Bloom County Library Volume One Release and Raffle

Creator Berkeley Breathed to raffle off Sunday strip original art at Long Beach Comic Con on Saturday, October 3^rd and a limited number of Bloom County Library Volume One will be available for first time.

Capping off his inaugural appearance as a convention guest, Bloom County creator Berkeley Breathed will raffle off a piece of original strip art on Saturday, October 3rd at Long Beach Comic Con. Breathed will be a special guest at Long Beach Comic Con, and will give a rare presentation on the much-loved Bloom County comic and the new Bloom County Library Volume One in Room B beginning at 3:00 PM. All attendees of the presentation will receive one raffle ticket. The panel will close with Breathed selecting a raffle ticket and presenting the original art to the lucky winner.

Beginning at Long Beach Comic Con, IDW Publishing will unveil The Bloom County Library Volume One, the first of five volumes featuring every daily and Sunday strip in chronological order, many reprinted for the first time. In addition to premiere access to this beautiful new hard cover, published under IDW’s imprint, Library of American Comics, edited by Scott Dunbier and designed by Eisner-winner Dean Mullaney, LBCC attendees who join Breathed for his presentation will each be entered to win this valuable strip, featuring a hilarious depiction of the hazards of the art world.

Bloom County is one of the most popular and critically acclaimed newspaper strips of modern times. Created by Breathed, the strip premiered on December 8th, 1980 and featured the beloved and quirky denizens of Bloom County including Opus, Steve Dallas, Bill the Cat, Milo Bloom, Michael Binkley, and Cutter John.  The strip was published in over 1,200 newspapers. 

The Bloom County Library Volume One contains a series of “Context Pages” sprinkled throughout the volumes, providing perspective for the reader and presenting a variety of real-life events and personalities that were contemporary at the time of original publication. Breathed has also added his own commentary at points throughout the book. 

The Bloom County Library Volume 1 will be available in stores on October 6^th. Visit IDW Publishing to learn more about the company and its top-selling books. For a complete list of Long Beach Comic Con events, guests, activities, ticket prices and times, visit LongBeachComicCon.com.

The Family Circus Library Vol 1 from IDW

 As the 50^th anniversary of this iconic strip approaches, IDW and the Library of American Comics are proud to announce that The Family Circus Library, Volume 1 will be available in November. Creator Bil Keane debuted The Family Circus in February 1960 and for fifty years has delighted audiences worldwide with the simple humor of every day life. The endlessly curious, often too clever children and their loving, long-suffering parents capture the essence of every family.

 “As a parent, I see these cartoons come to life everyday in my home,” said series editor, Scott Dunbier. “Keane’s terrific sense of humor and visual wit are evident in every panel—and with the fiftieth anniversary of the Family Circus on the horizon, there’s no better time to rediscover this timeless classic.”

The Family Circus Library, Volume 1 collects the classic newspaper strip in chronological order for the very first time, in beautifully designed hardcover books. Starting with the very first strip, originally published on Leap Year Day - February 29, 1960, The Family Circus Library, Volume 1 will feature a complete run of the first two years, including dailies and Sundays. Volume will also include a thoughtful essay written by Keane’s son, Christopher, accompanied by many pieces of pre-Family Circus art and family photographs. The book has been beautifully produced by Eisner award-winning designer, Dean Mullaney.

“Having truly enjoyed drawing my Family Circus cartoons, it is icing on the cake to see them now preserved in these very special volumes that will go on and on and on!” Bil Keane said. “Realizing that future generations may read the Keane family drawings that I penned so long ago is a happy bonus for this old cartoonist. I am eternally grateful.”

The Family Circus Library Volume 1 debuts in November 2009.  For more on this and other great titles please visit IDW Publishing online.

Donald Soffritti's Superheroes Decadence

Donald Soffritti is an Italian cartoonist, who on his blog and in his book Superheroes Decadence, shows us his vision of what happens to some of our favorite Super Heroes (and villains) when they get old. Not that Marvel or DC ever really let’s them grow old, but hey fans can’t stop their imaginations right?

I don’t read Italian, so I can’t tell you much about what his blog says about the book’s theme, but thankfully you don’t need that skill to enjoy his artwork. After you check out these samples make sure to head over to his blog for more and maybe even see about buying the book.