Fraction's Next Title Revealed

While we usually let more 'news'-oriented sites handle this type of thing, we can't help but be excited to hear word of Matt Fraction's new assignment once The Order concludes with its tenth issue. Marvel has announced this morning that The Invincible Iron Man will debut in May with Fraction writing and Salvador Larroca handling pencil duties. It will be the second current on-going to follow the adventures of Tony Stark, joining the Knauf-written Iron Man: Director of SHIELD.

Any new title with Fraction's name on it is worth checking out, but an on-going with a character known for his tendencies in espionage, gadgetry and sexual debauchery is a sure don't miss. Anyone reading Casanova could easily tell you as much. Fraction says of writing Stark, "[he's] equal parts James Bond and Chuck Yeager--a pioneer, a test pilot, an engineer, an adrenaline junkie visionary. Iron Man is the ultimate achievement in what we, as humans, can become. He's not the product of cosmic rays or a radioactive spider. He is the triumph of human ingenuity over the frailty of the human form."

Many this morning have been quick to question if Iron Man can support two on-going titles, and whether Fraction is yet a name that can sell a book in a market already saturated with the character. These people clearly haven't read enough of his work. If the guy can make Iron Fist and The Order have ravenous cult followings, it's easy to expect he'll do far more with a marquee character who recently debuted in their first Hollywood film. This may just be the book that finally launches Fraction into super-stardom and gives him the sales numbers he deserves.

Joining Fraction is Salvador Larroca, who's first issue of Amazing Spider-Man just hit stands last week and looked great. His stylish realism is well-suited for Iron Man's particular brand of adventure and will bring a great flavor and atmosphere to Fraction's intelligent sci-fi indulgences. Check out the preview pages for more effective convincing.

Ignore any messages suggesting this series be passed over. Forget that there's already a monthly book following Tony Stark. Who cares that it's a cash-in on the launch of the film. With this creative team at the helm such points are trivial. Invincible Iron Man more than deserves a spot on your pull-list and will almost certainly surprise a few people. Find out what you've been missing in all these Fraction titles you've skipped under whatever guise of justification.


Previews and #1 Solicit at Marvel.com: Link
Discuss at Newsarama: Link

Advance Review: Awakening #3

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Awakening #3
Archaia Studios Press
Written by: Nick Tapalansky
Art by: Alex Eckman-Lawn
4.5/5

This morning I was pissed off at comics. I wasn't in a particularly patient mood and frustration got the best of me. I’m sick of comic readers on the Internet forums as almost all their opinions seem to suggest they invite more of the things I loathe. I’m sick of semi-promising indie titles delivering one or two issues before falling into delay, re-solicit, never-hear-from-again oblivion. In some respects I’m tired of superheroes, even though so many of them are so good right now. I’m tired of ‘different’ titles being different in predictable ways, and I’m mad at the stacks of unwanted disappointments taking up valuable space on my closet floor. I was near the point of bringing out my pull-list and a big black marker when I received an advanced copy of the newest issue of Awakening from Archaia Studios Press and my frustration with the medium was stowed.

Publishers of bad-comics everywhere can rest easy another night. As long as books like Awakening are showing up on my desk I’ll still be interested enough to invest hope and money in other titles before adding them to the crap stack. At this point, nearly everything Archaia puts out is an absolute guaranteed blind purchase for me and I have yet to be let down. Next to big hitters The Killer and Mouse Guard, Awakening has definitely received less prestigious billing but for those who’ve made the effort to get their hands on it the experience has been full of reward.

There's something to be said for being satisfyingly confused, which is certainly how one finds themselves while in the world Tapalansky and Eckman-Lawn have created. Disorientation is part of the experience, and when the imagery mimics the confusion in the narrative I find I’m too absorbed to not be swept along in the mystery and suspense. The first two issues were a good introduction to the town of Park Falls, its characters, and the opening incidents of this story/conflict. This third installment though, is really Tapman-Lawnsky’s coming out party. They’re pushing the boundaries of what they were doing before in both voice and visuals and this book has taken on a whole new fantastic life that leaves no question of its ambition. The story is still packed with mystery, but now so much so that it’s bursting at the seams. It would be frustrating if Tapalansky didn’t seem so in control, and if my befuddlement didn’t feel so intentional on his part. Keeping pace is the art, which is taken to a whole new level. Eckman-Lawn’s complex style was interesting before, here it moves up and brushes on beautiful.

If you’re a patient and insightful reader Awakening is definitely recommended. It’s an inspiring creative force that reminds us how much room for growth the medium still has. At ten issues long, this will be a substantial volume before its completion and certainly one you’ll want to have been a part of. Archaia is the highest pedigree, and Awakening is another shining example. Don’t sleep.
-Tom

Talent Dialogue: Tom Kelesides / Troy Dye (Goblin Chronicles)

If you've been following coverage of the Fablewood anthology, or were in the right place at the right time on FCBD, then you may've already had a small taste of The Goblin Chronicles: a three part fantasy mini from Ape Entertainment that begins this February. We recently had the chance to read some of this story, and let us be the first to tell you - it's one you don't want to miss. Tom Kelesides and Troy Dye are the co-creators and writers responsible for this fun all-ages tale and we couldn't pass on the opportunity to get together with them and find out more.



Tom Mattson (Newseed): Right out the gate why don’t we have you set the stage a little for those who missed the FCBD release or that haven’t caught any previews yet. What’s the basic premise of The Goblin Chronicles, aside from it being a fantasy tale?

Troy Dye: The short version: A goblin nerd, an elf princess, a troll axe woman and a shape shifter thief join forces to stop a mad sorceress from destroying their world. I like to think of it as Shrek meets the Lord of the Rings with a little bit of Labyrinth and Legend thrown in for good measure.

Tom Kelesides: To expand a little, the story is set in a war-torn fantasy world under the control of an evil sorceress named the Dark Queen. The world is populated by four major races: goblins, elves, trolls, and shape shifters. The Dark Queen uses her magic to keep the Four Realms in a perpetual state of war – so that they’re too busy to oppose her will. The main character is Gorim, a young goblin boy who is a bit nerdy and does not fit in with goblin society. He befriends other kids his own age, from enemy races, and with the guidance of an ancient wizard they set out to stop the Dark Queen. While on their quest, they learn about duty, loyalty, tolerance and friendship.

Why an all age story? Do you feel innocence is something that has been lost in comics, if ever it were there? Do you have children? Personally, I can’t imagine allowing my child to read nearly any of the material I read in comics each week.

Troy Dye: I am, if nothing else, a big kid. I never outgrew monster movies, Saturday morning cartoons, video games or Disney films. I don’t have kids yet, but I have many nieces and nephews. At family gatherings, I’m more likely to sit at the “kids table” than with the adults. We wanted to craft a story that was true to the spirit of “being a kid”. An all-ages story was just a natural fit for the kind of story we wanted to tell. I think all-ages fare has been mostly forgotten or written off in the comics market. Someone needs to bring in the next generation of comic book readers. We hope to contribute to those efforts. Having said that, our story is all ages, but it doesn’t talk down to the reader. I think our story will resonate with adults just as much as it does with kids and teens.

Tom Kelesides: We wanted to tell a story that, at its core, was just pure and simple fantasy fun. Not something bogged down with gratuitous violence, nudity or muscle-bound meat heads. There are plenty of titles out there that have that. Don’t get me wrong, we love some of that stuff, but we wanted to take a different approach. I truly believe that this is the kind of story I can recommend to just about anyone I know.

Goblin Chronicles is said to be inspired by ancient mythology & European folklore. How directly and literally ‘inspired’ are we talking? Are these transparent and/or obvious influences? Will we recognize places, figures, and events, or is it more subtly inspired by tone and theme?

Troy Dye: I grew up reading books on myths and folklore. Stuff like Bulfinch’s and Edith Hamilton’s Mythology, Katharine’s Briggs’ Encyclopedia of Fairies, Brian Froud’s Faeries, and let’s not forget TSR’s Deity’s and Demigods. Just about every character has some loose association with myth and legend. Some influences may be obvious, but most are not. In one instance, we had to modify a legend a bit -- as was the case with a gender change for a particularly wicked water boogie.

Tom Kelesides: I’m Greek, so I grew up on a healthy diet of Greek Mythology. Most of the characters were inspired by legend, not necessarily places or events. Like in most myths, you may recognize “The Hero’s Journey” as described by Joseph Campbell.

Tell us about having a co-writer.
Where’d you two connect and what does the other bring to the table?

Troy Dye: Having a co-writer is great, as you have someone there to bounce ideas off of. You can’t beat instant feedback. The collaborative process allows you to cycle through several ideas quickly, tossing aside the garbage and keeping the good stuff.

Tom Kelesides: Writing is work, so having someone there to talk to and joke around with makes the process fun. Also, we’re good at different aspects of writing. My weaknesses are his strengths and vice versa. It works out quite well. It’s nice to have someone to pick up the ball whenever you drop it.

Though the actual series doesn’t begin until February, you’re still finding ways to get TGC out there beforehand both with the FCBD story and the prelude to be featured in the Fablewood anthology this January. How did your involvement in these events/projects come about?

Troy Dye: David Hedgecock and Brent Erwin, the publishers at Ape Entertainment, have been very supportive of The Goblin Chronicles. They invited us to contribute to their FCBD comic and we jumped at the chance. As a result, we’ve received several great reviews of the story. My favorite was “the short included there was in my opinion the best of the package, being better than my own if I do say so myself.” That was posted by the talented Skipper Martin, who also contributed a great FCBD story based on his comic Bizarre New World -- which is a phenomenal read.

Tom Kelesides: As for Fablewood, William Ward, the editor and contributing writer of the Fablewood Anthology, was accepting submissions for his graphic novel. David at Ape encouraged us to submit a story, so we did. William liked what we turned in and the rest is history. William has been working extremely hard to promote Fablewood – which also benefits our upcoming miniseries. We’re grateful to William for giving us this opportunity.

Looking at the experience of Fablewood specifically, how has it been working with that team? What type of opportunities does an anthology structure provide you as a writer that you may not have had otherwise?

Troy Dye: It’s been a great experience working with William and team on Fablewood. I know William has been putting in long hours promoting on forums, doing interviews, calling retailers, etc. It shows that he has 100% commitment to this project. I take my hat off to him. This guy is trying everything he can in his power to get the word out. That’s dedication.

Tom Kelesides: Contributing to an anthology is a great way to get your stuff out there with minimum hassle. Putting a full-length book together takes a lot of time, money, and energy. Since a short story is smaller in scope, it’s less time consuming. It was nice to see the finished product in a relatively short amount of time. A short story is a great way to get your name out there. I strongly recommend this avenue to all aspiring comic book writers and artists.

Fablewood is focused on exploring the fantasy genre. The Goblin Chronicles is a fantasy tale. Perhaps it’s prudent to ask what you consider to be at the heart of a truly great fantasy story. Why fantasy? What’s the power there?

Troy Dye: When I think about why I like books like Tolkien’s “The Hobbit”, Martin’s “A Game of Thrones” and Hobb’s “Assassin’s Apprentice”, it’s because of the rich and interesting characters. The reader must identify with the characters in order to get them to invest hours of their time reading your story. What’s the power of fantasy? I think the genre offers you a real disconnect with reality; more so than any other genre. With magic, the possibilities are endless. It’s the ultimate wish fulfillment.

Tom Kelesides: The heart of any great story is the characters and how they handle the situations they are in. Can the reader sympathize? Do they care? A good story is a good story, regardless of genre. However, fantasy has the added benefit of taking us to a different world, playing with magic, and fighting monsters. That appeals to the kid in most people. I think the reason the fantasy genre is so powerful is because it is a direct result of old Greek, Norse, and Egyptian mythology. These are stories that have been with us for thousands of years. I think its natural for anyone who loves mythology to love fantasy.

The story of the hero is an old one, and fantasy allows us to place our heroes in a world where they can still do fantastic things. Also, it allows us escape the mundane world that we live in and indulge in all of our wildest flights of fancy.

How big a role do the characters and events in the FCBD and prelude stories play in the issues coming in February?

Troy Dye: The FCBD story centers one of the main characters in the miniseries, Gorim the goblin. It gives the reader insight into why he wants to become a gadgeteer – that’s goblinspeak for inventor.

Tom Kelesides: It’s a stand alone prequel story, so you don’t need to read it to enjoy the miniseries. The other characters in the FCBD story (his parents and his mentor, Tinker) play minor roles in the miniseries.

The two of you set up Archon Comics, a studio in Los Angeles. At this point you’ve announced no planned releases past the initial three issue Goblin Chronicles run. Will we be seeing more of these characters or this universe in the future?

Troy Dye: That is a definite possibility. It all depends on how well sales go. We already have material written for a second miniseries. If sales are good, we’ll proceed with the art. I absolutely love the characters and the setting. So I hope we get the chance to tell more stories.

Tom Kelesides: We’re playing with the idea of translating TGC into a novel. There’s so much more detail, background info, and story we can delve in to if we were writing this as a novel. Comics are our primary focus at the moment though.

With or without more of TGC, what can we expect from Archon down the line? Are you interested in doing work outside the fantasy realm?

Troy Dye: We intend to add more creative folk to the Archon stable in the near future. Our focus has been on TGC for the past year or so, but once we get the first miniseries on its way, we intend to grow Archon comics into a small studio of highly-motivated comic creators. I envision Archon Comics as a place to assemble creative teams for submissions, a vehicle in which to promote ourselves, and make new friends. We are definitely interested in creating comics outside of the fantasy genre.

Tom Kelesides: We love fantasy, but it is by no means the only genre we wish to work with. We have a few other irons in the fire, but right now we are focusing on TGC. We are not exclusively “all-ages” either. Although we feel the industry needs more all-ages comics, we’re also big fans of adult sci-fi and horror. We’d like to play with the genres as well.

The Goblin Chronicles story in Fablewood look stunningly beautiful. Collin Fogel (art) and Dustin Evans (colors) have really pulled out all the stops and put together an impressive display. Where’d you find these guys and are there any plans to bring them back on future projects?

Troy Dye: On behalf of Collin and Dustin: Thanks! I met Collin through Digital Webbing. It’s funny, because Collin didn’t post his art, someone else did. His style was exactly what I was looking for, so I emailed him and here we are. Collin is a consummate professional. Even though he has a demanding day job as a video game artist, he really came through by turning in great pages on a regular schedule. Dustin Evans is Ape’s “go to” man for colors. David Hedgecock recommended Dustin to me because he’s dependable and was doing an awesome job on Gargoyles, which David also pencils for SLG. Dustin also did bang-up colors on our FCBD story. I am definitely going to work with Dustin again. Will Terrell does our colors for the miniseries. They’re unbelievable. Will has a unique and fresh style that’s ridiculously cool. Will is the total package, because he can pencil, ink, and color, too.

Tom Kelesides: We would work will all of these guys again if they would have us. They did a great job. We went through several artists who proved to be unreliable before we assembled this team. Colin is awesome and has a great work ethic. It really all came together once we had a reliable artist who would illustrate our story the way we liked. Dustin and Will’s colors really gave life to the art. It’s incredible what these guys have done.

Is there any truth to the rumor I just made up that you found such incredible artists to overcompensate for your own shortcomings?

Troy Dye: Why you son-of-a-bugbear! Did Skipper tell you that? Or was it Ward?

Tom Kelesides: Absolutely not! The greatness of our artists is only surpassed by our own. However, I will add that a good reliable artist who can follow instructions and take criticism is worth his weight in gold!

Stepping back from all of this for a bit, what’s your big picture? As a writer are comics your focus or just a small part of what you want to be doing over the course of your career?

Troy Dye: Right now I’m obsessed with comics. I absolutely love the format. I originally got the writing bug through writing prose and screenplays, so we may re-visit those mediums at a later date. But for right now, it’s all about comics.

Tom Kelesides: We love comics, and would be happy doing only comics if we could make a good living at it. However, we would also like to try our hand at screenplays and novels at a later date. We’ll see what opportunities come our way.

What’s your history with comics? Did you read them as a kid? Do you follow them now? Do you have any general comments on the ‘state of the industry,’ or any current series? If nothing else, could you make a guess as to why Hollywood can’t put out a third installment in a successful comic-inspired franchise that isn’t just utter trash?

Troy Dye: I’ve been reading comics since I was a wee lad. I think my first comic was an adaptation of the movie Aliens. I also remember picking up Arak, Son of Thunder and early issues of the original Firestorm series. I still read comics voraciously today and follow the industry closely. As far as the state of the industry, I’m encouraged that sales numbers are up in general, but bummed that independent publishers seems to be have less market share than they have in previous years. All the mega crossover events are kicking the little guys in the nether regions. Ouch, I say! Why cant Hollywood out a good third installment of a comic-inspired franchise? I dunno … maybe because lightning rarely strikes in the same place twice, let alone thrice. I think it tough making three successful films in a row, period. Good movies are just rare these days. Maybe I’m just jaded because I’m disappointed with about 8 out of 10 movies I see. Too many chefs in the kitchen, perhaps?

Tom Kelesides: I started reading comics when I was 6 years old. Saturday morning cartoons made me a fan of the Super Friends, when I started reading, I picked up comic books on all of my favorite super heroes and it just grew from there. I continued to read comics into my teens, twenties, and now my thirties. The biggest barrier to comic books is that they’re too expensive. They do not provide enough bang for your buck. That is the challenge that the industry is facing today. There are many different types of media all competing for our money. It all breaks down to economics. A comic book costs on average $3.50 and takes 10 minutes to read. A movie at the cinema costs $10 and keeps you entertained for two hours. A good video game offers even greater value. So, as you can see comic books are up against some real stiff competition. As for why Hollywood can’t put out a third installment worth seeing, my best guess is nepotism within the studios, and the fact that many of the big executives who make the decisions are probably out of touch with the whole genre. But third installments are not the only victims of this. The new Superman movie that came out was a heaping pile of dung! The TV show, Smallville, is very well done and I am a huge fan. I love the way they portray Lex Luthor on that show. However, in the movie, they made Lex into an imbecile. They obviously surrounded themselves with a bunch of bootlicking “yes-men" when they wrote and filmed that movie!

Anything else you want to get off your chest before we call it a segment?

Troy Dye: You can pre-order the Goblin Chronicles in December 2007 at your local comic shop. It will be in stores in February 2008. It’s a three-issue miniseries, in full color, with 30 pages of story and art in each issue. The first issue has a variant cover by Jack Lawrence (Lions, Tigers and Bears). The second issue has a variant cover by Tim Seeley (Forgotten Realms). The third issue has a variant cover by Joe Suitor (Monoluminant). Please support your local comic shops and don’t forget to buy other fun Ape Entertainment titles.

Tom Kelesides: Yes, I want everyone to run out and demand that their local comic book store order dozens of copies of The Goblin Chronicles! Visit www.TheGoblinChronicles.com for more information. Go to www.ApeComics.com for other fine Ape comics. Don’t forget to pick up the Fablewood Anthology in stores in January or pre-order your copy today (order code: NOV07 3306).

Thanks very much for your time guys. The Goblin Chronicles look wonderful and we’re really looking forward to February.

Troy Dye: Thanks for your time!

Tom Kelesides: From one Tom to another … thanks!

Be sure to browse the links Tommy K. mentioned above which lead to some great preview art, or click below to go straight to the FCBD story, available on the Archon website. Order these books, you deserve this type of stuff.

Goblin Chronicles: "The Goblin Gadgeteer" FCBD Story | Link

On the Horizon: Fablewood

As you might have heard whisper of lately, Ape Entertainment is publishing a comic anthology this January titled Fablewood. The project is conceived around the notion of bringing the magic of Fantasy back to comics, exploring not only swords, sorcery and epic heroes but hopefully finding much more along the way. Says the Fablewood team, "Magic is not just spells and wizards - it can also refer to a feeling [or] an experience." It's cheesy sentimental statements like this that lead to fantastic work, and that's certainly appearing to be the result here.

The project brings together a wealth of talents including up-and-coming names you know as well as newcomers you'll soon be glad to (believe us). If you've followed the Flight series you understand what a compelling read an anthology collection can be. Fablewood is looking to be at least as good, as you'll soon understand when you take a peek at the preview pages below.

We're so excited about this release that we're planning a series of previews and discussions with contributing writers and artists. We're not the only ones amped either, as creators are lining up to be a part of Fablewood and a follow-up book is already said to be on the horizon. We wanted more information, but there wasn't any to be found. So we asked for it. Willing to donate his time and knowingness was editor William Ward. He said the following;

Tom Mattson (newseed): You’ve said that Fablewood was designed with the intention of reintroducing the fantasy genre to comic books. What does this mission mean to you personally? Is this dear to your heart and something you initially set out to accomplish or was it more of a torch that you took up over time?

William Ward: Well, certainly there are some excellent fantasy comics out there today like Conan, Fables, Mouse Guard, Flight, Artesia (and some others) so I don’t want to give the impression there are not good books out there. However, there just is not as much work coming out as I need to keep satisfying my need for fantasy comics. When I started recruiting, “We need more Fantasy” was basically what I went to creators with and it appeared I was not alone—the project idea received a lot of positive reactions and I think it really is because people are starved for more fantasy books.

Explain what makes fantasy such a captivating and effective storytelling realm. What can it provide that has been missing from the current fantasy-lite comic universe?

There were once a much larger number of classic fantasy titles out there—covering a wide variety of styles (Sandman to Bone). I think it is the range of stories you can tell in Fantasy that make it so captivating. High Fantasy epics like Lord of the Rings can stand in contrast to gritty Low Fantasy stories like Conan. You can tell a mystery, an adventure, or a slice-of-life story that just happens to take place in a fantasy world. Endless possibilities.

Other than ‘fantasy,’ did you try to maintain any specific type of aesthetic with the stories you chose to include? For example, did you have a specific age group in mind as a target readership? Did you ever find a story to be too violent, inappropriate, etc…?

It is difficult for me to add a ‘rating’ to any work, as I believe that parents are the best judge of what there children are capable or reading and seeing. Most of us certainly watched films before we reached the recommended age. I did avoid a few stories during the process that I believed were beyond the audience I wanted to be able to read the book—I was shooting for teenagers and up when I was organizing the book.

Some mature, slightly younger children may be able to read the book as well, and there are definitely stories appropriate for all ages. The sample artwork on our page shows the range of material in the book, and parents can judge by that if it is appropriate for their children. We included images that I believe represent the range of stories.

From an editor’s standpoint, what have you found to be the most frustrating aspect of putting together a big conglomerate project such as this? Was there anything that took you by surprise or that you wish you’d approached differently?

This was a huge learning experience, and while there were not a lot of frustrating issues, there are a ton of small things I learned along the way that I feel would save me time and effort in a future project. Being the editor is definitely a difficult job, from saying “This isn’t for me” to keeping up with hundreds of e-mails—I certainly gained a lot of respect for guys like Kazu and Jason Rodriguez.

Conversely, what was the easiest and/or most rewarding aspect? Was this different than what you expected it to be?

Originally this was supposed to be a small project, but over time it grew because people were more interested than I anticipated. What really surprised me, and maybe it should not have, was the interest and cooperation that Fablewood got from creators already working on higher profile projects. Ryan Ottley (Invincible, Superman/Batman Annual #1), Manny Trembley (Panda Xpress, Sam Noir: Samurai Detective), Joe Infunari (Oni Talent Search, Borrowed Time), J.P. Ahonen and Sarah Mensinga (Flight 4) certainly all had other work they could be doing, but they got involved and have really proved helpful through the whole process with marketing and advice even beyond their submissions.

The book just ran in the most recent edition of Previews. Prior to now, what have you found to be the most effective marketing strategies? Have you been seeing an increased level of awareness and interest as the shelf date grows nearer?

Early on I was worried, but it appears that the advice from Ape Entertainment and some of the more established creators on timing is proving true, as in recent weeks I have started to see an increase people contacting me about Fablewood. It has been a steady and as it continues I expect we will be in good shape. Our marketing is getting out more now throughout November (i.e. the solicitation period) with interviews, advanced previews and reviews. Of course our biggest push will be when the book hit shelves, to push people towards their local retailer.

You’ve revealed that a follow-up is in the works already, or will be shortly. Can you provide any further details? Are there any creators confirmed to be returning? Have you considered who will be doing the cover design (and may we recommend sticking with whoya’ve got)?

Volume #2 is actually a sign of how far our recruitment effort went with Fablewood. When it was all said and done we had enough material for nearly two full 144 page books. Due to the great turnout of material we decided to divide the material for balance and recruit some new talent for the last 40 pages of Volume #2. As far as the cover and more details, I think I will have to ‘Plead the Fifth’ for now. Perhaps I can stop in again to talk about it more.

In a recent interview you agreed that comic anthologies deserve a bigger piece of the market. With the boom of manga and the popularity of the Flight books, a huge portion of the comic market is starting to show up in large book retailers such as Borders or Barnes n Noble. With this new breed of customers in an expanding market, do you see the comic industry undergoing any major changes, with anthologies perhaps playing an increased role?

There appears that as far as anthologies go, the increased role may be starting already. Afterworks, 24Seven, Postcards, and Popgun (check out Fablewood contributor Joe Suitor in Popgun, with a story that features the same character as seen in his upcoming Fablewood tale) are just a couple examples of books that have received attention that in the past may not have existed for anthologies.

As far as large book retailers, they are definitely useful markets, but I really think that the comic book retailers are likely going to remain the initial source for books like ours. For all you hear about what retailers will and won’t order, every major independent book I am aware of made it mark in comic shops before hitting book chains.

At this point do you know whether Fablewood will be receiving a hardcover release?

We don’t have plans for a Hardcover release, however if we get a few volumes under our belt and the demand is there, who knows what could happen.

With this project now under your belt and moving forward from here, where do you see yourself focusing most of your creative efforts in the future? Is story writing your primary outlet or do you think you may now turn more toward editing?

Story writing is what I want to do most of the time and I was fortunate enough to gain some attention from Fablewood and land my first paying writing job just a month ago. We are not announcing yet, but it is for a small press publisher and I am very excited about it. Editing is hard, but rewarding and I think I will do it again some day, but nothing immediate is coming up.

Thanks for your time William. Fablewood looks to be coming together fantastically and we can’t wait to get our grubby hands on it!

Thank you for your time and questions. FABLEWOOD GN VOL 01 has officially hit Previews with an order code of NOV07 3306. Stop by your local retailer, order a copy, and talk it up. It is a HUGE boost for us (and any indy) for people to pre-order, and we appreciate the help.

~~ | ~~

As you can see, this is one to get excited about. Here are some other resources if you want to keep checking this puppy out, and land back here sometime soon for further coverage and information! Fablewood will be released 1/30/08.

Official Fablewood Site

Justin Boatwright (Wednesday Is My Sabbath) w/ William Ward

Jazma Online w/ contributor Joe Suitor

Jazma Online w/ contributor Joe Infurnari

Jazma Online w/ contributor Azel Medallin Machain

Ape Entertainment

On the Horizon: Flight Vol. 4

The Flight series is one of my absolute favorites. Each of the first three installments were absolutely beautiful and had something in them for everyone. The fourth volume is shipping soon and I highly recommend picking it up. Don't sleep on this!

On the Horizon: September Previews

Another week commences! Thankfully too, because its the last that'll go without a Conquest release for quite some time. I'm legitimately excited for that series to get underway. I'm even more excited for Mouse Guard Winter 1152, but we've covered that repeatedly already. Here are some other titles I'm anticipating from the July-for-September edition of Previews.

Primordia #1 of 3
John R. Fultz
Archaia Studio Press
At this point I'm prepared to invest a glance at any title this studio puts out. This one is a fantasy epic that looks to pit the dark and light elements of the universe against each other with rival brothers in the lead. Whatever. With Archaia's track record and at only 3 issues long, this looks like more than a safe gamble.



Parade (with fireworks) #1 of 2
Michael Cavallaro
Image
The 4 panel-preview for this one was enough to get me interested in a title that, based solely on the cover, I otherwise would have probably skipped. Cavallaro does everything here, and his art is clean and rich. The narrative seems introspective without being long winded, and the focus on both family and politics makes for an exciting adventure.


The Escapists Hardcover
Brian K. Vaughan
Dark Horse
The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay by Michael Chabon was/is one of my favorite novels. I've read it several times and find something new and elegant to appreciate about it on each occassion. Vaughan's comic pays appropriate homage to such a good book, and a beautiful hardcover is the perfect format for this title!


Cairo Hardcover
G. Willow Wilson
Vertigo
Highly acclaimed debut series from Wilson about the lives of five people in Cairo, and how their lives are connected. I haven't actually read any of this one, but it comes hugely recommended and sounds like the type of intelligent ride I'm in the mood for. If I have the funds, I'll be getting this.



Shortcomings Hardcover
Adrian Tomine
Here's the one I know least about, and am unfamiliar with the author, but this tale of modern living sounds like one I might be able to connect with. The net is buzzing about it too, so it may well be worth a look. In addition, portions of this were included in McSweeney's which is reason enough to investigate anything.




The Mice Templar #1
Michael Avon Oeming
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Already mentioned this one before but wanted to make sure to hit on it again since issue #1 needs to be ordered here relatively quick. Get in on this one from the start!

On the Horizon

Comics are expensive and often hard to get if you don't know what you want ahead of time, which is why reviews are often too little too late in the way of recommendations. No one likes missing the first few issues of a great new series before they hear enough to start ordering it. Good thing the comic gods have given us blogs and monthly solicitations!

Recommended titles to add to your 'pull list':

Awakening
Nick Tapalansky
Archaia Studio Press
Begins August
"A ten issue series of existential horror." Whatever that means. Probably not anything we're thinking. Regardless of how the story turns out though, Archaia simply produces some of the most aesthetically beautiful books I've ever seen.

Killing Pickman
Jason Becker
Archaia Studio Press
Begins August
End of his rope detective decides to kill the psychopath who committed the murders he's been investigating. Problem is, turns out this particular psycho is protected by ritualistically summoned demons. Whoops! Six part series by Jason Becker.

Mouse Guard: Winter 1152
David Peterson
Archaia Studio Press
Begins July
Fall 1152 was beautiful and captivating and there's no reason to believe Winter will be anything less. This is truly a wonderful comic for all ages and walks of life, whether or not you've read the previous book, or any other comics in general.

Black Summer
Warren Ellis
Avatar Press
Begins August
Ellis' first take on the superhero genre, so naturally it's some twisted business. Supposedly this tackles the issue of masked heroes from a very realistic (Watchmen-esque) perspective. Except, of course, with Ellis' patented blend of violence and seedy-underbelly. Strong stomaches only.

North Wind
David DiGillio
Boom! Studios
Begins July
Apocalyptic epic following the events of the new ice age and the underground civilization of survivors. 'Mad Max in a blizzard atmosphere.' Count me in.


Foundation
John Rozum
Boom! Studios
Begins July
'Using the lost texts of Nostradamus, the knowledge of the future is theirs. But it's subject to interpretation. Will they read the text correctly, or make a crucial mistake? A vibrant new thriller with the action of 24 but using the tone of X-Files!'

I could go without the cheesy TV show comparisons, but this one sounds like Planetary, which is to say it sounds like a hell of a lot of fun.

The Mice Templar
Michael Avon Oeming
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Begins August
Another fantastic mouse driven adventure? Bring it on! Whereas Mouse Guard seems more quaint and beautiful in its execution, Templar looks like it's going to kick up the tempo and get the quest bumpin!