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Showing posts with label DC Comics. Show all posts
Showing posts with label DC Comics. Show all posts
Monday, September 02, 2013
Beyond Comics - Villains Month Announcement!
Tuesday, October 09, 2012
Rethinking Rascally Roy (Lichtenstein, not Thomas)
Around the time Roy Lichtenstein starting painting his canvases influenced by comic book panels, editor Stan Lee was giving everyone at Marvel Comics a nickname to make the company appear more homey. Since Lichtenstein usually appropriated images from DC Comics, he probably wouldn't have qualified for one, but if he did, he probably should have gotten the 'Rascally' that eventually settled on writer Roy Thomas. Lichtenstein seems to have spent his entire career engaging with other art forms, appropriating them, making sport of them, but also in some odd way, respecting them.
The National Gallery of Art is mounting a large career-spanning retrospective that begins with one of Lichtenstein's first comic-derived images - the Gallery's Look Mickey (1961). At the press preview, curators kept noting that the original image is from Donald Duck Lost and Found, a Little Golden Book from 1960, and not a comic book, but honestly that's a difference that makes no difference. Lichtenstein had come up with a hook, and a look, and together these let him break into the big time. To our eyes, familiar with almost forty years of later works, Look Mickey looks crude. The dots that texture Mickey's head and Donald's eyes are handpainted, and not made by forcing paint through a metal screen with a toothbrush as he would later turn to. The underlying pencil can be seen - something almost inconceivable in his work of just a few years later. Lichtenstein worked by doing a freehand drawing, projecting that piece onto a larger canvas and drawing it there, and then painting that. Examine this painting closely so you're prepared to see his technique evolve and tighten up as he finds his groove.
The Gallery owns 375 pieces of Lichtenstein's art -- one of the largest collections -- and this exhibit has 100 paintings, drawings and sculptures in it. They've borrowed from other museums and the show will travel to England and France after being here in DC. For comics and cartoon fans, after Look Mickey you can skip the rest of the Early Pop Art gallery, and go view the black & white drawing Alka Seltzer (1966) in the next room. To this reviewer, Jack Kirby's influence appears obvious -- and doesn't appear in the rest of the Black and White series. Kirby's Marvel Comics work had settled into its mature phase with the heavy black lines and over the top action that would typify his work. Lichtenstein's drawing of this banal subject produces a glass of Alka Seltzer that would look at home in the hands of Dr. Doom, if he ever stopped trying to conquer the world for a few minutes and looked after himself.
Instead of Marvel Comics, Lichtenstein turned to DC Comics for works in his Romance and War series. 1962's Masterpiece is the first in his Romance series, and he works in a joke about his new status as a darling of the art world. Contrast this work with Ohhh... Alright..., from 1964, and you can see his quoting of the comics medium becoming surer and cleaner, especially after he begins using his technique of painting through metal screens. Unfortunately, looking at the images here produces one of the main problems with Lichtenstein's comic-influenced art. When they are reproduced in a book (or blog) they become the same size as the comic they're taken from and this gives the viewer a false impression. These pieces are big, and the scaling-up while removing extraneous detail, and repositioning graphic elements gives them a... grandeur that insists that you see them in person.
Lichtenstein probably would have been a competent, if uninspiring comic book artist (think Don Heck) -- the original sketch for Ohhh... Alright... is in the exhibit and shows he could have done that, but the path he chose was probably better for all concerned. Bart Beaty's Comics Versus Art (University of Toronto Press, 2012) has a good chapter about the angst that Lichtenstein's work inspires in comic book readers - an angst I share. Lichtenstein was working from then-current comic books like Girls' Romances and Secret Hearts, and titling his works with an attribution such as Whaam! (after Novick) or Whaam! ( All American Men of War #89) rather than simply Whaam! would have been a gesture of respect to other artists who, although working as commercial illustrators in comic books, still considered what they were doing to be art.
His decision not to do this continues to lead to headlines such as 2011's Connecting the Dots Between the Record $43 Million Lichtenstein and the $431 Comic Strip It Was Copied From, and articles that start "Imagine you drew a comic book for a nominal fee and a world-famous artist recreated in paint a panel from that work and sold it for millions of dollars without you receiving any credit or royalties." Deconstructing Roy Lichtenstein is an entire website devoted to tracking the original comic panels that Lichtenstein repurposed / appropriated for his paintings.
His Brushstrokes series began with Brushstrokes (1965), which the exhibit explains came from "The Painting," Strange Suspense Stories #72 (Charlton Comics, October 1964) -- the NGA reproduces the panel, but neglects to mention that the original artwork is by Dick Giordano. This was among his last of this type of work. Instead he began painting large fake brushstrokes over his now trademark dots, or painting the explosions without any intervening war comic scene. The exhibit wall text for Whaam! suggests a reason, quoting him reflecting "If you go through [comic books], you'll find that there are very few frames that... would be useful to you. Most of them are in transition, they don't really sum anything up and it's the ones that sum up the idea that I like best."
Lichenstein then moved completely away from the comics-influenced paintings to do similar paintings with other fine art as the subject, such as a faux woodcut of a Washington by Gilbert Stuart. Picasso and Cezanne and the Laocoon were Lichtensteinized. He painted faux architectural elements and faux mirrors, and did sculptures and paintings quoting art deco. He made landscapes out of dots. All of these can be seen in the show.
But in the 1990s and towards the end of his career, Lichtenstein returned to comic book art and looked back at the romance comic books he had painted from 30 years earlier -- this time, he just left off the clothing for his Nudes series. Without their captions or word balloons, and with a more radical use of dots, these paintings seem further removed from their sources than his earlier works.
A lot has been written on Lichtenstein, and I'm obviously not an expert on his work, but I do think that his 1978 Self-Portrait, in which he depicts himself as a mirror hovering above an empty shirt -- while witty -- may very well also depict a deeper ambivalence about his career.
The exhibit Roy Lichtenstein: A Retrospective runs from October 14, 2012–January 13, 2013 at the National Gallery of Art. I can honestly recommend it to anyone interested in comic art who is willing to think about art, illustration, comics and where they all crash together. I would have preferred to see more of the original source material in the show -- only two comics panels are reproduced in the exhibit text -- and buying a 1960s DC romance comic or two wouldn't bust anyone's budget. An excellent catalog by curators James Rondeau and Sheena Wagstaff is available, and the Gallery has several events planned including ones at local restaurants Busboys and Poets and Ben's Chili Bowl.
UPDATE: Here's some pages that Lichtenstein used from Charlton and DC Comics (thanks to Prof. Witek)-
The National Gallery of Art is mounting a large career-spanning retrospective that begins with one of Lichtenstein's first comic-derived images - the Gallery's Look Mickey (1961). At the press preview, curators kept noting that the original image is from Donald Duck Lost and Found, a Little Golden Book from 1960, and not a comic book, but honestly that's a difference that makes no difference. Lichtenstein had come up with a hook, and a look, and together these let him break into the big time. To our eyes, familiar with almost forty years of later works, Look Mickey looks crude. The dots that texture Mickey's head and Donald's eyes are handpainted, and not made by forcing paint through a metal screen with a toothbrush as he would later turn to. The underlying pencil can be seen - something almost inconceivable in his work of just a few years later. Lichtenstein worked by doing a freehand drawing, projecting that piece onto a larger canvas and drawing it there, and then painting that. Examine this painting closely so you're prepared to see his technique evolve and tighten up as he finds his groove.
The Gallery owns 375 pieces of Lichtenstein's art -- one of the largest collections -- and this exhibit has 100 paintings, drawings and sculptures in it. They've borrowed from other museums and the show will travel to England and France after being here in DC. For comics and cartoon fans, after Look Mickey you can skip the rest of the Early Pop Art gallery, and go view the black & white drawing Alka Seltzer (1966) in the next room. To this reviewer, Jack Kirby's influence appears obvious -- and doesn't appear in the rest of the Black and White series. Kirby's Marvel Comics work had settled into its mature phase with the heavy black lines and over the top action that would typify his work. Lichtenstein's drawing of this banal subject produces a glass of Alka Seltzer that would look at home in the hands of Dr. Doom, if he ever stopped trying to conquer the world for a few minutes and looked after himself.
His decision not to do this continues to lead to headlines such as 2011's Connecting the Dots Between the Record $43 Million Lichtenstein and the $431 Comic Strip It Was Copied From, and articles that start "Imagine you drew a comic book for a nominal fee and a world-famous artist recreated in paint a panel from that work and sold it for millions of dollars without you receiving any credit or royalties." Deconstructing Roy Lichtenstein is an entire website devoted to tracking the original comic panels that Lichtenstein repurposed / appropriated for his paintings.
But in the 1990s and towards the end of his career, Lichtenstein returned to comic book art and looked back at the romance comic books he had painted from 30 years earlier -- this time, he just left off the clothing for his Nudes series. Without their captions or word balloons, and with a more radical use of dots, these paintings seem further removed from their sources than his earlier works.
A lot has been written on Lichtenstein, and I'm obviously not an expert on his work, but I do think that his 1978 Self-Portrait, in which he depicts himself as a mirror hovering above an empty shirt -- while witty -- may very well also depict a deeper ambivalence about his career.The exhibit Roy Lichtenstein: A Retrospective runs from October 14, 2012–January 13, 2013 at the National Gallery of Art. I can honestly recommend it to anyone interested in comic art who is willing to think about art, illustration, comics and where they all crash together. I would have preferred to see more of the original source material in the show -- only two comics panels are reproduced in the exhibit text -- and buying a 1960s DC romance comic or two wouldn't bust anyone's budget. An excellent catalog by curators James Rondeau and Sheena Wagstaff is available, and the Gallery has several events planned including ones at local restaurants Busboys and Poets and Ben's Chili Bowl.
UPDATE: Here's some pages that Lichtenstein used from Charlton and DC Comics (thanks to Prof. Witek)-
 |
STRANGE SUSPENSE STORIES #72 p. 25 |
 |
| Secret Hearts #83, Nov. 1962 |
 |
| All-American Men of War #90 |
 |
| All-American Men of War #89 |
Monday, May 14, 2012
PR: THE HISTORY OF INVULNERABILITY superhero play
THE MAN BEHIND SUPERMAN COMES TO LIFE IN DAVID BAR KATZ'S THE HISTORY OF INVULNERABILITY AT THEATER J
(Washington, DC) – The History of Invulnerability, David Bar Katz's provocative new drama, brings the origin story of the Superman comic to life, in all its political complexity. Behind every great superhero is a determined creator. In 1930s America, that creator was usually a young Jewish man with an active imagination. Batman, Spiderman, The Incredible Hulk and other iconic cartoon characters were all products of young American Jews. Bar Katz's play illuminates the story of Jerry Siegel—the brains behind Superman's brawn—and the imagined struggle between the creative father and his uber-mensch son.
The History of Invulnerability runs June 6–July 8, 2012 at Theater J in the Washington DCJCC's Aaron & Cecile Goldman Theater. Press night is Monday, June 11 at 7:30 pm. Performances on Saturday, June 9 at 8:00 pm and Sunday, June 10 at 3:00 pm are $30 previews. Performances on Wednesday, June 6 and Thursday, June 7 at 7:30 pm are pay-what-you-can previews. Performances on June 17 and 24 and July 1 and 8 at 7:30 pm are $35 Sunday night specials. On Thursday, June 21 at 7:30 pm the show will have open-captioning for the hearing impaired. There will be special matinee performances at noon on Friday, June 22. Tickets are available starting at $30 at theaterj.org or (800) 494-TIXS.
With a new Superman blockbuster film opening in 2013 and the re-release of the Superman comic as "The New 52" by DC Universal in September 2011, The Man of Steel remains an enduring American phenomenon. As Bar Katz traces the iconic character back to his conception in the mid 1930s, the audience views the action from the inner landscape of creator Jerry Siegel (David Deblinger) who begins his journey in his mother's basement in Clevelend. Frustrated with feelings of powerlessness in the face of the mounting horrors of Nazi Germany, Siegel and illustrator Joe Shuster (David Raphaely) create a being capable of overpowering all enemies. After their Superman comic catches on, the duo's desire to depict Superman slaughtering Nazis is curbed by Harry Donenfeld (Conrad Feininger), the head of DC Comics who purchased the rights to Superman for a mere $130. As Jerry wrestles to retain control of his comic book sensation and his life, America is drawn into WWII. Interspersed with scenes from Siegel's life is the story of inmates of Birkenau. Audacious Benjamin (David Raphaely) dreams of rebellion, elderly Saul (Conrad Feininger) struggles to keep faith in God, and young Joel (Noah Chiet) waits expectantly for the day when Superman will come to their rescue. The History of Invulnerability was a finalist for the 2011 ACTA Steinberg New Play Award and the Acclaim Award for "Outstanding Play World Premiere" at Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park. Theater J's production marks The History of Invulnerability's East Coast premiere and second production overall.
Artistic Director Ari Roth welcomes The History of Invulnerability to the Theater J stage, remarking "In the tradition of David Mamet, David Bar Katz is a writer of muscular Jews with a wild, robust writing style to match. He's got a number of interesting plays: Philip Roth in Khartoum, [staged at the Public Theatre in 2008] Burning Burning Burning [surrounding Shabbetai Tzvi, the false messiah] and The Atmosphere of Memory [Featuring Ellen Burstyn]. He's a great writer for a new generation, and we're glad to start an ongoing relationship with him." Bar Katz is a company member of the prestigious LAByrinth Theatre in New York, which includes artists like Philip Seymour Hoffman, who directed the Emmy-nominated HBO presentation of Bar Katz's Oh The Power. Bar Katz also earned two Tony Award nominations for the Broadway production of his play Freak. In an article in CityBeat, Cincinnati, Bar Katz describes himself as a writer who understands the "desire to fight battles in the real world using your fiction."
Director Shirley Serotsky understands this impulse as well, commenting "The desire to will into existence a better place, a better solution, a better being, is a fascinating piece of the Jewish and of the human story." Initially coming from a musical theatre background, Serotsky was struck by the parallels between musical theater and comic books: "Both are uniquely American art forms…dominated by Jews, often first–generation Jews who needed an escape both from the tragedies going on in Europe, and from their own often harsh circumstances in America." As the Director of Literary and Public Programming, and frequent director at Theater J, Serotsky has an extensive background staging stories from the Jewish experience. Ms. Serotsky's Theater J credits include The Rise and Fall of Annie Hall, The Moscows of Nantucket, Mikveh and next season's The Hampton Years. Recently, she garnered praise with her production of Birds of a Feather at The Hub Theatre, Blood Wedding at Constellation Theatre Company, and Working at Keegan Theatre.
Serotsky describes her cast as "a gutsy group of actors who are able to embrace both the stylistic world of a comic book and the deeply honest emotions and desires of the characters in this world." They are led by David Deblinger, who garnered rave reviews for his portrayal of Jerry Siegel in Cincinnati Playhouse's world premiere of The History of Invulnerability. Deblinger is one of the founding members of the LAByrinth Theater Company, where he has performed in over 15 productions. He recently appeared in the world premiere of The Killings Room at Teatro Circulo and Animals Out Of Paper at The San Francisco Playhouse. In addition to being a talented actor, Deblinger is also a prolific playwright and solo performer. On June 25, Deblinger will share his work-in-progress Abe's Lucky Penny, which deals with the themes of fathers and sons also raised in The History of Invulnerability.
Playing the brash Harry Donenfeld is Conrad Feininger. Mr. Feininger recently appeared at Theater J in Benedictus, Either/Or and String Fever. A frequent performer at The Shakespeare Theatre, he recently appeared in their productions of King Lear, Richard II, Henry V and All's Well That Ends Well. Other recent credits include Hysteria at Rep Stage and Charming Billy at RoundHouse Theatre. Playing the Man of Steel himself is Tim Getman, fresh from his appearance in After The Fall earlier in the Theater J season. Getman has also appeared in the Theater J productions Photograph 51, Passing the Love of Women, The Last Seder and as Danny Saunders in Theater J's original production of The Chosen. He recently starred in Gruesome Playground Injuries at Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company, where he also appeared in The Unmentionables and The Distance from Here.
Also making a second appearance in the Theater J season is Brandon McCoy, who just reprised his role as Simon in Theater J's encore presentation of New Jerusalem: The Interrogation of Baruch de Spinoza. Playing both Joe Shuster, the illustrator of Superman, and Benjamin, the revolutionary concentration camp inmate is David Raphaely. One of Philadelphia's most popular young actors, Mr. Raphaely has appeared in productions at The Wilma Theatre, The Arden Theatre Company, The Walnut Street Theatre, PlayPenn, and the Philadelphia Theatre Company. In the summer of 2010, he was a guest artist in the Theater J/TheatreLab staged readings of Ari Roth's Born Guilty cycle. Jjana Valentiner, who recently gained acclaim playing barmaid Patsy in Sideman at 1st Stage, will play Jerry's mother and other roles. Valentiner's other recent credits include Pride and Prejudice at Round House Theatre; Birds of a Feather at The Hub Theatre; Fucking A at The Studio Theatre 2ndStage and Tartuffe at the Journeymen Theater Ensemble. She is joined by James Whalen, returning to Theater J after appearing in last season's Voices from a Changing Middle East festival. Mr. Whalen was recently seen in The Shakespeare Theatre Company's production of Cymbeline. He is also a frequent player at Everyman Theatre, where he has appeared in The Exonerated, Betrayal and The Cripple of Inishmaan. Alyssa Wilmoth, a graduate of the Shakespeare Theatre Company Academy for Classical Acting who recently earned accolades in No Rules Theatre Company's production of StopKiss will play Superman's paramour, Lois Lane. Noah Chiet completes
the ensemble as the young boy imprisoned in a concentration camp, dreaming of Superman. By the age of 12, Mr. Chiet has already gained rave reviews for his turn in Ganeymede Arts' Falsettos and in Liberty Smith at Ford's Theatre. He has participated in two readings at Theater J, and this is his first production.
An all-star design team of Theater J veterans reunite to create the vibrant world of comic books and the equally atmospheric concentration camps. In addition to designing the set for The Rise and Fall of Annie Hall and The Moscows of Nantucket, scenic designer Robbie Hayes has worked on Theater J's Sholom Aleichem: Laughter Through Tears. Lighting will be designed by Dan Covey, who also designed lights for Mikveh at Theater J. Debra Kim Sivigny, a veteran Theater J designer (Rise and Fall of Annie Hall, The Moscows of Nantucket and Mikveh) and company member of Rorschach Theatre, will be designing costumes. Returning to Theater J after several seasons is Dre Moore, as Properties Designer. Matthew Nielson (The Whipping Man, New Jerusalem) will create the sound design.
The History of Invulnerability is presented as the annual Arthur Tracy "The Street Singer" Endowment Production honoring the memory and musical legacy of Arthur Tracy, the renowned radio, stage and screen singer and entertainer whose talent delighted millions around the world. Additional funding has been provided by Ann and Don Brown and Judy and Leo Zickler.
Complimenting The History of Invulnerability in the DCJCC Ann Loeb Bronfman Gallery will be the exhibit "Graphic Details: Confessional Comics by Jewish Women" opening on June 7. See washingtondcjcc.org/gallery for more information.
THE HISTORY OF INVULNERABILITY FACT SHEET
WRITTEN BY: David Bar Katz
DIRECTED BY: Shirley Serotsky
SCENIC DESIGNER: Robbie Hayes
LIGHTING DESIGNER: Dan Covey
COSTUME DESIGNER: Debra Kim Sivigny
PROPERTIES DESIGNER: Dre Moore
SOUND DESIGNER: Matthew Nielson
DRAMATURG: Stephen Spotswood
PRODUCTION STAGE MANAGER: Roy A. Gross
James Whalen, Alyssa Wilmoth and Noah Chiet
PRESS NIGHT: Monday, June 11
PERFORMANCE SCHEDULE: June 6-July 8, 2012
Regular Schedule: Wednesdays and Thursdays at 7:30 pm, Saturdays at 8:00 pm, Sundays at 3:00 and 7:30 pm
$30 Previews: Saturday, June 9 at 8:00 pm and Sunday, June 10 at 3:00 pm
Pay-What-You-Can Previews: Wednesday, June 6 and Thursday, June 7 at 7:30 pm
Special Matinees: Friday, June 22 at 12:00 pmPlease note: Thursday, June 21 at 7:30 pm the show will have open captioning for the hearing impaired.
THEATER J INFORMATION:
LOCATION: The Washington DC Jewish Community Center's Aaron & Cecile Goldman Theater at 1529 16th Street NW in Washington, DC, 4 blocks east of Dupont Circle.
PARKING & METRO: Limited parking in the Washington DCJCC lot; additional parking available at Colonial Parking, 1616 P Street NW; limited street parking. Dupont Circle Station RED line.
TICKETS: Starting at $30. Box Office Tickets (800) 494-TIXS or boxofficetickets.com.
For discounts for groups of 10+ call (202) 777-3214 or email becky@theaterj.org
Theater J is handicapped accessible and offers assisted listening devices for interested patrons.
High resolution digital images are available upon request. More information about this production is available at (202) 777-3230 or theaterj.org.
Theater J, a program of the Washington DCJCC, produces thought-provoking, publicly engaged, personal, passionate and entertaining plays and musicals that celebrate the distinctive urban voice and social vision that are part of the Jewish cultural legacy. Acclaimed as one of the nation's premiere playwrights theaters, Theater J presents cutting edge contemporary work alongside spirited revivals and is a nurturing home for the development and production of new work by major writers and emerging artists exploring many of the pressing moral and political issues of our time. Dedicated first to a pursuit of artistic excellence, Theater J takes its dialogues beyond the stage, offering an array of innovative public discussion forums and outreach programs which explore the theatrical, psychological and social elements of our art. We frequently partner with those of other faiths and communities, stressing the importance of interchange among a great variety of people wishing to take part in frank, humane conversations about conflict and culture.
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Guest reporter post : Fox 5 News DC Just ran a promo for an upcoming story on comic books
Ray Bottorff Jr reports:
Here's the post-broadcast update.
WTTC Fox 5 of Washington DC, ran a promo during the NFC Divisional Playoffs Saturday evening January 14 on an upcoming special report that appears to be a Wertham-style attack on comic books.
Scheduled to air on Wednesday January 18th, on their 11:00 pm newscast, the promo presents to the audience the suggestion that comics are full of sex and violence, using the quote "Playboy meets comics."
With what sensationalized call to arms, the ad purported to show in the news story how parents can "KO" these comics for their kids.
Certainly a 30-second plug for a late night news story will not cover everything that will be mentioned during the story when it airs. But the promo certainly gave the impression that it will malign the industry and deliver the usual stereotypes on how comics are only for kids (never mind that the comics shown are not for kids), and that smut is being peddled by comic book stores to children (which they are not).
What kind of vigilance should comic book fans do to this modern day Wertham-style attack? Swamp Fox 5 with phone calls? Protest at the Fox 5 studios? Something else?
Here's the post-broadcast update.
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Truitt on Spider-Man clones, DC Comics launches, and Blade anime
A study in 'Scarlet': Spider-Man clone stars in new series
By Brian Truitt, USA TODAY January 11 2012
http://www.usatoday.com/life/comics/story/2012-01-11/Scarlet-Spider-comic-series/52496322/1
DC Comics explores new worlds, old favorites with six titles
By Brian Truitt, USA TODAY January 12 2012
http://www.usatoday.com/life/comics/story/2012-01-12/dc-comics-unveils-six-new-series/52504982/1
Seven things to know about DC Comics' new wave of books
By Brian Truitt, USA TODAY January 12 2012
http://www.usatoday.com/life/comics/story/2012-01-12/Seven-facts-about-six-new-DC-Comics-series/52510592/1
Harold Perrineau bites into G4's 'Blade' anime series
By Brian Truitt, USA TODAY January 12 2012
http://www.usatoday.com/life/comics/story/2012-01-12/Harold-Perrineau-stars-in-Blade-anime-series/52519544/1
By Brian Truitt, USA TODAY January 11 2012
http://www.usatoday.com/life/comics/story/2012-01-11/Scarlet-Spider-comic-series/52496322/1
DC Comics explores new worlds, old favorites with six titles
By Brian Truitt, USA TODAY January 12 2012
http://www.usatoday.com/life/comics/story/2012-01-12/dc-comics-unveils-six-new-series/52504982/1
Seven things to know about DC Comics' new wave of books
By Brian Truitt, USA TODAY January 12 2012
http://www.usatoday.com/life/comics/story/2012-01-12/Seven-facts-about-six-new-DC-Comics-series/52510592/1
Harold Perrineau bites into G4's 'Blade' anime series
By Brian Truitt, USA TODAY January 12 2012
http://www.usatoday.com/life/comics/story/2012-01-12/Harold-Perrineau-stars-in-Blade-anime-series/52519544/1
Tuesday, January 04, 2011
DC Comics letter page to return, says Post wire story
At DC Comics, readers' letters to make a return
By MATT MOORE
The Associated Press Monday, January 3, 2011
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/03/AR2011010303437.html
By MATT MOORE
The Associated Press Monday, January 3, 2011
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/03/AR2011010303437.html
Thursday, December 09, 2010
Truitt on DC's Brightest Day
'Brightest Day' shines light on new DC Universe life By Brian Truitt, USA TODAY December 8 2010
Thursday, September 23, 2010
Comic Riffs on DC's partial LA move
PUTTING THE 'L.A.' in 'JLA': How might DC superheroes fare in their new California digs?
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog September 23, 2010
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/comic-riffs/2010/09/putting_the_la_in_jla_how_migh.html
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog September 23, 2010
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/comic-riffs/2010/09/putting_the_la_in_jla_how_migh.html
Friday, July 09, 2010
Superheroes Who Are Super at the Capital Fring Festival beginning tonight
Save the Day Productions is presenting its live readings of comic books, "Superheroes Who Are Super" at the Capital Fringe Festival beginning tonight
Times
Friday, July 9 @ 8pm
Superman vs. the Amazing Spider-Man and Wonder Woman #1
Saturday, July 10 @ 10pm
Superman vs. the Amazing Spider-Man and Wonder Woman #1
Wednesday, July 14 @ 9:45pm
Batman Adventures: Mad Love
Friday, July 16 @ 10:15pm
The Uncanny X-Men #127-128
Sunday, July 18 @ 3:30pm
The Uncanny X-Men #127-128
Superman vs. the Amazing Spider-Man and Wonder Woman #1
Saturday, July 10 @ 10pm
Superman vs. the Amazing Spider-Man and Wonder Woman #1
Wednesday, July 14 @ 9:45pm
Batman Adventures: Mad Love
Friday, July 16 @ 10:15pm
The Uncanny X-Men #127-128
Sunday, July 18 @ 3:30pm
The Uncanny X-Men #127-128
Location
The Apothecary
1013 7th Street, NW
Washington, DC
Tickets: $15
Monday, March 29, 2010
Comics Riffs on Dick Giordano's death
Giordano was a great penciler and inker for DC Comics, who also became an editor there. Even if you've never read a comic book, you've seen his work because it's used on all kinds of licensed products.
RIP, Dick Giordano: Remembering a comics legend
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog March 29, 2010
RIP, Dick Giordano: Remembering a comics legend
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog March 29, 2010
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Comicsgirl interviewed DC Ass't editor who's also ... a woman!
I missed this earlier, but it's still good - Comicsgirl interviewed a DC Ass't editor in "Five Questions with Janelle Siegel," Tuesday, 24 November 2009.
Monday, August 10, 2009
Outcome of DC Comics internship contest
Following up on our PR posting for this a couple of months ago, is the new PR about the winner of the contest:
STUDENT WINS $25,000 SCHOLARSHIP IN 2009 DESIGN CHALLENGE CONTEST
Recent High School Graduate Earns Chance to Work on Ad with DC Comics
The International Academy of Design & Technology (the Academy) in Troy has welcomed a new student to its school who was recently named the winner of the “2009 Design Scholarship Challenge.” Shane McCallion was among the finalists who flew to San Diego to visit Comic-Con 2009 last month. While there, they presented their submissions to a panel of judges and McCallion was announced as the recipient of the national prize.
The contestants, who were a mix of young men and women, displayed their original designs to the judges. Some drew by hand and others produced computer-generated graphics, all inspired by the DC Comics graphic novel, “Absolute Justice.” DC Comics provided a library of assets for the contestants to use and they were free to develop their concepts based on their interpretation and research. The winner, McCallion, expressed his own intrigue in the dark side of the series by coming up with the caption: “Which side will you serve?” He combined elements of good vs. evil in his depiction of three classic heroes and their rivals.
The judging criterion was based on execution against the creative brief, creativity/originality, aesthetics, the design process and the presentation to the panel. The final round was conducted by a national panel including representatives from DC Comics.
”Shane showed ingenuity and creativity, as well as a unique approach to the challenge” said Steve Rotterdam, senior vice president of sales & marketing for DC Comics.
About the Academy
The International Academy of Design & Technology was originally founded in Chicago in 1977. The Troy campus was established in 2003 to help Michigan students develop their skills and abilities needed for success in the fields of design and technology. The career-oriented degree programs provide hands-on training and real-world insights, taught by industry professionals who work in the fields in which they teach. The Academy is accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS) to award associate and bachelor’s degrees. The Academy currently offers degree programs in Fashion Design, Interior Design, Graphic Design, Game Production, and Digital Media.
For more information about the Academy, please visit www.iadtdetroit.com or call 888.838.2111.
STUDENT WINS $25,000 SCHOLARSHIP IN 2009 DESIGN CHALLENGE CONTEST
Recent High School Graduate Earns Chance to Work on Ad with DC Comics
The International Academy of Design & Technology (the Academy) in Troy has welcomed a new student to its school who was recently named the winner of the “2009 Design Scholarship Challenge.” Shane McCallion was among the finalists who flew to San Diego to visit Comic-Con 2009 last month. While there, they presented their submissions to a panel of judges and McCallion was announced as the recipient of the national prize.
The contestants, who were a mix of young men and women, displayed their original designs to the judges. Some drew by hand and others produced computer-generated graphics, all inspired by the DC Comics graphic novel, “Absolute Justice.” DC Comics provided a library of assets for the contestants to use and they were free to develop their concepts based on their interpretation and research. The winner, McCallion, expressed his own intrigue in the dark side of the series by coming up with the caption: “Which side will you serve?” He combined elements of good vs. evil in his depiction of three classic heroes and their rivals.
The judging criterion was based on execution against the creative brief, creativity/originality, aesthetics, the design process and the presentation to the panel. The final round was conducted by a national panel including representatives from DC Comics.
”Shane showed ingenuity and creativity, as well as a unique approach to the challenge” said Steve Rotterdam, senior vice president of sales & marketing for DC Comics.
About the Academy
The International Academy of Design & Technology was originally founded in Chicago in 1977. The Troy campus was established in 2003 to help Michigan students develop their skills and abilities needed for success in the fields of design and technology. The career-oriented degree programs provide hands-on training and real-world insights, taught by industry professionals who work in the fields in which they teach. The Academy is accredited by the Accrediting Council for Independent Colleges and Schools (ACICS) to award associate and bachelor’s degrees. The Academy currently offers degree programs in Fashion Design, Interior Design, Graphic Design, Game Production, and Digital Media.
For more information about the Academy, please visit www.iadtdetroit.com or call 888.838.2111.
Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
OT: DC Comics internship contest
Here's some PR that I agree to post, although I note I'm really ComicsDC, not DC Comics. It's very important that DC is aware of that distinction (wink, wink). Beyond getting the PR up here, I have nothing to do with this, but it sounds like a nice opportunity.
2009 Design Scholarship Challenge Announced
Aspiring graphic designs students compete for $25,000 tuition scholarship and a chance to work on a DC Comics marketing campaign
Aspiring graphic designers have until June 8 to submit entries to the “2009 Design Scholarship Challenge” to compete for the national prize, an opportunity to work with DC Comics on an upcoming marketing campaign for “Absolute Justice” and a $25,000 tuition scholarship to one of the sponsoring design schools. Hopefuls should submit entries to one of the schools which are: the 11 International Academy of Design & Technology (Academy) campuses, located in Chicago, Detroit, Las Vegas, Online Campus, Orlando, Sacramento, San Antonio, Schaumburg (IL), Seattle, Nashville, and Tampa; as well as Brooks Institute, Brown College, Collins College, and Harrington College of Design.
The first round of judging will be conducted by a panel of faculty and employees at each local campus and winners will be selected by June 19, 2009. The final round will be conducted by a national panel including representatives from DC Comics. The National Winner will be announced in July at San Diego Comic-Con 2009.
“A local winner will be selected from each campus and all 15 will receive a $5,000 tuition scholarship to the sponsoring school of their choice plus a three-day, two-night expense-paid trip to San Diego to attend Comic-Con 2009 where the national winner will be named and will receive an additional $20,000 tuition scholarship to the sponsoring school of their choice,” said Tom McNamara, senior vice president, Art & Design group of Career Education Corporation. “This is an opportunity to experience the real world of graphic design with all of its challenges. The entry requirements are demanding, but the rewards will jump start the education and future careers of several talented students.”
The contest is open to legal residents of the United States who will graduate from high school or receive a GED between January 1, 2006 and July 31, 2010. The contest application, along with detailed instructions is available at www.visualdiner.com. See rules for full eligibility requirements. Void where prohibited.
Participants must submit original designs for a print and an online advertisement for the “Absolute Justice” graphic novel, full of some of the most popular DC Comic characters, along with a completed detail sheet which includes a short inspiration statement. Local winners will receive a second creative brief and specifications for an as yet-to-be released DC Comics publication and must present a second set of a print and an online advertisement to a panel of judges at Comic-Con 2009. In addition to the finished print and online advertisements, local winners must also submit a binder on their design process including a written summary of people contacted for information about the project and the advice they provided, sketches, illustrations, photographs or digital images of the project as it evolved from concept to completion, a summary of influences on your entry and a written summary of your overall concept.
“This is more than a scholarship competition,” McNamara said. “It’s an opportunity to gain experience and exposure in the world of graphic design and to test your hand in a rewarding and exciting line of work.
2009 Design Scholarship Challenge Announced
Aspiring graphic designs students compete for $25,000 tuition scholarship and a chance to work on a DC Comics marketing campaign
Aspiring graphic designers have until June 8 to submit entries to the “2009 Design Scholarship Challenge” to compete for the national prize, an opportunity to work with DC Comics on an upcoming marketing campaign for “Absolute Justice” and a $25,000 tuition scholarship to one of the sponsoring design schools. Hopefuls should submit entries to one of the schools which are: the 11 International Academy of Design & Technology (Academy) campuses, located in Chicago, Detroit, Las Vegas, Online Campus, Orlando, Sacramento, San Antonio, Schaumburg (IL), Seattle, Nashville, and Tampa; as well as Brooks Institute, Brown College, Collins College, and Harrington College of Design.
The first round of judging will be conducted by a panel of faculty and employees at each local campus and winners will be selected by June 19, 2009. The final round will be conducted by a national panel including representatives from DC Comics. The National Winner will be announced in July at San Diego Comic-Con 2009.
“A local winner will be selected from each campus and all 15 will receive a $5,000 tuition scholarship to the sponsoring school of their choice plus a three-day, two-night expense-paid trip to San Diego to attend Comic-Con 2009 where the national winner will be named and will receive an additional $20,000 tuition scholarship to the sponsoring school of their choice,” said Tom McNamara, senior vice president, Art & Design group of Career Education Corporation. “This is an opportunity to experience the real world of graphic design with all of its challenges. The entry requirements are demanding, but the rewards will jump start the education and future careers of several talented students.”
The contest is open to legal residents of the United States who will graduate from high school or receive a GED between January 1, 2006 and July 31, 2010. The contest application, along with detailed instructions is available at www.visualdiner.com. See rules for full eligibility requirements. Void where prohibited.
Participants must submit original designs for a print and an online advertisement for the “Absolute Justice” graphic novel, full of some of the most popular DC Comic characters, along with a completed detail sheet which includes a short inspiration statement. Local winners will receive a second creative brief and specifications for an as yet-to-be released DC Comics publication and must present a second set of a print and an online advertisement to a panel of judges at Comic-Con 2009. In addition to the finished print and online advertisements, local winners must also submit a binder on their design process including a written summary of people contacted for information about the project and the advice they provided, sketches, illustrations, photographs or digital images of the project as it evolved from concept to completion, a summary of influences on your entry and a written summary of your overall concept.
“This is more than a scholarship competition,” McNamara said. “It’s an opportunity to gain experience and exposure in the world of graphic design and to test your hand in a rewarding and exciting line of work.
Monday, April 27, 2009
April 30: Dan Didio on intellectual property and economic recovery
Reposting for freshness...
This sounds pretty interesting - if one wants to go, just RSVP. I'm still mulling it over.
YOU'RE INVITED
•••••••••••••••••••••
Institute for Policy Innovation
It's a Bird! It's a Plane!
It's...
Dan DiDio
Senior Vice-President, Executive Editor - DC Comics
Dan DiDio of DC Comics joins the line-up for IPI’s Fourth Annual World Intellectual Property Day Forum,
“The Role of Intellectual Property in the Global Recovery”
•••••••••••••••••••••
Previously Confirmed Speakers:
Michael Gallagher
President, Entertainment Software Association
Dr. Mark Esper
Executive Vice President, U.S. Chamber of Commerce Global Intellectual Property Center
Program Discussion Panels:
The Role of IP in a Struggling Economy
Does Growing Protectionism Limit Access to Innovation?
Insider Forum: IP and the Future of Innovation
Make Plans Now To Attend:
Thursday, April 30, 2009
9:30 AM to 1:00 PM
Reserve Officers Association (ROA) Headquarters Minuteman Memorial Building
Minuteman Ballroom, 5th Floor
One Constitution Ave NE
Washington DC 20002
*Complimentary lunch will be served.
RSVP: Erin Humiston at (972) 874-5139 or erin@ipi.org
This sounds pretty interesting - if one wants to go, just RSVP. I'm still mulling it over.
YOU'RE INVITED
•••••••••••••••••••••
Institute for Policy Innovation
It's a Bird! It's a Plane!
It's...
Dan DiDio
Senior Vice-President, Executive Editor - DC Comics
Dan DiDio of DC Comics joins the line-up for IPI’s Fourth Annual World Intellectual Property Day Forum,
“The Role of Intellectual Property in the Global Recovery”
•••••••••••••••••••••
Previously Confirmed Speakers:
Michael Gallagher
President, Entertainment Software Association
Dr. Mark Esper
Executive Vice President, U.S. Chamber of Commerce Global Intellectual Property Center
Program Discussion Panels:
The Role of IP in a Struggling Economy
Does Growing Protectionism Limit Access to Innovation?
Insider Forum: IP and the Future of Innovation
Make Plans Now To Attend:
Thursday, April 30, 2009
9:30 AM to 1:00 PM
Reserve Officers Association (ROA) Headquarters Minuteman Memorial Building
Minuteman Ballroom, 5th Floor
One Constitution Ave NE
Washington DC 20002
*Complimentary lunch will be served.
RSVP: Erin Humiston at (972) 874-5139 or erin@ipi.org
Tuesday, April 14, 2009
April 30: Dan Didio on intellectual property and economic recovery
This sounds pretty interesting - if one wants to go, just RSVP. I'm mulling it over.
YOU'RE INVITED
•••••••••••••••••••••
Institute for Policy Innovation
It's a Bird! It's a Plane!
It's...
Dan DiDio
Senior Vice-President, Executive Editor - DC Comics
Dan DiDio of DC Comics joins the line-up for IPI’s Fourth Annual World Intellectual Property Day Forum,
“The Role of Intellectual Property in the Global Recovery”
•••••••••••••••••••••
Previously Confirmed Speakers:
Michael Gallagher
President, Entertainment Software Association
Dr. Mark Esper
Executive Vice President, U.S. Chamber of Commerce Global Intellectual Property Center
Program Discussion Panels:
The Role of IP in a Struggling Economy
Does Growing Protectionism Limit Access to Innovation?
Insider Forum: IP and the Future of Innovation
Make Plans Now To Attend:
Thursday, April 30, 2009
9:30 AM to 1:00 PM
Reserve Officers Association (ROA) Headquarters Minuteman Memorial Building
Minuteman Ballroom, 5th Floor
One Constitution Ave NE
Washington DC 20002
*Complimentary lunch will be served.
RSVP: Erin Humiston at (972) 874-5139 or erin@ipi.org
YOU'RE INVITED
•••••••••••••••••••••
Institute for Policy Innovation
It's a Bird! It's a Plane!
It's...
Dan DiDio
Senior Vice-President, Executive Editor - DC Comics
Dan DiDio of DC Comics joins the line-up for IPI’s Fourth Annual World Intellectual Property Day Forum,
“The Role of Intellectual Property in the Global Recovery”
•••••••••••••••••••••
Previously Confirmed Speakers:
Michael Gallagher
President, Entertainment Software Association
Dr. Mark Esper
Executive Vice President, U.S. Chamber of Commerce Global Intellectual Property Center
Program Discussion Panels:
The Role of IP in a Struggling Economy
Does Growing Protectionism Limit Access to Innovation?
Insider Forum: IP and the Future of Innovation
Make Plans Now To Attend:
Thursday, April 30, 2009
9:30 AM to 1:00 PM
Reserve Officers Association (ROA) Headquarters Minuteman Memorial Building
Minuteman Ballroom, 5th Floor
One Constitution Ave NE
Washington DC 20002
*Complimentary lunch will be served.
RSVP: Erin Humiston at (972) 874-5139 or erin@ipi.org
Thursday, April 09, 2009
Comic Riffs Interviews DC Comics's editor Dan DiDio
They've got a somewhat atypical piece today - DAVID BETANCOURT has "The Interview: DC Comics's Dan DiDio," Washington Post Comic Riffs blog (April 9 2009) mostly on changes in Superman and The Flash.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
Ira Schnapp, the genius that most inspired Joel Pollack's interests in comics
Big Planet Comics founder and owner Joel Pollack sent me a note which he said I could reprint here:
Just found on Wikipedia, an article on Ira Schnapp, the genius that most inspired my interests in comics. Ira was a friend of my Aunt Kitty Goldberg, and hosted me to two long visits to DC Comics offices when I was 15.
Ira's career before comics was amazing. His comic work was unsung, but he helped define the look of DC Comics covers from 1938-68. To what should be DC's great shame, Ira was left out of "The 50 That Made DC Great" commemorative publication.
The ultimate Ira Schnapp article.
The Wikipedia article is interesting, but also of note is the kindness shown to a 15-year-old who ended up making comics his career. I've had a few people do the same for me - my Mom and Dad bought comics we read to death; Mike Violante who married my cousin and shared his collection of Silver-Age DC and Marvel with me; Frank Grembowiec the owner of Collectors Comic Shop formerly in the Bergen Mall in Paramus NJ who sold me comics in my teens, Joel who picked that role up, John Lent who asked me out of the blue to be a part of the International Journal of Comic Art... there's a lot of people I could list and you just never know how things will work out.
Just found on Wikipedia, an article on Ira Schnapp, the genius that most inspired my interests in comics. Ira was a friend of my Aunt Kitty Goldberg, and hosted me to two long visits to DC Comics offices when I was 15.
Ira's career before comics was amazing. His comic work was unsung, but he helped define the look of DC Comics covers from 1938-68. To what should be DC's great shame, Ira was left out of "The 50 That Made DC Great" commemorative publication.
The ultimate Ira Schnapp article.
The Wikipedia article is interesting, but also of note is the kindness shown to a 15-year-old who ended up making comics his career. I've had a few people do the same for me - my Mom and Dad bought comics we read to death; Mike Violante who married my cousin and shared his collection of Silver-Age DC and Marvel with me; Frank Grembowiec the owner of Collectors Comic Shop formerly in the Bergen Mall in Paramus NJ who sold me comics in my teens, Joel who picked that role up, John Lent who asked me out of the blue to be a part of the International Journal of Comic Art... there's a lot of people I could list and you just never know how things will work out.
Saturday, September 20, 2008
Zadzooks on Star Wars video game
Zadzooks seems to be bouncing all over the Times lately so I keep missing it. Here's the latest which is videogame animation and the adaption into a comic book - "ZADZOOKS: Star Wars, The Force Unleashed review," Joseph Szadkowski, Washington Times Monday, September 15, 2008.
Online is "Bennett's Best for the week of September 14," By Greg Bennett, Zadzooks blog September 18 2008 in which the Big Planet owner recommends two comics, one of which I've never heard of and the other is a cheap attempt to cash in on current events that DC should be commended for. Like Dell in the 1960s - give the people what they want, even if it is Gunsmoke adaptations!
Online is "Bennett's Best for the week of September 14," By Greg Bennett, Zadzooks blog September 18 2008 in which the Big Planet owner recommends two comics, one of which I've never heard of and the other is a cheap attempt to cash in on current events that DC should be commended for. Like Dell in the 1960s - give the people what they want, even if it is Gunsmoke adaptations!
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Zadzooks on videogame with minor comics tie-in and ill-fitting Star Wars characters
For info on some videogame called Soulcatcher IV, the DC comic book that comes with it, and the weird fact that you can have Darth Vader in your game, see "ZADZOOKS: Swords cast world into strife," Joseph Szadkowski, Washington Times Thursday, August 28, 2008.
We also have Bennett's Best online - I looked at the Superman 3-D Final Crisis and put it back. If I made a mistake, somebody let me know.
We also have Bennett's Best online - I looked at the Superman 3-D Final Crisis and put it back. If I made a mistake, somebody let me know.
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