Best News of the Week: Jan 26-Feb 1

Here's a look at some of the stories that may have fell through the cracks this week:

*In Angoulême news...Alan Moore dropped out of the running for Grand Prix and in the end Calvin and Hobbs creator Bill Watterson won the selective process.

The awards ceremony if you have an hour and twenty minutes to spare...it does have musical breaks...

*Comixology was also present at the Festival, polling attendants on their digital reading habits...Again, the infographic lacks numbers but this is an interesting cross section of "a typical French customer". How do the results compare to you or your country?

Archie Comics

*Batman makes his Marvel...Batman editor Mike Marts is headed over to Marvel beginning today after a 6 year stint at DC heading the Batman titles. Marts previously spent a decade at Marvel watching over the X-Men while Grant Morrison and Joss Whedon had their definitive runs in New X-Men and Astonishing X-Men, respectively. DC hasn't announced their new blood for Batman or how this changes their future plans on the line. Creators often follow editors and favor writing(and drawing) for them...it will be interesting to see what happens.

*Archie Comics is promoting the premiere of the Mega Man X in the pages of its Mega Man monthly. The future storyline starts as a backup feature in this month's issue 34-written by Ian Flynn(Sonic the Hedgehog) with art by fan favorite Spaz. Archie's Mega Man made news last year when the comic crossed over with Sonic the Hedgehog(also by Archie) for a 12 part story. Fans of the Super Nintendo series will want to check it out!

*Dark Horse is celebrating the 30th birthday of Stan Sakai's Usagi Yojimbo. Usagi has been seen on TV with the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles- Sakai an old friend of creator Peter Laird. The commemorative book, to be released July 23rd, is called "The Sakai Project". The Dark Horse book is filled with comic greats, with an open door submission process until February 20th. Of note are: Brian Michael Bendis(Ultimate Spider-Man, current X-Men titles, New Avengers, Powers), Jeff Smith(Bone),  and Matt Groening(creator of The Simpsons and Futurama), plus many,many more.Stan Sakai is currently facing financial difficulties due to his wife's medical bills. The Cartoon Art Professional Society has put out the call to donations. Dark Horse is handing over all the proceeds of "The Sakai Project" to the creator and his wife.

*Definitive images of the new Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles move have hit the web on multiple news sites. Now called Ninja Turtles- the movie was rumored to have an alien plot in the original script. The leaked pictures are a promotional poster and what is believed to be new action figures. Playmates Toys has held the action figure licence since before the 80's cartoon premiered. Created by Kevin Eastman and Peter Laird in 1984. Kevin handed over creative control to Peter and Mirage Studios in 2000, Peter Laird sold the property to Viacom(Nickelodeon) late 2009. With the film opening August 8, expect more information and images soon.