Tuesday, September 23, 2014

Oct. 21: Spiegelman's 'WORDLESS!'

Art Spiegelman brings his WORDLESS! show—a mix of comics, lecture and music—

to the Lisner Auditorium at George Washington University on Oct. 21. Tickets are $35, $40 and $45. Click on the image below to see a teaser of the show.

Sept 24: Cece Bell at One More Page

Wed, Sept 24 at 4 pm: In El Deafo, her funny, poignant graphic novel memoir, author/illustrator CECE BELL chronicles her hearing loss at a young age and her subsequent experiences with the Phonic Ear, a very powerful--and very awkward--hearing aid.  The Phonic Ear gives Cece the ability to hear--sometimes things she shouldn't--but also isolates her from her classmates. 

"Worthy of a superhero."  --Kirkus Reviews, starred review
"...belongs right next to Raina Telgemeier's" Smile "(2011) and Liz Prince's "Tomboy."" --Booklist


One More Page Books 2200 N. Westmoreland Street, #101
Arlington, VA 22213
703-300-9746    Visit our website
Mon-Sat: 10 am - 8 pm; Sun: noon to 5 pm

Monday, September 22, 2014

TCJ on SPX

SPX 2014: An Indie Comics Microcosm
BY WHIT TAYLOR SEP 22, 2014

THURS 9/25: George Perez Signing at Third Eye Comics

THURSDAY 9/25/14
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SIRENS #1 Launch Party with comics legend GEORGE PEREZ!
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Co-Creator of DEATHSTROKE, STARFIRE, CYBORG, RAVEN and more!
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SIGNING FROM 11AM-1PM!
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FIRST 20 IN LINE RECEIVE A FREE GIFT!

Sunday, September 21, 2014

Visiting Peru to talk comics


by Matt Dembicki

Last week, I spent a week in Lima and Cusco, Peru, teaching comics to high school and college students who are learning English, as well as teachers who teach English. The sessions, which were organized by the U.S. State Department, were held at what are called Binational Centers (BNCs), which are partially English language schools.

Upon arriving in Lima, I first served as a co-judge for an annual national comics contest for youths, who submitted two-page comics focused on an environmental issue, ranging from recycling to deforestation and water pollution. What was especially cool was the number of girls/women who participated. In fact, two of the top three winning strips were written/drawn by women.

Following the announcement of the winners live via webcast to the BNCs, I rolled up my sleeves and got going on the comics-making workshops with ESL teachers. Since the focus was on how to use comics to raise awareness of environmental issues, the teachers did one-page comics on an environmental topic.

Over the next few days, I held similar workshops for BNC students and the general public. It was especially interesting to see the wide range of ages of folks who attended the workshops. I also had an opportunity to talk about my personal work at a few events and through media interviews.

At all these events, it was especially gratifying to see a passion for comics. Brazil and Argentina tend to grab international attention when discussing South American comics, but Peru has a wonderful array of comics creators. It’s encouraging to see an indie/self-publish scene in Peru, and to witness an acceptance of comics among the general public as a medium to entertain and educate. And it’s especially wonderful to feel a connection globally through comics. I’ve made some great friends in Peru. I think you’ll see fruits of those friendships in the years to come.

A nice write-up in the A section in El Comercio, Peru's largest daily.

A quick photo with an El Camercio photographer and editor Adolfo Bazan Coquis

Comics creator and educator Fabrizio Rivas

The BNC library staff at one of the center's in Lima

With some English-language teachers following a workshop

Some of the books I used as examples of comics with environmental/conservation themes. I donated these books to the BMC programs.

I was amazed at some of the graphic novel displays at a couple bookstores in Lima. 


A few wonderful comics I traded for in Lima. Cartoonist Renso Gonzalez and his brother put together some amazing books.

Couldn't resist getting this T-shirt for my son.

A copy of Trickster at the BNC library in Cusco

Saturday, September 20, 2014

Friday, September 19, 2014

Three good SPX reports

The first is NSFW due to an image of Japanese gay porn:

SPX '14 – Ten Comics, Eight Hours, Three Panels, One Day

And I'm particularly taken with Rob Clough's analysis here:

September 17, 2014


I haven't listened to this one yet, but he interviewed my friends Matt Dembicki and Joe Procopio:

Robots From Tomorrow Episode 120: Small Press Expo 2014 [Podcast]

September 18, 2014  by
http://multiversitycomics.com/podcasts/robots-from-tomorrow-episode-120-small-press-expo-2014-podcast/

Sept 24: Cece Bell at Politics and Prose

Cece Bell - El Deafo

Sep 24 2014 10:30 am

Bell's graphic memoir recounts her childhood experience of hearing loss, which included struggling with an unwieldy aid that ironically allowed her to hear some things she shouldn't have. But her disability also let her find her quasi-superhero persona, and as "El Deafo, Hearer for All," Bell made friends and found respect. Ages 8 – 12 (Amulet)

El Deafo (Paperback)

$10.95
ISBN-13: 9781419712173
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Amulet Books, 9/2014
5015 Connecticut Ave NW
Washington
District Of Columbia

Thursday, September 18, 2014

Comic Riffs on Black Comics

'BLACK COMICS': Fresh off milestone Eisner Award, (Howard alumna) scholar goes deep beneath black-and-white of comics page at Fall for the Book [Q&A]

By Michael Cavna Washington Post Comic Riffs September 18 2014

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2014/09/18/black-comics-fresh-off-milestone-eisner-award-howard-alumna-scholar-goes-deep-beneath-black-and-white-of-comics-page-at-fall-for-the-book-qa/

Weingarten and Shansby on Kojo Nnamdi show NOW

Gene Weingarten & Eric Shansby on Comedy and Collaboration


    [token_custom_headline_image_caption_plain] - [token_custom_headline_image_credit_plain]

    Gene Weingarten and Eric Shansby collaborated on the new children's book "Me and Dog," which was released Sept. 16.

    Simon & Schuster Children's Publishing

    Each week, Washington Post columnist Gene Weingarten and illustrator Eric Shansby team up to create the often hilarious "Below the Beltway" column that runs in newspapers across the country. Now the duo unleashes their humor and wisdom on young readers with a children's book, "Me & Dog." We talk with the pair about the dynamics of their collaboration, the questions of faith they raise in the book and the importance of knowing your audience.

    Guests

    Gene Weingarten

    author, 'Me & Dog'; columnist, 'Below the Beltway; staff writer, The Washington Post; cartoonist, "Barney & Clyde";

    Eric Shansby

    cartoonist and illustrator, 'Below the Beltway' 'Me & Dog'

    Sept 19: Daniel Boyd, Author CARBON at Beyond Comics

    • Daniel Boyd, 
      Author 
      CARBON

      FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 19th
      3:00pm to 6:00pm

      Beyond Comics
      5632 Buckeystown Pike, Frederick, Maryland 21704
    Daniel Boyd author of new controversial eco-horror graphic novel CARBON will be at signing copies of Carbon. Carbon received it's big national roll out last week from publisher Caliber Comics. Holly wood is showing interest in several Caliber titles, including Carbon to hit the big screen. Boyd a native to West Virginia and is a West Virginia State University Professor when he's not making indy films and writing graphic novels.

    Gene Weingarten and Eric Shansby's new children's book

    A boy, his dog and atheism: Gene Weingarten talks about his new children's book
    By Michelle Boorstein 
    September 17 2014  

    My first children's book is about atheism … and dogs
    By Gene Weingarten September 17 2014

    Weingarten writes the Barney and Clyde comic strip and Shansby is a former college cartoonist who illustrates Weingarten's Sunday column in the Post Magazine.

    Wednesday, September 17, 2014

    Publishers Weekly on SPX

     

    Small Press Expo 2014: A Wedding, A Prom, and Lots of Comics

    By Heidi MacDonald and Calvin Reid

    Sep 17, 2014                          

    http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/comics/article/64025-small-press-expo-2014-a-wedding-a-prom-and-lots-of-comics.html

    The Post on Tony Auth

     

    CARTOON OF THE DAY: Signe Wilkinson memorializes her mentor, Tony Auth (RIP)

    By Michael Cavna

    Washington Post Comic Riffs blog September 16 2014

    http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2014/09/16/cartoon-of-the-day-signe-wilkinson-memorializes-her-mentor-tony-auth-riph/

     

     

    Tony Auth, Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist who satirized political figures, dies at 72

    By Matt Schudel

    Washington Post September 17 2014

    http://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/comics/tony-auth-pulitzer-prize-winning-cartoonist-who-satirized-political-figures-dies-at-72/2014/09/16/e9f52e56-3daf-11e4-b0ea-8141703bbf6f_story.html

    Comic Riffs talks to Alison Bechdel

    2014 MacARTHUR 'GENIUS' GRANTS: For groundbreaking 'Fun Home' cartoonist Alison Bechdel, the latest twist in her 'really crazy' year
    By Michael Cavna September 17 2014

    Tuesday, September 16, 2014

    Steve Artley headed to Toonfest this week

    Toonfest Headliners Excited For Visit
    By Dustin Watson
    September 08. 2014
    http://www.linncountyleader.com/article/20140908/NEWS/140909162/1994/NEWS?template=printart

    New book from Lost Art Books

    THE LOST ART OF RAY WILLNER: THE ADVENTURES OF ROBIN HOOD

    The Lost Art of Ray Willner: The Adventures of Robin Hood

    The Lost Art of Ray Willner: The Adventures of Robin Hood

    All 14 stories collected for the first time
    Introduction by Joseph V. Procopio
    Career-spanning bonus gallery

    Ray Willner was a casualty of the culture wars. With a comics career dating to 1939, Willner produced impressive work for publishers small and large throughout the 1940s. By 1949 he landed one of the only steady gigs in his career for an unusual publisher: The Brown Shoe Company. It was there that Willner found a simpatico spirit in fellow artist Reed Crandall. Although their collaboration on the Brown Shoe Co. series The Adventures of Robin Hood lasted less than a year — cancelled in the wake of the scaremongering backlash against comics in the 1950s — the seven issues produced by Willner with Crandall represent a seldom seen high-water mark in comics art. They were the last comics Willner would ever draw.

    The Lost Art of Ray Willner collects these comics for the first time since their original publication in 1956 and includes an introductory essay on Willner's life and career.

    - See more at: http://www.picturethispress.com/the-lost-art-of-ray-willner-the-adventures-of-robin-hood/#sthash.9AXhas7n.dpuf

    Monday, September 15, 2014

    Retrofit Comics interview

    Box Brown and Jared Smith Interviewed

    By Raighne Hogan on 26 August 2014
    http://2dcloud.com/explodingwrists/box-brown-and-jared-smith-interviewed/

    Tonight: Eleanor Davis and Drew Weing in Takoma Park

    Sept 15: Eleanor Davis and Drew Weing, Monday 7:30 at the Takoma Park MD Library

    Eleanor Davis at the Takoma Park MD Library Monday Sept 15, 7:30.

    Following this weekend's Small Press Expo if you are the sort who need even more comics in your life, after SPX, come visit your comics friendly local library on Monday as Eleanor Davis (Secret Science Alliance) visits with her slideshow presentation of life, work, art, etc and also to share her new work:  How to be Happy..  And she may be bringing along her husband collaborator artist illustrator writer Drew Weing (Set to Sea).

    Come talk comics, process, the struggle between freelancing and working on personal projects, etc.

    Takoma Park MD Library, 101 Philadelphia Ave, Takoma Park MD 20912.   (or a short-ish walk down the hill from the Takoma Park Metro stop on the Red Line).

    http://comixtakoma.wordpress.com/2014/09/10/how-to-be-happy-eleanor-davis-monday-sept-15-730/

    Another Library of Congress comics reader picture


    Queens, New York. Nursery school at Queensbridge housing project. Child reading a comic book during rest period

    SPX's Ignatz Awards

    SPX: SMALL PRESS EXPO: And your 2014 Ignatz Award winners are…
    By Michael Cavna 
    Washington Post Comic Riffs blog September 14 2014

    Comic Riffs on Tony Auth's passing

    RIP, TONY AUTH: Colleagues salute Pulitzer-winning Philadelphia journalist as a singular, big-hearted artist

    By Michael Cavna 
    Washington Post Comic Riffs blog September 15 2014

    Sunday, September 14, 2014

    Robin Ha is a new local cartoonist

    Robin Ha is a new local cartoonist. She's just moved to the area. I met her today at SPX. Here's her info:


    An interview will follow I hope.

    Sept 15: Raina Telgemeier and Dave Roman in Arlington

    Raina Telgemeier and Dave Roman
    Mon, September 15, 4:30pm – 5:30pm

    One More Page Books


    Address: 2200 N Westmoreland St #101, Arlington, VA 22213

    They do a great job presenting all-age comics.

    SPX day 2 photos

    I had a good time again today, and took a few more shots. All the pictures can be seen at my Flickr site. I think people probably did well, on both sides of the table, but I'm sure the main news sites will cover that. I saw Tom "Comics Reporter" Spurgeon and Heidi "the Beat" MacDonald in passing today.

    James Kochalka
    Rob Ullman, the former Washington City Paper's Savage Love illustrator

    SPX day 1 photos


    Ellen Lindner
    Day one of SPX seemed like a success to me. It didn't feel as crowded as last year, but there was a good flow of people around. Even at opening, the aisles got busy fast.

    Here's a link to more SPX photos I took yesterday. They're mostly DC-area creators. Also included is Jules Feiffer at Politics and Prose on Friday.
    Jules Feiffer
    Raina Telgemeier and Dave Roman

    Dean Haspiel and Christa Cassano

    Carolyn Belefski

    Friday, September 12, 2014

    Comic Riffs talks to Jules Feiffer

    SMALL PRESS EXPO: 'Godfather of the alties' Jules Feiffer finds he's a new man since leaving Manhattan


    By Michael Cavna Washington Post Comic Riffs blog  September 12 2014
    http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2014/09/12/small-press-expo-godfather-of-the-alties-jules-feiffer-finds-hes-a-new-man-since-leaving-manhattan/

    Small Press Expo, aka SPX, starts tomorrow

    The blogosphere is full of information, so here's just the basics from their website. This is always a good show, and they've got some great alternative newspaper cartoonists this year, including Jules Feiffer who was one of the earliest. Note that the Metro Station garage is a good walk from the hotel especially with books. From ComicsDC, Matt Dembicki will be at the DC Conspiracy table on Saturday only, and Mike Rhode will be roaming the crowd on both days.

    Dates & Times:

    September 13th and 14th, 2014 

    Saturday: 11:00 am – 7:00 pm
    Sunday: 12:00 pm – 6:00 pm 



    Admission:

    One Day Membership:
    $15 Saturday
    $10 Sunday

    Weekend Membership: $20 

    Tickets on sale at the door.


    Location:

    The world class Marriott Bethesda North Hotel & Conference Center 
    5701 Marinelli Road 
    North Bethesda, MD 20852

    FREE PARKING is available on weekends at the White Flint Metro Station, which is across the street from the Marriott.



    Roboy Red game app now available

    from http://www.comicbookdiner.com/2014/09/11/roboy-red-game-app-soars-into-itunes/

    screen_roboy960temp

    roboy_appnew

    We just launched the Roboy Red: Jetpack Attack game app  at iTunes and Google Play! It is a FREE app, modeled after the famous Jetpack Attack, but with John & Rich's own special Roboy flair!

    You can download from iTunes by clicking HERE>>

    Download at Google Play for Android >>

    This is the first of a series of apps that the Comic Book Diner have planned as part of a mission to spread the word, and draw people into the cool comics that we do!  Here's a nifty new YouTube vid to check out the app… https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6Ywr2RLSG8

    And John notes: At SPX, I will give a FREE comic book to anyone who shows me the downloaded app on their iPhone, iPad or Android device! Booth H14, right next to Raina and Dave!