SHE'S ALWAYS IN MY HAIR

The cover to It Girl and the Atomics #12, by Michael and Laura Allred. A great way to close the series. Look for it in July!

Diamond ID: MAY130558
On Sale: July 17, 2013

More info here.

Current Soundtrack: Daft Punk, Random Access Memory

LET ME RIDE

On sale today, It Girl and the Atomics #10, the first issue drawn by Natalie Nourigat. 

In stores, and online. Download it here.

Lettered by Crank!, colored by Allen Passalaqua, and that nifty cover, of course, is by Michael & Laura Allred.

Read a six page preview.

Or, if you're inclined, let Comic Bastards tell you how good it is.

And since we're sharing, how about this awesome pin-up from Megan Levens for the second trade paperback, due out in the Fall...

Current Soundtrack: Little Boots, Nocturnes

WILDEST MOMENTS

On sale today, It Girl and the Atomics #9.

Click through for a six-page preview.

This is a stand-alone story, so if you've been holding off taking a chance on our little series, here is a great bet for giving it a shot.

Current Soundtrack: Jessie Ware, Devotion 

IT STARTS AND ENDS WITH YOU

IT GIRL & THE ATOMICS #12
story JAMIE S. RICH
art CHYNNA CLUGSTON FLORES, MIKE NORTON, NATALIE NOURIGAT
cover MICHAEL & LAURA ALLRED 
JULY 17
32 PAGES / FC / E
$2.99
“STOP AS YOU MEANT TO GO ON”--SERIES FINALE!
All the ATOMICS artists return for a triptych of international superspies, dopey costumed villains, and mummy attacks. Rights will be wronged, relationships repaired, and seriously, it’s going to be one heck of a party!

Yes, you read that right. We're wrapping up the first It Girl and the Atomics series with #12. There were a number of factors contributing to the decision, but it was the right one to make and the right time to do it. Hopefully the twelve issues we did will stand strong as a complete series whether I ever make it back to do more or not. (I have a few ideas for stories, but it will all be a matter of timing.) I wrote #12 special to cap off everything that had come before, which is why I corralled all the artists from the series to give it one more go.

I am really proud of how It Girl and the Atomics turned out. I am proud of shipping a full year of monthly comics on time and not just maintaining the quality, but I'd like to think improving issue to issue. As a writer, I was blessed to work with some exceptional people. Mike Norton, Chynna Clugston Flores, and Natalie Nourigat--you can't ask for a better line-up of artists than that. And Allen Passalaqua, Crank!, and the Allreds, the foundation every issue was built on.

Image Comics have also been awesome and supportive and continue to be so. Expect more collaborations between myself and Image in the future. This door is closed, but we're opening up a couple of windows.

The funny thing is, this all got decided just as I felt the book took a real upswing in terms of critical and reader reaction. We got much love all along, and for that I am grateful, and to those who threw so many kind words our way, you made me very happy. Special mention to Multiversity, who wrote a real nice piece this morning when they found out about our forthcoming conclusion.

Anyway, it's not as if it's done yet. It Girl and the Atomics #9 is going to be in stores this coming Wednesday, and we're just about to put #10 to bed. The journey has a few more miles to go before we get there, so stick around!

Current Soundtrack: Logo feat. eLBee Bad, "Give Mo Luv;" Edwyn Collins, "Dilemna"

EVERYBODY LOVES A WINNER

The winner of the It Girl and the Atomics, vol. 1 contest was R.C.  Schmidt of Omaha, NE.

R.C. correctly answered the trivia question.

In It Girl and the Atomics #s 7 & 8, there are two new characters who are named after two different writers whose most famous work had something to do with robots. Who are they and what are they famous for?

Correct response: Professor Osamu is, of course, named for Osamu Tezuka, creator of Astro Boy. Mother von Harbou is a tribute to Thea von Harbou, writer of the original silent film Metropolis--which Tezuka also did a variation of, later to become an animated film.

I also accepted those of you who identified one of the robots, Fritz, as Fritz Lang, who was married to von Harbou and directed Metropolis, since that was technically correct.

Congrats, R.C.! I am mailing your book today. Thanks to all of you who responded. No one got it wrong, which is impressive.

It Girl and the Atomics, Round 1: Dark Streets, Snap City is in comic book stores this Wednesday, and will trickle out to other venues by April 9.

Current Soundtrack: Popstrangers, "A Girl Like You" (Troggs cover)

SWEEPSTAKES! YOU'RE A WINNER! Weekend Contest for a signed It Girl v1

As a reward for all you good people who have been buying It Girl and the Atomics in issue form, I have decided to run a contest this weekend to give one of you the first collected volume, a trade paperback with issues #1-6.

The contest is simple. You just have to e-mail me the answer to a trivia question by Monday morning, 8 a.m., PST. To answer that question, though, you'll have to have access to the recent issues!

The question:

In It Girl and the Atomics #s 7 & 8, there are two new characters who are named after two different writers whose most famous work had something to do with robots. Who are they and what are they famous for?

I'll give you a hint: only one of them worked in comics, and that person both wrote and drew.

E-mail your answer, along with your name and address, to golightly [a] gmail [dot] com. Title it "IT GIRL trivia."

I will then pick one random winner and send them an autographed book. I should be able to get to the post office on Monday and so can mail it to U.S. residents via priority mail and, USPS willing, you'll receive the book on release day, Wednesday. Anyone outside the U.S., you're on your own. Fast shipping like that is too expensive.

Get to it!

If you don't win, the book hits comic book shops on Wednesday, and everywhere else on April 9.

Current Soundtrack: Brett Anderson, "Savage Dance;" Suede, "So Young" and "He's Gone"

SOFT TOUCH/RAW NERVE

It Girl and the Atomics #8 is in stores tomorrow, and the usual preview materials are doing the rounds.

Read the opening pages over at Hack/Slash Inc. and pick up the comic in stores tomorrow or online.

This is the end of a superheroic two-parter called "The World is Flat." Next month's issue, #9, is a stand-alone focusing on the Slug and Black Crystal with our regular team of Mike Norton, Crank!, and Allen Passalaqua. Then it's another two-parter in #10 and #11 with Natalie Nourigat joining us. And then a big surprise for #12, details coming soon!

Thanks for your continued support. I appreciate everyone who is reading along with us!

Current Soundtrack: Depeche Mode, "Heaven" remixes

GIT UP GET OUT 'N VOTE

It's Harvey Awards time again. Are you a comic book professional? Thinking of voting? You can get all the details here.

I'd like to humbly suggest a few items you can write in as nominations. It's all going to be terribly self-serving, but if you have a book you want considered yourself, please leave a comment on this post and we can create one list for people to reference when marking up the nominating ballot.

My main work this year was It Girl and the Atomics, so please consider it in any and all categories. I also have some talented colleagues who do other work.

Best Writer
Matt Fraction, FF, Fantastic Four, more
Jamie S. Rich, It Girl and the Atomics
Tim Seeley, Revival; others

Best Artist
Michael Allred, It Girl and the Atomics; iZombie; Daredevil; Wolverine & the X-Men; and FF
Joëlle Jones, House of Night; The Girl Who Owned a City
Mike Norton, Battlepug; It Girl and the Atomics; Revival

Best Letterer
Crank!, Battlepug; It Girl and the Atomics; Revival

Best Colorist
Laura Allred, iZombie; Daredevil; Wolverine & the X-Men; and FF
Allen Passalaqua, Battlepug; It Girl and the Atomics

Best Cover Artist
Michael & Laura Allred, iZombie; Daredevil; Wolverine & the X-Men; and FF
Jenny Frison, House of Night; Revival

Most Promising New Talent
Natalie Nourigat, Between Gears; My Boyfriend is a Monster: Wrapped Up in You

Best New Series
FF, Marvel Comics
It Girl and the Atomics, Image Comics
Revival, Image Comics

Best Continuing or Limited Series
FF, Marvel Comics
It Girl and the Atomics, Image Comics
Revival, Image Comics

Best Graphic Album - Original
The Girl Who Owned a City, Graphic Universe

Best Graphic Album - Previously Published
Battlepug, vol. 1, Dark Horse Comics
Between Gears, Image Comics

Best Single Issue or Story
Daredevil #17, Marvel Comics
It Girl and the Atomics #s 1-5, "Dark Streets, Snap City," Image Comics
Wolverine & the X-Men #17, Marvel Comics

Best Online Comics Work
Battlepug, www.battlepug.com

Best Original Graphic Publication for Younger Readers
The Girl Who Owned a City, Graphic Universe
My Boyfriend is a Monster: Wrapped Up in You, Graphic Universe

 

 

 

Current Soundtrack: The Dream Academy, s/t; Richard Hawley, "Don't Stare Into the Sun/Run for Me (Version Two):

AMONGST BUTTERFLIES

Coming in June...

IT GIRL & THE ATOMICS #11
story JAMIE S. RICH
art NATALIE NOURIGAT
cover MICHAEL & LAURA ALLRED
JUNE 19
32 PAGES / FC / E
$2.99
"TWEENAGE FBI" Part Two
The conclusion of a special two-parter brings It Girl face-to-face with an ancient evil, one now wielding unlimited power thanks to the technological secret stolen from Atomics HQ. It Girl's got the Kid Commandoes on her side, but will they be enough? Featuring art by BETWEEN GEARS creator NATALIE NOURIGAT!

***
And don't forget, It Girl and the Atomics #8 is out this coming Wednesday. It's the second part of a two-parter, as well, and while both stories stand alone, the #7-8 story actually sets up the #10-11 story by introducing the machine everyone is fighting over.

We're also only two weeks away from the first trade paperback! It'll be in comic book stores on March 27, everywhere else on April 9.

Current Soundtrack: Lulu James, "Be Safe / Stuck"

DON'T CALL IT A COMEBACK

This pretty much says everything...

The trade is out in just a couple of weeks. Order it now!

Diamond ID: JAN130497
ISBN: 978-1607067252

Help spread the word. And if you have a library system in your area that allows patrons to request books, take a second and suggest they order this one. It could be a big help to us if we get on the radar of more librarians. It's a small and easy action you can take that could have a great impact on any comic's sales.

Current Soundtrack: The Joy Formidable, Wolf's Law

READ THE BLESSED PAGES

Michael May has written a really thoughtful analysis of It Girl and the Atomics #6 over at Robot 6.

"Why you should be reading It Girl and the Atomics."

I really like how he digs into the reasons the script and the art work so well together.

Also, massive congratulations to my #1 superfriend Joëlle Jones on her great success with Helheim #1. The book is getting great reviews and is already on its way back to press for a second printing. (It's still available for download at Comixology, of course.)

Here are some links just in case you need some convincing to pick up this awesome comic.

* A preview of the first issue

* Joëlle and Cullen on the Comixology podcast

* Talking to MTV Geek

Reviews at:

* Adventures in Poor Taste

* Alpha Comics

* The Beat

* Comic Bastards

* Comic Book Resources

* Comic Buzz

* Comicosity

* Eye on Comics

* Front Towards Gamer

* iFanboy

* Multiversity

* Nerdspan

* Newsarama and Newsarama again

* Onion AV Club

* Slack Jaw Punks

Current Soundtrack: Kavinsky, OutRun

ONWARD, TO THE CITY

Okay, so we're off to Emerald City.

For the duration of the show, find both myself and Joëlle Jones at the Oni Press booth, #902. We will be selling books, and she will be sketching. Oni will also have special variants of the first issue of her awesome Helheim project exclusively for the show. You can get all the details of the Oni-planned events here, including the info on their panel.

For the convention, I will be selling a pack of the first five issues of It Girl and the Atomics, all first prints, for $12. That's one issue for free! I will also have copies of #6 and #7, as well as the alternate covers for #2. (Each pack only has one, either the Michael Allred or the Darwyn Cooke variant.)

I have one time away from the table. That's on Sunday, when I am signing at the Image Comics booth, from 3 to 3:45, at the same time as the awesome Fiona Staples. To encourage my getting some attention while sitting next to Fiona, I will be giving away It Girl and the Atomics posters I have left over, featuring the cover to the first issue, available only to folks who come and see me there. I will not be giving them away during the rest of the show.

You can also buy the minicomic that Jung Hu Lee printed up of the story he drew from my script, ou Cross My Path. It's debuting at the show. Find him at Booth K-14, then bring it over, I'll sign it.

If you aren't going to Emerald City, Helheim #1 goes on sale next week. You want to go get it. It's awesome.

For you folks near Chicago, on Wednesday, March 6, Joëlle Jones will be going to Challengers Comics for a signing and art show to celebrate the release. Get the details on their site.

Current Soundtrack: Small Faces, Ogden's Nut Gone Flake (stereo mix)

I AM THE SOUND OF YOUR OWN DREAMS

A new week, and some new links.

* Comicosity has a new interview with myself and Natalie Nourigat, mainly focusing on A Boy and a Girl, but with a little It Girl and the Atomics mixed in.

Read it in full at the link.

* Comic Book Daily has a nice plug for the minicomic I did with Jung Hu Lee, "You Cross My Path," in their column Comics from Around the Web.

This is an unhappy little tale about Portland, Oregon’s darker side. It’s about the bogeyman who promises you something cool and then turns out to be evil. This isn’t a new story. It’s happened in fiction and real life more times than you can probably imagine. But there’s something so straightforward, so visceral and unassuming about Rich and Lee’s telling. It’s worth a look.

You can, of course, still read "You Cross My Path" here.

Current Soundtrack: shufflin' the iPod, with Duffy, "Don't Forsake Me;" Frank Ocean, "Crack Rock;" Noel Gallagher's High Flying Birds, "Soldier Boys and Jesus Freaks;" Suede, "Heroin"

FRIDAY, I'M IN LOVE

A couple of quick links for the end of the week.

* Multiversity Comics featured It Girl and the Atomics in their "Friday Reccomendations" column.

It’s something that longtime comic fans can sit down and use to tap back in to that “Madman” world that was such a staple of Indie comics in the 90′s. It’s something that young and old can read and smile along with, because it’s full of irreverent humor that you can laugh at because it’s absurd or silly and not feel sheepish about it.

* Weekly Comic Book Review gives a stellar write-up to Creepy Comics #11.

Probably my favorite was the story by Joelle Jones just because I already knew how much I enjoyed Zullo and Reeder whereas Jones was a surprise.  She was enough of a surprise that I paused during this review to inquire about buying a page of her original art from this story (the 4th page with the guy bringing different women back to his home).  So there’s that.

And don't forget, you can still book commissions from Joëlle to pick up during our appearance at Emerald City Comic Con next week. All the details are on her blog.

Current Soundtrack: The Strokes, "All the Time;" Phoenix, "Entertainment"

IT TAKES A GOOD WOMAN

Today has been a great day. Joëlle's birthday, the 7th issue of It Girl out, and you can hear me talking all about it and more over on the Comixology podcast.

Go hear and give it a listen, whydoncha? We have a good chat.

The first couple of review of It Girl and the Atomics #7 have landed, and they are wonderfuly positive.

Unleash the Fanboy gets into the spirit of things.

The series still retains its witty, “Saturday morning cartoon”-esque charm, with plenty of comedic moments and a few good action bits thrown in. One of the things I liked in this issue was that It Girl showcased her powers more which I found the previous issues lacked. 

As do the Comic Book Bastards.

Rich does an incredible job with It Girl’s powers in this issue. It was very creative to see how she uses them to get in and out of jams, to the point where I didn’t know what she what she was going to do next. That’s a lot of fun and shows that he’s keeping the story as fresh as possible. Characters with multiple powers tend to get stale when writers forget they’re long list of possibilities and this just shows that Rich is constantly thinking of new ways for It Girl to use her powers. The gags were great and again captured that lighthearted nature that I’ve always associated with the world. It Girl is a terrific character and I love her personality; she’s worth ten of any of the “big two’s” female super heroes. 

Every time I review a series that Mike Norton is attached to I like to begin with, “Mike Norton is fucking machine.” Why? Because he has not one, but two series out this week alone; both of which are monthly titles. The other title that I’ll also be reviewing is Revival and while the art style is different, it’s equally fantastic to the work he does on It Girl. I especially enjoy the visual gags that Norton illustrates in this series as it shows his range and talent as an artist. Very impressive each month and I look forward to the next chapter of this series along with his other monthly work. I would even go as far to say that he is my favorite comic book artist working in the industry currently.

 The Weekly Crisis rates us as a "Must Read":

Slip ups, mishaps and puns pepper this issue that already is full of delicious eye candy. Allen Passalaqua adds an amazing layer of fun, jazzy colors. Mike Norton's art is gorgeous as always and the story got a some solid laughs out of me. I can't wait to jump back in to this universe next month!

This response makes me really happy, because I felt we really hit a comfortable stride with this issue. I was proofing #8 this morning and was wowed by how the art came together. So many little touches throughout, and Mike and Allen are in total sync. Plus, if you like how It Girl uses her powers this month...oh, just wait!

Current Soundtrack: Bobby Womack, "If You Think You're Lonely Now;" Jessie Ware, If You're Never Gonna Move EP

PUSH THE SKY AWAY

Your friendly reminder...

It Girl and the Atomics #7 is on sale today. Find it in your local comic book shop.

You can read a preview of the first six pages in the link.

While you're shopping, also pick up the seventh issue of Revival, with art by It Girl's Mike Norton, and the two new Sixth Gun comics, including the spin-off Sons of the Gun.

And don't forget, It Girl and the Atomics is available digitally from Comixology, if that's your preferred delivery method. Here's a link.

We've delivered the material for the first trade paperback to Image, so look for that next month! It collects the first six issues in one handy package.

THANKS FOR READING!

Current Soundtrack: Justin Timberlake, "Mirrors"

THE IDLER WHEEL

I am today's special player for the regular "Robot Roulette" feature at the Robot 6 blog, where you answer random questions chosen by spinning a wheel.

You can read everything I have to say over at CBR.

I also hooked them up with an exclusive preview of It Girl and the Atomics #7, going on sale this coming Wednesday.

Current Soundtrack: Blur, Modern Life is Rubbish reissue bonus disc

NATALIE - SHE'S PROBABLY OUT THERE THINKING IT'S FUNNY

Image has announced their May publications.

Remember those teaser panels I posted a few weeks ago suggesting people guess who the artist for It Girl and the Atomics #10? You know. This post, and this one.

Well, now you can get your answer...

IT GIRL & THE ATOMICS 10
story JAMIE S. RICHart NATALIE NOURIGATcover MICHAEL & LAURA ALLRED  

MAY 1532 PAGES / FC / E EVERYONE$2.99 

“TWEENAGE FBI” Part OneBETWEEN GEARS creator NATALIE NOURIGAT joins the Atomics team! Someone broke into Flem’s lab and stole a dangerous invention. It Girl picks up the crooks’ trail, only to discover it leads to a team of underage secret agents – though the real criminal mastermind is centuries older than all of them.

That's right! My A Boy and a Girl collaborator Natalie Nourigat will be drawing both #10 and #11.

Here is a special sneak preview: the cover to #10 by Michael and Laura Allred, and five unlettered pages from Natalie!

Colors are by Allen Passalaqua.

This story will basically stand-alone. Though it does have some small connections to the two-part story in #7 and #8, I've tried to design each basic story so you can read them all on their own.

#10 is all done so expect a more substantial preview soon!

Current Soundtrack: XTC, Drums and Wires

IMAGE FANTOME: A Mike Norton IT GIRL teaser panel

A selected image from It Girl and the Atomics #7, on sale February 20.

Art and lettering is by the regular team: Mike Norton, Allen Passalaqua, and Crank!

This almost looks like it could be from a crossover with one of Mike's other books, Revival.

Speaking of Mike's other books, on sale right now is the first issue of The Answer, his creator-owned collaboration with writer Dennis Hopeless. Dark Horse Comics released it just yesterday, in comic book stores and via the Dark Horse digital app.

Here is a review of it at CBR.

By the way, It Girl #6 also got a great review from Greg at CBR.

"It Girl and the Atomics" #6 is a fun little side step away from the main action set back on Earth; if all the interludes are this enjoyable and well-put-together, I don't think anyone will complain too much about not getting another issue drawn handsomely by regular artist Mike Norton. Rich and Clugston Flores clearly had a good working relationship back when Rich was Clugston Flores' editor at Oni Press, and that has continued through to here. If you haven't tried out "It Girl and the Atomics" yet, this is a fun place to start.

Read the full review here.

Current Sountrack: Gaz Coombes, Here Come the Bombs

e-mail = golightly at confessions123.com * Midi-Confessions123 * Criterion Confessions * Last FM * GoodReads * The Blog Roll [old version] * DVDTalk reviews * My Books On Amazon

All text (c) 2013 Jamie S. Rich

READER MEET AUTHOR: Emerald City Comic Con & Stumptown Comics Festival

It's a new year, and once again, time to announce that I'll be attending two awesome Pacific Northwest comic book shows.

Emerald City Comic Con, happening in Seattle the first weekend of March, has announced Joëlle Jones and I as special guests. They always have an awesome selection of people--take a gander for yourself, right here--and we're proud to be amongst the 2013 roster. ECCC is a good time, guaranteed.

This year, Joëlle is promoting Helheim and I am promoting A Boy and a Girl, so we are setting up with Oni Press rather than Artist's Alley. Our collaborators will also be in attendance. Cullen Bunn will be there for Helheim, and Natalie Nourigat is setting up with Periscope Studios. I am told that Natalie and I will be on a panel with Oni to talk about A Boy and a Girl, which the publisher has postponed to launch around the same time. (Which is why you haven't seen the launch happen this month; we're bummed about it, too.) Megan Levens will be at the show, as well.

Joëlle is booking sketches, so check out the deal she's offering and get back to me.

We've also been approved for a table at the Stumptown Comics Festival on April 27 and 28.

This is going to be an exciting event. Chynna Clugston Flores is a special guest of the con, and I will likely be running her spotlight panel. We should have plenty of It Girl issues on hand.

Nicolas Hitori de has also booked a trip to be here. We'll probably be carrying around some Spell Checkers vol. 3 pages as a sneak preview.

And, I am sure Natalie will be around, as well, and A Boy and a Girl will be partly underway at onipress.com--meaning we can finally start talking to you all about it. We've been sitting on this for a year now, we're dying to hear what people think.

So, mark your calendars!

Current Soundtrack: The Joy Formidable, Wolf's Law