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Let's all go to the movies with Michael Kupperman! Comedian and Emmy-award winning Daily Show writer Elliott Kalan has devised the "Closely Watched Films" series, for "hardcore movie nerds and beginning cinephiles alike." And on Wednesday, December 7th, Kupperman will join him at 92Y Tribeca [ 200 Hudson Street, NYC ] for a look at the 1934 film The Scarlet Empress, starring Marlene Dietrich.  Together, they will discuss "rare bursts of Hollywood madness, von Sternberg’s Svengali relationship with Dietrich and whether historical accuracy is ever necessary." And based on Kupperman's latest, Mark Twain's Autobiography 1910-2010, I'm gonna say the answer…

Tattoo blog Tales of the Ink profiles one Laura Jane from Perth, Australia and her as-yet incomplete sleeve of Jaime Hernandez tattoos (and complete lack of pants): "To this day she continually returns to the comics, particularly the work of Jaime. He has a beautiful and simple outlook on life, and his work with only black ink portrays this perfectly." More angles at the link.

Today's Online Commentary & Diversions: • Review: "…Kevin Avery’s Everything Is an Afterthought… chronicles the dramatic life of one of music’s keenest observers, Paul Nelson, and curates his finest critiques…. I read and adored [Nelson] growing up, but reading [him] in the context of today’s critical standards gave me the literary equivalent to the bends. It goes without saying that, in the age of the Internet, the whole idea of a critic has changed." – Jim Farber, New York Daily News • Review: "It could well be ten years since I last read these stories [in Queen of the Black…

Well, whether or not you wear underwear is really more of a personal decision, but you can now get yourself a snazzy tee featuring artwork from long-running Harvey-award-nominated comic Underworld by Kaz! And to celebrate the opening of their shop, all tees are discounted for the first week only.  We're not entirely sure when this offer expires, so click over there today!

photo credit: K. Bidus Cheer up, good sir! This year, the International Society of Caricature Artists have named Drew Friedman as their Guest-of-Honor at this year's convention. And all I gotta say about that is, daaamn straight! The 2011 convention runs November 13th through 18th in St. Pete Beach, Florida, and unfortunately, it's only open to members of the ISCA, but if you happen to be one, you can look forward to what's sure to be a delightful keynote address from Drew! Congratulations, Drew!!! CORRECTION: Drew informs us that day passes to the convention are available to the general public!…

Book it to BookCourt this Wednesday, November 16 for a presentation with our own Leslie Stein! It's all part of the "Cousin Corinne's Live Comix Block" series, as MC'ed by Dean Haspiel.  Jennifer Hayden and George O'Connor are also on the bill this week. The fun starts at 7:00 PM, and later in the evening, she'll be signing copies of Eye of the Majestic Creature — so, head on over to BookCourt [ 163 Court Street, Brooklyn, NY ] this Wednesday!

The new Diamond Previews catalog came out recently and in it you'll find our usual 2-page spread (download the PDF) with our releases scheduled to arrive in your local comic shop in January 2012 (give or take — some release dates may have changed since the issue went to press). We're pleased to offer additional and updated information about these upcoming releases here on our website, to help shops and customers alike make more informed ordering decisions. This month's Spotlight item is editor John Benson's The Sincerest Form of Parody: The Best 1950s MAD-Inspired Sarirical Comics; Listen, Whitey!: The Sights…

Johnny Ryan has a pointed new comic up at Vice. It's actually SFW! [Follow our Tumblr blog for lots more Things to See every day.]  

Today's Online Commentary & Diversions: • Review: "…[L]ike Herge, another exemplary creator who made comics primarily for kids and later found an audience of devoted adults, Barks’ duck stories are richer, more compelling and smarter than a cursory glance might suggest… Most reprint projects worth their salt these days require some thoughtful essays and supplemental materials and [Walt Disney's Donald Duck:] Lost in the Andes is no different…. In short, this is exactly the book that Barks fans and the curious have been waiting for. …Barks remains an exemplary cartoonist. His work is thrilling, funny and rather knowing about human nature without…

Steven Weissman is taking the week off, but we have Mark Kalesniko's Veterans Day comic (more about which here) to take up the slack, our weekly Kupperman, and links to other strips from around the web: — "Uncle Bob" by Mark Kalesniko: Up All Night by Michael Kupperman (view at original size): And elsewhere: The All-New Cartoon Boy Adventure Hour by John Kerschbaum at ACT-I-VATE: Belligerent Piano by Tim Lane: Forming by Jesse Moynihan: Humblug by Arnold Roth (3 new strips this week): Maakies by Tony Millionaire: Les Petits Riens by Lewis Trondheim (scroll down at the link for one…