Politics | Ah, comics, the language of diplomacy. During his visit this week to the White House, French President Nicolas Sarkozy gave President Obama an 18th-century document accrediting Benjamin Franklin as ambassador to France and, for his daughters, a collection of Asterix graphic novels. [AFP]
Publishing | Rebellion Publishing, publisher of U.K. comics anthology 2000AD, will begin releasing U.S. editions of new and classic titles in graphic-novel format beginning in June with The Judge Dredd Complete Case Files and The Complete D.R. and Quinch. [PW Comics Week]
Publishing | Two more profiles of Last Gasp Books as the independent publisher celebrates its 40th anniversary. [PW Comics Week, San Francisco Bay Guardian]
Publishing | Brian Heater begins a two-part Q&A with Michael Dowers, editor of Fantagraphics Books' Newave! The Underground Mini Comix of the 1980s collection. [The Daily Cross Hatch]
Publishing | Jim Gibbons, Dark Horse's publicity coordinator, chats about his history with comics. [Graphic Novel Reporter]
Retailing | Retailer Kendall Swafford and writer Heidi MacDonald report on the annual meeting last week in Memphis, Tennessee, of ComicsPRO, the direct-market trade organization. At the meeting, comiXology announced the launch of Retailer Tools 2.0, which allows direct-market stores to offer the Previews catalog on their websites, host their own blogs and online communities, and improve retailer control over pull lists. [ICv2.com, PW Comics Week]
Creators | Charles Hatfield posts a gallery of covers by artist and editor Dick Giordano, who passed away on Saturday at age 77. Bob Greenberger, KC Carlson and Mark Evanier also post remembrances. [Thought Balloonists]
Creators | Ryan Ottley (Invincible) and Jason Howard (The Astounding Wolf-Man) chat about their upcoming one-shot Sea Bear & Grizzly Shark: They Got Mixed Up! [Big Shiny Robot!]
Creators | Rob Liefeld and pastor Phil Hotsenpiller discuss Armageddon Now, their comic series about the End Times. [Christian Examiner]
Creators | The Comics Journal posts the first part of a 2005 panel discussion at the International Festival of Authors in Toronto featuring Charles Burns, Chip Kidd, Seth and Chris Ware. [TCJ.com]
Creators | Brian Heater wraps up his four-part interview with Graham Annable. [The Daily Cross Hatch]