Florence the superhero: the comics giving pop stars superpowers

The comic-writing duo behind Marvel’s Young Avengers are giving pop stars the superhero treatment. Enter the gorgeous, fantastical worlds of Phonogram and WicDiv“We often say Phonogram is music criticism,” says Kieron Gillen, shaking off jetlag, having just flown back from San Diego Comic Convention. “It does come from the same part of me that was a critic.” Phonogram is a comic series that imagines a world in which the magic of music is a literal power, controlled by “phonomancers”: pop priests who turn songs into sacred rituals. It’s written by Gillen, a former games and music journalist (who happily admits that “a lot of the stories are really arguments”) and drawn by Jamie McKelvie, an artist who captures pop epiphanies in clean, gorgeous lines. His work can also be seen on Glaswegian synthpop act Chvrches’ tour posters. The pair met in 2003 at a convention where Gillen was selling his first photocopied comics. The first Phonogram series, Rue Britannia, came out three years later. It stars David Kohl, a thinly disguised portrait of Gillen, and follows his quest to extricate himself from the demons of Britpop. The follow-up series, Singles Club, came out between 2008 and 2010, and tracks seven characters through one night at a club in Bristol. Its meticulous plotting derives from McKelvie having pages pinned up across his bedroom walls. “It just got too oppressive,” he says. “After a few months, I had to tear them all down.” Continue reading... Continue reading at 'The Guardian'

[ The Guardian | 2015-08-10 00:00:00 UTC ]

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Your definitive guide to Goodreads ratings. (Or: why does your favorite book have 3 stars?)

If you use Goodreads at all, you’ve likely noticed that the platform allows you to “rate” your “reads” using “stars” (those are scare quotes). If you use Goodreads regularly, you probably know that the ratings system is, in a word, fucked. Why does literally every Colleen Hoover book have over... Continue reading at Literrary Hub

[ Literrary Hub | 2023-11-21 17:28:32 UTC ]
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DC Compact Comics Will Reprint Popular Collections in a Smaller Size

DC Comics has launched a new graphic novel line, DC Compact Comics, which will republish "bestselling, new-reader-friendly titles" from the comics giant's backlist in a trim size more commonly associated with trade paperback novels. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-11-06 05:00:00 UTC ]
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6 New Books for the Pop Culture Aficionado

This week augurs a veritable cornucopia of pop culture tomes. Marvel movies! Standup comedy! Board games! American Girl dolls! The Chicago Bulls! 2000s indie rock! These six books run the gamut. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-11-03 04:00:00 UTC ]
More news stories like this | News stories tagged with: #marvel movies #standup comedy #board games #chicago bulls


Keith Giffen, Comic Book Maverick for DC and Marvel, Dies at 70

A celebrated illustrator and writer, he brought sardonic wit to franchises like Justice League and to offbeat creations like Rocket Raccoon and Ambush Bug. Continue reading at The New York Times

[ The New York Times | 2023-10-30 20:42:24 UTC ]
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From Asia to Latin America: Independent Comics Publishers in Frankfurt

A Frankfurt Book Fair panel on independent comics publishers highlighted the innovative ways publishers get their books to readers. The post From Asia to Latin America: Independent Comics Publishers in Frankfurt appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2023-10-24 11:10:56 UTC ]
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7 Tarot Decks for Sci-Fi and Superhero Fans

One can only hope that, someday, there will be a 'Star Wars' tarot. In the meantime, here are a handful of decks inspired by other major sci-fi and capes-and-tights franchises. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-10-24 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Frankfurt: German Comic Book Scene Grows in Partnerships

At the Frankfurt Book Fair's comics center, German publishers see growing interest from readers and are expanding into manga and manwha. The post Frankfurt: German Comic Book Scene Grows in Partnerships appeared first on Publishing Perspectives. Continue reading at Publishing Perspectives

[ Publishing Perspectives | 2023-10-20 12:38:10 UTC ]
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How New York Comic Con Brings the Brands to the Fans

From Oct. 11-14, more than 200,000 people made the pilgrimage to Manhattan's Javits Center for New York Comic Con, the annual gathering of fans across movies, television, comic books, anime and video games. The massive convention floor was filled with activations of all sizes from some of the... Continue reading at AdWeek

[ AdWeek | 2023-10-20 08:00:00 UTC ]
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The Kids Are All Right at New York Comic Con

Young readers flocked to this year's New York Comic Con, where they snapped up early releases, giveaways, and pics with favorite creators. Behind the scenes, concerns about censorship and book banning created controversy. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-10-18 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Tiffany D. Jackson is Writing a YA Novel About the Marvel Superhero Storm

Tiffany D. Jackson's newest book is YA novel about the Marvel superhero Storm, titled Storm: Dawn of a Goddess. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2023-10-17 15:40:54 UTC ]
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Fans Recharge the Comics Industry at NYCC 2023

New York Comic Con held an exhausting yet exhilarating annual celebration of comics and pop culture October 12–15, where new imprints, partnerships, and plenty of dealmaking took place alongside cosplay, massive manga character balloons, and immersive activations. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-10-17 04:00:00 UTC ]
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8 Comic Book Cover Art Collections to Please Your Eyes

Sometimes, comics covers do such a spectacular job that they deserve a whole book to themselves. That's where these books come in. Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2023-10-13 10:30:00 UTC ]
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Star Trek: Prodigy finds a new home on Netflix

Star Trek: Prodigy has found a new streaming home with Netflix, after being both canceled by Paramount+ and completely deleted from the platform back in June. Not only will Netflix air the previously-released 20-episode first season later this year, but it’s also putting... Continue reading at Engadget

[ Engadget | 2023-10-11 18:30:15 UTC ]
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Madison Jacobs Named PW Star Watch Superstar of 2023

It has been a remarkable ride for Madison Jacobs, who ascended to associate publisher at the Crown Publishing Group in just five years, and is the 2023 PW Star Watch Superstar. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-10-06 04:00:00 UTC ]
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PW Star Watch 2023: Publishing’s Brightest

Welcome to the ninth edition of Star Watch, our annual program dedicated to recognizing and honoring rising talent in the publishing and bookselling businesses. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-10-06 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Michael Gambon, star of Harry Potter and The Singing Detective, dies aged 82

The Olivier award-winning actor, whose major film roles included Albus Dumbledore in the Harry Potter series, has died• ‘An actor who let his heart and soul crack open’: David Jays on Michael Gambon• A life in pictures – gallerySir Michael Gambon, whose extraordinary acting career took him from... Continue reading at The Guardian

[ The Guardian | 2023-09-28 11:39:05 UTC ]
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How to Open a Comic Book Store

Comic book store owners share their advice on how to open a comic book store — and how to keep it in business! Continue reading at Book Riot

[ Book Riot | 2023-09-26 10:35:00 UTC ]
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There’s never been a better time to listen to comic books

Superhero movies are a dime a dozen, but the comic book podcast is about to hit its stride. We’ve had a nice, long run of comic book movies and television shows. One after the other, with big actors and even bigger action sequences. Before the end of the year we’ll get Loki Season 2, The... Continue reading at Fast Company

[ Fast Company | 2023-09-26 05:00:00 UTC ]
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Why It Matters That Marvel Comics Are Becoming Penguin Classics

This month, Penguin released the three latest titles in its Penguin Classics Marvel Collection. We spoke with the series editor, Ben Saunders, and two authors who wrote forewords to the books, Jerry Craft and Rainbow Rowell, about the importance of enshrining comics in the literary canon. Continue reading at Publishers Weekly

[ Publishers Weekly | 2023-09-20 04:00:00 UTC ]
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Private Equity Took Over a Publishing House, and They’re Giving Workers a Stake. What?

The investor behind the Simon & Schuster deal explains what he’s really up to. Continue reading at Slate

[ Slate | 2023-09-19 09:50:00 UTC ]
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