May Days

I'll be away from my desk quite a bit in May! Here's my schedule at a glance, including books I have coming out this month. You can follow the links for details on the various events...

May 1
Free Comic Book Day
The Dragon w/ Scott Chantler
10 AM - 2 PM

May 8
Toronto Comic Arts Festival
Tundra Books Booth w/ J. Bone
2 PM - 3 PM

May 9
Toronto Comic Arts Festival
Tundra Books Booth w/ J. Bone
2 PM - 3 PM

May 11
Alison Dare in stores today!

May 12
WALL-E trade paperback and hardcover in stores today?

May 15
Asian Heritage Month - Author Visit
Toronto Public Library - Woodside Branch
11 AM

May 20
Asian Heritage Month - Author Visit
Toronto Public Library - Centennial Branch
5 PM

I should be updating this shortly with more TCAF signing times, a panel (I think), and an Alison Dare related event. Please stay tuned!

The Trade and the Bold V2

Online booksellers like Amazon and Chapters have advanced solicitations for the second Batman: The Brave and the Bold collection. If they're continuing to collect the monthly issues chronologically, and based on the description...

The all-ages comic series based on the acclaimed animated series on Cartoon Network continues! Batman battles evil with the help of some of DC's greatest heroes including Green Arrow, Catman, the Doom Patrol, The Atom, Adam Strange and many more! Also includes thrilling appearances by the top Batman villains including Two-Face and The Joker!

...not to mention the title "The Fearsome Fangs Strike Again," which comes from issue #11 which I wrote, then I should have at least two stories (possibly three) in this book. But since it's an early solicitation with placeholder art for the cover, and with my last story being solicited then moved to a later issue without any warning... who knows! Anyway, if you're inclined to pre-order now you can get at least 20% off from the above mentioned websites.

Free Comic Book Day One Week Away

For those of you just joining us, Free Comic Book Day is an event held on the first Saturday of May each year. Participating comic book shops around the world give away free comic books and often host creator signings, cosplayers, kid-friendly events, and other fun stuff. Visit the Free Comic Book Day website for more information on what's happening in your neck of the woods.

I'll be appearing at The Dragon in Guelph, Ontario on Saturday, May 1st from 10 AM to 2 PM along with my buddy Scott Chantler.

On top of The Dragon's Free Comic Book Day offerings, I'll also be giving away copies of the Alison Dare preview booklet as well as full issues of Ninja Scroll, Wonder Girl, WALL-E and more! But only "while supplies last."

Hope to see you there!

Mo' Gabba Gabba

Here are a few more details about the Yo Gabba Gabba comic book anthology from the Oni Press panel at C2E2:

The 128-page anthology will feature art by Matt Loux (“Salt Water Taffy”), Vinny Navarette (“Dear Dracula”), and Julia Vickerman, who does the storyboards for the television series. “Yo Gabba Gabba” art director Parker Jacobs is the artist for the cover of the first volume.

And those are just some of the cool creators contributing to the comic! More names to be revealed in the weeks and months to come. Meanwhile, you can read more about the panel and Oni's other exciting announcements at CBR.

Expo Gabba Gabba

Earlier today at the Chicago Comic & Entertainment Expo, Oni Press made an announcement about a project I've been waiting months to talk about - the Yo Gabba Gabba Story Comic Book anthology!

From the press release:

W!LDBRAIN Entertainment, producers of Yo Gabbba Gabba! and Oni Press, the award-winning entertainment company and powerhouse indie comic publisher, have teamed up to bring the critically acclaimed preschool television series to comic books. DJ Lance Rock, along with the residents of his magic boombox, Brobee, Muno, Toodee, Foofa and Plex, jump from their hit series and live stage show to the wild world of comics this fall, with the first Yo Gabba Gabba! comics project--Yo Gabba Gabba! Story Comic Book Time Vol. 1.

You can read the entire press release at CBR.

I'm helping edit and write for the book which is due out some time this fall. I'm sure Oni will be rolling out more information in the weeks to come, including revealing some of the names of our super cool contributors. Please stay tuned!

Alison Around the World

Tundra Books is sponsoring a really fun photo contest to promote the return of Alison Dare in May!

If you've heard of Flat Stanley or the Traveling Gnome then you know the general drill: Print and cut out the image(s) pictured above. Take a picture of Flat Alison in front of a famous landmark, or Traveling Alison in an exotic location, or be creative with a common everyday object (see "Alison Under Water" below by Sylvia Chan).

Submit your photograph (and optional caption) to tundra@mcclelland.com by Jully 31, 2010 and you could win one of three Alison Dare prize packs consisting of signed copies of the books, a limited edition button, sticker, bookmark and a membership card naming you a charter member of the all-new Alison Dare fan club!

The three winners will be chosen by me, J. Bone, and you the readers (People's Choice). Tundra will post all the photos on their blog for voting. So come on... I double dog dare you to enter!

Double Blog Dare

Tundra Books, publishers of the new Alison Dare collections, are looking for a few good bloggers for the Double Blog Dare Tour!

What's a blog tour you ask? Blog tours, like traditional bookstore tours, consist of a designated number of promotional "stops" but online of course. Participating bloggers post reviews, interviews, contests, etc. on designated days. The Double Blog Dare Tour will take place June 7-11 and 14-18. Bloggers can request a date to post, and Tundra has listed some ideas for content, including a fun photo contest, here.

Please feel free to pass along the link to any bloggers you think might want to participate. And please stay tuned for more on that photo contest!

Which comics character would you most like to work with (apart from the ones you have already created for).

Right now I'm thinking Spider-Man. The Incredibles are a close second.

Ask me anything

My daughter and I are loving the Wall-E comics, but we both want to know... Is there any plans to do more Alison Dare stories in the near future?

There are no plans for new stories right now, but Tundra Books is publishing two reprint collections in May. New material will depend on how well those books do! My fingers are crossed...

Ask me anything

Of your comic work which project was your favorite?

My experience writing Teen Titans Go really stands out because of the great people I worked with, the enthusiastic fan response, and the fact that I wrote over fifty issues and happily worked on the series for almost five years.

Ask me anything