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Thursday, September 25, 2014
Oct 1: Ars Electronica Animation Film Festival
Dreams Really Did Come True at Disney's ToonFest
by Steve Artley
I was honored to be a part of the annual ToonFest event in Walt Disney's hometown of Marceline, Missouri last week. The two-day celebration honors the memory of Walt Disney and the cartooning profession through activities including programs that feature guest cartoonists. Among the other headliners brought in to give presentations were Hilary Price, Bill Hinds, Eddie Pittman and the dynamic Guy Gilchrist.
On Friday, the team spoke to over 400 high school and college students, who were bused in from surrounding communities. Event organizers reported that this year's attendance was a record high.
One of the highlights, is a street parade complete with strolling performers and several bands. Guest artists are each featured as "Grand Marshal" and ride the parade route down the original Main Street USA (inspiration for the Disney parks' street of the same name) in the back of classic pickups. Following the parade, the team reprises their talks at the Marceline Community Center. Later, we were taken to Walt Disney's boyhood farm for a ceremony at the "Dreaming Tree," where youngsters Walt and his sister, Ruth reportedly spent many childhood hours gazing up through the branches, to wish upon their star. With much pomp and flair, each artist was re-introduced, brought before the assemblage and inducted into the "Order of Plantears" (each are crowned with a hardhat featuring Mickey ears). Young Mouseketeers led each of us to our respective spots to plant our own "dreaming tree." A grand BBQ picnic at the farmstead brought the event to a festive conclusion.
Throughout our entire visit, we artists were met with an abundance of genuine welcoming warmth and charity by the good folks of Marceline. Shortly after landing at the Washington airport, I walked through the crowded corridors of fast-paced indifference. I was shoved aside without apology from one of the self-absorbed pushing his way to the VIP lounge. It took every effort to restrain myself from boarding a return flight to Marceline with intent to seek asylum.
Friday night was a banquet and tour of the Disney Museum. |
Hilary Price and Bill Hinds |
A horse-drawn wagon full of cartoonists and friends |
The door to Walt Disney's boyhood bedroom |
ToonFest Parade: Awesome. Vehicle carrying Hilary Price along the parade route: Priceless.
During the last leg of the parade route, the classic pickup carrying Hilary Price overheated and came to an abrupt Disneyesque halt, complete with gurgling sound FX and billowing steam. Disney animators and Foley artists couldn't have done it better. Not to be left knuckle biting and helpless at the roadside, the ever resourceful Hilary got out and pushed with assistance by a couple of onlookers.From my vantage point of the tailgate of the vehicle ahead of Hilary, I gleefully iPhone photographed the following sequence.
Wednesday, September 24, 2014
The Post reviews Cece Bell's book
Cece Bell's story of a deaf child's struggles reflects her own [Review: 'El Deafo' by Cece Bell
By Sharon Pajka
Washington Post September 24 2014, p. C4.
Comic Riffs on banned books
BANNED BOOKS WEEK: No 'Bone' or 'Neverwhere'? Here's why we can't afford to shelve the debate
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog September 24 2014
Oct 8: James O'Barr at Beyond Comics
Wednesday October 8th
12:00noon to 4:00pm
Also Meet
Facebook Information!
Tuesday, September 23, 2014
Another satisfied Cul de Sac reader recommends it
Ten reasons why you need "The Complete Cul de Sac"
By Andy Mansell
09/17/2014
http://culturemass.com/2014/09/17/ten-reasons-need-complete-cul-de-sac/
Comic Riffs talks to Cece Bell
'EL DEAFO': With her first (and so funny) graphic novel, deaf Va. artist CECE BELL hopes her tale will help others
By Michael Cavna Washington Post Comic Riffs blog September 23 2014
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2014/09/23/el-deafo-cece-bell/
Oct. 21: Spiegelman's 'WORDLESS!'
Sept 24: Cece Bell at One More Page
"...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
THURS 9/25: George Perez Signing at Third Eye Comics
- Show MapTHIRD EYE COMICS2027-A West St, Annapolis, Maryland 21401
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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
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.
Saturday, September 20, 2014
The Post on ‘Gotham’ sans Batman, ‘The Flash’, and ‘Constantine’
Fall TV 2014
Every new show, the schedule for every returning show, and what's worth watching.
By Hank Stuever, Washington Post Sept. 21, 2014
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/entertainment/2014-fall-tv-shows/
That darn Hagar
Letters to the Editor
Rape jokes do not belong in the comics [in print as 'Hagar' gets even more horrible]
Susan J. Popkin, Vienna
Washington Post 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
http://www.tcj.com/spx-14-ten-comics-eight-hours-three-panels-one-day/
September 17, 2014
Some Ramblings on SPX 2014
http://highlowcomics.blogspot.com/2014/09/some-ramblings-on-spx-2014.htmlI 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 Greg MatiasevichSept 24: Cece Bell at Politics and Prose
Cece Bell - El Deafo
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)
- 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
Weingarten and Shansby on Kojo Nnamdi show NOW
Gene Weingarten & Eric Shansby on Comedy and Collaboration
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
Sept 19: Daniel Boyd, Author CARBON at Beyond Comics
- Daniel Boyd,AuthorCARBON
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 19th
3:00pm to 6:00pmBeyond Comics5632 Buckeystown Pike, Frederick, Maryland 21704
Gene Weingarten and Eric Shansby's new children's book
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
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
Tony Auth, Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist who satirized political figures, dies at 72
By Matt Schudel
Washington Post September 17 2014
Comic Riffs talks to Alison Bechdel
Tuesday, September 16, 2014
Steve Artley headed to Toonfest this week
By Dustin Watson
September 08. 2014
http://www.linncountyleader.com/article/20140908/NEWS/140909162/1994/NEWS?template=printart
New book from Lost Art Books
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.dpufMonday, September 15, 2014
Retrofit Comics interview
Box Brown and Jared Smith Interviewed
By Raighne Hogan on 26 August 2014http://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
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/