Over at the comicbookqueers site, Stevie Disme is joined by Kris Dresen, Dale Lazarov, Sarospice, and Tony Breed to recreate the “Chicago Gays In Comics” panel from this year’s C2E2 con so you can hear what you missed. Go give a listen to the podcast now!

Tying in to “Chaos War,” Marvel’s next crossover event is the one shot Alpha Flight special from Jim McCann and artist Salva Espin. It’s been years since anything Alpha Flight related got me excited so it was a surprise to learn some of the classic members had died in New Avengers #16. And I could probably pass on this special too if it weren’t for two things. The first is Jim McCann involved as writer. His Hawkeye and Mockingbird series is a fun and engaging update on old school superheroics with the right dashes of tension and drama, especially for the two stars. The second reason ties in with the first – Northstar. Matt Fraction gave him a boyfriend and made him fun and cocky instead of pissy and insufferable, but the promise didn’t follow through. Indy cartoonist Tim Fish, known for his Cavalcade of Boys and Young Bottoms in Love anthology, gave us a short slice of story focusing on the personal side of Northstar and his boyfriend’s relationship. Then nothing until now. I’m psyched to read what McCann has come up with and how he handles Northstar.

What’s up at DC? Oh, there’s a one shot with Batman and Catwoman going up against the Z list Cavalier. Who? This guy. He likes to play with swords. Yeah, so. DC’s blog “The Source” had this about the book: “This November, writer/artist Howard Chaykin presents a one-shot tale of the Cavalier. You remember him, right? The Z-lister with the swords? How’d someone like that manage to frame the femme fatale known as Catwoman for a string of burglaries? Doubly impressive? Framing rich playboy Bruce Wayne for cleaning out the Wayne Enterprises vault.

Impressive, indeed. But once Catwoman and Batman are on his tail, the Cavalier will learn that frame-ups like that cut both ways, as both Catwoman and Batman begin to track the rogue in this unique one-shot, written and drawn by the legendary Chaykin.”

Well, maybe it’ll be a fun comic.

Then there’s a little something else from DC, a zero issue of Batwoman to get people excited and ready for the January ongoing!

PRISM COMICS QUEER PRESS GRANT DEADLINE IS SEPTEMBER 15TH

SAN FRANCISCO, CA—Prism Comics is proud to announce that submissions are still being accepted for the 2010 Prism Comics Queer Press Grant, with a deadline of September 15th, 2010. The QPG was established by Prism to assist in the publication and promotion of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender  comics.

“The Queer Press Grant continues to be one of the most significant grants dedicated to supporting independent comic books,” says Justin Hall, Prism’s Talent Relations Chair. “The Grant is given to a cartoonist, comics writer/artist or team working on a project with LGBT characters or themes, to assist them in publishing a new project or expanding an existing one. Since 2005, the annual Grant has provided recipients with a substantial sum of money, which has varied according to our fundraising efforts; for the past two years, we have awarded $2000, our highest Grant amount, and hope to continue to increase the amount with the generosity of our donors. ”

The Grant’s submission deadline has been moved to September 15th this year so that the recipient can be announced during the Alternative Press Expo on October 16th and 17th in San Francisco. Prism has also introduced an online submission system this year that significantly streamlines the application process and ensures complete submissions.

Entries are judged first and foremost by artistic merit, followed by concerns such as financial need, proposal presentation, and the project’s contribution to the LGBT community. They are reviewed by the Prism Board and past recipients of the Grant, with the larger advisory board brought in when tiebreakers are needed.

For a full breakdown of the Grant’s guidelines and to fill out an application, please go to prismcomics.org/grant. Questions about the grant can be directed to Justin Hall at justin@prismcomics.org.

The Queer Press Grant is funded entirely by donations, generally from comic book professionals and readers. Contributions are accepted from those who want to support Prism’s effort to encourage new and under-appreciated talent.  Prism reaches out to the greater LGBT community in particular, who acknowledge the challenges LGBT comics face in an environment in which queer stories and their creators still struggle for acceptance.

If you would like to support the cause of innovative LGBT comics and cartooning and donate to the Queer Press Grant, please go to prismcomics.org/donate.php or donate through Prism’s Facebook Causes page for the 2010 QPG.

Since its inception, the Queer Press Grant has been awarded to Ed Luce (2009: Wuvable Oaf), Eric Orner (2009: Storybox), Pam Harrison (2008: House of the Muses), Justin Hall (2007: Glamazonia), Tommy Roddy (2007: Pride High), Megan Gedris (2006: YU+ME), and Steve MacIsaac (2005: Shiftlifter).

CONTACT:

David Stanley
Prism Public Relations Chair
david@prismcomics.org

Over at The Magic Whistle, blogger Sam Henderson posts scans of “My Son, The Daughter”. It’s a book of cartoons about a gay son drawn by Mort Zucker and printed in 1966. Typical humor for the time and the twist here is it’s told through the mother writing a letter to her sister. Go read now! Found via Journalista!

Peter David shares a couple comments on his blog about Judge Vaughn Walker’s decision to overturn Prop 8, considering that it was in violation of the the Fourteenth Amendment. The usual sorts of comments ensue, with nice rebuttals by David. Go read now!