All posts by Chris @ The Beguiling

Hi, I'm Christopher Butcher. I'm the co-founder and Festival Director of The Toronto Comic Arts Festival, an annual event promoting Canadian graphic novels and their authors!
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ANNOUNCE: Abby Denson’s DOLLTOPIA Book Launch!

Abby Denson’s DOLLTOPIA Book Launch and Party!
Featuring Abby Denson and Matt Loux
Friday, October 16th, 2009, 6pm-8pm
@ The Central, 603 Markham Street
FREE

http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=105326729762

Mini-comix Queen Abby Denson will be releasing her new full-length graphic novel DOLLTOPIA this fall, and The Beguiling and publisher Green Candy Press are teaming up to throw a party!

DOLLTOPIA is the story of a group of dolls that are tired living the factory-set, cookie-cutter existences that their owners and makers have laid out from them… and revolt! They seek DOLLTOPIA, a place where a doll can be a doll. It’s a mature rumination on the nature of identity, individuality, and making a mark in a society that tends towards sterility and monoculture, told in the style of a Todd Haynes biopic.

The evening’s event will include a reading and presentation from Abby Denson on DOLLTOPIA, the official release of the graphic novel from Green Candy Press, and Abby’s even been bringing awesome gourmet cupcakes to all of her tour stops for everyone who attends! Also joining the evening presentation will be Abby’s good friend and graphic novelist Matt Loux! Matt is the author of the Oni Press graphic novel SIDESCROLLERS (which fans of Scott Pilgrim will enjoy!), and his most recent series are the (really, really good) young readers graphic novels SALT WATER TAFFY. The third volume is the brand new The Truth About Dr. True, and Matt will be signing copies and presenting from this work!

The event is a bit of an early one, starting at 6pm right next to The Beguiling at THE CENTRAL, on the main floor! Hopefully you can come out for the event!

– Chris @ The Beguiling

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Shipping September 2nd, 2009

The following comics and graphic novels are scheduled to ship The Beguiling Books & Art on Wednesday, September 2nd, 2009. All Prices listed in U.S. Funds. Variant prices are generally accurate to what we will be charging in store, but all disputes between prices will defer to the stickered, in-store price.

Click here for the complete list: /shipping090902.txt

The Beguiling Recommends:

JUL090578 Starr The Slayer #1 (of 4) 3.99 – This is a new series with Richard Corben art. Who knew?

JUL090581 Strange Tales #1 (of 3) 4.99 – Alt and Art-comix all-stars contribute long-awaited marvel comics stories. It should be utterly weird and probably quite enjoyable.

JUL090279 Sweet Tooth #1 1.00 – Toronto’s own Jeff Lemire gets his own ongoing series from Vertigo, and the first issue’s only a buck! Jeff might even be stopping by to sign copies today. Oh, and our good friend Jose Villarrubia is colouring. AND IT’S A BUCK. You basically Must Buy This.

JUN090909 Cat Burgler Black GN 16.99 – This is actually a brand new graphic novel by Richard Sala, whom we like a great deal. He created EVIL EYE don’tcha know. From First Second.

JUL091143 Stitches HC 24.95 – This is widely being discussed as the break-through mainstream graphic novel of the fall, the next FUN HOME or PERSEPOLIS. Gothic Family Tragedy Memoir. I liked it, check it out.

JUN090668 Toon Treasury Of Classic Childrens Comics HC 40.00 – Art Spiegelman’s selection of some of the greatest children’s comic strips of all time.

JUL090457 Wonderful Wizard Oz HC 29.99 – The hard cover collection of Eric Shanower and Skottie Young’s lovely adaptation, published by Marvel.

JUN090866 Secret Saturdays GN Vol 01 7.99 – Honestly, I’m not 100% sure what this is (might be original, might be “animanga”) but SECRET SATURDAYS is the cartoon created by Official Friend Of The Beguiling Jay Stephens (Land Of Nod, Oddville), so what more could you want?

Oh, and, there’s another post on this coming shortly, but we also got a new graphic novel from Eleanor Davis called SECRET SCIENCE ALLIANCE, Kazu Kibuishi’s AMULET VOL 2, and new volumes of OISHINBO and Naoki Urasawa’s PLUTO. It’s basically an embarassment of riches at The Beguiling tomorrow–bring money.

– Chris @ The Beguiling

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Now In Stock: Lotsa New Viz

The following new Viz manga are now in stock:

HIGH SCHOOL DEBUT V11
HONEY & CLOVER V7
HOT GIMMICK VIZBIG V3
LOVE COM V14
MIXED VEGETABLES V5
MONKEY HIGH! V7
NANA V18
RASETSU V2
S.A V12
SAND CHRONICLES V6
ST. DRAGON GIRL V4
WE WERE THERE V6
BLEACH V28
PRINCE OF TENNIS V33
SHAMAN KING V24
TEGAMI BACHI V1
WHISTLE! V23
GIN TAMA V14
KUROHIME V13

All are U.S. Cover price.

– Chris @ The Beguiling

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CONTEST: Win Passes and Posters from "9"!

This September, Alliance Films Canada is releasing 9, a brilliant-looking new CGI movie about what happens after the end of the world. Check out http://9themovie.com/ for the full run-down on the film (it’s a little tough to explain here). But the good news? Alliance have hooked us up with a bunch of prizes to give away!
Grand Prize (3)
Three lucky winners will each receive prizes packs consisting of: a double-pass to see a special preview-screening of 9 on Wednesday, September 2nd at 7:00pm; an official double-sided 9 movie poster; and a special 9 mousepad.
First Prize (10)
10 people will each receive double-passes to see a special preview screening of 9 on Wednesday, September 2nd, at 7:00pm.
Here’s how to enter the contest:
1) Make sure you’re subscribed to The Beguiling mailing list! Winners must be subscribed to The Beguiling mailing list to win. You can subscribe via the front-page of http://www.beguiling.com.
2) Send an e-mail with “9 The Movie” and your name in the subject line, and your name, e-mail address, and phone number, to chris@beguiling.com. The address you send the e-mail from must be the same as the one subscribed to The Beguiling’s Mailing list.
3) E-mails must be received by Monday, August 31st 2009 at 12:00pm (Noon) EST.
4) Winners will be randomly drawn from all valid participating e-mails. Winners will be contacted by e-mail by 6pm on Monday, August 31st, 2009.
5) No purchase necessary, void where prohibited. Limit 1 entry per household.
—
Thanks again to our good friends at Alliance Films for the great schwag! Feel free to tell your friends! Enter today!
– Chris @ The Beguiling
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Shipping August 26th, 2009

The following comics and graphic novels are scheduled to ship The Beguiling Books & Art on Wednesday, August 26th, 2009. All Prices listed in U.S. Funds. Variant prices are generally accurate to what we will be charging in store, but all disputes between prices will defer to the stickered, in-store price.

Click Here For The Complete List:/090826shipping.txt

Notes On New Comics:
– Starting this week, all new and previously released MARVEL 70TH ANNIVERSARY FRAME VARIANTS have been priced at $5.00 Canadian. We’ll have a display of previous variants on the new comics rack as well, in case you missed one (or wanted to complete your set).
– All issues of Wednesday Comics will be back in stock, in quantity, as of Wednesday.
– It’s new PREVIEWS week. That means if you’re a pullfile customer, your pre-orders are due no later than Wednesday.
The Beguiling Recommends
JUN090324 King City #1 2.99
One of our favourite books from Tokyopop’s original english language comics program was KING CITY by Brandon Graham. Unfortunately that line met a poor end, and the series disappeared from our racks until now. King City is a great, fun sci-fi story that will appeal to fans of Paul Pope’s work and Scott Pilgrim, and because of fuckery on Tokyopop’s part: These won’t be collected into trade. Issues-only, folks. Highly recommended, give it a go.
JUL091248 Manga Kamishibal HC 35.00
Not a comic, but instead a lovely hardcover artbook that explores the little-known street-performances and illustration arts that directly preceeded manga. Should be a fascinating book!
MAY090750 Muppet Show TP 9.99
Most people love Muppets, and lotsa people love cartoonist Roger Landridge. A roger Landridge/Muppet team-up? Why, we imagine quite a few of these fine collections will fly off the shelves this Wednesday.
JUN090910 Color of Earth GN Vol 03 Color Of Heaven 16.99
This is the soapiest of soap operas, about a young girl growing up in the pastoral, turn-of-the-century Korean countryside… dripping with sex and sexuality. It’s probably the only graphic novel series of its kind, and I am utterly hooked. It’s a bit like of Little House on the Prarie wasn’t so creepy and moralistic…? Nice art too.
JUN090146 Batman And Robin #3 2.99
Frank Quitely draws Grant Morrison writes You buy. ?

– Chris @ The Beguiling
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ANNOUNCE: Comics and Graphic Novels @ The Word On The Street

Comics & Graphic Novels @ The Word On The Street

Sunday, September 27th, 2009, 11am-6pm
Queen’s Park Circle
FREE
The Toronto Comic Arts Festival is proud to once-again be partnering with Canada’s national book festival, The Word On The Street, to provide a full day of programming for fans and practitioners of comics and graphic novels. Designed to provide material for the comics neophyte AND the comics hardcore, the comics and graphic novel tent will feature something for everyone!

The Beguiling will once-again be exhibiting at WOTS, and a number of other graphic novel creators will be set up around the Festival and at The Beguiling, Drawn & Quarterly, and Comics & Graphic Novels tents. Look for more details closer to the date!
Comics & Graphic Novels Programming Outline:

11:00 – 11:15 :: All About Comics & Graphic Novels: A Brief Introduction
Join Christopher Butcher, Director of The Toronto Comic Arts Festival as he presents a brief introduction to comics and graphic novels and the day’s programming at The Word On The Street.

11:15 – 12:00 :: Creating Comics with Owlkids!
Owlkids, the folks behind Owl, Chickadee and Chirp magazines have been publishing great comics for decades! Join CTON, creator of the Owlkids’ book CTON’s Super A-Maze-ing Year of Crazy Comics, and Brian McLachlan, creator of Alex and Charlie from Owl, as they walk you through the process of creating your own comics!
Bonus: The first 100 kids 12 and under that attend this panel will receive a gift bag filled with great comics!

12:00 – 1:00 :: Creating Comics and Raising a Family: Finding Balance
It’s tough for anyone to balance their career and home-life and in comics it can be even more-so: they’re very labour-intensive, require long hours spent without interruption and some people still don’t think that creating comics—writing, illustrating, and publishing—is a “real” job! So how do comics creators who are also parents make everything work?
Join comics creators: Jim Munroe, Sword of My Mouth; Tara Tallan, Galaxion; and Claudia Davilla, Luz: The Girl of Knowing, as they discuss what it takes to balance creative and financial pursuits with the families they love.

1:00 – 2:00 :: No Rules, No Budget, All Fun! How and Why You Should Make Comics!
There are as many ways to make comics as there are comics to be made! Whether you write or draw or you’re totally new to the medium, but have a story to tell, you can make comics! Our speakers will each outline the process they take to create comics and how you can do it too. Plus, following the panel each of our speakers will be available for one-on-one consultations!
Speakers include Georgia Webber, on the comics peer-review group gangLion; Ruth Tait, on digital illustration on a budget; and steflenk, on her new guide to self-publishing produced by the Xeric Foundation.

2:00 – 3:00 :: Graphic Memoirs: Three New Works
Memoirs in graphic novel form such as Maus and Persepolis have broadened the reach and appreciation of the comics medium more than any other genre and are perhaps their authors’ best-known works. Join 3 new graphic memoirists as they read from their new books: Lesley Fairfield, Tyranny; Adam Bourett, I’m Crazy; Tory Woolcott, Mirror Mind.

3:00 – 4:00 :: Sequential Presents: Oh, Canada. Surveying the Landscape of Canadian Comics
What does it mean to be a Canadian graphic novelist? What is the state of Canadian comics and graphic novels and what is its future? Just what makes a comic Canadian anyway?
Join Bryan Munn and Salgood Sam, editors of the Canadian comics, news and culture blog Sequential, as they discusses the state of Canadian comics. Joining them will be representatives of Canada’s dual cartooning awards, Brad Mackay and Jeet Heer from The Doug Wright Awards and Kevin Boyd from The Joe Shuster Awards, as well as award-winning Canadian comics creators. This is sure to be a lively discussion!

4:00 – 5:00 :: Sequential Presents: Three New Comics Set in Canada
Following the discussion of the state of Canadian graphic novels, Canadian comics, news and culture blog Sequential will be presenting readings featuring three new graphic novels set in Canada. With one story published on the internet, one published by an American publisher and even one published in Canada, this is a diverse and exciting group of new work.
This segment will feature readings by Willow Dawson, 100 Mile House; Jeff Lemire, Essex County; and Evan Munday, Quarter-Life Crisis.

5:00 – 6:00 :: Webcomics
Our most popular panel of 2008 returns for a second go-round! Webcomics, digital comics, online comics, call them what you will, they’re the hot-button topic in a world where ‘print’ is slowly disappearing.
Join Andy Belanger, Bottle of Awesome and Dead End 56, Faith Erin Hicks, Ice and War at Ellsmere; Emily Horne, A Softer World; Ryan North, Dinosaur Comics; and Kean Soo, Jellaby:Monster in the City, as they engage in what’s sure to be a spirited discussion of the possibilities that the internet may hold for the future of comics.

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NOW IN STOCK: NEW SCOTT PILGRIM T-SHIRTS

Hey Scott Pilgrim Fans! We’ve got bad news and good news. Bad news: The Scott Pilgrim/Kim Pine TORONTO T-Shirt is now gone forever. The good news?
The brand-new SCOTT PILGRIM: RAMONA t-shirt is now in-stock at the store. Featuring Ramona (and Scott’s head in her bag) from Volume 4, on a very bold graphic T. Better still? This shirt is on American Apparel for a comfy, sweatshop-free fit.
Finally, if you can’t make it to the store, we are shipping this shirt out via our webstore. It’s the first one we’ve had sufficient quantity of to do so… although we have fewer small’s than any other size, so if that’s the one you need move quick!
Shirt is CDN$25 in store and online.
– Chris @ The Beguiling