ComicsPRO to Spearhead 24 Hour Comics Day
March 4, 2008
For Immediate Release
Contact: Joe Field, joe@flyingcolorscomics.com
Rick Lowell, rick@casablancacomics.com
In a move that furthers its mission to expand the comics market, the board of directors of the direct market retailer trade group ComicsPRO is assuming the organization and facilitation of 24 Hour Comics Day ("24HCD"), the annual comics creation event started by About Comics publisher Nat Gertler.
24HCD is a scheduled challenge during which single artists attempt to create a full 24 page comic story in 24 consecutive hours. Past 24HCD events have seen comic pros and aspiring cartoonists participate at special events in comic book stores and other venues around the world. ComicsPRO is taking over the administration of 24HCD as a way to support the creation of new comics material and also to promote and support comics retailers. Past 24HCD events have generated substantial press coverage for participating cartoonists and retailers. The event also gives retailers a creative way to get involved with public schools, libraries, universities, and local art communities.
Additionally, Ohio State University will house all of the submitted 24 Hour comics entries, providing a permanent home to 24HCD archives within its Cartoon Research Library, which already boasts a large collection of original art and regular comic art exhibits.
ComicsPRO will announce the specific date of 2008’s 24 Hour Comics Day soon.
ComicsPRO board member Rick Lowell (Casablanca Comics, Portland ME) said, "Our store has participated in 24HCD since its inception, and the event has always generated a great amount of local press as well as national press. We’ve partnered with arts venues in the city to expose comics to a much wider audience. The opportunity for stores to reach out to the public with such events is important for the continued health and growth of the comics market. With ComicsPRO's involvement in managing this event, that opportunity should continue for years to come."
"I have a lot of respect for the individual retailers who founded ComicsPRO. The participation of comic book retailers – including many ComicsPRO members – has been key to 24 Hour Comics Day's success," said Nat Gertler, founder of 24 Hour Comics Day and publisher of the About Comics line. "We had a number of fine people and organizations eager to help 24 Hour Comics Day continue to grow, and I'd like to thank FX International, the Minnesota Cartoonist Conspiracy, and Pittsburgh's Toonseum for their willingness and passion in supporting comics creation. I'm proud of how quickly this event has grown, and look forward to seeing it continue to grow with the additional abilities that ComicsPRO brings. But the best part of not having to manage 24 Hour Comics Day is that now I'm free to participate in 24 Hour Comics Day!"
Nat Gertler’s About Comics is a small but diverse comics publisher and packager, best known for publications including a series of 24 Hour Comics trade paperbacks, collections of the work of creators ranging from Kurt Busiek to Charles M. Schulz, and Panel One and Panel Two, books of comic book scripts by top writers.
ComicsPRO, the Comics Professional Retailers Organization, is the only trade organization dedicated to the progress of direct market comic book retailers. ComicsPRO represents a membership of more than 100 comic specialty retail companies comprising more than 140 storefronts. Retailers interested in helping to secure a stronger future for the comics specialty market are encouraged to join.
More information and membership applications are available at http://ComicsPRO.org.
# # #
For Immediate Release
Contact: Joe Field, joe@flyingcolorscomics.com
Rick Lowell, rick@casablancacomics.com
In a move that furthers its mission to expand the comics market, the board of directors of the direct market retailer trade group ComicsPRO is assuming the organization and facilitation of 24 Hour Comics Day ("24HCD"), the annual comics creation event started by About Comics publisher Nat Gertler.
24HCD is a scheduled challenge during which single artists attempt to create a full 24 page comic story in 24 consecutive hours. Past 24HCD events have seen comic pros and aspiring cartoonists participate at special events in comic book stores and other venues around the world. ComicsPRO is taking over the administration of 24HCD as a way to support the creation of new comics material and also to promote and support comics retailers. Past 24HCD events have generated substantial press coverage for participating cartoonists and retailers. The event also gives retailers a creative way to get involved with public schools, libraries, universities, and local art communities.
Additionally, Ohio State University will house all of the submitted 24 Hour comics entries, providing a permanent home to 24HCD archives within its Cartoon Research Library, which already boasts a large collection of original art and regular comic art exhibits.
ComicsPRO will announce the specific date of 2008’s 24 Hour Comics Day soon.
ComicsPRO board member Rick Lowell (Casablanca Comics, Portland ME) said, "Our store has participated in 24HCD since its inception, and the event has always generated a great amount of local press as well as national press. We’ve partnered with arts venues in the city to expose comics to a much wider audience. The opportunity for stores to reach out to the public with such events is important for the continued health and growth of the comics market. With ComicsPRO's involvement in managing this event, that opportunity should continue for years to come."
"I have a lot of respect for the individual retailers who founded ComicsPRO. The participation of comic book retailers – including many ComicsPRO members – has been key to 24 Hour Comics Day's success," said Nat Gertler, founder of 24 Hour Comics Day and publisher of the About Comics line. "We had a number of fine people and organizations eager to help 24 Hour Comics Day continue to grow, and I'd like to thank FX International, the Minnesota Cartoonist Conspiracy, and Pittsburgh's Toonseum for their willingness and passion in supporting comics creation. I'm proud of how quickly this event has grown, and look forward to seeing it continue to grow with the additional abilities that ComicsPRO brings. But the best part of not having to manage 24 Hour Comics Day is that now I'm free to participate in 24 Hour Comics Day!"
Nat Gertler’s About Comics is a small but diverse comics publisher and packager, best known for publications including a series of 24 Hour Comics trade paperbacks, collections of the work of creators ranging from Kurt Busiek to Charles M. Schulz, and Panel One and Panel Two, books of comic book scripts by top writers.
ComicsPRO, the Comics Professional Retailers Organization, is the only trade organization dedicated to the progress of direct market comic book retailers. ComicsPRO represents a membership of more than 100 comic specialty retail companies comprising more than 140 storefronts. Retailers interested in helping to secure a stronger future for the comics specialty market are encouraged to join.
More information and membership applications are available at http://ComicsPRO.org.
# # #
posted by Joe "FlyCoJoe" Field @ 3:00 PM
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