Latest news with #comics
New York Times
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- New York Times
Peter David, Comic Book Writer Who Repopularized the Hulk, Dies at 68
Peter David, who wrote millions of words of science fiction, fantasy and comic-book adventures, becoming a favorite of fans by making it clear that his enthusiasm for genre fiction matched or exceeded theirs, died on May 24 in Patchogue, N.Y., on Long Island. He was 68. His wife, Kathleen, said that the official cause of his death, in a hospital, had not been determined, but that he had had multiple strokes. Known for his puckish sense of humor and for elaborate plotlines that sometimes spanned decades, Mr. David wrote scripts for the television series 'Babylon 5,' highly opinionated columns for the magazine Comics Buyer's Guide, and dozens of 'Star Trek' novels. But it was with his 11-year run, from 1987 to 1998, on the Marvel title The Incredible Hulk, which began as a collaboration with the rising artist Todd McFarlane, that Mr. David left his imprint on the industry. The green-skinned Hulk, the muscular and rage-filled alter ego of the scientist Bruce Banner, had once been a flagship character for Marvel, even starring in a network TV series from 1978 to 1982. But sales of his comic had declined precipitously after the show ended, and the monosyllabic character was seen as marginal. By emphasizing the Hulk's menace and delving into the traumatic childhood that gave rise to the character's split personality, he helped turn the series from a basement dweller into a hit. Valentine De Landro, an artist who drew a dozen issues of Marvel's X-Factor (an X-Men spinoff title) written by Mr. David in 2008 and 2009, praised him as a generous partner and pointed to the afterlife of his work. 'Story lines that he helped build and concepts for characters that he developed from almost 50 years ago are currently being referenced and leveraged,' Mr. De Landro said in an email. Want all of The Times? Subscribe.
Forbes
a day ago
- Business
- Forbes
Repeat And Refine: Why Repetition Improves Performance For Leaders
Every leadership interaction is an opportunity to repeat and refine. Earlier this month, I returned home from a two-week stretch of delivering my Leadership Biodynamics training four times—four full cohorts, four two-day workshops, all within 14 days. I've taught this material dozens of times, but never in such a concentrated rhythm. The experience sharpened my approach more than any single delivery ever had. By the end, my pacing was tighter, transitions cleaner, and my ability to read and respond to participant cues more precise. It reminded me of something I often tell the leaders I work with: repetition improves performance, not through mindless repetition, but through reflective variation. Every time you engage in a meaningful interaction, you gain a chance to observe, adjust, and improve. Stand-up comics understand this intuitively. Before a new hour of comedy hits a Netflix special, it's been tested in dozens of clubs. They repeat, refine, and adjust constantly until every beat lands. Not because they love repetition, but because they understand how feedback fuels performance. Repeat and refine isn't just a strategy for comics. It's a powerful tool for leaders. It's how you sharpen behavioral signals, improve real-time decision-making, and build a repertoire of interaction patterns that drive outcomes. Every leadership moment is an opportunity to test, learn, and optimize. Repetition, when done right, isn't rote. It's adaptive. Research on deliberate practice by psychologist K. Anders Ericsson shows that improvement comes not from repeating the same behavior over and over, but from adjusting performance based on tight feedback loops. The brain gets sharper through cycles of prediction, action, and recalibration. This kind of repetition works especially well in compressed, high-frequency contexts. When you teach something four times in two weeks, or lead four similar strategic discussions in a short span, you're not just remembering your material. You're gaining behavioral fluency. What improves isn't just what you say, but how you say it, and how you adapt to others in the moment. Jerry Seinfeld takes a scientific approach to comedy Few professions understand repetition like comedians. They obsess over timing, tone, rhythm, and silence. Jerry Seinfeld has described his process as 'very scientific.' He tests material like an experiment, gathers feedback as data, and rewrites until the flow feels right to his ear and works with a live audience. Jim Gaffigan echoed the same mindset in an interview, saying, 'The thing that I love about stand-up is that I feel like I'm getting better at it.' That sense of getting better through constant refinement is the core of the craft. Leaders may not be working toward applause, but they are constantly working toward clarity, credibility, and influence. And like comics, they get there by refining how they show up in the room. The comparison holds, especially because most leadership isn't about prepared remarks. It's about everyday moments: checking in with a team member, pitching a new idea to a funder, navigating a difficult conversation with a peer. Each of these is a live performance, and each one is a chance to iterate. The late Donald Schön called this process reflective practice, distinguishing between two forms: I've learned to rely on both. During the training sessions, I notice the way a story lands, or when a participant leans in. That informs how I tweak the next segment. Afterward, I walk through what worked, what didn't, and what to try differently. Over time, the entire experience becomes sharper, more attuned, more effective. Schön described this as the difference between technical competence and professional artistry. It's not about delivering a script. It's about reading the room and responding in real time with craft. In my work on Leadership Biodynamics, I help leaders become more intentional with their behavioral signals—especially those that convey warmth, competence, and gravitas. These are not fixed traits. They're perceivable signals, and they land differently depending on how they're delivered. Every time you interact with someone—a direct report, a board member, a client—you're sending signals. The more intentional you are about those signals, the more likely they'll create the kind of connection or influence you need in that moment. Over time, repetition with reflection builds a repertoire, not a routine. You begin to develop patterns of phrasing, tone, posture, and pacing that tend to land well across a range of situations. You can reach into that repertoire when the moment calls for it, adapting your delivery while staying authentic. This doesn't require a stage. It just requires a shift in mindset. Here's how to apply the repeat-and-refine approach to everyday leadership: This isn't about perfection. It's about behavioral precision. And that's what drives influence. For leaders, the goal isn't to perform. It's to develop a body of interactions that consistently prompt the strategic outcomes you're aiming for—especially those that create shared value. Insights from adaptive leadership support this shift toward experimentation, feedback, and evolution in real time. By the end of my fourth training in two weeks, I wasn't just delivering the material. I was tuned into it. Each session had helped me refine the message, the rhythm, the flow. But more than that, I had built a richer repertoire I can now carry into future interactions. Scientific research on feedback loops reinforces what comics and leaders alike come to know: repetition improves performance, but only when it's paired with reflection and adaptation. The best leaders don't just perform. They practice like professionals, learn like scientists, and refine like comics.
CTV News
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- CTV News
Sudbury children invited to learn from famed graphic novelist
Award-winning graphic novel author J. Torres has been invited to the Greater Sudbury Public Library for children's workshops during March Break. (Supplied/Wordstock Sudbury Literary Festival) Award-winning graphic novel author J. Torres has been invited to the Greater Sudbury Public Library for children's workshops during March Break. Torres is a Filipino Canadian comic book writer whose credits include Teen Titans Go, Batman: Knightwatch and Adventure Comics for the DC Kids channel on YouTube. Families can join Torres for free at the Valley East Public Library on Elmview Drive in the Greater Sudbury community of Hanmer on Thursday from 11 a.m. to 12 p.m. and the Lively Public Library on Kin Drive on Friday between 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. The event, geared for children between the ages of eight to 12, will teach how a graphic novel is created from writing to drawing and finally to book form. 'Participants will take part in engaging activities related to creating comics, sharing story ideas and a chat with the author,' said officials with Wordstock Sudbury Literary Festival in a news release. 'His (Torres) award-winning graphic novels for younger readers include Brobots, How to Spot a Sasquatch, Lola: A Ghost Story, Planet Hockey and Stealing Home.' Torres has also written comics for the Archies, Avatar: The Last Airbender, Degrassi, Rick & Morty, Scooby-Doo, The Simpsons and X-Men along with several other notable franchises. Planet Hockey J. Torres has several award-winning graphic novels for younger readers -- including 'Planet Hockey.' (Supplied/Wordstock Sudbury Literary Festival) Registration is required for this event, with the first 10 registrants to receive a free copy of J. Torres' book 'Planet Hockey.' To register, contact Quinn Van Essen at 705-673-1155 by email. Download the CTV News app now Get local breaking news alerts Daily newsletter with the top local stories emailed to your inbox Wordstock Sudbury Literary Festival's youth program Nickel City Literacy League is helping to address the need for activities centered around literacy for children who have struggled to connect to reading and writing during and following the pandemic. The program offers targeted reading and writing activities to engage children in school, at the library and in after-school program environments and activities are offered at no cost with the financial support of the Ontario Trillium Foundation.
Geek Girl Authority
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Geek Girl Authority
How to Store Your Comic Book Collection Like a Vault Dweller
If you have spent years curating your precious stash of comics, from first-appearance Wolverine to obscure indie press gems, you know they deserve better than a dusty box under the bed. Your mint-condition Amazing Fantasy #15 won't make it through the next decade, let alone a nuclear fallout, if you store them like yesterday's junk mail. As you plan to move either cross-country or to your next gaming bunker, it's time to channel your inner Vault Dweller and store your comic books like the sacred relics they are. Here's your end-of-days comic storage guide: Cleanliness is Next to Collector Godliness Before you go full Brotherhood of Steel on your comic collection, clean your comics and the storage space. Dust, dirt, and humidity are the sneaky Radroaches of the comic world. They slowly eat away at your beloved pages. Before you stash your comics away, ensure they are dry, clean, and handled with care. Avoid humid basements and dusty shelves. Bag, Board, and Prepare for Containment You wouldn't just toss a Nuka-Cola Quantum in your pack during a battle for Nuka-world without securing it, would you? The same goes for your comics. Organize them upright, like books on a shelf, and not flat. This prevents spine roll and warping. If you want to go full Vault-Tec, consider plastic comic bins or archival-quality long boxes. Bonus points if they are waterproof. Climate Control is the Institute Rule Even if you have got your comics sealed tighter than a Vault-Tec door, the environment matters when you are relocating or downsizing. High humidity coupled with heat, and sudden changes in temperature are the Deathclaws of preservation. A secure, temperature-controlled storage unit, like the ones reliable container moving companies offer, is your best bet. It's just like stashing gear in a hidden armory until you are ready to equip it again. These storage units keep your comics cool, dry, with humidity between 40% to 50% and dark as well, as UV light equals slow comic book death. Don't Be a Pack Mule When Moving If you are moving, transporting your comics is a side quest with high stakes. Hauling dozens of boxes through traffic, weather, or stairs is a recipe for a rage-quit. Instead, consider mobile storage containers that come to your location, let you pack at your own pace, and get picked up for secure transport or storage. Inventory Like a Brotherhood Scribe at Lost Hills Would the Overseer leave their gear unlogged? Of course not. If the Brotherhood Scribe knew what was up, you should too. Catalog your collection using spreadsheets or a comic book inventory app . It not only helps you with insurance or resale, but it also gives you a reason to relive every amazing panel. Endnote Your comic book collection is a reflection of your time and passion, the sacred scrolls of your fandom. Think beyond cardboards and closets; you should store it like you are preparing for nuclear winter. It could be a secure storage container, either delivered right to your entrance or a temperature-controlled unit, one thing is sure. When the vault doors open, you will need a pristine copy of Grognak the Barbarian to remember what came before. 10 STAR WARS Characters Who Need a Novel of Their Own RELATED: Build Up Your Star Wars Book Collection With These Titles
UAE Moments
2 days ago
- Business
- UAE Moments
Sharjah Art Foundation Announces 2025–2026 Open Calls
The Sharjah Art Foundation has launched its 2025–2026 open calls, inviting artists, filmmakers, and writers to apply for three key grant programs: the SFP8 Short Film Production Grant, Corniche 7 comics anthology, and the Publishing Grant. Open to independent filmmakers globally, this grant supports the completion of short films (up to 50 minutes). A total of AED 120,000 (approximately USD 30,000) will be given to the selected project. Applications are due by 11:59 PM UAE time on June 19. Illustrators and comic artists are invited to submit pitches for a six-page comic to be considered for publication in the upcoming Corniche 7 anthology. The deadline for submissions is June 30. This grant supports innovative publishing projects by cultural producers, including scholars, writers, editors, and independent publishers. A total of USD 30,000 will be awarded to multiple grantees, with individual grants not exceeding USD 15,000. Projects should be completed in time for the Focal Point art book fair in late 2026. The application deadline is 11:59 PM UAE time on August 17. For more information and to apply, visit the Sharjah Art Foundation's official website.
