The Sunday Spotlight – The ‘Did I Err?’ Edition

Well, the week is done, England’s Lionesses play in the Euro final against Spain and the Tour De France finishes today. It’s a busy Sunday and no mistake. But there’s still time for a little comics news… and that means it’s time for the Sunday Spotlight…

FAREWELL TO HUMANOIDS… PERHAPS…

The news came in last week that the French part of Humanoids (Les Humanoïdes Associés) has gone into judicial liquidation, the French equivalent of administration, meaning its French company cannot meets its financial obligations. Liquidation entails attempting to find a buyer to recover cash in order to repay debts. There will be layoffs and restructuring.

Les Humanoïdes Associés, or Humanoids was founded in 1974 by Mœbius, Jean-Pierre Dionnet, Philippe Druillet, and financial director Bernard Farkas. Initially publishing the seminal comics magazine Métal Hurlant, (which would go on to spawn/influence/inspire Heavy Metal in the US), it was bought out in 1988 by Fabrice Giger, establishing a US arm of Humanoids. This US arm of Humanoids will, it seems, continue independently of the French part of the company.

Giger has said that Humanoids will aim to continue publishing Metal Hurlant and 30 projects a year. Whether that’s possible with the restructuring on the French side remains to be seen. But it’s certainly bad news for what was a pioneer in adult comics in Europe.

BUFFALO MUSEUM CANCELS ADAM ZYGLIS EVENT AFTER DEATH THREATS…

Well, if ever you needed proof that political cartoonists are still relevant in these times, you need look no further than the spate of controversies we’re getting lately as those in power an those slavishly following them get really pissed at what they’re doing.

Hyperallergic reports that the latest controversy involves cartoonist Adam Zyglis, a Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist, whose work was meant to be celebrated at an event at the Buffalo History Museum, organised with the Buffalo Newspaper Guild, marking the end of the ‘Ink and Insight: 20 Years of Adam Zyglis Cartoons’ exhibit.

His recent cartoon ‘Swept Away,’ published in The Buffalo News about the July 4th flood in central Texas is the cause of the cancellation, after Zyglis received death threats for the cartoon, obviously criticising the response from the government to the disaster. The event has been postponed, with the Buffalo Newspaper Guild announcing that it was postponing the free event ‘Drawing Support for Local Journalism’ at the museum due to “serious concerns about public safety.”

Like the museum, we condemn those who would respond to a political cartoon in such a violent and offensive way. But it’s also proof that cartoonists can truly speak truth to power when they rile up the ignorant in this way.

BRIAN HIBBS’S TILTING AT WINDMILLS – ALWAYS ESSENTIAL READING FOR ALL INTERESTED IN THE BUSINESS OF COMICS…

Brian Hibbs, proprietor of San Francisco’s Comix Experience comic shop, has his latest Tilting at Windmills column up at The Comics Beat. Like I always say, it’s essential reading for any of you interested in the business of comics, as Brian gives us his insightful view into the goings-on in the world of comics retail.

With Tilting at Windmills #302, Brian takes a look at the ever-shifting sands of the post-Diamond world of comics retail, with a deep dive into the world of point of sale systems and the folly many retailers will be facing with tying themselves into adopting Diamond’s own POS system that’s now, as of August 1st, being yanked.

‘Things are changing fast in comics retail, and as last month’s conversation about where to source product in the post-Diamond world shows, this mostly is bringing a radical increase of labor (but with no meaningful increase in the amount of money coming in!)’

‘This is where I think that fully robust POS system is going to become more critical for stores, because we’re now entering the Wild West for data and solicitations for a while.’

DIAMND TO PUBLISHERS… F*%$ YOU…

In Brian Hibbs’s Tilting at Windmills, he mentions how Diamond, new and old, whatever that may mean in the shifting sands of the distributor mysteries that we’re going through, have ceased their own POS system, meaning a hell of a lot of retailers are going to be wondering what the hell they’re going to be doing afte August 1st.

But an even bigger “fuck you” to the comics business from Diamond comes as the Diamond Comic Distributors bankruptcy proceedings rumbles on. Multiple publishers have filed to stop old Diamond’s attempt to hold onto stock from publishers that hasn’t been paid for and sell it to pay off debts owed to the banks. The publishers filed requests to stop this, obviously, requesting that it’s dealt with after San Diego Comic-Con, where many of those publishers owed thousands by Diamond will be rather busy. Diamond, meanwhile, counter-filed to move the hearing date for that from August 18 to either 24 or 25 July. And that’s just a shitty move, seeing as 24th or 25th July is when the majority of those publishers desperately attempting to recover whatever they can from Diamond are heading cross country or transcontinental to get to San Diego Comic-Con. Oh, that’s just such a dick move.

Oh, and if you’re after a good summary of what’s happening in the Diamond bankruptcy, check out Brigid Alverson’s round-up of all things Diamond at The Comics Journal here.

NATIONAL CARTOONISTS SOCIETY TO GIVE ART SPIEGELMAN THE MILTON CANIFF LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD…

Yep, it’s all there in the title… the National Cartoonists Society announced that Art Spiegelman will receive the Milton Caniff Lifetime Achievement Award at this year’s Reuben Awards in August. The award is given ‘for a lifetime of outstanding and accomplished work to a cartoonist who has not previously won a Reuben. Spiegelman joins a rather fine list of previous recipients, including Will Eisner, Al Hirschfield, Charles Schulz, Jules Feiffer, Gahan Wilson, Ralph Steadman, Frank Frazetta, Joe Kubert, Lynda Barry, and Bill Plympton.

The NCS had this to say…

‘Spiegelman has spent a lifetime exploring comics as a powerful vehicle for art, literacy, and commentary. His work spans from the underground comix movement to mainstream media… In 1980, Spiegelman and his wife Françoise Mouly launched the groundbreaking magazine RAW, where his seminal work Maus first appeared in serialized form. Later published as a graphic novel, Maus became the first of its kind to win a Pulitzer Prize (1992) and remains a landmark in both comics and Holocaust literature… Beyond his own work, Spiegelman has elevated the comics medium through teaching, editing, and advocacy—helping to solidify its status as a respected literary art form. His tireless dedication and deep passion for the craft embody the spirit of the Milton Caniff Lifetime Achievement Award.’

BILL SIENKIEWICZ’S ART WENT INTO SPACE…

Now this is rather cool. Bill Sienkiewicz has been involved with Voyager Space and Dent the Future to send a piece of his art as part of a payload to spend a month on the ISS. Here’s what he had to say…

‘Not going to lie, as a dyed-in-the-wool astronomy nerd, I thought this was pretty cool. As I mentioned at the time, the logistical measures undertaken for security and safety by engineers and Voyager Space personnel was off the charts; the amount of care and documentation I had to provide-such as weight of the paper, the exact chemical composition of every medium used- was incredibly precise. Nothing potentially flammable could be used which meant I refrained from using some of my usual “anything goes/whatever sticks” mediums and solvents, like oils, graphite (conducts electricity) lighter fluid, acetone, turpentine etc., –all had to remain earthbound. Anyway, the mission was a success! The entire payload is safely back on terra firma.’