Chuck Klosterman, Cultural Observer of our Time

Chuck Klosterman's tenth book, Chuck Klosterman X, is out. It's a collection of his recent articles from GQ, Billboard, Grantland, and more. You can get a taste and read the interview with Klosterman at the mighty Los Angeles Times.

Jim McLauchlin

After 14 years of dinner, a store

Photo courtesy Rob Young

It took Rob Young at Borderlands Comics and Games 14 years of buying a man dinner to finally get a shot at owning his own store. He's made the most of it, and says his REAL job is "creating a memory" for customers, his staff, and himself. Read all about it at icv2.

Jim McLauchlin

Bill Willingham goes sword-and-sorcery again with Lark's Killer

Art from Lark's Killer #1

Bill Willingham, a longtime Dungeons & Dragons and comic book vet, is returning to those sword-and-sorcery roots with Lark's Killer, the story off a teenage runaway who mysteriously winds up in a violent, medieval world.

You can read all about it over at Newsarama.

Jim McLauchlin

30 Years as the Dark Horse

Mike Richardson, courtesy Dark Horse Comics

It started with a teddy bear from his wife, wound through some lunch meetings, and ended up at a multi-million dollar publisher. Mike Richardson has seen a LOT since founding Dark Horse Comics 30 years ago and you can read all about it at icv2 here.

Enjoy!

Jim McLauchlin

Blazing a Trail with a New Venture

Mike Marts, courtesy Aftershock Comics

Mike Marts has been around the block in the comics biz as an editor with Marvel (three times!), DC, Acclaim, and even a stint at Wizard. He left he warm embrace of the known for something new and different at Aftershock Comics and you can read all about it at icv2.com.

Jim McLauchlin

Building a 100,000 attendance Comic Con

Phoenix Comicon, photo courtesy Phoenix Comicon

Matt Solberg went from the world of political campaigns to comic conventions, and created a doozy—The Phoenix Comicon, which now gets a yearly attendance of more than 100,000 people.

How'd he do it? There were may steps along the way and lessons learned. Read all about it at icv2.

Jim McLauchlin

How even big names use crowdfunding

Dave Johnson wants your money, but only $1 at a time. Bill Willingham will take $1 to $10. Greg Pak gives you LOTS of options. And ALL these peeps give you something VERY cool in return.

Crowdfunding in the comics sphere ain't just for the "trying to break in" crowd. Lots of established creators are doing it as well. You can read about what they're doing, and more importantly the "where" and "how," over at Newsarama.

Jim McLauchlin