ANGLOPHONE PERSEPOLIS
The Beguiling's Peter Birkemoe reports that Pantheon will publish an English-language edition of Marjane Satrapi's Persépolis. The book, originally published by l'Assocation, will see May 2003 domestic release as "Persepolis: The Story of a Childhood," according to parent company Random House's website. Following previous strongly dropped hints, British publisher Jonathan Cape will handle a UK edition. Jonathan Cape publishing director Dan Franklin described Persépolis to the Times as "an account of [Satrapi's] childhood in revolutionary Iran." Birkemoe further reports that Satrapi plans to undertake a US promotional tour in the book's support.
INFO: Random House
INFO: The Comics Journal
INFO: The Times Online
posted by Egon on Friday, November 01, 2002

CFP: BLOOD & THUNDER
The University of Miami's Aldo Regalado is planning a comics-themed panel for the American Studies Association Annual Meeting 2003. "Blood and Thunder: Violence and Belonging in American Comic Books" will address themes of identity and transformation in comics and in comics' "broader cultural manifestations" Interested scholars are asked to submit "a one-page abstract and a one page vita to Aldo J. Regalado, University of Miami Department of History, at aregalad@miami.edu" by January 1. The American Studies Association Annual Meeting will be held in Hartford, CT on October 16-19, 2003.
LINK: Comix Scholars Mailing List
posted by Egon on Thursday, October 31, 2002

TURTLE SOUP: FRESH BATCH
Marking its tenth anniversary, Peter Laird's Xeric Foundation has announced its latest spate of comic book grant recipients:

Sam Hiti, "End Times: Tiempos Finales"

Derek Kirk, "Same Difference and Other Stories"

Sonny Liew, "Malinky Robot: Stinky Fish Blues"

Henrik Rehr, "Tuesday"

Lauren Weinstein, "Inside Vineyland"
"A total of $20,174 was awarded to five comic book creators," says the Foundation press release. "The next deadline and review dates are January 31, 2003 and March 1, 2003, respectively."
LINK: The Xeric Foundation
posted by Egon on Thursday, October 31, 2002

COMIX DECODE REDUX
Comix Decode returns on Sunday, December 8, in an event featuring Phoebe Gloeckner and other cartoonists to be announced. The event will once again be held at NorthSix in Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Further details will no doubt be posted to the Comix Decode website as they become available.
LINK: Comix Decode
posted by Egon on Thursday, October 31, 2002

COMICON.COM/CBLDF AUCTION
Comicon.com will sponsor an online auction of original art to benefit the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund. The auction, to be held on eBay from Nov 14th through December 7th, will feature pieces by David Lloyd, Frank Miller, James Sturm, Bryan Talbot, Rick Veitch and others. Top Shelf's Chris Staros has announced that for the duration of the auction 20% of all sales generated via Top Shelf's website will be donated to the CBLDF.
LINK: CBLDF Auctions
posted by Egon on Thursday, October 31, 2002

NOW LEAVING ELTINGVILLE
In a dispatch penned for House of Fun visitors, Evan Dorkin reports that the "Welcome to Eltingville" Cartoon Network TV special will be re-broadcast at 10:30 pm on November 24, possibly for the last time. Dorkin also confirms that his next solo project will be a full-length "Eltingville" one-shot, designed to be the characters' swan song. "I won’t rule out doing the odd strip sometime down the line, but for all intents and purposes, this will be the club’s last meeting." The one-shot is tentatively scheduled for summer, 2003.
INFO: House of Fun
posted by Egon on Thursday, October 31, 2002

KATCHOR ON THE FLY
The elusive Ben Katchor has announced two upcoming events. On November 5 he will be part of a panel discussion called "Roundtrip Berlin," discussing new Jewish culture in Berlin. The event will be held at the Jewish Community Center in Manhattan; tickets cost $15 for members, $20 for non-members. On November 11 Katchor will deliver the William Hobart Molson Lecture at Montreal's McGill University. "The Great Museum Cafeterias of the Western World" will be a free event, open to the public.
INFO: Katchor.com
posted by Egon on Wednesday, October 30, 2002

WALKER BOOK BACKS BEETLE
Editor & Publisher Magazine speaks to Brian Walker, son of cartoonist Mort Walker, about his new comic strip history book, "The Comics: Since 1945." Walker, who writes "Hi & Lois" and "Beetle Bailey" with his father, seeks to challenge the notion that the comics have been in decline in the post-war era, asserting that post-war comics are "more sophisticated and wittier. The content is stronger." Walker's book also offers a split focus between aesthetic concerns and the business machinations of the comic strip syndicates. He plans to bring a similar perspective to his next book, "The Comics: Before 1945," tentatively scheduled for 2004 release.
INFO: Editor & Publisher
posted by Egon on Wednesday, October 30, 2002

BIG NUMBERS: NEW MATH
The Alan Moore Fan Site reports the existence and availability of previously unpublished "Big Numbers" artwork by Bill Sienkiewicz. Sienkiewicz prepared several back covers and endpapers ahead of schedule "to test out his style," says art dealer John Lind, who recently came into possession of the pieces. "Therefore, the back cover to #4 exists, while the issue never materialized." The artwork, which is for sale, is reproduced on the website.
INFO: Alan Moore Fan Site
posted by Egon on Tuesday, October 29, 2002