My IMDb Page Is Up Now

I *finally* have an IMDB page. It's missing a few "Chaotic" episodes, but I'm glad it's up. You can reach it by clicking here.

Supergirl Promotion on DC Comics' Blog

DC Comics' official blog, The Source, has posted a story (with preview art) of my Supergirl short story hitting in next month's "Supergirl #50". You can read the story and check out the art by clicking here.

Now I'm an Award-Winning Writer! (Sort of...)

For the last few years, I've written several issues of the "DC Comics Super-hero Collection" magazine series published by Eaglemoss in the UK. In 2009, the series debut in the US. Each issue comes with small lead statue of the character featured in the article.

Well, every year Diamond Comic Distributers honors the bestselling products in the comics industry with the Diamond Gem Award. The "DC Comics Super-hero Collection" was named Best Magazine of 2009. The press release follows below.

"Comic Book Retailers Honor Industry’s Bestsellers with 2009 Diamond Gem Awards"

(BALTIMORE, MD) — (January 29, 2009) — Diamond Comic Distributors is proud to announce the winners of the 2009 Diamond Gem Awards, recognized within the comic book industry as the pinnacle of sales achievement for comic book artists, writers, publishers, and industry executives who work in one of America's most unique art forms.

“The ‘Gemmies’ are a fantastic opportunity for comic book retailers to honor suppliers and products that helped their businesses remain strong, despite a challenging economy,” said Diamond President and CEO Steve Geppi. “We congratulate the 2009 Gem Award winners, who truly deserve this recognition, and look forward to many more years of excellence from these and all of the valued publishers and suppliers that keep our industry growing.”

After being unseated by Marvel Comics last year, DC Comics regained the Comic Book Publisher of the Year award in 2009 for the multi-million dollar comic book specialty market. DC also took home the most Gem Awards with ten, most notably winning Comic Book  of the Year Under $3.00 for Batman and Robin #1,  Comic Book  of the Year Over $3.00 for Blackest Night #1, and Trade Paperback of the Year for perennial bestseller, The Watchmen TP.

“The long and supportive relationship between DC and the direct market is exemplified by these ten Gem Awards, and we thank the retailers for the recognition, and all they do to connect our comics with our readers,” said DC Comics President and Publisher Paul Levitz.

“Outstanding! Ten Gem Awards!” added DC Vice President of Sales Bob Wayne. “A big thank you from everyone at DC to our partners in the retail community. Thanks for your continued support.

”

Dark Horse Comics’ Buffy the Vampire Slayer hit a double-header for the Oregon-based publisher, with issue #22 awarded Licensed Comic of the Year and the Season 8 TP Volume 4: Time of Your Life winning Licensed TP of the Year.

Other publishers also fared well, with BOOM! Studios recognized as Comic Book Publisher of the Year (Under 4%) and VIZ Media as Manga Publisher of the Year. In the category of Original Graphic Novel of the Year, IDW Publishing’s bestselling Richard Stark’s Parker: The Hunter HC took home the prize.

The Gem Awards are selected in a three-step process that is based on quality, creativity, and their overall sales impact. Nominees were selected by a panel of Diamond industry professionals from all products shipped in 2009 and then voted on by the most critical segment that serves the comic book-buying public—comic book specialty retailers across the U.S. and abroad.

For a complete list of 2009 Diamond Gem Award winners and product photos visit www.diamondcomics.com/gemawards


2009 Diamond Gem Award Winners

2009 Comic Book Publisher of the Year Over 4%:  DC Comics
2009 Comic Book Publisher of the Year Under 4%:   BOOM! Studios
2009 Backlist Publisher of the Year:  DC Comics
2009 Manga Publisher of the Year:  VIZ Media
2009 Toy Manufacturer of the Year:  DC Direct
2009 Game Manufacturer of the Year:  Wizards of the Coast (WotC)
2009 Sports Card Manufacturer of the Year:  The Upper Deck Company
2009 Non-Sports Card Manufacturer of the Year:  Rittenhouse Archives
2009 Video Manufacturer of the Year:  Warner Home Video
2009 Comic Book of the Year Under $3.00:  Batman and Robin #1 (DC Comics)
2009 Comic Book of the Year Over $3.00:  Blackest Night #1 (DC Comics)
2009 Licensed Comic of the Year:  Buffy the Vampire Slayer #22 (Dark Horse Comics)
2009 Licensed TP or HC of the Year:  Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 8 TP Volume 4: Time of Your Life (Dark Horse Comics)
2009 Original GN of the Year:  Richard Starks’ Parker: The Hunter HC  (IDW)
2009 Indie GN of the Year:  League of Extraordinary Gentlemen III: Century #1 – 1910 (TopShelf Productions)
2009 Manga TP of the Year:  Naruto TP Volume 45 (Viz Media)
2009 Reprint TP or HC of the Year:  Watchmen TP (DC Comics)
2009 Anthology TP of the Year:  Toon Treasury of Classic Children’s Comics HC (Abrams Comicarts)
2009 Trade Book of the Year:  Pride and Prejudice and Zombies SC (Chronicle Books)
2009 Magazine of the Year:  DC Super-Hero Figurine Collection (Eaglemoss Publications)
2009 Toy Product of the Year:  Hot Toys’ The Dark Knight 1/6 Scale Joker (DC Direct)
2009 Toy Line of the Year:  Blackest Night (DC Direct)
2009 Collectible Statue of the Year:  Cover Girls of the DCU Statue: Wonder Woman (DC Direct)
2009 Mini-Bust of the Year:  Heroes of the DCU: Superman Bust (DC Direct)
2009 Sports Card Product of the Year:  Topps 2009 Series 1 Hobby MLB T/C Box (Topps)
2009 Non-Sports Card Product of the Year:  X-Men Archives T/C Box (Rittenhouse)
2009 Game Product of the Year:  Magic: The Gathering TCG 2010 Core Set (Wizards of the Coast)
2009 Audio / Visual Media of the Year:  Dr Horrible’s Sing Along Blog DVD (New Video)

This Week's Wrestling Column Up at GeekWeek.com

New week means new wrestling column up on GeekWeek.com. This one looks at civility in anonymous internet crticism...something you know I'm passionate about....Read it by clicking here.

Comics Milestone

Last Friday, I wrote my 50th comic book.  About 45 have been released so far, with more coming very soon....Here are some of the older ones available for purchase ('cause I'm shameless like that):

My "Ender's Game" Comics to be Collected in Hardcover

Marvel announced, via a link on Amazon, that the Ender's Game one shot comics I wrote -- "Recruiting Valentine" and "War of Gifts" will be collected with the two one shots Aaron Johnston wrote in a nice hardcover collection hitting in June. Preorder here:

New Tales of the TMNT #68 Preview Page

Artist Jim Lawson has posted another page from my next/final Ninja Turtles comic, "Tales of the TMNT" issue #68. It's a story called "Heroes in a Half-Cell."  You can check out the page, and some commentary on the story from Jim, by clicking here.

New "Batman" Kids Book in Stores Thursday, Jan 21

Here is my latestest "Batman" kids book, "Batman: The Brave and the Bold -- Terror on Dinosaur Island." It's in stores Thursday, January 21, or you can order it here.

My Next Comic From DC Comics Announced

My next comic to be published by DC Comics was announced today. Here are the details:


CARTOON NETWORK ACTION PACK #48
On sale APRIL 7 • 32 pg, FC, $2.50 US
Written by AMY WOLFRAM & JAKE BLACK
Art by ETHEN BEAVERS & MIN S. KU
Cover by ETHEN BEAVERS
It’s a brand new era in Ben 10-ness! Witness the beginning of Ultimate Alien! New aliens! New villains! And new adventures! It all starts here!

Latest Column on GeekWeek.com

Here is my latest wrestling column on GeekWeek.com. This one looks at Bubba the Love Sponge's anti-Haiti comments and their effect on TNA and the dreadful Guest Host gimmick on WWE.

Dragon Page Podcast Interview

Here is a link to an interview I did last week with the Dragon Page Podcast discussing the Ender Companion, Supergirl, and more.

Upcoming DC Super-Hero Collection Magazine

One of the projects I've consistently written over the last few years are the biographical magazines of DC Comics characters that are packaged with a small lead statue of the character focused on. Here is a preview of my next one, Jay Garrick, due out in a couple of months.

New Column Up on GeekWeek.com

My latest column for GeekWeek.com is up here.

Book Examiner Reviews "Ender Companion"

Book Examiner review the "Authorized Ender Companion" here.

Order Tales of the TMNT #68 Now

Tales of the TMNT #68, my final Ninja Turtles comic with Mirage, is available for order at your local comic book shop. It features a story titled "Heroes in a Half-Cell" and features the TMNT shrinking down to fight cancer in their friend Robyn's body. It was, as you can imagine, a close-to-home story to write, and very fun. Will it revolutionize the TMNT comics? No. But I wrote it as a thank you to the TMNT fan community for their support during my cancer fight. I really hope you'll go pick it up, and that you'll enjoy it for what it is--a fun, final romp.

New Column on GeekWeek.com

I've been invited to write a weekly op/ed column on the new website GeekWeek.com. I look at the world of professional wrestling, and give my thoughts on how things are. The first edition is up right now, looking at last night's one-night-only new "Monday Night War" between WWE and TNA. You can read it here.

2010 Publishing Schedule

After seeing Bob Greenberger's blog about his 2010 publishing schedule, I thought I'd list mine...

Here's what I've got coming thus far in 2010...

JANUARY
Batman: Brave and Bold--Terror on Dinosaur Island kid's book
"Chaotic" episode "Loser's Circle" premiering on the CW network (tentative)

FEBRUARY
Supergirl #50 comic book backup story co-written with Helen Slater
"Chaotic" episode "A Peytonic Adventure" premiering on the CW network (tentative)

MARCH
Tales of the TMNT #68 my final Ninja Turtles comic published by Mirage, featuring the TMNT fighting cancer a la "Fantastic Voyage"

DC Super-Hero Collection #52--Golden Age Flash  Lead figure magazine featuring Jay Garrick

APRIL
DC Super-Hero Collection #54--Black Canary Lead figure magazine featuring Dinah Lance

MAY
Batman: The Brave and the Bold--Eyes of Despero kid's book

JUNE
Nothing schedule yet

JULY
Chaotic--UnderWorld Ambush kid's book

AUGUST
Nothing scheduled yet

SEPTEMBER
Smallville: The Complete Ninth Season on DVD and Blu-Ray

OCTOBER
The Ultimate Guide to All Things Chaotic kid's book

NOVEMBER
"Batman: The Brave and The Bold" episode "Legacy" premiering on Cartoon Network (tentative)

DECEMBER
Nothing scheduled yet

I have several projects in process that will probably be released this year, but haven't been officially scheduled, yet. Keep checking back here on jakeblack.com for updates/announcements.

Writing for the Top Animated Shows

Newsarama.com has listed their top animated shows of 2009, and two of the shows I wrote for last year are on the list at #3 (Batman: The Brave and the Bold) and #6 (Ben 10: Alien Force). My Ben 10 aired in early December while my "Batman: The Brave and the Bold" won't air until late-2010.

I hope 2010 is awesome for everyone!