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Comedy

They’re Bad. Very Bad.

Recently we visited the Long Beach Comic Expo, and came across things like Devil’s Henchmen, “A comic about animals that misbehave”. And how! From the web site: “Welcome to The Devil’s Henchmen official site, a comic about a motley crew of dysfunctional bandits and their many misadventures. This comic is drawn and written by John Will Balsley” Sounds straightforward enough, but things get a lot weirder when you start to read it! The site includes not only the on-line comic itself but tons of background material and art.

image c. 2019 by JW Balsley

The Nuts Are Back

More from Animation World Network: “Feature animation studio ToonBox Entertainment and Canadian production company Pipeline Studios have announced the creation of a new joint venture. Their first project is Nut Jobs, a 2D-animated series for kids ages 6-11 based on The Nut Job, the hit animated feature film franchise that took in $120 million at the international box office. The production companies have been working in development on the series and have tapped Emmy Award-winning industry veteran and Grant Moran to spearhead these efforts. Moran, who will serve as the showrunner for the TV series, previously served as Executive Director in Charge of Production at Nickelodeon.” No word yet on any release date, but stay tooned.

image c. 2019 Toonbox Entertainment

Dog of Death upDated

Some years ago we told you about comic creator Mike Norton and his series Battlepug — a web comic so popular it was making its way to print media. Well now thanks to Image Comics we have the complete series put together in Battlepug: The Compugdium. (We don’t make this stuff up, folks.) “At long last, Mike Norton’s award-winning fantasy/humor web comic is collected in one volume! Join the last Kinmundian and his faithful steed, The Battlepug, as they travel the globe seeking revenge against every giant ridiculous animal they can find. Featuring extras like sketches and art by some of the most creative artists in the business today! Collects the entire 5-volume original series of Battlepug!” It’s coming to stores later this month in hardcover.

image c. 2018 Image Comics

Bunnies Who Are Bent

We came across this new 6-issue comic mini-series at a bookstore! “Auntie Agatha’s Home for Wayward Rabbits is in danger. Run by the titular Agatha and her niece, Julie, this peculiar shelter cares for damaged and dysfunctional rabbits — and now it’s being threatened by a wealthy businessman who will stop at nothing to tear it down.” Auntie Agatha’s Home for Wayward Rabbits is also the latest comic series from famed writer Keith Giffen, helped out by artist Benjamin Roman. It’s available now from Image Comics.

image c. 2018 Image Comics

Doggie Girls in Hell

Sounds like a trashy grindhouse movie, doesn’t it?  Well, no… it’s Pinky & Pepper Forever, a full-color graphic novel created by Ivy Atoms and published by Silver Sprocket. “After Pinky’s lethal performance art piece, her devoted girlfriend Pepper follows her into death, only to find that in Hell, Pinky is… thriving?! Pinky & Pepper Forever is a dark comedy full of furry feelings and a little gay Catholic guilt. Follow these two puppygirls’ relationship and artwork on Earth and their new life along the River Styx.” It’s available now in trade paperback. Check out the preview over at Silver Sprocket’s web site. [And on that cheery note — welcome to 2019! Hey, remember: Nominations for the Ursa Major Awards for 2018 will be open soon! Ye ed-otter.]

image c. 2019 Silver Sprocket

After the Squirrel, a Moose. Get it?

Earlier this year we told you about a squirrel named Taco, and a book about him written by Andrew Cangelose and illustrated by Josh Shipley. Well now that same team is back with a new hardcover book, this time following Taco’s friend named Whoopsie — in, you guessed it, This Is a Whoopsie! “This is supposed to be a book about all the different things moose can do, like leaping and jumping and being really tall. But maybe Whoopsie isn’t the right moose for the job. You might want to pick a different moose for this book. Maybe instead we can do a book about falling down a lot? Yeah! Whoopsie would be great at that. From the creators of This Is a Taco! comes the hilarious tale of a clumsy moose who shows how sometimes being a little different can make one great story.” It’s available now from Cubhouse, Lion Forge’s imprint for beginning readers. [And with that, we wish you all a happy, safe, and Furry New Year! — ye ed-0tter]

image c. 2018 Cubhouse

Rock’n’Roll Raptor

Heavy violence meets heavy metal in Murder Falcon, a new full-color comic series from Image. “From Daniel Warren Johnson, the creator of the Eisner-nominated series Extremity, comes Murder Falcon! The world is under attack by monsters, and Jake’s life is falling apart: No band, no girl, no future… until he meets Murder Falcon. He was sent from The Heavy to destroy all evil, but he can’t do it without Jake shredding up a storm. Now, with every chord Jake plays on his guitar, the power of metal fuels Murder Falcon into all-out kung fu fury on those that seek to conquer Earth. It’s time to shred!” You heard it here — Loudly! Check out the preview video too.

image c. 2018 Image Comics

From (Really) Small Screen to… Bigger Screen

More from Animation Magazine. Turns out that a well-known animated app is now being turned into a full-fledged animated TV series. This is from Kidscreen: “9 Story Distribution International has picked up distribution rights to Dr. Panda and will start selling the new 3D-animated series in all global territories except China, Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan and select MENA countries at MIPCOM… Aimed at kids ages three to six, Dr. Panda is the first 3D-animated series from the same-name kids app developer that has racked up more than 95 million downloads and five million active monthly users since rolling out its first app-connected toy and AR app in 2017. The show is created and co-produced by Malaysia’s Giggle Garage Animations (Origanimals, Kazoops) and Spider Eye Productions (Jungle Junction, Thomas & Friends) in the UK. It’s directed by Patrick Chin and written by Daan Velsink (Panic!, Snapshot, Bingo!) and Chris Parker (Peppa Pig, Shaun the Sheep). Its titular main character tries out new jobs and solves problems with his friends in each episode.” The producers hope to have the new show ready to roll out before the end of this year.

image c. 2018 9 Story

Bear, Bear, Dragon

Animation Magazine recently let us know about two anthropomorphic animated TV series coming from Singapore’s August Media and South Korea’s Studio Gale. First up there’s Tish Tash. “The series centers on young and hugely imaginative Tish, her bear family, and her larger-than-life imaginary friend, Tash. No matter what troubles they face — be it the age-old terror of long, boring car trips or helping Tish’s baby brother not be sad about losing his favorite toy — these special friends can create new worlds around themselves, embarking on imaginative adventures and finding their own creative angle to help solve any problems that life throws at them.” Then there’s Journey of Long, a comedy that “… follows the adventures of a dragon with a dream of becoming the world’s top chef”. Check out the video clip over on YouTube. Both these shows premiered at MIPCOM, and they’re hoping for world-wide distribution in 2019.

image c. 2018 Studio Gale