosplayer? After all, you'll need to make a lot more costumes if your body changes, did you consider offering your current costumes as rewards?

Molly: I would happily offer up my current costumes! I have a tendency to not ever wear a cosplay again after I have taken it to a con once, anyway. But I do sell myself physically and I am okay with that - I like showing that a woman can be brainy, outspoken, and geeky while still being attractive and taking care of herself. Therefore, I offer photos of me modeling - something I would be doing afterwards even WITHOUT the crowdsourcing rewards (I do a LOT of pinup modeling. I find it very, VERY liberating to be so classically sexy).

Have you told your family about the crowd fund? Have they offered to contribute?

Molly: I have. My family tend to stay out of my career as they are old fashioned people who live on a farm on the top of a mountain, so while they support any decisions I make they keep most thing's at an arm's length due to not really understanding what I do for a living. If they wanted to help me out I would be alright with it, but I would never ask them directly.

CBC: Lastly, I've asked a lot of questions about the the donation process since that is the less transparent aspect, but let's talk about your decision to have a breast augmentation. You talked a lot about your history with body image issues in your initial post, but left out a big part of that history in that you did not discuss cosplaying very extensively (beyond mentioning the uncomfortable bras). Has your experience been positive? Do you feel that your cosplay would benefit from having the procedure done?

Molly: The cosplay community is very catty. It is ALSO very supportive and awesome, but the fact is this: You are portraying a fictional character. The more you resemble that fictional character, the more attention you get. In the cosplay community, attention is currency. How many times you get photographed at a con is equivalent to a raise at your job. We do costuming and dress up for many reasons - attention, a love for costuming, an adoration for the fandom - but what it comes down to is that if you're REALLY serious about it you want to be as much like the characters you cosplay as possible. Perfect wigs, perfect makeup, contact lenses that make you look like you have anime eyes - and yes, in many instances: breast augmentation.

The short answer is this: My experience with cosplay has been mostly awesome, but that's because I am a nice person to almost everyone and I avoid the cosplay boards on 4chan like a plague because they are just a bunch of shit talking mean girls. And yes, my cosplay would most assuredly benefit from breast augmentation. A perfect example of this is something that just happened to me a few days ago: I am cosplaying Steampunk Wonder Woman at SDCC. I ordered an awesome leather corset, and as I was lacing it up it fit me absolutely perfectly - except for the breasts. There was about a 3 inch gap where my breasts would be because I literally am flat as a board. So now I have to awkwardly shove some silicone into the corset so I can even fill out the corset that I spent a bunch of money on. It's incredibly frustrating.

CBC: I found it very interesting how many people equated my discouraging you to get the procedure as antifeminist, and anyone encouraging you to have the procedure is somehow contributing to your empowerment. I would definitely disagree on the merits of one opinion over the other, but when you get down to it, both sentiments are those of strangers. Do you feel that making this private decision so public has changed your outlook? Is it uncomfortable having strangers chime in?

Molly: It has definitely made me think, but they are not thoughts I did not already have. I have been in the public spotlight for years now - making my life ridiculously public - so I am pretty sure staying there. I don't mind, and I respect other people's opinions even if they are perfect strangers. My hope is that by sharing my journey WITH strangers, I will help other women make informed decisions about whether or not they want this procedure.

CBC: I myself have smaller breasts and I've come to accept that (though it wasn't always the case. I have my very own anime drawing from 14 year old Megan that thought she would fill-in "any day now"). One thing that really changed my opinion of myself was how I talked about my body with others. The frequent and public critiques I had made about my body were suddenly being echoed by friends and family members. It became clear that by using these terms to describe myself, others felt comfortable in describing me in similar terms. It was always in a joking manner, but it definitely hurt. Multiply that by 3,000! You have quite an online presence and interact with a lot of people on a daily basis. Do you think that publicly talking about your body in a negative way has made others comfortable in critiquing your body? Has it had the opposite effect where people are more likely to speak positively of you?

Molly: I'm a pretty matter of fact woman. I have my own opinions about myself and I don't sugar coat most things. I know I carry some girth around my ass - I don't whine about being fat, I go work out at the gym instead. I know I'm difficult to be around sometimes due to being outspoken and loud - I turn this into jokes. And I have small breasts, so I tell the world I have small breasts and how I want to change them. I am brutally honest, and I have never doubted the sentiments I have about myself. I am not insecure enough that other people's sentiments sway me. In my line of work you have to be unwavering or people will tear you apart. My biggest goal is to be REAL, and to portray a strong woman that people can relate to and look up to.

CBC: Many of your supporters and individuals claiming to be close friends were quick to point out how much thought you've put into having a breast augmentation. This may be why they felt I was being harsh in encouraging you to think more about it and do more research. My only knowledge of you comes from this one post about wanting the procedure, and I only made these suggestions due to the lack of evidence suggesting you had done your homework on the subject. How much have you looked into the specifics, such as finding a doctor, determine the costs, and being aware of the risks?

Molly: I've been researching this since I was about 16, but it is only recently that I have finally made the definitive decision to go forward with it. The reason I do not talk about the Doctor and such is because I want my followers to go on this journey with me - when I go in for my consultation, I'm bringing my camera and blogging about it. I've looked into a couple of Doctors and believe I've found one I am impressed with in Tacoma, Washington. The costs will be around 4,500, but from what I understand you should set aside an extra 1,500 or so in case of any complications with scar tissue afterwards. All of these concerns and questions will be addressed in future blog entries as I truly embark upon this decision.

CBC: There are quite a few ways one can have a breast augmentation these days, including different materials besides silicone, different incision points, having the implants below and above the muscle tissue. Have you spoken with a doctor about your specific desires / made any final decisions?

Molly: As I said above, I plan on documenting the entire process. Currently, I am thinking of implants underneath the muscle, going through the nipple (the least amount of scarring). However, I will naturally speak to my Doctor about his recommendations for what I desire (an increase in cup size and roundness that looks natural).

CBC: One commenter on my blog post made an interesting point. What you describe as grotesquely disproportionate others would recognize as unique. Having a desire to work in the entertainment industry, one would definitely want to stand out! Besides the obvious desire to feel good about yourself, do you think that having the procedure will make your look conform to a standard beauty? Is there more pressure to look a certain way because you want to be a performer?

Molly: Of course there's more pressure to look a certain way, and I accepted that years ago when I started down this career path. I think EVERYONE is beautiful and I don't think that people need to look one way or another to be completely lovely (I, too, revel in uniqueness!), but I don't feel comfortable in my own skin and that is what is important to me. My views of myself have not been shaped by society or the entertainment industry (I was homeschooled with no real exposure to teen magazines or anything to that effect until my late teens): I know what I want and I've ALWAYS known what I wanted. I am secure in my opinions and assessments. I am not an insecure girl going TEHE BEWBZ WILL MAEK PPLZ LIEK ME MOAR. I would be doing this even if I didn't work in the entertainment industry. It's for my benefit and not anyone else's, but I just happen to work in a field where my life is under a magnifying glass, so I need to work with what I have.

Final question: In your journey of self-improvement, what is the next step for you from here?

Molly: After the breast augmentation? Physically, I will continue to work out to get the body I had when I was in my late teens and riding horses 6 hours a day.

In my life and my career? I only seek to improve. I enjoy being a spearhead, speaking on panels about feminism in the geek world, talking about anti bullying, letting the world know it's ok to be yourself. These are the things I'm passionate about, and I will always want to use my powers for good, not evil.

And if a teenage girl stands up at a panel I'm on to ask me if she should get breast augmentation like me? I'll tell her no, because if she even has to ask someone else's opinion then she should not do it.

Jenny Frison For Hero Initiative: A Ladies' Night Event

noreply@blogger.com (Comic Book Candy) — Tue, 31 Jul 2012 17:07:00 +0000

Graham Crackers Comics Ladies' Night is a monthly meeting of female comic book fans at the Chicago loop comic book store. The next event taking place tomorrow, August 1st, will be a charity benefit. In addition to the usual comic book related discussion, artist Jenny Frison will be on hand to create sketches and sign comics with all of the proceeds going towards the Hero Initiative, a charity that helps support creators in their times of need. All are welcome to join us, men and women alike, though the discussion will be the usual group of ladies only. The event begins at 6, but feel free to come early as we are expecting a large turnout.

Comic Book Candy: And Then There Were Two

noreply@blogger.com (Comic Book Candy) — Mon, 23 Jul 2012 03:53:00 +0000

Earlier this week I started receiving frequent mentions on twitter, all with the same content: "Photoset:› @comicbookcandy:›› AVENGERS AND POKEMONS ASSEMBLE!››(By: *[FerioWind] )". Initially, I thought it was well targeted spam (because I'd totally be interested in some Avengers and Pokemon mashup artwork). But then I cautiously followed the link and it became clear where the confusion stemmed from: another blog with the title Comic Book Candy.

A tumblr comprised of various comic book related artwork, gifs, and movie stills, I began to worry that readers may become confused by what site I write for. I've begun to attend conventions as a member of the press with my small comic book related blog, I have contributed guest posts to other blogs as Comic Book Candy, and I comment on various websites as Comic Book Candy. There is no question that we do different things; the tumblr blog is an aggregator while I focus on creating original content in articles, reviews, and commentary. This also means that I am no where near as prolific as someone creating posts 3-5 times a day. The opportunity for confusion would only continue, especially when it comes to auto-generated tweets referring to the tumblr CBC.

After researching if it is even possible to change a tumblr blog name (it's surprisingly simple and doesn't result in the loss of followers), I hoped for the best and contacted this blogger to see if anything could be worked out:

Some bloggers may have tried to rally support from their followers or simply ignored my request altogether. But in a classy move CBC placed my question on her blog, and I happily responded back with suggestions that would still match her current banners.

With no legal right to the name, she did not have to change her tumblr but still did so upon request. In a day and age where the cruelty of the online community is front and center, this is a sign that things may be moving in the right direction. I suggest you check out her tumblr under the new name Comics Before Candy and retweet her posts as frequently as possible; a class act like her deserves generous hits and a large audience. And with readers like "anonymous", maybe a few more open minded followers will be beneficial as well:

Call it pretentious but I like to ensure that I don't get credit for other people's work and vice versa. The majority of blogs are not for profit, but amateurs are no less worthy of recognition for their work. As part of the good e-karma that is sure to head her way, here's to recognizing this act of kindness by Comics Before Candy with a public thank you, and I hope she snags the twitter handle while she can.

One thing is for sure, there is always room for more geeky gals blogging about comics.

Review: Captain Marvel #1

noreply@blogger.com (Comic Book Candy) — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 15:06:00 +0000

"A debut issue is a challenging beast in comics; this is doubly so for a book that is re-introducing an established character to old and new fans alike. It is a delicate balance between showing what we know to be true while still offering a fresh perspective. Writer Kelly Sue DeConnick and artist Dexter Soy bring us a first issue that attempts to reconcile the needs of all readers, and it is not always successful. Though the focus may shift between keeping old and new fans interested, one thing that is unwavering throughout is the voice of Carol Danvers, and that’s definitely something new...."

You can read the rest of the review over at my guest blog post on the Women Write About Comics blog. Enjoy!

SDCC 2012: Announcements Worth Noting

noreply@blogger.com (Comic Book Candy) — Tue, 17 Jul 2012 02:31:00 +0000

This year's Comic Con International, or "Nerd Mecca", ended yesterday after four days of exciting comic book, film, and television announcements. It would be impossible to cover every single revelation, but here are the ones that got the most people talking, the most retweets, and reblogs, and maybe a few announcements that we're just a little more excited about than others.

Neil Gaiman to write Sandman prequel for 2013 release, JH Williams III will be artist

DC's got the prequel fever, but unlike Before Watchman, Sandman's original creator Neil Gaiman is willingly spearheading the project. The five issue mini will focus on revealing the background of Morpheus leading up to his unexpected imprisonment.

Everyone is still heartbroken over the cancelation of Firefly, but that's okay

As if missing Comic Con International wasn't hard enough year after year, 2012 was particularly difficult to miss due to a cast reunion of Serenity, a show having now been off air for ten years. The emotional panel included creator Joss Whedon and was followed by a private round table discussion among the cast that will be televised this fall on the Science Channel. Check out the link above to view the panel.

MAC cosmetics to release Archie line in Spring 2013

Fans of MAC's previous comic book inspired Wonder Woman line will be anxious to get their hands on the cosmetic company's upcoming Archie themed make-up. Not much has been revealed, though the it appears the "Archie's Gals" collection will focus on whether you're a Betty or Veronica.

Avengers Babies Vs. X-Babies written by Skottie Young with art by Gurihiru Studios coming October

The perfect follow up to Marvel's much touted AvX event, this upcoming one shot was inspired by Skottie Young's Midtown Comics exclusive variant cover (as seen above). It will be more adorable than any other Marvel title this year.

IDW to release My Little Pony comic this November

Written by Katie Cook with art by Andy Price, the series will focus on the characters from My Little Pony: Friendship Is Magic. Bronies everywhere rejoice.

Captain America 2 will be Brubaker's Winter Soldier

The sequel will focus on the return of Bucky Barnes, an exciting announcement for fans of Ed Brubaker's (soon to end) run on Captain America. The Cap sequel wasn't the only film news from Marvel; rumors of a Guardians of the Galaxy film were confirmed, and test footage was shown from Edgar Wright's upcoming Ant-Man. Robert Downey, Jr. himself even showed up to reveal details about Iron Man 3, which is being filmed now.

Django Unchained movie comic to be released by DC

Jim Lee brought a very distinguished and unexpected guest into DC's Before Watchman panel: filmmaker Quentin Tarantino himself was present for the announcement of DC's upcoming Django Unchained mini series. Tarantino will be penning the book, but no word yet on an artist. Vertigo will release the series at an unknown future date.

Image Comics and all of your favorite creators are releasing new books

Fraction. Rucka. Graham. DeConnick. Any of these names sound familiar? They're only some of the hottest writers working in comics today. And each of them has an exciting new book coming out from Image Comics. I'm particularly interested to read Pretty Deadly, written by Kelly Sue DeConnick with art by Emma Rios, a spaghetti western revenge tale featuring a scarred assasin.

These are not all of the announcements to come out of San Diego Comic Con this year, not by a long shot; but these are just the big ones. Here's hoping next year we may be able to attend in person to offer more extensive coverage.

Marvel Swimsuit Special: An In-Depth Analysis Part III

noreply@blogger.com (Comic Book Candy) — Tue, 10 Jul 2012 19:30:00 +0000

On the eve of San Diego Comic Con and having passed the 4th of July weekend, we've reached the pinnacle of summer in 2012. What better way to celebrate than with a final look at the 94' Marvel Swimsuit Special? It's been a titillating journey, but this comic proves that yes, you can have too much of a questionably good thing. However, here at Comic Book Candy we are considering tracking down Marvel's other classic pin-up collections for further analysis should public demand prove sufficient. Until then, enjoy this final visual feast before you and fondly remember the 90's comic book landscape.

Doc Samson is Marvel's resident psychiatrist, and frankly I'm a little disappointed with the lack of creativity displayed in this depiction. Maybe some bookish glasses, a notepad, and Doc wearing these same swimmers while inviting us, the viewer, to lie on his couch, now that's something that would demonstrate the "allure of science" as Uatu says. It is worth noting that this is the first character that has been shown as practically faceless, so there's that.

Doc Samson's reign as the only faceless character was short-lived as a very tan Polaris quickly follows. This one is equally uncreative in conveying the character's unique aspects, but stands out for being more uncomfortable to view. From the crotch-cutting bathing bottoms to the bolted on breasts, we don't need to see all of her face to know that this is probably not a comfortable outfit or pose to execute. There is a face in this image, but it isn't Polaris staring back; an odd rock formation to the right of her leg is hard to miss. Distracting and creepy, it's a double fail.

Here I thought we'd get through the swimsuit special without a brokeback pose! Impressively, Silver Sable manages to be shown as both threatening and vulnerable. Take away her knife and guns and she looks very much like a person surrendering to a foe from behind. Uatu implies that even on vacation she cannot abandon her dedication to her profession as an assassin; this would be an accurate theory if she were say, polishing her knife collection. In reality, she just looks batshit insane because she's either cornered by a non-existent foe or she's trying to rock climb but can't psychologically put down her weapons.

Black Panther seems unfazed by taking a shower in green, smoking, dragon infested Moon water. Then again, if you're the King of Wakanda, unfazed is your default state.

New Warriors characters Firestar and Silhouette (who?) are supposedly enjoying an "impromptu sauna" though the color choices make that difficult to discern without reading the description. Who wears their sneakers and socks in a sauna? Perhaps these ladies are just returning from an excersice class at an Inhumans' gym. Even if they are in a cave, this scenario doesn't exactly push the boundaries as far as "superheroes on a moon vacation" go. This is more akin to a "superheroes stay at a mid-western 3-star hotel vacation".

Guys. Colossus is a never nude. And that isn't the only thing he has in common with Tobias Funke. Notice his complete disinterest in the scantily clad moon-women bathing him (and I swear the one at the top left is giving him a manicure). The artist has really gone out of his way to ensure that Colossus is the sole focus here, especially in the comical way each of the women's heads have been cut off / obscured by biceps. His posturing and downward glance also imply that even Colossus can't help but admire his own spectacular reflection.

Possibly the only character to wear more in her swimsuit special attire, Emma Frost is equally useless on the Moon as she is on Earth. In other words, she's one super powerful woman that is frequently shown as a very pretty non threatening mannequin. The White Queen should never be this boring.

What is it about women involved with Amazing Spider-Man that makes them indistinguishable? I thought for sure this was Storm before I read the description. But let's face it, Felicia Hardy and her ridiculous flotation device-like breasts aren't even the focus here. Creeper. On. The right.

Here we have one of the world's most dangerous telepaths, pretty much wearing her normal costume, and she's sitting poolside. Someone was definitely phoning it in here.

Thor's dead serious expression as he deftly spins a volleyball on one finger hints at the possibility that we may have just missed an unforgettable testosterone filled game the likes of which would rival Top Gun. Here's hoping it involved other speedo clad heroes from this volume such as Captain America, Doctor Strange, and Gambit. Doubles!

Nothing says "fourth tier characters" like spending half of the caption describing the characters of the Infinity Watch, self appointed guardians of the Infinity Gems. Oh, nineties!

"Hey Jean, remember how you like, died on the moon that one time? Isn't that a really sexy memory?" Also part of that untold exchange, "why does Cyclops have enormous hands", or "unexpected side effects of moon vacations".

Surprisingly, Northstar's pin up? Not the most homo-erotic.

According to Uatu, Wonder Man is actually dead at this point but we're viewing a happier what-if scenario where he enjoys cliff diving with sexy moon babes. Really Marvel? You couldn't find enough characters alive in current continuity for this collection?

What a disappointing final image. Uatu the Watcher spends a large amount of time waxing philosophic about the meaning of the Water Festival, but we don't even get to see him in his space beach attire? Way to drop the ball, Marvel.

The back cover reuses the Storm pinup and manages to use not one, but two storm puns. I think an intern may have been in charge of copy for this collection.

And there you have it. The sexier side of (some of) Marvel's greatest heroes. It was stimulating, awkward, and often both at the same time. But it was memorable for sure, and demonstrates a carefree take on the characters that we may never see again now that Marvel is the Mouse of Ideas.

Another Side Of Riverdale

noreply@blogger.com (Comic Book Candy) — Sun, 08 Jul 2012 19:30:00 +0000

Jill Thompson's take on Jughead and Betty.

What makes the cast of Archie such appealing subjects for comic book artists? Fond memories from childhood? The simplicity of the well established archetypes? Maybe Archie and the gang are just really fun to draw. More interesting than the widespread desire of comics professionals to draw Jughead is seeing the surprising results. What happens when artists with uniquely recognizable styles draw the Riverdale gang? Awesome happens. Here's a small collection of some alternative takes on Archie, Betty, Veronica, and Jughead.

An adorable Hero Initiative sketch cover by Agnes Garbowska.

A very young Lucy Knisley's own Archie comic (at 8 or 9 and already a "cynical cartoonist").

Not only does this crossover make perfect sense, but it's great to see Art Baltazar draw Robin dancing to Josie and the Pussycats.

Aviv Itzcovitz's version of a classic Jughead cover, as seen on the blog Covered

A commissioned sketch by Chris Samnee

Of course Cliff Chiang's Archie gang is stylish and rocking out.

Dan Clowes' Archie is definitely a little more sinister (as seen on Comics Beat)

Many a customers purchased this crossover just for Francesco Francavilla's covers.

Betty definitely looks more...lively in Joseph Linser's version.

A classic Kate Beaton strip.

If only Archie #600 were like Leonard Kirk's cover.

This is kind of perfect. I want Tony Fleecs to draw Jughead everyday.

Marvel Swimsuit Special: An In-Depth Analysis Part II

noreply@blogger.com (Comic Book Candy) — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 14:32:00 +0000

The heat wave continues as we analyze more baffling beachside scenes featuring the likes of Iron Man, She-Hulk, and the Wasp (you'll want to stick around for that one, believe me). Catch up on Part I of our analysis here, then join Uatu in I as we do our best to understand Earth's Mightiest as they enjoy their spacecation. Please enjoy more after the jump, some of these photos are too hot for the front page (and too numerous).

If it wasn't for her Spidey pattern towel, it would be easy to mistake Mary Jane for any number of other Marvel redheaded women. In the description it is implied that Peter invited her on this cosmic vacation, yet he apparently didn't make the cut for pinup depictions.

As my husband pointed out, "Why is there a child in this?" A sexy day at the beach does seem an unlikely place to see a child. Uatu observes, "…it's no wonder (daughter) Luna is carefree!" I guess she hasn't gotten a glimpse of mom's suit yet. Even Emma Frost would blush in those duds. Oh well, she should enjoy it while it lasts. This is after father Quicksilver accepts her as his child, but before he abandons her and her mother on the moon (oh, comics!).

Just Tony Stark exploring some ruins with his reptilian companion. No big deal.

I'm happy to see Doctor Strange getting well-deserved attention from the ladies (especially in that suit - why wouldn't hordes of alien women worship that?). But frankly, this does seem a little out of character for the stoic sorcerer. I'm going to guess editorial received two illustrations of Tony Stark and decided to change one to Stephen Strange and call it a day.

Just look at the size of that ponytail! True to the form of the Marvel Swimsuit Edition, this is a character that you think is someone else, only to find out that it is in fact a long forgotten 90's character. In this case you're looking at Thunderstrike, who is like the Ben Reilly of Thor comics.

Gambit is so close, guys… to being seriously injured by Rogue's dangerous mutant powers! Uatu, ever the word smith, notes that Gambit looks "absorbed", even without touching his unrequited lover. Sorry, but that look of absorption is more likely an indication of Gambit's moon sized blue balls, a state that I'm sure he's gotten used to over the years. This is quite a cruel liaison being depicted and not the sexy fun time that should be had on moon beaches.

Lockjaw is so tired. I am not entirely comfortable with She-Hulk using the teleporting inhuman as a chair / personal transporter as is stated in the description. She may be full of rage and sexual energy when she is hulked out, but that is no excuse to take advantage of the gracious Pet Avenger. Also, I'm happy to see that Adam Hughes pays a lot more attention the faces of his ladies these days. This She-Hulk lacks the playful expression seen in Hughes' later depictions.

You know what I was saying about Adamn Hughes paying more attention to faces later in his career? As evidenced by this Scarlet Witch, I guess his bodies still needed a little more work as well. From the claw-like hands to the (no polite way to say this) obvious camel toe, I'm thinking maybe Mr. Hughes had one too many pin-ups in this collection to do them equal justice. Another oddity to observe is the setting. Is she lounging on the examination table of some Inhuman doctor's office? Seduction in the sickbay perhaps?

Did you know that in the 90's Bruce Banner and his destructive alter-ego the Hulk lived harmoniously as one? Well, here is the result. A truly horrific scene of the Hulk primping while a concerned Betty Banner looks on. She is totally thinking, "I miss the old Bruce, the one that didn't gel his hair while hulked out."

This image of Spider-Woman, seen tangled in a gooey confusing mess (much like her continuity) might have newer readers thinking, "Jessica Drew sure looks different." Well, that's because this is Julia Carpenter, the third woman to claim the title of Spider-Woman. Despite the fact that the majority of her history she has been known as Arachne, Uatu talked it over with Marvel editorial first and decided that fact was irrelevant and thought better of calling her Spider-Woman. Just so we're clear, Jessica Drew starred in the 50 issue long ongoing Spider-Woman series, as well as the cartoon of the same name. Yep. They still went with Julia. I'd also bet money that artist Carl Potts used Kristy Swanson as a photo reference.

Siryn, seen here enjoying a carefree afternoon of karaoke with her (then alive) father Banshee, knows how to rock a bathing suit with cape sleeves. That is just the first of many observations to be made. Equally noticeable is the painful annoyance expressed by the sole audience member who might possibly be Psylocke, or a random Inhuman. Things get more interesting when you notice the background players: a mystery man fleeing the duet's performance by flying away, and yes, Wolverine lurking in the thick jungle brush of the moon. I bet he's just dying to be asked to join in, but remains in the distance so as not to reveal his barely contained enthusiasm.

In the name of gods, what is that attached to Nova's face? Just ignoring for a moment that this is a Coppertone ad being played out underwater, that mask just outed Nova as a closeted serial killer.

Well I always wondered how large the Wasp was as compared to a man's bulge - now we know! That rippled silver surface she's straddling implies there might be another package belonging to Colossus somewhere out of view…oh wait. PLEASE say it is out of view.

I wouldn't say we're saving the best for last, but there are some real doozies in the final installment of our Marvel Swimsuit Special coverage, so check back next week for more hardbodies and hard hitting analysis.