The little book, TRUE FACTS, is really a collection of essays from the web on self publishing comics. I picked up my copy the other day at ISOTOPE in San Francisco on the recomendation of comics self-publisher Alexis Fajardo. He told me “This book will get you all fired up,” and he was right. The book is short and sweet and gets right to the point. For any creators out there looking for answers or inspiration, pick it up.

The author, Larry Young. is the founder of AiT/PlanetLar.

Book Description (amazon)

“Please allow me to introduce myself,” Larry Young began his series of columns on comic book self-publishing for the comic book criticism website Savant. TRUE FACTS was a how-to for self-publishers, written by “the Johnny Appleseed of Comics.” Savant editor Matt Fraction called them “one part instructional guide, one part motivational, and one part awesome.” With step-by-step instructions, each column provides the nut-and-bolts information that you need to produce and publish your own comic book. From the execution of the concept, to definitions of pre-press and printing, from distribution and branding of your comic to the mechanics of the writing of effective press releases, every column is printed here in its entirety. For this 2002 edition, however, each column is expanded upon and updated with all-new information.

If you are thinking of purchasing a copy, please go through your local comic book store. But if you can’t find it and would like to help support this website, use the Amazon link below:

While checking some links for my post on Peter S. Beagle, I found an interesting factoid. The folks who created the Rankin-Bass animated films like the Last Unicorn, the Hobbitt, and Lord of the Rings went on the create Nausicaa in the Valley of the Wind and to become Studio Ghibli.

From a page of info I found on this:

…The publishers decided that Nausicaa was popular enough to make an animated feature based on the story in the manga with its creator, Hayao Miyazaki, as the director. They hired the studio Topcraft to do the animation. While Topcraft had done several high quality animated features before this, (most notably The Hobbit), all of them had been for Rankin-Bass Productions and released only in the US market. Their work was unknown in Japan itself….

I am a fan of the Rankin-Bass movies that they produced as well as the Studio Ghibli films like Nausicaa, Kiki’s delivery service, Spirited Away, and Laputa: Castle in the Sky.

If you are a fan of the NPR radio series This American Life, maybe you need to ask for this DVD for Christmas or your Birthday. It was originally produced for a pledge drive by host Ira Glass and artist Chris Ware.

Here is a blurb:

Ira Glass and cartoonist Chris Ware decided to co-report a story together. Ira does the sound. Chris does hundreds of drawings. The result is a 22-minute story, with sound and images, now on DVD for the first time.

Tim looks @ buildingsThis story has never been on the radio. It was presented in pieces – as it was completed – on This American Life’s May 2003 “Lost in America” tour, and at Royce Hall in Los Angeles. It’s the true story of a boy named Tim Samuelson, who became obsessed with old buildings, especially the buildings of Louis Sullivan in Chicago, during the 1960′s and 70′s when they were being torn down.

At one point, hearing that a favorite building at Clark and Adams is being demolished, a thirteen-year-old Tim demands to meet with the architect who’s designing the glass-and-steel building that’ll take its place: Mies van der Rohe, one of the most famous architects in the world. Tim finds van der Rohe’s office. The legendary architect meets with the teenager.

Much more happens. It’s a very sad story, drawn with beautiful pictures.

What a great idea, bringing two different mediums together in a new and exciting way. The link above has a QuickTime Sample and photos of the beautifully put together book. BTW the page above says its for a pledge drive, but they do have them at the this American Life store.

Hey I am an artist, anyone want me to draw your radio show.

Cinema Insomnia is a syndicated TV show that features old B movies. It’s host is Mister Lobo, the exocentric host. The show is featured on PBS-public access stations across the US. Here in the Bay Area its on the KTEH 54/17 PBS station.

Their moto: There not bad movies, just misunderstood!

Who is Mr. Lobo? Is he friend or foe? Will he save late night television or destroy it? Shrouded in the obsidian mystique of a formless void, this innovative horror host presides over Cinema Insomnia from the regal heights of the finest rocking chair that 1971 had to offer. The second syndicated season of the show had 28 episodes (formatted and ready to air on your favorite commercial broadcast television station) and the 2005 season will include another thirteen – including a Halloween spectacular. The show has aired on KXTV ABC News10 (California), MATA14 (Wisconsin), and COX 71 (Virginia) and is now seen on KEJB UPN 43 (Louisiana) and over 100 cable systems. It will be carried by UATV beginning in August 2005.