Comic Strip Network

Free Comic Book Day

2007-04-30T15:13:00.000-07:00

Free Comic Book Day on May 5th...

Two thousand comic book stores will give away 2 MILLION comic books absolutely free! Includes comic books for all ages and tastes.
with up to 44 titles to choose from. Saturday, May 5. Free. To find your local comic book store participating go to http://www.freecomicbookday.com. To add the Free Comic Book Day MySpace page to your MySpace friends list go to http://www.myspace.com/freecomicbookday.

Cartoon Overlord on May 6th...

My company Comic Strip Network is providing artwork and artists for this live stage comedy improv with cartoons. Imagine 'South Park' crossed with 'Mystery Science Theater 3000', and you have a good idea what the Cartoon Overlord show is like. Stellar cast of actor-comedians who've appeared on 'The Tonight Show with Jay Leno', 'Curb your Enthusiasm', 'That '70s Show' and 'Scrubs'. At the beautiful 99-seat ACME Comedy Theatre in Hollywood. 135 N. La Brea Ave. Sundays, 8pm. Continuing through May 27th. Tickets $12. Or, $10 if you draw your own cartoon character. Info at www.comicstripnetwork.com. Box office 323-525-0202.

VFX Supervisors of the Movie '300' on May 8th...

L.A. SIGGRAPH presents '300' visual effects supervisor Chris Watts and other visual effects supervisors from the hit movie '300'. I've invited my friend Chris Watts and a distinguished panel of visual effects supervisors from many post-production houses that built sequences for '300'. They'll screen clips from the movie and explain how the visual effects and unique look of the film were created. Outdoor reception 6:30-7:30pm, presentation 7:30-9:30. Barnsdall Gallery Theatre, 4800 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood. Tuesday, May 8th, 2007. $15 at the door (or $35 to join L.A. SIGGRAPH for the year http://la.siggraph.org).

Visual Effects Panel from '300' on May 8th

2007-04-29T22:39:00.001-07:00

If you're interested in the hit movie '300' and want to understand its visual effects this is a must-see event! Chris Watts is a very entertaining speaker, and '300' is this year's huge surprise hit with $422M in worldwide box office. Every time I've heard Chris speak about '300' the event has been standing room only. This panel is the only time a group of the visual effects supervisors from the movie has presented together. Don't miss it!

VFX Supervisors of the Movie '300' on May 8th...

A panel of visual effects supervisors from the hit movie '300'. I've invited my friend Chris Watts and a distinguished panel of visual effects supervisors from many post-production houses that built sequences for '300'. They'll screen clips from the movie and explain how the visual effects and unique look of the film were created.

'300' VFX Supervisors Panel:

* '300' Visual Effects Supervisor Chris Watts
* Pixel Magic Tyler Foell
* Screaming Death Monkey Jeremy Hunt
* Scanline Stephan Trojansky
* Hydraulx Chris Wells
* Buzz Images Derek Wentworth

Barnsdall is a big venue, but getting there early is recommended. There's no RSVP system for this event hosted through L.A. SIGGRAPH. Outdoor reception 6:30-7:30pm, presentation 7:30-9:30. Barnsdall Gallery Theatre, 4800 Hollywood Blvd., Hollywood. Tuesday, May 8th, 2007. $15 at the door (or $35 to join L.A. SIGGRAPH for the year http://la.siggraph.org).

Animation events this week

2007-04-21T11:44:00.001-07:00

Comic Book and Graphic Novel Writers Group on April 24th...

Writers and graphic artists welcome. With Emmy-winning author MICHAEL REEVES who's written for STAR TREK: THE NEXT GENERATION, TWILIGHT ZONE, SLIDERS, THE FLASH, FATHER DOWLING MYSTERIES. Writer/story editor on BATMAN THE ANIMATED SERIES, GARGOYLES for Disney, and a New York Times bestselling author with over two dozen titles sold. He's written Comic Books for both the SUPRMAN ADVENTURES and THE BATMAN ADVENTURES for D.C. Comics and IRREGULARS for Dark Horse. He co-wrote and co-produced with Marc Scott Zicree WORLD ENOUGH AND TIME, a webisode of STAR TREK: NEW VOYAGES. Contact James Shea . PATY’S ON RIVERSIDE, 10001 Riverside Dr. (4 blocks West of Pass Ave.), Toluca Lake. Tuesday, April 24, 2007 at 7pm. No cover charge.

WGA Animation Writers Caucus Schmooze on April 25th...

The Animation Writer’s Caucus Animation Schmooze with guest Gregory
Noveck, senior vice president, Creative Affairs, DC Comics. He works closely with Time Warner’s filmed entertainment subsidiaries, including Warner Bros. Pictures, Warner Independent Pictures, Warner Bros. Television, Warner Bros. Animation, and New Line Cinema on DC Comics-based projects. For WGA members and guests in the animation industry. Contact Laura Watson 323-782-4894. Wednesday, April 25th at 7pm. Hamburger Hamlet, 9201 Sunset Blvd., West Hollywood. No cover charge.

Cartoon Overlord on April 29th...

Live stage comedy improv with cartoons. Imagine 'South Park' crossed with 'Mystery Science Theater 3000', and you have a good idea what the Cartoon Overlord show is like. Stellar cast of actor-comedians who've appeared on 'The Tonight Show with Jay Leno', 'Curb your Enthusiasm', 'That '70s Show' and 'Scrubs'. At the beautiful 99-seat ACME Comedy Theatre in Hollywood. 135 N. La Brea Ave. Sunday, April 29th, 8pm. Continuing through May 27th. Tickets $12. Or, $10 if you draw your own cartoon character. Info at www.comicstripnetwork.com. Box office 323-525-0202.

WGA Animation Writers Caucus

2007-03-28T00:55:00.000-07:00

From the WGA Animation Writers Caucus...

The Animation Writer's Caucus is pleased to announce Dwayne McDuffie will be the guest speaker at the next Animation Schmooze, tomorrow, March 28th at 7:00 PM inside the Hamburger Hamlet, 9201 Sunset Blvd. West Hollywood, CA 90069 (310) 278-4924. (Please bring cash since the waiters don't like to do separate checks for so large a group.)

Don't miss this opportunity to meet Dwayne McDuffie!

Dwayne McDuffie is the co-founder and co-creator of the multicultural comic book company, Milestone Media. He is currently a Producer of the BET network adult animated series WARGOD, which he co-created. He also writes the monthly FANTASTIC FOUR, AVENGERS CLASSIC and FIRESTORM comic books.

Dwayne was a story editor on the KIDS WB's animated series STATIC SHOCK, which he also co-created. He was a Producer and Story Editor on Cartoon Network's JUSTICE LEAGUE and has written scripts for an animated feature, the video game JUSTICE LEAGUE HEROES and episodes of the animated series STATIC SHOCK!, JUSTICE LEAGUE, WHAT'S NEW, SCOOBY-DOO?, TEEN TITANS and FRIENDS AND HEROES. He was Editor-In-Chief of Milestone Media's award-winning line of comic books, and has also worked as an editor for Marvel Comics and Harvey Entertainment. Dwayne has created or co-created more than a dozen comic book series, including DAMAGE CONTROL, BEYOND!, DEATHLOK II, ICON, STATIC, XOMBI, THE ROAD TO HELL and HARDWARE. He has written stories for dozens of other comics, including, SPIDER-MAN, BATMAN: LEGENDS OF THE DARK KNIGHT, THE TICK, CAPTAIN MARVEL, BACK TO THE FUTURE, HELLRAISER, ULTRAMAN, (The Artist Formerly Known As) PRINCE and X-O MANOWAR.

Dwayne won the 2003 HUMANITAS PRIZE for "Jimmy," a STATIC SHOCK script about gun violence in schools. He has been nominated for two EMMY AWARDS for the TV series STATIC SHOCK, a WRITERS GUILD AWARD for the TV series JUSTICE LEAGUE and three EISNER AWARDS for his work in comic books.

Dwayne was born and raised in Detroit, Michigan and attended The Roeper School. Before entering comics, he studied Physics in undergraduate and graduate programs at The University of Michigan, then attended film school at New York University's Tisch School of the Arts.

Laura Watson
WGAW Organizing Department Coordinator
(323) 782-4894 Direct

Comic Strip Network Characters Animated in 'Cartoon Overlord' Live

2007-03-15T17:05:00.000-07:00

Beverly Hills, CA - March 14, 2007 - The Comic Strip Network today announced that select comic strips, starting with Darren Jones' 'Mostly Heads', will be part of the live cartoon improv comedy show 'Cartoon Overlord'. Using a proprietary video game engine created in Dark Basic, actors performing to a live audience at ACME Comedy Theatre in Hollywood will drive cartoon characters using video game controllers as they improvise comedy sketches on stage and output the show as glorious HDTV cartoons.

"We're thrilled to be part of 'Cartoon Overlord' and involved with ACME Comedy Theatre," says Comic Strip Network executive producer Robin Rowe. "'Cartoon Overlord' will appeal to audiences who enjoy the raw cartoon comedy of 'South Park' or the live comedy experience of 'Saturday Night Live'...two genres never before seen combined!" 'Cartoon Overlord' cartoons will be available at www.CartoonOverlord.com, www.ComicStripNetwork.com, on DVD and HD-DVD, and possibly TV (stay tuned!).

'Cartoon Overlord' is a revolutionary new comedy show where cartoons are drawn, animated, voiced and CREATED BEFORE YOUR VERY EYES. Impossible you say? Come and see it live! The 'Cartoon Overlord' is voiced by ACME Comedy Theatre veteran Joseph Limbaugh. The cast and enslaved minions of the 'Cartoon Overlord' include veteran comedy actors who've appeared on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, in motion pictures such as Sideways, and in TV shows such as Curb your Enthusiasm, That '70s Show, Scrubs, Las Vegas, and Joan of Arcadia. 'Cartoon Overlord' features the improv voice talents of Bob Bendick, Robert Covarrubias, Dave Cox, Brian Michael Jones, Ethan Karson, Porter Kelly, Jordan Krain, Brian Lohmann, Chris MacKenzie, Tara Ochs, Robyn Simms, Brian Spillane, Craig Tollisfson, Cory Rouse, and Henry Watkins.

Each week 'Cartoon Overlord' will feature a guest cartoonist drawing an entire cartoon live, a comic strip character from the Comic Strip Network (with artists from around the world), and even a competition for independent artists who want to submit artwork to be included in the show. Tickets to attend the live show are $12 Or, $10 if you submit art to be animated before 8PM. 'Cartoon Overlord' has a two-month engagement, Sunday nights at 8pm, from March 18th to May 27th. No show on April 22nd.

SEE CARTOON OVERLORD!

Welcome to the Comic Strip Network

2007-01-02T23:12:00.000-08:00

Where will cartoons go with newspapers on decline?

Newspapers are cutting back on their comics pages and falling back to a few proven comic strips such as Peanuts. With incumbent artists struggling to hold onto shrinking newspaper comic page real estate, where will the great new comic strips and their artists go?

Comic strips matter

Newspaper cartoons never made much money for artists, but can lead to bigger things. The #8 top-grossing movie of 2006 (with $330M worldwide) was based on the comic strip 'Over the Hedge' (DreamWorks Animation). Another 2006 comic strip movie, 'Garfield 2' (20th Century Fox), was #98. The first Garfield movie, in 2004, grossed $176M and was #36. You may be surprised the big comic strip money isn't in the movies either. In 1998, long before the comic strip 'Garfield' became a movie, the strip had already made $750M in merchandising.

Comic strips were pioneered by W. R. Hearst to sell newspapers in the 1920s. Today there are 263M newspaper readers in 111 countries, but that been in decline for years. The Internet is better and faster for news than paper newspapers. Comic strips haven't transitioned well to the Internet. Most of the comic strip sites are controlled by newspaper syndicates, not the greatest at choosing fresh material. For example, the comic strip for 'Superman' (the first superhero cartoon) was turned down everywhere for years and finally got published in 1938 as a comic book. That led to the D.C. Comics (Warner Bros.) franchise.

History of Superman

USA media reach

55M newspaper circulation USA
200M mobile phones USA
226M Internet users USA
248M TV sets USA

Newspaper circulation is declining alarmingly. Television is slipping. The Internet is peaking. Only mobile is on the rise.

Mobile has the most worldwide media reach

Worldwide there are over 2B mobile phones, 1.7B TV sets, 263M newspapers, and 363M magazines. Television and newspapers are crowded and losing ground. There's a tremendous opportunity to bring content to mobile screens. However, it isn't easy.

Obstacles to bringing comic strips to mobile phones

The screens are small and in many different sizes and shapes. Typical network bandwidth is less than 10kbs. Many carriers charge consumers too much for data (as much as 10 cents per kb). The carriers charge companies way too much to be listed in their program guides (50% of the gross typical). If not in the program guide then content is "off deck" where it can be hard to find. Program guides have become so crowded with junk that being listed is of little value anyway. And of course, it's always a challenge to offer great content.

The Comic Strip Network has overcome those problems through innovation and perseverence. We're excited to be serving free comic strips daily to mobile (and the Internet). Thank you for your support of the Comic Strip Network!

Robin Rowe
Executive Producer