Comics Briefly

This story originally appeared in PW Comics Week on February 13, 2007 Sign up now!

-- Publishers Weekly, 2/13/2007

New Figures From DC

DC Unlimited has announced that it has recently acquired the license to produce a line of action figures based on the characters from the Spike TV animated series Afro Samurai. The products will debut at the American International Toy Fair which is currently being held in New York City. The first line of actions figures will feature the lead character Afro Samurai, comedic sidekick Ninja Ninja and enemies Kuma and Justice. Later items in the Afro Samurai line will include resin figures and busts.

DC Direct has also released a line of action figures that depict four of the leading female characters of the DC universe in a style that is heavily influenced by Japanese animation. Catwoman, Power Girl, Supergirl and Batgirl all sport redesigned costumes and accessories. The line of figures is also set to debut at the American International Toy Fair.

News Sites Discuss Dark Tower

The Dark Tower: The Gunslinger Born debuted on Wednesday, February 7 to a great deal of fanfare. The book, which kicked off with a midnight release at various stores across the country, has had quite a few bloggers and news organizations discussing both the book and the novel way in which the comic series was launched. Look below to see a list of links to various articles and comments about The Dark Tower around the World Wide Web.

• Los Angeles Times - Comics King
• Marvel – Stephen King: Dark Tower</A>
• Newsarama - TALKING SHOP: THE DARK TOWER AT MIDNIGHT
• ComicMix - The Dark Tower: Interview with Peter David

Thomas Nelson, RealBuzz Ink Christian Manga Pact

WestBow Press, a division of religion publisher Thomas Nelson Publishers, is teaming up with RealBuzz Studios in a multi-year venture to publish at least 26 Christian manga titles. The venture will publish at least 10 titles in 2007 from the Serenity and Goofyfoot Gurl Christian manga series developed by RealBuzz. RealBuzz Studios created Serenity in 2005. The new deal will republish the first six Serenity graphic novels in April 2007 and begin publishing the new volumes in 2008. The venture will release 4 Goofyfoot gurl titles beginning in September 2007. Good News Holdings, a faith-based entertainment company in Sherman Oaks, Calif. is working with WestBow and ReadBuzz to promote both series.

New Position at VIZ

VIZ Media is currently searching for an Advertising Sales and Marketing Manager. Managerial duties will include searching for new clients, establishing and supervising marketing programs, interpreting market research data as well as a variety of additional tasks. VIZ has currently placed an advertisement on the well-known job search engine Monster.com in order to aid the company in its search. The open position is located in San Francisco, California.

Africa Comics Panel In February

The Artist's Voice: The Africa Comics Panel featuring Valerie Cassel-Oliver, William H. Foster, III, Anton Kannemeyer, Keith Knight Jr. and P'WCW's Calvin Reid will take place on Wednesday, February 21 at 7:00 PM. The panel discussion will be held at Columbia University in the Jerome L. Greene Hall at 435 West 116th Street in New York City. The members of the panel will discuss their impressions of the Africa Comics exhibit currently taking place at the Studio Museum in Harlem.

Room Change For NYCC Graphic Novel Panel

The panel for the ICv2 Graphic Novel Conference has changed venues. The panel will now be held at the Jacob Javits Convention Center in Room 1E02. The schedule for the day long event is as follows:

• 1:00 ICv2 White Paper - Graphic Novels: Growth and Change
• 1:45 Non-fiction - The Real World of Graphic Storytelling
• 2:45 Break (refreshments provided)
• 3:00 Manga Ratings, Redactions, and Freedom of Speech
• 4:00 Buyers Panel - Graphic Novels, the Next Three Years
• 5:00 Cocktail Party sponsored by Transcontinental Printing