Renegade set to release 'Tales of the Buddha' collection

Renegade Arts Entertainment have announced that they will be publishing the first ever complete collection of Alan Grant, Jon Haward and Jamie Grant's long-running humour strip Tales of The Buddha Before He Became Enlightened.

Collecting the entire 66-page saga to date initially for digital release in April, followed by a print release in the autumn, Tales of the Buddha answers the much asked questions about just what this holiest of men got up to before gaining enlightenment.

The strips take a very lighthearted approach to Buddha's journey of discovery as he samples other religions and hangs out with well known religious icons, as well as getting the chance to experience life's pleasures along the way.

"I've been aware of the strips for a long time thanks to Wasted magazine and working with Alan," explains publisher Alexander Finbow, "and I was intrigued when the guys suggested we release the collection through Renegade.

"I sat down with the strips to get up to speed and found myself laughing out loud which was reason enough to say yes straight away.

"I'm overjoyed that Renegade will be releasing Tales of the Buddha as an e-book," says Alan Grant. "I consider it to be my funniest work since the sad demise of Lobo. It contains some of Jon Haward's most beautiful and delicate art, with colouring and lettering by Jamie Grant of Superman fame. Sex, drugs and rock 'n' roll...with a smattering of violence. My copy is already ordered!"

“I'm very pleased that after 10 years, the Buddha's tales has a publisher with 'faith' in the crazy funny tales written by my inspirational friend Alan Grant," adds Jon. "It's been a total joy and honour to work on these stories. I have laughed at every story and I hope the collection will entertain and raise a smile for all readers.

"Let the enlightenment begin!”

Alan Grant is without doubt one of the most successful and prolific comic book writers in the industry. Having written many stories for the UK's 2000AD including the man himself, Judge Dredd. His work then found an international audience at DC Comics, with Lobo, Batman and The Demon amongst his many successes.

In 25 years in the publishing world Jon has worked on iconic comic titles and characters including Judge Dredd, Dan Dare, Spectacular Spider-Man, Shinobi, Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles and Doctor Who.

Renegade is a creator owned publisher of comic books - but only a few and they are very discerning with their choices. Their mix so far has been from experienced A list writers - including Gordon Rennie and PJ Holden's amazing and much-anticpated Monsterology - and artists and newer blood who pitched projects just too good to turn down.


• Official web site: www.renegadeartsentertainment.com

2009 Harvey Award Nominees Announced

The 2009 Harvey Awards Nominees have been announced with the release of the final ballot, presented by the Executive Committees of the Harvey Awards and the Baltimore Comic-Con, with British creators Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely among the honoured nomimees.

DC Comics online comics service, Zuda Comics, has helped bring several new talents to light, an indication of the surely now undisputed importance of the web comic format.

Named in honour of the late Harvey Kurtzman, one of the US comic industry's most innovative talents, the Harvey Awards recognize outstanding work in comics and sequential art. They will be presented 10th October 2009 in Baltimore, in conjunction with the Baltimore Comic-Con.

Nominations for the Harvey Awards are selected exclusively by creators - those who write, draw, ink, letter, color, design, edit or are otherwise involved in a creative capacity in the comics field. They are the only industry awards both nominated and selected by the full body of comic book professionals. Professionals who participate will be joining nearly 2,000 other comics professionals in honoring the outstanding comics achievements of 2008.

Final ballots are due to the Harvey Awards by Friday, 28th August, 2009. Full details for submission of completed ballots can be found on the final ballot. Voting is open to anyone professionally involved in a creative capacity within the comics field. Final ballots are available for download at www.harveyawards.org. Those without Internet access may request that paper ballots be sent to them via mail or fax by calling the Baltimore Comic-Con (410-526-7410) or e-mailing baltimorecomicccon@yahoo.com.

This will be the fourth year for the Harvey Awards at the Baltimore Comic-Con, which will be held 10-11th October, with top web comic creator will be Scott Kurtz (www.pvponline.com) on hand as master of Ceremonies at the award ceremony and banquet.

The 2008 Harvey Award Nominees:

BEST WRITER

• Kyle Baker for Nat Turner, Abrams Books

• Ed Brubaker, Captain America, Marvel Comics

• John Gallagher, Buzzboy, Sky Dog Comics

• Jeff Kinney, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Amulet Books

• Grant Morrison, All Star Superman, DC Comics

BEST ARTIST

• Gabriel Ba, The Umbrella Academy, Dark Horse Comics

• Kyle Baker, Nat Turner, Abrams Books

• Jimmy Gownley, Amelia Rules!, Renaissance Press

• Jason Kruse, The World of Quest, Yen Press

• Frank Quitely, All Star Superman, DC Comics

BEST CARTOONIST

• Lar deSouza, Least I Could Do: www.leasticoulddo.com

• John Gallagher, Buzzboy, Sky Dog Comics

• Al Jaffee, Tall Tales, Abrams Books

• Jeff Kinney, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Amulet Books

• Thom Zahler, Love and Capes, Maerkle Press

BEST LETTERER

• Jimmy Gownley, Amelia Rules!, Renaissance Press

• Rob Leigh, The Spirit, DC Comics

• Doug Sherwood, Local, Oni Press

• John Workman, Marvel 1985, Marvel Comics

• Thom Zahler, Buzzboy, Sky Dog Comics

BEST INKER

• Rich Faber,Buzzboy, Sky Dog Comics

• Jamie Grant, All Star Superman, DC Comics


• Jeff Kinney, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Amulet Books

• Mark Morales, Thor, Marvel Comics

• Ryan Winn, The Darkness, Image Comics

BEST COLOURIST

• Frank Cammuso, Otto's Orange Day, Raw Junior, LLC

• Jamie Grant, All Star Superman, DC Comics

• Laura Martin, Thor, Marvel Comics

• Wil Quintana, The Mice Templar, Image Comics

• Dave Stewart, The Umbrella Academy, Dark Horse Comics

BEST COVER ARTIST

• Frank Cho, Buzzboy: Sidekicks Rule! #3, Sky Dog Press

• James Jean, Fables, Vertigo Comics

• Jay Lynch, Mindshaft #23, Mindshaft Publishing

• Ken Rocafort, Pilot Season: Core #1, Top Cow

• Alex Ross, Justice Society of America, DC Comics

BEST NEW SERIES

• The Dreamer, IDW

• Echo, Abstract Studios

• High Moon, www.zudacomics.com/high_moon

• Night Owls, www.zudacomics.com/the_night_owls

• Supertron, www.zudacomics.com/supertron

BEST CONTINUING OR LIMITED SERIES

• All Star Superman, DC Comics

• Captain America, Marvel Comics

• Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Amulet Books

• Mice Templar, Image Comics

• The Umbrella Academy, Dark Horse Comics

BEST BIOGRAPHICAL, HISTORICAL OR JOURNALISTIC PRESENTATION

• Draw!, edited by Mike Manley, Twomorrows Publishing

• How To Make WebComics by Brad Guigar, Dave Kellett, Scott Kurtz, and Kris Straub, Image Comics

• Kirby: King of Comics by Mark Evanier, Abrams Books

• Scorchy Smith and the Art of Noel Sickles edited by Dean Mullaney, IDW

• Wordless Books: The Original Graphic Novels edited by David A. Berona, Abrams Books

BEST SYNDICATED STRIP OR PANEL

• Brewster Rockit: Space Guy! by Tim Rickard, Tribune Media Services

• Get Fuzzy by Darby Conley, United Features Syndicate

• Mutts by Patrick McDonnell, King Features Syndicate

• The Norm by Michael Jantze, Uclick Gocomics

• Pearls Before Swine by Stephan Pastis, United Features Syndicate

BEST ANTHOLOGY

• Comic Book Tattoo edited by Rantz Hoseley, Image Comics

• Flight Volume 5, edited by Kazu Kibuishi, Villard

• Mome Volume 10, edited by Eric Reynolds, Fantagraphics Books

• Piku #1, edited by Gabriel Ba and Fabio Moon, Self-Published

• Poggun Volume 2, edited by Joe Keatinge and Mark Andrew Smith, Image Comics

BEST GRAPHIC ALBUM - ORIGINAL

• Bottomless Belly Button, Fantagraphics Books

• Rodrick Rules: Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Amulet Books

• Essex County: The Country Nurse, Top Shelf

• Skim, Groundwood Books

• Too Cool To Be Forgotten, Top Shelf

• World of Quest Volume 2, Yen Press

BEST GRAPHIC ALBUM - PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED

• Amelia Rules!: Funny Stories, Renaissance Press

• M, Abrams Books

• Nat Turner, Abrams Books

• The Mice Templar Volume 1, Image Comics

• Queen and Country Volume 3, Oni Press

• em>Skyscrapers of the MidWest, Adhouse Books

BEST SINGLE ISSUE OR STORY

• ACME Novelty Library #19, Self-Published

• First Born: Aftermath #1, Top Cow

• Love and Rockets Volume 3 #1, Fantagraphics Books

• M, Abrams Books

• Nascar Heroes #5, NASCAR Comics

• Nat Turner, Abrams Books

• The Amazing Remarkable Monsieur Leotard, First Second

• Y: The Last Man #60, Vertigo Comics

BEST DOMESTIC REPRINT PROJECT

• Astounding Space Thills by Steve Conley, IDW

• Complete Peanuts, Fantagraphics Books

• Complete Terry and the Pirates, IDW

• Scorchy Smith and the Art of Noel Sickles, IDW

• Wacky Packages, Abrams Books

BEST AMERICAN EDITION OF FOREIGN MATERIAL

• Gus and His Gang, First Second

• Pocket Full of Rain, Fantagraphics Books

• Red Coloured Elegy, Drawn and Quarterly

• Solanin, Viz

• Witchblade Takeru Manga #'s 11 & 12, Top Cow

BEST ON-LINE COMICS WORK

• Black Cherry Bombshells, Tony Trovarello and John Zito, www.zudacomics.com

• High Moon, www.zudacomics.com/high_moon

• Least I Could Do, Lar deSouza and Ryan Sohmer, www.leasticoulddo.com

• Night Owls, Bobby and Peter Timony www.zudacomics.com/the_night_owls

• PVP, Scott Kurtz, www.pvponline.com

SPECIAL AWARD FOR HUMOUR IN COMICS

• Lar deSouza, Least I Could Do, www.leasticoulddo.com

• John Gallagher, Buzzboy, Sky Dog Comics

• Al Jaffee, Tall Tales, Abrams Books

• Jeff Kinney, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Amulet Books

• David Malki, Wondermark, www.wondermark.com

SPECIAL AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN PRESENTATION

• Complete Local: Hardcover Edition, Ryan Kelly and Brian Wood, Oni Press

• Kirby: King of Comics by Mark Evanier, Abrams Books

• Queen and Country Volume 3, Greg Rucka, Mike Norton, Steve Rolston, and Chris Samnee, Oni Press

• Tall Tales, Al Jaffee, Abrams Books

• Wondermark Volume One: Beard of our Forefathers, David Malki, Dark Horse Comics

BEST NEW TALENT

• Matt Cassan, Nascar: Heroes, Nascar Comics

• Bryan J.L. Glass, The Mice Templar, Image Books

• Laura Innes, The Dreamer, IDW

• Tim Sievert, That Salty Air, Top Shelf

• Bobby Timony, Night Owls, www.zudacomics.com

Congratulations to all the nominees!

• For additional information about the Harvey Kurtzman and the Harvey Awards, visit www.harveyawards.org.

• For additional information about the Baltimore Comic-Con, visit www.comicon.com/baltimore.

In Review: Wasted #2 - Back With Bite!

The second issue of Bad Press' adult humour anthology mag Wasted is on sale now, cranking up the quality several more notches on its launch issue with some terrific strips from a wide range of creators that include Alan Grant, Jon Haward, Martin Hayes, Adrian Bamforth, Jamie Grant, Frank Quitely, Alan Burrows and many others.

Wrapped in a stunning cover of demon teen Lusi Sulfura by Alan Kerr, this 70-page magazine is not for the lily-livered - crammed as it is with strips such as The Dirty Dog (toilet humour extreme from Grant, Quitely and John Wagner) and the brilliant Tales of the Buddha (from Grant and Haward, the Buddha partnered this issue with a very angry Jesus).

Alan Kerr's superb Lusi Sulfura - surely a character of Tank Girl and Nemi cult potential - a wonderful gem, as is Holmes Has It Large by Martin Hayes and Adrian Bamforth; and there's more gems in the form of Fun Guys (by Grant and Burrows, drawing in a much looser style than you'd expect from this line man-extraordinaire, and I liked it), The Dopranos, Space Cabby and tons of other strips.

Anthology titles - especially humour titles - are never going to score on every page, because there's no telling what will make any one person laugh out loud. But when even 'throwaway' strips like Rom McPherson's Amber Nectar raise a smile, the good outweighs the occasional dud.

With full colour throughout for a measly £3.25, Wasted eats rival titles like Viz - perhaps these days over reliant on a trusted formula for its continued success - for breakfast. Yes, there are some rough edges (not literally - it's not that dangerous), but for a second outing, Wasted #2 is another cracking read and well worth tracking down.

• Wasted is available from www.wastedcomic.com and selected newsagents and other outlets. "You can Try Before You Buy" by grabbing this still-available preview edition of the first issue