Scheduled to Skype with a ELA Methods Class at NCSU

I'm hyped about my scheduled Skype with a class of middle grades pre-service educators tomorrow. That the audience will be college students from North Carolina State University makes it a little more exciting, as I am a native Old Hickory Stater. All my k-12 teaching experience took place in North Carolina as well. We'll be talking graphic novels and literacy/education, of course.

"Hamburgers for One," 2011 Eisner Nom for Best Short Story, Now Online for Free

Click the title to this post to access the 24-page sequential art narrative short story by Frank Stockton. I'm especially interested in this one because it also falls under the YA Lit category.

Heidi MacDonald calls it "the almost painful story of an awkward teen boy and his attempts to interact with his world."

ALA hosts Artist's Alley

For the first time ever, the American Library Association has hosted an artist's alley -- a place where comics creators can sit and sell their stuff while also chatting up fans -- at its national convention. New Orleans was the premiere of the happening, which surely suggests the interest in comics and literacy is still going strong among those who have been among the earliest and staunchest advocates of the sequential art form.

Kudos to my librarian friends for keeping up the great work!

"Lois Lane, Reporter" Comic

A feminist revisionist take on the mythos of Lois Lane? Just more realistic? Entertaining, for sure.

2011 Hugo Awards Noms Released!

There's the graphic novel category, of course, but several other comics are featured too.

Audrey Niffenegger's *The Night Bookmobile* Selected as "One Book, One Conference" Selection for Recent TLA

Learn more here.

Maureen Bakis Talks Comics in the Classroom

Maureen is a high school teacher at Masconomet Regional High School in Topsfield, Massachusetts, and is doing some writing for Graphic Novel Reporter.

Dorkly.com's 5 Advertisements from Watchmen...

Watchmen, that troper of tropes, proves that a troper of tropes is pretty easy to trope. I'm tropin' out on this! Trope, trope, trope....

Texas Librarian Wins $20G Worth of GN's!

At the recent Texas Library Association's state conference, Eduardo Zepeda won the "Great Graphic Novel Giveaway" prize, which contained more than 700 graphic novels. Zepeda is the librarian for Weslaco Public Library. Click here to learn more.

Another Eisner Nom 2011 Puts Work Online for Free

This time it's AdHouse's Afrodisiac that one can read gratis, following in the footsteps of Dave Kellett, who recently posted his book Literature: Unsuccessfully Competing with TV Since 1953 for free-of-charge online viewing as well.

Both titles are Eisner nominees for best humor production.

Meltzer, Gaiman Speak Out for Libraries

The American Library Association has released an image of authors advocating for libraries, and among them are Brad Meltzer and Neil Gaiman, who join Alan Moore as outspoken proponents por las bibliotecas. Click this post's title to see the poster.

Vanessa Davis' Passover Webcomic

Material for my Jewish American Literature: The Graphic Novel course just keeps popping up! :)

"Graphic Novels for Kids with Autism"

This article from Autmont.com, the website for an organization serving the Montgomery County, MD, community, lists some great graphic novels that parents recommend for kids with autism. PARENTS, I said!

George R.R. Martin Talk Comics and Reading Circa 1981

Another story of an accomplished adult who learned to read through comics! Hotcha!!

2011 Kids' Comic Convention Programming Now Up!

See what Alex Simmons and friends have brewing for the April 16 event!

Columbia, Harvard Show Love for Graphic Novels

On April 14, 2011, Columbia University will host "An Evening With Neil Gaiman" that will also feature Paul Levitz, who is a lecturer at the Ivy. Details here.

Sixteen days later, Harvard will host a series of speakers at the "Comics and Muslim Identity" event, sponsored by the institution's Center for Middle Eastern Studies.

Sequential Tart Writers Have High Praise for *Kill Shakespeare* Series

John Weaver Offers Advice for Comics in the Classroom

GNR asks high school teacher John Weaver about teaching graphic novels in the classroom. Weaver has taught Watchmen and V for Vendetta, and he is currently exploring one of my other faves, Incognegro. See the interview here.

Elementary Kids Offer Praise of Classics

Read "From the Mouth of Babes: A Word About Classics in the Comics Format" over at The Graphic Classroom blog. Video included!

Kellett's 2011 Eisner-Nominated _Literature!_ Free Online

Dave Kellett has made his recent Eisner-nominated comic Literature!...Unsuccessfully Competing Against TV Since 1953 available online. The book is a collection of strips and is nominated for "Best Humor Publication." Read it here!

Ian Gordon Puts _Comics Strips and Consumer Culture: 1890-1945_ Online For Free!

The book of comics scholarship can be yours to read and share by clicking here. It was first published in 1998 by the Smithsonian Institute. Thanks to the good doctor for allowing open access to a fine work.

Jeet Heer on Race and Comics

2011 Eisner Award Noms Released

Martha Cornog on "Why comics Make Reading Fun"

This article from the most-recent Graphic Novel Reporter update features tons of advice for parents and those interested in kids' literacy and also offers an overview of topics of import on the comics-and-literacy discussion. Highly-recommended reading.

Kelly Gallagher Talks Reading, Kids

Here's a great interview with a teacher who really gets it when it comes to reading and kids. He basically makes a pro-comics argument with every word he says.

_Tin Tin_ Racism Case *CAN* Be Heard in Belgium

Thanks to Sturge for the update on the case that Mbuto Mondondo has brought against Tin Tin in the Congo. Apparently if an image offends, it can be deemed illegal and harmful in Belgium. While I may not support the racist images in the book, I do not support the book being banned in any way. But, I'm an old-fashioned American who likes freedom of speech, not one of those hyper-lefty liberals like Lindsey Graham.

Harvard Workshops Focus on Muslim Identity in Comics

Did you know the Harvard University Center for Middle East Studies has been giving workshops on Muslim identity and comics? Me neither, but there's one coming up in late April, and it is free and open to the public!

Editors of *Icons of the American Comic Book* Seek Submissions

See the PR below: Dear Comics Scholar: Randy Duncan and I would like to invite your contribution to a new anthology we are editing for ABC-CLIO called Icons of the American Comic Book. The project will include 100 entries spanning the breadth of comics culture, including the characters, creators, titles, and other facets that have achieved iconic status with the American consciousness. For your contribution, we can offer you an honorarium: · $90 for each of the entries designated to run approximately 5,000 words · $50 for each of the entries designated to run approximately 2,750 words We are looking at an initial deadline of August 1, 2011. Our aim with Icons of the American Comic Book will be to provide fresh insights into the significance of some of the most widely known and fascinating popular culture icons of the 20th and 21st centuries. Each entry will discuss the iconic significance of its subject and should be both more detailed and more entertaining than the conventional encyclopedia entry. More than simply character or creator biographies, the entries will provide in-depth explorations of the icons as products of and an influence upon American culture, informed by scholarly research. Below is our list of entries (a strike through indicates an entry that is already assigned).

[Please contact the editors at the given e-mail address for a list of open entries]

If you are interested in contributing, please let us know what your primary as well as any secondary preferences would be, but do keep in mind that we will need your initial draft(s) by Aug. 1. Along with each entry you request include a brief statement of your qualifications to write on the subject. Please respond to msmith@wittenberg.edu Our publishers have stipulated that we should consider our primary audience to be students doing research. To that end, each entry must include a bibliography and one (or more) sidebars of 50-300 words each. (These considerations must be included within the word counts.) We’re also planning to invite some guest contributors to 1) read and comment on the draft entries, 2) contribute a sidebar, or 3) even collaborate on the entry itself on several key entries. For example, comic book writer and editor Mark Waid (Superman: Birthright) might be enticed to act as a consultant on the Superman entry. Each guest’s role will depend on your comfort and willingness to work in such an arrangement. Thank you and we look forward to hearing from you soon, Matthew J. Smith and Randy Duncan

Gene Yang joins Hamline University's MFA Program, as a Professor!

Hamline's MFAC (Master of Fine Arts in Writing for Children and Young Adults) program is expanding to include graphic novels and comics.

Very, very cool.

For more info on Hamline University, a graduate school of liberal studies based in St. Paul, MN, click here.

Decatur, TX, Librarian Talks GN's, Rural America

Denice Herrera talks access, comics, and teen readers from the perspective of a rural librarian.