Wednesday, September 19, 2007

Sept 25-29: Phil Yeh in Baltimore

Randy T. reports Phil Yeh will be appearing in Baltimore later this month:

Graphic Novel Workshops with Phil Yeh, "godfather" of the American graphic novel

This interactive program, for all ages, will introduce you to many of the world's famous graphic novel creators and show you how to create your own unique characters and write a comic strip. Each participant will receive a copy of one of Phil Yeh's books.

Phil Yeh has written, illustrated and published more than 80 books of his own and another 50 from other authors. He has experience in television, radio, animation, licensing and book publishing and has owned galleries in Long Beach and Lompoc, CA.

Schedule:

* Central Library Saturday, Sep 29, 2007 (2:00 p.m.)
* Govans Branch Tuesday, Sep 25, 2007 (4:00 p.m.)
* Light Street Branch Thursday, Sep 27, 2007 (6:30 p.m.)
* Patterson Park Branch Wednesday, Sep 26, 2007 (4:00 p.m.)
* Washington Village Branch Thursday, Sep 27, 2007 (4:00 p.m.)

Oct 12: Free evening with Richard Thompson

Matt Dembicki reports on spotting an event at the Writer's Center (Bethesda):

An evening with Washington Post cartoonist Richard Thompson (whose strip "Cul-de-Sac" appears in the Washington Post Magazine, and "Richard's Poor Almanac" in the Style section). Thompson, who is going into national syndication this month, will talk about how he finds and develops ideas and will share samples of work in process.
Date/Time 10/12/2007 [7:30 PM to 9:30 PM]
Event Type Special Event
Venue/Room Bethesda, Room: Reading Room
Capacity 80 spaces

I imagine there's some type of RSVP.

Monday, September 17, 2007

Sept 22 OT: David Lozell Martin reading at Busboys & Poets

My friend David Lozell Martin is again reading from his post-apocalyptic sacking-of-Washington novel, Our American King at Busboys and Poets on 14th St, NW at 4 pm. I'll be there and I recommend it to you as well.

Sunday, September 16, 2007

New finger puppet from Richard Thompson

In yesterday's Richard's Poor Almanack, the new finger puppet was General Petraeus (what does that mean in Latin anyway?). It's not online yet, but should be here eventually. At the moment, that link is to September 8th's End of Summer cartoon.

Saturday, September 15, 2007

Wish You Were There #4 - Telnaes and Moss exhibit reviews

These two are from the International Journal of Comic Art 4:1 (Spring 2002). I was still feeling my way with writing these.

Pens and Needles: The Editorial Cartoons of Ann Telnaes. Rosslyn, VA: The Newseum, October 26, 2001--March 3, 2002.

The Newseum is closing in 2002 to move to Washington, DC so the Telnaes show (entitled Pulitzer Prize 2001: Editorial Cartoonist Ann Telnaes in the exhibit) will be the last one for several years. Telnaes, the second woman to win the Pulitzer, has no home newspaper; instead she is under contract with Tribune Media Services. The small exhibit consisted of 16 cartoons, 11 of them originals. 5 were on the disputed 2000 presidential election, 2 on the separation of church and state, 1 on Elian Gonzales, 2 on China's human rights record and the last on OSHA's regulating the home workplace. Telnaes worked as an animator for Disney and Warner Bros., and now does a weekly strip as one of the 'Six Chix.' Her line is very distinctive, probably due to her animation work; one can immediately recognize her art. Telnaes draws in pencil, inks her work and then scans it into a computer to add color. She now produces both black and white and color versions of each cartoon; this show reveals the color detracts from the impact of the cartoon. While this was a pleasant little show, the public would benefit from a larger one showing a larger amount and demonstrating a wider range of her cartoons. The exhibit is online at http://www.newseum.org/telnaes/gallery/open_index.htm. If that site is taken down, many of the cartoons in the exhibit can be seen at http://cagle.slate.msn.com/news/telnaes/main.asp; Telnaes' own site at http://www.anntelnaes.com is under construction as of this writing.

Geoffrey Moss: A Pen as Mighty as a Sword. Rosslyn, VA: The Newseum, Fall 2001--March 3, 2002.

A very small exhibit of six pen and ink cartoons drawn after the terrorism of September 11 was tucked into a corner of the main exhibit hall. Moss, who calls his captionless cartoons "Mossprints" is syndicated by Creators. The six drawings were in the classic tradition of newspaper illustration, showing death as a gasmask-wearing skeleton and the Israel / Palestine issue as part of the larger problem. A larger exhibit with more information on Moss would be a pleasure; this show functioned as an appetizer.

Wish You Were There #3 - A couple of book reviews

The following reviews are ones I wrote for the International Journal of Comic Art 3:1 (Spring 2001).

Raggedy Ann and More: Johnny Gruelle's Dolls and Merchandise. Patricia Hall. Gretna: Pelican Publishing Company, 2000. ISBN 1-56554-102-2. $35.


Cartoonists, children's books, and merchandise have been linked since the late nineteenth century. While Charles Schulz, Jim Davis, Berke Breathed, and especially Walt Disney are well known to the contemporary reader, Johnny Gruelle has largely been forgotten. Patricia Hall has been working to reintroduce Gruelle, and this book is the second in a planned trilogy. The first was a biography, Johnny Gruelle, Creator of Raggedy Ann and Andy (1993) and the third planned for spring 2001 will be a bibliography. Gruelle was an artist who moved easily between the worlds of comic strips, political cartoons, and children's books, eventually creating a family business that lasted until the 1960s.

Gruelle's life is recounted briefly by Hall, but readers interested in detail are referred to her previous book. This extremely well-illustrated book concentrates on the physical products derived from Gruelle's imagination. As a cartoonist for the New York Herald, Gruelle created the "Mr. Twee Deedle" comic strip which was merchandized as a doll by the newspaper immediately. While doing the comic strip, he also illustrated children's magazines and books. In 1915, he submitted a design for a patent on Raggedy Ann, a doll that was apparently partially based on characters from his comic strip.

The patent was granted and Gruelle began making his own dolls. Raggedy Ann was not based on a familiar character and initial sales were slow. Gruelle generated interest in the doll by contracting with publisher P. F. Volland for a children's book based on the doll. Other characters he developed, such as the duck Quacky Doodles, proved more popular and merchandising included a cartoon series. By late 1918, Gruelle had completed his book on Raggedy Ann and dolls were produced to be sold with it. The book and doll combination was a success and Gruelle continued producing merchandizable ideas until he died in 1938. His family took over the company and continued licensing Gruelle's characters until they sold the company to a book publisher.

Probably because of marketing concerns, the book is a curious mixture of a business history attractively designed as a full-color coffee table book that includes a price guide. Hall writes to appeal to historians as well as collectors of children's books, dolls, toys, and cartoons. Many sidebar pieces detail specific parts of Gruelle's business efforts, such as books, sheet music, and copyright infringements. Anyone interested in Gruelle, cartoon merchandising, book or doll collecting, or popular culture of the first half of the twentieth century should find something of interest in this book.


Evil Geniuses in a Nutshell. J. D. "Illiad" Frazer. Sebastopol, CA: O'Reilly & Associates, 2000.


A collection of User Friendly, a free online comic strip, raises some interesting questions about the future of comic art. Frazer's strip is written for a specialized audience of advanced computer users and is published by a company specializing in computer manuals. The strip is done on a computer and lacks backgrounds in the simplified art style that Dilbert made acceptable. Illiad has stated that Breathed's Bloom County was an inspiration, but the humor of User Friendly is extremely dependent on knowledge of computers. A niche market product, reminiscent of earlier specialized work such as Jake's military cartoons, User Friendly is not syndicated, but it still appears in more than 150 college papers and several magazines. In the introduction to this second collection, Frazer said, "But today, with the Web, the distribution infrastructure the syndicates possess is becoming less valuable, and is no longer necessary." One of the strip's webpages claims, "The site, UserFriendly.org, attracts more than 2 million visits each month, including more than a half million unique visitors and 15 million page views ...and is now by far the largest web-based comic strip... Compared to more traditional syndicated comics, User Friendly the Comic Strip is catching up very quickly. For example, Dilbert, around since 1986, is syndicated in over 2,000 newspapers. UserFriendly.org boasts an audience equal to 42% of Dilbert’s online audience."

User Friendly can thus be seen as supporting part of McCloud's argument about the transition of comics to the web, but Frazer, O'Reilly, and McCloud decided to publish and charge for a paper version. The ability of both electronic and paper versions to succeed seems to bode well for the future of comic art. The strip and additional information about it can be seen at http://www.userfriendly.org/ and http://www.ufmedia.com.

Zadzooks on Morrison's Batman

Zadzooks looks at three comic books today - and most interestingly, Grant Morrison's take on Batman. See "Lots of text to distract from 'Batman and Son'" by Joseph Szadkowski, Washington Times September 15, 2007. It occurs to me that I haven't been giving Mr. S enough play in this blog. He's been writing on comics in the area for at least a decade, going back to the Times' giveaway experiment Pop Art Times. I'll try to link to his weekly column from now on.

Updating the Comics Research Bibliography 6/20/07 - includes Chris Ware citations

A friend of mine asked for what I citations had on Chris Ware, so I put together some which are towards the bottom of this list.

Olkowski, Lu. 2007.
Creatures, Milch, McEwan: Bee-ing There [Creature Comforts].
National Public Radio and WNYC's Studio 360 (June 15).
online at http://www.studio360.org/episodes/2007/06/15

Kampfner, Judith. 2007.
Creatures, Milch, McEwan: Silver Surfer.
National Public Radio and WNYC's Studio 360 (June 15).
Online at http://www.studio360.org/episodes/2007/06/15

Dawson, Angela / Entertainment News Wire. 2007.
Bad Surfer dude: The Fantastic Four are back to battle a metallic new
villain.
[Washington Post] Express (June 14): 19

Garfield, Bob. 2007.
Tintin in the World [R.Sikoryak interview].
National Public Radio's On the Media (June 15).
online at http://www.onthemedia.org/transcripts/2007/06/15/08


Hansen, Janet V. 1984.
So You Want to Start your Own Business? [computer-created gag cartoons;
copy at MSU].
Mt. Prospect, IL: Janet V. Hansen

Maynard, John. 2007.
On 'Lil' Bush,' It's the Laughs That Are Tiny.
Washington Post (June 13): C7

McConnell, Robin. 2007.
Barron Storey.
Inkstuds (June 14): http://www.inkstuds.com/?p=173

Moore, Kris. 2007.
Kris Moore - Getting The Signature [autographed comic book collector].
Scoop (June 15):
http://scoop.diamondgalleries.com/scoop_article.asp?ai=15534&si=124

Myers, Bernice. 1979.
Bernice Myers' Book of Giggles [gag comic strips for children; copy at
MSU].
Scholastic

Pressley, Nelson. 2007.
Satoshi Kon, Anime's Dream Weaver: The Japanese Filmmaker Goes Inside
His Characters' Heads to Get Inside Moviegoers' Hearts.
Washington Post (June 17): N3.
Online at
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/15/AR200706
1500492.html

Mayo, Jenny. 2007.
'Paprika' offers spicy animation for adults [Satoshi Kon anime].
Washington Times (June 15).
Online at
http://www.washingtontimes.com/entertainment/20070614-085513-6311r.htm

Ressner, Jeffrey. 2007.
Axis of evil: No one embodies villainy this season better than Thomas
Haden Chruch, Timothy Olyphant and Julian McMahon. An exclusive Q&A
[Spider-Man 3, Fantastic Four movies].
USA Weekend (May 4-6): 12-14

Rosenberg, Scott. 2007.
King Cat Comix: Brandon Graham.
[Washington Post] Express (June 18).
Online at
http://www.readexpress.com/read_freeride/2007/06/king_cat_comix_brandon_
graham.php

Spurgeon, Tom. 2007.
CR Sunday Interview: Paul Karasik.
Comics Reporter (June 17):
http://www.comicsreporter.com/index.php/cr_sunday_interview_paul_karasik
/

Yandow, A. Richard. 2006.
Letters: The Funny Pages [Jaime Hernandez's 'La Maggie La Loca'].
New York Times Magazine (May 7)

Poniewozik, James. 2003.
Books: Blankets By Craig Thompson.
Time (August 25)

Zeidler, Sue. 2007.
Animation industry hopes for more grown-up 'toons.
Reuters (June 13).
Online at
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070614/media_nm/animation_hollywood_dc_1

Unknown. 2007.
Barks Art Sets Bonhams' Record.
Scoop (June 15):
http://scoop.diamondgalleries.com/scoop_article.asp?ai=15547&si=123

Bengal, Rebecca. 2006.
On Cartooning: Jessica Abel.
POV (July):
http://www.pbs.org/pov/pov2006/tintinandi/sfartists_abel.html

Bengal, Rebecca. 2006.
On Cartooning: Phoebe Gloeckner.
POV (July):
http://www.pbs.org/pov/pov2006/tintinandi/sfartists_gloeckner.html

Chris Ware

Bengal, Rebecca. 2006.
On Cartooning: Chris Ware.
POV (July):
http://www.pbs.org/pov/pov2006/tintinandi/sfartists_ware.html

Ware, Chris. 2006.
Building Stories - the introduction.
Independent (October 1).
online at
http://enjoyment.independent.co.uk/books/features/article1856445.ece

Worland, Gayle. 2006.
Wisconsin Book Festival: 5 questions with graphic novel genius Chris
Ware.
Wisconsin State Journal (October 13).
Online at
http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/entertainment/index.php?ntid=103165&ntpi
d=2

Young, Robin. 2005.
Comic Strip Artist Chris Ware.
National Public Radio and WBUR's Here and Now (December 9).
Online at http://www.here-now.org/shows/2005/12/20051209_17.asp

Potter, Steven. 2006.
Loud and bright, comics leave an impression; Artist describes medium's
lasting effects on popular culture [Chris Ware].
Journal Sentinal (May 4).
Online at http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=421008

Parschalk, William. 2006.
School-day ACME Novelty proves unique [Chris Ware].
Johns Hopkins News-Letter (March 31).
Online at
http://www.jhunewsletter.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2006/03/31/442ebfdb87b7
b

Warren, Lynne. 2005.
Chris Ware Interview: Chris Ware at the MCA.
Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago (December):
http://www.mcachicago.org/MCA/exhibit/ware_interview.html

Stanislawski, Ethan. 2006.
Chris Ware's urban cartoons make a strange but effective art exhibit.
[University of] Chicago Maroon (June 2).
Online at
http://maroon.uchicago.edu/voices/articles/2006/06/02/chris_wares_urban_
ca.php

Unknown. 2006.
Chris Ware at MCA Chicago.
Art Daily (May 11):
http://www.artdaily.com/section/news/index.asp?int_sec=2&int_new=15698

Mathie, Frank. 2006.
Cartoonist's work on display at Chicago museum [Chris Ware].
ABC 7 News (May 8):
http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=local&id=4153742

Kennedy, Mary. 2006.
Letters: The Funny Pages ['Building Stories,' by Chris Ware].
New York Times Magazine (May 7)

Mazanec, Tom. 2007.
Lending legitimacy to comic book lit: 'The Acme Novelty Library' serves
as an introduction to Chris Ware's graphic novels.
Calvin College Chimes (February 2):
http://www-stu.calvin.edu/chimes/article.php?id=1953

Ware, Chris. 2007.
One Eye: Charles Burns, Photographer.
Virginia Quarterly Review (Winter): 104-117
Online at http://www.vqronline.org/articles/2007/winter/burns-one-eye/

Cole, Patrick. 2006.
Seminole Filmmaker, Guitarist Awarded $50,000 Grants [Joe Sacco, Jim
Woodring, Chris Ware]
Bloomberg (December 4).
Online at
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601088&sid=aBqvgBE9MNnY&refer=m
use

Kwok, Janet K. 2005.
Comics' Trendy Cousins: Graphic novelists behind 'Jimmy Corrigan' and
'Black Hole' appear at the Brattle [Chris Ware and Charles Burns].
Harvard Crimson (October 20).
Online at http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=509245

Edemariam, Aida. 2005.
The art of melancholy: He may be a cartoonist, but Chris Ware is more
likely to fill his strips with sighs than laughs. With a new book and a
new family, he talks about tragedy and comics to Aida Edemariam.
Guardian (October 31).
Online at
http://books.guardian.co.uk/news/articles/0,6109,1605195,00.html

Hune-Brown, Nicholas. 2005.
Graphic Nostalgia: Cartoonists Chris Ware, Seth and Charles Burns aren't
lost in the past, but revelling in it.
Maisonneuve (November 10):
http://www.maisonneuve.org/index.php?&page_id=12&article_id=1898

Poniewozik, James. 2000.
Right Way, Corrigan: From cartoonist Chris Ware, an elegantly crafted,
poignant story of man and not-so-superman.
Time (September 11)

Arnold, Andrew D. 2000.
Web Exclusive - Q and A With Comicbook Master Chris Ware; TIME.com's
Andrew Arnold talked with the much-heralded author of 'Jimmy Corrigan'.
Time.com (September 1).

Poniewozik, James. 2003.
Books - Quimby The Mouse By Chris Ware.
Time (August 25)

Raeburn, Daniel. 2004.
Chris Ware.
New Haven: Yale University Press

Kannenberg, Jr., Gene. 2001.
The Comics of Chris Ware: Text, Image, and Visual Narrative Strategies.
In The Language of Comics: Word and Image. Ed. Robin Varnum and
Christina T. Gibbons.
Jackson: U of Mississippi Press

Baker, Sarah. 2007.
Conscious Comic: Artist Chris Ware reveals his love for Ulysses.
Omaha Weekly Reader (February 15).
Online at
http://www.thereader.com/art.php?subaction=showfull&id=1171564906&archiv
e=&start_from=&ucat=11&

Brattland, Jane Elin. 2007. Verdens beste tegneserie! Trist, lavmaelt
og stemningsfull. RadioSelskapets tegneseriejury har karet 'Jimmy
Corrigan' av Chris Ware til tidenes beste tegneserie.
NRK Publisert (February 6).
Online at http://www.nrk.no/nyheter/kultur/1.1774455

Thorson, Alice. 2007.
The Art of Comic Books: Comic creator Chris Ware will speak at Nebraska
exhibit Omaha native is known for his Acme Novelty Library comics.
Kansas City Star (February 11).
Online at
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/entertainment/16656427.htm

Bredehoft, Thomas A. 2006.
Comics Architecture, Multidimensionality, and Time: Chris Ware's Jimmy
Corrigan: The Smartest Kid on Earth.
MFS Modern Fiction Studies 52 (4, Winter)

Worden, Daniel. 2006.
The Shameful Art: McSweeney's Quarterly Concern, Comics, and the
Politics of Affect [Chris Ware edited anthology].
MFS Modern Fiction Studies 52 (4, Winter)

Gutoff, Bija. 2005.
John Kuramoto: Animating Historic Architecture [Chris Ware's "Lost
Building" DVD].
Apple.com (March?): http://www.apple.com/pro/video/kuramoto/

Gatti, Tom. 2005.
Lives in graphic detail [Chris Ware].
Times of London (September 3).
Online at http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,923-1760443,00.html

Wolk, Douglas. 2005.
The inimitable Chris Ware: The author of "Jimmy Corrigan" explores a
fallen world in this new installment of breathtakingly intricate comic
strips.
Salon (September 2):
http://www.salon.com/books/review/2005/09/02/ware/print.html

Baker, R.C. 2005.
Panel Discussion: Chris Ware's The Acme Novelty Library.
Village Voice (September 6).
Online at http://villagevoice.com/books/0536,panel,67535,10.html

Howard, Jennifer. 2004.
Comics - Chris Ware, by Daniel Raeburn (Yale Univ., $19.95).
Washington Post Book World(December 26): BW11

Wolk, Douglas. 2004.
Panel Discussion: Jimmy Jazz [Chris Ware By Daniel Raeburn].
Village Voice (November 16).
Online at http://www.villagevoice.com/issues/0446/wolk.php

Swanhuyser, Hiya. 2004.
A Ware Ness: "Sequential artist" Chris Ware is a smart man with a
strange vision.
SF Weekly (June 9).
Online at
http://www.sfweekly.com/issues/2004-06-09/nightday.html/1/index.html?src
=newsletter

Post ombudsman on censoring Opus

See "Why Were These Comics Dropped?" by Deborah Howell, Washington Post Sunday, September 16, 2007; Page B06. Apparently it was the decision of executive editor Len Downie - whom one would have hoped had better things to do than worry about the comics pages. The omsbudsman thinks he was wrong. Click on the 'censorship' tag at the bottom for further examples of the Post dropping strips.

Christopher Bing

The New York Times has published one of my favorite non-cartoonists today - editorial illustrator Christopher Bing. He illustrated letters for 'Parsing Bush's address on Iraq' on the editorial page, but unfortunately the illustration isn't online. Bing used to do regular illustrations for the Post's Sunday Opinion section, but is rarely seen there now, sigh.

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

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.

Richard Thompson's Cul de Sac launches in the Post


...several years ago. But it relaunches tomorrow. You can get the details here, or buy the paper tomorrow, or steal that bit that the Post delivers on Saturday from a neighbor's lawn - the one with the coupons and the comics and the magazine. And note the Post editor taking credit for the idea. Why the nerve of that guy.

Richard really does look like that, by the way. Except he's taller.

OT: Administrivia

I just discovered 'tagging' which will let you, the reader, click on a link on the bottom of each post and get every post that I've tagged with that link on one page. So I'll start working my way backwards through the list so you can use it more efficiently. Thanks go out to my friend Ed, who runs the Daily Randonneur cycling blog, for the help.

Next week - we discover fire.

Friday, September 14, 2007

Oct 18-20 ICAF: LAT, KAL and Kyle (Baker that is)

Here's the schedule - some of the talks look awfully good. I'd especially recommend Ian Gordon and Rusty Witek's. And LAT! All the way from Malaysia. KAL! Always entertaining. And Kyle Baker - an all-around excellent cartoonist who's always great to listen to.

OT: Seeking Mike Barson, who did interviews for Heavy Metal

I'm trying to find Mike Barson, who did interviews for Heavy Metal in the 1980s. I'd like to reprint one of his interviews with Harvey Pekar. When I called HM today, they said they don't own the rights to his interviews and I should contact him. Anyone have any idea how to find him?

Small Press Expo Announces the 2007 Ignatz Award Nominees

Small Press Expo Announces the 2007 Ignatz Award Nominees



For Immediate Release
Contact: Warren Bernard
Phone: 301-537-4615
E-Mail:webernard@spxpo.com

SPX 2007 will host the 11th annual presentation of the Ignatz Awards, a celebration of outstanding achievement in comics and cartooning. The Ignatz is named after Krazy Kat’s creator George Herriman's brick-wielding mouse, recognizes exceptional work that challenges popular notions of what comics can achieve, both as an art form and as a means of personal expression.

The Ignatz Awards are a festival prize, the first of such in the United States comic book industry. The nominees for the ballot were determined by a panel of five comic artists, which will be voted on by the attendees during SPX. The Ignatz Awards ceremony will be held at the North Bethesda Marriott Convention Center in Bethesda, Maryland on Saturday, October 13th, 2007 at 9:00 PM.

For more information on the Small Press Expo and the Ignatz Awards, please visit http://www.spxpo.com.

Outstanding Artist

Vanessa Davis, Papercutter #4 (Tugboat Press), Kramers Ergot #6 (Buenaventura Press)

John Hankiewicz, Asthma (Sparkplug Comic Books)

Jaime Hernandez, Love & Rockets (Fantagraphics Books)

Rutu Modan, Exit Wounds (Drawn & Quarterly)

Ted Stearn, Fuzz & Pluck in Splitsville #4 (Fantagraphics Books)



Outstanding Anthology or Collection

Curses by Kevin Huizenga (Drawn & Quarterly)

Drawn & Quarterly Showcase Vol. 4 by Gabrielle Bell, Martin Cendrera, and Dan Zettwoch (Drawn & Quarterly)

King-Cat Classix by John Porcellino (Drawn & Quarterly)

Misery Loves Comedy by Ivan Brunetti (Fantagraphics Books)

Moomin Book One by Tove Jansson (Drawn & Quarterly)



Outstanding Graphic Novel

Aya by Marguerite Abouet and Clement Oubrerie (Drawn & Quarterly)

Bookhunter by Jason Shiga (Sparkplug Comic Books)

Don't Go Where I Can't Follow by Anders Nilsen (Drawn & Quarterly)

Exit Wounds by Rutu Modan (Drawn & Quarterly)

House by Josh Simmons (Fantagraphics Books)



Outstanding Story

Delphine #1-2 by Richard Sala (Fantagraphics Books/Coconico Press)

Don't Go Where I Can't Follow by Anders Nilsen (Drawn & Quarterly)

The End #1 by Anders Nilsen (Fantagraphics Books/Coconico Press)

"Martha Gregory" by John Hankiewicz, Asthma (Sparkplug Comic Books)

"Untitled" by Gabrielle Bell, Drawn & Quarterly Showcase Vol. 4 (Drawn & Quarterly)



Promising New Talent

Gabrielle Bell, Lucky, Drawn & Quarterly Showcase Vol. 4 (Drawn & Quarterly)

Scott Campbell, Flight Vol. 4 (Ballantine Books), Hickee vol. 3 #3 (Alternative Comics)

Lilli Carre, You Ain't No Dancer Vol. 2 (New Reliable Press)

Brandon Graham, King City (TokyoPop)

Tom Neely, The Blot (I Will Destroy You)



Outstanding Series

Atlas by Dylan Horrocks (Drawn & Quarterly)

Delphine by Richard Sala (Fantagraphics Books/Coconico Press)

Dungeon by Lewis Trondheim, Joann Sfar, and various (NBM)

Love & Rockets by Los Bros Hernandez (Fantagraphics Books)

Mourning Star by Kazimir Strzepek (Bodega Distribution)



Outstanding Comic

Doctor Id by Adam McGovern and Paolo Leandri (Indie Ink Studios)

Fuzz & Pluck in Splitsville #4 by Ted Stearn (Fantagraphics Books)

Love & Rockets vol. 2 #18 by Los Bros Hernandez (Fantagraphics Books)

Monster Parade #1 by Ben Catmull (Fantagraphics Books)

Optic Nerve #11 by Adrian Tomine (Drawn & Quarterly)



Outstanding Mini-Comic

Burning Building Comix by Jeff Zwirek

The Monkey and the Crab by Shawn Cheng and Sara Edward-Corbett

Noose by Mark Burrier

P.S. Comics #3 by Minty Lewis

Seven More Days of Not Getting Eaten by Matt Wiegle



Outstanding Online Comic

Achewood by Chris Onstad (www.achewood.com)

Grace by Kris Dresen (www.girlthrow.com/grace)

Persimmon Cup by Nick Bertozzi (www.act-i-vate.com)

Thingpart by Joe Sayers (www.jsayers.com/thingpart/thingpart.html)

Wondermark by David Malki (www.wondermark.com)



2007 Ignatz Jury

Sara Edward-Corbett
Paul Hornschemeier
Steve MacIsaac
Jesse Reklaw
Zack Soto

Oct 12-13 Small Press Expo guests Cartoonists with Attitude

This came from Randy T and Warren in close succession - not the October 11th booksigning as well, as Randy points out.

Small Press Expo Announces Cartoonists With Attitude, featuring Ted Rall, Jen Sorensen and Keith Knight at SPX 2007

For Immediate Release
Contact: Warren Bernard
Phone: 301-537-4615 E-Mail:webernard@mindspring.com

Bethesda, Maryland; September 11, 2007 - Small Press Expo (SPX), the preeminent showcase for the exhibition of independent comic books, graphic novels and alternative political cartoons, is proud to announce that the Cartoonists With Attitude (C.W.A.) posse will once again attend this years SPX, which will be held October 12 and 13 at The North Bethesda Marriott Convention Center in Bethesda, Maryland.

Members of C.W.A. along with Kim Deitch, author of the graphic novel “Alias The Cat”, will also be at a book signing event to be held on October 11 at 7:30PM at the Barnes and Nobles bookstore in Bethesda, Maryland.

Founded in the finest tradition of Thomas Nast and Matt Groening, C.W.A.’s mission is to draw attention to the groundbreaking political and social commentary its member cartoonists contribute to the weekly alternative newspapers around the United States and in the online world. The C.W.A. posse coming to SPX this year consists of the following award winning cartoonists:

Ted Rall (“Search and Destroy”) - http://www.tedrall.com/

- Ted was just appointed as the new President of the American Association of Editorial Cartoonists (A.A.E.C.) and recently returned from yet another trip to Central Asia. Author, ATTITUDE editor, cartoonist, columnist and sometime TV personality, Ted is currently has two books out, the “Silk Road to Ruin: Is Central Asia the New Middle East?” and his latest cartoon collection, “America Gone Wild”.

Jen Sorensen (“Slowpoke”) - http://www.slowpokecomics.com

- Jen is now following in the footsteps of Jules Feiffer, as her weekly cartoon is now being published in the Village Voice, amongst many other alternative weeklies. The first place winner at in the 2005 Association of Alternative Newsweekly Awards, Jen has two books out, the latest being “America Gone Bonkers” and was featured in “ATTITUDE: The New Subversive Political Cartoonists”. Jen is working on her next book, “Slowpoke: One Nation, Oh My God!” due out in April 2008 from Ig Publishing, with an introduction by Ruben Bolling of “Tom The Dancing Bug” fame.


Keith Knight
(“The K Chronicles”, “(th)ink”) - http://www.kchronicles.com/

- Keith is a Harvey award nominee and has twice won the Glyph Award for Best Comic Strip. He is also a rapper whose latest books are “Are We Feeling Safer Yet”? and “The Beginner's Guide to Community-Based Arts”. His art has appeared in various publications worldwide, including Salon.com, ESPN the Magazine, L.A. Weekly, MAD Magazine, the Funny Times and World War 3 Illustrated.

Mikhaela Reid (“The Boiling Point”) - http://www.mikhaela.net/

- Mikhaela has just released her first cartoon compendium entitled “Attack of the 50-Foot Mikheala!” with a foreword by Ted Rall. In 2006, Mikhaela was named one of “Girls in Government's Real Hot 100”. Mikhaela is a political cartoonist and illustrator whose work has appeared in the Los Angeles Times, The Guardian, Boston Phoenix, Bay Windows, Metro Times, The Rochester Insider, Women's eNews, In These Times, Ms., The Funny Times, Campus Progress, Girlfriends, The Minnesota Women's Press, amongst publications.

Masheka Wood (“Not Just Knee Deep”) - http://www.whatmashekadid.com

- Masheka is a Glyph Award nominee, and has just released his first book titled “Deep Doodle”. He is currently working on a series of illustrations titled “Dirty Letters” and his comic “Not Just Knee Deep”.

Stephanie McMillan (“Minimum Security”) - http://www.minimumsecurity.net/

- Stephanie’s latest book is titled “ATTITUDE: Featuring Stephanie McMillan's Minimum Securit”y. In 2006, one of her cartoons was featured in the MoCCA art show "She Draws Comics: A Century of Women Cartoonists". She recently sparked controversy with a cartoon featuring anti-choice South Dakota state senator Bill Napoli's home phone number.

August J. Pollak, (“XQUZYPHYR” & Overboard) - http://www.xoverboard.com/

- August will premiere his latest book “Junk in the Toaster” at SPX. A Washington, DC local, August's cartoon "Some Guy With a Website" and has appeared in the Los Angeles Times, In These Times, and The Huffington Post.

Matt Bors (“Idiot Box”) - http://www.mattbors.com/

- Matt was featured in “ATTITUDE 3: The New Subversive Online Cartoonists” and has self-published a series of “Idiot Box” books. Clients include the Seattle Stranger, the ACLU and The Nation.

Brian McFadden (“Big Fat Whale”) - http://www.bigfatwhale.com/

- Brian was also featured in ATTITUDE 3 and has self-published a series of “Big Fat Whale” books.

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 bothdays.

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.

Wednesday, September 12, 2007

Baltimore City Paper article on Geppi's Entertainment Museum

It's the Baltimore City Paper's comic issue*. Can anyone grab me an extra copy?

For the big GEM story - read "Iron Men: Geppi's Museum May Preserve Comic Book Heroes in Amber, But They Don't Need the Help" by Violet Glaze, Baltimore City Paper (September 12, 2007).

I love this museum, but one should remember what blog one's reading, and take that as it's worth.

The issue has an intro, and there's another comics column too - "Comics and Me" by Vincent Williams, and somewhere in there, they have a comics jam which isn't online, although a description of it is.


*and shouldn't the DC City Paper have one? They're not owned by the same multi-media conglomerate though.

The Secret History of Comics: Carl Rose


My friend Warren has a theory that there's the popular history of comics - the Yellow Kid, newspaper funnies, Superman, Seduction of the Innocent, Batman tv show etc, etc and then there's another parallel history that's rarely glimpsed. Here's a look at that history.





Carl Rose did quite a few illustrations for this book - presumably it exists in hardcover so I'm only presenting a couple rather than destroying my copy. Nice work through, huh? And how many readers of this blog (all 10 of you) know anything about Rose? Obviously, he was big in his time, but now sadly forgotten.

Oct 11: Wagner and Abadzis comic signings

Big Planet owner Joel Pollack was complaining today that this blog's been too academic lately so I challenged him to give me some news. Here it is:

Matt Wagner will be at a 25th Anniversary of Grendel signing at Big Planet Bethesda on October 11, probably from 5-7 pm.

Nick Abadzis will be signing his new book, Laika, on the Russian space dog at Big Planet College Park on the same day. He'll also be making two appearances at the Air & Space Museum at some point.

More stories about comics and music

Meanwhile, over at the Express' website, an interview with author Rick
Spears and artist Chuck BB on Black Metal, or underground heavy metal music popular in Scandanavia, has been posted as "Cartoon Mayhem: 'Black Metal'", posted by Christopher Porter on September 12, 2007. The story is online only.

The comic has actually, no kidding, been read and approved of by a metal journalist from Oslo who happened to be hanging around Big Planet Bethesda today.

UVA political cartoonist canned, departure covered by Post

The Post has picked up the story of the UVA cartoonist who drew a joke about Ethiopian famine victims and lost his job after a week or so of spiraling complaints. See "Cartoonist Forced Out Over Image of African Famine" by Ian Shapira, Washington Post Staff Writer, Wednesday, September 12, 2007; B05.

Jim Lee NOT bought at auction for DC comics store

Jim Lee auctioned himself off for the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund at the Baltimore Comic-Con. According to Russ Toney, "The winning bid was $7,500.00 from a shop in Washington D.C." So who was the lucky winner? And is it a business expense?

Late-breaking comments (see below) reveal that Jim Lee was actually bought by Minnesota, a much colder place than Washington. Newsarama has a line on the story. We regret the error, although understand the story much better now, as I couldn't believe any DC store that I knew of would actually do that.

Tuesday, September 11, 2007

Local Arlington paper notes Zippy's visits

We had it first, thanks to my civic association's keen eyes, but here's the bigger picture, or at least more background - "Arlington Gets Zippy: A strange comic strip character has been making appearances in the diners of our fine county" by David Schultz, The Connection September 11, 2007.

Sept 11: Daniel Krall in today's NY Times


Daniel Krall, who's local insofar as he appears to be in Baltimore, has a drawing in today's NY Times on 9-11 and the Pentagon. His website says he does comics, and his work looks familiar, but I can't recollect why. Anyone?

Thompson actually swoops down on large part of US, but not DC


Although I thought the Post was carrying it, Richard's strip launched in 70 papers today according to the Daily Cartoonist, but not the Post, his home paper. As my friend Robert says, "You know, you have several dead guys there..." The scum.

They've still got the Sunday strip only online. You can see the first strip at Go Comics.

Thompson, no longer content with ruling Post, expands

Richard Thompson's now moved in on the Chippewa Valley - wherever that is - he's like a one-man Tony Soprano. "'Cul de Sac’ comes around to Herald comics page" screams The Chippewa Herald.

He also had an amusing cartoon in today's Health section as he limbers back up from vacation.

Post runs Associated Press cellphone article

This has appeared a bunch of places, including in the Examiner last week, iirc, but "The Call of Comic Books Reaches a New Level -- Cellphones," by David Twiddy, Associated Press, Washington Post (September 11, 2007)

Monday, September 10, 2007

Oct 3: Cartoons and Cocktails annual auction

Tickets are $50 each, the events at the National Press Club and here's the link. Unless someone takes me as their date, which happened once before (thanks Elena Steier!) I won't be attending... although I did win some need Garincha Cuban cartoons...

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.

Sunday, September 09, 2007

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.

Saturday, September 08, 2007

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.



Thursday, September 06, 2007

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.

Monday, September 03, 2007

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.

Sunday, September 02, 2007