Martha Washington Dies
Newsarama interview with Dark Horse editor Diana Schutz about Martha
Amazon link to buy Give Me Liberty, the first book in the Martha series

Miller and Gibbons reunite to tell the final story of Martha Washington.

Batman Confidential #7
Denys Cowan’s website
Newsarama interview with Cowan

Veteran comics artist and animator Denys Cowan draws the current story arc.

Also this week:
Stormwatch PHD #9
Spawn #169
Blade #11
Nextwave, Agents of HATE: I Kick Your Face HC
Squadron Supreme: Hyperion vs. Nighthawk TP
Ultimate X-Men #84. A Bishop story.
Code #3, Guardian Alpha one-shot
Gold Digger’s 11 Pocket Manga Pack. Story and art by Fred Perry.

The panels for the 2007 Comic-Con International have been announced. These are the panels of note for readers of this blog:

Thursday July 26
11:30-1:00 Comics Arts Conference Session #2: Comics and Literacy—Leonard S. Wong (Templeton Secondary School, Vancouver) investigates the ways the alternative views of culture, history, and human life made accessible through graphic novels aids the development of academic and critical literacy among students in multiethnic inner-city classrooms. Robyn A. Hill (National University) and Bill McGrath (National University) examine the effects of using comics and graphic novels within the juvenile court and community schools system to foster a greater interest in reading, stimulate creative writing and artistic expression, and improve overall literacy and academic success within this “at risk” student population. Jacqueline Bauder (Saint Louis University) illustrates how she uses the Punisher’s arguable status as superhero, vigilante, or supervillain to teach the principles of legal writing to law students. Room 30AB

1:00-2:00 Spotlight on Morrie Turner—Legendary comic strip artist Morrie Turner (Wee Pals) talks with world’s fastest cartoonist Sergio Aragonés about his award-winning career in comics. A new documentary is being prepared on Turner’s incredible life and work. Room 3

1:00-2:00 Rosario Dawson: Occult Crimes Taskforce—Actress Rosario Dawson (Grindhouse, Clerks 2, Sin City) is joined by her creative team, writer David Atchison and illustrator Tony Shasteen, as well as 12 Gauge Comics’ Keven Gardner (The Ride) and Gus Vazquez, for a Q&A session about their hit comic series Occult Crimes Taskforce. With their first trade paperback in stores now and new stories on the horizon, the O.C.T. is just gearing up! Find out about the upcoming miniseries and get an update on Dimension’s Occult Crimes Taskforce feature film. Room 6A

Friday July 27
1:30-2:30 Spotlight on Jaime Hernandez/Love and Rockets’ 25th—Chat with Jaime Hernandez about his beloved comic book series Love and Rockets, which celebrates its 25th anniversary this year. Fantagraphics publisher Gary Groth engages Jaime in a discussion (and audience Q&A) about L&R, Jaime’s characters Maggie & Hopey (hailed as two of the great women characters in comics history) as well as other work, including his recent graphic novella, Maggie La Loca, serialized earlier this year in The New York Times Magazine. And what’s going on with that long-discussed Love & Rockets movie?! Room 10

2:30-3:30 Spotlight on Gilbert Hernandez/Love and Rockets’ 25th—In this 25th anniversary year of the legendary independent comic book Love and Rockets, co-creator Gilbert Hernandez sits down with his longtime publisher, Fantagraphics’ Gary Groth, for a frank discussion of Beto’s work and his opinions about comics, touching on his recent Vertigo graphic novel, Sloth, his forthcoming Dark Horse miniseries, and the just released Chance in Hell from Fantagraphics. Ask your own questions in an audience Q&A. Room 10

2:30-3:30 Archaia Studios Press Round-Up—ASP comics editor Joseph Illidge leads a roundtable discussion of ASP writers and artists as they take questions about their past and future work. Panelists include Russ Manning Award–nominee David Petersen (Mouse Guard), Alex Sheikman (Robotika), Marvin Mann (Inanna’s Tears), Ed Lavallee (Revere), David Rodriguez (Starkweather: Immortal), and Nick Tapalansky (Awakening). Room 2

4:30-5:30 New Voices in Graphic Novels—The medium is exploding with new opportunities and new creative talent. Six graphic novel creators who have published their first books in the past year—Miriam Katin (We Are On Our Own), Leland Myrick (Missouri Boy), George O’Connor (Journey into Mohawk Country), David Peterson (Mouse Guard), Christian Slade (Korgi), and Jamie Tanner (The Aviary)—talk about their inspirations and about the place their books have in the changing graphic novel market. Moderated by Calvin Reid (Publisher’s Weekly). Room 4

4:45-5:45 The Boondocks—A sneak preview from the show’s highly anticipated second season. Join creator Aaron McGruder and various members of the show’s crew to hear about what’s in store for viewers this fall. Room 6A

Saturday July 28
10:30-11:30 Black Panel—This year’s Black Panel features Prodigal Sunn (The Wu Tang Clan), Ehrich Van Lowe (TV producer The Cosby Show, The Tom Joyner Show), Sidney Clifton (executive VP, Film Roman), Denys Cowan (senior VP, BET Animation), Andy Horne (producer, 24), Marv Wolfman (creator of Blade), and newcomer Korby Marks. Hear about their exciting new comics and animation projects! Moderated by Michael Davis. Room 5AB

10:30-12:00 Quick Draw—We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again: Quick Draw is just about the most fun you can have at any comics convention panel. Host Mark Evanier keeps artists Sergio Aragonés, Scott Shaw!, and Kyle Baker on their toes through this rollicking cartoon improv event, while you get to see them draw their hearts out live on the big screen. Room 6CDEF

11:30-12:30 BET Animation—Reggie Hudlin (president, BET) and Denys Cowan (senior VP, BET Animation), share their big vision and welcome some very special guests who will blow the doors off the room! Room 5AB

2:45-4:00 Cartoon Network: Class of 3000/My Gym Partner’s a Monkey—ATommy Lynch and Joe Horn, the men behind Class of 3000, talk about the upcoming season and answer questions. Also on hand are Tom Kenny (voice of Philly Phil) and the man himself, Andre Benjamin (voice of Sunny Bridges, Outkast). Plus, you never know what will happen when you get the creators and lead writer of My Gym Partner’s a Monkey all together in one place. Tim Cahill, Julie McNally Cahill, and Tom Sheppard will fill you in on what’s new for the coming season. Plus, a scheduled appearance by the voice of Jake, Tom Kenny! Then stick around for a sneak peek of the upcoming show Flapjack (Thurop Van Orman). Room 6A

3:30-4:30 Spotlight on Kyle Baker—One of the busiest writer/artists in comics, Kyle Baker works in animation, produces graphic novels, and creates just plain old-fashioned funny books. Kyle talks about the move of Kyle Baker Publishing to Image Comics this year and his many projects, including our personal favorite, The Bakers, the cartoon adventures of his own family. Room 1AB

6:00-7:00 The Pitching Hour —Jermaine Turner (director, original series, Disney/ABC Cable Networks Group), Jill Stewart (manager, original series, Disney Channel Animation), Dan Evans (network exec, Digimon), Jeremy Love (VP, Gettosake Entertainment), Laurenn McCubbin (producer, Showtime’s Rent Girl), and Jonas Agin (senior VP, Tom Lynch Company) will take an idea from conception through production. This process will include creating a pitch document, obtaining agents, and getting a pitch meeting. The panelists will explain, through hypothetical example and humorous stories, the process that new creator should adapt to make their way into the Hollywood creative battleground. Knowing that each project is unique, there will be a Q&A to allow the audience to really hone in on the solutions to obstacles they may encounter. Also on hand will be IP lawyer Brendan McFeely to give creators insight on protecting their ideas as they navigate Hollywood! Room 5AB

Sunday July 29
10:30-11:30 The Graphic Novel Explosion—Up until the last few years, graphic novels were published primarily by specialty houses that produced only comics and related works. Now, however, traditional mainstream publishing houses are producing graphic novels and even setting up graphic novel divisions, spurred by bookstore sales trends, library demand, and critical recognition. What has led to this trend? What sorts of books are these publishers looking for? Who is the audience? What role has manga played? And is the graphic novel market going to continue to expand, or will the bubble burst? Panelists include Charles Kochman, senior editor, Harry N. Abrams; David Saylor, creative director, Scholastic/Graphix; Karen Berger, executive editor, Vertigo/Minx/DC; Mark Siegel, senior editor, First Second; Dallas Middaugh, associate publisher, Del Rey Manga; Chris Schluep, editor, Ballantine/Del Rey/Villard; and Calvin Reid, news editor, Publisher’s Weekly, and co-editor, PW Comics Weekly. Moderated by Jackie Estrada, Eisner Awards administrator and consultant to Foreword magazine’s Comique graphic novel supplement. Room 8

11:45-12:45 Marvel X-Men—“Endangered Species” is underway, and “Messiah Complex” is looming. Ed Brubaker, Craig Kyle, Chris Yost, Mike Carey, and executive editor Axel Alonso are unveiling huge plans and unleashing some mutant mayhem that you’ll have to see to believe! Room 6A

3:00-4:00 San Diego Museum of Art: Contemporary Art and Animation—Recently, the San Diego Museum of Art has seen an increase in production of animation works by contemporary artists working within the gallery system. This panel considers one strand of this explosion, focusing on artists who are shifting painting and drawing to the time-based practice of handmade and digital animation, while also accessing popular culture and music. This panel is organized in conjunction with the San Diego Museum of Art’s upcoming exhibition Animated Painting, on view from October 13, 2007 to January 13, 2008, to include works by 14 international contemporary artists including William Kentridge, Julian Opie, Kota Ezawa, Jeremy Blake, and Ruth Gómez. Moderator Calvin Reid (artist, art critic, and co-editor of the online comics newsletter PW Comics Week) talks to panelists Betti-Sue Hertz (curator of contemporary art, San Diego Museum of Art), Lisa Cartwright (professor of communication, University of California), and Jody Culkin (artist and assistant professor of media arts, Borough of Manhattan Community College, New York). Room 3

The complete humongous list begins here.

In other news: here’s a new Kevin Grevioux interview.

Persecuted South African cartoonist Zapiro gets honored with an award.

I feel slightly embarrassed for not knowing that “Cheryl Lynn” is not actually Cheryl Lynn Eaton’s full name. Anyway, here’s a new interview with her.

That Will Smith superhero movie I’ve been telling you about? It’s no longer called “Tonight He Comes” (which is great, because that title was pure ass). It’s now called John Hancock. Yeah, I don’t get it either. But here are some set pictures.