Crime | The Wow Cool Alternative Comics store in Cupertino, California, has been burglarized for the second time in two months, and it looks as if it was the same crew both times. The thieves took cash and pretty much every minicomic and digest in the store, as well as a box of Marvel and DC comics. [Wow Cool Comics]

Political cartoons | Malaysian cartoonist Zunar, who's facing sedition charges in his home country, has been invited to speak at a United Nations forum next month in Geneva, Switzerland, titled "Defending Artistic Expression — Time for the UN to Act." "In my speech, I will reaffirm my stand that freedom of expression for artistes including cartoonists is paramount and cannot be compromised," he said, and he will also criticize the UN's lack of commitment to the issue, which has "given more power to corrupt regimes and extremist bigots to be more repressive toward artists." [The Rakyat Post]

Creators | In a video interview recorded in his "sniper-proof" apartment, Luz, the surviving cartoonist of Charlie Hebdo's Prophet Muhammad covers, talks about his most recent cover, freedom of expression, and his own experiences since the Jan. 7 attack in which 12 people were murdered. [Vice]



Creators |  The FBI file on artist and journalist Molly Crabapple runs to more than 7,500 pages; the agency will review 750 pages a month and let her see some portion of that. [BoingBoing]

Creators | Kevin Coffey talks to some Nebraska-based creators. [Omaha World-Herald]

Publishing | Editor Dean Mullaney discusses the latest volume in the Library of American Comics, a collection of Dashiell Hammett and Alex Raymond's Secret Agent X-9 comic strips from the 1930s, and the new imprint he's starting, EuroComics, which launches with Hugo Pratt's Corto Maltese: Under the Sign of Capricorn. Mullaney checks in in the comments to answer a few questions about other books, and reveals the second volume in the EuroComics imprint, Carlos Giménez's Paracuellos, the story of his upbringing in an orphanage in Fascist Spain. [The Comics Reporter]

Creators | Ten-year-old Drew Hanlon raised $620 for St. Jude Children's Research Center by drawing comic strips in exchange for $10 donations through the crowdfunding site GoFundMe. [The Daily Item]



Comics | In response to a recent post that went viral about a dad who goes to a comic shop and finds nothing there for his 7-year-old daughter, Mordechai Luchins comes up with a list of 12 titles, plus alternates, and readers chime in with more in the comments. [GeekDad]

Conventions | Comic-Con International has announced the first round of special guests, including Kelly Sue DeConnick and Carlos Ezquerra. [Comic-Con International]

Conventions | A Chinese news site takes a look at the Chinese comics on display at the Angouleme International Comics Festival and some reactions from officials and a visitor. [CCTV News]

Retailing | Friendly Neighborhood Comics in Bellingham, Massachusetts, recently marked its sixth anniversary, and owner Ernie Pelletier celebrated with sales and creator appearances. He also has plans to expand. A former attorney, Pelletier emphasizes customer service: "I can see for a new person walking in the door, it’s easy to get overwhelmed because there’s so much you could read," he said. "The best advice I could give to somebody is just come into the shop and ask somebody—let them know what you’re interested in, and we can find a book for you." [Bellingham Bulletin]