The Beat |
- 10 key takeaways from the new Spider-Man: No Way Home Trailer
- SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME trailer debuts the Sinister Six!
- UK comics is alive and well at THOUGHT BUBBLE 2021
- INTERVIEW: Sloane Leong on how to make a house tell the story in GRAVENEYE
- Nickelodeon greenlights MAX & THE MIDKNIGHTS and ROCK, PAPER, SCISSORS cartoons
- THE BATMAN animated series gets a remastered Blu-ray release
- PREVIEW: Jack the Ripper strikes again in CROSS TO BEAR #2
- INTERVIEW: Cast of THE WHEEL OF TIME discuss first impressions, fantasy worlds, and taking on the series
- DC ROUND-UP: SUPERMAN comes out, and WONDER WOMAN: EVOLUTION arrives strong
- EXCLUSIVE: Peek inside DAV PILKEY’s studio!
- INTERVIEW: Kawaii cats & basketball with MISAKO ROCKS! on BOUNCE BACK
- AfterShock brings YA graphic novel LOLLIPOP KIDS to Seismic Press
| 10 key takeaways from the new Spider-Man: No Way Home Trailer Posted: 17 Nov 2021 06:00 AM PST So now we’ve seen the second and (perhaps) final trailer for Spider-Man: No Way Home, released at last after near riots by fans clamoring to see how many Spider-Men would show up. And after some “down and to the left”-style analysis, we’ve come to some conclusions. And they are very important. Every other site does those “Easter egg” breakdowns, and it’s time The Beat did one. So here goes.
1. The trailer has a trailerThere is actually a 5-second TRAILER for the trailer IN THE TRAILER, featuring quick shots of Holland Spider-Man, Doc Ock, Green Goblin and Doctor Strange. The folks who cut this trailer knew it would be so emotionally draining for fans and Easter Egg hunters that they had to prepare them for what was to come.
2. Spider-Man has a black costume.But it isn’t Venom, right? But it does have a glowy golden element to it, suggesting that Spider-Man somehow gets mysticaled by Doctor Strange after grabbing that cubey thing that seems to be the macguffin every one will be chasing and that Spider-Man will clumsily drop at dangerous and inconvenient times. Mr Stark, I don’t think I’m wearing your tech any more. |
| SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME trailer debuts the Sinister Six! Posted: 16 Nov 2021 06:20 PM PST If you’ve been paying attention to social media for the last 24 hours, you know that Sony and Marvel Studios announced that it would be dropping an all-new Spider-Man: No Way Home trailer today. In spite of the bevvy of leaks that have plagued the film for the last few weeks that ruined cameos that would’ve been been a treat to see on the big screen. Nevertheless the latest No Way Home trailer is finally here and did not disappoint. As the previous trailer revealed, now that the identity of Peter Parker (Tom Holland) has been revealed thanks to the machinations of Mysterio in Far From Home, he seeks the aid of Doctor Strange (Benedict Cumberbatch) to put the proverbial genie back in the bottle. Of course, things go awry allowing Otto Octavius as played by the Alfred Molina in Spider-Man 2 to arrive in the “sacred timeline.” It appears that Peter and his friends MJ (Zendaya) and Ned (Jacob Batalon) don’t quite take his supervillain name Doctor Octopus seriously. It appears that both Ned and MJ will be roped in by Doctor Strange to “Scooby-Doo this crap” and fix the multiversal mess. As teased in the first trailer, we not only get to see Jamie Foxx, back as Max Dillon/Electro in the new trailer but he’s finally the character’s iconic Starfish head. We also get a bit more of Green Goblin (Willem Dafoe). Perhaps most exciting is the formation of the Sinister Six! Sandman can clearly be seen as played by Thomas Haden Church in Spider-Man 3, but eagle-eyed fans can also spot the Lizard played by Rhys Ifans in the Amazing Spider-Man.
Spider-Man: No Way Home premieres December 17, 2021. The post SPIDER-MAN: NO WAY HOME trailer debuts the Sinister Six! appeared first on The Beat. |
| UK comics is alive and well at THOUGHT BUBBLE 2021 Posted: 16 Nov 2021 01:00 PM PST It has been a long two years since the last Thought Bubble and for many artists, authors and creators that collectively participate in what can be called a ‘comics scene’ across the UK, it was a chance to no longer feel so isolated after so long without a show, and be recognised once more among fans and peers.
The most significant feeling you can walk away with upon attending Thought Bubble 2021 was that things were gonna be ok. People were still making comics, and more people were eager to buy them. Footfall at Thought Bubble 2021 was high. One tabler said that Saturday was only quiet for the first hour after doors opened and then wave upon wave of people flooded in. By Sunday afternoon they were down to a handful of stock.
While still officially a global pandemic and despite the rather vague, 'it means what you want it to mean' approach to covid safety by the British government and society at large, it was extremely assuring – perhaps a bloody relief! – to have the event take a stricter approach. Before receiving your wristband you were required to show proof of vaccination, and mask use was high. In such an environment it felt as safe as you could possibly get in the new status quo. Another exhibitor said that this stricter policy made it a much easier decision to attend. While Thought Bubble 2021’s panel offerings continued their trend of being somewhat uninspired in their range (a handful of somewhat generic topics, interspersed with sketching spotlights) – there was still plenty of enthusiasm from attendees bridging the gap. On Saturday the YA Got It! and Strip Panel Naked panels were either filled to capacity or close-to. And workshops were also getting strong attendance.
Cosplay was evident but it didn't seem as pronounced as in previous years, and most of the tables were comics. Very little merch and only a handful of print-only tables. Exhibitors were stretched across three spacious halls in Harrogate's convention centre, with the aisles widened to allow for more distancing. On offer were small press, zines, micro-publishers and larger publishing stalwarts. With individual big name talents signing and sketching at the perimeter of the halls. Larger and better known publishers Avery Hill, BHP, Myriad, Nobrow, SelfMadeHero, and Soaring Penguin – to name a few – were all in attendance with their latest offerings, so all could catch up on everything they had missed these two last years. There were even fresh faces – Scottish self publisher Eve Greenwood came to the show featuring a brand new indie comics publishing house: Quindrie Press. Some exciting work from Scottish creators was on display from Quindrie, with digital copies also purchasable. There are plans to publish works from further afield but Greenwood is intent to remain faithful in bringing forward the plethora of talent in the Scottish scene. Their newest title – When I Was Me: Moments of Gender Euphoria, an anthology of trans autobio comics is available for preorder now.  The 77, a new indie comic intended to recapture the nostalgia of early 2000AD and the popular British kids comics of the 1970s and 80s, had initially planned to debut with a single issue in 2020. The pandemic forced them to reorient and the group behind the operation successfully managed to leverage social media and crowdfunding to go beyond the original plan – with seemingly a whole publishing operation now in place. Five completed issues and an annual were on display and big plans for what they intend to do next. There were some non-attendees. Show regulars Rebellion/2000AD decided to sit this year out. Previously the publisher would hold multiple panels including the Writer Talent Search competition (winners getting a paid gig). Many keen followers of the 2000AD have tried to follow in the footsteps of the likes of Alan Moore, Grant Morrison et al and make the cut with a 4-page Future Shock would pitch their script live, with judge feedback. It was always entertaining – and informative. It still happened – but in a digital capacity – with Maura McHugh, Ram V, and Rebellion graphic novels editor Oliver Pickles serving as judges, and the ever boisterous Michael Molcher acting as host. The controversy that hit Thought Bubble 2021 in July meant both Frank Miller and Zainab Akhtar with her ShortBox publishing house were absent. While the affair was dismal and disappointing on many fronts, it was a relief that it didn't cast a long shadow. Hopefully it means the show will change for the better but the fortunate result of the absence of big-draw Miller meant that the focus of the show could shift and embrace the British small press and indie talents. There were big and bigger name guests and international appearances getting signing queues, for sure, but somehow the show felt more about the broader work available and not just The Talent While the majority of exhibitors were from the UK, there were still some that managed to brave international travel and make it to the event. Tablers and guests from France, Denmark, Greece, Italy, Spain, and the USA could be found in the throng and were most welcome. Thought Bubble 2021 wasn't entirely positive. As stated before – panels still need a bit more planning to avoid feeling like a late-stage afterthought. Meanwhile, a lack of an "official" mid-con party meant things quickly devolved into cliques and scrums at the nearest bar. Another slight annoyance came in the map territory – while the availability of additional maps to help attendees locate creators of colour and LGBTQ+ tablers was a neat touch it also frustrated – surely they could have all been included within the main map or in the programme. Visitors had to juggle three separate maps plus a programme booklet to get the full scope of the experience. Despite these minor complaints, this was a surprisingly successful and heartening Thought Bubble. After a long hibernation and a harsh pandemic winter UK comics were alive and well – and maybe we weren't as alone.
The post UK comics is alive and well at THOUGHT BUBBLE 2021 appeared first on The Beat. |
| INTERVIEW: Sloane Leong on how to make a house tell the story in GRAVENEYE Posted: 16 Nov 2021 12:30 PM PST  There are several recorded attempts at capturing the meaning of houses in fiction, of places that contains the lives of people that are either haunted, lost, or in search of something within them. For some, the house is a hungry thing that needs to be fed constantly. For others it is a prison for restless spirits that stand atop dreary hills or foggy mountainsides. In Sloane Leong and Anna Bowles' Graveneye the house is the narrator, a kind of curious observer that collects memories from its inhabitants while also making pointed observations about their life choices and their behavior. A bloodthirsty woman lives in a mansion deep in the woods, accompanied only by another woman who tends to the house and obsesses over its owner. Secrets unspool between them and horror takes over as the women find some things aren’t destined to be when a dark hunger hangs over every interaction. In my review of the TKO Comics graphic novel, I praised the book's intricate emotional arcs and how the house's insight into the characters featured in it give it a unique perspective that impressive at every turn of the page. Bowles' art is haunting and Leong's script reminds of some of the best works in gothic horror literature without becoming just another haunted house story. Graveneye's success largely rests on the soundness of its core idea and how the house's narration pushes readers to consider the narrative from an entirely different point of view. Leong's lyrical writing style favors a more interpretive kind of reading. Meanings are constantly being renegotiated as the horrors of life come as conflicts dipped in dark poetry.  I had the opportunity to correspond with Sloane Leong to talk process and inspiration and how Graveneye's most eye-catching components came about for a story narrated by a house filled with memories of violence and monsters. It follows below. RICARDO SERRANO: This might be a clichéd question, asking about inspirations and what helped you put together this book, but given how unique and clever it is in its very form, what did play a role in the process of creating Graveneye? I for one felt a bit of Shirley Jackson and Edward Gorey in it, but it’s also so much more. SLOANE LEONG: Thank you for the kind comparisons! Yeah, The Haunting of Hill House is one of my favorite books but I wasn't consciously thinking about a lot of outside work when I started writing this story. This graphic novel started as a prose short story which consisted of the house's narration. Two foundational narrative engines were having an almost alien perspective on a murder mystery, how we misinterpret other people, and romantic obsessions that result in dire consequences for both characters. I hadn't considered visual aspects for this until I started talking to Anna and her mastery over inking was inspiring on its own; she took the story and immediately began spinning out this incredibly vivid and unique concept art for the house and the characters. It was easy to feed off her creativity and skill!
SERRANO: Color is sparingly used throughout the story, but it’s there to accentuate certain emotions and deepen character arcs. What attracted you to the idea of keeping to the mostly black, grey, and white color palette, with other colors making surprise appearances? LEONG: Despite having a reputation for being a fiend for color, I actually prefer black and white comics! There's something about the simplicity of ink alone and reliance on line and texture and tone that lends itself to a richer imaginative rendering experience for me, probably because I grew up reading a lot of manga. Also, because Anna's inking is so lush and varied–she's a master of hatching, washes, textures–it was an easy decision to just do a spot color, which she could also apply in a range of ways. SERRANO: What type of storytelling ideas did horror let you play with that might be specific or more accessible in that genre? LEONG: I don't really think about genre when I'm writing. I just try and tell the story I want first and then figure out the genre afterwards, but I find placing it in the genre and using the tropes and expectations that come with horror is powerful and engaging because I can follow all my complicated and ugly philosophical and aesthetic thoughts to their bitter, complex ends and readers can follow me with, usually, the openness and vulnerability I'm hoping for.
SERRANO: Given the intricate and inventive nature of the story, how did your collaboration with Anne Bowles affect the book in its final form? LEONG: I trust Anna as a storyteller and cartoonist in her own right so mostly what I was doing was expanding upon the house's narration in prose form, breaking down and adding descriptions of each scene and the emotional undercurrents running through the characters but ultimately letting her control layouts, pacing and acting. The post INTERVIEW: Sloane Leong on how to make a house tell the story in GRAVENEYE appeared first on The Beat. |
| Nickelodeon greenlights MAX & THE MIDKNIGHTS and ROCK, PAPER, SCISSORS cartoons Posted: 16 Nov 2021 11:36 AM PST Today Nickelodeon announced two new animated series coming next year- Max & the Midknights based on the best-selling book series and Rock, Paper, Scissors from its shorts program. Details in the official press release below:
The post Nickelodeon greenlights MAX & THE MIDKNIGHTS and ROCK, PAPER, SCISSORS cartoons appeared first on The Beat. |
| THE BATMAN animated series gets a remastered Blu-ray release Posted: 16 Nov 2021 10:45 AM PST Back in the early aughts, The Batman animated series debuted on the Kids’ WB network. Sporting character designs from Jeff Matsuda, it was a decidedly different take on the Dark Knight than the previous iteration. Today, Warner Bros. Home Entertainment announced that The Batman: The Complete Series is coming to Blu-ray for the very first time. The fully remastered Blu-ray of the 65-episode The Batman animated series will be available on February 1, 2022. Check out the box art and official press release below:
The post THE BATMAN animated series gets a remastered Blu-ray release appeared first on The Beat. |
| PREVIEW: Jack the Ripper strikes again in CROSS TO BEAR #2 Posted: 16 Nov 2021 10:30 AM PST Next month AfterShock Comics will release Cross to Bear #2, the historical crime thriller from writer Marko Stojanović, artist Siniša Banović, colorist Aljoša Tomić, and letterer Taylor Esposito. Today The Beat has an exclusive preview of the forthcoming issue of the series, which follows a secret order tasked with hunting Jack the Ripper in the American West.
Here’s how AfterShock describes Cross to Bear #2:
In a statement back when Cross to Bear was first announced, writer Marko Stojanović described some of his influences in working on the series:
Check out the exclusive four-page preview of Cross to Bear #2 below. The latest issue of the series arrives in stores and digitally on Wednesday, December 1st.
The post PREVIEW: Jack the Ripper strikes again in CROSS TO BEAR #2 appeared first on The Beat. |
| Posted: 16 Nov 2021 10:00 AM PST Long-time fans of Robert Jordan‘s The Wheel of Time series are no doubt eager to see the adaptation of this beloved fantasy series come to life. Based on the first novel of the 14 book series, The Eye of the World, Amazon Prime’s The Wheel of Time, follows the story of five young people who are taken on a journey around the world, one of them fated to be the prophesied savior of the world. We spoke with four of the leading young actors about their time filming this anticipated series and immersing themselves in the world.
A New (Kind Of) Fantasy WorldThose familiar with Jordan’s thirty-year-old series will be well-learned when coming into The Wheel of Time, but for many casual viewers, this series has the benefit of other fantasy properties like Game of Thrones and Lord of the Rings to help its introduction. However, speaking with the cast, there were some significant differences that they felt would make the series stand out. Zoë Robins, who plays the young wisdom Nynaeve al’Maera of the Two Rivers town, said, “I think what makes Wheel of Time stand out is the way it deals with things like the gender dynamics and the themes of balance. I think that’s something that we haven’t seen before on screen, at least not so detailed. What’s been a pleasure to work with is, in The Wheel of Time world, these women are in power and it’s not a big deal, you know what I mean? It’s accepted and it is what it is, rightly so, and that’s been lovely to be a part of as an actor.” In the world of the series, only women can wield the One Power, which is essentially their magic in the world. Men who are born with the ability are killed due to the fear that the ability will eventually drive them insane.
For Madeleine Madden, who plays Egwene al’Vera, the elements of women championing each other, which is something we see early on in the television series, also makes the series stand out. “It’s not a radical idea that women can be what they want and who they want, and love who they want. Like Zoë said, it’s just the way the world is.” Josha Stradowski, who plays Rand al’Thor, also noted that it was the culture and relationships between the people of the Two Rivers, the town where all our protagonists come from, that makes it stand out. “The most special to me is the characters, you know? The characters feel real, and human, and I hope that’s something that, {you take that away] from the first episode, that the relationships feel real.” Marcus Rutherford, who plays Perrin Aybara, added, “I think there’s a character for everyone, that audiences are going to relate to and identify with. The characters are so contrasting in different ways that there’s going to be someone for each audience member to relate to.” Capturing Beloved Characters
When it came to adapting the story and taking on these beloved characters, Stradowski laid out the timeline. After reading the script came the audition, however, he said, “When we were auditioning for this, we did not know who we were auditioning for. We didn’t have any information really, only that it was The Wheel of Time. So, I guess we all had to go with our intuition and that came quite naturally, I think, with all of us, hopefully.” After being cast, it was about jumping into the world, which not only meant the script but the immense volumes of the books. Being that the series has been around for so long, the internet was also a wealth of information for the actors. “We obviously looked up The Wheel of Time and it’s just such an expansive world. You can just get lost on forums and the wiki, you know, which we’ve done,” Madden explained. “We’ve really gone into the internet and that’s been an amazing resource. A lot of the fans have shared their notes and favorite parts of the books, which has been really, really, really incredible for us [to use] as information. So all of it was at our fingertips.” Then comes the training: horseback riding, sword fighting, archery, stunts. For the Dutch Stradowski, training also came in the form of learning the British accent for his role, a task that he noted was particularly challenging. And then, a ten month stint in Prague where the filming took place. “The sets and the locations that we get to go on, it’s just like nothing I’ve ever experienced before,” said Robins. “It’s very easy to to get ourselves into a character and into the world and immerse ourselves into the world of Wheel of Time. They definitely make this world to come to life, and I think we will see and feel that on the screen as well.” Mentors
Alongside an experienced cast, the actors spent much of their time with Rosamund Pike and Daniel Henney who play Moiraine and al’Lan Mandragoran. Moiraine is an Aes Sedai, a powerful organization of women who use magic and operate as a sophisticated influence on the power structures of the world. Lan is Moiraine’s warder, a person who is bonded to their Aes Sedai and acts essentially as a very strong bodyguard and ally. “I love her nobleness, her determination to do the right thing, always,” said Robins, about Moiraine and Pike. “There is no other Moiraine in my eyes.” “As a young actor, it’s so amazing to work with such a brilliant actress (Pike)” said Stradowski. “She’s a leader by example, and I look up to her as an actress and as a person. We’ve worked a lot with her, and it’s just an amazing experience that I’m able to learn from her and watch her every day. I think she really brings an intriguing mystery to the character.” Although Pike is no stranger to big projects, this is her first foray into fantasy. Rutherford revealed that on the first table read, “She kind of turns me like, ‘I’m so nervous. This is quite a big thing for me.’ And instantly, you felt like she was on this journey with us, together. And that kind of camaraderie has not really left. It’s so amazing to have someone there was almost like a mentor, but also you feel is right there beside you, to help you.”
The Way of the WorldFor these characters out on a journey, sometimes the struggles they faced weren’t purely tied to their character. Rutherford described the chilly conditions of the countryside that they enjoyed during filming. “It got cold. It got very cold at some point. I think filming some scenes outside — it’s amazing to film in the woods, in the wilderness, and its stunning scenery — but for some scenes in the winter, in Prague, it does get quite particularly icy. I think, you [Josha] had a scene, where you were just lying on the floor and it was winter, at night…” “Raining. Shivering. With not a lot of costume on,” Stradowski confirmed. “But I guess as an actor that’s what you want. These characters go on this journey, and we, as actors, also go on this journey. You know, we have seen all the forest, [and] the countryside of the Czech Republic, and Slovenia, and Croatia. So, that struggle that the characters feel, as an actor, I love it when you have the same.” Indeed even the audience learns the ways of the world alongside the characters. Although The Wheel of Time has quite a complicated lore and mythology, frequently the reader is as in the dark as the protagonists are. “As these characters go out into the world, the audience is being introduced to all these terms and all these places, but the characters are as well,” Stradowski explained. “So I guess that’s the same. Because they grew up in the Two Rivers, it’s really unknown territory, as it is for the audience.” Rutherford added, “As the characters are finding out new cultures and new worlds and new languages and things, it probably will seem quite overwhelming, but I think that matches — it feels quite overwhelming in the books when everything’s new. I think it will be quite similar when you’re watching the show, and I think that’s how it is. This world is so expansive, new things are coming in, and this season is basically about establishing as much as possible, really.” The Wheel of Time will premiere on Prime Video on November 19, 2021. The post INTERVIEW: Cast of THE WHEEL OF TIME discuss first impressions, fantasy worlds, and taking on the series appeared first on The Beat. |
| DC ROUND-UP: SUPERMAN comes out, and WONDER WOMAN: EVOLUTION arrives strong Posted: 16 Nov 2021 09:00 AM PST THIS WEEK: The DC Round-Up team convenes for a roundtable discussion of notable new DC Comics titles including Superman: Son of Kal-El #5, Robins #1, and Wonder Woman: Evolution #1. (A Note About Spoilers: The following discussion contains mild spoilers for the titles being covered. For a spoiler-free verdict on each title, scroll to the end of its respective section of the discussion.) |
| EXCLUSIVE: Peek inside DAV PILKEY’s studio! Posted: 16 Nov 2021 08:30 AM PST  Are you counting down the days until Cat Kid Comic Club: Perspectives by Dav Pilkey finally arrives at your local bookstore, public library, or wherever Dog Man is sold? Here at Stately Beat Manor, we are very well acquainted with the feeling! Fortunately, our friends at Scholastic Graphix have kindly sent along some exclusive material, to help tide over until November 30th, 2021, when the new CKCC book arrives! Inside Pilkey’s StudioThe Cat Kid Comic Club series is the ongoing tale of 21 baby frogs, and their eponymous club (which is shared with Molly, Li'l Petey, and Flippy). A spin-off of the mega-popular Dog Man, the first book debuted in December 2020 and became an instant bestseller. If you've been closely following our coverage of Cat Kid Comic Club: Perspectives here at The Beat, then you'll already be aware that, while this is the second book in the CKCC series, Pilkey is taking a different angle with this volume. Perspectives will take the form of a collection of short comics completed in different types of media, with acrylic paints, calligraphy, gouache, and watercolors just being the tip of the iceberg.  The various media emphasize the various perspectives of the frogs, which – as you can see from the back cover, included below – is used to highlight how everyone sees the world in a different way… and to demonstrate how art can help us better understand the various perspectives of our peers.  In addition to these images from the book, The Beat is pleased to include this photograph of Pilkey in his studio in Japan! As you can see, he has been hard at work constructing many impressive CKCC-related inventions and contraptions, including plenty of themed vehicles!  To see more of Pilkey in action in his studio, check out this video from Scholastic Graphix: Arriving November 30th, 2021Will you be picking up a copy of Cat Kid Comic Club: Perspectives when it arrives at a bookstore or public library near you? The Beat wants to hear from you! Give us a shout-out, either below the article in the comment section or over on social media @comicsbeat, and let us know what you're thinking! The post EXCLUSIVE: Peek inside DAV PILKEY's studio! appeared first on The Beat. |
| INTERVIEW: Kawaii cats & basketball with MISAKO ROCKS! on BOUNCE BACK Posted: 16 Nov 2021 07:30 AM PST  In Bounce Back by Misako Rocks!, a new Manga OGN available beginning today from Macmillan Children's Publishing Group, November 16th, 2021, life is great for Lilico in Osaka, Japan: she has a group of close friends, she’s on the basketball team, and she’s plenty popular! But all that goes sideways when her father accepts a job in the United States and she’s forced to move away from her home. The Beat caught up with Rocks over email to learn more about what inspired the story of the new graphic novel, to find out about the origins of the kawaii animal character, and to uncover how the personal experiences of the author informed the experiences of Bounce Back‘s protagonist, Lilico! AVERY KAPLAN: One of the important plot points in Bounce Back is that Lilico moves from her home in Japan to New York City, somewhat against her will. Have you ever experienced anything like this? MISAKO ROCKS: As for moving to America, I was totally opposite to Lilico. I’ve dreamed of moving to America from Japan since I was a kid. But the reality was very difficult since I didn’t understand English. It took a long time for me to adjust myself to a new culture and school. I was going through the same experience as Lilico. I was frustrated with myself and everything until I met awesome friends in America.  KAPLAN: What do you hope readers who have experienced a move under similar circumstances to Lilico take away from Bounce Back? ROCKS: Not knowing a foreign language or new culture, or being put in any situation that’s completely new to you, can be very scary. But you can use this as motivation to learn and be brave! I tried to be open to new things when I was an exchange student. This helped me a lot, and anyone who takes this approach will make new friends and gain confidence just like Lilico does in the book.
KAPLAN: In addition to human characters, there is also a cat character, Nicco! What goes into designing a character that is not human? ROCKS: I always had an idea to add a kawaii animal character cat, dog, or squirrel to my story. Nicco’s personality is based on my grandfather, who is all about “tough love,” but I didn’t want to draw another human character as Nicco. I thought it would be funny if a kawaii animal gives life lessons to the human characters!  KAPLAN: Early on in the story, Lilico faces bullying from her classmates, even though they don't know anything about her. Was it important to you to show that bullying can take place unprovoked? ROCKS: Yes. This happened to me in Japan and America. I think a student or person who looks or thinks about things differently gets a lot of attention from others. I was very confused and lost confidence when other students picked on me. But things got better after I started standing up myself! I used this experience for Lilico and am hoping young readers will learn and be inspired by her experience. KAPLAN: One of the characters makes her own clothes! What inspired you to include this character element in this comic? Did you enjoy designing the homemade clothes? ROCKS!: Yes! Me and my friends used to love going shopping in Harajuku to find fun and kawaii clothes. That was my favorite thing to do in Tokyo. So I designed my own character with Harajuku outfits! Also, I’ve met many cosplayers in America who adore Harajuku fashion and make their own costumes. Those elements helped create Nala. KAPLAN: Can you tell us about what the sources of inspiration behind this comic were? What went into making this story a Manga OGN? ROCKS!: I’ve been teaching manga drawing to elementary and middle school students for years now. Originally I taught in NYC schools, but now I teach online at learnmangawithmisako.com. My manga students inspired me to create Bounce Back. I got to know them really well and learned that every student has a unique story to tell. My main characters Lilico and Nala are based on my real students. I wanted to make a story that kids in the U.S. (and everywhere, really) relate to and that motivates them to challenge themselves!
KAPLAN: Another important element of Bounce Back is basketball! What made you decide to feature this sport in the story? ROCKS!: While growing up in Japan, I didn’t play sports at all. But I’ve loved watching sports. A documentary of the 1992 U.S. Olympic Basketball Dream Team has been one of my favorites. Plus, my husband played basketball for his entire school life. He told me about his teammates, how they won and lost games together and bonded as a team. It was very inspiring and I even felt jealous of him! I wished I was on a team when I was a kid. I can’t be in a team now, but I can create one in my stories! That’s one of the reasons why I used basketball as an element. Bounce Back is available at your local bookstore and/or public library beginning today! The post INTERVIEW: Kawaii cats & basketball with MISAKO ROCKS! on BOUNCE BACK appeared first on The Beat. |
| AfterShock brings YA graphic novel LOLLIPOP KIDS to Seismic Press Posted: 16 Nov 2021 06:00 AM PST AfterShock Comics has announced the latest addition to the publisher’s Seismic Press imprint of young reader graphic novels. Lollipop Kids is written by the father-and-son team of Adam Glass and Aidan Glass, with art by Diego Yapur, colors by DC Alonso, letters by Sal Cipriano, and a cover by Juan Doe. The graphic novel reveals the secret history of New York’s Central Park as a long-hidden prison for monsters.
Here’s how AfterShock describes Lollipop Kids:
Lollipop Kids was previously released by AfterShock as a five-issue miniseries back in 2018-2019. A standard-sized collected edition of the series was released in April 2019. The new Seismic Press edition of the collection will come in the YA-friendly 6.5″ x 9.5″ size. In a statement announcing the new edition of the book, writer Adam Glass described the origin of the series as a bedtime story he and his son made up together:
Lollipop Kids is the latest title to come from AfterShock’s Seismic Press imprint. Earlier this year the publisher released Steve Orlando, Steve Foxe, & Valentina Brancati‘s Rainbow Bridge, and last month they announced the next Seismic Press offering, Richard Ashley Hamilton & Marco Matrone‘s Fearbook Club. Check out a preview of Lollipop Kids below. The 112-page graphic novel is due out in comic shops on Wednesday, February 9th, 2022.
The post AfterShock brings YA graphic novel LOLLIPOP KIDS to Seismic Press appeared first on The Beat. |
(@dailyDSITMOM) 
Alaina 
. It felt about the community more than the individuals.
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