Sitting in the movie premiere for Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths last Tuesday, it hit me: This is really big. The premiere was taking place at The Paley Center for Media here in New York City, and a second premiere would be happening two days later at The Paley Center in Los Angeles. Two coasts, two major events at a center focused on studying media, culture, and the impact of entertainment on society. And I should stress that this movie was a direct-to-video release of an animated movie (although let me be clear: I would never say just an animated movie; that would be like saying It’s just a comic book).

The fact that we’re talking about an animated film (it’s going on sale next Tuesday, in case you’re curious) is all the more wonderful when you consider the context of the last several years, when comics have taken a direct hold in the mainstream entertainment market. That’s obvious through feature films like Dark Knight and Iron Man, but even more striking when you consider the shrinking book market. Although graphic novels and manga sales within that industry are significant, they’re still a relatively small portion of it. But they’re also the part that’s growing. More to the point, they’re also the part that is increasingly being recognized as a source of diverse literary value, not just subpar childish schlock.

A brief side note: After the movie, there was a Q&A session with James Woods (who voices Owlman in the movie), writer Dwayne McDuffie, and vocal director Andrea Romano. In it, Woods called the script “Sartre-esque” and talked about how this animated movie (and by extension, at least in my mind, graphic novels) are tackling the largest issues, the biggest topics, and doing it in a way that virtually no other medium is able to.

And in another way, a way comics really can’t compete with, he championed animation by virtue of its reliance on the human voice. He told the audience of how, with all the advancements in technology, artificial intelligence and robotics can’t (and probably never will) match the intonations of the human voice. There are simply too many ways our voices express our moods, thoughts, and emotions, many of which he had studied as an actor (for example, hundreds of ways for just saying “Hello,” all of which any human being could understand the different uses for, and when they would be best suited for use). It was a surprising moment that made me appreciate the moment all the more, especially because it was coming through the unique setting of comics. Because of their impact, a new field of animated superhero stories had been born, and here we were celebrating it.

Okay, one more funny James Woods story, just because it was so good I feel like I have to share it. After discussing how versatile the human voice is, Woods talked about the one time he lost his voice as an actor. It was during the filming of Ghosts of Mississippi, in which he played a real-life racist and murderer. Woods said he had studied tapes of the man so he could match his voice onscreen. He had it down; he nailed it, and it was second nature to him. But near the very end of filming, as the crew was trying to wrap a final scene before going to lunch, Woods lost the voice. It was the only time, he said, that it had happened to him as an actor. It’s the scene where Woods’ character and Alec Baldwin’s have a heated confrontation in the courthouse restroom, and Woods walks away singing, “Free at last.” That’s just a little bit of trivia for you, because I thought you’d be as interested as I was…because Woods’ story about it made me want to run out and rent the DVD.

Okay, enough digression. Let’s talk about some other voices, namely the voices you can find in this week’s update. First up is Chinese writer and artist Benjamin, whose stunning visuals grace the new book Remember. It’s a beautifully rendered piece of work, and it made me curious to explore the world of manhua with one of its greatest proponents.

Also important to note: Chris Staros, cofounder of Top Shelf, took time out to talk about his business model for the publisher as well as the trends affecting his business. It’s always interesting to discuss where the industry is headed with someone who is right in the thick of things, and few people are more so than Chris. Taking a look at what’s on the horizon is an interesting prospect, and I hope you enjoy it.

And two teachers weigh in on graphic novels in the classroom. Frances Jagielski explores the ways in which graphic novels can elevate kids' educations and provides books, websites, and other materials that teachers can start using now. Leigh Brodsky takes you through her graphic novel course, explaining how she teaches the books that are the foundational pieces in the format and shares her curriculum list.

Enjoy!

Happy reading,

Top Shelf Productions' Chris Staros
Staros has created a business that’s perfectly suited to the comics industry of the 21st century: diverse, well-rounded, and adaptable to modern technology. Here’s a look at how the company began and where it’s now headed. By John Hogan

A Contest That's Sure to Make You Smile
Smile is the poignant new memoir from Raina Telgemeier exploring her adolescent years, spent dealing with major dental problems, friendships and betrayals, and family issues. You could win a copy of the book in our exclusive contest!

Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths Is Coming Next Week
I got to check out the premiere.

On Comics, Prose, and Print Runs
The New York Times talks about the trend of going from prose to pictures.

Comics in (and on) The New Yorker
Commemorating 85 years with 4 great artists

Spidey News and New Justice League
The new Spider-Man film is going 3D. Plus! Get a first look at the new Justice League: Crisis on Two Earths in our exclusive review!

What's Next?
Get ready for action with our list of what books will be out in the weeks ahead.

Operation Liberate Men, Vol. 1 by Mira Lee
Sooha, a 16-year-old tomboy, ends up in another world where the women have full power and the men are enslaved. Operation Liberate Men is a series about the restrictions societies might place on people. Reviewed by Danica Davidson

Two Will Come, Vol. 1-2 by Kyungok Kang
Teenager Jina will probably die from her family's curse. Two people she trusts are supposed to kill her...unless she can find a way to stop it. Reviewed by Snow Wildsmith

Nightschool, Vol. 1-2 by Svetlana Chmakova
Alex must register in the Nightschool for teenage demons, vampires, weirn, and more to search for clues to her sister Sarah's disappearance. Reviewed by Snow Wildsmith

Crogan's March by Chris Schweizer
Legionnaire Peter Crogan faces questions of loyalty, ethics, and justice during a Tuareg invasion in North Africa in 1912. Reviewed by Snow Wildsmith

Olympians: Zeus, King of the Gods by George O'Connor
He's the king of the gods, but even Zeus had to start somewhere. George O'Connor takes us through a retelling of the Olympic legend. Reviewed by John Hogan