Comics Continuum by Rob Allstetter: Thursday, September 30, 2010

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THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 30, 2010

COMIC-CON INTERNATIONAL REMAINS IN SAN DIEGO

Comic-Con International will remain in San Diegp, with organziners announced an agreement with the city through 2015.

According to a report in the San Diego Union-Tribune, talks hinged on detailed contracts negotiated with the 64 convention block hotels committing them to prescribed, discounted rates through 2015.

Comic-Con's current contract with San Diego's convention center expires in 2012, which led organizers to begin looking elsewhere for the years 2013 to 2015, inclduingAnaheim and Los Angeles.

"We are grateful for the tireless efforts all three cities put into to their proposals," said David Glanzer, Comic-ConÕs director of marketing and public relations. "In the end, we feel this decision is the best for all those who attend Comic-Con and for the organization itself. We are happy that the community has worked with us to ensure that we remain here."

MOONSTONE BOOKS FOR JANUARY

Moonstone Books has released its solicitations for January.

For a roundup, with images, CLICK HERE.

MARVEL COMICS FIRST LOOKS -- UPDATED!

For covers and four- to five-page previews of Marvel Comics titles arriving in stores in October, CLICK HERE.

Titles include Fantastic Four #584 and Ultimate Comics Spider-Man #15.

For previously posted previews of Marvel Comics titles arriving in stores in October, CLICK HERE.

CLARK GREGG TALKS THOR

At the recent Comic-Con International in San Diego, Clark Gregg related a story about how he learned his character, S.H.I.E.L.D. agent Phil Coulson, would transition from the Iron Man franchise to Thor.

To watch the video, CLICK HERE.

ONI PRESS EXPANDS THE SIXTH GUN

Oni Press has announced that The Sixth Gun #6 will expand by 12 pages while maintaining the book's $3.99 price point.

Series creators Cullen Bunn and Brian Hurtt are also enlisting colorist Bill Crabtree on the title. According to Oni, the creators are responding to lower than average comics sales in August blamed on a $3.99 cover price.

"Having a colorist as accomplished as Bill join the book was a no-brainer," Bunn said. "Initially we were going to have Bill start with issue #7, it's the beginning of a new arc and it just made sense, but Brian had been plugging away at issue #6, and we started having the dreaded conversations of what to cut in order to keep the book's page-count down. When we saw the August (sales) numbers and read the reports, it just occurred to us: 'Why should we sacrifice the culmination of this great story and all our hard work?' The fans have been waiting for the climatic final battle; let's give it to them!"

"I've penciled, inked, colored and lettered every issue and we've never missed a ship date on The Sixth Gunn," Hurtt said, "but adding an additional 12 pages of story to a 22-page book for the final issue in this story arc is no small feat, and after six months of hard work, we're not about to start missing deadlines now! We told Bill our idea for an oversized issue #6 and asked if he'd start in on The Sixth Gun early."

"The 40-page issue is scheduled to be in stores on Nov. 17.

BRIEFLY

* Aspen Comics has announced its exclusives for the New York Comic Con on Oct. 8-10 as the publisher celebrates the launch of its new series Lady Mechanika.

Exclusives will include convention versions (limited to 500 copies) of Lady Mechanika #0 and Executive Assistant: Iris #6 before the regular editions reach stores.

Prints will include the Aspen Tour Print 2010: New York Comic Con edition by Joe Benitez and Peter Steigerwald, limited to 75 signed and numbered prints. Aspen will also offer annew Lady Mechanika and Executive Assistant: Iris prints, as well as the Soulfire Grace Poster print, limited to 100 signed and numbered copies.