Author Castellucci Signing at Indigo June 8th

6/6/2007   Canadian young adult author Cecil Castellucci (Boy Proof, The Queen of Cool), will be in Toronto this weekend to promote her newest graphic novel, The Plain Janes from Minx, DC’s new young adult imprint.

Minx hopes to tap into a relatively new and elusive market in the world of comics – teenaged girls. Designed as an alternative to traditional teen books and Manga, Minx is a series of paperbacks by writers and artists from both the comic book world and young adult fiction. “We’re really excited about the material, and we’ve got a lot of great writers and artists who are really passionate about the stories that they want to tell”, says Shelly Bond, group editor.

Minx debuted in May with the launch with The Plain Janes. The story follows a girl named Jane, who leaves the city for suburbia after a terrorist attack. In the school cafeteria she meets three girls named Jane who are anything but ordinary. Illustrated by indie favourite Jim Rugg (Street Angel), and edited by Bond (who came up with the idea for Minx). Both Castellucci and Bond are featured guests of Women of Comics II.

Castellucci says that working on The Plain Janes “has been an amazing experience. It made me look at telling stories in a new way, which as a writer, is very exciting”. If The Plain Janes does well Castellucci says she would happily pen the further adventures.

This opportunity may happen sooner than imagined as at this year’s Book Expo America conference in New York City, DC editor Karen Berger let it slip in the “Graphic Novel Buzz” panel that the book’s early success has meant that a sequel is already planned, entitled Janes in Love, with both Castellucci and Rugg back on board as the creative team.

The signing will take place at Indigo Yorkdale at 7 pm on June 8 and kicks off this year’s Women of Comics II event, showcasing female talent and creativity in what has traditionally been a male-dominated industry.

Following the signing, the focus for Women of Comics II shifts to the Direct Energy Centre where over 20 female comic book writers, artists, and editors will come together June 9-10 at the 2007 Paradise Toronto Comicon.

Noted guests this year include Gail Simone (writer of Birds of Prey, The All New Atom and the upcoming writer of Wonder Woman all from DC Comics), Nicola Scott (artist on the popular Birds of Prey), and Tania Del Rio of Sabrina the Teenage Witch fame. For a complete guest list and more information, visit womenofcomics.com.

Sponsored by All New Comics Inc., Women of Comics II will feature signings, portfolio reviews, panel discussions, and direct interaction with the artists.


About All New Comics Inc.
Canada’s newest online comics shop is a joint venture between Peter Fisico, a veteran comic book retailer, and web expert Brian Garside. Visit www.allnewcomics.com for more information.

About the Paradise Toronto Comicon
The home of the Joe Shuster Awards and the premiere gathering of creators and retailers in the comic book and graphic novel field in Canada, the Paradise Toronto Comicon is the brainchild of organizers Peter Dixon and Kevin Boyd. From June 8-10, the convention will host over 150 creators and their work alongside dozens of retailers promoting a broad spectrum of offerings.

Visit www.torontocomicon.com for more information.