SDCC 2014

Janet Varney And David Faustino Talk 'Legend Of Korra'
Janet Varney And David Faustino Talk 'Legend Of Korra'
Janet Varney And David Faustino Talk 'Legend Of Korra'
After weeks of limp ratings, the Nickelodeon animated series The Legend of Korra has been passed off to the Nick.com website, leaving many to wonder what the future holds for the series. Confusion is never far from the discussion, whether it's from spurned fans or crowing critics. The fans haven't so much hit a rough patch as been dragged through a ravine. Now it holds its breath, unwilling to be hurt again. Which is all really unfortunate, because season three of Korra is easily the best yet. Voice actor Janet Varney’s Korra continues to be one of TV finest heroines, full of grit, passion, and unbridled talent, while David Faustino’s Mako has mellowed from a high-strung athlete to… well, a high-strung cop, but one who wears his heart on his sleeve. ComicsAlliance sat down with Varney and Faustino at San Diego Comic-Con to talk about where the series has been, where it’s going, and what its legacy will be.
Wendy & Richard Pini Discuss 36 Years Of Elfquest
Wendy & Richard Pini Discuss 36 Years Of Elfquest
Wendy & Richard Pini Discuss 36 Years Of Elfquest
When Wendy and Richard Pini released the first issue of Elfquest in 1978, the landscape of the comic industry was wildly different. The "direct market" model of retailing was still in its infancy, with a loose network of regional companies distributing titles to comic shops around the country, and there was a sharp divide (in both content and style) between the mainstream superhero titles of Marvel and DC, and the adult-themed "comix" from underground publishers. Star Wars was a pop culture sensation, and the public was hungry for more adventure, seeking out all manner of sci-fi and fantasy in theaters and bookstores. It was the perfect moment for Elfquest to appear, and almost immediately, the Pinis had a best-selling comic on their hands. Within a few years, they sparked a second revolution, collecting Elfquest in a series of full-color paperbacks that pioneered the influx of comics into mainstream bookstores, and effectively laid the groundwork for the graphic novel market. Now, 36 years later, they're still working on their signature creations, and have partnered with Dark Horse to publish a new series, Elfquest: The Final Quest, as well as new collections of the original series and a special "Gallery Edition," shot from the original artwork. ComicsAlliance got the chance to catch up with them at the Dark Horse booth at San Diego Comic-Con, and discuss how Elfquest has impacted the world of comics, both creatively and business-wise.
Kyle Higgins & Alec Siegel Talk Batman Beyond 2.0 [Interview]
Kyle Higgins & Alec Siegel Talk Batman Beyond 2.0 [Interview]
Kyle Higgins & Alec Siegel Talk Batman Beyond 2.0 [Interview]
Of all the titles in DC Comics' "Digital-First" initiative, Batman Beyond 2.0 has been possibly the biggest surprise. Kyle Higgins and artist Thony Silas launched a series that expands the beloved Batman Beyond animated series storyline from the 1990s in exciting and unexpected ways, without losing the elements that made the Warner Bros. Animation original so popular, and fans have noticed and responded. The story of young Batman Terry McGuinness and his mentor Bruce Wayne and their adventures in Neo-Gotham, DC recently upgraded the Batman Beyond 2.0 from bi-weekly to weekly, and as of Chapter #25, Higgins brought his C.O.W.L. collaborator Alec Siegel and venerable comics veterans Phil Hester and Craig Rousseau onboard the series for what the team has promised to be a particularly dramatic new movement in the young series, one that includes a return of the Phantasm, one of Batman: The Animated Series' most rarely scene yet fan-favorite foes. During a few spare minutes as San Diego Comic-Con, we stopped by the DC booth to chat with the Higgins and Siegel about their love for the Batman Beyond characters, their collaborative process, "Mark of the Phantasm", and their further plans for the book's future.
Mark Buckingham Talks About The End Of 'Fables'
Mark Buckingham Talks About The End Of 'Fables'
Mark Buckingham Talks About The End Of 'Fables'
Mark Buckingham’s art hasn't just made Fables a classic — it has made it, and comics in general, accessible to reluctant readers the world over. His work on the long-running Vertigo series chronicling the lives of exiled fairy tale characters is simple, but never simplistic, and visually strong without ever sacrificing complexity. From Buckingham’s pen flow wooden soldiers of truly oaken resolve, smart-mouthed witches, rumpled detectives and alcoholic, anthropomorphic pigs, all living and loving in the little slice of New York City they've made their own. Buckingham has helped propel the Bill Willingham-written series to the bestseller lists over and over again, inspired decadent cosplay and made Fables the kind of work that's beloved by your bag-and-boarding friends and your mom alike. Now, as the story nears its end, Buckingham is preparing to say goodbye the world he so richly imagined. ComicsAlliance found him at San Diego Comic-Con to discuss the fond farewell and what the future holds.
Chip Kidd: Remixing Batman And Designing Super-Solutions
Chip Kidd: Remixing Batman And Designing Super-Solutions
Chip Kidd: Remixing Batman And Designing Super-Solutions
Chip Kidd is a one of American publishing's foremost graphic designers, a respected novelist and author in his own right, and a life-long comic book fan. He's worked with DC Comics on a number of different projects over the years, writing histories, creating logos, designing books, and even authoring stories like 2012's Batman: Death By Design graphic novel with Dave Taylor. Recently, he produced a "remix" of the first-ever Batman story (which was originally slated to be published in DC's "Detective Comics #27 Special Edition" giveaway, but ended up as a feature in the deluxe hardcover Batman: A Celebration Of 75 Years instead). While at San Diego Comic-Con last month, we got a few minutes to drop by DC's booth and talk with Kidd about Batman, his design work, and his current (and upcoming) projects.
Interview: Nate Powell & Andrew Aydin Talk 'March: Book Two'
Interview: Nate Powell & Andrew Aydin Talk 'March: Book Two'
Interview: Nate Powell & Andrew Aydin Talk 'March: Book Two'
March: Book One was easily one of the best graphic novels of 2013. Not only did it begin a story of immense historical consequence-- the mid-20th Century fight for civil rights in the American South-- it also told that story from a strong, personal perspective. That perspective came from U.S. Rep. John Lewis of Georgia, who serves as the reader's guide through some very weighty material. Now, the pressure's on. Lewis, his co-writer Andrew Aydin, and artist Nate Powell are getting set to release March: Book Two in early 2015, and their challenge is to follow up a lauded text -- one that's been used in a good many classrooms since publication -- with a second chapter that gets more violent and shows just how difficult the struggle for civil rights really was. ComicsAlliance chatted with Powell and Aydin for a few moments at Comic-Con International in San Diego to talk about that challenge, the difficulties of depicting such intense violence, and creating what's being regarded as an official historical text.
Creators And Cast Discuss 'Batman: Assault On Arkham'
Creators And Cast Discuss 'Batman: Assault On Arkham'
Creators And Cast Discuss 'Batman: Assault On Arkham'
Officially, Batman: Assault on Arkham is an animated sequel to the video game Batman: Arkham Origins, building directly on the events of the game's ending, in which Amanda Waller starts up an Arkham universe version of the Suicide Squad. Unofficially, it's a Batman: The Animated Series/Justice League reunion between voice director Andrea Romano and actor Kevin Conroy, who has been playing Batman off and on since 1992. The last time they worked together on a Batman project was 2009's Superman/Batman: Public Enemies. The movie also brings back CCH Pounder, who has been playing Amanda Waller since Justice League.
Lucy Knisley Talks Marriage, Food, And Artistic Inspiration
Lucy Knisley Talks Marriage, Food, And Artistic Inspiration
Lucy Knisley Talks Marriage, Food, And Artistic Inspiration
Lucy Knisley is a long-time favorite of ours here at ComicsAlliance – she's produced an astoundingly diverse body of work that includes travelogue comics, pop-culture commentaries, NSFW sex-positive prints, Harry Potter fan art, Adventure Time stories, and is probably best-known for Relish, her acclaimed "cooking memoir" graphic novel from First Second books. Last month, First Second announced her next original graphic novel, an autobiographical wedding planning story entitled Something New. While at San Diego Comic-Con last month, we got the chance to sit down with Kinsley and talk about her artistic inspirations, her thoughts on attending the convention, and her recent and upcoming works.
Cameron Stewart, Brenden Fletcher And Babs Tarr Talk Batgirl
Cameron Stewart, Brenden Fletcher And Babs Tarr Talk Batgirl
Cameron Stewart, Brenden Fletcher And Babs Tarr Talk Batgirl
Despite all the big publishing news to come out around or during last month's San Diego Comic-Con, the new comic book that remains most anticipated by many superhero fans -- and by others who don't yet know they're waiting for it -- is Batgirl. Perhaps the one DC or Marvel comic that really does deserve a new #1 issue, Batgirl's youthful and stylish revamp at the hands of Cameron Stewart, Babs Tarr and Brenden Fletcher was met with massive electronic response when it was announced just ahead of the San Diego show, generating all but countless pieces of fan-art as well as some criticism from current readers for seemingly abandoning the darker aesthetic values of the three-year-old New 52 title. There's a lot to unpack about the new Batgirl and we only had a few minutes with her new creative team in which to do it at SDCC. Read on for remarks by series co-writer and layout artist Cameron Stewart, co-writer Brenden Fletcher, and finishing artist (and, perhaps, spiritual guide) Babs Tarr.
Interview: 'Regular Show' Cast & Creators At Comic-Con 2014
Interview: 'Regular Show' Cast & Creators At Comic-Con 2014
Interview: 'Regular Show' Cast & Creators At Comic-Con 2014
The last year of Cartoon Network's Regular Show has brought some pretty huge changes to the lives of everyone's favorite park groundskeepers who just happen to be a raccoon and a bluejay. The departure of Margaret and the reintroduction of CJ, the secret origin of Skips and the introduction of Thomas the Intern have all shaken up life around the park, and it doesn't seem like it's going to stop any time soon. To find out more, I went to San Diego Comic-Con and spoke to J.G. Quintel (show creator and the voice of Mordecai), Sean Szeles (writer and director), Matt Price (writer), Bill Salyers (Rigby), Minty Lewis (storyboard artist and the voice of Eileen) and Roger Craig Smith (Thomas) at Comic-Con International. Find out more about Eileen's rise to prominence, hear hints about Thomas's upcoming role in the spotlight, and witness J.G. Quintel's reaction when I tell him how upset my 63 year-old mother was when Skips' girlfriend died in that flashback. Seriously.

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