Mark Conner

I can't get over this AI company ad I keep getting online. The audio just says "there's never been a worse time" like how nice of them to own up to it like that

Library vendors claim to be our partners.

This isn't how good partners behave.

The best comic awards!

Fastest fulfillment in the west! I already got my books and they're so beautiful. Love the new dust jacket for Cloud Town and the notebook style of Friends in Stormy Weather looks great. Thanks! @studiobeancan.bsky.social

I was thinking about this too with all the recent Fantagraphics Marvel stuff. Like I get archival projects are their thing, but it still seems weird. Do you think it's about branding or capacity or something else?

A copy of 24 Hour Comics edited by Scott McCloud and a Zot! by Scott McCloud wristwatch.

I guess it was @scottmccloud.bsky.social Day for me at the comic shop today!

I think seeing Kirby’s collages in person was my favorite part.

Yes all the time! (But I'm also the librarian who buys them for my library so 🤷)

Why SNAP-Ed Works: "As a mother with a child in the public school system, I support SNAP-Ed because it helps schools provide more nutritious meals and snacks, teaching young learners about nutrition, and getting kids excited about foods that will help them grow and stay healthy."

Why SNAP-Ed Works: "I work directly with school-aged communities in Philadelphia, Reading, and across PA who depend on this program. l've seen how providing nutrition and agriculture education in the classroom and school gardens makes kids more excited about eating fresh, healthy foods."

Why SNAP-Ed Works: SNAP-Ed provides 2.3 million Americans on a limited income with the knowledge, skills and resources to make healthy food choices.

Why SNAP-Ed Works: SNAP-Ed is effective and affordable. With a national budget of$536 million, that's only $5 per participant for an entire year-and yet it delivers up to $9.54 for every dollar spent by reducing obesity and healthcare costs.

Why SNAP-Ed Works: SNAP-Ed can prevent thousands of cases of obesity and food insecurity in a single year, generating up to $135 million in economic benefits.

Why SNAP-Ed Works: Without SNAP-Ed,2 million low-income individuals will lose access to nutrition education, and up to 314,000 partnered community sites (including schools, childcare centers, healthcare and community centers) will lose critical healthy eating programs.

URGENT CALL TO ACTION #SNAPEdWorks The FOOD TRUST

On May 13, 2025, the House Committee on Agriculture released proposed budget reconciliation language that would completely eliminate the SNAP Nutrition Education (SNAP-Ed) program. This program is a vital resource that works each and every day to make America healthy, supporting healthy eating habits and the long-term well-being of millions of Americans. SNAP-Ed must be protected!

Call your representative TODAY to oppose the proposed elimination of SNAP-Ed!

It would mean a great deal if you could share this information about the importance of the SNAP-Ed program which is facing elimination from the federal budget.

#SNAPEdWorks

THE POPE'S MOM WAS A LIBRARIAN

If they ever can't get David Bradley to play the first Doctor, I feel like this guy would be a great pick

We wrote a huge book about Lord of the Rings, out now! Love The Lord of the Rings? Then you’ll love this book!

lol I will say that one way you can help me specifically and concretely is by buying a copy of Year of the Ring in North America if you haven't already: www.polygon.com/24156672/pol...

Cloud Town: Friends in Stormy Weather "Bubbly yet dangerous." A teen drama in a world of monsters and mad scientists!

I've been a huge fan of @studiobeancan.bsky.social since the days I would find copies of their Free Money series around Pittsburgh so I'm very excited for Cloud Town: Friends in Stormy Weather www.kickstarter.com/projects/stu...

I don't know if this is on their website anywhere but the @comicsbeat.bsky.social newsletter always has a list

I just started Fred Fordham's adaptation of A Wizard of Earthsea and it's really wonderful so far but sometimes I wish glossy bright white paper was not the standard for color graphic novels. I find the contrast between the heavily textured art and the white page distracting

Finished reading this this morning and really enjoyed it! I totally get the Hellboy/Redwall comp I've seen in the marketing but to me it felt like British Usagi Yojimbo. A funny animal comic that also beautifully captures a particular historical/cultural moment

I need some publisher to bring the W.I.T.C.H. graphic novels back into print before my library's copies completely fall apart

Donate to Help Peter David, organized by Graham Murphy Hi, friends. I'm restarting a fundraiser for Peter David and his family. Peter's health issues continue… Graham Murphy needs your support for Help Peter David

How much money did the Russos get for the next 2 Avengers movies? Oh, yeah, $80 million. RDJ even more. But they have nothing for one of their great writers. All Peter David has is me and you. gofund.me/59445afa

The dismantling of IMLS will have major impacts on the library services provided to students in schools and patrons who access their public libraries

If you value your library, you must speak out & contact congress

Reader me really likes the paperback of Paranoid Gardens because it reminds me of the cut out on this Star Wars paperback.
Librarian me knows it's going to get destroyed SO quickly.

Once you start looking, her work is everywhere and she absolutely deserves the recognition of being entered into the Hall of Fame!

Cover to Viking Glory by Lee Marrs and Bo Hampton. Shows the Viking Prince brandishing a sword and shield above his head while a shadowy beast looks behind him

But she is also an amazing connection to the golden age of comics working as an assistant to artists like Hal Foster and Tex Blaisdell. She wrote an incredible tribute to this era with her revival of Joe Kubert's Viking Prince.

It was only later that I would learn about her influential and groundbreaking work with Wimmens Comix, Gay Comix, and Pudge. Pushing the envelope with what could be done in comics right along with Trina Robbins, R. Crumb, etc.

Cover to StarReach comic magazine #18 featuring a floating head and someone looking like their dancing while circles pulse from their head

After this I sought Marrs' other Star*Reach stories like Stark's Quest a masterpiece that needs to be collected in a nice hardcover edition. This story in particular shows off her comix influenced cartooning, imaginative scope, and poignant characterization.

A dolphin with razor sharp teeth is about to chomp down on a very frightened scientist in a diving suit

I was a teen growing increasingly frustrated with these tropes when I read issue 5 which features Waters of Requital, completely written and drawn by Marrs. Now, it reminds me of a classic EC morality story but at the time it felt like such a fresh feminist tale among all the damsels in distress

Okay so I first encountered Lee Marrs in the pages of Mike Friedrich's Star*Reach. This anthology series is full of the best and worst impulses of white male comic writers from the 70s. It's got pulp sensibilities with avant garde aspirations. Howie Chaykin's here, you know what's up. 🧵

I know it's probably a little late but this is a reminder to myself to post about why you should vote for Lee Marrs to be in the Eisner Award Hall of Fame

I totally get the hesitation around celebrities working in comics but she worked with some really neat people on the Memory Librarian anthology so I hope for the same with this