Political cartoons | The artist who drew the iconic "Je Suis Charlie" cover for Charlie Hebdo says he's no longer interested in drawing the Prophet Muhammad. In an interview with a French magazine, Rénald Luzier, who goes by the pen name Luz, said “I am tired of him, just like [former French President Nicolas] Sarkozy. I am not going to spend my life drawing them.” Luz was running late the day that two gunmen attacked the Paris offices of Charlie Hebdo and killed 12 people, and his tardiness saved his life. [Comic Riffs]
Political cartoons | Meanwhile, a couple of people on Twitter have called for violent attacks against American and Australian cartoonists who depict the Prophet Muhammad. [The Daily Cartoonist]
Creators | Gene Luen Yang talks about Smoke and Shadow, the Avatar the Last Airbender graphic novel he's writing, and how the Avatar comics are attracting new readers to the medium: "It’s been a really pleasure for me and a privilege to be a part of that. To see that these comics have brought in new readers, folks who may not normally step into a comic book store be willing to do it because they have such deep attachment to these characters." [ICv2]
Creators | Artist Rafael Rosado started out wanting to draw superhero comics, but after many rejections he realized he'd rather draw a loud-mouthed little red-headed gir l— Claudette, who's now the star of his first graphic novel Giants Beware, and its upcoming sequel Dragons Beware. [Columbus Today]
Creators | On the eve of a group show of art from the comic Henry & Glenn Forever & Ever, which reimagines musicians Henry Rollins and Glenn Danzig as a couple dealing with the usual domestic issues, creator Tom Neely talks about the genesis of the comic and the reactions of the performers and others: "I actually ended up sitting on a plane next to London May (one of the drummers for Danzig’s band Samhain), and when I introduced myself he knew of the comic and he was not happy! He proceeded to give me a very thorough and stern lecture on everything he thought was wrong with the book. We were sitting next to each other for five hours, so the conversation got really intense and interesting at times, but I debated all of his points and I think I at least convinced him that I’m not a total dick. But London, Glenn, and hardcore Danzig fans are NOT happy about the book at all." Rollins is down with it, though. [SFWeekly]
Creators | Joel Jackson and James Moore were acquaintances before Jackson made a comic book as a favor for his wedding; that little comic sparked a creative relationship that led the two to start creating comics together and publishing them under the name of "Two Headed Comics." [Columbus Alive]
Festivals | Tom Spurgeon, director of Cartoon Crossroads Columbus, talks about the way the festival is taking shape in its inaugural year. [Columbus Today]
Festivals | Alekna Figa writes about the genesis of CAKE, the Chicago Alternative Comics Expo. [The Mary Sue]
Festivals | Spurgeon also files his own report on Linework NW. [The Comics Reporter]
Retailing | Illinois comics retailer Chimera's Comics will open its third location, in Woodridge, this Saturday, just in time for Free Comic Book Day. [Bugle Newspapers]