The Sunday Spotlight: The ‘I Think It’s Just Begun’ Edition
by Richard Bruton
Sunday, Sunday, here we go again. Strap in and enjoy the news stuff – it’s The Sunday Spotlight…
SAN DIEGO COMIC-CON ANNOUNCES THE WILL EISNER COMIC AWARDS HALL OF FAME FOR 2026…
Although the Eisner Awards are announced and given out at San Diego Comic-Con later in the year, the creators for the Hall of Fame get announced well in advance.
Comic-Con have announced the 19 individuals making this year’s list: 19 comics greats, 11 living and eight who’ve passed.
Those who’ve sadly passed are: Edwina Dumm, Oliver Harrington, Don Heck, Abe Kanegson, Paul S. Newman, Héctor Germán Oesterheld, Tom Palmer Sr., and Jimmy Swinnerton. Those still with us: Bob Bolling, Gerry Conway, Denys Cowan, Mike Friedrich, Lee Marrs, Go Nagai, Bud Plant, Mike Royer, Dave Sim, Carol Tyler, and Rick Veitch.
All of them well deserved. In fact, the only controversial choice I can see is Dave Sim. Because, well, he rather went off the rails towards the end of Cerebus. Yet you still can’t deny that his contribution to the medium, whether in terms of art (because, no matter what you thought of Cerebus, he developed into one of the medium’s greats), vision, trailblazing, or sheer tenacity, there is no doubt he was up there with the greats. And no, that doesn’t mean we can or will ignore the views that mean the final third of Cerebus will always be tainted.
DID AVATAR STEAL FROM 2000 AD?…
Yes, that’s the question posed by a recent 2000 AD Thrill-Cast, In Orbit Every Wednesday, where Mike ‘Molch-R’ Molcher and Chloe ‘KLO-E’ Maveal give us a weekly good listen all about the greatest weekly sci-fi anthology there is — 2000 AD.
As for just what Avatar may have stolen, it’s John Smith and Paul Marshall‘s Firekind from 1993. As they say, it’s a question of ‘Dragons? Floating rocks? Alien tribes? Colonialism? Just how much does James Cameron’s multi-billion dollar franchise Avatar owe to the 2000 AD story Firekind?’
Yep, all the 2000 AD podcasts are well worth a listen. All the links here.
KATRIONA CHAPMAN’S THE PASS GETS ITS LAUNCH PARTY AT GOSH LONDON – 6 FEBRUARY…
Published on 20th of January, Katriona Chapman‘s The Pass, published by Fantagraphics, is a gorgeous thing, a beautiful character study, one that finds the drama in the humanity of its characters, all drawn so perfectly by
Chapman. It’s all about the fast-paced, high-pressure world of restaurant life, and may well be one of the books of the year.
Here’s a little of what Fantagraphics have to say about it:
“Up-and-coming London chef Claudia struggles to balance the weight of ambition with her personal life. In her early thirties, Claudia is fast becoming a sensation on the culinary scene. While putting her chic London restaurant, Alley, on the map, she decides to enter the upcoming Chef of the Year competition. All this, as she is also attempting to make a name for herself beyond the shadow of her famous chef father. As the day of the competition nears, tensions simmer as the pressures of ambition, business, family, and friendship threaten to throw her world awry.”
As befits a release of this quality, Gosh Comics London has a launch event on the 6th of February from 7 pm.
MACC-POW WANTS EXHIBITORS – DEADLINE 13th FEBRUARY…
Another one of those great comics festivals — you know the ones, that actually are all about comics and not just a pop culture fest where you book in to get a signature and a photo from some bit part actor who once appeared in [insert your film or TV thing here]. No, Macc Pow is all about the comics. And a damn fine little comics festival it is too.
The 2026 iteration happens on the 27th of June 2026 in Macclesfield. The call-out for exhibitors closes on 13th of February. More info – website, Insta.
JAMIE SMART’S MEGALOMANIACS: THE INVASION BEGINS IS OUT 26 MARCH – IT’S GOING TO BE BIG…
After first appearing in The Dandy (as Mega-Lo-Maniacs) in 2012, Megalomaniacs by Jamie Smart debuted in The Phoenix Comic #448 in 2021. The first book, Megalomaniacs: The Invasion Begins, is out in April.
It’s Jamie Smart, so you know what to expect – silliness done brilliantly, fun for all ages, and the next thing that your kids are going to absolutely adore. It’s teeny tiny aliens bent on taking over the Earth.
Here’s the PR…
“There are three things you need to know about Megalomaniacs! They are terrors from outer space!There are loads of them! They are tiny! Bobbletown is under attack – from the cutest, silliest and zaniest alien invasion ever! The super-powered Megalomaniacs have crash-landed, and they’re going to do their very best to take over planet Earth! That is, if they don’t get in each other’s way first . . . Jam-packed with Jamie Smart’s unique exuberant humour and artwork, Megalomaniacs is the newest extravaganza in children’s comics! You’ve never read anything like this before!”
Jamie will be appearing in London at the Emmanuel Centre on the 28th of March at 2 pm for a launch event, where he’ll be on stage doing drawing things and a lot more. Tickets info here.
