I had a busy time last week at New York Comic Con, which has now become the biggest comic convention in the U.S., with 151,000 attendees. I did a quick roundup of the kids’ comics news for Publishers Weekly, shared my picks for the five coolest things at NYCC (with some added commentary on the more inclusive atmosphere this year) here at SLJ, and covered the the Afterlife With Archie panel at New York Comic Con, where a full slate of editors and creators talked about all the upcoming Archie comics, not just the zombie ones.

In an interview done at New York Comic Con, Becky Cloonan, Brenden Fletcher, and Karl Kerschl talk about their new comic, the teen-drama series Gotham Academy.

Shannon Watters talks about the unexpected success of Lumberjanes, which she co-creates and edits. “Lumberjanes is for everyone, but we are really writing for a cool, 13-year-old girl; somebody who needs this kind of book in their life,” Watters says, but it has been a surprise hit with older readers as well. A collected edition will be released next spring.

Writer Cory Doctorow discusses his newest graphic novel, In Real Life, which is illustrated by Jen Wang and published by First Second; the book is about a girl who becomes a “gold farmer” in an online game and learns that there are real people behind the screen names.

Paparcutz is expanding its line of original graphic novels for tweens next year with two more titles, The Red Shoes and Other Tales, by Metaphrog, and Scarlett, by John Buller and Susan Schade. Papercutz is best known for its licensed titles (Ninjago, Nancy Drew, Power Rangers) and French imports (Ariol, Ernest and Rebecca) so this is a new direction for them; their first original title, Lunch Witch, will be out in early 2015.

More from the Roarbots: Five-year-old Zoey interviews Ben Hatke (Zita the Spacegirl), Andy Runton (Owly), and Mike Maihack (Cleopatra in Space).

If you’d rather hand out comics than candy to trick-or-treaters, BOOM! Studios has you covered, with a $20 bundle of 50 assorted all-ages comics—but order soon if you want them in time for Halloween!

Here’s a cool new tool: MakeBeliefsComix Fill-Ins is an interactive e-book, a digital diary with empty balloons where readers can write in their own dialogue.

Previews

Itty Bitty Mask (Comic Book Resources)
Jughead and Archie Comics Annual #6 (Comicosity)

Reviews

Sarah Hunter on As the Crow Flies (Bookends)
Melissa Fox on Drama, Smile, and Sisters (Book Nut)
Sarah Stevenson on In Real Life (Finding Wonderland)
Etelka Lehoczky on Ms. Marvel (NPR)
Jordan Jennings on Steven Universe #3 (Comicosity)
Deb Aoki on Thunderpaw: In the Ashes of Fire Mountain (MangaComicsManga)