Northwest Press

Buffy the Vampire Slayer and LGBT Comics Fandom

// July 9th, 2011 // // Events

LGBT fans hailed the revelation in the long-running television hit that one of its main characters, Willow, had fallen in love with another female character, Tara. This groundbreaking depiction of queer love in the TV show has been built upon in the Buffy comic books published by Dark Horse Comics, and Buffy remains one of the most queer-friendly properties in pop culture. Moderator Charles “Zan” Christensen (Northwest Press publisher and Prism Comics president) discusses the special relationship between the Buffyverse and LGBT comic book fans with Buffy creators and actors, including Scott Allie, Andrew Chambliss, Jane Espenson, Drew Greenberg, Tom Lenk, and a special guest!

TCAF, Gaylaxicon and 4 Days Left for The Power Within!

// May 16th, 2011 // // Misc, The Power Within

May is travel month, and the whirlwind tour is only half over!

I was at the Toronto Comic Arts Festival representing Northwest Press and Prism Comics, and it was a great experience. I didn’t get out into the show as much as I would have liked, but I moderated an excellent panel discussion on identity in comics, and how being our race, gender and sexuality can affect the kinds of work we do and what we gravitate toward as readers. The panel featured José Villarrubia, Erika Moen, Yuko Ota and Ananth Panagariya, and it was quite interesting to see how far we’ve moved away from identity politics in just a decade. Or maybe this bunch was just more enlightened than everyone else.

I also participated in TCAFabulous, a social event at Toronto’s “Crews and Tangos” which featured as its centerpiece a thorough “reading” of the comics from an LGBT perspective. (I’d never really thought about it, but it’s true what Erika Moen says about the “Kole” logo being very vaginal.)

After a few days’ recovery time, I headed to Atlanta for the 2011 Gaylaxicon/OutlantaCon. This is a fun, intimate event with a lot of terrific programming and this year the special guest was none other than Buffy: The Vampire Slayer‘s Amber Benson (aka Tara MacLean). Adam Fair, the creator of This Gay Existence, and I were on a panel about what’s been going on in LGBT comics over the past year, which was fun and a great discussion, to boot. I only managed to snap one picture of Amber, during “The Match Game” panel when the panel was interrupted for a word from the sponsor, “Boy Butter”. I did get to say hello and shake her hand as I was leaving the show, and invited her to do something with Prism Comics in the future. We’d love to work together!

Chance Whitmire of Fanboys of the Universe also joined us at the table and gave out cool buttons and Fanboys cards. Chance has invited Prism Comics to come to Asheville, North Carolina, this coming weekend for the show that he organizes, Fanaticon, with special guest Gail Simone!

I’ll be meeting up with Gail on Thursday and shooting a little video to get any last-minute fence sitters to take the plunge and support The Power Within before we hit our fundraising deadline. (There’s just $900 to go! If you haven’t pledged, please check it out and lend a hand!)

Brian Cronin of “Comics Should Be Good” reviews Glamazonia

// March 7th, 2011 // // Glamazonia

While the Northwest Press folks were busy appearing at Emerald City ComiCon with Prism Comics this past weekend—and having an absolute blast I might add!—we missed this excellent review of Justin Hall’s Glamazonia: The Uncanny Super-Tranny that appeared on Comic Book Resources.

Brian Cronin, of “Comics Should Be Good”, is a week in to his “Month of LGBT Comics”, and Glams was in this spotlight in this past Friday’s column. Cronin starts out by noting how the book could have gone horribly wrong, but is saved by Justin’s positive take on the character:

Perhaps the number one thing that makes Justin Hall’s Glamazonia work is the sheer sense of geniality that exudes from Hall’s work. This is the sort of comic that, in the hands of someone trying to do something cynical, it would just come off as just foul, wretched even. Luckily, Hall is completely committed to the concept of a “super-tranny,” and he puts it out there without any sort of ill will or negative feelings – this is just intended as a fun, offbeat comic book about a goofy super-tranny named Glamazonia.

Cronin also highlights the stellar contributors—Paige Braddock, Robert Kirby, Sarah Oleksyk, Shaenon Garrity—and the backup stories, including Jon Macy’s “Rent Boy: Year One”.

Check out the whole review, and pick up a copy of Glamazonia right here!

Emerald City ComiCon 2011

// March 4th, 2011 // // Events

Northwest Press will be partnering with Prism Comics (as well as Jon Macy, Sean-Z, Jeff Krell, and Fanboys of the Universe) and appearing at a deluxe booth at the Emerald City ComiCon. Stop by booth #1002 and pick up all the NWP stuff, plus a ton of great LGBT comics from a wide variety of talented folks!

If you’re on Facebook, RSVP to the Prism Comics at Emerald City Comicon 2011 Event to see who else will be there!

Queer Press Grant Roundup at Comic-Con

// September 8th, 2010 // // Misc

I participated in the Prism Comics panel about the Queer Press Grant (which has a deadline of September 15th!) and talked about how to apply. This is a great program that Prism does every year, and I urge everyone to support it.

This video also features past recipients Justin Hall, Steve MacIsaac and Ed Luce, and is moderated by Roger Klorese.

Divas and Golden Lassos at Comic-Con

// September 8th, 2010 // // Misc

A panel I moderated for Prism Comics about strong female characters in comics, from the point of view of gay men, with Phil Jimenez, Andy Mangels, Marc Andrekyo, and Michael Troy.

WonderCon Wrap-Up: Saturday & Sunday

// April 6th, 2010 // // Misc, The Mark of Aeacus

As always happens, I took fewer pictures as the weekend wore on, because I got busier and busier and tireder and tireder. But I’ve got a lot of fun stories and a few snaps to share.

Marc Andreyko came by the Prism booth with a big grin on his face, holding a small, black “1 Year Later” sketchbook. He said that all of the DC folks had gotten these sketchbooks when DC launched that event in 2006 but, as a writer, he didn’t really know what to do with it. He decided to get Manhunter sketches.

The latest piece to grace the pages of the book was this one by Ethan Van Sciver. Hardly a sketch, it’s a real work of art!

Sina Grace came by a few times during the weekend to mix and mingle and to sign copies of Books with Pictures and Cedric Hollows in Dial M for Magic. The boy is a fashion plate, a flirt, and a heck of a lot of fun!

I wish I had some more exciting pictures to share with you of Prism’s social event at the Pilsner Inn on Saturday night, but I was too focused on hearing about new projects and enjoying cocktails and mingling with all the queer nerds. It was quite a successful event; we filled the place up!

A bunch of us headed next door to Chow to get some dinner (I’d been eating nothing but snacks and Vitamin Water all day and was ready for something with more nutritional content than beer) and saw this interesting sight outside.

Stefan Salinas came by with a brand new book, a thick, elaborate graphic novel called Within the Rat, and he wore his rat chapeau in celebration of it.

Kenne Morrison is the writer of a new series called Night Patrol, which he signed and sold at the Prism booth on Sunday.

I did a few TV interviews for news outlets that escape me, and on Sunday I called in to record a podcast episode with my dear, queer pals the Comic Book Queers. We talked about digital comics, upcoming new Mark of Aeacus books, and Prism Comics. Time flew by; before I knew it we’d talked for a whole hour and the show was almost over!

When the final bell rang, we packed it all up and shipped it out. All in all, the best WonderCon that Prism Comics has had to date, and certainly something I’ll look forward to again next year.

WonderCon Wrap-Up: Friday

// April 3rd, 2010 // // Misc, The Mark of Aeacus

Hey lovelies!

I’m waiting in the iPad line at the San Francisco Apple Store, so I’ve got some time to share some tidbits about how the first day of WonderCon went.

As always, I spent almost all of my time at the Prism Comics booth. It’s like the queer comics drop-in center at every con, so the con pretty much comes to me. Convenient!

Storm came by to sign copies of his minicomic Princess Witch Boy, which was sprinkled with a hint of glitter and faerie magic.

I stepped in for an absent Patty Jeres to moderate the “Queers, Comedy and Camp” panel, featuring Joey Alison Sayers, Ed Luce, Sean Seamus McWhinny, Rick Worley and Brian Andersen. I asked the crowd to help me take a new Grindr photo to replace the censored Iron Man one. Just to be safe, I had them say “bible study” instead of “cheese” to make it extra wholesome.

At the end of the panel, I got to make the announcement that the recipients of the Queer Press Grant this year were Ed Luce and Eric Orner. See how happy he is here? Or maybe that’s just lack of sleep catching up with him.

Robert Triptow stopped in to sign and sell copies of Gay Comix and regale us with tales of his adventures over the past year. He had to fly in this year, because he moved up to Oregon, and was obviously happy to be back in town. I know the feeling! I love Seattle, but SF always feels like home when I come back.

Jeff Krell was here promoting his Jayson books and translations of Rälf König comics. His latest book, Jayson Goes to Hollywood, is a convention favorite and is already sold out here! I’d recommend heading to his website and ordering a copy or you might miss out.

Jon Macy showed up at the con with not one but two gorgeous graphic novels: Teleny and Camille and Fearful Hunter. Teleny is an adaptation of an anonymous erotic novel reportedly written by Oscar Wilde and his circle, and Jon’s produced a masterpiece. Hunter is the first in a series of fantasy romance/erotica stories with druids, werewolves and all kinds of freaky and awesome stuff.

The only other booth I made it to was the Hungry Tiger Press booth, to check in on Eric Shanower and David Maxine. Turns out they drove up from San Diego for the show this time, so they were running on fumes, but still managing to entertain visitors with tales of Greek warriors and the magical land of Oz.

Adorable overload! Justin Hall brought this Wonder Bear shirt to the con and it was an immediate favorite. It’s apparently part of a line of bear images including a bear luchador and a “cowbear”. If this shirt was any cuter I think my head would explode. Want!

That’s about all for Friday. Saturday was off the charts! I’ll write some about that tomorrow.

Mark of Aeacus mo…men…tummm…

// March 21st, 2009 // // The Mark of Aeacus

Pencils from Mark of Aeacus #2!

Mark has set a deadline of early April to finish all the pencil work, which will be inked by Max Banks, who’s previously inked The Tick. We settled on this panel to share as a special preview.

If you want to see more of Mark of Aeacus #2, you can stop by and visit us at the Emerald City ComiCon on April 4th and 5th, where I’ll not only be promoting Mark of Aeacus, but also helping out LGBT comics organization Prism Comics!

Mark of Aeacus Review at Prism Comics

// August 22nd, 2007 // // The Mark of Aeacus

Sean McGrath, author of the groovy comic Frater Mine, reviews the first issue of The Mark of Aeacus over at Prism Comics. Have a look!