Feature Story: Our 2009 Comic-Con Report
What went on at San Diego Comic-Con this year? We did our best to keep up with the buzz and hype. Here's our report on what we saw and heard in these five crazy days. By John Hogan
Ray Bradbury: Forty Years Ago, He Was One of Comic-Con's First Guests; Now He Talks About the Anniversary of the Lunar Landing By Carol Fitzgerald
Twelve Random Comic-Con Musings By Carol Fitzgerald
Favorite Comic-Con Costume Picks By Carol Fitzgerald
Library Programming Takes the Stage at Comic-Con by John Hogan

Recent Blog Posts:
Twilight by Way of Comics
Borders Bringing in the Teens

Creator Interviews:
Walking on Air
The visionary creator behind Air and Cairo discusses her seamless world of the magic and the mundane and how they all blend together on her outstanding new series. By John Hogan

The Scott Christian Sava Chronicles
When Scott Christian Sava sets out to write a graphic novel, he starts with a simple concept and asks “What would happen if…” The results are a series of cheery, self-contained children’s books that each revolve around an idea, often spelled out in the title: Pet Robots, Gary and the Pirate, My Grandparents Are Secret Agents. By Brigid Alverson

Features:
OP-ED: Graphic Texts in the College Classroom
Doré Ripley, a lecturer at Cal State East Bay, has been using graphic novels in her college classrooms for a while now, using them to teach remedial reading and writing to her students. But now she's about to embark on a new graphic-novel endeavor. She explains how it will work and what she's expecting.

Video: New Marvel Anime Series
Marvel will soon be debuting four new anime series based on some of its most popular characters, including Iron Man and Wolverine. Get a first look here.

Books Into Movies/Book Onto DVDs
The Human Target is coming to TV --- again! Although it failed once almost 20 years ago, the series, based on an obscure comics character, is getting refitted for the 21st century. Read all about it here.

Bestseller List: Brave New Work in Los Angeles, CA
Meet Atom!, the owner of the 2008 Eisner Award-winning comics shop Brave New World in Los Angeles's Santa Clarita Valley.

Coming Soon: What's Coming Out in Mid-September
We keep your summer reading list full with new books coming out through the middle of September. Get the scoop on upcoming graphic novel and manga titles like James Robinson's Complete Wildcats, Eerie Archives Vol. 2, and Spawn: Book of the Dead.

Resources: Using Comics to Teach Reluctant Readers and More
We continue to build a database of links to resources that will help graphic novel readers learn about, teach, and understand the industry even better. We've just added a link to a free book anyone can download to help use comics to teach reluctant readers, as well as sites like The Institute for Comics Studies, and more.


Fiction Reviews:
Moomin: The Complete Tove Jansson Comic Strip, Book One by Tove Jansson
The Moomins are a society of decidedly untrollish trolls who exist in the relatively utopian Moominvalley. While this tranquility is often interrupted by the actions of non-Moomins, or sometimes nature itself, Tove Jansson's Moomin delivers a message of hope through a quiet observation of humanity. Reviewed by Collin David

Whatever Happened to the World of Tomorrow? by Brian Fies
Whatever Happened to the World of Tomorrow? analyzes and unpacks 1940s and '50s futurism. The book's examination of what people only a generation or so ago imagined our generation's lives to be like is a really enlightening exercise; the innocence with which they hoped for their unrealized future really instills a sense of modern wonder and nostalgia. Reviewed by Brian P. Rubin

The Manzai Comics, Vol. 1 by Atsuko Asano and Hizuru Imai
For anyone who might be wondering, The Manzai Comics is not about comic books. Manzai is a form of Japanese comedy, and this manga centers around that. Reviewed by Danica Davidson

Teen Reviews:
Train*Train, Vol. 1 by Eiki Eiki
Aishi Saruta dreams of growing up to be a train operator just like his father. He finally gets his chance to launch his career when he lands a job at the Minami-Kitazawa station. Something isn't quite right though...why are all the employees cute guys? Reviewed by Courtney Kraft

Achewood: The Great Outdoor Fight by Chris Onstad
The strength of The Great Outdoor Fight is its ability to completely and utterly undercut all seriousness, be it the sudden and shocking violence with which the characters fight at the end of the book or the idea behind the fight itself. The characters elevate the concept of the Great Outdoor fight to mythic, almost religious proportions. Reviewed by Brian P. Rubin

The Reformed by Christopher Hart and Anzu
A vampire falls in love and is blamed for murders he didn't commit in Christopher Hart and Anzu's new manga The Reformed. Reviewed by Danica Davidson

Black God, Vol. 6 by Dall-Young Lim and Sung-Woo Park
Kuro finally opens up about her life as the carefree princess she once was before coming to Earth and meeting Keita. This is the book where we finally get the back story behind the Mototsumitama's defining moment as well as a first glimpse into the events that are about to unfold. Reviewed by Courtney Kraft

Kids Reviews:
Amulet, Book Two: The Stonekeeper's Curse by Kazu Kibuishi
After running into deadly trouble in the magical kingdom they've been led to, Emily and her brother Navin must go on separate quests in order to rescue their mother from death. Reviewed by John Hogan

Angelic Runes by Makoto Tateno
Angelic Runes is an enjoyable fantasy adventure from prolific manga creator Makoto Tateno starring runic magic users and youthful oracles. Reviewed by Casey Brienza

Princess Princess Plus by Mikiyo Tsuda
This sequel to the incredibly popular Princess Princess is a new school year of frock-filled fun that puts the theme of friendship front and center. Reviewed by Casey Brienza