Librarian’s Guide to Comic Con
RSSThis article originally appeared in SLJ.com's Extra Helping <a href="https://www.schoollibraryjournal.com/subscribe.asp">Sign up now!</a>
-- School Library Journal, 02/20/2007
While the comics industry has made overtures toward the library and educational fields since the mid 1990s, it wasn’t until the last few years that comic book publishers directly appealed to librarians. It makes sense. After all, we’re the ultimate repeat customers with budgets far larger than most comic book fans—and, unlike the fans—we’re unlikely to lose interest.
This year’s New York Comic Con (February 23-25 at the Javits Center, New York City) not only has products and promotions aimed at librarians, there’s a healthy does of programming as well. Here are some events you won’t want to miss and a guide to the programs.
Get in line for Captain Marvel
Jeff Smith, the cartoonist behind the wildly successful Bone (Cartoon Books/ Scholastic Books, 2005) is back with another tale for all ages. This time, Smith revitalizes the early superhero, Captain Marvel, in a four-part series called Shazam! The Monster Society of Evil (DC Comics). In this series Smith retells the origin of Captain Marvel from the point of view of a small boy. Smith will be signing all over the conference, but librarians wishing to get copies of volume one of Bone should stop by the Cartoon Books/Scholastic booth. Individual Bone books will be carried by Scholastic.
Other Comic Con guests of particular interest to librarians include Stan Lee, who master minded the Marvel revolution of the 1960s, bringing forward creations such as the X-Men, Spider-man, and The Fantastic Four; horror writer Stephen King, on hand to promote a new series for Marvel Comics The Dark Tower: The Gunslinger Born; and you’ll also see Alison Bechdel, writer/artist of the autobiographical graphic novel, Fun Home (Houghton Mifflin, 2006), which was chosen as Time Magazine’s book of the year.
DC Comics releases new line
DC Comics, best known for Superman, Batman, and other superheros is now reaching out to teenage girls with its new Minx line, and they’ve brought some high profile young adult writers such as Cecil Castellucci (The Queen of Cool, Boy Proof )and cartoonists such as Derek Kirk Kim (Same Difference) to help kick it off.
The manga explosion has shown us that graphic novels have a tremendous appeal to girls, and DC Comics is hoping their new line of books, called Plain Janes, will capture girls’ imaginations. Several Plain Jane books will be released this year. Castellucci and artist Jim Rugg will speak about their contributions to the Minx program Saturday, February 24 at 10:30 a.m.
Diamond creates a new division
Diamond Book Distributors, the biggest comic book vendor, is launching a new division to help publishers create new lines of graphic novels for young readers. Stop by their booth to check out a comprehensive list of graphic novels broken down by age group.
Diamond will also host a panel on Friday, February 23 at 10:30a.m.on graphic novels for young readers. Speakers include representatives from Papercutz (The Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew) Viz Communications, Diamond Distributors, and cartoonist Jimmy Gownley (Amelia Rules).
Is horror popular at your library?
Then stop by and see Christopher Golden (Buffy the Vampire Slayer, The Boys are Back in Town) and cartoonist Mike Mignola (Hellboy) who’ve teamed up on a new vampire tale, Baltimore, or, the Steadfast Tin Soldier and the Vampire (Bantam Books). Stop by Bantam’s booth for a promotional Baltimore poster.
Also, for libraries, where Mike Mignola’s Hellboy books are popular, Dark Horse Books will have on hand volumes one and two of the new Hellboy Animated (books for young readers) at their booth.
News from Vertical Inc.
Vertical Inc., a small publisher specializing in all things Japanese, is likely to make big waves at the convention. In addition to publishing David Kalat’s book on the Japanese influence on American horror films (J-Horror: The Definitive Guide to The Ring, The Grudge and Beyond) Vertical will also launch a new line of craft and humor books, starting out with two books by Aranzi Aronzo. The company will also distribute a free, 180-page Manga Sampler. Finally, Vertical Inc. will present a program called “The Future of Manga,” Sunday, February 25 from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Programs worth checking out
Comic Con 2007 has a whole slew of programs aimed at librarians with many librarians (full disclosure, myself included) on the panels. Here is a selection. Note: all of these programs take place on Friday, February 23.
10:00 a.m. Superheroes and Manga: Making Room for Both at Your Library
Publishers will be releasing a few thousand graphic novels this year with manga still leading the charge. Each line of graphic novels represents a separate and unique value for your patrons. Greater insight will help you develop a larger audience.
11:15 a.m. Format and Genres: Understanding Comics, Super Heroes, Sci-fi, Fantasy, Manga, Comics Lit, Humor and Web Comics
Your patrons are looking deep and wide in your library’s selection of book format comics. Now is the time to gain a better understanding of the breadth and depth of comic formats and genres, and go beyond traditional graphic novels.
1:30 p.m. Anime: Making the Most of this Video Entertainment
Anime continues to explode in the mainstream and we’re nowhere near the tipping point. Next to graphic novels, anime is the hottest entertainment format in the library. Learn how to effectively select and promote anime.
2:45 p.m. Graphic Novel Classics Every Library (Public and School) Should Shelve and Circulate
In spite of its relative infancy, there are already some impressive graphic novels that are "must-haves" for your school or public library. In this program, you’ll gain the vitals on classics every library should have in circulation.
Finally: New York Comic Con will host the 2007 American Anime Awards! The awards ceremony will take place on Saturday, February 24 at the New Yorker Hotel in midtown Manhattan.
Stephen Weiner, director of the Maynard Public Library in Massachusetts, has been writing about graphic novels since 1992. His articles and reviews have appeared in numerous publications. His books include Faster than a Speeding Bullet: the Rise of the Graphic Novel (2003) and The 101 Best Graphic Novels (2006, both NBM).
