Archive for February, 2009

Jim Salicrup
In the Beginning…

Written by: Jim Salicrup
Thursday, February 26th, 2009

It’s funny, last Saturday I showed up at the doorstep of a couple of friends’ home for a party they had invited me to.  Unfortunately, it turned out that I was a full day late — the party was the night before.  I can’t begin to tell you how embarrassed I was, yet my hosts were kind enough to invite me in for dinner.  In the end we all had a really wonderful time.

 

That’s kinda how I feel right now.  The Papercutz blog has already been up and running for a few days, and I’m nowhere to be found!  Which is also very embarrassing because I’m the Editor-in-Chief of Papercutz, the graphic novel and comics publishing company started by publisher Terry Nantier and me.

 

But, I hope I can make up for lost time and bring you up-to-date on Papercutz and help get this party started!

 

As I said, Terry and I started Papercutz, and it’s been one of the greatest experiences of my life! I mean, what comicbook fan wouldn’t be thrilled to start up an all-new comicbook company?  I’ve loved comicbooks as far back as I can remember, and I’ve been lucky enough to, believe it or not, to be working in the amazing world of comics since I was 15 years old. 

 

But a lot has changed since I started working at Marvel Comics back in 1972.  For one thing, there are far more comics being produced exclusively for adults, and a lot less being created for readers of all-ages.  Back then, almost all comics were suitable and fun for all ages, and kids and adults could enjoy many of the very same comicbooks.  Well, a big part of Papercutz’s mission is to produce comics in that great all-ages tradition – in other words, everyone’s invited to the Papercutz party!

 

So, as your host, allow me to introduce you to just a few of the Papercutz people that help create these incredible comics and graphic novels…

 

In no particular order, there’s Sarah Kinney and Stefan Petrucha, the husband and wife writing team responsible for keeping Nancy Drew, Girl Detective supplied with fresh new mysteries.  There are sixteen NANCY DREW graphic novels out now, and each one captures the spirit of the mystery-obsessed teen sleuth perfectly.  I’ve been fortunate enough to know Stefan since we were both kids living in the Bronx, in New York City.  We dreamed about creating comics, and now we get to do just that!  Stefan’s also busy writing all sorts of great Young Adult fiction series as well.  I strongly recommend Timetripper.  It’s the tale a teenage boy who can sort of travel between time.  But, honestly, any book with Stefan’s name is sure to be brilliantly written.

 

Bringing Nancy to graphic novel life is artist Sho Murase, working with 3D CG and color artist Carlos Jose Guzman.  Sho’s background is in animation, but she’s evolved into a top comics artist blending American and Japanese styles into something totally new and exciting.  Together they’ve brought a style and look to Nancy Drew that has helped make this one of our top-selling, and most critically acclaimed series.  Although beloved by female fans of all ages, not so surprisingly, Nancy has a large following of loyal male readers, also of all ages, as well.

 

Scott Lobdell, is the well-known comics writer that took over Marvel’s top-selling UNCANNY X-MEN title after Chris Claremont originally left the series.  Talk about having big shoes to fill! Scott has already done a great job introducing himself on his blog, that there’s little left for me to say, except that Scott has always been a real true friend.  We first met when he was breaking in at Marvel Comics, and I’ve always known he was destined for greatness.  Scott has done it all, everything from movie screenplays to creating TV series, and we’re so lucky that he still manages to find time to chronicle the all-new continuing adventures of the Hardy Boys for us.  With Paulo Henrique drawing the Undercover Brother’s exploits, the series is looking more exciting than ever.  And I can say with total confidence, the best is yet to come from this talented team!

 

Greg Farshtey, BIONICLE author and expert, also does a great job of introducing himself, and although we haven’t known each other very long and we’ve only worked together on his terror-tale “Murder M.A.I.D.” for TALES FROM THE CRYPT #6, I have tremendous respect for him.  He’s created a universe for the BIONICLE series that’s as fantastic as it is impressive.  Collecting his BIONICLE stories, beautifully illustrated by Carlos D’Anda, Randy Elliot and, Stuart Sayger, as a Papercutz graphic novel series has turned out to be one of our best decisions ever, as BIONICLE is currently our best-selling title.  Our heartfelt thanks to the many loyal BIONICLE fans.

 

Well, there’s still many more folks to introduce you to, such as the creators responsible for our TALES FROM THE CRYPT and CLASSICS ILLUSTRATED titles, but I’ll wait till next time, and hope that many of them will simply pop up here and introduce themselves.

 

In the meantime, I better get back to work, for as much fun as creating these titles may be, there’s also such a thing as deadlines, a few are demanding my attention right now, so I gotta go.  But please, enjoy this opportunity to interact with us at Papercutz.  Tell us what you like, and what you don’t like.  We’re here to listen.  We want this to be a party that you’ll want to come back to over and over again!

 

 

 

 

Sarah Kinney
Sarah Kinney invites you to chat

Written by: Sarah Kinney
Monday, February 23rd, 2009

Sarah Kinney, girl graphic novel writer here! I spend a LOT of time on the computer writing the Nancy Drew Graphic Novels. Since I’m not a total criminal mastermind, myself, I also have to Google a lot of stuff that bad guys (and gals) probably already know about how to commit certain crimes. I also cruise the net for pictures to help artist, Sho Murase draw what I’m talking about and work her ND magic.

Number 18: The City Under the Basement, got me Googling like crazy. I wanted the underground city’s mystery to be something pretty spectacular, so I went a little overboard investigating ancient scientific innovations. Writing Nancy Drew gets me investigating myself, and learning about all kinds of things. Some of these facts and figures never make it into the stories because they just don’t fit or in the case of City, they’re astronomical equations that make my head spin! Like some other investigators, I guess I can get a little obsessed.

Something I don’t spend a lot of time doing, though, is blogging. This is a very cool, new experience. Can’t wait to hear from ND readers! Stefan Petrucha and I are excited about the chance to respond to comments, questions and general Nancy Drew-ism. So, write soon!

Greg Farshtey
Hi all!

Written by: Greg Farshtey
Friday, February 20th, 2009

Hi folks,

For those  of you who don’t know me, my name is Greg Farshtey, and I am the long-time author of the LEGO BIONICLE comics, as well as the BIONICLE novels. I have been writing for BIONICLE since 2001, when it first began. The BIONCLE comic is actually the most widely circulated comic in the world, with more than 1.7 million copies going out every other month!

I have been reading comics since I was about 5 years old, but didn’t know I would ever get the chance to write one. When LEGO Company decided to do the comic back in ‘01, I was not slated to write it. But I did a few pages just for fun, to see if I could do it, and showed them to  my boss. She said that they needed an approved script right away, so that was how I got the job — and I have been doing it ever since.

In future posts, I’ll share some of the inside stories of the making of the comic that fans don’t know, and let you know how work on the newest issue is going.

Until then, take care,

Greg F.

Scott Lobdell
Hello, from Scott Lobdell!

Written by: Scott Lobdell
Friday, February 20th, 2009

Hey Gang!

If you’re reading this it is a safe bet you already know Joe and Frank Hardy — everyone’s favorite Undercover Brothers. So I thought I’d use this first blog entry to introduce myself, Scott Lobdell!

I was born in upstate New York where there were apple orchards for as far as the eye could see. While Joe and Frank only have each other, I was lucky enough to grow up with six siblings! (Which is how I wound up with my twenty-two nieces and nephews. LOL!)

For as long as I can remember I have always been fascinated by words — reading them, writing them, hearing them. I love how you can take these letters and sounds and mix and match them to express any thoughts and feelings you have. You can use them to talk about the past or write about any future you can imagine. How cool is that?

(Okay, since we’re friends, I’m going to tell you something I’ve never shared in public before! When I was a kid, of about twelve, I used to read the dictionary every night before I went to bed. It was right there on my end table, with a thick yellow highlighter marker. When I would come to a way cool or interesting or intriguing word, I would underline it… and the next day I’d try to figure out how to use it in a sentence. Is it any wonder I became a writer?! LOL!)

In future blogs I’ll talk about the other writing I do for movies and television. I’ll blog about why the Hardy Boys is one of the funnest gigs I’ve had, and I’ll even take you through exactly how I write a graphic novel, from idea to print.

But until then… I’ve told you a little about me. Now it’s your turn! Why are you, Oh Mysterious Blog Reader? Big family? Small? Quirky hobbies? Favorite movie? (Okay, mine is “Inherit The Wind!”)

Just like I sign every autograph for the Hardy Boys books…

Get A Clue!
Scott

Scott and his friend, Mr. Toad!

Scott and his friend, Mr. Toad!