Publishing | Several creators, including Alex Robinson, discuss what efforts they took to get their comics read: "I think more than the financial price is the frustration that can set in from not having your work recognized. Being at a convention trying to get people to buy your work is one of the most depressing experiences in the world. It combines the humiliation of working at a shitty retail job with the added bonus of personal rejection and without even the minimum wage pay." [iFanboy]

Publishing | Digital Manga Publishing confirms it will release Osamu Tezuka's Swalling the Earth in June. The company announced at last year's New York Comic-Con that it had secured the license for Tezuka's adult series. [Deb Aoki]

Publishing | Paul Gravett runs down the most-anticipated books of the year, including 20th Century Boys, Pluto, The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen: Century, and Spider-Man & Doctor Strange: Fever. [Paul Gravett]

Creators | Author and comics writer Matthew Sturges talks about Vertigo's House of Mystery, and his upcoming fantasy novel Midwinter, which he describes as "sort of The Dirty Dozen with elves." [BookSpot Central]

Creators | Shaenon K. Garrity lays out why Dykes to Watch Out For creator Alison Bechdel is her "number-one role model as a cartoonist" [comiXology]

Art and design | Ren and Stimpy creator John Kricfalusi compares the composition and staging of artist Frank Frazetta with that of director John Ford. [John K Suff]

Publishing | Writer Brian Wood releases a series of promotional images for the Northlanders storyline "The Cross + The Hammer." [Brian Wood]

Industry | Contract negotiator Katie Lane launches a blog dedicated to helping artists deal with clients and business. [Work Made For Hire, via Colleen Coover]

Art and design | Designer Mike Essl briefly discusses working with artist Dave Gibbons on Watching the Watchmen. [WatchmenComicMovie.com]

Weirdness | Five of the most absurd superhero origins. [Mania]