You know, that title is one I never thought I’d write. But Jeebus, people how about a little professionalism?

First a new Dinosaur is discovered, possibly, (I still remember when the brontosaurus was a dinosaur and not a screw up), which is absolutely awesome. and then they go and name the thing the Dracorex Hogwartsia The first part, I don’t mind. There’s a slight dragon-ish aspect I guess, so they could justify Draco. But, Hogwartsia?!? as in the school that Harry potter and pals going flying around on their brooms while being raped by Pedophile extraordinaire “He who shall not be named.” (Father Malloy?) Give me a freaking break.

Oh, but if that’s not enough, this week, they find a new fish. And it has kind of a yellowish skin tone and a almost black W on it’s tail. So, what do they name it? Otocinclus batmani referencing Batman from DC comics. Lucky thing DC put that stupid yellow ring around the Bat symbol or they may have never found a good name for this fish.

It’s not a star fish, It’s a CapAmericus Symbolis. That’s not just any spider it’s a Neogenics Parkeris.
And I want to wrap up this post with some kind of pun on Large mouth Lance Bass, but just can’t put it together, I’m done for the night.

This has become quite a meme to the comics world, so who am I not to propagate it further.

Awhile back a man named Rick Olney, started the hopes of a Comic Company called TightLip Entertainment, not a half bad looking website. But he maked a mistake like many of us have and forgot to pay his bill. Unfortunately that bill was to some high profile creators, namely Gail Simone and Chuck Dixon, and they’ve both been known to not back down from a fight. So they took the issue to Rich Johnston’s “Lying in the Gutters” Column, where Rich has become sort of an advocate for unpaid creators, running numerous stories of who owes whom. Then more voices came out saying that Rick also owed them money. All, the while Rick cried out that they are violating their NDAs and now he will seek legal ramifications against them.

Eventually it all amounted to One Hell of an Interesting Thread, that is, as of this post, at 263 pages, and seems to add another page as soon as you can finish one. Apparently somewhere along the way (I’ve only read the first few and then the latter 100 pages) Rick Olney decided to break down, making himself a true comic book villain, going so far as making cracks about Gail Simone’s weight, implying that Mark Waid is gay, and randomly insulting others, because of what others have said about him. Later, even some of the people that Rick was calling friends early in the thread turned on him, revealing his NDA, and overall, throwing him to the wolves. Then Mark Waid stepped up in Grand Fashion vowing to pay out of his own pocket for any creator who wanted to pursue legal action against Rick, but couldn’t fit the bill himself, and apparently has already cut a few checks.

Meanwhile Rick Olney refuses to say the name of his lawyer, no one that has actually been paid by Rick will step forward (if they actually exist) and Rick says he will not pay until his lawyer gives him the go ahead, although the issue of breaking the NDA would have no reflection on whether or not any of the creators are compensated.

It’s really amazing. First I recommend reading Ronee Bourgeois’ Open Letter to Rick. Then If you have free time, I recommend you watch the meltdown in action especially look for the posts by Rick “orcafresh” Olney himself. Here’s hoping that all of this can be resolved in a way that is beneficial to all parties involved. And if Rick Olney invites you to do work for him, Get the money up front, from various reports, he is paying advances just not monies for services rendered.
Maybe he and Micah Wright can start a foundation for those Ostracized from comics.

Over on their website, ComicsPro has posted an open letter about diamond’s allocations in light of recent weather and vehicle issues (Reported on in Comics Radar 009) calling, essentially, for diamond to hold all issues of these high demand issues so that they can be released to all stores at the same time.

On one had, I’m tempted to call this nancy-boy whining as they’re not letting stores that have these issues take advantage and sell them. an open market makes for a strong market and there is no reason diamond or the comic shops should have to spend the additional money it costs to store these products until a time when it’s convenient for the not as savvy businesses to put the product out. And really there are still differences. Maybe they should hold all comics until 5 o’clock on the business day so all possible deliveries have been made so I don’t go to store A which gets a morning delivery versus store B which gets an evening delivery. And it certainly isn’t fair that I have to wait an extra day to read my comics because of some silly government holiday when diamond UK gets them wednesday (or vice versa) so maybe anytime there is a holiday in any country we should hold back a day, and until 5 o’clock, so no stores get that advantage of having books a couple days earlier than any other. But that’s just me being mean spirited.

I can also see the other side. Retailers that know how to play the game, work with resellers, and order from far away warehouses would essentially have a one week monopoly on that “rare” Civil War 6 and price gouge the issue up to $5or more and most likely everyone would get angry at Marvel. I already saw it on the Newsarama forums. “Why is Marvel allocating Civil War? Don’t they understand the demand this book has.” and all Marvel can do is stand back and say it wasn’t us while no one listens. Marvel takes the flak because a majority of buyers are ignorant of what Diamond even is. Of course, not you, savvy reader, but the majority of the reading populace. So, diamond once again has an opportunity to sit back, screw with the readers and the fans with virtually no repercussions, while fans anger grows and DC and Marvel wash their hands. Leaving retailers to take the fall out.

Definitely a hard spot for everyone involved, except Diamond. Diamon gets to laugh all the way to the bank. But will Comics Pro allocation request work? Would that solve all the issues, not likely. but it would stop retailers from gouging on these limited issues. And that’s always good for the reader.

Over on their website, ComicsPro has posted an open letter about diamond’s allocations in light of recent weather and vehicle issues (Reported on in Comics Radar 009) calling, essentially, for diamond to hold all issues of these high demand issues so that they can be released to all stores at the same time.

On one had, I’m tempted to call this nancy-boy whining as they’re not letting stores that have these issues take advantage and sell them. an open market makes for a strong market and there is no reason diamond or the comic shops should have to spend the additional money it costs to store these products until a time when it’s convenient for the not as savvy businesses to put the product out. And really there are still differences. Maybe they should hold all comics until 5 o’clock on the business day so all possible deliveries have been made so I don’t go to store A which gets a morning delivery versus store B which gets an evening delivery. And it certainly isn’t fair that I have to wait an extra day to read my comics because of some silly government holiday when diamond UK gets them wednesday (or vice versa) so maybe anytime there is a holiday in any country we should hold back a day, and until 5 o’clock, so no stores get that advantage of having books a couple days earlier than any other. But that’s just me being mean spirited.

I can also see the other side. Retailers that know how to play the game, work with resellers, and order from far away warehouses would essentially have a one week monopoly on that “rare” Civil War 6 and price gouge the issue up to $5or more and most likely everyone would get angry at Marvel. I already saw it on the Newsarama forums. “Why is Marvel allocating Civil War? Don’t they understand the demand this book has.” and all Marvel can do is stand back and say it wasn’t us while no one listens. Marvel takes the flak because a majority of buyers are ignorant of what Diamond even is. Of course, not you, savvy reader, but the majority of the reading populace. So, diamond once again has an opportunity to sit back, screw with the readers and the fans with virtually no repercussions, while fans anger grows and DC and Marvel wash their hands. Leaving retailers to take the fall out.

Definitely a hard spot for everyone involved, except Diamond. Diamon gets to laugh all the way to the bank. But will Comics Pro allocation request work? Would that solve all the issues, not likely. but it would stop retailers from gouging on these limited issues. And that’s always good for the reader.

February 23-25, come to New York Comic Con, I’ll be there along with a host of other comics podcasts, come meet us all, have fun. Can’t wait to meet you.

From Gail Simone on Newsarama.com:

Early this morning, the Texas home of award-winning writer/artist Lea Hernandez, my friend and co-creator of the graphic novel Killer Princesses, caught fire and burned. Half her house is now gone, and the rest is smoke-damaged. In addition, she lost at least six of her family’s beloved pets, two dogs and four cats. If you knew Lea, you’d know how devastating that is.

She’s lost a great deal of her family’s possessions, including irreplaceable art. She doesn’t yet know the full accounting of what’s been lost at this time.

Most know Lea as the brilliant creator of such works as Rumble Girls and Cathedral Child. She drew the Marvel Mangaverse Punisher book, and has drawn for Transmetropolitan, among many other accomplishments. She is also the co-founder and original editor for Girl-A-Matic, one of the most important venues for female-friendly comics created to date.

She’s also my friend, and it’s entirely possible I wouldn’t have a career in comics if she hadn’t asked me to write Killer Princesses for her to draw.

And finally, Lea is one of the last great firebrand hellraisers in comics.

Lea has two (wonderful, amazing) special needs children and right now they need a place to stay and some clothes to wear. More than that, they need
some help, and fast, in the form of donations to her paypal account. Lea’s a proud person so I’m going to ask FOR her. This is important, and a great chance to do a wonderful thing for a creator who has consistently enriched this industry we all love so much. Please, take a moment and send WHATEVER YOU CAN to Lea’s paypal account and help make this time a little bit less painful for someone who would do the same for you if the positions were reversed.

If you’re a retailer, I ask that you set up a donations jar. If you’re a creator, I ask you to think of how devastating this would be to your career and donate what you can. If you’re a reader, I’m asking you to take a moment and hit the paypal link. You’ll be doing something heroic and you’ll feel great about it, I promise.

Read what Lea had to post on a neighbor’s computer while wearing her pajamas at: Livejournal.com/users/divalea

Donate (PLEASE) to her paypal account at: divalea@gmail.com

Finally, if I understand the story correctly (as told to me by Lea’s good friend and current Girl-a-matic editor), it was Lea’s daughter hearing the smoke alarm that allowed the family to get out in time, so for God’s sake, do everyone you love a favor and CHECK YOUR SMOKE ALARMS.

Thank you so much for helping. Really, any amount you can send will make a difference. That’s all I can say.

Sincerely and gratefully,

Gail Simone

Uncle Seth - “You Don’t Need an iPod”

Uncle Seth - “You Don’t Need an iPod”

Today would have been Jack Kirby’s 89th birthday. It is also, in fact, my 24th. So take a sugary confection and shove it down your cake hole!