PVP: The Animated Series -- Update

Scott Kurtz's foray into animation may be one of the most exciting projects in webcomics history. I'm subscribing and you should, too. CBR has posted an excellent interview with Kurtz about the enterprise and it's a great read.

[CBR] Scott Kurtz's "PvP" is one of those comics that's traversed both the online and print world with relative ease. The wildly popular online comic is read by thousands daily, while those who prefer the more traditional printed variety can pick up monthly collections of the strips from Image Comics.

But as is the dream of many a comic, it wants to come alive - it wants to be animated. And Kurtz's "PvP" is no exception. With the advent of the Internet and the insane popularity of video sharing sites like You Tube, being animated doesn't necessarily mean you have to get picked up by a major television network or film studio. You can, simply, do it on the Web.

That's what Kurtz will be doing. "PvP" will come alive as a monthly animated series beginning February of 2007. Kurtz has joined with Blind Ferret Entertainment, a start up animation company based in Canada, to produce twelve episodes, each four-to-six minutes long that will be released monthly on the Web. CBR News caught up with Kurtz to learn more about "PvP The Series."

Read more.

Tobey to Hang Up His Webs?

[THE SUN] Tobey Maguire has hinted he will hang up his superhero suit after the release of Spider-Man 3. The actor says he is keen to tackle more challenging movie roles and also wants to spend more time with his family.

According to movie Web-site Dark Horizons, Tobey said: "'Spider-Man 3' might be a good place to stop - I am not tied contractually to any more Spider-Man movies. I am not completely closed to the idea of another one if it made sense but I would say the odds were in favour of this being the last one."

Read the entire story.

A Man of Letters

From Chris Eliopoulos' essay about being a letterer in the comic-book industry:

Let’s be honest here. Letterers are the scum of the industry. Everyone looks down on what we do—except maybe Augie De Blieck—and thinks that the art of lettering is akin to moving furniture. You can get just about anyone to do it and it’ll look the same. We are a necessary evil and are usually the least-considered member of the team on any given book. We don’t even get a credit on the cover like everyone else.

I did you a favor and skipped the bitter, pissy introduction. Luckily, the piece gets much better as Eliopoulos transitions into a story about how Wizard payed his way to their Chicago convention... so he could serve food to his co-workers.

Eliopoulos illustrates and co-writes the Franklin Richards, Son of a Genius series from Marvel. Read more.

Paper Holds Contest to Replace Marrying Cartoonist for a Day

[E&P] With Wisconsin State Journal freelance editorial cartoonist Phil Hands getting married this weekend, the Madison newspaper is seeking an artistic reader to fill in for him this Sunday.

The paper is asking readers to vote online, through Thursday, for their favorite among five finalists for the one-day gig. The five were narrowed down from about 75 entries in the "Fill for Phil" contest.

The winner also gets lunch with Hands, a sketchbook, and State Journal pencils.

OK. I know newspapers are in dire straits. Believe me, I know.

But the prize for this thing is... State Journal pencils?

I mean, you know they're cheap because they keep the cartoonist at freelance status instead of giving the poor sap a full-time position. That much is a given in today's sad state of corporate affairs.

But to cheap out on the readers, too?

Sheesh. I wouldn't be a bit surprised if the big lunch is out of the newsroom vending machines.