Free (Indian) Comic Book Weekend For All!

International comic month continues. Our next stop is India for Free Comic Book Weekend (FCBW). Readwhere.com and Comic Con India have teamed up to offer free comics on the Readwhere app. The weekend seeks to “increase popularity of Indian comics among today’s generation.”

“We are taking steps to ensure that Indian comics are available to its fans easily,” said Jatin Varma, head of Comic Con India. Eight publishers are taking part in the event including world renowned Amar Chitra Katha (ACK) and Diamond Comics. "Relive your childhood. Be a kid again!" the site proposes.

It is necessary to download the readwhere app through its website (also free). The app is compatible with Android decides, Apple devices (specifically noted the iPad), and PCs and tablets that have Windows 8.1 or higher.

Readers can choose from five comics per account from a selection of ten comics. Draupadi: The Fire-Born Princess (Campfire Graphic Novels), Tinkle (ACK), Satya Police (Pop Culture Publishing), and the fan favorite Chacha Chaudhary (ACK) are standouts. Some of the titles are in Hindi (the website, however, is in English.

This is the second Free Comic Book Weekend held in India. Manish Dhingra, co-founder and director of readwhere.com, stated they supplied free comics to “more than 15, 000 comic book enthusiasts” the previous FCBW.

Free Comic Book Weekend is May 3rd and 4th in India. Keep in mind India is 10 hours ahead of New York local time (Eastern Time).

Head to http://www.readwhere.com/fcbw2014 and get reading. The same page includes “Comics on Sale” ; don’t get confused!

May is international comic book month!

May is international comic book month!

The 20th Annual FestComix will take place in Sao Paulo, Brazil from May 1st-4th.

Thursday will have panels about Marvel and DC, held by their foreign distributor, Panini Comics. Jheremy Raapack will talk about his work on Injustice for DC Digital. Translated manga and independent comics will also be discussed.

Friday : Joshua Dysart (Harbinger) will talk about reintroducing the Valiant Universe together with Brazilian distributor HQM. Shawn Martinbrough will talk about his work on Thief of Thieves. Cartoonists and editors will discuss the zombie invasion in comics. There will be a special panel preparing Brazilian national comics for international markets.

Saturday: Cartoonists talk about their favorite childhood heroes, Panini announces more Manga titles, and artists and writers talk about their work on Disney Comics. Jim Krueger ( Justice, Project Superheroes, Buffy)  will chat about his acclaimed work with Marvel, DC, and Dynamite.

Sunday, the festival will close with a celebration of Batman and Superman’s 75th, a round table talk with Will Conrad, Joe Bennet, Daniel HDR, and Marcelo Mailo about producing good artwork. Editor Sidney Gusman will talk about Graphics MSP with its creators Vitor Cagaggi, Danio Beyruth, and Gustavo Duarte. Jim Kreuger returns to talk about the Golden Age in the super hero world.

Also this weekend, in the United States, is the twelfth annual Free Comic Book Day. With involvement by practically all the major comic book companies in the business, each provides comic book stores across America with a free sample comic (often new stories). Some libraries also participate in FCBD, encouraging young readers. The program is all about outreach. It is aimed to introduce new readers; they even have a comic book explanation guide for those new to the comic book world. FCBD also strives to invite back readers who may have stopped collecting comics for one reason or another. It is also a thank you to current comic books readers.

The day also coincides with major motion picture releases based on comics. The first Free Comic Book Day followed the release of the first Spider-Man back in 2002. X2, Spider-Man 2, Spider-Man 3, Iron Man, X-Men Origins: Wolverine, Iron Man 2, Thor, The Avengers, and Iron Man 3 all invited excited moviegoers to check out their local comic store on opening weekend to experience a piece of the magic that inspired these larger than life films. The Amazing Spider-Man 2 opens May 2nd.

Click here to see the 57 free comics offered this year. Many shops have limits on the amount of comics you can take. Most shops also have great sales and special offers to commemorate the important weekend. DC Comics made a map to track where their creators will be appearing on Saturday. Don’t know where your nearest comic shop is? Check out Comic Shop Locator.

Not to be left in the dust, France is celebrating their Bande dessinée this month. Why just one day? France is trying out 48 hours (2 days) of the BD. The website have yet divulge what comics will be available but will be offering 100,000 BD. The event will take place May 16 and 17. French publishers Casterman, Dargaud, Dupuis, Fluide Glacial, Wide Angle, Jungle, The Lombard and Urban Comics are all involved. 

Popping Up Like Rabbits: Happy Easter

Today is Easter. Culture of Comics wants to take the opportunity to take a look at six notable rabbits who originated in comics. 

Bunnie Rabbot (Sonic the Hedgehog)

Bunnie Rabbot first appeared in Sonic the Hedgehog #3(October 1993) by Archie Comics. She appeared months later in the DIC cartoon, Sonic the Hedgehog, alongside other Freedom Fighters fighting against Doctor Robotnik. Half roboticized cyborg, half rabbit with a Southern drawl: the Rabbot has appeared as a loyal ally and even got married within the pages of the comic that won the Guinness World Record for the longest running comic book based on a video game.

Johnny Lightfoot (Sonic the Comic)

Across the pond, Sonic the Comic, published by Fleetway Editions, had its own rabbit character: Johnny Lightfoot. The character was created by Nigel Kitching and Richard Elson. The character, also an ally in the fight against Doctor Robotnik, tragically died  at the end of the series. Sonic the Comic ran from 1993-2002 and lives on in a fan made website with contributions from the original creators.

Miyamoto Usagi (Usagi Yojimbo)

Miyamoto Usagi was created by Stan Sakai. A masterless samurai(ronin), he was Inspired by Miyamoto Musashi. His story, an episodic look at a mystical Japan filled with all kinds of different animals(including dinosaurs) first appeared in Albedo Anthropomorphics #2 published by Thoughts and Images in November 1984. Since then, the ronin has appeared in Radio Comix, Mirage Studios, Fantagraphics Books, and currently, Dark Horse Comics. Usagi got his fame in cameos with the Ninja Turtles, appearing in the 80s cartoon, the 2003 4Kids revival, action figure lines and video games. Often misnamed as the series he stars in, Usagi Yojimbo means Rabbit Bodyguard in Japanese.

Hoppy the Marvel Bunny (Captain Marvel)

A popular genre in comics was, and still is, talking animals. Fawcett Comics, the creators of Captain Marvel, created Fawcett’s Funny Animals in 1942, staring Hoppy, created by Chad Gothkopf. Like Captain Marvel, Hoppy shouts ‘Shazam’ and gains magical powers granted by the gods. The properties were sold to Charlton Comics and the character’s name was changed to Magic Bunny. The Marvels finally found their home with DC Comics, appearing in various comics.

Captain Carrot (Captain Carrot and His Amazing Zoo Crew)

Captain Carrot (and his Amazing Zoo Crew) first appeared in a 1982 issue of Teen Titans. He was created by Scott Shaw! And Roy Thomas. Originally Roger Rabbit, Rodney Rabbit is a writer and artist (an allusion to Superman’s day job at the Daily Planet). The  character and his Zoo Crew appeared in their own 20 issue series and various miniseries, even teaming up with characters from The Wonderful Wizard of Oz.

Sansão(Turma da Mônica)

Samson in the English translations, Sansão is Monica’s stuffed blue rabbit. He was originally yellow when created by Brazilian Mauricio de Sousa in 1963- in the black and white comic strips.  Samson  is often the object of affection for the neighborhood boys to steal and also Monica’s weapon of choice when getting revenge. He wasn't named until the comic book held a contest to name the rabbit in 1983. 

Monica (comic) Books

The Brazilian publisher Editora Girassol will release, in participation with Maurico de Sousa Productions, two special editions in which Monica Teen(and her gang) interpret classics of world literature: Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson; and Midsummer Night’s Dream, by William Shakespeare.

MSP and Editora Girassol 

The new collection, baptized Monica Teen- Romances and Adventures, will bring Monica, Jimmy Five, Maggy and Smudge starring in the modern retellings of the plots. These are the first releases by Girassol(Sunflower) involving Monica’s Gang(the teenage version).

The two volumes will be released in 7 inches (17.5 cm) by 9 inches(23 cm) format, with 48 pages and a hard cover. Each edition will cost 49.90 reals(about 22 US dollars).

(Original article: Turma da Mônica Jovem reviveclássicos da literature, written by Samir Naliato on April 2, 2014. Republished and translated with permission by UniversoHQ)

MSP(Mauricio de Sousa Productions) have made a smart move here. Turma da Monica Jovem(Monica Teen) has been a must read fever among tweens and young adults in Brazil since it was introduced in 2008. Issue  34, showcasing  the first kiss between the two protagonists, sold over 500,000 issues in September 2011. America’s best selling issue was Justice League  #1, with over 200,000 issues sold. Monica, Maggy, Jimmy Five (now, a more mature Jim Five), and Smudge sell chocolates, dolls, clothes, fashion accessories, and personal hygiene products all over Brazil. Last year, they made a special appearance in beloved young adult writer Thalita Rebouças’ novel: Ela Disse, Ele Disse: O Namoro(“She Said, He Said: The Romance”), published by Rocco Young Readers. Mauricio de Sousa included the characters in vignettes, reacting to the action in the novel- connecting the fictional characters with the popular trends of today.

MSP, with Panini Comics,  also produces a bimonthly “Cinema Classics” series with each issue featuring a spoof of a different film series or movie classic. From ET, Blair Witch Project and Night at the Museum to classics like King Kong, Casablanca, Gladiator and Titanic. Superhero movies have also been featured with issues featuring Batman (Batboy), Superman, Green Lantern and The Avengers. With MSP focusing on retellings of popular high school reading material, this both dulls the burden of an assignment and introduces the reader to the original works. Time will tell how successful these retellings are or how the brand will grow from here. 

Saudi Arabia Has 99 Problems...

The 99 was created in 2007 by Stuart Moore, John McCrea, and Dr. Naif Al-Mutawa and published by Teshkeel Comics. The name stems from the eventual 99 member team of young super powered citizens of the planet. Their powers can complement each other and work best in certain groups of three, depending on the problem at hand. This stresses tolerance and diversity. They have already teamed up with DC superheroes like Batman and Superman. Download a free copy of the origin of the team at Comixology.

The comic has not been without its controversy among conservatives. Despite the controversy, The 99 franchise has a animated series broadcast in 70 countries and a theme park in Kuwait. In 2010, at the Presidential Summit on Entrepreneurship in 2010, President of the United States Barack Obama mentioned the 99 and head creator Dr. Naif Al Mutawa. “His comic books have captured the imagination of so many young people,with superheroes who embody the teachings and tolerance of Islam,” the President said. President Obama is an admitted comic book collector. In 2011, The 99 CGI  feature film debuted in New York and Dubai film festivals.

Saudi Permanent Committee for Scholarly Research and Ifta issued a fatwa, or formal legal opinion, on The 99 recently. They call for the banning of the series for flouting religious values. “There have been numerous Twitter campaigns against me for a while now and so for me it’s not new,” Al Mutawa said to Gulf Business. “Maybe it is true this time, but I find it very difficult to believe that a group as influential and high profile [as the Saudi Committee] wouldn't recognise the good that THE 99 has done for Muslims around the world.”The creators were not notified of the ban and there is no official word if that is the case. The series(animated and comic) have been successfully sold in Saudi Arabia for many years now without official challenges. Al Mutawa vows that the franchise upholds strong Muslim values and cites that it is an uneducated opinion based on heresy.



The 2011 DC Comics/ Tashkeel Comics’collaboration , JLA:The 99, six issue miniseries is available on Comixology. The series is also available in Arabic. Download Beginnings for free(in English) here. Promotional information and more information is available at the official 99 website. 

How Much Would You Pay For a Comic? Name Your Price

The online comic store Mais Gibis(More Comics) is premiering a new way of payment, called “Name Your Price”, for select titles.

With this option, the reader will decide how much they want to pay for some editions, like Gibi Quântico("Quantam Comics") or Manual da Autodestruição("Self-destruction Manual"), and collaborate with the creators. The price paid could be any value upwards of 1 Real(.50 US cents). If the reader prefers, they can enter R$0.00 and download the issues for free.

Quantam Comics,  available through Mais Comics is created by 10 writers and various talents of Brazil

"Quantam Comics" is one of the new titles available through the site. Others include Pieces 1 and 2, by Mario Cau; and Os Passarinhos e Outros Bichos("The Birds and Other Animals"), by Estevão Ribeiro and published by Balão Editorial.(Other titles do not feature the "Name Your Price" flexibility)

To see the full catalog of digital titles, check out the site.

(Original article: Site Mais Gibis estreia o modelo Quer pagar quanto? Written by Samir Naliato on March 19, 2014. Reprinted and translated by permission from UniversoHQ)

Stateside, Brian K. Vaughan(Saga, Y the Last Man, Runaways) and Marcos Martin(Daredevil, Doctor Strange:The Oath, The Amazing Spider-Man) teamed up to “deliver original comics directly to readers around the world, who pay whatever the hell they want…” This format takes the middle man(distributors, publishers) out of the picture and all proceeds go right to the hands of the creators. Their digital exclusive series, The Private Eye, has been getting rave reviews and is currently in the middle of its proposed ten issue run. 

Brian K. Vaughan and Marcos Martin through The Panel Syndicate

An appreciated feature is that the issues are available in English, Spanish and Catalan- with older issues available in additional Portuguese and French as well. Try it out at panelsyndicate.com. 

This is a great way to show comics are not a luxury item and that the medium can be enjoyed by all cultures and economic classes. Comics are for everyone!

Asterix the Ambassador for Another French Comic Festival

Brazilians Ricardo Manhães and Gian Danton will be participating in a tribute to the character Asterix, by invitation of the Belgian journalist Lionel Flips, owner of the website Le Bourlingueur du net.

Asterix will be the theme of the Concile à Bulles (Bubble Council-referring to the speech bubbles in comics), a comic book festival that will take place in Brussels, Belgium, this April 5 and 6. The event will take place in MOOF- Museum of Original Figurines, just a few feet from the central plaza(Grand Place) of the Belgian capital.

The festival will feature an exposition o original art from Asterix and the Picts, by Albert Uderzo, Jean-Yves Ferri and Didier Conrad.

A special album with invited artists and writers will be distributed at the event. Among the authors will be: Ricardo Manhães, Gian Danton, Michel Rodrigue, Marc Hardy, Olivier Pâques, Thierry Capezzone, Stuf, Louis Michel Carpentier, Wasterlain, Christian Darasse, Dan Verlinden, Demarck, Magda, Jean Pol, Tim Bolssens, Didier Conrad, Stedo, Gilson, Malik, Walthery and Dany. The book will be printed in soft and hard cover for the festival. The originals will be sold and the money raised will go to charities. Some of the participating artists of the 1st Bubble Council are: Batem, Janry, Carrere, Rodrigue, Pâques, Malik, Capezzone, Dan, Stuf, Coppée, Carpentier, Wasterlain, Tibo, Carette, Demarck, Gilson and the team of Atelier 24, among others.

In the comic by Danton and Manhães, Asterix will encounter the Turma da Tribo(The Tribe Gang), characters from a series created by the two authors, that was made to educate children about topics regarding the Amazon Rainforest.


(Original article: Ricardo Manhães e Gian Danton participam de homenagem a Asterix, written by Sérgio Codespoti on March 14, 2014. Reprinted and translated with permission from UniversoHQ.)



Tribute issues are nothing new. This week All New X-Men 25 comes out with art by many industry greats. Culture of Comics detailed the Stan Sakai benefit Dark Horse is arranging. To celebrate Monica’s 50th anniversary, an art book was published with tributes by Italian Hugo Pratt(Corto Maltese), Garfield’s Jim Davis, Beetle Bailey’s Mort Walker, Joe Kubert, and Will Eisner himself, among the 150 artists including many,many notable Brazilian creators like previously mentioned Manhães. Projects like these bring the international comic book community together to show the global reach comics, and characters, can have.

Meanwhile, Asterix's MO has always been about traveling. In his Albums he has visited Spain, Rome, Egypt, Britain, Belgium, and Switzerland. The newest release celebrated by the festival brings Asterix and his big partner Obelix to Scotland. This is his first book without involvement by the creators René Goscinny and Albert Uderzo who created the character in 1959.

Mauricio de Sousa's Graphic MSP Ready to Take Brazil by Storm!

Two new graphic novels have been announced for Mauricio de Sousa Productions/Panini Comics Brazil’s Graphic MSP line. Graphic MSP started in 2012 with an idea to let Brazil’s best artists put their spin on Brazil’s most famous character catalog. During Mauricio de Sousa’s 50+ years in the business he has created countless characters from neighborhood kids and green elephants, blue puppy dogs and plump astronauts, teens, hillbillies, Amazonian natives and the living dead-all kid friendly teaching life lessons with crazy and humorous situations.

The first graphic novel, released at the end of 2012, was Astronauta(Astronaut)- Magnetar by Danilo Beyruth. The name comes from the magnetic neutron star. The novel, 8 pages in total, has been translated and distributed to other members of the Panini group: Germany (Der Astronaut), France (Astronaute- Au Coeur du Magneta), Italy(L’Astronauta Magnetar), and Spain (Astronauta Magnetar). The title is being shopped around for English publishers.

Panini Spain's Astronauta Magnetar

Panini Germany's Der Astronaut

Panini France's Astronaute- Au Coeur du Magneta

Panini Italy's L’Astronauta Magnetar

The second installment united the brother and sister act Lu and Vitor Cafaggi with their Turma da Mônica – Laços(Monica’s Gang- Ties), released last May. Gustavo Duarte continued the series with Chico Bento- Pavor Espaciar( Chuck Billy- Extra Terrestrial Terror) in August and Italian Shiko contributed with Piteco- Ingá about a prehistoric caveman, Piteco. These graphic novels have repetitively topped best of lists in Brazil by the countries’ biggest critics and connoisseurs.

Turma da Mônica – Laços by Lu Cafaggi and Vitor Cafaggi

Chico Bento- Pavor Espaciar by Gustavo Duarte

Piteco- Ingá by Shiko

The coordinator of the Graphic MSP initiative, Sidney Gusman, released the following tidbit today on Facebook and Twitter:

Well, the hour has arrived! There will be TWO Graphic MSP publications this year! He who will have the honor( and the responsibility) of opening the services is…Bidu, by Eduardo Damasceno and Luis Felipe Garrocho, which should come out at Book Biannual of Sao Paulo, in August. And, in Decmeber, it will be Astronauta 2’s turn, by Danilo Beyruth, with colors by Cris Peter. The idea is to coordinate the release with the Comic Con Experience event. 

Bidu, by Eduardo Damasceno and Luis Felipe Garrocho

Astronauta 2, by Danilo Beyruth, with colors by Cris Peter

And why only two, if we announced six books? Initially, it would have been four, but, to hold the price (r$19.90 for trade paperback and r$29.90 for hardcover), Panini will print these books in the Orient. This relies on sending the files very, very early.
So, to not pressure the production of the artists, we readjusted the schedule, so that, on wards of 2015, we will have four books per year, reoccurring every three months. And we are working to make this come true!

The other four releases, still untitled, include Papa-Capim(the Amazonian boy) by Marcela Godoy and Renato Guedes about a boy and his tribe deep in the Amazon; Penadinho(Bug a Boo the Ghost) by Paulo Crumbim and Cristina Eiko about a friendly ghost(Casper?) and his haunting friends: a vampire, werewolf, mummy, cadaver and Frank(the monster);Turma da Mata(Jungle Gang) by Greg Tocchini, Davi Calil and Arthur Fujita about a jungle kingdom ruled by a Lion who counts ants, foxes, rabbits, turtles, green elephants and monkeys as his subjects. Rounding out the releases will be the sequel to Ties by Vitor and Lu Cafaggi with Monica and her friends.

Papa-Capim by by Marcela Godoy and Renato Guedes

Turma da Mata by Greg Tocchini, Davi Calil and Arthur Fujita 

Penadinho by Paulo Crumbim and Cristina Eiko

Turma da Monica 2 by Lu and Vitor Cafaggi

No news yet on English releases but with the English Monica and her Friends being copywrited, it won’t be long until the series and the Brazilian talent reaches the English speaking population.

Until then, enjoy the production of these video trailers for the first two sequels in the line!

Special Editions of Tintin Are On The Way!

The French publisher Casteman and Éditions Moulinsart(Hergé Foundation) will release a special edition of Tintin on March 12.

The Curse of Rascar Capac- The 7 Crystal Balls- Volume 1(La Malédiction de Rascar Capac – Les 7 Boules de Cristal – Volume 1) is a 136 page publication in the Italian horizontal format(9inches(22.6cm) by 12 inches(30.7 cm) with a case. The book is an annotated edition of Tintin and the Seven Crystal Balls(1948).

The pages on the left, reproduce copies of the 150 strips of the original version of Tintin and the Seven Crystal Balls, which were published in Le Soir newspapers, from Belgium, between 1943 and 1944, during the World War II. The pages on the right include commentaries, sketches and diverse information about the creation of the comic, including the participation of Edgar Pierre Jacobs in the production of the work.

Different from Les Mystères des 7 Boules de Cristal (9 inches(22.6 cm) by 7 inches(17.5 cm) and 112 pages), published in 2012, the new book ties in the art from the work with the image archive of Hergé and his production team.

Philippe Goddin is the author of the new text in the two books.

The second volume of this series, The Temple of the Sun, will be published in September 2014. 

(Original article: Casterman lança La Malédiction de Rascar Capac,written by Sérgio Codespoti on March 10, 2014. Reprinted and translated with permission by UniversoHQ.)

Hergé's Tintin spawned six feature films, two television series, five video games, and, of course, twenty four comic albums created by Hergé himself. In 2009, the Hergé Museum opened in Belgium to honor the creator of one of the most famous comic book characters in the world. The character turned an astounding 85 this past January. 

To honor Hergé's wishes, Casteman and Moulinsart will only release new Tintin stories, by other creators, in 2052. In the meantime, expect more Absolute Editions and all the behind the scenes information the publishers can muster to sell more books (see DC's handling of Watchman for an American example)! 

Free Comics Galore

With Free Comic Book Day less than two months away in the US...Comixology is picking up the slack at the annual SXSW Fair. Fair-goers will be rewarded five dollar gift cards for the online app. Last year, Comixology partnered with Marvel to promote their MarvelNOW! Initiative, offering 300 free comics to all users for the SXSW weekend, crashing their system in the process.

This weekend, Comixology’s offerings are a bit more tame, rolling out a free comic code every few hours. Their Friday codes(8 in all) include collected editions of Ninjago(Papercutz), My Little Pony(IDW), and New York Times bestseller Locke and Key(IDW) along with DC’s first issues of Batman ’66, Injustice: Gods Among Us, and Batman: Arkham City. Two other codes will be announced today. These codes are able to be redeemed until midnight on Saturday- New York time.

Locke and Key by IDW. Do yourself a favor and download volume 1 today for free!

The event page also has seven offerings for Saturday and seven more for Sunday. Take a look at the Geek Stage Giveaway here and enjoy a comic download today!


This comes after a breach in security over the week that Comixology is still trying to resolve. So far, only passwords were leaked . The application sent out emails to users to change their passwords and put up a warning on the main page.

Kadokawa

Also down the line is the launch of a new app for Manga- ComicWalker. Run by a Japanese publishing company, Kadokawa- the app will offer titles in Chinese, English and Japanese. They plan to offer 40 works on their March 22nd launchdate. Kadokawa also has plans to have a digital first selection on the app. Only drawback? The website AND the app menu is all Japanese! This is only temporary as the developers are working on an English menu.

Kadokawa publishes Cowboy Bebop, .hack//, Ludwig II, Trinity Blood, and Mobile Suite Gundam. The titles will be available for free and even can be combined into an anthology magazine(in traditional Manga style) to make reading your favorite titles easier and more convenient.  For more information on titles look here.

Illegal Comic Books And Those Who Try To Save Them!

In Malaysia, the Home Ministry is going against the recent release of Ultraman the Ultra Power. The comic is said to contain content that is “detrimental to public order”. Although this only adds the the popularity and allure of the book, owning, reproducing, producing, selling, importing or distributing the book could land you in serious hot water. Ultraman is a popular Japanese property that has toys, TV shows and comics(manga) to its name. The country has a Printing Presses and Publications Act of 1984 with maximum punishments of $6,000 dollars or 3 years in Jail. Although less severe, comic books have a long history of banning and censorship in the United States.

The witch hunt started in the 50s and 60s after Fredric Wertham published his Seduction of the Innocent- branding comics as vehicles for violence and perversion. With the emergence of the Comics Code Authority soon after, any comic that was not comic code approved was deemed unsellable by many newsstands and stores. This is until ,in 1971, Marvel published their government sanctioned The Amazing Spider-Man 96-98, featuring a story about drug abuse. This was in strict violation of the code and the issues were published without the approval…but remained huge sellers. The comic code lost steam and influence, but only in 2010 when DC and Archie refused to be part of the Code did it cease to exist on the comic rack. To read all the Code’s rules and regulations(there are many) take a look at the ComicArtVille Library website.

http://cbldf.org/

In the US, The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund works to help un-ban any challenged book, be it libraries, schools or groups that do not agree with the content. They are dedicated to “protecting the First Amendment(Freedom of Speech) rights of the comics medium. The non profit organization will even take legal action if necessary to support their fellow creators in the courtroom. Take a look at their list of Banned and Challenged Comics here.

Image Comics

Recently, issues of Sex Criminals by Matt Fraction and Chip Zdarsky and Saga by Brian K. Vaugan and Fiona Staples, both published by Image Comics, have been banned by Comixology for not agreeing with their decency policy. Groups like One Million Moms have called for boycotts and bannings of Archie Comic’s Kevin Keller series profiling a gay teenager. Comics encompass such a wide audience and subject matter that it is inevitable that not all will be willingly accepted by the masses.

Google France Pays Homage to Gaston Lagaffe

Gaston Lagaffe is on the front page of Google France.

The character was created by the Belgian cartoonist André Franquin, in issue #985 of Spirou magazine, on February 28, 1957. Gaston Lagaffe is the star of dozens of albums published in France and Belgium and a film released in 1981.

Despite this, he is virtually unknown in the US and Brazil.

(Original article: Google celebra 57 anos de Gaston Lagaffe, written by Sérgio Codespoti on February 28, 2014. Reprinted and translated with permission by UniversoHQ)

Lagaffe means “the blunder” in French. He was introduced as an office worker to show behind the scenes of the magazine. He “worked” in the Spirou offices alongside front runners Spirou and Fantasio until creators were changed. Stories often focused on his inventions and antics in the office. His crush, M’oiselle Jeanne, was another gag for the stories which originally started as one page vignettes to help the page count of the magazine. He went on to star in his own albums. Gaston appeared in a Fantagraphics Books publication under the name Gomer Goof.


Spirou the magazine launched in 1938 as one of the leading comic magazines for Franco-Belgian talent,rival only to Tintin magazine, named after Hergé’s character. Spirou has been a breeding ground for many classic comic characters including The Smurfs, Johan and Peewit, Young Spirou, Lucky Luke, Marsupilami, and, of course, Spirou and Fantasio. 

Brazil's Comic Book Carnival

Monica and Friends will walk with Samba  School  Rosas de Ouro at Sao Paulo’s Carnival Parade

This Friday, February 28th, the Samba School Rosas do Ouro (Roses of Gold) Society will present the theme unforgettable with the presence of Monica and her friends at the parade.

The School will present their theme in the four phases of life: childhood, adolescence, adulthood and old age. The school will be the second of the special category to march in the Sao Paulo Carnaval, with close to three thousand people participating in the parade.

The character’s float has childhood as a theme and carries the name “Childhood Fascination”. Monica, Jimmy Five, Smudge, Maggie, Chuck Billy, Rosie, Franklin, Angel and Thunder are all participating characters in the parade.

The traditional samba school of the Northern Region was founded in October 1971 and already won seven titles in the Sao Paulo Carnival in the special category.

In 2007, Mauricio de Sousa(Monica's creator) was the theme of a different Samba School, Unidos do Peruche(States of Peruche, a tropical bird), also of Sao Paulo.

(Original article: Turma da Mônica desfilará na Rosas de Ouro no carnaval paulistano, written by Marcelo Naranjo on February 27, 2014. Reprinted and translated with permission from UniversoHQ)

Marvel Entertainment/Macy's 

As Spider-Man has been a staple in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade and hundreds of thousands of superheroes go trick or treating every October 31st, it is good to see comic characters so intertwined with cultural traditions.

Brazilian E-Book: Comics in the Digital Age

Marsupial Editora

Last year, the Brazilian publisher Marsupial released the book Comics in the Digital Age, presenting articles by twelve researchers who tackle and analyze different aspects of the relationship between comics and the digitalized world that is growing more and more present in our daily lives.

Now, the book is available also as an e-book, it can be acquired in the following online stores: Amazon, Apple Store, Kobo, Gato Sabido, Travessa and Cultura.

This isn’t the first project Marsupial has made available in digital format. At the end of 2013, The History of Comics in Brazil was released and the publisher has other offerings as e-books. For a full list, click here.

Comics in the Digital Age has articles by Edgar Franco, Roberto Elísio dos Santos, Victor Corrêa, Marcel Luiz Tomé, Pedro de Luna, Vítor Nicolau, Paulo Ramos, Lucio Luiz, Octavio Aragão, Reinaldo Pereira de Moraes and Renata Prado. The book was edited by Lucio Luiz.


(Original article: Livro Os quadrinhos na era digital é disponibilizado em e-book by Samir Naliato. Translated and republished with permission by Universo HQ.)

Brazil has a very strong publishing industry. They also have an educational system that is a fan of comic books- from celebrating the history of the medium to using comics to educate children. Their digital offerings are not as widespread as it is in the United States but the options are quickly multiplying. This book should inspire creators and publishers to pursue the digital frontier and make their offerings truly global!

 

Indian Comic Con Showcases a World of Talent

India held their own Comic Con in New Delhi this weekend at Thyageraj Stadium. It is the fourth convention of its kind for the country. 

Guests include Mark Waid( Kingdom Come, 52,Irredeemable,Daredevil ), David Lloyd(Illustrator, V for Vendetta), John Layman(Image Comic’s Chew, Gambit, Detective Comics), Brazilian twins Fabio Moon and Gabriel Ba( Collectively: Daytripper, Casanova, The Umbrella Academy) , and Indian creator Pran(Chacha Chaudhary and Sabu). Comixology also visited to give a talk “Digital Comics & It’s Scope”. The Comic Con had a lot to do:Screenings Sherlock and Supernatural, PS4 game station, Peanuts Museum, “Learn to write comics”, grass root comic campaigns, and “A chance to visit New York”. The 4th annual Indian Comic Con connects the international community with India's rich comic book culture. 

A staple of Indian childhood since the 60s: Amar Chitra Katha comics created by Uncle Anant Pai, educates children in multiple languages about a variety of Indian folklore, mythology, biographies  and history. Their online store offers international shipping.

Pran, present at the Con, has been called the “Walt Disney of India” . He has created many diverse characters and his flagship property: the mustached super genius Chacha Chaudhary, has 600 animated  episodes under his belt. Learn more about the characters and the creator here.

Chacha Chaudhary, created by Pran

Spider-Man:India, published Gotham Entertainment Group was a 4 issue Indian adaptation of Spider-Man. Released in 2004(2005 Stateside), it was created by Suresh Seetharaman,Jeevan Kang, and Sharad Devarajan. In the story, Pavitr Prabhakar lives with his Auntie Maya and Uncle Bhim, he crushes on Meera Jain. Nalin Oberoi(Green Goblin) and Doctor Octopus(with magic tentacles) threaten the young wall crawler.

Marvel/ Gotham Entertainment Group

Marvel Global Comics released their app this week, featuring multiple titles in Hindi. Viz Media is heavily pushing Manga in India. With multiple Indian publishers accepting and embracing Digital Media, their future is as bright as ever.