US comics publisher Bluewater offers school lessons

Here's an interesting item from across the pond that might well be of interest to readers and publishers involved in comic workshops and comic art lessons here in the UK, or whose range might appeal directly to English teachers (such as Classical Comics or SelfMadeHero, perhaps).

Comic book and graphic novel publisher Bluewater Productions is offering free lesson plans for its non-fiction comic titles, from its Female Force, Political Power, Fame, and Orbit series, to US educators and librarians.

Developed in partnership with Chris Wilson, an educator and creator of The Graphic Classroom, web site Cynopsis reports Bluewater's new middle and high school aimed educational lesson plans feature a multi-discipline study of several of its biographical graphic novels and comic books including language, historical perspective, conceptual thinking, and decision making, as well as talking points, exercises and activity prompts.

The program also hopes to encourage kids to read.

Available via Bluewater (www.bluewaterprod.com) beginning this month, the first lesson plans will be are based on titles about historical figures including Hilary Clinton, Sarah Palin and Michelle Obama, as well as authors such as S.E. Hinton, JK Rowling, and Stephenie Meyer, not to mention pop stars Justin Bieber and Taylor Swift.

Lesson plans for additional titles are set to follow over the next several months. Copies of the individual issues and graphic novels are also being made available at a discounted cost for classroom use.

Panel Borders delivers PJ Holden, Al Davison

This week's edition of the radio show Panel Borders starts a month of shows about comic book shops with have three interviews recorded at Oxford’s small press comics convention ‘Caption’. Alex Fitch talks to Doctor Who comic illustrator Al Davison, who runs a graphic novels and art supply shop in Coventry and to former Gay Comics writer Will Morgan, one of the proprietors of a comic book shop in Putney which specialises in classic British titles. Also, 2000AD artist P.J. Holden is interviewed by comics journalist Matt Badham, about the shops he frequented while growing up in Belfast.

Also online now is Panel Borders: The art of P.J. Holden, an extra online exclusive episode of Panel Borders. In an interview recorded at Oxford’s Caption comic book festival in 2010, comics journalist Matt Badham talks to 2000AD artist P.J. Holden about his work, from his formative years combining art and computers to getting his first Judge Dredd assignment and his most recent projects.

- Check out this great show at: www.panelborders.wordpress.com

Vatican hitman, Japanese warriors and more in Paragon 8

Issue 8 of the indie comic anthology Paragon is just out featuring a complete 15 page adventure starring the time-travelling demon-hunting Japanese warrior Jikan, ending the current story arc written by The Legendary Shark and drawn by Davey Candlish.

Also in the issue is the second episode of Icarus Dangerous by Dirk Van Dom and Stephen Prestwood - Icarus didn't plunge to his doom but was rescued and now finds himself trapped on an alien spaceship... and just who is Meriope?

James Corcoran takes over on art for G127 this issue as the action hots up in Rise of the Mekkosapiens, written by Locust of Death.

Finally, there's the long awaited finale to Undertow - the Vatican hitman is determined to kill the goblin Messiah - but the underworld aren't finished yet... This is the last chapter of a weird and wonderful tale by the regular team of The Emperor and Davey Candlish.

All wrapped up in a time warping Jikan cover by Chris Askham, it's the biggest issue yet at 36 pages!

- All for only £3.50, available via paypal through http://paragoncomic.blogspot.com, or for non-UK residents, through http://www.lulu.com/content/paperback-book/paragon-issue-8/10996406 (from where you can also buy a PDF version for those who prefer to read on a tablet)

Planet Replicas launch Dredd costumes - ideal for vigilantes?

Prepare to dispense justice like Judge Dredd and Judge Anderson - officially licensed Judge replica costumes from Planet Replicas are coming.

(We can just see these being snapped up by those 'real life superheroes' the media loves reporting on at the moment).

Faithfully reproduced from 2000 AD’s most famous lawman of the future, the costumes complete with the distinctive helmet, name badge, pads (shoulder, knee and elbow) utility belt, Lawgiver (sadly, not operational) and gloves.

All other items can also be sourced through Planet Replicas. Personal customisation will be available, as well as other options.

With the choice of male and female Judge costumes, outfits for the whole family are a possibility – ideal if you are setting up your own Mega-City One Sector House.

- More info and pics at: www.planetreplicas.com