Comics Bulletin
Encyclopedia
Comics Bulletin is a website with an emphasis on the American comic book
industry, updated daily with news, reviews, interviews, and editorial content. Coverage ranges from mainstream to independent/small press comic book and graphic novel publishers.
based publisher/editor Jason Brice. On January 14, 2008, the site was relaunched as Comics Bulletin, in order to avoid confusion with a retail site.
, in a Silver Bullet column called Past Masters, wrote about his efforts to support ailing comic book artist Dave Cockrum
. As a result of his advocacy, Marvel Comics
announced it would compensate Cockrum for his work in co-creating the X-Men
.
In 2005, Silver Bullet partnered with Aardwolf Publishing to publish a benefit book, benefiting ailing comics writer/artist William Messner-Loebs
. Silver Bullet provided advertising and promotion of the project on their site at no charge.
's controversial views on feminism
when he stepped into a debate between Sim and the Friends of Lulu
Board of Directors to defend freedom of expression in the comic book industry.
Online comics blogger Johanna Draper Carlson suggested that the name change to Comics Bulletin was the result of pressure from the unrelated but similarly named comics retailer Silver Bullet Comics, "...since SBC had a US trademark registration". The dispute arose at the same time that the retailer was experiencing criticism and customer complaints.
Silver Bullet featured in the Shirley Horrocks documentary The Comics Show (about the comics scene in New Zealand) in an interview with founder Jason Brice.
In 2001 the technology magazine NetGuide
listed Silver Bullet and recommended it to its readers.
Comic book
A comic book or comicbook is a magazine made up of comics, narrative artwork in the form of separate panels that represent individual scenes, often accompanied by dialog as well as including...
industry, updated daily with news, reviews, interviews, and editorial content. Coverage ranges from mainstream to independent/small press comic book and graphic novel publishers.
History
The site was founded in January 2000 as Silver Bullet Comic Books by its New ZealandNew Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
based publisher/editor Jason Brice. On January 14, 2008, the site was relaunched as Comics Bulletin, in order to avoid confusion with a retail site.
Charity
Silver Bullet contributor Clifford MethClifford Meth
Clifford Lawrence Meth is an American writer and editor best known for his dark fiction. He has said that his work is often "self-consciously Jewish."-Early life:...
, in a Silver Bullet column called Past Masters, wrote about his efforts to support ailing comic book artist Dave Cockrum
Dave Cockrum
David Emmett Cockrum was an American comic book artist known for his co-creation of the new X-Men characters Nightcrawler, Storm, and Colossus...
. As a result of his advocacy, Marvel Comics
Marvel Comics
Marvel Worldwide, Inc., commonly referred to as Marvel Comics and formerly Marvel Publishing, Inc. and Marvel Comics Group, is an American company that publishes comic books and related media...
announced it would compensate Cockrum for his work in co-creating the X-Men
X-Men
The X-Men are a superhero team in the . They were created by writer Stan Lee and artist Jack Kirby, and first appeared in The X-Men #1...
.
In 2005, Silver Bullet partnered with Aardwolf Publishing to publish a benefit book, benefiting ailing comics writer/artist William Messner-Loebs
William Messner-Loebs
William Messner-Loebs is an American comic book writer and artist from Michigan, also known as Bill Loebs and Bill Messner-Loebs...
. Silver Bullet provided advertising and promotion of the project on their site at no charge.
Controversy and critique
Former Managing Editor Craig R. Johnson became associated with Dave SimDave Sim
David Victor Sim is an award-winning Canadian comic book writer and artist.A pioneer of self-published comics and creators' rights, Sim is best known as the creator of Cerebus the Aardvark, a comic book published from 1977 to 2004, which chronicles its main character in a 6,000-page self-contained...
's controversial views on feminism
Feminism
Feminism is a collection of movements aimed at defining, establishing, and defending equal political, economic, and social rights and equal opportunities for women. Its concepts overlap with those of women's rights...
when he stepped into a debate between Sim and the Friends of Lulu
Friends of Lulu
Friends of Lulu was a non-profit, national charitable organization in the United States, founded in 1994 to promote readership of comic books by women and the participation of women in the comic book industry...
Board of Directors to defend freedom of expression in the comic book industry.
Online comics blogger Johanna Draper Carlson suggested that the name change to Comics Bulletin was the result of pressure from the unrelated but similarly named comics retailer Silver Bullet Comics, "...since SBC had a US trademark registration". The dispute arose at the same time that the retailer was experiencing criticism and customer complaints.
Current
- Daily reviews
- Sunday Slugfest
- Face Front Fridays: Marvel reviews, Marvel Slugfest(s), a monthly Marvel Top 10 List, preview art, interviews and commentary.
- Trade Paperback Wednesdays: Reviews of TPBs, softcovers and hardcover graphic novels.
Former column: All The Rage
All The Rage was a news, rumour, gossip and information column from 2000 until the end of 2007.- Rich Johnston - All The Rage started after The Gutter Press format died. After Rich's Revelations had run for a few years at Twist And Shout Comics, he was asked do the column for proper money at the newly-starting NextPlanetOver. It wasn't that long until the column was killed due to pressure from outside sources. Jason Brice stepped in at that stage offering a home for a rumors column. It soon seemed that the column was making an impact on the comics industry, with companies having meetings about how to deal with it. Confidential memos were passed around ordering people not to contact Rich JohnstonRich JohnstonRich Johnston is a writer who writes about the comic book industry.-Early life:Johnston grew up in Pontefract, West Yorkshire, studied politics at University of Newcastle upon Tyne, and was an advertising copywriter until 2009; he currently lives in Kingston Vale, London, with his wife, Janice...
which they then forwarded to him. After many years Rich was enticed to move to Comic Book ResourcesComic Book ResourcesComic Book Resources, also known as CBR is a website dedicated to the coverage of comic book-related news and discussion.-History:Comic Book Resources was founded by Jonah Weiland in 1996 as a development of the Kingdom Come Message Board, a message forum that Weiland had created to discuss DC...
. - Ian Ungstad (aka Mark Miller) Took over the reins, becoming one of the more "infamous" writers of All The Rage due to his self-confessed artistic use of hardcore pornography, poor writing and the ability to offend people. A pattern emerged, where a new contributor may have one or two columns worth of stories in them to tell, but by the third or fourth, it would peter out, get later and later, a family member or pet would die and eventually the column would be restarted by someone else with a bunch of fresh stories.
- Alan Donald - Before he took over the mantle of the Rage-meister he had written a number of articles and reviews for Silver Bullet Comic Books and had run a comic book shop. a former customer and my contact at Silver Bullet Comic Books, Craig JohnsonCraig JohnsonCraig Johnson may refer to:*Craig Johnson , member of the Alaska House of Representatives*Craig Johnson , American football coach*Craig Johnson , , NHL player...
(née Lemon) called me with an offer I couldn't refuse: All The Rage. ATR had changed. It was a conscious decision early on that I couldn't match Rich for sources so instead I'd have some fun with it. The plan was to be entertaining; to review and pull together the week's news; to highlight any underrated series; to try and 'outwrite' Rich in terms of accessibility; and to pop in a few rumours. - J Hues had written Silver Bullet Comic Books’s Rolling With The Punches satire/humor while Alan Donald was doing ATR. The two switched for a week as part of a fan poll and then the switch became permanent, though it only lasted a few weeks before he got a job offer to go work for Future Comics as their PR/Marketing Manager.
- Markisan Naso then took over the column, hosting it for more than a year. His take on ATR was much more manly and humorous, featuring witty and biting critiques of comic books and their creators. He also introduced more interviews to the weekly mix. Markisan often talked about battle and he detailed his adventures with comic book creators at conventions. He even invited some of his friends to comment on the latest news after they'd had a few beers.
- Blair Marnell was a guest host and source for his predecessor. and eventually took over the column, regularly featuring interviews and focusing more on reportage than gossip and rumour. He wrote the column for two years.
- John Voulieris - occasional guest host for Blair, John took over the column.
- Steven G Saunders
Current columnists
- Park Cooper and Barb Lien Cooper: "The Park & Barb Show"
- Paul Brian McCoy, Chris Murman and Matt Spatola]]: "What Looks Good"
- Jim Kingman: "Comic Effect"
- Regie Rigby: "Fool Britannia"
- Beau SmithBeau SmithBeau Smith is anAmerican comic book writer and columnist, best known for hiswork for DC Comics, Image Comics, IDW Publishing and as vice president of marketing for Eclipse Comics.-Early career:...
: "Busted Knuckles" - Zack Davisson: "Comics Grind and Rewind"
- Ace Masters: "The Burning Mind"
- Paul Brian McCoy: "Mondo Marvel"
- Steven Savage: "Mission Professional"
- Daniel Elkin: "Cheap Thrills"
- Penny Kenny: "For Kids and Tweens"
- Tommy HancockTommy HancockTommy Hancock is widely regarded as the godfather of West Texas music.Born and raised in Lubbock, Texas, Hancock's grandmother had him classically trained in violin. But at age 16, Tommy joined the military and traveled overseas as a paratrooper and military policeman...
: "Pulp Never Dies" - Barry ReeseBarry ReeseBarry Reese is a librarian and American writer. He is best known for his work on The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe for Marvel Comics, D6 Space: Fires of Amatsumara Worldbook for West End Games and the Rook Universe series of novels...
: "Pulp Fiction"
Former columnists
- Donna BarrDonna BarrDonna Barr is an American comic book author and cartoonist.She was born in Everett, Washington, the second child in a family of six siblings....
: "Submission Engine" - Tom BrevoortTom BrevoortTom Brevoort is an American comic book editor, known for his work for Marvel Comics, where he has overseen titles such as New Avengers, Civil War, and Fantastic Four. He became Executive Editor in 2007, and in January 2011 was promoted to Senior Vice President of Publishing...
: "Brevoort's History of Comics" - Rich JohnstonRich JohnstonRich Johnston is a writer who writes about the comic book industry.-Early life:Johnston grew up in Pontefract, West Yorkshire, studied politics at University of Newcastle upon Tyne, and was an advertising copywriter until 2009; he currently lives in Kingston Vale, London, with his wife, Janice...
: "All The Rage" - Bill Messner-Loebs: "Storytelling"
- Jimmy PalmiottiJimmy PalmiottiJames "Jimmy" Palmiotti is an American writer and inker of comic books, who also does writing for games, television and film.-Early life:Palmiotti is a graduate of the High School of Art and Design in New York City.-Career:...
and Justin GrayJustin GrayJustin Gray is an American comic book writer published by DC Comics.-Biography:Gray has often collaborated with fellow writer Jimmy Palmiotti on series such as Hawkman, Jonah Hex, Power Girl, 21 Down, Uncle Sam and the Freedom Fighters and The Resistance...
: "Two In The Chamber" - Bob RozakisBob RozakisRobert "Bob" Rozakis is a comic book writer and editor known mainly for his work in the 1970s and 1980s at DC Comics, as the writer of Mazing Man and in his capacity as DC's "Answer Man".-Biography:...
: "The Answer Man" - Buddy Scalera: "Hey, Buddy!"
- Brandon ThomasBrandon ThomasWalter Brandon Thomas was an English actor, playwright and song writer, best known as the author of the farce Charley's Aunt....
: "Ambidextrous" - Marv WolfmanMarv WolfmanMarvin A. "Marv" Wolfman is an award-winning American comic book writer. He is best known for lengthy runs on The Tomb of Dracula, creating Blade for Marvel Comics, and The New Teen Titans for DC Comics.-1960s:...
: "What Th--?" - Shon C. Bury: "In the Trenches"
- Tony LeeTony LeeTony Lee is a British comics writer, screenwriter, audio playwright and novelist.-Early life:Lee was born in Hayes, Middlesex in England...
: "He’s Only a Writer… and It’s More than Just a Comic" - Clifford MethClifford MethClifford Lawrence Meth is an American writer and editor best known for his dark fiction. He has said that his work is often "self-consciously Jewish."-Early life:...
: "Meth Addict" - Robert MurrayRobert MurrayRobert Murray , a prominent merchant, was born in County Armagh, Ireland, arriving with his father in Pennsylvania in 1732. Originally a Presbyterian, he became a Quaker after marrying Mary Lindley, daughter of a Quaker politician, in Pennsylvania in 1744. The couple arrived in New York City in...
: "Vertigo Spotlight: Postcards from the Ledge, a weekly look at DC Comics’ Vertigo imprint; - Michael Pellerito: "Entertainment for Every Age"
- Darren SchroederDarren SchroederDarren Phillip Schroeder is a Small Press editor, critic, stand up comedian, and comics creator. He is best known for founding the , editing the Small press section of the Comics Bulletin website and as long-standing editor of the Funtime Comics anthology Funtime Comics Presents...
: "Small Press Printed Matter"
Awards
As Silver Bullet Comic Books, the site has been the recipient of a number of awards and award nominations, including:- 2004 Eagle AwardEagle AwardsThe Eagle Award is a series of awards for comic book titles and creators. They are awarded by UK fan voting for work produced during the previous year. Named after the UK's Eagle comic, the awards were set up by Mike Conroy, Nick Landau, Colin Campbell, Phil Clarke and Richard Burton, and launched...
nomination for "Favourite Comics E-Zine" - 2005 Eagle Award winner for "Favourite Comics-Related Website"
- 2006 Eagle Award nomination for "Favourite Comics-Related Website"
- 2006 Gibson Comic Awards nominated for "Favourite Web Related Material"
Acknowledgements
Bangladesh Info listed Silver Bullet amongst the top 50 best websites.Silver Bullet featured in the Shirley Horrocks documentary The Comics Show (about the comics scene in New Zealand) in an interview with founder Jason Brice.
In 2001 the technology magazine NetGuide
NetGuide
NetGuide is a monthly New Zealand technology magazine.It was launched in September 1996 by an independent Auckland-based publisher, then owned by Australian Consolidated Press 2003 to 2008 and now is owned by TechDay...
listed Silver Bullet and recommended it to its readers.