News Roundup

Lots going on in the world of comics, as always. Here’s a quick run through of some of the word on the street, or whatever you want to call it. Because, really, word on the street sounds pretty silly.

Ray Olson of Booklist has named his 10 best comics of the past year, which strangely includes 2006 and some of 2007. Coming from such a serious-minded source, it’s no surprise that “serious” comics dominate the list, with Drawn & Quarterly and Fantagraphics dominating. Dark Horse and Vertigo each nab a book a piece.

Dark Horse has some other news, announcing the next installment of the BPRD series, which will be called “Killing Ground.” Some sinister forces worm there way into the heart of the bureau, according to Dark Horse. The company also just announced the impending July release of Translucent, a book about a teen who has an invisibility-causing disease to complicate the usual angst

Fantagraphics sent a note saying that May 13 will see the debut of The Drinky Crow Show, which is based on Tony Millionaire’s long-running comic strip, which has been published in collected form by Fantagraphics. The show could be interesting stylistically. It’s billed as a combination of newspaper strip art, 2D and 3D animation.

Also, Comic Book Resources spoke with Robert Venditti of Top Shelf Comix and learned that a movie of Venditti’s The Surrogates is on the way. For an interview I did with Venditti about his graphic novel, go here.