“Glenn Beck, Betty White now comic heroes - Boston Herald” plus 1 more |
| Glenn Beck, Betty White now comic heroes - Boston Herald Posted: 25 Jan 2011 09:58 PM PST Move aside Batman and Superman, the qualifications for being a comic book hero have been radically redefined. Coming to a newsstand near you: The right-wing rants of talk show host Glenn Beck, the left-wing lunacy of Rosie O'Donnell and the apolitical adventures of Betty White, Olivia Newton-John and the cast of "Glee." Independent publisher Darren Davis, founder of Bluewater Comics, proudly declares he's avoiding the traditional 18-35 male demographic for many of his new titles. "We're probably the only comic book to have ever been sold at Jo-Ann Fabrics," he says. "A lot of mothers are buying them for their daughters. We're trying to attract new readers who never have picked up comics." The Bluewater "Female Force" series features an eclectic mix of personalities including Ellen DeGeneres, Condi Rice, Barbara Walters, Meredith Vieira, Danica Patrick, Taylor Swift, Beyonce, Lady Gaga and Maggie Thatcher. Other biographical subjects fall under either a pop culture "Fame" strand or "Political Power." Britney Spears, whose public life has played out like a tragic comedy, gets the cartoon treatment in March. Davis, a former sales rep for DC Comics, pursues a unique marketing strategy for each of his titles — venturing way beyond the comic book store to make a sale. O'Donnell, who is highlighted for her activism for adoption rights, will hit the shelves at gay and lesbian bookstores. Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor gets pushed on schools and libraries. And perfectly timed for his movie release in February, the Justin Bieber graphic novel will soon be available at Wal-Mart. Instead of focusing on good v. evil, the biography comics focus on inspirational tidbits from celebrities' lives. Vieira is touted for placing her family before her career goals when she left her job at "60 Minutes." Bieber is praised for his courage to perform during a Dick Clark New Year's Eve special, despite having a fractured foot. Bluewater's best-selling comic book subject has been Michelle Obama, which has sold 75,000 copies. Davis says that an independent title that sells 10,000 copies is considered a successful run. The books retail for $3.99. So which famous personalities are considered comic-worthy? "I absolutely have to respect and admire them," Davis explains. "I don't see myself ever doing a Snooki comic book or a Kim Kardashian comic book. It all comes down to who I want to learn more about." "I'm a marketing person's dream. When I was a kid, I had to have every Happy Meal prize, I had to have every Slurpee cup. Now I am creating my own memorabilia," he says. Most Bluewater biographies are unauthorized, but the publisher occasionally collaborates with celebrities such as pop culture icons William Shatner and Adam West. Sometimes their favorite charities are featured, with a portion of revenues donated to the cause. The Betty White book, for example, includes a few pages devoted to the Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association (GLAZA). The Olivia Newton-John issue benefits breast cancer research. Davis' personal cause is children's literacy. "Education can come from the most unexpected places," he says. "I hated to read when I was a kid and comic books made my life a whole lot easier. I'm reaching out to all the reluctant readers out there." Darren Garnick's "Working Stiff" column runs Wednesdays in the Boston Herald. Feedback and story tips are welcomed at heraldstiff@gmail.com. This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php |
| Australia PM requests Queen for new honors for natural disaster heroes - Investors Business Daily Posted: 25 Jan 2011 08:03 PM PST Access recent eIBD issues easily:
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