Category: News

Events of note for comics creators.

KC voice actor announces the Oscars

Tom Kane
Kansas City's Tom Kane is not only the voice of Yoda, he's also the voice of the Academy Awards.

Local voice-over artist Tom Kane is the announcer for tomorrow’s Academy Awards broadcast. Aaron Barnhart of the Kansas City Star interviewed Kane and other Kansas City area announcers and voice performers.

In addition to announcing, Kane is a busy animation voice performer. He is currently the voice of Yoda in Star Wars: The Clone Wars and has also had regular roles in The Wild Thornberries, PowerPuff Girls, and Foster’s Home. “There are only two guys who do voice-over work and animation, but I also do promos and commercials and narration,” Kane told Barnhart. “I’ve essentially got four or five voice-over careers running at the same time.”

Kane is also a featured guest at Kansas City’s Planet Comicon March 26-27. The event will be held at the Overland Park International Trade Center. Adult weekend passes are available in advance for $15 or at the event for $20.

Andrews McMeel makes Kansas City comic strip central

Universal Uclick
Universal Uclick, a division of Kansas City's Andrews McMeel Universal, will begin distributing United Feature Syndicate properties in June.

Kansas City publishing powerhouse Andrews McMeel Universal has announced that its Universal Uclick division has agreed to become the full-service syndication partner of Scripps’ United Feature Syndicate properties. As of June 1, 2011, Universal Uclick will manage all aspects of syndication for United Feature Syndicate properties including Pearls Before Swine, Get Fuzzy, Marmaduke, Frank & Ernest, The Born Loser, Big Nate and Miss Manners.

The new properties will join Universal Uclick’s stable of syndicated comic strips, including comic heavyweights Doonesbury, Garfield, Non Sequitur, For Better or For Worse and Ziggy. Universal Uclick has also recently announced agreements to syndicate Peanuts and Dilbert.

“We could not be more pleased to welcome the inspired creators represented by these features,” said John McMeel, co-founder, chairman, and president of Andrews McMeel Universal. “When we began this venture in 1970, and our office was on the 5th floor of a Manhattan walk-up, we would never have believed AMU would be in this position today. However, our goal has always been to represent the best. The addition of these features and creators to our outstanding lineup moves us further toward that goal, and establishes an extraordinary roster that is unmatched in the industry.”

Bits o’ News

  • The Bad News: Jason Aaron’s series Wolverine Weapon X will end with #16. The Great News: Jason Aaron will be writing a brand new Wolverine #1 directly after the conclusion of the current series. DigitalSpy interviewed Jason about the reboot.
  • B. Clay Moore hinted on Facebook that he will be writing a fill-in featuring “another great old DC character.”
  • Our friends at MidMoCoCo.com report on a comic art show running in St. Charles, Missouri, through July 31st.