If you have a few thousande extra dollars laying around, feel free to bid on this ebay auction where Chris Ware is selling off the chance to be a character in an upcoming newspaper strip. As of this writing, bidding is fierce and sits at just over $2800 US with over 6 days left. It’s money well spent if you have it to spare, though - all proceeds go to the First Amendment Project, a free speech advocacy organization.

“The appearance in name and approximate drawn likeness, either as a ’supporting character’ or more forthright personna, of the auction’s ‘winner’ in an upcoming comic strip by the author/cartoonist, to appear sometime before the end of 2008 in serial (probably newspaper) form, and later to be reprinted in collected form at an unspecified, and probably quite alarmingly later, date.”

“I’ll be happy to send a signed copy of the strip in which the person appears (which will likely be in the local weekly newspaper) but only on the proviso that the person in question doesn’t get mad or otherwise grow to despise me if their likeness is construed as satirical, incorrect, unflattering or in any way unliterary. I’ll do my best, however, to maintain veracity and allegiance to the general rules of propriety (unless, of course, the winner offends me, in which case he/she may appear as any variety of disagreeable and distasteful ruffian.) The winner should also realize that if his or her character ends up contributing significantly to the development of said story that the author/cartoonist cannot be held liable for any confusion, affront or life complication said appearance might subsequently engender.”

[via]

Spread the word!

Seems like Sam Jackson’s tying his career path directly to the word “snake” these days. He’s also dead-set on being involved in projects that maintain a stronger-than-average relationship with internet fandom. His upcoming flick with Christina Ricci, Black Snake Moan, is currently running a Create A Trailer contest, open to aan yone. Just head on over to the official website and you can download audio clips and some still images to create your trailer. You’ll also be able to scope out the competition soon, once the uploaded trailers make it live on the site. I’m not sure how incredible this can be with 2 pictures, a logo and about a dozen random audio clips, but I’m sure someone’ll come up with something interesting enough to win the trip to Sundance.

Spread the word!

As if anyone could really fill Bill Shatner’s shoes.

Manhattan, New York—August 4, 2006— William Shatner knows how hard it is to become a bona-fide science fiction star. That’s why he’s making it a little bit easier for the next generation of would-be Captain Kirks. William Shatner announced today that he is holding an on-line contest to find the most talented sci-fi personality in the United States. To enter, contestants just have to create a short video clip that shows why they are the heir apparent to William Shatner, and upload it at http://Shatner.blip.tv by September 30th.

Like many reality TV shows, this contest will rely on the voting public to help choose the winner. Anyone who wants to can view the contestants’ video clips and vote for their favorites online at http://Shatner.blip.tv. The top ten highest ranked entrants will be named finalists, and given a chance to win William Shatner’s Sci-Fi Challenge.

Unlike hit TV shows American Idol and So You Think You Can Dance, which focus on contestants that have one particular kind of talent, William Shatner encourages a much broader range of applicants. Aspiring actors can submit a tape of themselves re-enacting a memorable sci-fi role or performing something new. Young directors and film makers can create a sci-fi short or a brief homage to Bill’s career that demonstrates why they should win. Budding film critics can showcase their insight in a taped movie review. This diverse group of contestants makes for a richer talent pool, and a more interesting competition.

Read More »

Spread the word!

Well, you can wait a few months and then order yourself an X3-themed PC from Dell while paying a cool $10K for the honor of having Wolverine’s fist plastered on the side of your case (adamantium reinforced shell not included.), or you can simply enter Dell’s giveaway contest and try to score one for free. The choice is yours, bub.

[via, via]

Spread the word!

For the rest of the day today and tomorrow, you can download the entire first issue of “Hatter M” for free from IGN. It was available yesterday as well, but I wasn’t in a bloggable position so you’ll just have to find time in the next 42 hours or so to DL the book. As an extra incentive to check the title out, Frank Beddor and Ben Templesmith are going to be giving away a limited run of prints reproducing Templesmith’s pencils from the entire issue two of the mini. Not the worst prize in the world, I must say!

If you would like to take a moment to sign up on our website you will be automatically registered for the Follow the Glow! contest in which winners will receive a reproduction of Ben Templesmith’s complete set of pencil sketches for Issue #2. The contest will run March 6, 7, and 8 with one winner chosen randomly per day. Be one of three people in the world to possess this Templesmith collectible! Winners will be posted on March 9.

Spread the word!

Lissen youse mooks - we’re givin’ away two box sets of “C.O.P.S.: Season One and da contest is a simple one.

Spread the word!

That’s right, that batshit crazy animated show C.O.P.S. from the late 1980s is out on DVD as of today, 2/28. We’ll have a review up for you in a few days, but in the meantime, thanks to Shout! we have two (TWO!) copies of the C.O.P.S. Season One DVD to give away!

Here’s how it’s going to work: post a comment in this listing (Win A Copy Of The C.O.P.S. DVD!) telling us what you think is the best cartoon of the late 1980s and why. After a week, we’ll see what we’ve got and decide on which two lucky devils should get these DVDs.

Be creative, be knowledgeable, be assertive, be sentimental — we don’t care. Just don’t be an ass, please. T.I.A. for playing!

Edit - don’t forget to fill in your email info. It won’t show up on the site, but we need it to contact the winners

Spread the word!

Proving that the best way to fight a lack of humor is with a sense of humor, an Israeli cartoonist has launched his own contest in response to an Iranian paper’s anti-semetic cartoon contest. Rather than go for the hackneyed response of running an anti-Iranian contest, Amitai Sandy is running his own Holocaust cartoon contest.

Amitai Sandy (29), graphic artist and publisher of Dimona Comix Publishing, from Tel-Aviv, Israel, has followed the unfolding of the “Muhammad cartoon-gate” events in amazement, until finally he came up with the right answer to all this insanity - and so he announced today the launch of a new anti-Semitic cartoons contest - this time drawn by Jews themselves!

“We’ll show the world we can do the best, sharpest, most offensive Jew hating cartoons ever published!” said Sandy “No Iranian will beat us on our home turf!”

[via]

Spread the word!