I got to work 3 hours early this morning, after arriving 4 hours late yesterday. My sleep schedule is a nightmare right now, and my 2 half-finished posts are on the laptop at home. Look forward to a review of the film adaptation of Taiyo Matsumoto’s PING PONG and my final Japan travelogue post sometime this weekend. So what to write about, seeing as it’s been a few days?
Count me among the surprised that Reed Elsevier is selling off their magazine/print division (Reed Business International) but not their very profitable convention business. Their stated reasoning (not wanting to be tied to the cyclical nature of advertising-driven magazine publishing) makes a lot of sense, but at the same time the power of having the vertical integration to a) be the leading mouthpiece for your industry, b) say nice things about your conventions, and c) have those same people cover the conventions after they’re over? It’s like if Wizard was remotely successful. At any rate, I hope PW and their Kids Bookshelf and Comics Week suppliments are on for the foreseeable future, as I enjoy reading those every week. As for the soon to be Mrs. MacDonald: we have every confidence that The Beat will land on its feet whatever happens.
Weaksauce:
However you feel about Novelty T-Shirt Company threadless (Like: Designs and shirts, Feel Sketchy About: Their Artist Contract), Hot Topic ripping off one of their designs isn’t cool. Espescially when that design is by beloved comics creator Jess Fink. Take it away, Jess:
SO I got an email back from the people who run the design company that designed and sold their rip-off of “Lil’ Soap” to Hot Topic. Basically they are not taking much responsibility and blaming it on the fact that they hire freelancers from time to time… I’m sorry but I really don’t think this design is coincidentally or simply inspired by clip art. Things right down to the pose of the character and the look of the feet and hands are the same, even the color.
I’m glad so many folks are rallying to her aid, it’s great that artist communities can work to get each other’s backs against corporate behemoths. At this point, Hot Topic seems to be refusing to comment on the situation (wall of silence) but, much like the other bottom-feeder scam-artist scandal from last year, all it will take is the right amount of pressure on the company for them to “realize” their “mistake”. So get to it:
http://community.hottopic.com/insideht/talktous.asp
Hot Topic Inc.
18305 San Jose Avenue
City of Industry, CA 91748
tel: 626.839.4681 fax: 626.839.4686
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– Christopher