Comics Briefly: 1/26/2010

Panel Mania: Afrodisiac

Brian Maruca and Jim Rugg's Afrodisac is a collection of short stories focusing on the character Afrodisiac, a mysterious black man endowed with super powers who also happens to be irresistable to woman and even aliens. The stories combine the tongue-in-cheek style of 1970s blaxploitation movies and comics. This preview includes selections from several stories. Afrodisiac is published by AdHouse Books.

Recipe Report: Nonfat Gingersnaps

When you think of a gingersnap, you probably think of a thin, crisp cookie that really snaps when you bite into it. But Nonfat Gingersnaps from David Lebovitz's new Ready for Dessert (Ten Speed) are thicker, softer, and chewier than a traditional gingersnap. And they're delicious. As Lebovitz recommends, I used the cookies to make ice cream sandwiches (I used plain vanilla ice cream, although he suggests tangy lemon frozen yogurt, which sounds great, too).

Comics Reviews: 1/25/2010

Northlanders, Zombie Tales and Wizzywig Volumes 3 are reviewed this week.

New Cookbooks from Top Chef Alums

When it comes to instant celebrity status, few opportunities can rival those presented by reality TV. Real housewives, survivors, and big losers have all gone on to write bestsellers long after their five minutes of on-air fame ended. And while none of the contestants on Bravo’s Top Chef have seen bestsellerdom yet, there are some hopefuls on the horizon.

Cooking the Books with David Lebovitz

In May, Ten Speed will publish pastry chef, cookbook author and food blogger David Lebovitz’s new book, Ready for Dessert: My Best Recipes. The book is a “greatest hits” of sorts, with updated versions of 150 previously published recipes, plus 10 brand new ones. In this interview, Lebovitz talks about how his recipes have evolved, what he tries to accomplish when writing head notes, and why he’s totally fine with giving away recipes free online.

Entertaining Books Take the Fear Factor Out of Hors D’Oeuvres

Though fads in entertaining come and go, authors who've mastered the genre—think Lee Bailey, Martha Stewart, and Ina Garten—seem to emphasize simplicity and instill readers with confidence. This spring, at least five new books will enter the marketplace. Some are personality-driven, others focus on themed occasions, but all attempt to give readers the assurance that throwing a great party is within reach for any novice.

Barron's Creates Separate Test Prep Division

Barron’s has broken out its test prep imprint into a separate division, it announced today. Bob O’Sullivan, who has been with the company for 10 years, most recently as managing editor, will be publisher of the Test Preparation division beginning February 1. O’Sullivan will assume all managerial responsibility for editorial and production, and will work on expanding the program both in print and digitally. He will report to Barron’s president and publisher Ellen Sibley.

Good Books' Mayo Clinic Diet Debuts at #1

Intercourse, Pa., publisher Good Books, known for its bestselling Fix-It and Forget-It cookbooks, has another bestseller on its hands. The Mayo Clinic Diet is the first diet book the house has ever published, and, as publisher Merle Good said, “It’s always rewarding to step into a new field and go straight to the top.”

First Second’s Mark Siegel Launches New Web Comic Serial

First Second editorial director Mark Siegel, a critically lauded cartoonist, children's book illustrator and designer in his own right, is launching an original web comic, Sailor Twain or the Mermaid in the Hudson, that will begin serializing January 28 at SailorTwain.com with new material posted three days a week.

The Big Graphic Novels of 2010

The year 2010 promises to deliver a wide variety of exciting new graphic works with new graphic novels coming from such artists as Dan Clowes, Charles Burns, and Dash Shaw on the literary comics side, as well as the continued and growing presence of work from prose writers looking to try their skills in the comics medium.

New Business, New Books for Top Shelf in 2010

Indie publisher Top Shelf has started the year out with some new partners. Long run by the two-man brain trust of Chris Staros and Brett Warnock, the publisher has added two partners, new media entrepreneur John S. Johnson, and independent film producer Anthony Bregman who together will own 33% of the company.

Found In Translation: ‘Berry Dynamite’ and ‘Golgo 13’

This is the first Found In Translation column, a new feature focused on finding the best Japanese manga we in the West may not be reading just yet.

Comics Reviews: 1/18/2010

Cooking the Books with Marcy Goldman

Cookbook author Marcy Goldman's site, BetterBaking.com, has pioneered a pay-for-content model that charges visitors $2.49 per recipe and also offers quarterly and six-month subscriptions. As Goldman continues work on her fourth cookbook, she talked to PW about fiercely guarding her content: "Everything has its value. We have to just not panic. Publishers are confusing the delivery system with thinking people don’t want content anymore."

Talking Food Writing with Powell, Hesser, and Company

Last year was a tough one for print, with stalwart magazines folding and seemingly more bloggers than ever crowding the Internet. But the January 7 “Word of Mouth” panel on food writing for the Web, which I moderated at Housing Works Bookstore Café in lower Manhattan, proved one thing: cookbooks and food writing still have incredible power—and that the medium through which it’s delivered is starting to matter less and less.

Short Order: January 19

In this issue's round-up of cookbook-releated news, a Washington health organization names the decade's healthiest and unhealthiest cookbooks. And yes, Paula Deen is on the unhealthy list. Also, Saveur lists cookbooks readers can't live without; Hachette launches its first "cookvook"; and David Lebovitz talks e-cookbooks.

Recipe Report: Granola Bars

If your New Year's resolution involves eating more healthfully, check out Kim Boyce's Good the Grain: Baking with Whole-Grain Flours (Stewart, Tabori & Chang). Boyce doesn't advocate making Ho Hos with whole wheat pastry flour; rather, she fills her book with recipes for classic, homey dishes like porridge and rye bread, many of them calling for natural sweeteners.

Comics Briefly

Heroes 4 Haiti: Comic Creators Organize Disaster Relief; Archie Inks Deal with Random House; New DC Weekly Comic Aimed at Gamers; Perez and Wolfman Together Again; Children's Charity Teaches Comic Creation; This Week @ Good Comics for Kids and This Week @ The Beat

Vertical Acquires New Tezuka License

Vertical, Inc., an independent publisher of Japanese science fiction, crime fiction, and manga, will publish Ayako, a newly licensed work created by the late, acclaimed manga-ka Osamu Tezuka, in October.