2006 in Comics - Events - March

March

• March 1, 2006:
  • Renae Geerlings becomes Editor in chief of Top Cow Productions. digitalwebbing.com
  • Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy:
    • Salman Rushdie is amongst the twelve writers who are signatories to a statement denouncing Islamism as "a new global totalitarian threat". BBC, The statement via BBC
• March 2, 2006:
  • R. Kikuo Johnson's Night Fisher graphic novel has been named on the New York Public Library's Books for the Teen Age list for 2006. FLOG
  • Art Spiegelman and Françoise Mouly have contracted with Puffin Books to produce two projects. The first, Big Fat Little Lit, is a collection of stories from the couple's three volume Little Lit series, whilst the second, Toon Into Reading, is described by Mouly as "a revolutionary new concept to draw kids into the pleasures of reading." Publishers Weekly
  • Penny Arcade Vol. 1: Attack of the Bacon Robots is to receive a second printing. ICv2.com
• March 3, 2006:
  • Neil Gaiman writes a piece for The Guardian detailing his thoughts on the adapting of comics stories to film. The Guardian
  • Stacy Curtis, editorial cartoonist for The Times of Northwest Indiana is let go. There are now reportedly approximately 80 full-time editorial cartoonists employed in the United States. Editor & Publisher
  • The National Press Club of Canada launch their 6th International Editorial Cartoon Competition, with a theme of "Cartooning in a dangerous environment".Journalism.co.za
  • Virgin Comics announces its initial line of comics, with three books, Devi, Ramayan Reborn, and The Sadhu published under the company's Shakti imprint, and a fourth, as yet unnamed project to be printed under the Director's Cut imprint. ICv2
  • Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy:
    • Pakistan blocks access to blogs and websites which encourage people to cartoon the prophet Mohammed. BBC
• March 5, 2006:
  • Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy:
    • Over 50 000 people reportedly protest against the cartoons in Pakistan, whilst around 20 000 are reported to have demonstrated in Turkey. Edmonton Sun
• March 6, 2006:
  • The BBC profile E. H. Shepherd, whose work for Punch will feature in an exhibition at the Political Cartoon Gallery. BBC
  • Dan Piraro, cartoonist on the Bizarro panel, is to be awarded The Humane Society of the United States' Ongoing Commitment Award on March 18. Editor & Publisher
• March 7, 2006:
  • Comic strip collection publishing company Andrews McMeel Publishing announce a tie up with Simon & Schuster UK which will allow the company access to the markets of the United Kingdom and Ireland. Editor & Publisher
  • ICv2.com report on First Second Books' fall list. Included on the publication list is Kampung Boy, a memoir by Lat. ICv2.com
• March 8, 2006:
  • Neil Gaiman and Roger Avery are developing a movie script based on Charles Burns' graphic novel Black Hole. Empire Online
  • Pantheon Books is to publish a new work by Marjane Satrapi, Chicken With Plums, in October, along with The Long Chalkboard by Jules Feiffer and wife Jenny Allen. ICv2.com
  • SouthFlorida.com profile Jeannie Schulz, widow of Peanuts creator Charles. SouthFlorida.com
  • Adrian Tomine is interviewed by Comic Book Resources. Comic Book Resources
• March 9, 2006:
  • Newsarama interview James McTeigue, director of the adaptation of V for Vendetta. newsarama
  • The Center for Cartoon Studies is auctioning a breakfast with three cartoonists as a means of raising funds. The cartoonists in question are Chris Ware, Seth and Ivan Brunetti. The Center for Cartoon Studies
  • Jodi Picoult is to incorporate the comics form into her new novel, The Tenth Circle. Book Page
  • Oor Wullie and its creators were allegedly placed on a Nazi hit list during World War II due to the strips lampooning of Hitler. The Herald
• March 10, 2006:
  • CBGExtra are reporting that comic book distributor FM International has ceased trading. CBGExtra
  • Michael Ramirez editorial cartoonist of the Los Angeles Times, wins The Scripps Howard Foundation National Journalism Award in editorial cartooning. Press release
• March 11, 2006:
  • Mike Luckovich of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution wins the National Headliners Award for editorial cartooning. Association of American Editorial Cartoonists
  • John Sherffius receives the 2006 Wilbur Award for editorial cartooning on religious issues and themes. Association of American Editorial Cartoonists
  • Bill Whitehead of the Kansas City Business Journal, receives first place from the Kansas Press Association for best editorial cartoons of 2005 in weekly publications. Association of American Editorial Cartoonists
  • HamptonRoads.com and Associated Press discuss cancer inspired graphic novels, including Brian Fies' Mom's Cancer, Harvey Pekar's Our Cancer Year and Miriam Engelberg's Cancer Made Me a Shallower Person, due out in May from HarperCollins. HamptonRoads.com
  • Scarcecomics.co.uk, an online auction site for rare British comics, is discussed in Liverpool's Daily Post. TMCnet.com
  • Alan Moore is discussed in The Telegraph. The Telegraph
• March 12, 2006:
  • The New York Times report on Alan Moore's career and his attitude to the recent Hollywood adaptations of his works and to DC Comics. New York Times
• March 13, 2006:
  • Superman Returns director Bryan Singer and screenwriters Michael Dougherty and Dan Harris are to collaborate on a series of comic books which will bridge the gap between the Superman II movie and the new sequel. newsarama
• March 14, 2006:
  • E-Man, the character created by Nicola Cuti and Joe Staton, is to return in a series from Digital Webbing Press. newsarama
  • Ed Stein wins the 2006 John Fischetti Award for editorial cartooning. Association of American Editorial Cartoonists
• March 15, 2006:
  • Booklist's new issue includes several features related to comics :
    • A Top 10 Graphic Novels for Youth compiled for the magazine. Booklist
    • A Top 10 Graphic Novels: 2006 compiled by Ray Olsen. Booklist
    • Kate Kan writes an article titled Great Graphic Novels for Younger Readers. Booklist
    • An interview with Mark Siegel, editorial director of First Second the new graphic novel imprint launched by Roaring Brook. Booklist
    • An article from Jeff Smith regarding his career as a graphic novellist. Booklist
    • Michael Cart contributes an article discussing his love of comics. Booklist
    • Archaia Studios Press officially releases color hardcover edition of The Lone and Level Sands.
• March 16, 2006:
  • The Alex strip in The Telegraph will be coloured and feature an advertisement for Xerox for six weeks. Adjab
  • The Boston Herald report on the graphic novel phenomenon. The Boston Herald
  • Teshkeel Comics publish their first comic in the Middle East under a licensing deal with Marvel Comics. Translated into Arabic, Spectacular Spider-Man is the first magazine to feature the character in the region. AMEInfo
  • The BBC's Collective magazine interview participants in Fantagraphics quarterly MOME anthology. BBC
  • Iranian cartoonist Kianoosh Ramezani discusses the problems which face both cartoonists and their publishing editors in the Ledger-Enquirer. Ledger-Enquirer
• March 17, 2006:
  • Marvel announce plans to publish a graphic novel formatted anthology based on the computer game series Halo, featuring work by Simon Bisley and Moebius amongst others. ICv2
  • J. Scott Campbell signs an exclusive contract with Marvel Comics. newsarama
  • Dallas names May 6 as Comic Book Appreciation Day. May 6 is also Free Comic Book Day. newsarama
  • Nominations for the 2005 National Newspaper Awards are announced. The awards include an Editorial Cartooning category in which Serge Chapleau of La Presse, Montreal; Brian Gable of The Globe and Mail, and Bruce MacKinnon of the Halifax Chronicle-Herald are nominated. Newswire
  • Dr. Jon Suter donates his collection of over 2000 strips to the Oklahoma Cartoonists Collection. Pauls Valley Daily Democrat
  • Teshkeel Media Group sign a deal to translate and distribute Archie Comics in the Middle East. Comic Book Resources
• March 18, 2006:
  • Tom Spurgeon announces his top fifty comics of 2005. The Comics Reporter
• March 19, 2006:
  • OK/Cancel discuss making money from webcomics. OK/Cancel
  • The Philadelphia Inquirer reports on comics' literary status. The Philadelphia Inquirer
  • ContraCostaTimes reports on comics' literary status. ContraCostaTimes
  • The Age report on the success of manga in Australia. The Age
• March 20, 2006:
  • Marvel Comics are to release Jack Kirby's Galactic Bounty Hunters, a series based on characters Jack Kirby created, with Kirby's daughter Lisa and former collaborator Mike Thibodeaux helping to expand on the concepts. ICv2.com
  • Art Spiegelman has joined the jury to judge an anti-Semitic cartoon contest sponsored by Israeli comics collective Dimona Comics. The Beat
  • ICv2 report that sales of comics to comic book stores were up in February. ICv2
  • Casting Producer Austen James discusses the Sci-Fi Channel's new programme "Who Wants To Be a Superhero?", due to be aired in the United States this spring, with Comic Book Resources. Comic Book Resources
  • Gerald Scarfe wins a British Press Award for Cartoonist of the Year. British Press Awards The Comics Reporter
  • F Minus, a strip which appears on Comics.com, is to be syndicated by United Media from April 17. Editor & Publisher
• March 21, 2006:
  • Tom Spurgeon reports that Dark Horse Comics are to release Off the Beaten Path, a collection of photographs of cartoonists in their studios by Greg Preston. The Comics Reporter
  • The New York Review of Books review The R. Crumb Handbook. New York Review of Books
  • The Village Voice review Jessica Abel's La Perdida. The Village Voice
• March 22, 2006:
  • Jyllands-Posten Muhammad cartoons controversy:
    • Laila Freivalds, Swedish Foreign Minister, resigns after being accused of lying to the media regarding the shutting down of sites which may have had plans to carry the cartoons. Zaman Daily Newspaper
• March 26, 2006:
  • Superman/Batman #26 is announced as a tribute book to Sam Loeb, son of Jeph Loeb, who died in 2005. Sam Loeb was due to write the book himself, and 26 collaborators have been assembled to complete the work. Reuters
  • The Los Angeles Times editorialises on the trademarked nature of the term Super Heroes. LA Times
  • The North Bergen Reporter profile Otto Messmer, creator of Felix the Cat. North Bergen Reporter
• March 27, 2006:
  • 113 creators pledge their support for the editors at Dupuis as they attempt to gain greater independence for the imprint from owners Media-Participations. The Comics Reporter
• March 28, 2006:
  • Editor & Publisher report that Garry Trudeau is to receive a lifetime achievement award from Georgetown University's Institute for the Study of Diplomacy on April 4. Editor & Publisher
  • HarperCollins and TokyPop announce a publishing and distribution deal which will see manga works by HarperCollins authors co-published by the two companies. The Comics Reporter
  • Ralph Steadman is to receive the Milton Caniff Award for Lifetime Achievement. The Comics Reporter
  • The nominees for the 2006 Reuben Awards, to be awarded on May 27, are announced. The Comics Reporter
• March 29, 2006:
  • TokyoPop has signed a deal with uclick which will see maga published by TokyoPop delivered to mobile phones. Press Release Newswire
  • Panini Comics extends its licensing deal with Marvel Comics into more territories and also announces an X-Men graphic novel aimed at the European market with script by Chris Claremont and art by Milo Manara. The Comics Reporter
  • The Manila Times run an editorial supporting editorial cartoons. The Manila Times
  • An exhibition at the California Science Center explores the powers and abilities of Marvel superheroes and the real world science that may ultimately replicate them. Los Angeles Times
• March 30, 2006:
  • ICv2.com report that V for Vendetta is number one in Nielsen BookScan's list, ranked by sales, of graphic novels sold through book stores. ICv2
• March 31, 2006:
  • The five people accused of murdering Indian cartoonist Irfan Hussain are acquitted by Judge Talwant Singh. India Abroad
  • AllAfrica.com report that Godfrey Mwampembwa, a cartoonist for the Nairobi paper The Daily Nation, has been threatened with legal action by Martha Karua, a politician whom the cartoonist has satirised. All Africa.com
  • The Johns Hopkins News-Letter reviews Chris Ware's Acme Novelty Library issue 16. Johns Hopkins News-Letter