PW Comics World: More To Come

Calvin talks with PW graphic novels reviews editor Meg Lemke about Sabba Kahn’s 'What is Home, Mum?', a moving graphic memoir of her Pakistani family’s life before and after immigration to Britain and James Spooner’s graphic memoir 'The High Desert: Black. Punk Nowhere.', a look back at growing up a teenage Afropunk.

New imprints from Dark Horse, IDW, and S&S/Black Privilege; big sales numbers on Brian’s Hibbs’ annual BookScan report; scrutinize DC’s fate under Warner Bros. Discovery; Joe Casey rejects Marvel's token MCU payment; censorship of a cult-inspired manga; and Heidi’s visit to WonderCon and Calvin at the MoCCA Art Fest.

New comics venture Zestworld snags $9 million in new investment; the return of Angoulême, Bologna, MoCCA, and WonderCon; censorship of Marjane Satrapi’s ‘Persepolis,’ and Marjorie Liu and Sana Takeda’s new graphic novel.

Calvin interviews Anelle Miller, executive director of the Society of Illustrators, organizer of the MoCCA Arts Fest (to be held April 2 and 3), about restarting the annual indie comics and graphic novel festival after a two year hiatus due to the Covid pandemic.

Julie Doucet’s historic Angoulême Grand Prix win; Comixology's co-founder David Steinberger is leaving the groundbreaking service; Vault Comics’ new investors; DC’s Pride releases and the Milestone talent initiative’s super diverse first class; and media deals involving Kate Beaton, Mark Waid, and Kevin Smith.

Calvin interviews exhibitors at the MoCCA Art Fest, a festival of independent comics and graphic novel publishing, including George Rohac, founder/manager of Organized Havoc; Charles Kochman, editorial director of Abrams ComicArts, Abrams’s graphic novel imprint; cartoonist Sharon de la Cruz (I Am a Wild Seed); and Karen Green, curator for comics and cartoons at Columbia University.

An interview with comics writer, editor, and Heavy Metal executive editor Joe Illidge about his publishing and production company Illuminous; and working with Curtis “Fifty Cents” Jackson’s G-Unit Film & TV, and Erika Alexander’s Color Farm production house, to launch a live action TV series adaptaton of comics writer Christopher Priest’s 'Xero' series.

Problems from Comixology’s integration into Amazon Kindle continue; the annual ComicsPro retailers meeting; new hires Gina Gagliano (Boston Book Festival), Chris Arrant (ReedPop), and the launch of AMC Networks Publishing; ICv2’s Manga Week; plus DC’s switch to “hot desks” and Batman’s new creative team.

An interview with Jeff Trexler, Interim executive director of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, about the CBLDF response to the rise in efforts to ban certain books in schools and libraries; CBLDF’s mission and the history of comics and graphic novel censorship, as well as CBLDF legal resources, and its work in support of teachers, librarians, and retailers in defense of the freedom to read.

Amazon completely absorbs Comixology and Kindle replaces the Comixology app amidst user complaints; data on booming 2021 graphic novel sales; Spike Trotman exits Kickstarter; the Internet Archive/PRH copyright clash over ‘Maus’, and is this the end of the editorial cartoon.

An interview with Khary Randolph and Joanne Starer about their new publishing venture Glass Eye Studios. They talk with Heidi about working with Substack, writing about the Holocaust, indie wrestling, growing up in comics and more

Art Spiegelman's classic graphic novel 'Maus' and rising censorship; the release of the ALA’s GNCRT Best Graphic Novels Lists; a new wave of Substack comics; TopataGO, a new crowdfunding platform by Topataco; a class action suit against ActionLab comic; Scout Comics; and manga piracy, Cloudfare, and fair use.

Calvin and PW graphic novels reviews editor Meg Lemke highlight and discuss Eric Orner’s graphic biography ‘Smahtguy: The Life and Times of Barney Frank,’ a personal and political biography of the first openly gay congressman.

Dan Cherry has abruptly left DC; other DC news; new developments at Heavy Metal; Valiant’s NFT plans; Black Sands makes an appearance on Shark Tank; news breaks on a Scott Pilgrim anime; and the 10th annual Black Comic Book Festival at the Schomburg Center in Harlem.

PW graphic novel reviews editor Meg Lemke on launching PW's first-ever standalone comics and graphic novel announcement feature. Then the news: massive layoffs at Comixology; Europe Comics shut down; CEO Medney is out at Heavy Metal; Korean webcomics creators face abusive workloads; and job moves by AnimeNYC founder Peter Tatara and others.

An interview with bestselling author Samira Ahmed (Internment, Amira & Hamza) about becoming the first Muslim South Asian woman to write Ms. Marvel with 'Ms. Marvel: Beyond the Limit' and adjusting to writing comics. Also discussed are the growing threat of book bannings, and comics that impressed Ahmed growing up.

David Ezra Stein is interviewed by Heidi about his debut graphic novel, 'Beaky Barnes; Egg on the Loose', as well as switching from illustration to comics, art school in NYC and keeping the humanity in art.

Record 2021 adult graphic novel and manga sales; Dark Horse Comics’s acquisition by the Embracer Group; the CBWU’s historic union certification vote at Image; The Beat’s annual Comics Creator Survey; and the Comics Industry Person of the Year.

Calvin and PW graphic novels reviews editor Meg Lemke discuss 'The Waiting' by Keum Suk Gendry-Kim, a fictional reflection on the heartbreaking separation of North and South Korean families; and Dash Shaw’s 'Discipline', the story of a pacifist Quaker family facing a call to fight in the Civil War; plus the Stargazing holiday reading and gift guide.

The biggest events, trends, and personalities of the past year, among them: PRH Distributes Marvel in the DM, supply chain headaches, sales spike and the impact of streaming, the US Book Show shines, Webtoon and Tapas, rising book censorship, and Comic Book Workers United tries to unionize Image Comics. Plus, Alison Bechdel Tops PW’s 2021 Graphic Novel Critics Poll.