Baltimore Comic-Con UPDATE 2 - now with more pictures

Because YOU (well, Richard Thompson at least) demanded it, here's some pics with commentary to follow later. I will say this is the busiest I've seen the con.

Greg LaRocque was sitting, possibly with his son, sketching. I always liked LaRocque's smooth style in the 1980s on the Legion of Super-Heroes and the Flash. I bought some DC tryout pages he'd done of Batman facing down Darkseid - lovely work. He should be still getting all the work he can handle. He's working on a new book for a small company - when I find the ad again, I'll mention it as he's a Northern Baltimore creator.


Me with Al Feldstein, EC artist, and Mad editor in chief during the glory days.



Jim Shooter, former Legion of Superheroes writer, Marvel Editor-in-Chief and Valiant EiC.


Jim Shooter was quite friendly - one of the guys in front of me had a pile of Avengers comics to be signed. Shooter told an anecdote about 3 of them. In one, artist George Perez added in art that wasn't in the script, like a nun answering the door when the Avengers were in hot pursuit. So Shooter called someone at the local Berlitz and had the Beast speaking correct Latin to the nun. He said they were planning to pay, but the translator was so tickled to be in a comic, he didn't want it. The issue of the Avengers with Ant-Man shooting up full-size and hitting other Avengers? Rob Liefeld told Shooter it was the best comic ever. Finally, in the first What If series - What if the Avengers Never Existed? - Archie Goodwin provided the main plot for the story by telling Shooter, "You have to kill Iron Man." Shooter spoke briefly about the fun times the old Marvel Bullpen was, and then signed my Avengers: The Korvac Saga and the DC Legion of Superhero Archives 6-7 - without mentioning this! "OFFICIAL: JIM SHOOTER RETURNS TO DC'S LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES"
by Matt Brady, Newsarama (September 6, 2007).

Don Rosa, heir to Carl Barks on the Disney Ducks.


Herb Trimpe drawing Wolverine.

John Romita Sr. and Herb Trimpe getting together.

The line for Herb Trimpe was always long, which I was pleased to see. He had written an article for the NY Times a year or so ago about being forgotten by comic book companies, but people reading comics in the 1960s and 70s saw his work all the time, especially on the Hulk. When John Romita Sr., the former Marvel art director stopped by, they hugged and then kept giving each other credit for creating Wolverine. Apparently Trimpe came up with the character and Romita the costume. Trimpe's got a book out - The Power of Angels: Reflections from a Ground Zero Chaplain. I had him sign that and a copy of Origins of Marvel Comics that my wife had signed for me by Stan Lee in 1991. Trimpe took a great pleasure in asking if he could sign the page over the top (ie higher) than Stan Lee. Fine with me.

Joe Kubert, caught at his Kubert School table, signs a few comics, but not for me, sigh.

Claire was quite taken with the Girls with Slingshots table decor.

More photographs, courtesy of Joel Pollack of Big Planet Comics:

Arnold Blumberg, curator of Geppi's Entertainment Museum
Sergio Aragones
Kyle Baker
Joe Kubert
James Jean
Frank Cho

And here's a press show interview, "Catching Up with Baltimore Comic-Con's Marc Nathan," by Tim O'Shea, September 5, 2007.

Nov 9: PenFaulkner on comics

Lynda Barry, Alison Bechdel and Chris Ware - Nov. 9, 2007
PenFaulkner Reading series

Tickets are $15.00.

Graphic Novels
Lynda Barry, Chris Ware
Daniel Raeburn, Moderator
Friday, November 9, 8 p.m.

Held at the Aaron and Cecile Goldman Theater of the Washington, DC Jewish Community Center

Lynda Barry

Lynda Barry is a writer and cartoonist whose comic strip “Ernie Pook’s Comeek” celebrates its 30th year in print in 2007. She is the author of The Good Times are Killing Me, which she adapted into a long-running off-Broadway play. The New York Times called her second novel, Cruddy, “a work of terrible beauty.” She received the 2003 William Eisner Award for Best Graphic Album and an American Library Association Alex Award for her book One! Hundred! Demons! She lives and works in southern Wisconsin.
Alison Bechdel

Alison Bechdel’s comic strip Dykes To Watch Out For has become a countercultural institution since it began in 1983. The strip is syndicated in dozens of newspapers, translated into several languages and collected in a series of award-winning books. Utne magazine has listed DTWOF as “one of the greatest hits of the twentieth century.” And Comics Journal says, “Bechdel's art distills the pleasures of Friends and The Nation; we recognize our world in it, with its sorrows and ironies.”
Chris Ware

Chris Ware is the writer and cartoonist of the periodical The ACME Novelty Library. His other works include Jimmy Corrigan — the Smartest Kid on Earth, recipient of an American Book Award, the Guardian First Book Award, and L’Alph Art; The ACME Novelty Datebook Volumes 1 and 2; and Quimby the Mouse. His work has appeared in many national and international art exhibits, including the Whitney Biennial exhibit in 2002. He was recently awarded the Hoi Fellowship by the newly-formed United States Artists. A regular contributor to The New Yorker, Ware is currently at work on two longform graphic novels, Rusty Brown and Building Stories.


Daniel Raeburn is the author of the book Chris Ware. His essays have appeared in The Baffler, Tin House, and The New Yorker. His book about comic books, The Imp of the Perverse, is forthcoming. He teaches creative writing at the University of Chicago.

Steve Conley on Star Trek

Arlington's Steve Conley did the art for the first issue of Star Trek: Year 4 #1 - I bought a copy from him at the Baltimore Comic-Con and recommend it. More info later.

International Comic Arts Forum hotel reservations

Chair Marc Singer wants comics scholars to know:

If you're planning to attend the International Comic Arts Forum in Washington, DC this October 18-20, you should reserve your hotel rooms at the Capitol Hill Suites soon. The cutoff date for reserving rooms at the conference rate is September 17 (next Monday).

The Capitol Hill Suites is located next to ICAF's meeting place at the Library of Congress Madison Building. To receive the ICAF group rate, please call the Capitol Hill Suites at 1-800-619-9468 or 1-202-543-6000 and be sure to reference the International Comic Arts Forum while making your reservations.

For more information, you can visit ICAF's lodging page:

http://www.internationalcomicartsforum.org/icaf/lodging.html

the Capitol Hill Suites page:

http://www.capitolhillsuites.com/index.html

or the main ICAF site:

http://www.internationalcomicartsforum.org/icaf/

(A full schedule of panels and events will be posted soon.)

2 articles in today's Express

Twiddy, David / Associated Press. 2007.
Comics heed the call: Comic books find new audience when released first on mobile phones.
[Washington Post] Express (September 10): 8

Williams, Darona. 2007.
The Grimm reaper: Entrepeneur, rapper and graphic novelist Carey knows pain.
[Washington Post] Express (September 10): 19

The second is an interview with Percy Carey on his Vertigo autobio.

cIndy podcasts updates

Since I last posted, Chris has added a bunch of cartoonist interview podcasts to his site http://www.cindycenter.com/ - the link's permanently on the right over there.

September 5th, 2007
Colin Panetta, X-Heroes creator

X-Heroes creator, Colin Panetta joins us here at cIndyCenter.com and talks about his work. He also talks about SUNY New Paltz and the wonders of the Utica Zoo. Listen to the interview with Colin Panetta.

August 29th, 2007
Tom Pinchuk, Writer on Alterna's Ruin

Tom is currently attending Boston University, Tom Pinchuk has lived in Singapore, upstate New York and Chicagoland. In addition to RUIN and the short story "What I Am" in ALTERNA COMICS #1, he is writing HYBRID BASTARDS! for Archaia Studio Press. Listen to the interview with Tom Pinchuk.

August 21st, 2007
Deserving an Honorable Mention... Tom Stillwell

Tom Stillwell was hooked with that first Superman comic book off the spinner rack at 7-11. Since then writing comics has been a lifelong dream. Honor Brigade is that dream come true. His comic influences are Marv Wolfman, Kurt Busiek, and Geoff Johns. Listen to him talk about Honor Bridade, Gail Simone, and his take on comics today, interview with Tom Stillwell.

August 14th, 2007
Interview with Chris Verene is an American fine arts, documentary photographer and performance artist.

Chris' work has been published in the NYTimes, and his work has been collected by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York; The Whitney Museum of American Art, New York; The Museum of Contemporary Art, Los Angeles; The San Francisco Museum of Modern Art ; The Walker Art Center, Minneapolis; The Jewish Museum, New York; The Museum of Contemporary Photography, Chicago; The High Museum of Art, Atlanta; The Cheekwood Museum, Nashville. Listen to the classic interview with Chris Verene.

August 7th, 2007
Interview with Colleen Coover.
Of Montreal, said it best... "Everyday is like Sunday", Banana Sunday that is....
Everybody loves Colleen Coover... the Illustrator, and comic creator. Colleen talks about Banana Sunday, X-men, and Small Favors. Listen to the interview with Colleen Coover. Listen to her talk about her working style, secrets that she doesn't want to share with Editors, and hear her grill me about why I didn't go to SDCC

August 2nd, 2007
SDCC Report, from our favorite Deltiologist
Jason Rodriguez, editor and writer for Random House's [POSTCARD] Anthology. Listen to the interview with Jason Rodriguez. He talks about the Random House/Villard Panel, the signings, his postcard promotion, and meeting Frank Miller.


July 31st, 2007
ONI PRESS' "NORTHWEST PASSAGE" BY SCOTT CHANTLER
I am back from Canada and I thought this would be a perfect time to release the interview with Scott Chantler. He talks about Days Like this, Colbert, and NorthWest Passage. Listen to the interview with Scott Chantler

Sept 13 - OT: David Lozell Martin reading

My friend, novelist David Lozell Martin, has a new book out and is reading from it at Olssen's Dupont Circle on Thursday.

Here's Olsson's blurb:

David Lozell Martin - Our American King, A Novel
Thursday, September 13, 2007 at 07:00 PM at Olsson's Books & Records-Dupont Circle, 1307 19th St. NW, (202) 785-1133
Dupont Circle Metro

When America fell, she fell hard. Now chaos and calamity fill the vacuum left by a collapsing federal government. Charismatic, royal, and alpha, Tazza is adored by the American people. He converts marauders to his cause, organizes scavengers to feed the hungry, and seems destined to establish a beloved and benevolent American monarchy. But Tazza cannot escape the inevitability of history, and when the federal government returns, a war ensues that sweeps across America and lasts for decades. David Martin is also the author of Lie to Me and The Crying Heart Tattoo.

The Post reviewed it recently and the review ends with, "By contrast, "Our American King" is a circus, complete with hippies, groupies, brutal Canadians, cannibalism, the decapitation of countless plutocrats and near the end, reflections on the proper relationship between people and government. Unless you object to its politics, it's a blast."

How can you pass that up? I'll be there.

Peter Bagge spoke at Reason Magazine UPDATED

Peter Bagge spoke at Reason Magazine on September 5th, and it was a very enjoyable evening. Here's some pictures of him being interviewed by Nick Gillespie. Tomorrow I hope to have some quotes from the evening up.

Sept 7: Junot Diaz booksigning in Bailey's Crossroads

According to an article in today's Express, Junot Diaz is signing his novel Oscar Wao on Friday. Why should we care? Because Diaz actually quotes Galactus in it. He's at the Bailey's Crossroads Borders at the intersection of Columbia Pike and Route 7 at 7:30 pm. Call 703-998-0404 for more info.

And here's an interview with him - 'An Interview with Junot Diaz' by John Zuarino, Bookslut September 2007

Baltimore Comic-Con article in Express

Scott Rosenberg's got an article in today's Express (9/6) on this weekend's Con. Haven't read it yet, or checked to see if it's online. The Con should be fun and I'll be there on Saturday. Although the bit at the end says that tickets are sold in advance only, I just called and there will be a box office open for sales.

Updating the Comics Research Bibliography (7/20/07)

Arana, Marie. 2007.
Belle Yang, Woman Warrior [Chinese immigrant autobiography].
Washington Post Book World (July 1): BW09.
Online at
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/28/AR200706
2802211.html and
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/graphic/2007/06/29/GR200706
2901263.html

Associated Press. 1956.
3 School Owners Deny They're Red; But Vocational Officials Plead 5th
Amendment on Past --McCarthy in Clash $215,523 in Payments [School of
Visual Arts; Burne Hogarth].
New York Times (January 19)

Associated Press. 2007.
Relish this 'Ratatouille' recipe.
Washington Examiner (July 9)

Associated Press. 2007.
'Simpsons' glam.
Washington Examiner (July 19): 29

Locke, Michelle / Associated Press. 2007.
Animated instruction: There's a chef behind the delicacies seen in
Pixar's 'Ratatouille'.
[Washington Post] Express (July 10): 34

Beauchamp, Monte. 1989.
Up from the Deep: An excerpt from the forthcoming (don't count on it)
Blab! interview with artist extraordinaire, Kim Deitch.
CFA-APA fanzine (15; June)

Schultz, Mark. 1989.
Al Williamson: An Appreciation.
CFA-APA fanzine (15; June)

Stout, William. 1989.
How I Inked 'The Demon' [for Jack Kirby].
CFA-APA fanzine (16; Fall)

Carey, Michael. 2007.
The Red Queen's Race.
Newsarama (June 22):
http://blog.newsarama.com/2007/06/22/the-red-queen%e2%80%99s-race/

Davies-Stofka, Beth. 2007.
The Genius of Gipi.
Broken Frontier (June 25):
http://www.brokenfrontier.com/columns/details.php?id=697

Gerberg, Mort. 1966.
The Fag Battalion [homosexual Army gag cartoons].
The Realist (September): 16-17.
online at http://www.ep.tc/realist/69/16.html

Gilbert, Scott A. 1995.
He Said to Tell You He Had a Real Good Time : Acme Novelty Library, v.
1-3 [Chris Ware].
The Comics Journal (174; February): 47-48

Grossman, Lev. 2007.
New Zip for the Old Strip [webcomics].
Time (April 2): 50-51.
Online (March 22) at
http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1601831,00.html

Heater, Brian. 2007.
Interview: Tom Hart Pt 1 (v 2.0).
Daily Cross Hatch (July 3):
http://thedailycrosshatch.com/2007/07/03/interview-tom-hart-pt-1-v-20/

Heater, Brian. 2007.
Interview: The Return of Joe Matt Pt. 2.
Daily Cross Hatch (July 2):
http://thedailycrosshatch.com/2007/07/02/interview-the-return-of-joe-mat
t-pt-2/

Horsten, Toon and Wim Lockefeer (translator). 2007.
From our continental correspondent - Raymond Leblanc's nine lives [Belgium cartoonist interview].
Originally published in Belgium's Stripgids 2 (2).
Forbidden Planet blog (June 26):
http://forbiddenplanet.co.uk/blog/?p=4375

Huslin, Anita. 2007.
D'oh! Bladensburg 7-Eleven Is Recast as a Kwik-E-Mart [Simpsons movie].
Washington Post (July 2): D2

Jean, Grace. 2007.
It's All in the Playing At NSO's 'Video Games Live' [animation].
Washington Post (July 2): C5

Kalman, Maira and Rick Meyerowitz. 2007.
Op-Art: Things We Love About America.
New York Times (July 4)

Krasny, Michael. 2007.
Manga.
National Public Radio and KQED's Forum (June 19).
Online at http://www.kqed.org/epArchive/R706191000

Lazo, Alejandro. 2007.
Striving for More Family Value: Six Flags Looks to Clean Up Its Parks
and Finances With a Focus on Fun for All Ages [Looney Tunes, DC Comics
theme park].
Washington Post (July 2): D1

Markey, Morris. 1940.
The comics and Little Willie: A father speaks his mind to some anxious
parents.
Liberty (August 24): 33-36

McConnell, Robin. 2007.
Eddie Campbell [interview].
Inkstuds (June 21): http://www.inkstuds.com/?p=174

McLean, Matthew. 2007.
Saurav Mohapatra: Cutting His Teeth at Virgin Comics [interview].
Silver Bullet Comic Books.com (June 11):
http://www.silverbulletcomicbooks.com/features/11815387406253.htm

Mes, Tom. 2002.
Hayao Miyazaki.
Midnight Eye (January 7):
http://www.midnighteye.com/interviews/hayao_miyazaki.shtml

Moriarty, Erin. 2007.
Restaurant takes inspiration from the comics [Dagwood's Sandwich Shoppes
of 'Blondie' strip].
Atlanta Business Chronicle (June 29)

Musgrove, Mike. 2007.
An Inside Play to Sway Video Gamers [business, animation].
Washington Post (July 3)

O'Shea, Jim. 2007.
Jimmy Palmiotti Gets His Hands Dirty [interview]
Silver Bullet Comic Books.com (June 15):
http://www.silverbulletcomicbooks.com/features/118188848814293.htm

Rhode, Michael. 2007.
John Lent's Comic Art Bibliographies - An Appreciation.
International Journal of Comic Art 9 (1; Spring )

Rhode, Michael. 2007.
Exhibition reviews: 'Enduring Outrage: Editorial Cartoons by Herblock,'
'Cartoon America: Highlights from the Art Wood Collection of Cartoon and
Caricature,' 'Simplicissimus and the Empire 1896-1914,' 'Masters of
American Cartoons,' 'Superheroes: Good and Evil in American Comics'.
International Journal of Comic Art 9 (1; Spring)

Rosenberg, Scott. 2007.
Intelligent Designer: Memory intertwines with philosophy in 'Three
Paradoxes'.
[Washington Post] Express (June 21): E7 .
Online at
http://www.readexpress.com/read_freeride/2007/06/intelligent_designer.ph
p

Rosenberg, Scott. 2007.
Mister Miracle: Jack Kirby's Fourth World [Paul Levitz].
[Washington Post] Express (June 27):
http://www.readexpress.com/read_freeride/2007/06/fourth_world_jack_kirby
.php

Sanneh, Kelefa. 2007.
Critics' Choice: New CDs - Class Of 3000: Music Volume One [animation
soundtrack].
New York Times (July 2).
Online at
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/07/02/arts/music/02choi.html?ex=1341028800&e
n=6fb70bacbc2addab&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink

Slovick, Lyle. 2007.
George Y. Coffin: A Schoolboy's Life in 19th-Century Washington
[editorial cartoonist].
Washington History 18 (1&2): 98-119

Spurgeon, Tom. 2007.
CR Sunday Interview: Brett Warnock [of Top Shelf].
Comics Reporter (June 24):
http://www.comicsreporter.com/index.php/cr_sunday_interview_brett_warnoc
k/

Spurgeon, Tom. 2007.
CR Sunday Interview: Jeet Heer.
Comics Reporter (July 8):
http://www.comicsreporter.com/index.php/cr_sunday_interview_jeet_heer/

Taylor, Robert. 2007.
Reflections: Talking With Peter David.
Comic Book Resources (January 14):
http://www.comicbookresources.com/news/newsitem.cgi?id=9360

Taylor, Robert. 2007.
Reflections: Talking With Joshua Ortega.
Comic Book Resources (June 17):
http://www.comicbookresources.com/news/newsitem.cgi?id=10906

Tobin, Suzanne. 2005.
Comics: Meet the Artist - Bill Griffith and James Sturm, Cartoonist and
Director, Center for Cartoon Studies.
Washingtonpost.com (December 9):
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2005/12/07/DI200
5120700496.html

Toscana, Michael. 2007.
Video games brought to life [animation music].
Washington Post (June 29)

Tweeten, Lon. 2007.
Continuing the Magic: On the eve of the release of the final Harry
Potter book, we offer a few last-ditch ideas for keeping the series
alive [cartoon].
Time (May 21): 90

Unknown. 1968.
Student has fascinating hobby [comic book, strip and art collector Ethan
Roberts].
Daily Hampshire Gazette (May 7)

Unknown. 2007.
Star Collector - Chris Moore: Getting the Signature.
Diamond Dialogue (July): 44-45

Unknown. 2007.
From the Road Photo Report: Paris, France's Album Comics [store].
Diamond Dialogue (July): 54

Unknown. 2007.
Homer, sexual: Pagans vs. 'The Simpsons'.
[Washington Post] Express (July 18): 2

Wallenstein, Andrew. 2007.
'Lil' Bush' Downsizes the Presidency.
National Public Radio's Day to Day (June 13).
Online at http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=11012271

Ydstie, John. 2007.
Cartooning Bush and President Next [editorial cartoon exhibit review
with Rex Babin and Mikhaela Reid].
National Public Radio's Morning Edition (July 9).
Online at http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=11794366

Asian Cinema

Lent, John A. 2007.
The Transformation of Asian Animation: 1995-Present.
Asian Cinema (Spring / Summer): 105-137

Ka-nin, Kenny Chow. 2007.
Hong Kong Animation: The Uncanny Brush in Wuxia Film.
Asian Cinema (Spring / Summer): 138-149

Tianyi, Jin. 2007.
The Establishment and Maturation of the Chinese Cartoon School.
Asian Cinema (Spring / Summer): 150-159

Leung, Ann Y.Y. 2007.
Transformation from Comic to 2D, Then the 3D Approach; Character
Representation of Old Master Q.
Asian Cinema (Spring / Summer): 160-167

J.B. Handelsman

Skynner, Robin, John Cleese, and Bud (J.B.) Handelsman (illustrator).
1983.
Families and How to Survive Them.
Methuen

Skynner, Robin, John Cleese, and Bud (J.B.) Handelsman (illustrator).
1994.
Life and How to Survive It.
Norton

Frost, David and J.B. Handelsman (illustrator). 1986.
The mid-Atlantic companion, or, How to misunderstand Americans as much
as they misunderstand us.
Weidenfeld and Nicolson

Fritz, Jean and J.B. Handelsman (illustrator). 1998.
Who's That Stepping on Plymouth Rock?
Putnam Juvenile

Fox, Margalit. 2007.
J.B. Handelsman, 85, New Yorker Cartoonist, Is Dead.
New York Times (June 26).
Online at
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/26/arts/26handelsman.html?ex=1340596800&e
n=ba28613c2f9d57cc&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink

Robertson, Timothy. 2007.
J.B. Handelsman, 85, cartoonist and illustrator.
Newsday (June 24).
Online at
http://www.newsday.com/news/printedition/longisland/ny-lihand245268207ju
n24,0,1930601.story?coll=ny-linews-print

Doug Marlette

Bragg, Rick. 1998.
In 'Kudzu,' The South Learns About Itself [musical theater comedy by
Doug Marlette].
New York Times (June 18)

Unknown. 2007.
Cartoonist to speak at benefit [Doug Marlette].
Tulsa World (March 24).
Online at
http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?articleID=070324_1_A11_cpCar
13765&breadcrumb=education

Unknown. 2007.
Award-winning cartoonist shares experience at VCU [Doug Marlette].
Virginia Commonwealth University's Commonwealth Times (April 16).
Online at
http://media.www.commonwealthtimes.com/media/storage/paper634/news/2007/
04/16/News/AwardWinning.Cartoonist.Shares.Experience.At.Vcu-2844411.shtm
l

Vance, Michael. 2007.
Suspended Animation - Even White Boys Get the Blues [Kudzu by Doug
Marlette].
Joplin Independent (March 2).
Online at
http://www.joplinindependent.com/display_article.php/4comics1172854073

King, Mike. 2003.
Bold cartoonists don't draw a line, they cross it [Mike Luckovich, Doug
Marlette].
Atlanta Journal-Constitution (December 20)

Astor, Dave. 2006.
Marlette Says He's Joining 'Tulsa World' Partly Because It's
Family-Owned.
E and P Online (January 31)

Macklin, C.J. 2006.
Cartoon Clash: Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist discusses Middle East
riots, importance of exercising freedom of speech amidst controversy
[Doug Marlette].
Oklahoma Daily, Student Media at The University of Oklahoma (February
16).
Online at
http://www.oudaily.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2006/02/16/43f55004a2b9b

Marlette, Doug. 2006.
Them damn pictures: By caving in to fanatics over the Danish cartoons,
the West has shown that it is not only gutless but brainless.
Salon (February 24):
http://www.salon.com/opinion/feature/2006/02/24/cartoons/print.html

St. Onge, Peter. 2007.
Pulitzer-winning cartoonist killed in crash [Doug Marlette].
Charlotte Observer (July 10).
Online at http://www.charlotte.com/109/story/191706.html

Unknown. 2006.
Cartoonist-author to visit library [Doug Marlette].
Charlotte News-Observer (October 16).
Online at http://www.newsobserver.com/102/story/499175.html

Dickey, Christopher / New York Times. 2006.
Review: Magic Time [By Doug Marlette].
International Herald Tribune (October 27).
Online at http://www.iht.com/articles/2006/10/27/arts/idbriefs28B.php

Marlette, Doug. 2006.
Magic Time [novel].
New York: Farrar, Straus Giroux

Astor, Dave. 2006.
Second Novel for Cartoonist Doug Marlette.
E and P Online (August 24)

Unknown. 2006.
Tulsa World hires Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist [Doug Marlette].
Associated Press (January 30?).
Online at http://www.kten.com/Global/story.asp?S=4425155

CFP: Comics Conference on Sex, Gender, and Sexuality (UF, 3/21-22)

CFP: Comics Conference on Sex, Gender, and Sexuality (UF, 3/21-22)

The University of Florida's College of Liberal Arts and Sciences is
pleased to announce the 2008 UF Conference on Comics and Graphic
Novels: "ImageSexT: Intersections of Sex, Gender, and Sexuality,"
which will be held in Gainesville, Florida, on March 21-22, 2008.

The sixth annual conference on comics will focus on issues of
representation in the most literal sense: that of the image on the
page (screen, monitor, etc.). We are interested in papers that move
beyond facile reiterations of identity politics to explore the
complexities and complexes of bodies and desires for artists,
writers, and readers of comics. Here we are using "comics" in its
broadest sense, to include animation, manga, anime, graphic novels,
webcomics, political cartoons, and even some "fine art."
Theoretically grounded work is preferred, but we also have an
interest in archival, historical, and creative papers. The goal of
this conference is to encourage interdisciplinary discussion
incorporating diverse approaches to the comics representation of sex,
gender, and sexuality.

Confirmed guests for this year include Phoebe Gloeckner (Diary of a
Young Girl) and Gail Simone (Birds of Prey, Wonder Woman); invited
guests include Jaime Hernandez (Love and Rockets).

Possible topics include but are not limited to:

Autobiographical and authorial issues of sex and gender in comics,
including issues of veiled autobiography, writing across gender
lines, collaboration, and adaptation (Stuck Rubber Baby, Fun Home,
The Authority, Fritz the Cat)

Archival/historical work on depictions of the body, intercourse and
identity including persistence and/or revision of stereotypes
(Tijuana Bibles, Charles Atlas ads, homosexuality in early animation,
Air Pirates Funnies)

Who's drawing my body? Self- and Other-representations and culture
wars (Goth comics, Superhero(ine) physiques, Dirty Plotte)

Fans turn Pro (and vice versa): sex and gender issues at the boundary
between and in the transition from fandom to professional comics
(letters pages, undergrounds, fanzines, weblogs, fanfic, slash and
doujinshi origins)

Indeterminacy, including queer readings, secret identities, and the
act of passing in and through comics (How Loathsome, Death Note,
Black Hole, The Book of Lost Souls)

"How ethics spoiled my pleasure": including how female fans read and
enter comics, our implication in – and pleasure from –
objectification, and the comic as part of a cultural circuit of
capital and power (Girl-Wonder.org, Women in Refrigerators,
Sequential Tart)

The comic book fetish, including the materiality of the comic, the
pleasure of reading, and "slabbing"

The perversity of children's narratives (Strawberry Panic, Hikaru no
Go, Lost Girls, Diary of a Young Girl)

Politics and sex, including political allegory in comics, metaphors
of otherness, and sex and censorship (V for Vendetta, Y the Last Man,
Alias, Superfly)

Representation and its necessary problems, from signifying male- or
femaleness to figuring sex and desire, through drawings of bodies and
acts, or depicting intimacy and pleasure (Diary of A Dominatrix,
Clumsy, Playboy comics, (non-) explicit animation)

International issues, including trade and censorship, translations,
and taboos (scanlations, fansubbing, "official" translations, cross-
cultural marketing and audiences)

Abstract submissions should be approximately 250-500 words in length.
Presentations will be 15 minutes with 5 minutes of question and
answer. The deadline for abstract submissions is December 1, 2007.

Slate runs version of Opus that Washington Post Writers Group distributor censored

Joan Walsh has the story, and Salon has the original strip before two words were altered and the strip distributed.

Also, editorial cartoonists Cox and Forkum did a nice parody panel.

Updating the Comics Research Bibliography 8/17/07

The CRB is a work in progress and sometimes the updates I send to my coauthor take a while to be posted, so I'm thinking about putting them up here as well - if you use the two in tandem, you should have most of what I've got on a subject, although I'll take requests as well. This is the 8/17/07 list, and it's sometimes grouped by subject or publication.

Wizard 189

Aclin, Justin. 2007.
In Memoriam: Marshall Rogers; Steve Englehart remembers his creative partner and seminal 'Batman' artist.
Wizard (189; July): 10

Purdin, Rickey. 2007.
Keeping 'Count': With several ticks off DC's 'Countdown' clock, Wizard uncovers the weekly series' secrets you need to know.
Wizard (189; July): 18-20

Morse, Ben. 2007.
Heavy mettle: Get inside the battle of the summer as the Hulk prepares to bring his world war straight to Iron Man!
Wizard (189; July): 22-25

Morse, Ben. 2007.
Mining for gold: Geoff Johns and Jeff Katz introduce the eclectic array of stars that make up comics' coolest supporting cast in July's 'Booster Gold'.
Wizard (189; July): 28-29

Brown, Jeremy. 2007.
Wizard Insider: Sinestro; A closer look at the plunders, plots and predicaments that have shaped Green Lantern's most dangerous foe.
Wizard (189; July): 30-31

Cotton, Mike. 2007.
The conquering hero: After slaying the box office with the shocking record-setting success of '300,' director Zack Snyder carves out his next project with 'Watchmen' and ...a '300' sequel?
Wizard (189; July): 34-38

Purdin, Rickey. 2007.
The Silver age: Wizard dabbles in a little metallurgy to learn how filmmakers brought the Silver Surfer to life in June's Fantastic Four sequel.
Wizard (189; July): 40-44

Ward, Chris. 2007.
Brett Matthews: The 'Lone Ranger' writer teases the next arc, brings gore to the Old West and saddles up for a new 'Serenity' series with Joss Whedon [interview].
Wizard (189; July): 46-47

Brown, Jeremy. 2007.
Dead gorgeous: Inspired by classic comic covers, Arthur Suydam's killer Marvel Zombie paintings have bled so much success, they've even made fans of the artists he's riffed from.
Wizard (189; July): 48-51

Phegly, Kiel. 2007.
The long road home: Jim Lee's former protégé Brett Booth quietly went from superstar artist to living out of a van. Here's how 'Anita Blake' pulled him from the abyss.
Wizard (189; July): 52-55

Bendis, Brian Michael. 2007.
Brian Michael Bendis presents... Mark Millar: Bendis grills his Ultimate partner-in-crime on how Millar wrote 'Civil War' from a hospital bed, his plan for the mega-hit's sequel and hwo Marvel tapped him to write 'Ultimate Moses and Jesus'.
Wizard (189; July): 56-67

Morse, Ben. 2007.
A day in the life at Marvel Comics.
Wizard (189; July): 68-77

Powell, Matt et. al. 2007.
Making the grade: The Batman and Superman books are some of the World's Finest comic titles, so how do they rate when we stack them up together?
Wizard (189; July): 78-84

Paggi, David. 2007.
All in the family: As the Top Cow Universe braces for a new arrival, Wizard shakes the family tree loose to get you ready.
Wizard (189; July): 86-88

Warmouth, Brian. 2007.
Heroes born: Our top 10 demands for what we want from Marvel and DC Comics' upcoming superhero-based massive multiplayer online roleplaying games.
Wizard (189; July): 92-93

Cramer, Karl. 2007.
Hot stuff: Ghost Rider DVD is ablaze with smokin' new content.
Wizard (189; July): 96

Ciolek, Todd. 2007.
'High' costs: 'Ninja Scroll' director takes on 'Highlander' [anime].
Wizard (189; July): 97

Serwin, Andy. 2007.
Immortal Iron Fist: You've just gotta read this black-and-blue blockbuster, with visuals that hit like a roundhouse kick and a backstory that chops up the status quo.
Wizard (189; July): 104-105

Phegley, Kiel. 2007.
Fun Home: The hidden shame of a family and the pains of growing up with an overbearing father collide to make Alison Bechdel's stunning graphic novel the next Maus.
Wizard (189; July): 106-107

The Simpsons

Evangelista, Linda and Julius Preite. 2007.
The Simpsons go to Paris with Linda Evangelista.
Harper's Bazaar (August): 182-189

Marzullo, Greg. 2007.
Simpsons go green: Long-awaited film plays it safe with focus on environmental issues.
Washington Blade (July 27): 30

Koski, Genevieve, Josh Modell, Noel Murray, Sean O'Neal, and Kyle Ryan. 2007.
The Simpsons Vs. Civilization: Why Springfield's First Family Is Mankind's Greatest Achievement.
Onion (July 26).
Online at http://www.avclub.com/content/feature/the_simpsons_vs_civilization

Murray, Noel and Nathan Rabin. 2007.
The Simpsons As Krusty The Clown: The strangest Simpsons products.
Onion (July 26).
Online at http://www.avclub.com/content/feature/the_simpsons_as_krusty_the

Koski, Genevieve, Josh Modell, Noel Murray, Sean O'Neal, Kyle Ryan, and Scott Tobias. 2007.
Inventory: 6 Simpsons Moments That Perfectly Captured Their Eras.
Onion (July 26): 12.
Online as: Inventory: 15 Simpsons Moments That Perfectly Captured Their Eras (July 23).
at http://www.avclub.com/content/feature/inventory_15_simpsons_moments

Cancer Vixen

Levy, Ariel. 2006.
Sick in the City [Cancer Vixen by Marisa Acocella Marchetto].
New York Times Book Review (October 22).
online at http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/22/books/review/Levy.t.html

Shetty, Priya. 2007.
Too busy to have cancer? [Cancer Vixen by Marisa Acocella Marchetto].
The Lancet 369 (9574; May 19): 1683-1684

The main list

Allen, Karl. 2005.
Watchmen and the Birth of Respect for the Graphic Novel.
About.com: http://contemporarylit.about.com/od/graphicnovels/fr/watchmen.htm

Arrillaga, Pauline. 2005
Search for lost son behind cartoonist's anguished drawings [Jim Willoughby].
Associated Press (November 10).
Online at http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=15552081andBRD=1817andPAG=461anddept_id=222076andrfi=6

Astor, Dave. 2007.
Toles, Telnaes, Luckovich, Others to Speak At Pre-AAEC Confab Event.
E and P Online (June 18): http://www.mediainfo.com/eandp/news/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003600064

Astor, David et. al. 2007.
Digital Test for 'Doonesbury' and Oliphant Cartoons.
E and P Online (August 6): http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/departments/syndicates/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003622055

Astor, David et. al. 2007.
Editorial Cartoonist Drew Sheneman Starts Blog.
E and P Online (August 6): http://www.editorandpublisher.com/eandp/departments/syndicates/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1003622085

Astor, David et. al. 2007.
Comics Publication May Return This Summer ['News Free Comics' (NSF)].
E and P Online (June 18)

Astor, David et. al. 2007.
Lio Cartoon Character Nabbed in Another Comic Strip.
E and P Online (June 18)

Astor, David et. al. 2005.
Cartoonist Does it All for Indiana Paper [Ron Rogers].
E and P Online (November 1)

Astor, David et. al. 2005.
Geyer, Horsey Among 'Global' Winners.
E and P Online (November 2)

Astor, Dave. 2005.
Some Papers Have Problems Pulling Obsolete 'Doonesbury' Strip.
E and P Online (November 14)

Austin, John (photographer). 2007.
Scenes From ComicCon 2007.
Wired's Underwire blog (July 26): http://blog.wired.com/underwire/2007/07/scenes-from-com.html

Capelouto, Susanna. 2007.
Comic Book Store Owner on Trial for Nude Images.
National Public Radio's Morning Edition (August 14).
Online at http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=12768951&sc=emaf

Chun, Gary C.W. 2005.
Comic-book artist goes fishing for a sense of the islands [R. Kikuo Johnson].
Honolulu StarBulletin (November 14).
Online at http://starbulletin.com/2005/11/14/features/story01.html

Dawson, Angela / Entertainment News Wire. 2007.
She's got star power: Claire Danes has a heaven-sent role in the fantasy 'Stardust'.
[Washington Post] Express (August 9): E11

Dixon, Glenn. 2007.
Ink and Mortar: David Macaulay.
[Washington Post] Express (June 29).
Online at http://www.readexpress.com/read_freeride/2007/06/ink_and_mortar.php

Dotinga, Randy. 2007.
It's Curious, George: Even Cartoons Aren't Safe From Censors [animation].
Wired.com (July 31): http://www.wired.com/culture/art/news/2007/07/comics_censorship/

Dufour, Jeff and Patrick Gavin. 2007.
Yeas and Nays: Permanent Presence at The Palm - Mark Foley's here to stay [caricature].
Washington Examiner (August 9): 6.
Online at http://www.examiner.com/blogs/Yeas_and_Nays/2007/8/9/Permanent-Presence-at-The-Palm

Farhi, Paul. 2005.
Stan Berenstain's Honey-Coated Medicine.
Washington Post (December 1): C1

Faraci, Devin. 2006.
Exclusive Interview: Daniel Clowes (Art School Confidential).
Chud (May 4): http://www3.chud.com/index.php?type=interviewsandid=6581

Flanagan, Mark. 2005.
Neil Gaiman Interview.
Your Guide to Literature: Contemporary (September 9): http://contemporarylit.about.com/od/authorinterviews/a/gaimanInterview.htm

Frisinger, Kerrie. 2006.
'Toon in: Will Alex Doonesbury choose to attend Cornell?
Ithaca Journal (May 23).
Online at http://www.theithacajournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060523/NEWS01/605230313/1002

Futterman, Ellen. 2006.
Help choose our new comic strip.
St. Louis Post Dispatch (June 5)

Gant, Michael S. 2005.
A Better World: 'The World on Sunday' showcases the graphic triumphs of Joseph Pulitzer's Sunday 'World' of the early 1900s now all we get is 'Parade'.
Metro, Silicon Valley's Weekly Newspaper (November 2-8).
Online at http://www.metroactive.com/papers/metro/11.02.05/world-0544.html

Gray, Kevin. 1990.
Chasing purloined panels: How the cartoon-theft case was cracked [Museum of Cartoon Art].
Gannett Westchester Newspapers (March 11)

Griepp, Milton and Tom Flinn (eds). 2007.
Interview with David Glanzer On San Diego Sell-Outs [Comicon convention].
ICv2 (July 30): http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/10998.html

Griepp, Milton and Tom Flinn (eds). 2007.
First Second Has Prince of Persia, Plus Jordan Mechner Project.
ICv2 (July 9): http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/10878.html

Griepp, Milton and Tom Flinn (eds). 2007.
Dabel Brothers Move On Again; Marvel Keeps the Properties Still With Marvel.
ICv2 (August 15): http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/11107.html

Griepp, Milton and Tom Flinn (eds). 2007.
Papercutz Revives 'Classics Illustrated'In November.
ICv2 (July 18): http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/10926.html

Griepp, Milton and Tom Flinn (eds). 2007.
Interview with Matt Hawkins On 'The Darkness,' More [videogame based on comic book].
ICv2 (July 2): http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/10849.html

Griepp, Milton and Tom Flinn (eds). 2007.
Interview with Gene Luen Yang and Mark Siegel, On 'American Born Chinese' and Beyond.
ICv2 (June 29): http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/10833.html

Griepp, Milton and Tom Flinn (eds). 2007.
Mike Bailiff on ADV's New Releases - 'Loaded for Bear' [anime interview].
ICv2 (June 29): http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/10835.html

Griepp, Milton and Tom Flinn (eds). 2007.
Interview with Dallas Middaugh - Manga Trends; Del Rey Plans.
ICv2 (August 7): http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/11051.html

Jacobs, Fay. 2007.
CAMP safe - These comics aren't in the funny pages: State-funded program reaches out with superhero messages [sex education for gays].
Letters from CAMP Rehoboth 17 (10; July 27): cover, 46-47

Gumbrecht, Jamie. 2006.
Graphic novelists drawing a crowd: Genre's sales have jumped in recent years [women in comics].
Lexington Herald-Leader (April 18).
Online at http://www.kentucky.com/mld/heraldleader/entertainment/books/14348823.htm

Jungwirth, Daniel. 2005.
Artist Goes Mad: Cartoonist earns a spot among 'Gang of Idiots' [Huw Evans].
StarPhoenix [Saskatoon] (November 10).
Online at http://www.canada.com/fortstjohn/story.html?id=0320e860-6f1a-47a8-a2c1-6f52f0862206

Kamiyama, Masuo. 2007.
Manga heroines 'Mountain Woman' and 'Wall Woman' help boob tube live up to its name.
Mainichi Daily News (August 4).
Online at http://mdn.mainichi-msn.co.jp/waiwai/news/20070804p2g00m0dm001000c.html

Kupfer, Alex. 2007.
Anything Can Happen in a Cartoon: Comic Strip Adaptations in the Early and Transitional Periods [to film].
University of California Los Angeles: http://www.cinema.ucla.edu/pdfs/ARSCaward2007/kupfer.pdf

Kurtz, Scott. 2007.
My Open Letter to Bill Amend (And His Equals) [Foxtrot].
PvP Online blog (January 8): http://www.pvponline.com/blog/3074/my-open-letter-to-bill-amend-and-his-equals

Lamb, Chris. 2005.
Tribune's Folly is Cutting Cartoonists: Editorial cartoons are as irreverent as the Boston Tea Party and as American as the First Amendment. So the Tribune Co.'s cuts to its newspapers' editorial staffs aren't just bad for the newspaper industry, they're bad for America.
Media info.com (November 29) : http://www.mediainfo.com/eandp/columns/shoptalk_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1001572172

Margolick, David. 1989.
Law: At The Bar; In Dick Tracy's latest caper, 'The Case of the Purloined Panels,' a law firm is embarrassed [Museum of Cartoon Art stolen comic strips].
New York Times (October 20)

Moore, Molly and Corinne Gavard. 2007.
A Taste of Whimsy Wows the French; Culinary Cartoon's Authenticity Spices Up U.S. Image [Ratatouille].
Washington Post (August 14): A9.
Online at http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/13/AR2007081300990.html

Moore, S. Clayton. 2005.
Eavesdropping At The Dream Factory: Neil Gaiman and Dave McKean in London.
About.com: http://contemporarylit.about.com/cs/authorinterviews/a/gaiman_mckean.htm

Phegley, Kiel. 2007.
Jeff Parker Can't Lose: Agents of Atlas creator talks Virgin Comics, Darwyn Cooke and Alex Toth.
Wizard Universe.com (January 3): http://www.wizarduniverse.com/magazine/wizard/002952630.cfm

Ponseti, Bill. 2007.
Star Collector Bill Ponseti: Just When I Thought I Was Out...
Diamond Dialogue (August): 44-45

Reid, Calvin. 2007.
DC Invests in Japanese Manga Startup.
Publishers Weekly (June 15): http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6452445.html

Reid, Calvin. 2007.
Yen Press to Launch with New Chmakova; Licenced Manga.
PW Comics Week (February 24): http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6419420.html

Roper, Eric. 2005.
Gelman to add 300 graphic novels [to college library].
George Washington University Hatchet (October 17).

Rosen, Steven. 2005.
Strip show: Comics masterworks hitting art museums ['Masters of American Comics' exhibit].
Los Angeles Daily News (December 21).
Online at http://www.dailynews.com/entertainment/ci_3331106

Rosenberg, Scott. 2007.
Based on a fake story: Out of a nonexistent novel comes a comic riddled with humor [Stephen Colbert's Tek Jansen comic book, writer Tom Peyer interview].
[Washington Post] Express (August 9): 19

Schudel, Matt. 2007.
Robin Olds; General Was Flying Ace In Two Wars [amateur cartoonist obituary].
Washington Post (June 18): B6

Sjoberg, Lore. 2006.
Comic-Con Goes Way Beyond Comics [San Diego Comicon].
Wired.com (July 24): http://www.wired.com/culture/lifestyle/news/2006/07/71441

Unknown. 2006.
Cross-ing Over with Oeming.
Scoop (June 30): http://scoop.diamondgalleries.com/scoop_article.asp?ai=12562andsi=124

Unknown. 2006.
Captain Confederacy Moves To The Web.
Newsarama.com (January 17)

Unknown. 2007.
TV dramatization of 'Barefoot Gen'.
Yomiuri Shimbun (August 4).
Online at http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/features/arts/20070804TDY21005.htm

Warmoth, Brian. 2006.
25 Anos Of Amor (And Rockets): Los Bros. Hernandez and Fantagraphics mark a quarter century of making comics their own way in Love and Rockets.
Wizard Universe.com (December 15): http://www.wizarduniverse.com/magazine/wizard/002766987.cfm

Waxman, Sharon. 2007.
Marvel Wants to Flex Its Own Heroic Muscles as a Moviemaker.
New York Times (June 18).
Online at http://www.nytimes.com/2007/06/18/business/media/18marvel.html

Weinberg, Anna. 2005.
Graphic Novelist Seth Talks About His Latest Creation, 'Wimbledon Green,' What He Learned from Charles Schulz and How He Speaks Through Comics
Book Standard.com (November 1): http://www.thebookstandard.com/bookstandard/news/author/article_display.jsp?vnu_content_id=1001393901

Williams, Genevieve. 2006.
Have your comics choices changed over time?
Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Gwinnett.talk blog (May 17): http://www.ajc.com/metro/content/shared-blogs/ajc/gwinnetttalk/entries/2006/05/17/have_your_comic.html

Wilson, Bill. 2007.
Comics business to cross Douglas; Agents of Comics stays in Delano, but moves to a much larger space [store]..
Wichita Eagle (June 15).
Online at http://www.kansas.com/101/story/97229.html

Wilton, Wendy. 2007.
Danziger misses mark on the facts, fishnets [letter].
Rutland Herald (January 28).
Online at http://www.rutlandherald.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070128/NEWS/701280309/1037/OPINION02

Wunder, Sue. 2007.
A 'classic' love of literature: For many kids, Classics Illustrated comics were a wonderful introduction to good books.
Christian Science Monitor (February 16).
Online at http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0216/p18s02-hfes.html

Ylvisaker, Joel. 2007.
Michael Avon Oeming Talks Omega Flight, Red Sonja and More.
Comics News International (January 3): http://comicnewsi.com/article.php?catid=99anditemid=9237

CFA-APA fanzine

Roberts, Charlie. 1990.
Art Musings [Harvey Kurtzman interview].
CFA-APA fanzine (18; April 30)

Sim, Dave. 1990.
Comic Art News and Reviews: Harvey Kurtzman interview [from 1974].
CFA-APA fanzine (18; April 30): 2-3

Sim, Dave. 1990.
Comic Art News and Reviews: The Kurtzman magic.
CFA-APA fanzine (18; April 30): 6-7

Kurtzman, Harvey. 1990.
Comic Art News and Reviews: Kurtzman speaks [from 1974].
CFA-APA fanzine (18; April 30): 8

Leach, Bill. 1990.
[Crumb on Kurtzman interview].
CFA-APA fanzine (18; April 30)

Alex Toth

Unknown. 2006.
Comics artist Alex Toth dies at 77.
Associated Press (June 4)

Hevesi, Dennis. 2006.
Alex Toth, 77, Comic Book Artist and 'Space Ghost' Animator, Dies.
New York Times (June 6)

Unknown. 2006.
Comic book maverick dies at 77 [Alex Toth].
United Press International (June 5)

Tekkonkinkreet anime

Macias, Patrick. 2006.
'Animatrix' producer Michael Arias becomes the first foreign director to enter Japan's cult domain [Tekkonkinkreet, anime adaptation of Taiyo Matsumoto's manga 'Black and White'].
Japan Times (December 21).
Online at http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/ff20061221b1.html

Macias, Patrick. 2006.
Anime through an American eye [Tekkonkinkreet, anime adaptation of Taiyo Matsumoto's manga 'Black and White'].
Japan Times (December 21).
Online at http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/ff20061221i1.html

Schilling, Mark. 2006.
Outlander gazes into Showa's soul [Tekkonkinkreet, anime adaptation of Taiyo Matsumoto's manga 'Black and White'].
Japan Times (December 21).
Online at http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/ff20061221a1.html

Slutsky, Mark. 2007.
Marvellous metropolis: American director Michael Arias on cult attacks, the urban experience and his Japanese animated hit Tekkonkinkreet.
Montreal Mirror (July 5).
Online at http://www.montrealmirror.com/2007/070507/film1.html

Oba, Tokiko. 2007.
Nippon cool: An astonishing anime that's gloriously Japanese, even in the hands of an American director [[Tekkonkinkreet, anime adaptation of Taiyo Matsumoto's manga 'Black and White'].
Malaysia Star (January 21).
Online at http://www.star-ecentral.com/news/story.asp?file=/2007/1/21/tvnradio/16498378andsec=tvnradio

Bergen, Andrez. 2006.
Meet the American genius behind Tekkon Kinkreet [anime].
Daily Yomiuri (December 23).
Online at http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/features/arts/20061223TDY15001.htm
Also published as 'Welcome to Treasure Town: An American director is behind the exceptional Japanese anime film Tekkon Kinkreet.'
Malaysia Star (January 21, 2007)
Online at http://www.star-ecentral.com/news/story.asp?file=/2007/1/21/tvnradio/16498366andsec=tvnradio


Masters of American Comics exhibit

Kimmelman, Michael. 2006.
See You in the Funny Papers [Masters of American Comics exhibit].
New York Times (October 13).
Online at http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/13/arts/design/13comi.html

Wecker, Menachem. 2006.
Whomping The Nazis [Masters of American Comics exhibit].
New York Press 19 (39).
online at http://www.nypress.com/19/39/abouttown/about3.cfm

Goddard, Peter. 2006.
Krazy Kat to Peanuts late, great comic strips [Masters of American Comics exhibit].
Toronto Star (November 25).
Online at http://www.thestar.com/NASApp/cs/ContentServer?pagename=thestar/Layout/Article_Type1andc=Articleandcid=1164279188579andcall_pageid=968867495754andcol=969483191630

Off-hand animation in today's Post

In the Washington Post September 2, 2007, "The Idea: Storyboarding for The Digital Age," Michael Davis discusses selling his movie idea by animating the storyboard.

Parts of the video can be seen as well.

Edmonton Sun rants about Post not running Opus

...I have no news on whether they ran it themselves...

See "Double standard: It's OK for media to dump on Christians, but not Muslims," by MICHAEL COREN, Edmonton Sun September 1, 2007

...but my suspicion is they did not.

Letter on Oliphant cartoon that ran in the Post

A Cuban ex-pat group called CANF apparently can't get its letter about an Oliphant cartoon run in the Post, so they stuck it on the web - see "CANF Letter to Editor of Washington Post regarding Pat Oliphant Cartoon," CANF, Aug 27, 2007.

Sentences: The Life of M.F. Grimm review in Post

In the Washington Post, September 2, 2007, an A- is given by Evan Narcisse to the new graphic novel Sentences: The Life of M.F. Grimm, By Percy Carey and Ronald Wimberly, Vertigo/DC Comics, $19.99.

Letter says Toles lacks basic decency

Cartoonist Most Foul
Washington Post (September 1, 2007)

Tom Toles's toilet stall cartoon in the Aug. 29 Post, playing off Idaho Sen. Larry Craig's troubles, should have been flushed before publication out of deference to the basic decency of your readers. Censorship, no. Editorial discretion, yes.

-- Ernest C. Raskauskas Sr.
Potomac

Seems a bit overstated to me - I can imagine far worse.

Post cartoon contest results

The Post's Style Invitational contest last week "supplied several "captions" and asked you to describe the cartoons they would accompany: The Empress posted this contest, at the Czar's suggestion, with some trepidation, concerned that dozens of descriptions of undrawn cartoons would just be too tedious. She concedes that her fears were unfounded, and therefore owes the Czar the heart cut out of her chest. Invitational Cartoonist Bob Staake chose this week's top four winners from the entries below, and will personally deface each winning sketch with his signature as a prize."

You can see the other cartoons and suggested captions through the link.

Meanwhile, Richard Thompson and 'Richard's Poor Almanack' continue to "be on vacation."

new caricatures in DC restaurant

In their Yeas & Nays column, Jeff Dufour and Patrick Gavin wrote "The Palm unveils its new caricatures," Washington Examiner August 31, 2007.

September 8-9 Baltimore Comic -con

Only a week away! Get the details at their website, but here's their guestlist:

SERGIO ARAGONES | Dick Ayers | Kyle Baker | David Michael Beck | Tom Brevoort | Michael Broussard | Kurt Busiek | Jim Calafiore | Jerry Carr | Tommy Castillo | C.B. Cebulski | Bernard Chang | Howard Chaykin | Sean Chen | Mark Chiarello | FRANK CHO | Steve Conley | Amanda Conner | Todd Dezago | Dan DiDio | Tommy Lee Edwards | Rich Faber | Al Feldstein | DAVID FINCH | John Gallagher | Ron Garney | MICHAEL GOLDEN| Jimmy Gownley | Randy Green | Cully Hamner | Dean Haspiel | Tariq Hasson | Marc Hempel | Rich Henn | Adam Hughes | Chris Ivy| James Jean | Georges Jeanty | J.G. Jones | Joe Jusko | Ken Kelly | Leonard Kirk | Barry Kitson | Rich Koslowski | Adam Kubert | Andy Kubert | JOE KUBERT | Scott Kurtz | Greg LaRocque | Eric Larson | JIM LEE (Sunday only) | Norman Lee | John Paul Leon | John Lucas | Ron Marz | Sean McKeever | Mark McKenna | Bob McLeod | Pop Mhan | MIKE MIGNOLA | Jeffrey Moy | Mark Morales | Doug Murray | Scott Neely | Steve Niles | Phil Noto | Mike Oeming | Jimmy Palmiotti | Andrew Pepoy | David Petersen | Brandon Peterson | Keith Pollard | Paul Pope | Eric Powell | Tom Raney | Kenneth Rocafort | JOHN ROMITA JR. | JOHN ROMITA SR. | Don Rosa | Craig Rousseau | Stephane Roux | Andy Runton | Scott Sava | Alex Saviuk | JIM SHOOTER | Louise Simonson | Walter Simonson | Andy Smith | John K Snyder III| Chris Sprouse | Jim Starlin | Brian Stelfreeze | Paul D. Storrie | Karl Story | Mark Texeira | Herb Trimpe | Dean Trippe| Tim Truman | Billy Tucci | Tim Vigil | Dexter Vines | Neil Vokes | Mark Waid | Mark Wheatley | Ron Wilson | Kelly Yates | and many many more!!!

A poster commemorating Mike Wieringo who recently died suddenly will also be available. The poster features local DC creator John Gallagher's Buzzboy.

This one's always good. I'll be there on Saturday most likely.

Zippy comic strip at Bob and Edith's diner available on a t-shirt

Zippy was at Weenie Beenie in Shirlington earlier this week, but a while back he was at Bob and Edith's Diner on Columbia Pike and you can buy a t-shirt with the strip. Thanks to Rebecca Krafft of the Alcova Heights listserve for the tip.

Weingarten on Post punting Opus

In his August 28th chat, Gene Weingarten said:

I agree with the vast majority of you that the snuffing of Opus was a mistake, the sort of knee-jerk oversensitivity that is becoming too common. Sadly, what you see is only half the offense -- The Post and many other papers also yanked NEXT week's strip, in what I believe to be a similar overreaction. Breathed showed me next week's, which is even better than this week's. We'll talk more about this later

Berkeley Breathed himself seems to have chimed in:

Santa Barbara, Wa: What's new in the comics world, Gene? Nothing ever happens on this side of the country.

Berkeley B.

Gene Weingarten: Same old same old, Berkeley. Sad to say.

Interesting poll results, eh?

and then Weingarten returned to the topic of his poll which is excerpted below as well:

Gene Weingarten: As I read it, not only to nine out of ten people believe the Post was wrong to pull your strip, but only eight percent of the readers believe you are a pornographer.
------------------

Many newspapers, including The Washington Post, refused to run this Opus on Sunday for reasons of taste and sensitivity. Was this the right decision?

Frequency Analysis
Answer Count Percent

1. Yes. 247 8.00%

2. No. 2839 92.00%

Total 3086 100%


At which group do you feel the satire is mostly directed?

Frequency Analysis
Answer Count Percent

1. Americans 2387 77.32%

2. Radical Islamists 496 16.07%

3. All Muslims 204 6.61%

Total 3087 100%


Was the sexual innuendo excessive, and/or in bad taste, for the comics pages?

Frequency Analysis
Answer Count Percent

1. Yes 229 7.38%

2. No 2874 92.62%

Total 3103 100%

-------------------------
and then Weingarten wraps it all up:

Gene Weingarten: Okay, the Opus poll.

This strip is mocking a whole bunch of stuff. It is mocking the fact that American culture is trashy, and Americans are fad-obsessed. It is mocking American men's desire to control their women. And sure, it is mocking the enforced submissiveness of Islamic women.

So what? Breathed (and Trudeau, and Darrin Bell, etc.) make much more barbed fun of Christian extremism. This is satire, and it's gentle satire, and the only excuse to pull it is the rather patronizing attitude that if you so much as whisper anything mildly satiric about Islamic society, "those people" will go nuts.

Islam is big news. It's fair game, so long as you are fair and not promiscuously cruel or hateful. This was neither.

Oh, and the sexual argument is totally bogus. That's mild innuendo. I mean, Trudeau, whom no one has ever accused of being lewd, had a Sunday devoted entirely to the healthful benefits of masturbation.

I just disagree strongly with the decision to pull this strip. As you do.

Next week's Opus is better than this week's; it's a parable, and it ends with a hilarious visual gag, and it's also mostly critical of America and gently mocking of Islamic customs, and you also won't see it in The Post. We'll look at it next week.

National Portrait Gallery's PROFILE reviews Disney book

See "Book Review - Walt Disney: The Triumph of the American Imagination by Neal Gabler,Alfred A. Knopf, New York, 2006, 851 pp., by Amy Henderson and click on the pdf link to the whole journal. I saw Gabler speak at Politics and Prose, and enjoyed the talk immensely. Bought the book, haven't read it yet.

Miguel Covarrubias portraits on display this fall.

The great Mexican caricaturist has material - "portraits of and by" - borrowed from the National Portrait Gallery in the exhibit "Mexican Treasures of the Smithsonian" in the underground Ripley Center from September 4 - November 11.


Last year's exhibit of his work was well worth seeing. Here's the review I wrote for the International Journal of Comic Art 8:2:

Miguel Covarrubias: Mexican Genius in the United States. Washington, DC: Cultural Institute of Mexico, May 3-July 7, 2006.

Covarrubias, while little remembered today, was a giant in magazine illustration and caricature from the 1920s though the 1940s. According to the promotional material for the exhibit, he illustrated for Vanity Fair, Vogue, The New Yorker, Fortune, Life and Time while also illustrating over twenty books. Surprisingly, he also did pioneering cultural anthropology research when he visited Bali with his wife in the 1930s.

This exhibit also consists of two smaller shows. On the ground level of the building, an aging mansion, sketches and studies from the Universidad de las Américas were displayed in a set of unadorned side galleries off the lobby. The fifty-two sketches appeared to be studies for more complete work. They were mostly on cheap newsprint paper, and the identity of the subject was frequently lost except for the famous like Marlene Dietrich, D.H. Lawrence, Joe Louis, Walt Disney, and Benny Goodman. The sketches showed Covarrubias working with a quick, forceful stroke, and "Unknown Character" in the first room demonstrated that Edward Sorel must have been familiar with his work. In the final room of the galleries, two or three films were supposed to be showing, but none were. The press release listed two films by José G. Benítez Wall, A Mexican in New York (1997) and Miguel Covarrubias 1904-1957 (1996) and the wall text listed a third, A Master Artist's Trade (1997).

Returning to the lobby, the visitor (of which I was the only one) could examine exhibit cases with published versions of some of his book and magazine work. Books he illustrated included non-fiction and non-cartoon works such as The Aztecs: People of the Sun. He wrote and illustrated Mexico South: The Isthmus of Tehuantepec (Knopf 1967) and drew striking maps and Olmec heads for it. In Fine Art Color Prints (Chicago: Peoples Book Club, 1945), Covarrubias contributed a very well done and very complex "Map of America" showing the distribution of natural resources. The exhibit cases also included Vanity Fair from June 1933 showing one of his series of Impossible Interviews -- "#18 Herr Adolf Hitler and Huey S. 'Hooey' Long versus Josef Stalin and Benito Mussolini." These Impossible Interviews were a major component of the second part of the exhibit, which was up four flights of red, fraying but thickly carpeted stairs, lined by mural scenes painted by Cueva del Rio from 1934-1941.

The fourth floor held the exhibit Miguel Covarrubias: Caricaturista, curated in 2004 by Kathryne B. Tovo for Humanities Texas with the University of Texas' Ransom Humanities Research Center. It was not readily apparent if the original show consisted of all reproductions, but the traveling version did. Given the quality of Covarrubias' artwork, the use of reproductions was a considerable disappointment, especially since the Ransom Center appears to have had access to the original works. In spite of that, this exhibit was a good representation of the breadth of his career, and was very well-labeled with biographical information on his subjects including scientists and explorers like William Beebe and Richard E. Byrd.

The label for the Impossible Interview in Vanity Fair of December 1931 succinctly explained the series rationale:

This regular feature paired two people who could not meet in real life in an imaginary conversation. Featuring such ill-matched celebrity pairs as a birth control advocate with the mother of quintuplets, a speakeasy hostess with the president of the Women's Christian Temperance Union, or a sultry Marlene Dietrich with moralist Senator Smith Brookhart, each interview offered rich potential for comic conversation and visual contrasts -- with the less respectable figure often achieving a slight edge.

Sorel's debt to Covarrubias can again be seen in his recent similar series for the Atlantic Monthly collected as First Encounters: A Book of Memorable Meetings (Knopf, 1994). The time is overdue for a collection of these original Interviews.

These rooms were filled interesting illustrations. Two especially worth noting were a skillful parody of Rockwell Kent that Covarrubias did in Kent's style in 1932, and an illustration of Walt Disney in Noah's Ark with all of his characters, done for Vogue in 1937. The Disney caricature was the finished version of the sketch seen on the first floor, and the failure to display the two side-by-side highlighted a disappointment of this exhibit. Overall, the show should have been better, but for those with little knowledge of Covarrubias' long and varied career, it was an adequate introduction to his work.

Sept 5: Peter Bagge in DC at invitation-only event

Heidi MacDonald posted an email from Peter Bagge on the Beat. The relevant part to us is:

On the following Wednesday, Sept. 5, REASON Magazine will be hosting a meet ‘n’ greet in my honor at their Washington DC offices. Blush! It’s invitation only, however, so if you’re in the DC area and are interested in attending please contact me here or at: peterbagge@earthlink.net about the details. Drinks and light snacks will be served, I’m told. Can’t beat that!

Thanks to Randy T for the tip.

Mark Wheatley's new webcomic project

Mark just sent me the following press release and pictures -

The Mighty Motor Sapiens Roar To Life
New Characters Introduced on Rowdy.com

Rowdy.com has partnered with Insight Studios Group to offer The Mighty Motor Sapiens, a new online daily comic strip that combines high speed action, fast cars, humor and the entire planet being taken over by lizard people.

With new installments appearing every weekday beginning September 3, 2007, the story begins 18 months after the world has been taken over by a race of the Morisoni, lizard people from the center of the Earth. Despite the odd change in circumstances, life has continued and things seem disturbingly okay. Sure, they took out Washington, Moscow, Beijing, and Paris, but on the other hand they took out Washington, Moscow, Beijing, and Paris. And for some reason they wiped out everyone's credit histories, too.

Now the Morisoni control the world and their military bases are everywhere. The Lizards live among us, but this new arrangement seems to be working. Four teenagers, Cam Corman, Hannah Barbario, Gigs Brewster and Maddie Brewster, haven't seen much of an impact from the changes. Yet.

Springing from the minds of writer-artist Daniel Krall (Oni's One Plus One), writer-artist Mark Wheatley (Frankenstein Mobster), and writer Robert Tinnell (Feast of the Seven Fishes), The Mighty Motor Sapiens was created as an exclusive feature for the ROWDY.com web community. The strip will be written and drawn by Krall with additional material by Wheatley and Tinnell. All three creators are veterans of both print and online comics. They are joined by inker Craig Taillerfer (The Chelation Kid), with colors provided by Krall's studio and lettering by Matthew Plog. The strip is produced by Insight Studios.

About Rowdy.com
At the forefront of the new media revolution, Rowdy combines podcasting with social networking and the internet to create a unique new place for NASCAR fans to congregate. The Rowdy podcast is a daily racing radio show devoted strictly to NASCAR racing. For 30 minutes a day, 6 days a week, fans listen in on their MP3 players, computers, or cell phones as hosts Reginald "Buck" Fever and Leonard "Bass" Masters deliver the latest news on America's most popular motorsport. Joining Buck and Bass to deliver expert commentary and analysis are award winning broadcaster Mark Garrow, former Cup driver Rick Mast, championship-winning crew chief Barry Dodson, and veteran print reporters David Poole of the Charlotte Observer, and Steve Waid of NASCAR Scene.

About Insight Studios Group
Producing numerous award-winning comic books, on-line and newspaper comic strips, graphic novels, portfolios and other publications, Insight Studios Group is profiled in a lavish art book titled IS Art - The Art of Insight Studios. This exceptional collection of artists, writers, film makers and media-masters is responsible for many books, comics and films that include Sightcadelic, Hammer of the Gods, Titanic Tales,
Jimgrim and the Devil at Ludd, Frank Cho Illustrator, Gray Morrow Visionary, Al Williamson Adventures, Frankenstein Mobster, Miles the Monster, MARS, Tug & Buster, Gregory, Marc Hempel's Naked Brain, Breathtaker, Feast of the Seven Fishes and many more. Their website, www.SunnyFundays.com, features additional daily strips such as The Chelation Kid, America Jr., Doctor Cyborg, Cryptozoo Crew, and others.


For more information contact:
Mark Wheatley
Insight Studios
insight@insightstudiosgroup.com
410 871 1235

- he also sent me the theme song, but I have no idea how to link it here.

Bashing of Post over Opus censorship continues

Here's an interesting one - one could reasonably expect CNS to stand for Catholic News Service instead of the actual Cybercast News Service. See "Papers Criticized for Pulling Cartoon on Radical Islam," by Melanie Hunter, CNSNews.com Senior Editor, August 28, 2007.

Aha! Apparently it is Catholic - see Dave Astor's story.

Small Press Expo Adds Matt Wagner, Jeff Smith and Kim Deitch As Guests for SPX 2007

Big year at SPX! Lots of great names will be there.

Small Press Expo Adds Matt Wagner, Jeff Smith and Kim Deitch As Guests for SPX 2007

For Immediate Release
Contact: Warren Bernard
E-Mail: webernard@spxpo.com

Bethesda, Maryland; August 29, 2007 - The Small Press Expo (SPX), the preeminent showcase for the exhibition of independent comic books, graphic novels and alternative political cartoons, is proud to add Matt Wagner, Jeff Smith and Kim Deitch to the roster of guests for SPX 2007. This years SPX will be held October 12 and October 13 at The North Bethesda Marriott Convention Center in Bethesda, Maryland.

Matt Wagner is one of the pioneers of indie comics with his original creation of “Grendel”, which celebrates its 25th Anniversary this year. Matt also created, wrote and drew “Mage”, and has worked on a number of projects for both DC and Vertigo. His next installment of the Grendel saga, “Behold The Devil” is due to be released this November from Dark Horse.

Jeff Smith, is the creator of the celebrated epic “Bone”, which has over a half million copies in print and is now available in Italian, Spanish, German and many other foreign languages. Jeff recently completed his critically acclaimed reworking of the Golden Age hero Captain Marvel, “Shazaam! The Monster Society of Evil” for DC Comics. He has recently been named by Fantagraphics as the art designer in charge of the upcoming reprints of Walt Kelly’s classic, “Pogo”.

Kim Deitch will be at SPX to promote his well received latest graphic novel, “Alias The Cat” from Pantheon Books. Kim is one of the original “underground” cartoonists who redefined comics in the 1960’s and has also worked in the field of animation.

These creators are in addition to Bill Griffith, Gilbert Hernandez and Rutu Modan who were previously announced as guests at this years SPX.

Additional guests will be added over the next few weeks, please stay tuned for those announcements.

For further information on the artists or to request an interview, please contact Warren Bernard at webernard@spxpo.com.

SPX, a non-profit organization, brings together more than 300 artists and publishers to meet their readers, booksellers and distributors each year. Graphic novels, political cartoon books and alternative comics will all be on display and for sale by their authors and illustrators. A series of panel discussions will also be held of interest to readers, academicians and creators of graphic novels and political cartoons.

SPX will be open to the public from 2 pm - 8 pm, Friday, October 12 and 10am - 7 pm Saturday, October 13. Admission is $8 for a single day and $15 for both days.

SPX culminates with the presentation of the 11th Annual Ignatz Awards for outstanding achievement in comics and cartooning. The Ignatz is the first Festival Prize in the US comic book industry, with winners chosen by balloting during the SPX.

As in previous years, all profits from the SPX will go to support the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund (CBLDF), protecting the First Amendment rights of comic book readers and professionals. For more information on the CBLDF, go to their website at
http://www.cbldf.org/.

Founded in 1994, SPX is North America's premier alternative comic-book festival. This annual event brings together comic creators, publishers and more than 2000 fans together to celebrate the art of storytelling.

Sept 22: Mama Mirabelle Festival

National Geographic Kids Entertainment's new preschool cartoon, Mama Mirabelle's Home Movies, which will be seen on PBS Kids in the fall, will be shown at a film screening at National Geographic.

11 AM, $7 ticket.

September - Anime on the big screen

The DC Anime Club's president forwarded this press release, so presumably the four movies can be seen in the area.

For Immediate Release
Contact: Michelle Portillo (303) 792-8651 michelle.portillo@ncm.com


“ANIME BENTO” FESTIVAL SERVES UP FOUR NIGHTS OF THE FRESHEST ANIME TITLES ON
THE BIG SCREEN

NCM Fathom Responds to Anime Movie Demand by
Hosting the Hottest Manga and FUNimation Entertainment
Anime Titles in more than 250 Movie Theatres Nationwide

Centennial, Colo. – August 21, 2007 – NCM FATHOM, the entertainment division of National CineMedia, takes an unprecedented move in alternative theatre entertainment by announcing a special, four-day anime festival – “Anime Bento, 4 Nights, 4 Servings – The Hottest Anime Movies on the Big Screen” – with FUNimation Entertainment and Manga movies never before seen on the big screen with exclusive bonus features each night.

“Anime Bento, 4 Nights, 4 Servings – The Hottest Anime Movies on the Big Screen” is the first of what is planned to be an annual NCM FATHOM Anime Event. Debuting in more than 250 select AMC, Regal Entertainment Group and Georgia Theatre Company movie theatres nationwide beginning on Sept. 19th at 7:30 p.m. local time, the complete “Anime Bento” schedule will serve up one exciting title each night as follows:

- “Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles” – Wednesday, Sept. 19th
- “Full Metal Alchemist – The Movie – Conqueror of Shambala” –Thursday, Sept. 20th
- “Lupin the III: The Castle of Cagliostro ” – Wednesday, Sept. 26th
- “Karas – The Prophecy” – Thursday, Sept. 27th

Tickets for “Anime Bento” can be purchased for $10.00 at www.FathomEvents.com or at participating theatre box offices. For a complete list of theatre locations, please visit the website (theatres are subject to change).

“We’ve had incredible success with the anime category in the recent past and NCM FATHOM is excited to debut the first annual anime festival in theatres with the hottest anime titles provided by the top anime studios in the industry – FUNimation Entertainment and Manga,” said Dan Diamond, vice president of NCM FATHOM. “The anime phenomenon has captivated teens and adults alike, and this special event is designed as a way for fans to meet and revel in their love for anime while experiencing it in a way they’ve never experienced it before – on the big screen.”

About the Titles

“Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles”
Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles is the latest exciting chapter of the Robotech saga. A heroic cast of returning characters, led by Scott Bernard and Vince Grant, fight to end a decades-long struggle against an enigmatic alien race known as the Invid. However, the mysterious disappearance of the legendary Admiral Hunter will unfold in a treacherous mystery that could tear apart our young heroes and threaten their very survival!

“Full Metal Alchemist – The Movie – Conqueror of Shambala”
It is 1923 in Munich . Two years have passed since Edward Elric’s sacrifice ripped him out of his world and into ours, separating him from his younger brother, Alphonse. In that time, Ed’s continued research into rocketry has allied him with Alphonse Heiderich, a fellow researcher who oddly resembles Ed’s brother. Progress has been slow, however, and Ed has become discouraged. But when he saves a quiet Gypsy girl with the power to read minds, Ed is quickly pulled into a plot by the Thule Society and the burgeoning Nazi Party that could drag both worlds into a terrible war. Back in his own world, Al has been unlocking new secrets of alchemy and gaining incredible powers, all in the hopes of finding Ed.

Battling the occult, ideological extremists, and monstrous Homunculi lurking in the shadows, can the brothers find a way to reunite without causing chaos and bloodshed? What will happen when the world of alchemy and the world of modern science collide?

“Lupin the III: The Castle of Cagliostro ”
When master thief Lupin III, a.k.a. "The Wolf," inadvertently steals a fortune in counterfeit bills from a casino, he is quick to realize the high-quality printing plates that made them are worth even more. Tracing the source of the money to the small European country of Cagliostro, Lupin and his team of colorful outlaws cross swords with the local count over his forthcoming marriage to the last princess of the Cagliostro family. It’s a fast-paced adventure as Lupin must battle fearsome ninjas, rescue a damsel in distress and uncover the key to the lost Cagliostro fortune. This is the first feature film written and directed by Academy Award™ winning anime pioneer and visionary Hayao Miyazaki.

“Karas – The Prophecy”
MIKURA IS ON THE RISE AGAIN... Tokyo - a city populated by both humans and by ghostly beings. They exist in both dimensions, seen and unseen: spirits, apparitions, demons. The balance between these two dimensions has long been upheld by the city's guardian raven Karas and his masters. But that balance has been thrown into disarray as Eko, a former Karas, has attempted to seize power and bring order to the streets through force. The entity Yurine, who represents the will of the people, stands in his way with her newly risen Karas. Now an ageless battle stretching across both dimensions and killing humans and spirits alike is in progress between the two sides and their armies. Karas is humanity’s last hope.

Fox News, late to game, slaps around Post over Opus

We had the story days ago of course, but Fox News is just getting to it today - "Washington Post, Other Newspapers Won't Run 'Opus' Cartoon Mocking Radical Islam," Fox News.com Monday, August 27, 2007, by Catherine Donaldson-Evans.

Zippy returns to Arlington!

And visits the Weenie Beenie, in Shirlington, just off 395. Thanks to Vince Miller for the tip. Somewhere in an earlier post, I linked to a lot of his DC area appearances.

Sept. 24: David Wallis appearance for Killed Cartoons in Fairfax

David Wallis just wrote in to mention this appearance. I enjoyed the book quite a bit.
FALL FOR THE BOOK
GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY
FAIRFAX, VIRGINIA

Sept. 24, 12:00 pm David Wallis Gold Room, Johnson Center
Davis Wallis discusses "Killed: Great Journalism Too Hot to Print and Killed Cartoons: Casualties from the War on Free Expression."

The six-day Fall for the Book Festival celebrates literature, learning and all types of books and storytelling - from literary fiction to mystery and thrillers to folk tales, from poetry and plays to children's books, and across a diverse range of nonfiction: history, memoir, politics and more. All events are free and open to the public.

John Porcellino interview on Express' website

"Practice Makes Imperfect: 'King-Cat Classix'", posted by Christopher Porter on August 27, 2007 - it's not in the physical paper and is about John Porcellino.

Comics have conquered the world

The NY Times regularly runs articles on cartoons or comic art these days. Today's Times has an editorial praising Jack Kirby. Unfortunately, it may mean, like opera, that comics are essentially dead.

See "Editorial Observer - Jack Kirby, a Comic Book Genius, Is Finally Remembered" by BRENT STAPLES, New York Times August 26, 2007.