For some reason, dressing up kids in novelty costumes has been flagged as a “weird” new trend on Buzzfeed.com. Well, I call it smart parenting! It’s never too early to start training your younglings for a fruitful life in costumed entertainment.

Let’s talk geek semantics for a moment…

If a Trade Paperback collects previously released single issues into one bound collection, and a Graphic Novel is just a long-form comic that is first released in that bound format, what do you call it when two thirds of the bound collection are previously unreleased content? No wonder the NPR crowd and Lit Nerds have taken to calling every comic a Graphic Novel. (No offense, Lit Nerds, but knock it off, will ya?!)

We told you D18 was coming back. More on this in a bit.

For now, just soak in the awesome!

Click for a bigger version…

Whoda thunk the creators of The Union of Novelty Costumed Performers would ever resort to hiring a scab to work their biggest event to date? But, then again, you can’t blame us when the guy was willing to work for two bummed cigarettes and a half-eaten cheese sandwich. Why he had a kangaroo costume handy, we may never know…

You might be wondering what happened to Division 18 issues 2 and 3. Trust me when I tell you we’ve got a plan. Several plans, in fact. Of course, not all of them are D18-centric!

There’s this little guy, for instance…

And these two gents…

And, something tells me you’re going to want to brush up on the rules of this game….

But our biggest plan involves getting you your full sequential fix of Division 18: The Union of Novelty Costumed Performers before this year is up. And you WILL get that fix. Updates soon. (And maybe some new preview art, too!)

First round’s on Monkey tonight at Mother Effer’s!

On the heels of his webcomic debut, The Greatest, the release of his very first sketchbook ever at the recent New York Comic Con, and a few appearances in the virtual pages of this very website, second-generation comic artist Josh Adams is about to appear on TV with the cast of Iron Man! Josh has been invited to serve as one of two guest illustrators on an upcoming episode of MTV’s TRL, shooting on Monday, April 28 – his 21st birthday! According to the show’s website, the episode is currently scheduled to air Thursday, May 1st.  

So, can we chalk this up to the D18 Bump?*

Not only is this a chance for Josh to show off his talent to a mainstream audience on nationwide television, it’s an opportunity for him to sneak in a plug for Division 18!

RETAILERS: Get ready for that swarm of squealing 12-year-old girls demanding the adventures of the mascot mafia by stocking up today!

TRL airs at 3:30 pm ET/PT on MTV. Check your listings for air dates for the ”Iron Man” episode of TRL.

        *Probably not, since the kid’s got comic greatness in his blood.

(Division 18 publisher) Christian Beranek’s Willow Creek collaborator, artist Josh Medors, could use a little help from the greater comic book community, and the folks at Image Comics and Frazetta Comics are going to see that he gets that help at this year’s Emerald City Comic Con.

Full details below:

PRESS RELEASE

Unknown to the general public, FRANK FRAZETTA’S SWAMP DEMON, RUNES OF RAGNAN, WILLOW CREEK, GI JOE and 30 DAYS OF NIGHT artist Josh Medors has been fighting cancer for the past several months. In his time of need, Image Comics and Frazetta Comics have stepped in organize an auction with all proceeds going straight to Josh.

“Josh is a good friend, father and artist. With the support from the comic industry that he loves so dearly, we can all help with costly medical bills and ease his pain just a little would be most appreciated,” said Frazetta Comics Editor/Artist Jay Fotos. “We are under a crunch, for the show is just a few weeks away, so anyone that would like to donate please contact me as soon as you can so we can get your donations there for the auction in time, we are also taking PayPal donations as well that go directly to Josh.”

Many of the industry’s finest are donating items to auction, including Frank Frazetta himself. Any other creators interested in donating are encouraged to contact Jay Fotos at jayfotos@cox.net.

The Josh Medors Benefit Auction will take place Saturday, May 10th at the Emerald City Comic Con. If you would like to make a PayPal donation, please do so to jmedors1@insight.rr.com.

Contributors thus far:

Frank Frazetta
Jerry Beck
Brian Haberlin
Tom Beland
Mark Kidwell
Todd McFarlane
Nat Jones
Tony Moore
Peter Bergting
Richard Starkings
Steve Niles
Kody Chamberlin
Jay Fotos
Rick Remender
Christian Beranek
Ahmet Zappa
Image Comics
IDW Publishing
Zenescope Entertainment

Brett Edwards has the story over at FanHouse. All we can say here is that we could use a guy like Benny in River City!