3 comics things I liked and didn't like: pandemics and Dan DiDio
By Zack Quaintance — This was a weird week for news — both comics and in the wider world — with two very major things dominating the various cycles. That’s why I have an abbreviated set of things I liked and didn’t like down to three, which to be fair was the original number this feature started with but once again this site is whatever I want it to be and all rules are flexible.
Anyway, on to the things!
Dan DiDio Departs DC
I probably liked now-former DC Comics Co-Publisher Dan DiDio more than most, although his departure doesn’t upset me because I know DC was hesitant to let Dan go and can only assume that circumstances for the separation warranted it the big move. I wrote all about this with more time and elegance for Comics Beat. Over on The Beat, Heidi McDonald also had the single best look at what happened between Dan and DC as well. I definitely like both of these links below…
Con Season and Coronavirus
Con season is now upon us — and, of course, I like that! The first big show of the year is this weekend in Chicago with C2E2. I was originally planning to attend that, but I got invited to a wedding in Texas, so it was not meant to be. Instead, my first show of the year will actually be local where I live in Washington, D.C., with Awesome Con on May 1 - 3. That’s maybe a weaker show that I’ve never really heard much about, but I’ll wander artist alley a bit and see who there is to see. Next I’ll be off to Heroes Con in North Carolina in June, followed by San Diego Comic-Con in July, Small Press Expo here again in D.C. in September, before finishing the year up with New York Comic Con and Baltimore Comic Con in October. Phew! I know it’s a lot, but my wife and I don’t have kids yet, so I’m doing it up while I can. I like all of that.
What I don’t like (for very obvious reasons) is the way that the coronavirus is spreading rapidly throughout the world. The outbreaks here haven’t been as severe yet, but it’s easy to envision a summer wherein some of these events are scaled back or potentially even cancelled out for concern for infections, and I don’t like any of that. Here’s what the industry is thinking about all of it as C2E2 begins.
Ice Cream Man Adapted for TV
Finally, the third thing this week is that one of my favorite comics (and, indeed, my favorite comic of 2019) Ice Cream Man, is being developed as a television adaptation. All the relevant info can be found here, and while it’s no sure bet to happen and is also for yet another streaming platform (and a short-form one that’s yet to launch), but it’s still a comics thing I liked this week, nonetheless.
Read this week’s comic book reviews here!
Zack Quaintance is a tech reporter by day and freelance writer by night/weekend. He Tweets compulsively about storytelling and comics as Comics Bookcase.