La Méduse wins Quebec critics’ award
The Association des Critiques et journalistes de Bande Dessinée announced that Boum’s graphic novel La Méduse, published by Pow Pow Editions, has won the ACBD Critics’ Award for Quebec Comics 2023. The prize will be awarded on Friday December 1 at the Rendez-vous de la BD de Gatineau. Read more at https://www.acbd.fr/8413/actualites/la-meduse-de-boum-prix-de-la-critique-acbd-de-la-bande-dessinee-quebecoise-2023/

Mall Goths gets nominated
Kate Leth posted on her Instagram feed that the graphic novel Matt Goths has been shortlisted for the White Pine award from the Forest of Reading Program. As selected by the Ontario Library Association, Forest of Reading is Canada’s largest recreational reading program. Read more at https://www.instagram.com/p/CydoMe4rr23/?hl=en

Cecil Castellucci returns to space with Star Wars
On her Instagram feed, Cecil Castellucci announced that she will be writing Star Wars: Hyperspace Stories – Obi- Wan for Dark Horse Comics. Slated for publication summer 2024, the comic book will feature art by Lucas Marangon and a cover by Michael Cho. Read more at https://www.instagram.com/p/CybrcFGvMeK/

Jason Loo to write Marvel’s Infinity Paws
Marvel announced at NYCC 2023 a new event series for 2024 called Infinity Paws. Written by Jason Loo and illustrated by Nao Fuji, the series will appear on Marvel Unlimited. Read more at https://www.marvel.com/articles/comics/nycc-2023-infinity-paws-marvel-unlimited-spring-2024-trailer-first-look

Ducks gets Harvey Award
ICv2 reported that Kate Beaton won Book of the Year at the Harvey Awards for Ducks: Two Years in the Oil Sands. The awards were handed out during the 2023 New York Comic Con. Read more at https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/55337/ducks-across-spider-verse-win-harvey-awards

Okanagan writers team up with DC Comics artist
Castanet reported that George Michail and Andrew Buckley will be partnering with artist Rags Morales for a new comic book series entitled Fantasy Quest. The Kickstarter campaign for the the series is currently underway. Read more at https://www.castanet.net/news/Kelowna/452044/Central-Okanagan-comic-series-creator-partner-with-legendary-DC-Comics-artist

Creators nominated for Forest of Reading awards
CBC Books published an article detailing the nominations for the Forest of Reading Awards. With winners announced in spring 2024, the following creators are up for awards:
For the Blue Spruce Award
– Danesh Mohiuddin for illustrating Princess Pru and the Ogre on the Hill
For the Silver Birch Award
– Author Nathan Fairbairn and illustrator Michele Assarasakorn for PAWS: Mindy Makes Some Space
For the Yellow Cedar Award
– Author Brett D. Huson and illustrator Natasha Donovan for The Raven Mother
– Amanda Swinimer for The Science and Superpowers of Seaweed: A Guide For Kids
For the White Pine Award
– Kate Leth for Mall Goth
Read more at https://www.cbc.ca/books/forest-of-reading-reveals-chosen-books-for-2024-students-across-canada-to-choose-winners-1.6997566

New anthology to celebrate modern-day Indigenous people
Screen Rant reported about Indiginerds a crowdfunding project from Iron Circus Comics that will be edited by Alina Pete. With a target of summer 2024, the 120-page anthology will feature 11 stories from all-Indigenous authors and artists. Read more at https://screenrant.com/indiginerds-iron-circus-comics-crowdfund-anthology-indigenous-people/

List of spooky novels designed to maybe scare
Redbook published a list of nine spooky novels that ‘won’t scare you too much’. The sort-of terrifying list includes Through The Woods by Emily Carroll.
Read more at https://www.redbookmag.com/life/charity/g45497488/not-too-spooky-novels/

Star Trek villainous race to reappear in comic book form
Screen Rant reported that Marcus To has been tapped to provide the artwork for Star Trek comic book series by IDW Publishing. Writers Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly will also be onboard to bring the Tzenkethi to life in the comic book pages starting this fall. Read more at https://screenrant.com/star-trek-species-beat-federation-tzenkethi/

Award-winning graphic novel gets book club treatment
The Winnipeg Free Press wrote that Jonathan Dyck will be the guest of honour at the Nov 1 virtual meeting of the Free Press Book Club. The discussion will be about Shelterbelts published in 2022 by Conundrum Press. Read more at https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/arts-and-life/entertainment/books/2023/10/14/lauded-graphic-novel-coming-to-book-club

Chip Zdarsky takes Avengers to twilight
ComicBook.com interviewed Chip Zdarsky about his upcoming series Avengers: Twilight. With the series set to hit stores on January 17, Chip offers insight about the new series with a special focus on lead character Captain America. Read more at https://comicbook.com/comics/news/chip-zdarsky-avengers-twilight-interview/#1

Scott Pilgrim in the TIFF spotlight
TIFF announced that Bryan Lee O’Malley will be interviewed onstage in conjunction with the new Netflix series ‘Scott Pilgrim Takes Off’. Scheduled for November 15, the discussion will focus on how Bryan transformed his original graphic novel work into an animated TV series. Read more at https://www.tiff.net/events/tiff-primetime-scott-pilgrim-takes-off

David A. Robertson awarded Honorary degree
The University of Manitoba has awarded an Honorary Degree to David A. Robertson as part of the 2023 Fall Convocation. For his outstanding contributions in the arts and distinguished achievements, the University awarded David with a Doctor of Letters, honoris causa. Read more at https://news.umanitoba.ca/two-exceptional-manitobans-awarded-honorary-degrees-at-fall-convocation-2023/

And in case you missed it, this week’s podcast interviews were all focused on crowdfunding comic books. You can listen to:
– Matt McGrath talk about Everyday Fears
– Martin Duncan talk about Frankenstein Visions
– Rob Norman talk about Future Favors The Bold
– Jordan Plosky talk about Zoop

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