Canadian comic book creator news for Jan. 11, 2025

Here’s the latest news about Canadian comic book creators for Saturday, January 11, 2025

Ryan North unveils plans for new Doctor Doom storyline
Marvel interviewed writer Ryan North about his plans for the upcoming ‘One World Under Doom’ storyline featuring the notorious Doctor Doom. In the article, Ryan answers questions about his view of Doctor Doom, how the character can play such a larger than life role, the dynamic among all the characters in the story, the challenge that Doctor Doom will pose to Earth, and how Squirrel Girl and the Fantastic Four fit into this story. Read more at https://www.marvel.com/articles/comics/one-world-under-doom-1-preview-ryan-north-interview

Deadline approaching for comic book writers grants
The Toronto Comic Arts Festival published an article about the upcoming deadline, January 15 2025, for the Ontario Arts Council grants. The write up features details about the grant designed for comic book writers. Read more at https://www.torontocomics.com/post/grants-for-comics-creators-2025-edition

Canadian creators help Marvel’s 2025 Free Comic Book Day
Marvel wrote about its line up of books for this year’s Free Comic Book Day that include Canadian creators. On May 3, comic book fans will be offered a variety of free comic books including Free Comic Book Day 2025: Fantastic Four/Giant-Size X-Men #1 written by Ryan North, Chip Zdarsky and others plus art by Chip and others. Read more at https://www.marvel.com/articles/comics/marvel-2025-free-comic-book-day-first-look-ultimate-universe-fantastic-four

New Purgatori comic book from Canadian creators
Flickering Myth reported that Dynamite Entertainment published Altered States: Purgatori Grindhouse written by Ray Fawkes with cover art from Mike Rooth. The article includes a sneak peak of the one-shot comic book that is now on sale. Read more at https://www.flickeringmyth.com/comic-book-preview-altered-states-purgatori-grindhouse/

Canadian creators make The Comics Journal list of ‘best comics of 2024’
The Comics Journal published an article about the ‘best comics of 2024’, chosen by contributors of the publications. Canadians made the list including:
– Darcy Van Poelgeest and Ian Bertram for Precious Metal
– Mariko Tamaki and Javier Rodriguez for Zatanna: Bring Down the House
– Jenn Woodall for Dumbass #1
– Alison McCreesh for Degrees of Separation
– Yanick Paquette and Grant Morrison for Wonder Woman: Earth One
– Maurice Vellekop for I’m So Glad We Had This Time Together
– Julie Delporte for Portrait of a Body (translated by Helge Dasher and Karen Houle
– Simon Roy for Griz Grobus
Read more at https://www.tcj.com/the-best-comics-of-2024-as-chosen-by-tcj-contributors/

J. Bone illustrates Welcome To The Maynard
Comic Book Club Live offered a sneak peek at Welcome To The Maynard #2 featuring art by J. Bone and now available for purchase. The article features interior pages plus two covers for readers to check out. Read more at https://comicbookclublive.com/2025/01/06/dark-horse-preview-welcome-to-the-maynard-2/

Must-read independent comic book list features Canadian creators
Bam Smack Pow published their list of the 9 independent comic books ‘you have to read this year’. Notable Canadians on the list include:
– Fiona Staples and Brian K. Vaughan for Saga (Image Comics)
– Faith Erin Hicks and Lee Loughdrige for Universal Monsters: The Mummy (Image/Skybound Comics)
Read more at https://bamsmackpow.com/independent-comic-books-you-have-to-read-2025

Johnnie Christmas gets NAACP nomination
On his Instagram feed, Johnnie Christmas announced that his graphic novel Gamerville has been nominated for an NAACP Image Award. Read more at https://www.instagram.com/p/DEi0szuylZi/?igsh=ZTkzbmMzdWJteTR6

Aminder Dhaliwal in the spotlight
Homegrown wrote about Aminder Dhaliwal’s latest graphic novel A Witch’s Guide To Burning Out. The article describes the work as an allegory for modern burnout by providing examples within the graphic novel to back up the claim. Read more at https://homegrown.co.in/homegrown-creators/aminder-dhaliwals-graphic-novel-uses-a-witchs-tale-as-an-allegory-for-modern-burnout

Jillian Tamaki and Mariko Tamaki named team of the year
Comics Beat announced the team of the year for 2024. The creative cousins, Jillian Tamaki and Mariko Tamaki, were honoured for their collaborative work on Roaming which garnered both Eisner and Harvey awards. Read more at https://www.comicsbeat.com/announcing-the-2024-comic-book-industry-person-of-the-year/

Jeff Lemire confirms Phantom Road will return
CBR wrote that Jeff Lemire announced the return of Phantom Road on his Substack feed. The article talks about Jeff’s writing status for the new series plus a description of the books’s main them along with Jeff’s upcoming projects. read more at https://www.cbr.com/phantom-road-returning-2025/

Brenda Hickey to join the new Adventure Time series
Polygon reported that Brenda Hickey will join a group of rotating artists and writers to create the new Adventure Time (2025) comic book series. The article recaps the previous history of Adventure Time including the TV escapades with the comic book series ending in 2018. The new series is slated to be available starting April 9. Read more at https://www.polygon.com/comics/506380/new-adventure-time-comics-april-2025

Canadians including in new books for January 2025
Publishers Weekly wrote about new ‘noteworthy’ picture book and novel sequels anticipated for this month. Canadian creators are included in the mix:
– Nathan Fairbain and Michele Assaraskorn for PAWS: Hazel Has Her Hands Full (Putnam)
– Stephanie Cooke and Whitney Gardner for The Racc Pack: Prince and the Pawper (Simon & Schuster)
Read more at https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-book-news/article/96827-noteworthy-picture-book-and-novel-sequels-january-2025.html

Ron Kasman update
Based on a personally received note, Ron Kasman will launch his latest graphic novel The Cosmic Con at Queens Books in Toronto, Ontario on January 23 from 6 to 8 pm. CBC Books recommended the graphic novel as one of the 23 Canadian graphic novels to read. And, Ron has been invited to the Angoulême International Comic Festival in France by the Cultural Councillor of the Canadian Embassy. Congratulations Ron!

The Canada Reads 2025 longlist includes graphic novels
CBC Books published the 2025 Longlist of books for the Canada Reads competition. Among the many books is Clyde Fans by Seth and All Our Stories by Teresa Wong. Read more at https://www.cbc.ca/books/canadareads/the-canada-reads-2025-longlist-is-here-1.7421861

In case you missed it, check out this interview with Alexander Finbow about this year’s lineup from Renegade Arts Entertainment.