Both the Post and the NY Times gave so-so reviews to it.
"Man of Bent Steel: 'Hancock' Runs Into a Kryptonite Plot Twist and Loses Its Superpowers," By Stephen Hunter, Washington Post Staff Writer, Wednesday, July 2, 2008; C01.
"Able to Leap Tall Buildings, Even if Hung Over," By MANOHLA DARGIS, New York Times July 2, 2008.
I'm going out on a limb here and guess the twist that's referred to in both reviews:
Hunter: ...and then the movie takes the strangest turn in quite possibly movie history, which I will not disclose. It's as if the screenwriters were working in their bungalow one day, stuck on a plot point, and one said to the other, "What if --" and the other said, "No way," and the first said, "Okay, genius, you come up with something better!" and genius never did.
Dargis: The extent of that complexity doesn’t emerge until the big reveal, which involves Ms. Theron’s character and is so surprising that I heard several grown men loudly gasp. (“No way!”)
My guess, without anything beyond those two sentences, is that Theron's character is actually a superhero, just one who does things right and keeps a secret identity secret. Feel free to write in and let me know if I got it.
Wednesday, July 02, 2008
Tuesday, July 01, 2008
Kal is back, back, back in the USA
He reports on his trip on his blog at "Kal talks Cartoons in Azerbaijan" from June 29 2008.
Post likes local Lion King
See "The Circle Is Unbroken: 'Lion King' Still Roars," By Peter Marks, Washington Post Staff Writer, Tuesday, July 1, 2008; C01. Unfortunately for anyone who was waiting for a review, the story says it's sold out.
Monday, June 30, 2008
Monday's papers
The NY Times continues to be the paper of comic art, with at least four new articles:
"From Trash to Auction, Faster Than a Speeding ...Well, You Know," By GEORGE GENE GUSTINES, New York Times June 30, 2008 is on collecting original comic book art.
"In China, Jeers and Cheers for ‘Kung Fu Panda’," By DAVID BARBOZA, New York Times June 30, 2008.
"Free to Follow His Heart Right Back to 'Star Wars'," By DAVE ITZKOFF, New York Times June 29, 2008 on the coming Clone Wars cartoon movie.
"Google and Creator of 'Family Guy' Strike a Deal," By BROOKS BARNES, New York Times June 30, 2008.
and a local article, "DVD Review: 'Futurama: Beast With a Billion Backs'," by Rudi Greenberg, Express June 30 2008
"From Trash to Auction, Faster Than a Speeding ...Well, You Know," By GEORGE GENE GUSTINES, New York Times June 30, 2008 is on collecting original comic book art.
"In China, Jeers and Cheers for ‘Kung Fu Panda’," By DAVID BARBOZA, New York Times June 30, 2008.
"Free to Follow His Heart Right Back to 'Star Wars'," By DAVE ITZKOFF, New York Times June 29, 2008 on the coming Clone Wars cartoon movie.
"Google and Creator of 'Family Guy' Strike a Deal," By BROOKS BARNES, New York Times June 30, 2008.
and a local article, "DVD Review: 'Futurama: Beast With a Billion Backs'," by Rudi Greenberg, Express June 30 2008
Richmond comic book store profiled
See "Patrick Godfrey: We get 20 answers from the co-owner of Velocity Comics," by Ryan Brosmer, Richmond.com Monday, June 30, 2008.
SWANN FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES AWARDS FOR 2008‑2009
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS
June 30, 2008
Press contact: Donna Urschel (202) 707-1639, durschel@loc.gov
Public contact: Martha Kennedy (202) 707-9115, mkenn@loc.gov
SWANN FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES AWARDS FOR 2008‑2009
The Caroline and Erwin Swann Foundation for Caricature and Cartoon, administered by the Library of Congress, announces the awarding of academic grants to five applicants for the 2008-2009 Swann Fellowship: Marie-Stéphanie Delamaire, Mazie Harris, Jared Richman, Christina Smylitopoulos and Veronica White.
Because of an unusually large number of strong applications, the foundation’s advisory board chose to support five applicants with smaller awards instead of selecting a single recipient of the fellowship.
Delamaire, a doctoral candidate in art history and archaeology at Columbia University, will receive an award of $3,000 to support her research on the influence of French academic painting traditions on the work of Thomas Nast, a predominant American political cartoonist in the second half of the 19th century. In her dissertation, titled “Transatlantic Encounters: Franco-American Exchanges in the Civil War and Reconstruction Era,” she will contend that Nast, who collected prints of paintings by such artists as Paul Delaroche and Jean Léon Gérôme, used pictorial and technical conventions that characterize these and other French artists’ work in his compositions.
Harris, a doctoral candidate in the history of art at Brown University, will receive $3,500 for research for her dissertation titled, “A Colorful Union: Patriotic Caricature and Characterization in Henry Louis Stephens’ Civil War Chromolithographs.” In her study of this underappreciated graphic artist, she will analyze the vacillation between caricature and characterization in Stephens’ two chromolithographic series, published in 1863, and clarify his struggle to portray race relations as a motivation for the Union cause.
Richman will receive $2,000 for research into political caricature as part of the visual culture that shaped popular attitudes toward America during the Romantic Era. He plans to study prints in the Library’s collection of British satires to illuminate the conceptual treatment of America during the period before, during and after the Revolutionary War. Analysis of this material will inform a key part of his dissertation titled “Transatlantic Realms: The Idea of America in the British Literary Imagination.” Richman is a doctoral candidate in the Department of English at the University of Pennsylvania.
Smylitopoulos, a doctoral candidate in art history and communication studies at McGill University, will receive $3,000 to support her research for her dissertation titled “A Nabob’s Progress: Graphic Satire, The Grand Master and British Excess, 1770-1830.” She intends to strengthen the broad art historical context for the figure of the nabob (a provincial governor in the Mogul empire in India, also often a person of great wealth or prominence) by conducting research in the Library’s outstanding holdings of British satires in the Prints and Photographs Division.
White, who will soon complete her doctorate in art history at Columbia University, will receive $2,000 to help underwrite work on postdoctoral research. Embarking on a new project titled, “Dangerous Domestics: Satirical Depiction of Wives in English Prints from 1745 to 1821,” she intends to identify and analyze the varied artistic treatments of married women during the Golden Age of British Satire through exploring the Library’s collection.
New York advertising executive Erwin Swann (1906‑1973) established the Swann Foundation for Caricature and Cartoon in 1967. An avid collector, Swann assembled a large group of original drawings by more than 500 artists, spanning two centuries, which his estate bequeathed to the Library of Congress in the 1970s. Swann’ s original purpose was to build a collection of original drawings by significant creators of humorous and satiric art and to encourage the study of original cartoon and caricature drawings as works of art.
# # #
PR08-122
6/30/08
ISSN: 0731-3527
June 30, 2008
Press contact: Donna Urschel (202) 707-1639, durschel@loc.gov
Public contact: Martha Kennedy (202) 707-9115, mkenn@loc.gov
SWANN FOUNDATION ANNOUNCES AWARDS FOR 2008‑2009
The Caroline and Erwin Swann Foundation for Caricature and Cartoon, administered by the Library of Congress, announces the awarding of academic grants to five applicants for the 2008-2009 Swann Fellowship: Marie-Stéphanie Delamaire, Mazie Harris, Jared Richman, Christina Smylitopoulos and Veronica White.
Because of an unusually large number of strong applications, the foundation’s advisory board chose to support five applicants with smaller awards instead of selecting a single recipient of the fellowship.
Delamaire, a doctoral candidate in art history and archaeology at Columbia University, will receive an award of $3,000 to support her research on the influence of French academic painting traditions on the work of Thomas Nast, a predominant American political cartoonist in the second half of the 19th century. In her dissertation, titled “Transatlantic Encounters: Franco-American Exchanges in the Civil War and Reconstruction Era,” she will contend that Nast, who collected prints of paintings by such artists as Paul Delaroche and Jean Léon Gérôme, used pictorial and technical conventions that characterize these and other French artists’ work in his compositions.
Harris, a doctoral candidate in the history of art at Brown University, will receive $3,500 for research for her dissertation titled, “A Colorful Union: Patriotic Caricature and Characterization in Henry Louis Stephens’ Civil War Chromolithographs.” In her study of this underappreciated graphic artist, she will analyze the vacillation between caricature and characterization in Stephens’ two chromolithographic series, published in 1863, and clarify his struggle to portray race relations as a motivation for the Union cause.
Richman will receive $2,000 for research into political caricature as part of the visual culture that shaped popular attitudes toward America during the Romantic Era. He plans to study prints in the Library’s collection of British satires to illuminate the conceptual treatment of America during the period before, during and after the Revolutionary War. Analysis of this material will inform a key part of his dissertation titled “Transatlantic Realms: The Idea of America in the British Literary Imagination.” Richman is a doctoral candidate in the Department of English at the University of Pennsylvania.
Smylitopoulos, a doctoral candidate in art history and communication studies at McGill University, will receive $3,000 to support her research for her dissertation titled “A Nabob’s Progress: Graphic Satire, The Grand Master and British Excess, 1770-1830.” She intends to strengthen the broad art historical context for the figure of the nabob (a provincial governor in the Mogul empire in India, also often a person of great wealth or prominence) by conducting research in the Library’s outstanding holdings of British satires in the Prints and Photographs Division.
White, who will soon complete her doctorate in art history at Columbia University, will receive $2,000 to help underwrite work on postdoctoral research. Embarking on a new project titled, “Dangerous Domestics: Satirical Depiction of Wives in English Prints from 1745 to 1821,” she intends to identify and analyze the varied artistic treatments of married women during the Golden Age of British Satire through exploring the Library’s collection.
New York advertising executive Erwin Swann (1906‑1973) established the Swann Foundation for Caricature and Cartoon in 1967. An avid collector, Swann assembled a large group of original drawings by more than 500 artists, spanning two centuries, which his estate bequeathed to the Library of Congress in the 1970s. Swann’ s original purpose was to build a collection of original drawings by significant creators of humorous and satiric art and to encourage the study of original cartoon and caricature drawings as works of art.
# # #
PR08-122
6/30/08
ISSN: 0731-3527
QUICK REVIEWS FOR COMICS DUE 07-02-08
QUICK REVIEWS FOR COMICS DUE 07-02-08
By John Judy
(Good news! They’re all better than “Hancock!”)
ASTONISHING X-MEN #25 by Warren Ellis and Simone Bianchi. If anyone can follow the imprisonment of Kitty Pryde in an asteroid-sized metal phallus it’s Warren “Internet Jesus” Ellis. Brace yourselves. Recommended.
ASTOUNDING WOLF-MAN #7 by Robert Kirkman and Jason Howard. Wolfie gets outed as a murderer! And he seemed like such a nice werewolf…
AVENGERS/INVADERS #3 of 12 by Alex Ross, Jim Kreuger and Steve Sadowski. Only nine more to go til it stops.
BATMAN #678 by Grant Morrison and Tony Daniel. Bruce is having a bad day and only has three more issues to get it together. Or 17 if you want to count all those crossover issues of other series you don’t otherwise read. Yeah, me neither. Nice try, DC.
BILLY BATSON AND THE MAGIC OF SHAZAM #1 written and drawn by Mike Kunkel. The creator of HEROBEAR takes the reins in this out-of-continuity tale of the original Captain Marvel, picking up where Jeff Smith left off at the end of “Monster Society of Evil.” Appropriate for all ages. Recommended.
BOYS #20 by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson. The true origins of the supers continue. Recommended. Not for the faint of gorge. Or kids. Ever.
BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #16 by Joss Whedon and Jo Chen. Buffy meets Fray and giant Dawn appears to be having giant cramps! Nuff said!
HELLBLAZER PRESENTS: CHAS - THE KNOWLEDGE #1 of 5 by Simon Oliver and Goran Sudzuka. Chas Chandler is a London cabbie and John Constantine’s oldest surviving friend. Can he use his knowledge of London’s streets and landmarks to defeat a Big Bad without the aid of his trench-coated pal? Gotta look.
HELLBOY: THE CROOKED MAN #1 of 3 by Mike Mignola and Richard Corben. Hellboy tries to save a man who sold his soul to a demon from West Virginia. Don’t laugh! That demon got the truck started real good!
NORTHLANDERS #7 by Brian Wood and Davide Gianfelice. It’s Go-Time for Sven the Viking as wicked Uncle Gorm decides to stop screwing around. Like “Hamlet” with less talk, more rock. Recommended.
PATSY WALKER: HELLCAT #1 of 5 by Kathryn Immonen and David Lafuente Garcia. The resurrected super-heroine has been tasked with defending Alaska from… whatever Alaska needs protecting from? Exxon-Mobil, maybe?
SQUADRON SUPREME 2 #1 written by someone who is not J. Michael Straczynski and drawn by someone who is not the guy who drew the cover. Okay, maybe they’re not all better than “Hancock.”
STEPHEN COLBERT’S TEK JANSEN #2 of 5 by People who are not Stephen Colbert. Why? Why? Why? (See above.)
TRINITY #5 by Kurt Busiek and Everyone. Okay, last issue was a big fight and a forgettable back-up story. Much as I like Busiek’s work elsewhere this is starting to smell like COUNTDOWN and it’s only issue five.
WALKING DEAD #50 by Robert Kirkman and Charles Adlard. Did Rick really kill himself? Will his son have to put him down for good? A stand-alone tale that no doubt will mess with whatever uneaten brains you have left. Recommended. NOT for kids.
www.johnjudy.net
By John Judy
(Good news! They’re all better than “Hancock!”)
ASTONISHING X-MEN #25 by Warren Ellis and Simone Bianchi. If anyone can follow the imprisonment of Kitty Pryde in an asteroid-sized metal phallus it’s Warren “Internet Jesus” Ellis. Brace yourselves. Recommended.
ASTOUNDING WOLF-MAN #7 by Robert Kirkman and Jason Howard. Wolfie gets outed as a murderer! And he seemed like such a nice werewolf…
AVENGERS/INVADERS #3 of 12 by Alex Ross, Jim Kreuger and Steve Sadowski. Only nine more to go til it stops.
BATMAN #678 by Grant Morrison and Tony Daniel. Bruce is having a bad day and only has three more issues to get it together. Or 17 if you want to count all those crossover issues of other series you don’t otherwise read. Yeah, me neither. Nice try, DC.
BILLY BATSON AND THE MAGIC OF SHAZAM #1 written and drawn by Mike Kunkel. The creator of HEROBEAR takes the reins in this out-of-continuity tale of the original Captain Marvel, picking up where Jeff Smith left off at the end of “Monster Society of Evil.” Appropriate for all ages. Recommended.
BOYS #20 by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson. The true origins of the supers continue. Recommended. Not for the faint of gorge. Or kids. Ever.
BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #16 by Joss Whedon and Jo Chen. Buffy meets Fray and giant Dawn appears to be having giant cramps! Nuff said!
HELLBLAZER PRESENTS: CHAS - THE KNOWLEDGE #1 of 5 by Simon Oliver and Goran Sudzuka. Chas Chandler is a London cabbie and John Constantine’s oldest surviving friend. Can he use his knowledge of London’s streets and landmarks to defeat a Big Bad without the aid of his trench-coated pal? Gotta look.
HELLBOY: THE CROOKED MAN #1 of 3 by Mike Mignola and Richard Corben. Hellboy tries to save a man who sold his soul to a demon from West Virginia. Don’t laugh! That demon got the truck started real good!
NORTHLANDERS #7 by Brian Wood and Davide Gianfelice. It’s Go-Time for Sven the Viking as wicked Uncle Gorm decides to stop screwing around. Like “Hamlet” with less talk, more rock. Recommended.
PATSY WALKER: HELLCAT #1 of 5 by Kathryn Immonen and David Lafuente Garcia. The resurrected super-heroine has been tasked with defending Alaska from… whatever Alaska needs protecting from? Exxon-Mobil, maybe?
SQUADRON SUPREME 2 #1 written by someone who is not J. Michael Straczynski and drawn by someone who is not the guy who drew the cover. Okay, maybe they’re not all better than “Hancock.”
STEPHEN COLBERT’S TEK JANSEN #2 of 5 by People who are not Stephen Colbert. Why? Why? Why? (See above.)
TRINITY #5 by Kurt Busiek and Everyone. Okay, last issue was a big fight and a forgettable back-up story. Much as I like Busiek’s work elsewhere this is starting to smell like COUNTDOWN and it’s only issue five.
WALKING DEAD #50 by Robert Kirkman and Charles Adlard. Did Rick really kill himself? Will his son have to put him down for good? A stand-alone tale that no doubt will mess with whatever uneaten brains you have left. Recommended. NOT for kids.
www.johnjudy.net
Sunday, June 29, 2008
"What were they thinking?" department
Here's an American Express ad that's been running in the New York Times.
What are they trying to say here? "I own a comic book company so I can pay my Amex bill?" or "I collect comics, so I need an Amex card because they're expensive?"
What are they trying to say here? "I own a comic book company so I can pay my Amex bill?" or "I collect comics, so I need an Amex card because they're expensive?"
Sketches from Heroes Con
Chris Grine's Chickenhare sketch from Heroes Con.
Aaron Renier's Spiral-Bound sketch from Heroes Con.
Aaron Renier's King Arthur sketch from Heroes Con.
Claire loved her Soup-erman doll handmade by Maris Wicks.
Kevin Rechin's DC Lottery cartoons
I went to a Nationals game today (they lost in extra innings) and was the first to come up with pictures of Kevin Rechin's DC Lottery art that's used in ads in the subway. Here's some and the rest are on Flickr.
Hellboy manhole covers!
Last night in Chinatown, or whatever they're calling that neighborhood now, I saw manhole covers that had Hellboy crawling out of them! Cool! It's actually a photograph stuck onto the real sewer cover of course. Didn't get a snap, but if anyone does, send it along.
Post on theater's animation adaptations
"A Roaring Success and Its Effects on Broadway: 'Lion King' Changed Everything, and the Stampede Isn't Over," By Nelson Pressley, Washington Post Sunday, June 29, 2008; M03.
To be honest, when these adaptations started they seemed like a really, really dumb idea. Why try to bring something to an earthbound stage when you've got unlimited imagination in animation? Not having seen one yet, I'm still unsure. But comic strips have been adapted to the stage and screen since forever (or the 1890s) so why should animation be any different?
To be honest, when these adaptations started they seemed like a really, really dumb idea. Why try to bring something to an earthbound stage when you've got unlimited imagination in animation? Not having seen one yet, I'm still unsure. But comic strips have been adapted to the stage and screen since forever (or the 1890s) so why should animation be any different?
Olsson's slides into bankruptcy (fixed to add link)
"Olsson's Braces For Chapter 11 Filing," By Anita Huslin, Washington Post Staff Writer, Saturday, June 28, 2008; Page D01. I was very sorry to see this. I've bought a lot of books at Olsson's, saw some great cartoonists including Joann Sfar (did I record that? I'll check and upload it if so), and like it as a local chain.
Heroes Con hangover
Richard had a table next to Stuart and Kathryn Immonen so I talked to them briefly. Ms. Immomen had some copies of her Hellcat comics at the table and it sounded interesting. Here's an interview about the new miniseries: "Hell's Belle," Lowdown by Tony Ingram, June 26, 2008.
Post reviews Pixar book
"Incredibles, Inc.: The story of how computer programmers transformed the art of movie animation." by Rob Pegoraro, Washington Post Book World Sunday, June 29, 2008; Page BW08
The book is:
THE PIXAR TOUCH
The Making of a Company
By David A. Price
Knopf. 308 pp. $27.95
Politics and Prose had the author last weekend, and probably still has signed copies. Also they sell a cd recording of the talks. Since I was at Heroes Con I bought the cd .
The book is:
THE PIXAR TOUCH
The Making of a Company
By David A. Price
Knopf. 308 pp. $27.95
Politics and Prose had the author last weekend, and probably still has signed copies. Also they sell a cd recording of the talks. Since I was at Heroes Con I bought the cd .
Saturday, June 28, 2008
AAEC touches on Washington issues
"At AAEC Confab, Cartoonist and Columnist Debate the Fate of Wrong-on-Iraq Pundits," by Dave Astor, E and P Online June 26, 2008.
I hope Dave won't mind if I repost the Herblock memory from that story, which is about editorial writer David Ignatius who was totally rolled by the Bush White House on Iraq, as I want to make a point off of it:
One of his strongest early Post memories was meeting Herblock and being thrilled that he became one of the people the editorial cartoonist would show his sketches to.
But one day Herblock showed Ignatius a cartoon idea in which King Hussein of Jordan was depicted in a very nasty way. "That's a little rough," said Ignatius -- and Herblock never came to him with a sketch again.
Speaking more generally of editorial cartoonists, Ignatius said he and other columnists are a little jealous of them. "You guys get to be caustic, irreverent, and crusading. We're pundits and, if we're in Washington, we're Beltway insiders. We use layers and layers of words. We wish we could be as quick and clean."
Roger Wilkins, an editorial writer for the Post during Watergate, made the exact same point about an editor at the Post being jealous of Herblock.
Herblock was also mentioned by Harry Katz at another panel - "Animated Discussion of Animation at Cartoon Confab," By Dave Astor, E and P Online June 27, 2008.
Tony Auth mentioned doing this at the Herblock event linked to in an earlier post. Graham was the publisher of the Washington Post - "Editorial Cartoonists Hear LBJ and Kay (Graham) on Tape," By Dave Astor, E and P Online June 27, 2008.
I hope Dave won't mind if I repost the Herblock memory from that story, which is about editorial writer David Ignatius who was totally rolled by the Bush White House on Iraq, as I want to make a point off of it:
One of his strongest early Post memories was meeting Herblock and being thrilled that he became one of the people the editorial cartoonist would show his sketches to.
But one day Herblock showed Ignatius a cartoon idea in which King Hussein of Jordan was depicted in a very nasty way. "That's a little rough," said Ignatius -- and Herblock never came to him with a sketch again.
Speaking more generally of editorial cartoonists, Ignatius said he and other columnists are a little jealous of them. "You guys get to be caustic, irreverent, and crusading. We're pundits and, if we're in Washington, we're Beltway insiders. We use layers and layers of words. We wish we could be as quick and clean."
Roger Wilkins, an editorial writer for the Post during Watergate, made the exact same point about an editor at the Post being jealous of Herblock.
Herblock was also mentioned by Harry Katz at another panel - "Animated Discussion of Animation at Cartoon Confab," By Dave Astor, E and P Online June 27, 2008.
Tony Auth mentioned doing this at the Herblock event linked to in an earlier post. Graham was the publisher of the Washington Post - "Editorial Cartoonists Hear LBJ and Kay (Graham) on Tape," By Dave Astor, E and P Online June 27, 2008.
Friday's newspapers - Ed Arno, Wall-E and Wanted
In the local papers on Friday, one could find a lot of comics articles:
"Ed Arno, Cartoonist of New Yorker Whimsy, Is Dead at 92," By WILLIAM GRIMES, New York Times June 27, 2008 namechecks and quotes two bloggers, Michael Maslin and Mike Lynch. This is the first obituary I've seen that's taken information from blogs, I think.
Wall-E's all over the place:
"In a World Left Silent, One Heart Beeps," By A. O. SCOTT, New York Times June 27, 2008.
"From Pixar, A Droid Piece of Filmmaking," By John Anderson, Washington Post Friday, June 27, 2008; C01.
"'Wall•E's' world Strong visuals, comic brilliance can't save environmental fable," by Christian Toto, Washington Times Friday, June 27, 2008.
[this is longer than the print version...]
"Wall-E director Andrew Stanton," Interviewed by Tasha Robinson, Onion June 26th, 2008.
Millar and Jones' Wanted, based a comic that I hadn't read, was widely reviewed:
"'Wanted': This Angelina Jolie Is Not One for the Kiddies," By Ann Hornaday, Washington Post
Friday, June 27, 2008; C01.
"You Talkin' to Me, Boys? (Bang-Bang, My Pretties)," By MANOHLA DARGIS, New York Times June 27, 2008.
"Wanting more: A brotherhood of assassins fails to discover any deeper meaning," by Sonny Bunch, Washington Times Friday, June 27, 2008.
...a new tv cartoon - 'Three Delivery' - that I'll probably never see -
"With 3 You Get Egg Roll and a Side of Adventure," By MIKE HALE, New York Times June 27, 2008
...an animation voice was interviewed - the online version is much, much longer than the July 26th print one...
"Random Roles: Billy West," by David Wolinsky, June 18th, 2008.
Finally, it's online only this month, but the Onion also reviewed comic books...
"Comics Panel: June 27, 2008," Reviewed by Noel Murray, Keith Phipps, Tasha Robinson, Onion June 27th, 2008,
...and published this guide to Pixar...
"Primer: Pixar,"
by Donna Bowman, Noel Murray, Onion June 27th, 2008.
Whew! No wonder I'm two days late with this.
"Ed Arno, Cartoonist of New Yorker Whimsy, Is Dead at 92," By WILLIAM GRIMES, New York Times June 27, 2008 namechecks and quotes two bloggers, Michael Maslin and Mike Lynch. This is the first obituary I've seen that's taken information from blogs, I think.
Wall-E's all over the place:
"In a World Left Silent, One Heart Beeps," By A. O. SCOTT, New York Times June 27, 2008.
"From Pixar, A Droid Piece of Filmmaking," By John Anderson, Washington Post Friday, June 27, 2008; C01.
"'Wall•E's' world Strong visuals, comic brilliance can't save environmental fable," by Christian Toto, Washington Times Friday, June 27, 2008.
[this is longer than the print version...]
"Wall-E director Andrew Stanton," Interviewed by Tasha Robinson, Onion June 26th, 2008.
Millar and Jones' Wanted, based a comic that I hadn't read, was widely reviewed:
"'Wanted': This Angelina Jolie Is Not One for the Kiddies," By Ann Hornaday, Washington Post
Friday, June 27, 2008; C01.
"You Talkin' to Me, Boys? (Bang-Bang, My Pretties)," By MANOHLA DARGIS, New York Times June 27, 2008.
"Wanting more: A brotherhood of assassins fails to discover any deeper meaning," by Sonny Bunch, Washington Times Friday, June 27, 2008.
...a new tv cartoon - 'Three Delivery' - that I'll probably never see -
"With 3 You Get Egg Roll and a Side of Adventure," By MIKE HALE, New York Times June 27, 2008
...an animation voice was interviewed - the online version is much, much longer than the July 26th print one...
"Random Roles: Billy West," by David Wolinsky, June 18th, 2008.
Finally, it's online only this month, but the Onion also reviewed comic books...
"Comics Panel: June 27, 2008," Reviewed by Noel Murray, Keith Phipps, Tasha Robinson, Onion June 27th, 2008,
...and published this guide to Pixar...
"Primer: Pixar,"
by Donna Bowman, Noel Murray, Onion June 27th, 2008.
Whew! No wonder I'm two days late with this.
Herblock, Drawn from Memory panel recording
I caught the National Portrait Gallery's excellent panel on Herblock last night. Thanks to the miracles of modern technology, here's a link to download it. The NPG's description of the event read: The political cartoons of Herbert Lawrence Block (1909-2001), known by the pen name "Herblock," appeared in American newspapers for more than seventy years. National Portrait Gallery senior historian Sid Hart, Pulitzer prize-winning reporter Haynes Johnson, historian Roger Wilkins together with Pulitzer prize-winning cartoonist Tony Auth, will join in a conversation about the life and work of one of the nation's greatest political cartoonists, Herblock.
More commentary to follow after I visit Afghanistan (at the National Gallery of Art) and Bhutan (Smithsonian Folklife Festival). Also Bruce Guthrie took photographs which I'll track down
More commentary to follow after I visit Afghanistan (at the National Gallery of Art) and Bhutan (Smithsonian Folklife Festival). Also Bruce Guthrie took photographs which I'll track down
Friday, June 27, 2008
July 25: Anime showing in DC
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Chris Wanamaker, (202) 262 2083 president@dcanimeclub.org
DC Anime Club and Japan Information and Culture Center, Embassy of Japan
Present:Shinobi: Heart under blade
The DC Anime Club and the Japan Information and Culture Center (JICC), Embassy of Japan Present the Shinobi : Heart under blade on Friday July 25 ,2008 at 6:30pm as part of the Anime Summer Series. A live-action ninja movie featuring two rising stars of Japanese cinema- Joe Odagiri and Yukie Nakama. Shinobi is about two rival ninja clans, the Koga and the Iga, who have honed their skills to super human levels. The screening will be held at the Japanese Information and Culture Center, Embasy of Japan located at Lafayette Center III 1155 21st Street, NW Washington, DC 20036-3308. Seating for the screening of Shinobi is limited and attendees are encouraged to rsvp by sending an e-mail to jiccrsvpspring08@embjapan.org.
This program is free and open to the public. For more information please visit the Japanese Information and Culture Center website at http://www.us.embjapan.go.jp/jicc/ or visit the DC Anime Club website
at http://dcanimeclub.org.
About DC Anime Club:
DCAC was established in 2003 to introduce and educate people in the Washington,DC area about East Asian culture, through viewing and discussion of Japanese animation (also known as anime) and Japanese comics (manga). DCAC is a 501(c)(3) not for profit organization, contributions to DC Anime Club are taxed deductible to the extent allowable under the law.
The club also works to provide a positive, alternative activity to the youth in the area by exposing them to foreign culture, encouraging artistic expression and creativity, and providing opportunities for participation in community activities and leadership.
In addition to our weekly meetings, the club holds an Annual Art Show, an Annual Costume fundraising event, and visits local schools to do presentations on anime. The club also works with the Smithsonian Freer Gallery and DC Asian Pacific American Film Festival on their anime screenings, and has helped locally promote performances for Japanese bands such as Puffy Ami Yumi and Pine am. DC Anime Club was founded by Chris Wanamaker (President), Jules Chang (Vice President) and Craig Vaughn (Sgt in ARMS) on Saturday June 5, 2003. We have a strong membership that continues to grow -- most of which are teenagers.
About Japan Information and Culture Center:
The Japan Information and Culture Center (JICC) is the cultural and public affairs section of the Embassy of Japan in Washington D.C. Our primary role is to promote better understanding of Japan and Japanese culture by providing a wide range of
information, educational services and programs to the public. The JICC is located on the lower level of the glass-enclosed Galleria at Lafayette Centre III in downtown Washington, D.C. Its facilities include a research library, a 152-seat auditorium, and a 1,500-square-foot exhibition gallery where a wide variety of events sponsored by the JICC are hosted throughout the year.
CONTACT: Chris Wanamaker, (202) 262 2083 president@dcanimeclub.org
DC Anime Club and Japan Information and Culture Center, Embassy of Japan
Present:Shinobi: Heart under blade
The DC Anime Club and the Japan Information and Culture Center (JICC), Embassy of Japan Present the Shinobi : Heart under blade on Friday July 25 ,2008 at 6:30pm as part of the Anime Summer Series. A live-action ninja movie featuring two rising stars of Japanese cinema- Joe Odagiri and Yukie Nakama. Shinobi is about two rival ninja clans, the Koga and the Iga, who have honed their skills to super human levels. The screening will be held at the Japanese Information and Culture Center, Embasy of Japan located at Lafayette Center III 1155 21st Street, NW Washington, DC 20036-3308. Seating for the screening of Shinobi is limited and attendees are encouraged to rsvp by sending an e-mail to jiccrsvpspring08@embjapan.org.
This program is free and open to the public. For more information please visit the Japanese Information and Culture Center website at http://www.us.embjapan.go.jp/jicc/ or visit the DC Anime Club website
at http://dcanimeclub.org.
About DC Anime Club:
DCAC was established in 2003 to introduce and educate people in the Washington,DC area about East Asian culture, through viewing and discussion of Japanese animation (also known as anime) and Japanese comics (manga). DCAC is a 501(c)(3) not for profit organization, contributions to DC Anime Club are taxed deductible to the extent allowable under the law.
The club also works to provide a positive, alternative activity to the youth in the area by exposing them to foreign culture, encouraging artistic expression and creativity, and providing opportunities for participation in community activities and leadership.
In addition to our weekly meetings, the club holds an Annual Art Show, an Annual Costume fundraising event, and visits local schools to do presentations on anime. The club also works with the Smithsonian Freer Gallery and DC Asian Pacific American Film Festival on their anime screenings, and has helped locally promote performances for Japanese bands such as Puffy Ami Yumi and Pine am. DC Anime Club was founded by Chris Wanamaker (President), Jules Chang (Vice President) and Craig Vaughn (Sgt in ARMS) on Saturday June 5, 2003. We have a strong membership that continues to grow -- most of which are teenagers.
About Japan Information and Culture Center:
The Japan Information and Culture Center (JICC) is the cultural and public affairs section of the Embassy of Japan in Washington D.C. Our primary role is to promote better understanding of Japan and Japanese culture by providing a wide range of
information, educational services and programs to the public. The JICC is located on the lower level of the glass-enclosed Galleria at Lafayette Centre III in downtown Washington, D.C. Its facilities include a research library, a 152-seat auditorium, and a 1,500-square-foot exhibition gallery where a wide variety of events sponsored by the JICC are hosted throughout the year.
Comic Creators at Shore Leave Sci-Fi Con in B-More
Baltimore hosts the July 11-13, 2008 Shore Leave Sci-Fi Convention at the Marriott's Hunt Valley Inn. While I've never attended myself, they bring in comics and comics-related guests every year.
This year's media guests have all played characters represented in comics: David Hewlett (Stargate: Atlantis & Stargate: SG-1's Dr. Rodney McKay), George Takei (Star Trek's Lt. Hikaru Sulu, Heroes' Kaito Nakamura), Malcolm McDowell (Star Trek: Generations' Dr. Soran, Heroes' Mr. Linderman), Jewel Staite (Firefly's Kaylee Frye, Stargate: Atlantis's Dr. Jennifer Keller), Kate Hewlett (Stargate: Atlantis' Jeanie Miller), Mark Sheppard (Battlestar Galactica's Romo Lampkin, Bionic Woman's Anthony Anthos, Firefly's Badger, 24's Ivan Erwich), and W. Morgan Sheppard (Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country's Klingon Commander, Babylon 5's Soul Hunter, Transformers' Captain Witwicky).
Their writer guest list is pretty long and broad, and includes a number of noteworthy names who have created comics work as well as sci-fi stories and novels, including: T.A. Chafin, Greg Cox, Peter David, Keith DeCandido, Michael Jan Friedman, Bob Greenberger, Jeffrey Lang, Polly Luttrull, David Mack (no, not the Kabuki one, the other one), Marco Palmieri, and Howard Weinstein.
Some of the other guests may also be part of the industry and I just don't know -- see the full list for more details!
This year's media guests have all played characters represented in comics: David Hewlett (Stargate: Atlantis & Stargate: SG-1's Dr. Rodney McKay), George Takei (Star Trek's Lt. Hikaru Sulu, Heroes' Kaito Nakamura), Malcolm McDowell (Star Trek: Generations' Dr. Soran, Heroes' Mr. Linderman), Jewel Staite (Firefly's Kaylee Frye, Stargate: Atlantis's Dr. Jennifer Keller), Kate Hewlett (Stargate: Atlantis' Jeanie Miller), Mark Sheppard (Battlestar Galactica's Romo Lampkin, Bionic Woman's Anthony Anthos, Firefly's Badger, 24's Ivan Erwich), and W. Morgan Sheppard (Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country's Klingon Commander, Babylon 5's Soul Hunter, Transformers' Captain Witwicky).
Their writer guest list is pretty long and broad, and includes a number of noteworthy names who have created comics work as well as sci-fi stories and novels, including: T.A. Chafin, Greg Cox, Peter David, Keith DeCandido, Michael Jan Friedman, Bob Greenberger, Jeffrey Lang, Polly Luttrull, David Mack (no, not the Kabuki one, the other one), Marco Palmieri, and Howard Weinstein.
Some of the other guests may also be part of the industry and I just don't know -- see the full list for more details!
Clifford Berryman exhibit press preview remarks
Here's another audio file. I found this again as I wrote my review for the International Journal of Comic Art, so I figured I'd make it available. It features the Archivist of the United States Howard Weinstein and the curators of the exhibit when the exhibit was previewed for the press.
Press preview remarks to the Clifford Berryman exhibit, "Running for Office: Candidates, Campaigns, and the Cartoons of Clifford Berryman" at the National Archives, Washington, DC from February 8 - August 17th, 2008.
Press preview remarks to the Clifford Berryman exhibit, "Running for Office: Candidates, Campaigns, and the Cartoons of Clifford Berryman" at the National Archives, Washington, DC from February 8 - August 17th, 2008.
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Chris Oarr, former Silver Spring resident, on ADV Manga
Chris used to live just outside of DC in Silver Spring, frequented Big Planet Comics and organized SPX. And he left the area to run the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund. Here's a story about what he's up to now - "ADV Manga Is Still in the Picture," By Brigid Alverson -- Publishers Weekly, 6/23/2008.
Heroes Con Feldstein (and Friends) panel recording online
Al Feldstein and Ben Towle
I've uploaded Craig Fischer and Ben Towle's panel to the Internet Archive as an mp3. Click on the link to download it.
NOT THE USUAL GANG OF IDIOTS: EC COMICS PANEL
Part 2: A Chat With Al Feldstein (and Friends)
Ben Towle and Craig Fischer host an in-depth interview with Al Feldstein, EC artist and writer and MAD MAGAZINE editor extraordinaire! Along for the ride is a pair of celebrity funsters - FRED THE CLOWN and FIN FANG FOUR cartoonist Roger Langridge and CUL DE SAC comic stripper Richard Thompson - ready to roast and grill Feldstein about The Lighter Side of Editing America's #1 Humor Magazine!
Craig Fischer, Richard Thompson, Roger Langridge, Al Feldstein.
Comics in the Fairfax County Public Library system
I'm probably going to miss some of the entries they put in here, but I was flipping through the Fairfax County Public Library catalog of free events and other news tonight and noticed that a good number of branches have comics-oriented events. In the "For Teens" blurb, a bullet reads "Find your inner artist -- create comics with graphic artist Matt Dembicki". Matt's featured at quite a few branches actually. Take a look!
Burke Center:
Teens - Monday, July 21, 7:00 - Comics Around the World. See comics from around the world and create your own with graphic artist and author Matt Dembicki. Cosponsored by the Friends of the Kings Park Library. Age 12-18.
Centreville Regional:
School Age - Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2:30 - Artful Doodles! A graphic artist presents drawing basics in this hands-on program. Age 6-12.
Teens - Thursday, July 17, 1:00 - Anime Afternoon. Anime and refreshments. Call for movie title. Cosponsored by the Friends of the Centreville Regional Library. Age 12-18.
Wednesday, July 30, 7:00 - Comics Around the World. See comics from around the world and create your own with graphic artist and author Matt Dembicki. Cosponsored by the Friends of the Kings Park Library. Age 12-18.
Chantilly Regional:
Teens - Monday, June 7, 7:00/Monday, July 7, 7:00/Monday, Aug. 4, 7:00 - Monday Night Manga. Discuss your favorite manga and anime titles with other teens. Age 12-18.
Monday, July 14, 7:00 - Comics Around the World. See comics from around the world and create your own with graphic artist and author Matt Dembicki. Cosponsored by the Friends of the Kings Park Library. Age 12-18.
City of Fairfax Regional:
Teens - Wednesday, July 9, 7:00 - Comics Around the World. See comics from around the world and create your own with graphic artist and author Matt Dembicki. Cosponsored by the Friends of the Kings Park Library. Age 12-18.
George Mason Regional:
Teens - Monday, June 23, 7:00 - Comics Around the World. See comics from around the world and create your own with graphic artist and author Matt Dembicki. Cosponsored by the Friends of the Kings Park Library. Age 12-18.
John Marshall:
Teens - Wednesday, Aug. 6, 6:00 - Anime Night. Come watch anime moview and discuss your favorites. Age 13-18.
Kings Park:
School Age - Thursday, June 26, 10:30 - Artful Doodles! A graphic artist presents drawing basics in this hands-on program. Age 6-12.
Kingstowne:
School Age - Wednesday, July 16, 10:30 - Artful Doodles! A graphic artist presents drawing basics in this hands-on program. Age 6-12.
Teens - Saturday, July 19, 2:30 - Comics Around the World. See comics from around the world and create your own with graphic artist and author Matt Dembicki. Cosponsored by the Friends of the Kings Park Library. Age 12-18.
Lorton:
Teens - Tuesday, July 15, 7:00 - Comics Around the World. See comics from around the world and create your own with graphic artist and author Matt Dembicki. Cosponsored by the Friends of the Kings Park Library. Age 12-18.
Martha Washington:
Teens - Monday, July 7, 7:00 - Comics Around the World. See comics from around the world and create your own with graphic artist and author Matt Dembicki. Cosponsored by the Friends of the Kings Park Library. Age 12-18.
Patrick Henry:
Teens - Saturdays, June 7 & 21, 11:00/Saturdays, July 5 & 19, 11:00/Saturdays, Aug. 2, 16, & 30, 11:00 - Manga Club. Manga, Anime and refreshments. Age 12-18.
Adults - Thursday, June 5, 7:00 - Manga and Japanese Pop Culture. Confused about manga? Why are these Japanese comics so popular in the U.S.? Charles Nguyen will present a rough guide to this literary medium and its import to the American market.
It is worth noting that there are a ton of other interesting programs available. Additionally, in the Teen Summer Reading List, under Fiction, are The Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor (though I suspect this is the prose and not the comics/TPB), The Plain Janes by Cecil Castellucci, and American Born Chinese by Gene Yang, and in Non-Fiction, Flight, Volume Four by kazu Kibuishi and Persepolis 2 by Marjane Satrapi.
Burke Center:
Teens - Monday, July 21, 7:00 - Comics Around the World. See comics from around the world and create your own with graphic artist and author Matt Dembicki. Cosponsored by the Friends of the Kings Park Library. Age 12-18.
Centreville Regional:
School Age - Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2:30 - Artful Doodles! A graphic artist presents drawing basics in this hands-on program. Age 6-12.
Teens - Thursday, July 17, 1:00 - Anime Afternoon. Anime and refreshments. Call for movie title. Cosponsored by the Friends of the Centreville Regional Library. Age 12-18.
Wednesday, July 30, 7:00 - Comics Around the World. See comics from around the world and create your own with graphic artist and author Matt Dembicki. Cosponsored by the Friends of the Kings Park Library. Age 12-18.
Chantilly Regional:
Teens - Monday, June 7, 7:00/Monday, July 7, 7:00/Monday, Aug. 4, 7:00 - Monday Night Manga. Discuss your favorite manga and anime titles with other teens. Age 12-18.
Monday, July 14, 7:00 - Comics Around the World. See comics from around the world and create your own with graphic artist and author Matt Dembicki. Cosponsored by the Friends of the Kings Park Library. Age 12-18.
City of Fairfax Regional:
Teens - Wednesday, July 9, 7:00 - Comics Around the World. See comics from around the world and create your own with graphic artist and author Matt Dembicki. Cosponsored by the Friends of the Kings Park Library. Age 12-18.
George Mason Regional:
Teens - Monday, June 23, 7:00 - Comics Around the World. See comics from around the world and create your own with graphic artist and author Matt Dembicki. Cosponsored by the Friends of the Kings Park Library. Age 12-18.
John Marshall:
Teens - Wednesday, Aug. 6, 6:00 - Anime Night. Come watch anime moview and discuss your favorites. Age 13-18.
Kings Park:
School Age - Thursday, June 26, 10:30 - Artful Doodles! A graphic artist presents drawing basics in this hands-on program. Age 6-12.
Kingstowne:
School Age - Wednesday, July 16, 10:30 - Artful Doodles! A graphic artist presents drawing basics in this hands-on program. Age 6-12.
Teens - Saturday, July 19, 2:30 - Comics Around the World. See comics from around the world and create your own with graphic artist and author Matt Dembicki. Cosponsored by the Friends of the Kings Park Library. Age 12-18.
Lorton:
Teens - Tuesday, July 15, 7:00 - Comics Around the World. See comics from around the world and create your own with graphic artist and author Matt Dembicki. Cosponsored by the Friends of the Kings Park Library. Age 12-18.
Martha Washington:
Teens - Monday, July 7, 7:00 - Comics Around the World. See comics from around the world and create your own with graphic artist and author Matt Dembicki. Cosponsored by the Friends of the Kings Park Library. Age 12-18.
Patrick Henry:
Teens - Saturdays, June 7 & 21, 11:00/Saturdays, July 5 & 19, 11:00/Saturdays, Aug. 2, 16, & 30, 11:00 - Manga Club. Manga, Anime and refreshments. Age 12-18.
Adults - Thursday, June 5, 7:00 - Manga and Japanese Pop Culture. Confused about manga? Why are these Japanese comics so popular in the U.S.? Charles Nguyen will present a rough guide to this literary medium and its import to the American market.
It is worth noting that there are a ton of other interesting programs available. Additionally, in the Teen Summer Reading List, under Fiction, are The Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor (though I suspect this is the prose and not the comics/TPB), The Plain Janes by Cecil Castellucci, and American Born Chinese by Gene Yang, and in Non-Fiction, Flight, Volume Four by kazu Kibuishi and Persepolis 2 by Marjane Satrapi.
Today's newspapers roundup
Cartoon Network's Dethklok animation series - "As Seen on TV: Dethklok" by Glenn Dixon, Express June 26, 2008
Wall-E review - "Droid to the World," by Tricia Olszewski, Washington City Paper June 26, 2008.
Zadzooks on the Hulk - "ZADZOOKS: Hulk, foe take rivalry to stores," by Joseph Szadkowski, Washington Times Thursday, June 26, 2008.
Wall-E review - "Droid to the World," by Tricia Olszewski, Washington City Paper June 26, 2008.
Zadzooks on the Hulk - "ZADZOOKS: Hulk, foe take rivalry to stores," by Joseph Szadkowski, Washington Times Thursday, June 26, 2008.
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
New York Times on Disney.com
"In Overhaul, Disney.com Seeks a Path to More Fun," By BROOKS BARNES, New York Times June 25, 2008.
The Walt Disney Company, concerned that its main Web site is too corporate and not fun enough, is moving once again to overhaul Disney.com.
Barnes is rapidly becoming one of my favorite animation writers.
The Walt Disney Company, concerned that its main Web site is too corporate and not fun enough, is moving once again to overhaul Disney.com.
Barnes is rapidly becoming one of my favorite animation writers.
Jim Dougan in new anthology
I still haven't met local cartoonist Jim Dougan, but Joel Pollack of Big Planet Comics told me today that his work will be appearing in No Formula: Stories from The Chemistry Set vol. 1, (Desperado) and you can order it from the June Previews using Jun083849 as your code. So I ordered it. My buddy Dean Haspiel appears to be in it as well.
Ullman and Hellman
Rob Ullman did this cover to the Washington City Paper's June 20th edition. I saw Rob at Heroes Con and bought another three pieces of original art from him.
and Danny Hellman, who's illustrating a column in the Post's Source section on Sunday has a podcast interview by Robin McConnell at Inkstuds (June 19 2008).
Mark Wheatley interview online today
See "Interview: Mark Wheatley and Robert Tinnell on 'EZ Street'," by Rick Marshall, Wed Jun 25, 2008 for information on the Maryland cartoonist's latest work, the webcomic EZ Street.
Rory Root's memorial - guest column part 2
Here's Miron's remarks from the memorial:
Rory was the kind of knowledgeable reader who'd pick up a coverless comic and say, 'Atlas, I knew them well.'
He was a marvel who supported many of the industry's dark horses. His interests, as many speakers will attest, ran the spectrum from AC to DC, Archie to Zap, Little Lulu to the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund. For a celibate guy, he sure enjoyed a lot of sects.
I've known Rory for about 25 years. We first met as employees of Bob Beerbohm's 'Best of Two Worlds' comicbook shop, on Telegraph Avenue, Berkeley, California. He understood the value and need of selling anything and everything. If there were a rainbow flag made from four colors Rory, a real life comic book guy, might have inspired it.
Some will say, 'He never grew up.'
I will say, 'Rory brought his childhood sweetheart forward through life and time. He bravely married his fortunes to the art that dared not speak it's name at a time when society shunned comicbook love. To the surprise of professional critics and cynical skeptics, they survived and prospered.
It was a good, independent life for them both. Like many happy couples they watched their children, named the Store and the Industry, grow, mature and have many successful children of their own. Tonight I see Rory, a loveable racantour, posed imitating a Grant Wood painting: He is Outstanding in his field.
Thank you Rory.
In realizing his dream he provided serious comic relief many.
Friends forever, pals for life.
Yours,
Miron Murcury
Rory was the kind of knowledgeable reader who'd pick up a coverless comic and say, 'Atlas, I knew them well.'
He was a marvel who supported many of the industry's dark horses. His interests, as many speakers will attest, ran the spectrum from AC to DC, Archie to Zap, Little Lulu to the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund. For a celibate guy, he sure enjoyed a lot of sects.
I've known Rory for about 25 years. We first met as employees of Bob Beerbohm's 'Best of Two Worlds' comicbook shop, on Telegraph Avenue, Berkeley, California. He understood the value and need of selling anything and everything. If there were a rainbow flag made from four colors Rory, a real life comic book guy, might have inspired it.
Some will say, 'He never grew up.'
I will say, 'Rory brought his childhood sweetheart forward through life and time. He bravely married his fortunes to the art that dared not speak it's name at a time when society shunned comicbook love. To the surprise of professional critics and cynical skeptics, they survived and prospered.
It was a good, independent life for them both. Like many happy couples they watched their children, named the Store and the Industry, grow, mature and have many successful children of their own. Tonight I see Rory, a loveable racantour, posed imitating a Grant Wood painting: He is Outstanding in his field.
Thank you Rory.
In realizing his dream he provided serious comic relief many.
Friends forever, pals for life.
Yours,
Miron Murcury
Rory Root's memorial - guest column
Our California correspondent Miron Mercury sent this in tonight:
June 21 the first day of summer was as hot as a barb on Q and the longest day in memory. My birthday and Rory Root's memorial shared the same heat drenched day.
Comic Relief, the famous Berkeley, California comicbook shop that Rory and Mike Patchen opened in April 1987, hosted the memorial party.
Hundreds of geeks and freaks, punks and hippies, parents with their children and children who found a home in the warm embrace of a comics store came to pay homage to a fallen brother.
The crowd littered the sidewalk like scree spilled from a mountain hidden in the store. The store floor was packed, resembling a crowded George Perez superhero poster. In attendance were heroes and heroines from many companies, countries and decades.
Ron Turner, still looking like himself, Joe Field, a founder of WonderCon, owner of Flying Colors, creator of Free Comics Day, and representatives of the Berkeley Downtown improvement
Everyone toasted Rory with stories and remembrances. Some people, actually lots of friends, toasted Rory with glasses drank in his memory. Salute. La Chaim. We drink to life.
The event felt like a warm fuzzy Viking's funeral. I do suspect that if Rory were there he'd want a pyre.
Mark and Molly Bode were there. Things are good for them. You know about the (not so) recent cartoon movie deal. Also, he's been working with Puma, the sneaker manufacturer. There's some kind of Bode Lizard 'Hoodie' that's going to be made. The future bodes well ... for us all.
More then a two dozen people spoke on Rory's behalf.
Bob Wayne, representing DC comics, spoke highly of Rory's devotion to comics. He reminded the attentive audience that Rory was always, 'Asking, cajoling and bothering me to get DC to publish graphic novels and keep them in print. He was never slow to pay a compliment and just as quick to call me up over an error our company was making.'
The lovely Sequential Tart reminded every one of Rory's quick and immediate support. She was, like many speakers, grateful to Rory.
My short piece felt twice to long when in front of a watching crowd.
Some speeches went on for hours! Were those people part Ent?
??? Hey??? What's this white cylindrical object in my pocket in an Altoids tin? Ahh, it's labeled ''Rory Root Rocket.'' It must be a memorial thing.
Picture a small group of astro nuts walking two baby blocks to the alley behind the original Comic Relief store. Once in the alley one large rotund guy in a Green Lantern shirt says to a short underground gent wearing a Jack Kirby Silver Surfer, 'Hey, you have a Larry Todd Proto Pipe! :) Well, let me fill that up.'
Then a guy came running into the alley pulling at his shirt buttons. He saw the crowd and exclaimed, 'Sheesh, there's never an empty ally any more!' He seem to be wearing a strange red undershirt with a huge S on it.
The Rory rocket was ignited without NASA's guidance. It sent everyone to the moon.
The memorial was a happy couple of hours. It provided an opportunity for old and new friends to renew their connections and remember rewarding decades now past. The smiles on everyone's face said, I'm glad I knew Rory. Our spirit was boosted by the warmth of friends, pals and comics countrymen.
Yours,
Alee O'Saurous
June 21 the first day of summer was as hot as a barb on Q and the longest day in memory. My birthday and Rory Root's memorial shared the same heat drenched day.
Comic Relief, the famous Berkeley, California comicbook shop that Rory and Mike Patchen opened in April 1987, hosted the memorial party.
Hundreds of geeks and freaks, punks and hippies, parents with their children and children who found a home in the warm embrace of a comics store came to pay homage to a fallen brother.
The crowd littered the sidewalk like scree spilled from a mountain hidden in the store. The store floor was packed, resembling a crowded George Perez superhero poster. In attendance were heroes and heroines from many companies, countries and decades.
Ron Turner, still looking like himself, Joe Field, a founder of WonderCon, owner of Flying Colors, creator of Free Comics Day, and representatives of the Berkeley Downtown improvement
Everyone toasted Rory with stories and remembrances. Some people, actually lots of friends, toasted Rory with glasses drank in his memory. Salute. La Chaim. We drink to life.
The event felt like a warm fuzzy Viking's funeral. I do suspect that if Rory were there he'd want a pyre.
Mark and Molly Bode were there. Things are good for them. You know about the (not so) recent cartoon movie deal. Also, he's been working with Puma, the sneaker manufacturer. There's some kind of Bode Lizard 'Hoodie' that's going to be made. The future bodes well ... for us all.
More then a two dozen people spoke on Rory's behalf.
Bob Wayne, representing DC comics, spoke highly of Rory's devotion to comics. He reminded the attentive audience that Rory was always, 'Asking, cajoling and bothering me to get DC to publish graphic novels and keep them in print. He was never slow to pay a compliment and just as quick to call me up over an error our company was making.'
The lovely Sequential Tart reminded every one of Rory's quick and immediate support. She was, like many speakers, grateful to Rory.
My short piece felt twice to long when in front of a watching crowd.
Some speeches went on for hours! Were those people part Ent?
??? Hey??? What's this white cylindrical object in my pocket in an Altoids tin? Ahh, it's labeled ''Rory Root Rocket.'' It must be a memorial thing.
Picture a small group of astro nuts walking two baby blocks to the alley behind the original Comic Relief store. Once in the alley one large rotund guy in a Green Lantern shirt says to a short underground gent wearing a Jack Kirby Silver Surfer, 'Hey, you have a Larry Todd Proto Pipe! :) Well, let me fill that up.'
Then a guy came running into the alley pulling at his shirt buttons. He saw the crowd and exclaimed, 'Sheesh, there's never an empty ally any more!' He seem to be wearing a strange red undershirt with a huge S on it.
The Rory rocket was ignited without NASA's guidance. It sent everyone to the moon.
The memorial was a happy couple of hours. It provided an opportunity for old and new friends to renew their connections and remember rewarding decades now past. The smiles on everyone's face said, I'm glad I knew Rory. Our spirit was boosted by the warmth of friends, pals and comics countrymen.
Yours,
Alee O'Saurous
Matt Dembicki interview about new anthology
Dirk at Journalista pointed out that Arlington's Matt Dembicki's got an interview onlne about his new anthology - see "Trickster' - a Native anthology of tales in graphic novel form," by: Robert Schmidt, Pechanga.net June 25, 2008.
We're all just one big incestous group of Thompson fans
In a column today entitled, "Twelve Mostly Overlooked Comics Published In The Last Twelve Or So Years," Tom Spurgeon listed Richard's Poor Alamanac. The permalink isn't working, but it's his July 25th column. He writes, "The great, emerging star of this decade's newspaper strip scene, Richard Thompson hasn't stopped doing his Richard's Poor Almanac work in favor of spending more time getting Cul De Sac out. This collection of those works from a few years back shows that were he to abandon the Almanac for any reason it would be a total shame. Trenchant and exceedingly wry, this book may frighten if like me you realize that these comics have been around for as long as they have without your being aware of them."
And he hasn't even seen the color ones. You can see some of them on Richard's blog. I've read about 1/2 of Tom's other recommendations.
Meanwhile over in Gene Weingarten's June 24th chat, someone who wasn't me said:
Arlington, Va.: Today as I was reading through the comics, I exclaimed out loud when I saw Cul de Sac. It's about time! I have no idea why it took the Post so long to pick it up, but I'm glad they finally did.
Gene Weingarten: It happened a year too late. This is not just one of the best new strips out there, it is one of the best strips out there. Richard Thompson is a genius.
And he hasn't even seen the color ones. You can see some of them on Richard's blog. I've read about 1/2 of Tom's other recommendations.
Meanwhile over in Gene Weingarten's June 24th chat, someone who wasn't me said:
Arlington, Va.: Today as I was reading through the comics, I exclaimed out loud when I saw Cul de Sac. It's about time! I have no idea why it took the Post so long to pick it up, but I'm glad they finally did.
Gene Weingarten: It happened a year too late. This is not just one of the best new strips out there, it is one of the best strips out there. Richard Thompson is a genius.
Big Monkey problems?
I've heard a rumor that they're closing their Fredericksburg store. Anyone heard that? Know anything about the 14th St store?
Tuesday, June 24, 2008
Zadzooks interviews Rick Remender
Another one from last week courtesy of Wim - Zadzooks interviews Rick Remender at "Creative freedom found in comics, writer asserts," by Joseph Szadkowski, Washington Times Thursday, June 19, 2008.
Keith Knight on Post chat last week
Keith Knight did a Washington Post chat last Friday. I missed this as I was deep in the Charlotte Convention Center when it happened, but Ephemerist blogger Wim Lockefeer let me know about it. Check out Wim's blog too - he finds really cool stuff, and he's in Belgium so a lot of it is new to me.
Cartoonists Rights Network award to Palestinian cartoonist
The Northern Virgina-based organization issued the following press release.
Palestinian cartoonist awarded 2008 Courage Award
Friday, 20 June 2008, 10:27 am
Press Release: Cartoonists Rights Network International
PRESS RELEASE - INTERNATIONAL/PALESTINE
19 June 2008
Palestinian cartoonist awarded CRNI's 2008 Courage in Editorial Cartooning Award
SOURCE: Cartoonists Rights Network International (CRNI), Burke
(CRNI/IFEX) - The following is a CRNI press release:
CRNI announces annual award winner
June 19, 2008, Burke, Virginia - Today, Cartoonists Rights Network International announced the winner of its 2008 Courage in Editorial Cartooning Award: Bahaa Boukhari, a Palestinian. CRNI, the only international organization devoted to defending the human rights of cartoonists imperiled because of their work, will present the award to Boukhari at its annual dinner on June 26. The dinner is to be held at the Hotel Contessa in San Antonio, Texas.
A group of cartoonists deemed the Courage in Editorial Cartooning Award the "Nobel Prize" of the cartooning world several years ago.
Every year, CRNI recognizes a cartoonist who has shown exemplary courage in the face of unrelenting threat, legal action or other pressure as punishment or disincentive for cartoons that were too powerful for some officials, sects, terrorists or demagogues.
Bahaa Boukhari has a long career in political cartooning in the Middle East. Last winter, Gaza authorities arrested him and suspended publication of the newspaper that published a cartoon that ran in November. Boukhari and two colleagues were convicted of insulting the Hamas Parliament on February 3 2008. Although their fines and prison sentences were suspended, an unprecedented series of demonstrations took place in Ramallah on February 27 in defense of Boukhari and the right of Palestinians to express themselves freely without fear of intimidation or reprisal.
CRNI has affiliate organizations in 15 countries throughout the world; it conducts workshops and other training in freedom of expression issues for cartoonists. Its programs include actions to reduce violence with impunity against journalists. CRNI is a member of IFEX and the New York Foundation for the Arts.
Please contact CRNI for more information about Bahaa Boukhari and former awardees who are once again endangered. Algerian Ali Dilem, the most popular cartoonist in North Africa, is facing his third trial since January. In February, Danish security forces thwarted an international plot to kill Kurt Westergaard. Dilem and Westergaard were CRNI honorees in 2006. CRNI has witnessed an alarming rise in reprisals directed at editorial cartoonists due to the power and influence of their work.
For further information on the February 2008 conviction of Boukhari and his colleagues, see: http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/91081
For further information on the Dilem case, see: http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/94526
For further information on the Westergaard case, see: http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/90719
Palestinian cartoonist awarded 2008 Courage Award
Friday, 20 June 2008, 10:27 am
Press Release: Cartoonists Rights Network International
PRESS RELEASE - INTERNATIONAL/PALESTINE
19 June 2008
Palestinian cartoonist awarded CRNI's 2008 Courage in Editorial Cartooning Award
SOURCE: Cartoonists Rights Network International (CRNI), Burke
(CRNI/IFEX) - The following is a CRNI press release:
CRNI announces annual award winner
June 19, 2008, Burke, Virginia - Today, Cartoonists Rights Network International announced the winner of its 2008 Courage in Editorial Cartooning Award: Bahaa Boukhari, a Palestinian. CRNI, the only international organization devoted to defending the human rights of cartoonists imperiled because of their work, will present the award to Boukhari at its annual dinner on June 26. The dinner is to be held at the Hotel Contessa in San Antonio, Texas.
A group of cartoonists deemed the Courage in Editorial Cartooning Award the "Nobel Prize" of the cartooning world several years ago.
Every year, CRNI recognizes a cartoonist who has shown exemplary courage in the face of unrelenting threat, legal action or other pressure as punishment or disincentive for cartoons that were too powerful for some officials, sects, terrorists or demagogues.
Bahaa Boukhari has a long career in political cartooning in the Middle East. Last winter, Gaza authorities arrested him and suspended publication of the newspaper that published a cartoon that ran in November. Boukhari and two colleagues were convicted of insulting the Hamas Parliament on February 3 2008. Although their fines and prison sentences were suspended, an unprecedented series of demonstrations took place in Ramallah on February 27 in defense of Boukhari and the right of Palestinians to express themselves freely without fear of intimidation or reprisal.
CRNI has affiliate organizations in 15 countries throughout the world; it conducts workshops and other training in freedom of expression issues for cartoonists. Its programs include actions to reduce violence with impunity against journalists. CRNI is a member of IFEX and the New York Foundation for the Arts.
Please contact CRNI for more information about Bahaa Boukhari and former awardees who are once again endangered. Algerian Ali Dilem, the most popular cartoonist in North Africa, is facing his third trial since January. In February, Danish security forces thwarted an international plot to kill Kurt Westergaard. Dilem and Westergaard were CRNI honorees in 2006. CRNI has witnessed an alarming rise in reprisals directed at editorial cartoonists due to the power and influence of their work.
For further information on the February 2008 conviction of Boukhari and his colleagues, see: http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/91081
For further information on the Dilem case, see: http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/94526
For further information on the Westergaard case, see: http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/90719
Jimmy Margulies to get award in DC
Jimmy Margulies of the Record, in Northern New Jersey (my Dad's local paper) will be in DC for an award on September 27th. Dave Astor's got the story at "Another Clarion Award for Editorial Cartoonist Jimmy Margulies," E&P June 24, 2008.
Watterson on Cul de Sac
Alan Gardener and Dave Astor noted that Bill Watterson's written an intro to Our Man Thompson's Cul de Sac collection coming out in September. See "Coup for 'Cul de Sac' Book: Reclusive 'Calvin and Hobbes' Creator Writes the Foreword," E&P June 19, 2008.
Richard noted to me that you can read it on Amazon in their look inside the book feature. Personally I'm waiting until I buy a copy. Anti - ci - pa - tion, as they said in Rocky Horror.
Richard noted to me that you can read it on Amazon in their look inside the book feature. Personally I'm waiting until I buy a copy. Anti - ci - pa - tion, as they said in Rocky Horror.
Thompson's plot to fill the Post
Here's his illo for today's Health section in the Post. This was done right before we left for Heroes Con, after he was up for about 24 hours, I think. I like it.
June 27: Auth in town at National Portrait Gallery
Bruce Guthrie reports on an event happening this week -
Curator’s Conversation: Herblock, Drawn from Memory
Friday, June 27, 7 p.m.
Nan Tucker McEvoy Auditorium
The political cartoons of Herbert Lawrence Block (1909–2001), known by the pen name “Herblock,” appeared in American newspapers for more than seventy years. National Portrait Gallery senior historian Sid Hart, Pulitzer prize-winning reporter Haynes Johnson, historian Roger Wilkins together with Pulitzer prize-winning cartoonist Tony Auth, will join in a conversation about the life and work of one of the nation’s greatest political cartoonists, Herblock. No reservations required; first come, first served.
Curator’s Conversation: Herblock, Drawn from Memory
Friday, June 27, 7 p.m.
Nan Tucker McEvoy Auditorium
The political cartoons of Herbert Lawrence Block (1909–2001), known by the pen name “Herblock,” appeared in American newspapers for more than seventy years. National Portrait Gallery senior historian Sid Hart, Pulitzer prize-winning reporter Haynes Johnson, historian Roger Wilkins together with Pulitzer prize-winning cartoonist Tony Auth, will join in a conversation about the life and work of one of the nation’s greatest political cartoonists, Herblock. No reservations required; first come, first served.
Monday, June 23, 2008
Heroes Con pictures
Here's a flickr set of my Heroes Con pics.
And some quick choices before trying to catch up on sleep. More to follow with commentary later this week.
Irwin Hasen signing Dondi reprint book.
Our man Thompson.
Karl Kesel and our man Thompson.
Richard Thompson and his first customer, Kevin Greenlee. We had a nice breakfast at Lola's, although livermush was an option that we all skipped.
Chris Grine selling Chickenhare (Dark Horse Comics) at Heroes Con 2008. I bought a robot sketch from him too.
And some quick choices before trying to catch up on sleep. More to follow with commentary later this week.
Irwin Hasen signing Dondi reprint book.
Our man Thompson.
Karl Kesel and our man Thompson.
Richard Thompson and his first customer, Kevin Greenlee. We had a nice breakfast at Lola's, although livermush was an option that we all skipped.
Chris Grine selling Chickenhare (Dark Horse Comics) at Heroes Con 2008. I bought a robot sketch from him too.
QUICK REVIEWS FOR COMICS DUE 06-25-08
QUICK REVIEWS FOR COMICS DUE 06-25-08
By John Judy
ALL STAR BATMAN AND ROBIN THE BOY WONDER HC VOL. 01 by Frank Miller and Jim Lee. Collecting the first nine issues of this sporadically-released endeavor in which Batman swears a lot and all the women are either slutty, mean, or Irish. But I repeat myself…
AVENGERS INITIATIVE #14 by Dan Slott, Christos Gage and Stefano Caselli. It’s the return of the new 3-D Man! Only Dan Slott could make this work! Recommended!
BLACK PANTHER #37 by Reginald Hudlin and Francis Portella. T’Challa must take down Killmonger once and for all, if only for having a name like “Killmonger.”
CAPTAIN AMERICA #39 by Ed Brubaker and Steve Epting. Two Caps! No waiting! Recommended!
CONAN THE CIMMERIAN #0 by Tim Truman and Tomas Giorello. An impressive team launches the latest adventures of Robert E. Howard’s most famous creation. And for only ninety-nine cents! Bargain of the week!
DAREDEVIL #108 by Ed Brubaker, Greg Rucka and Michael Lark. DD faces his most impossible battle yet! A death penalty appeal during an election year!
EX MACHINA DELUXE EDITION HC VOL. 01 by Brian K. Vaughan and Tony Harris. Collecting the first eleven issues of Vaughan’s entertaining, thoughtful mix of modern politics and post-modern superhero adventures. Highly recommended.
FANTASTIC FOUR #558 by Mark Millar and Bryan Hitch. Doctor Doom by Millar and Hitch. Nuff said!
FINAL CRISIS #2 of 7 by Grant Morrison and J.G. Jones. It’s action in the Mighty Morrison Manner, featuring all kinds of nifty ideas with a possible story thrown into the mix! Gotta look!
GREEN LANTERN #32 by Geoff Johns and Ivan Reis. The Secret Origin of Green Lantern continues!
HULK #4 by Jeph Loeb and Ed McGuinness. Red Hulk vs. Green Hulk. One’s got a gun. The other is the frikkin’ Hulk! Place your bets! (And how about that movie, huh?)
IMMORTAL IRON FIST #16 by Matt Fraction and David Aja. It’s IM’s birthday. So what do you get for the man with a huge ol’ dragon brand on his chest?
MARVEL 1985 #2 of 6 by Mark Millar and Tommy Lee Edwards. In which we explore what happens when old comic book characters invade the Earth.
MIGHTY AVENGERS #15 by Brian Michael Bendis and Khoi Pham. A little back-story on how the Avengers got infiltrated by those dirty, low-down Skrulls!
NEW AVENGERS #42 by Brian Michael Bendis and Jim Cheung. In which we find out who caused the prison break that created the New Avengers! It’s Back-Story Month from the House of Ideas!
NO HERO #0 of 7 by Warren Ellis and Juan Jose Ryp. From the team that brought you BLACK SUMMER comes …. Okay, a book that sounds an awful lot like BLACK SUMMER. I was actually hoping BLACK SUMMER would finish before now, but it’s Ellis so we must accept such things. This is from Avatar because material by leading comics creators should never be too easy to find on the web.
PREVIEWS from Marvel and Diamond Comics. Peeking three months into the future has never been so easy!
PROJECT SUPERPOWERS #4 of 7 by Alex Ross, Jim Krueger and Carlos Paul. The series that exists to make you appreciate Marvel’s THE TWELVE continues!
RUNAWAYS #30 by Joss Whedon and Michael Ryan. Hey, kids! It’s a new issue of RUNAWAYS! This must be 2008! Cool!
SHE-HULK #30 byPeter David and Val Semekis. Hercules fight!
SUPERMAN #677 by James Robinson and Renato Guedes. The creator of the modern-age Starman joins up as the new regular Supes writer with changes and guest-stars galore for the Man of Tomorrow! Recommended!
THUNDERBOLTS #121 by Warren Ellis and Mike Deodato. The Green Goblin will see you now…
TRINITY #4 by Kurt Busiek and Everyone! Still weekly! Still non-sucky! How long can this go on?! The adventures of DC’s Big Three continue!
ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #123 by Brian Michael Bendis and Stuart Immonen. This issue begins the Ultimate version of “War of the Symbiotes” and ties in with the Ult-Spidey video game which Bendis co-wrote. Brace yourselves…
ULTIMATES 3 #4 of 5 by Jeph Loeb and Joe Madureira. This was originally scheduled for March 12th but was delayed for some reason. I’m hoping that reason was that someone at Marvel actually read the first two issues and said “No, we don’t want to publish stories in which iconic superhero brothers and sisters are doing things that are illegal outside of Texas, West Virginia and Utah. Please, sir, write something that explains it all away. We’ll wait.” That’s just a guess though.
UNCANNY X-MEN #499 by Ed Brubaker and Mike Choi. For the X-Men to live San Francisco hippies must die! Okay.
WALKING DEAD SC VOL. 08: MADE TO SUFFER by Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard. Collecting the apocalyptic issues 43-48 in which we learned “No one is safe.” Traumatic stuff even without the zombies. Recommended. Not for kids.
WOLVERINE ORIGINS #26 by Daniel Way and Stephen Segovia. In which Wolverine learns where babies come from. This issue features new artist Segovia which means Steve Dillon must have chewed off his own leg and escaped.
X-MEN LEGACY #213 by Mike Carey and Scot Eaton. Brain-damaged, exiled Professor X continues his search for clues as to why all those Star Trekkies keep staring at him.
YOUNG AVENGERS PRESENTS #6 of 6 by Matt Fraction and Alan Davis. Kate Bishop has to fight Clint Barton for the name “Hawkeye.” Then she has to duke it out with Alan Alda and Daniel Day-Lewis. Maybe she should just be “Bishop.” No one’s using that name are they?
www.johnjudy.net
By John Judy
ALL STAR BATMAN AND ROBIN THE BOY WONDER HC VOL. 01 by Frank Miller and Jim Lee. Collecting the first nine issues of this sporadically-released endeavor in which Batman swears a lot and all the women are either slutty, mean, or Irish. But I repeat myself…
AVENGERS INITIATIVE #14 by Dan Slott, Christos Gage and Stefano Caselli. It’s the return of the new 3-D Man! Only Dan Slott could make this work! Recommended!
BLACK PANTHER #37 by Reginald Hudlin and Francis Portella. T’Challa must take down Killmonger once and for all, if only for having a name like “Killmonger.”
CAPTAIN AMERICA #39 by Ed Brubaker and Steve Epting. Two Caps! No waiting! Recommended!
CONAN THE CIMMERIAN #0 by Tim Truman and Tomas Giorello. An impressive team launches the latest adventures of Robert E. Howard’s most famous creation. And for only ninety-nine cents! Bargain of the week!
DAREDEVIL #108 by Ed Brubaker, Greg Rucka and Michael Lark. DD faces his most impossible battle yet! A death penalty appeal during an election year!
EX MACHINA DELUXE EDITION HC VOL. 01 by Brian K. Vaughan and Tony Harris. Collecting the first eleven issues of Vaughan’s entertaining, thoughtful mix of modern politics and post-modern superhero adventures. Highly recommended.
FANTASTIC FOUR #558 by Mark Millar and Bryan Hitch. Doctor Doom by Millar and Hitch. Nuff said!
FINAL CRISIS #2 of 7 by Grant Morrison and J.G. Jones. It’s action in the Mighty Morrison Manner, featuring all kinds of nifty ideas with a possible story thrown into the mix! Gotta look!
GREEN LANTERN #32 by Geoff Johns and Ivan Reis. The Secret Origin of Green Lantern continues!
HULK #4 by Jeph Loeb and Ed McGuinness. Red Hulk vs. Green Hulk. One’s got a gun. The other is the frikkin’ Hulk! Place your bets! (And how about that movie, huh?)
IMMORTAL IRON FIST #16 by Matt Fraction and David Aja. It’s IM’s birthday. So what do you get for the man with a huge ol’ dragon brand on his chest?
MARVEL 1985 #2 of 6 by Mark Millar and Tommy Lee Edwards. In which we explore what happens when old comic book characters invade the Earth.
MIGHTY AVENGERS #15 by Brian Michael Bendis and Khoi Pham. A little back-story on how the Avengers got infiltrated by those dirty, low-down Skrulls!
NEW AVENGERS #42 by Brian Michael Bendis and Jim Cheung. In which we find out who caused the prison break that created the New Avengers! It’s Back-Story Month from the House of Ideas!
NO HERO #0 of 7 by Warren Ellis and Juan Jose Ryp. From the team that brought you BLACK SUMMER comes …. Okay, a book that sounds an awful lot like BLACK SUMMER. I was actually hoping BLACK SUMMER would finish before now, but it’s Ellis so we must accept such things. This is from Avatar because material by leading comics creators should never be too easy to find on the web.
PREVIEWS from Marvel and Diamond Comics. Peeking three months into the future has never been so easy!
PROJECT SUPERPOWERS #4 of 7 by Alex Ross, Jim Krueger and Carlos Paul. The series that exists to make you appreciate Marvel’s THE TWELVE continues!
RUNAWAYS #30 by Joss Whedon and Michael Ryan. Hey, kids! It’s a new issue of RUNAWAYS! This must be 2008! Cool!
SHE-HULK #30 byPeter David and Val Semekis. Hercules fight!
SUPERMAN #677 by James Robinson and Renato Guedes. The creator of the modern-age Starman joins up as the new regular Supes writer with changes and guest-stars galore for the Man of Tomorrow! Recommended!
THUNDERBOLTS #121 by Warren Ellis and Mike Deodato. The Green Goblin will see you now…
TRINITY #4 by Kurt Busiek and Everyone! Still weekly! Still non-sucky! How long can this go on?! The adventures of DC’s Big Three continue!
ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #123 by Brian Michael Bendis and Stuart Immonen. This issue begins the Ultimate version of “War of the Symbiotes” and ties in with the Ult-Spidey video game which Bendis co-wrote. Brace yourselves…
ULTIMATES 3 #4 of 5 by Jeph Loeb and Joe Madureira. This was originally scheduled for March 12th but was delayed for some reason. I’m hoping that reason was that someone at Marvel actually read the first two issues and said “No, we don’t want to publish stories in which iconic superhero brothers and sisters are doing things that are illegal outside of Texas, West Virginia and Utah. Please, sir, write something that explains it all away. We’ll wait.” That’s just a guess though.
UNCANNY X-MEN #499 by Ed Brubaker and Mike Choi. For the X-Men to live San Francisco hippies must die! Okay.
WALKING DEAD SC VOL. 08: MADE TO SUFFER by Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard. Collecting the apocalyptic issues 43-48 in which we learned “No one is safe.” Traumatic stuff even without the zombies. Recommended. Not for kids.
WOLVERINE ORIGINS #26 by Daniel Way and Stephen Segovia. In which Wolverine learns where babies come from. This issue features new artist Segovia which means Steve Dillon must have chewed off his own leg and escaped.
X-MEN LEGACY #213 by Mike Carey and Scot Eaton. Brain-damaged, exiled Professor X continues his search for clues as to why all those Star Trekkies keep staring at him.
YOUNG AVENGERS PRESENTS #6 of 6 by Matt Fraction and Alan Davis. Kate Bishop has to fight Clint Barton for the name “Hawkeye.” Then she has to duke it out with Alan Alda and Daniel Day-Lewis. Maybe she should just be “Bishop.” No one’s using that name are they?
www.johnjudy.net
Craig Fischer on Heroes Con
My friend Craig and I got to hang out a lot over the weekend and it was great. I finally got to meet 2/3 of his family - wife Kathy and son Nate - his younger daughter was playing hookie. Craig's done blog posts on his trip - 1 anda 2 anda 3. I'll try to get my thoughts together and get them up soon. Here's Craig with MAD editor Al Feldstein.
Thompson transported from Heroes Con directly to Washington Post
Richard and I drove in from a great time at Heroes Con in Charlotte, NC (posts and pics to follow) to discover that his strip Cul de Sac has taken the spot of the canceled Single And Looking strip in the Post as of today. Whoo-hoo! He's finally in his hometown paper every day. And now twice on Wednesday and Saturday. Hmmm... Has anyone ever seen him and Donald Graham at the same time?
In the meantime, Tom Spurgeon's coverage of Heroes Con largely mirrors mine, except he knows and interviewed more people. Richard and I had a very pleasant conversation in him at the Westin's bar on Saturday night, and we both agree that Tom's one of the best writers and critics around. We both read his site every day, and you should too. And I'm not just saying that because he likes Cul de Sac - some of the very best years of The Comics Journal (which has had a lot of great material in it) were when he was editing it.
In the meantime, Tom Spurgeon's coverage of Heroes Con largely mirrors mine, except he knows and interviewed more people. Richard and I had a very pleasant conversation in him at the Westin's bar on Saturday night, and we both agree that Tom's one of the best writers and critics around. We both read his site every day, and you should too. And I'm not just saying that because he likes Cul de Sac - some of the very best years of The Comics Journal (which has had a lot of great material in it) were when he was editing it.
Saturday, June 21, 2008
Baltimore Comic-Con Welcomes Robinson & Tomasi!
You get a special sneak preview since I'm privy to this press release before it gets sent out! Not much other DC-oriented comics news has leapt out at me so far this weekend. -Randy
BALTIMORE, MD (June 18, 2008) - A fan-favorite creator marks his stunning return to comics in a first-time appearance at this year's Baltimore Comic-Con, held at the Baltimore Convention Center on September 27-28, 2008. In addition, a long-time industry insider makes his Baltimore debut as a comics writer.
James Robinson, best known for his work on DC Comics' Starman, The Golden Age and JSA, is returning to comics in a big way, taking over Superman in the near future and gearing up for the launch of a new Justice League title.
Peter Tomasi, currently strutting his stuff in Nightwing and Green Lantern Corps, is a former long-time DC Comics editor who has worked with most of DC's major characters, as well as many of the heavy hitter talents in the field (including the aforementioned Mr. Robinson).
"We're extremely happy to welcome these two talented gents to Baltimore," said show promoter Marc Nathan. "We know our fans are going to have a lot of questions for James, and we're hoping they realize what a rising star Pete is. And there'll be plenty of opportunity to talk to both of them!"
Swamp Thing co-creator and Frankenstein artist Bernie Wrightson will be the show's Guest of Honor.
He headlines a guest list that includes, in alphabetical order, Kyle Baker (The Bakers), Brian Michael Bendis (Ultimate Spider-Man, New Avengers), Jim Calafiore (Exiles, Captain Marvel), Howard Chaykin (American Flagg), Cliff Chiang (Green Arrow & Black Canary), Darwyn Cooke (New Frontier, The Spirit), Frank Cho (Liberty Meadows, Mighty Avengers), Steve Conley (Star Trek, The Escapist), Amanda Conner (JSA Classified, Terra), Todd Dezago (Perhapanauts, Tellos), David Finch (World War Hulk, New Avengers), Ramona Fradon (Aquaman), John Gallagher (Buzzboy, Roboy Red), Ron Garney (Wolverine), Michael Golden (Micronauts, The 'Nam), Mike Grell (John Sable, Iron Man), Cully Hamner (Blue Beetle, Black Lightning), Dean Haspiel (Brawl), Adam Hughes (Catwoman), Stuart Immonen (Ultimate Spider-Man), Geoff Johns (Green Lantern, Action Comics), J.G. Jones (52, Wonder Woman), Robert Kirkman (Invincible, Ultimate X-Men), Barry Kitson (Empire, The Order), Scott Kurtz (PvP), Erik Larsen (Savage Dragon, Image EIC), Jim Lee (Batman: Hush, Wildcats), the Luna Brothers (The Sword, Girls), David Mack (Kabuki, Daredevil), Mike Mignola (Hellboy, Disney's Atlantis), Phil Noto (Danger Girl, Jonah Hex), Michael Avon Oeming (Mice Templar, Powers), Jimmy Palmiotti (Painkiller Jane, Jonah Hex), Brandon Peterson (Ultimate X-Men, Strange), Eric Powell (The Goon), Tom Raney (Ultimate X-Men), John Romita Sr. (Amazing Spider-Man), Don Rosa (Uncle Scrooge), Craig Rousseau (Perhapanauts, X-Men: First Class), Tim Sale (Batman: The Long Halloween, Heroes), Alex Saviuk (Web of Spider-Man, Feast of the Seven Fishes), Jim Shooter (Legion of Super-Heroes), Robert Tinnell (EZ Street), Herb Trimpe (Incredible Hulk), Timothy Truman (Conan, Grimjack), Neil Vokes (The Black Forest, The Wicked West), Matt Wagner (Zorro, Grendel), Mark Waid (Flash, Boom! Studios), Mark Wheatley (Frankenstein Mobster), and Ron Wilson (The Thing).
The Harvey Awards will return to the Baltimore Comic-Con for the third consecutive year. The awards dinner and ceremony will be held Saturday night, September 27, 2008, following the convention's normal hours. As in 2007, the first 300 paid attendees and honorees at the 2008 Harvey Awards Ceremonies will receive a Hollywood-style bag of swag. Last year's bag included The EC Archives: Two-Fisted Tales - Volume 1 from Gemstone Publishing, a complete base set of the soon-to-be-released Jericho Season One trading cards from Inkworks, an exclusive pin from AdHouse Books, a Comic-Con exclusive edition of 30 Days of Night: Red Snow #1 from IDW Publishing, a Toon Tumbler from Popfun Merchandising, and an exclusive Harvey Awards keychain from LaserMach. Nominating ballots are presently online at www.harveyawards.org. Kyle Baker will return as Master of Ceremonies for the evening's events.
For more information about the Baltimore Comic-Con, e-mail cardscomicscollectilbes@yahoo.com or call (410) 526-7410. The guest list and other information can be found on the convention's website or on its MySpace page. For more information about the Harvey Awards, including sponsorship opportunities, e-mail baltimorecomiccon@yahoo.com.
BALTIMORE, MD (June 18, 2008) - A fan-favorite creator marks his stunning return to comics in a first-time appearance at this year's Baltimore Comic-Con, held at the Baltimore Convention Center on September 27-28, 2008. In addition, a long-time industry insider makes his Baltimore debut as a comics writer.
James Robinson, best known for his work on DC Comics' Starman, The Golden Age and JSA, is returning to comics in a big way, taking over Superman in the near future and gearing up for the launch of a new Justice League title.
Peter Tomasi, currently strutting his stuff in Nightwing and Green Lantern Corps, is a former long-time DC Comics editor who has worked with most of DC's major characters, as well as many of the heavy hitter talents in the field (including the aforementioned Mr. Robinson).
"We're extremely happy to welcome these two talented gents to Baltimore," said show promoter Marc Nathan. "We know our fans are going to have a lot of questions for James, and we're hoping they realize what a rising star Pete is. And there'll be plenty of opportunity to talk to both of them!"
Swamp Thing co-creator and Frankenstein artist Bernie Wrightson will be the show's Guest of Honor.
He headlines a guest list that includes, in alphabetical order, Kyle Baker (The Bakers), Brian Michael Bendis (Ultimate Spider-Man, New Avengers), Jim Calafiore (Exiles, Captain Marvel), Howard Chaykin (American Flagg), Cliff Chiang (Green Arrow & Black Canary), Darwyn Cooke (New Frontier, The Spirit), Frank Cho (Liberty Meadows, Mighty Avengers), Steve Conley (Star Trek, The Escapist), Amanda Conner (JSA Classified, Terra), Todd Dezago (Perhapanauts, Tellos), David Finch (World War Hulk, New Avengers), Ramona Fradon (Aquaman), John Gallagher (Buzzboy, Roboy Red), Ron Garney (Wolverine), Michael Golden (Micronauts, The 'Nam), Mike Grell (John Sable, Iron Man), Cully Hamner (Blue Beetle, Black Lightning), Dean Haspiel (Brawl), Adam Hughes (Catwoman), Stuart Immonen (Ultimate Spider-Man), Geoff Johns (Green Lantern, Action Comics), J.G. Jones (52, Wonder Woman), Robert Kirkman (Invincible, Ultimate X-Men), Barry Kitson (Empire, The Order), Scott Kurtz (PvP), Erik Larsen (Savage Dragon, Image EIC), Jim Lee (Batman: Hush, Wildcats), the Luna Brothers (The Sword, Girls), David Mack (Kabuki, Daredevil), Mike Mignola (Hellboy, Disney's Atlantis), Phil Noto (Danger Girl, Jonah Hex), Michael Avon Oeming (Mice Templar, Powers), Jimmy Palmiotti (Painkiller Jane, Jonah Hex), Brandon Peterson (Ultimate X-Men, Strange), Eric Powell (The Goon), Tom Raney (Ultimate X-Men), John Romita Sr. (Amazing Spider-Man), Don Rosa (Uncle Scrooge), Craig Rousseau (Perhapanauts, X-Men: First Class), Tim Sale (Batman: The Long Halloween, Heroes), Alex Saviuk (Web of Spider-Man, Feast of the Seven Fishes), Jim Shooter (Legion of Super-Heroes), Robert Tinnell (EZ Street), Herb Trimpe (Incredible Hulk), Timothy Truman (Conan, Grimjack), Neil Vokes (The Black Forest, The Wicked West), Matt Wagner (Zorro, Grendel), Mark Waid (Flash, Boom! Studios), Mark Wheatley (Frankenstein Mobster), and Ron Wilson (The Thing).
The Harvey Awards will return to the Baltimore Comic-Con for the third consecutive year. The awards dinner and ceremony will be held Saturday night, September 27, 2008, following the convention's normal hours. As in 2007, the first 300 paid attendees and honorees at the 2008 Harvey Awards Ceremonies will receive a Hollywood-style bag of swag. Last year's bag included The EC Archives: Two-Fisted Tales - Volume 1 from Gemstone Publishing, a complete base set of the soon-to-be-released Jericho Season One trading cards from Inkworks, an exclusive pin from AdHouse Books, a Comic-Con exclusive edition of 30 Days of Night: Red Snow #1 from IDW Publishing, a Toon Tumbler from Popfun Merchandising, and an exclusive Harvey Awards keychain from LaserMach. Nominating ballots are presently online at www.harveyawards.org. Kyle Baker will return as Master of Ceremonies for the evening's events.
For more information about the Baltimore Comic-Con, e-mail cardscomicscollectilbes@yahoo.com or call (410) 526-7410. The guest list and other information can be found on the convention's website or on its MySpace page. For more information about the Harvey Awards, including sponsorship opportunities, e-mail baltimorecomiccon@yahoo.com.
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Have you seen us? Probably not
While ComicsDC is theoretically on break for an extended weekend - we're off to Heroes Con - Richard is still at home rushing to finish some strips and panels so all of his readers enjoy uninterrupted Cul de Sac and Richard's Poor Almanack (and he gets paid). I begin to see why he's using me as a driver, rather than taking a plane. We'll be there though!
And if anyone was wondering - the pictures are bobbleheads that ran in the Post when they were running Almanac in color - before it got the extra 'k'. I photocopied them, laminated them and then folded and spring-mounted and now they look down on me from a windowsill.
Herblock and Oliphant exhibits featured on Voice of America
See "Cartoonists, Lampooning the Political Elite," By George Dwyer, Voice of America 18 June 2008. There's a video report as well as the web text.
June 21: Pixar book author at Politics and Prose
Reminder - June 21 Saturday: 6 p.m. With THE PIXAR TOUCH, David A. Price has written a history of what might have been the most successful movie factory ever.
Takoma Park librarian on Babymouse
See "'Babymouse' a superhero kids can identify with," By KAREN MACPHERSON, Scripps Howard News Service 06/18/2008.
The Amory Wars: The Second Stage Turbine Blade review
From a Maryland high school senior, we get this review "Coheed and Cambria singer should stick to what he knows" BY BEN JENNINGS, Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star 6/19/2008 which opens:
The band Coheed and Cambria has received good reviews, with its soothing alto vocals and progressive rock sound. But maybe it should stick to the music side of its business.
The lead singer, guitarist and songwriter of the band, Claudio Sanchez, opened a new front in the comic-book business when he released a series of songs in tandem with a graphic-novel companion, both called "The Amory Wars: The Second Stage Turbine Blade.
The band Coheed and Cambria has received good reviews, with its soothing alto vocals and progressive rock sound. But maybe it should stick to the music side of its business.
The lead singer, guitarist and songwriter of the band, Claudio Sanchez, opened a new front in the comic-book business when he released a series of songs in tandem with a graphic-novel companion, both called "The Amory Wars: The Second Stage Turbine Blade.
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Have you seen us?
ComicsDC is on break for an extended weekend - we're off to Heroes Con. Well, Richard and I are. Randy T. may keep posting as we're off to Charlotte, NC. Stop by Richard's table if you want to find me. Or him actually.
By the way, I'll have a few copies of the Interplanetary Journal of Comic Art, and 3 copies of Film & TV Adaptations of Comics for sale (you can tell I didn't plan ahead when Richard asked me to come along) and a dummy of the Harvey Pekar: Conversations book. Richard will have his Richard's Poor Almanac book and original art for sale.
Larry Gonick web strip
Master Ibid writes in to tell us "Larry Gonick has a new strip at the Discovery Channel site."
Calvin returns! In Lio?
This week, Mark Tatulli's Lio, through a Frankenstein-like experiment has featured a familiar boy ... and today, his tiger as well.
Summer anime in DC
DC Anime Club and Japan Information and Culture Center, Embassy of Japan Present:
Anime Summer Series
The DC Anime Club and the Japan Information and Culture Center (JICC), Embassy of Japan Present the Anime Summer Series. An continuation for the monthly Anime/Live
Action screenings held at the Japanese Information and Culture Center, Embassy of Japan located at Lafayette Center III 1155 21st Street, NW Washington, DC
20036-3308.The following Anime/Live Films will be screened every last Friday of every month starting Friday June 27,2008 at 6:30pm: Dragon Ball Z: Brolly the Super Sayajin (on Friday June 27, 2008 at 6:30pm), Shinobi (on Friday July 25,2008 at 6:30pm) and DeathNote Live Action Movie (on Friday August 29, 2008 at 6:30pm). Other activities that will
be included during the Anime Summer Series will be Cosplay, raffle, free posters
and more.
This program is free and open to the public. For more information please visit the Japanese Information and Culture Center website at http://www.us.embjapan.go.jp/jicc/ or visit the DC Anime Club website at http://dcanimeclub.org.
About DC Anime Club:
DCAC was established in 2003 to introduce and educate people in the Washington,DC area about East Asian culture, through viewing and discussion of Japanese animation (also known as anime) and Japanese comics (manga). DCAC is a 501(c)(3) not for profit organization, contributions to DC Anime Club are tax deductible to the extent allowable under the law.
The club also works to provide a positive, alternative activity to the youth in the area by exposing them to foreign culture, encouraging artistic expression and creativity, and providing opportunities for participation in community activities and leadership.
In addition to our weekly meetings, the club holds an Annual Art Show, an Annual costume fundraising event, and visits local schools to do presentations on anime. The club also works with the Smithsonian Freer Gallery and DC Asian Pacific American Film Festival on their anime screenings, and has helped locally promote performances for Japanese bands such as Puffy Ami Yumi and Pine am. DC Anime Club was founded by Chris Wanamaker (President), Jules Chang (Vice President) and Craig Vaughn (Sgt in ARMS) on Saturday June 5, 2003. We have a strong membership that continues to grow -- most of which are teenagers.
About Japan Information and Culture Center:
The Japan Information and Culture Center (JICC) is the cultural and public affairs section of the Embassy of Japan in Washington D.C. Our primary role is to promote better understanding of Japan and Japanese culture by providing a wide range of
information, educational services and programs to the public. The JICC is located on the lower level of the glass-enclosed Galleria at Lafayette Centre III in downtown Washington, D.C. Its facilities include a research library, a 152-seat auditorium, and a 1,500-square-foot exhibition gallery where a wide variety of events sponsored by the JICC are hosted throughout the year.
--
Christopher Wanamaker
DC Anime Club President
http://www.dcanimeclub.org
202 262 2083
Anime Summer Series
The DC Anime Club and the Japan Information and Culture Center (JICC), Embassy of Japan Present the Anime Summer Series. An continuation for the monthly Anime/Live
Action screenings held at the Japanese Information and Culture Center, Embassy of Japan located at Lafayette Center III 1155 21st Street, NW Washington, DC
20036-3308.The following Anime/Live Films will be screened every last Friday of every month starting Friday June 27,2008 at 6:30pm: Dragon Ball Z: Brolly the Super Sayajin (on Friday June 27, 2008 at 6:30pm), Shinobi (on Friday July 25,2008 at 6:30pm) and DeathNote Live Action Movie (on Friday August 29, 2008 at 6:30pm). Other activities that will
be included during the Anime Summer Series will be Cosplay, raffle, free posters
and more.
This program is free and open to the public. For more information please visit the Japanese Information and Culture Center website at http://www.us.embjapan.go.jp/jicc/ or visit the DC Anime Club website at http://dcanimeclub.org.
About DC Anime Club:
DCAC was established in 2003 to introduce and educate people in the Washington,DC area about East Asian culture, through viewing and discussion of Japanese animation (also known as anime) and Japanese comics (manga). DCAC is a 501(c)(3) not for profit organization, contributions to DC Anime Club are tax deductible to the extent allowable under the law.
The club also works to provide a positive, alternative activity to the youth in the area by exposing them to foreign culture, encouraging artistic expression and creativity, and providing opportunities for participation in community activities and leadership.
In addition to our weekly meetings, the club holds an Annual Art Show, an Annual costume fundraising event, and visits local schools to do presentations on anime. The club also works with the Smithsonian Freer Gallery and DC Asian Pacific American Film Festival on their anime screenings, and has helped locally promote performances for Japanese bands such as Puffy Ami Yumi and Pine am. DC Anime Club was founded by Chris Wanamaker (President), Jules Chang (Vice President) and Craig Vaughn (Sgt in ARMS) on Saturday June 5, 2003. We have a strong membership that continues to grow -- most of which are teenagers.
About Japan Information and Culture Center:
The Japan Information and Culture Center (JICC) is the cultural and public affairs section of the Embassy of Japan in Washington D.C. Our primary role is to promote better understanding of Japan and Japanese culture by providing a wide range of
information, educational services and programs to the public. The JICC is located on the lower level of the glass-enclosed Galleria at Lafayette Centre III in downtown Washington, D.C. Its facilities include a research library, a 152-seat auditorium, and a 1,500-square-foot exhibition gallery where a wide variety of events sponsored by the JICC are hosted throughout the year.
--
Christopher Wanamaker
DC Anime Club President
http://www.dcanimeclub.org
202 262 2083
Harvey Awards at Baltimore Comic-con
2008 Harvey Awards Nominees Announced!
Visit www.harveyawards.org for Ballots & Submission Details!
BALTIMORE, MD (June 18, 2008) -- The 2008 Harvey Awards Nominees have been announced with the release of the final ballot, presented by the Executive Committees of the Harvey Awards and the Baltimore Comic-Con. Named in honor of the late Harvey Kurtzman, one of the industry's most innovative talents, the Harvey Awards recognize outstanding work in comics and sequential art. They will be presented September 27, 2008 in Baltimore, MD, in conjunction with the Baltimore Comic-Con.
Nominations for the Harvey Awards are selected exclusively by creators - those who write, draw, ink, letter, color, design, edit or are otherwise involved in a creative capacity in the comics field. They are the only industry awards both nominated and selected by the full body of comic book professionals. Professionals who participate will be joining nearly 2,000 other comics professionals in honoring the outstanding comics achievements of 2007. Thank you to all that have already participated by submitting a nomination ballot.
Final ballots are due to the Harvey Awards by Friday, August 15, 2008. Full details for submission of completed ballots can be found on the final ballot. Voting is open to anyone involved in a creative capacity within the comics field. Final ballots are available for download at www.harveyawards.org. Those without Internet access may request that paper ballots be sent to them via mail or fax by calling the Baltimore Comic-Con (410-526-7410) or e-mailing baltimorecomicccon@yahoo.com.
This will be the third year for the Harvey Awards in Baltimore, MD. Our Master of Ceremonies will once again be Kyle Baker. Look for more details soon on how you can attend the Harvey Awards dinner.
This year's Baltimore Comic-Con will be held September 27-28, 2008. Convention hours are Saturday 10 AM to 6 PM and Sunday 10 AM to 5 PM. The ceremony and banquet for the 2008 Harvey Awards will be held Saturday night, September 27.
Without further delay, the 2008 Harvey Award Nominees:
BEST WRITER
Ed Brubaker, Captain America, Marvel Comics
Jeff Kinney, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Amulet Books
Grant Morrison, All Star Superman, DC Comics
William Van Horn, Walt Disney's Comics and Stories, Gemstone
Brian K. Vaughan, Y: The Last Man, Vertigo/DC Comics
BEST ARTIST
Gabriel Ba, Umbrella Academy, Dark Horse Comics
John Cassaday, Astonishing X-Men, Marvel Comics
Guy Davis, BPRD, Dark Horse Comics
Frank Quitely, All Star Superman, DC Comics
William Van Horn, Walt Disney's Comics and Stories, Gemstone
BEST CARTOONIST
Darwyn Cooke, The Spirit, DC Comics
Matt Kindt, Super Spy, Top Shelf
Jeff Kinney, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Amulet Books
Bryan Lee O'Malley, Scott Pilgrim Gets It Together, Oni Press
Vasilis Lolos, Last Call, Oni Press
William Van Horn, Walt Disney's Comics and Stories, Gemstone
BEST GRAPHIC ALBUM - ORIGINAL
The Arrival, Scholastic Books
Donald Duck: The Case of the Missing Mummy, Gemstone
Exit Wounds, Drawn & Quarterly
Laika, First Second
Scott Pilgrim Gets It Together, Oni Press
BEST GRAPHIC ALBUM - PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED
The Annotated Northwest Passage, Oni Press
Antiques, Volume 1, Gemstone
Captain America Omnibus, Volume 1, Marvel Comics
Damned, Volume 1, Oni Press
Dark Tower: The Gunslinger Born, Marvel Comics
BEST DOMESTIC REPRINT PROJECT
Complete Peanuts, Fantagraphics Books
Complete Terry and the Pirates, IDW
EC Archives, Gemstone
Popeye, Fantagraphics Books
Walt and Skeezix, Drawn & Quarterly
BEST AMERICAN EDITION OF FOREIGN MATERIAL
Eduardo Risso's Tales of Terror, Dynamite Entertainment
Exit Wounds, Drawn & Quarterly
Manga Shakespeare: Romeo and Juliet, Abrams
Moomin, Volume 2, Drawn & Quarterly
Witchblade Manga, Top Cow/Image
SPECIAL AWARD FOR HUMOR
Chris Eliopoulos, Franklin Richards series, Marvel Comics
Nicholas Gurewitch, Perry Bible Fellowship, www.pbfcomics.com
Jeff Kinney, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Amulet Books
Bryan Lee O'Malley, Scott Pilgrim Gets It Together, Oni Press
William Van Horn, Walt Disney's Comics and Stories, Gemstone
BEST ON-LINE COMIC
Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Jeff Kinney, www.wimpykid.com
EZ Street, Robert Tinnell and Mark Wheatley, www.comicmix.com/title/ez-street/
Penny Arcade, Jerry Holkins and Mike Krahulik, www.penny-arcade.com
Perry Bible Fellowship, Nicholas Gurewitch, www.pbfcomics.com
Surreal Adventures of Edgar Allan Poo, Dwight L. Macpherson,
Thomas Boatwright and Thomas Mauer,
www.drunkduck.com/The_Surreal_Adventures_of_Edgar_Allan_Poo
SPECIAL AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN PRESENTATION
The Annotated Northwest Passage, Scott Chantler, Oni Press
Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Jeff Kinney, Amulet Books
EC Archives, Various, edited by John Clark, Gemstone
Postcards: True Stories That Never Happened, edited by Jason Rodriguez, Villard
Super Spy, Matt Kindt, Top Shelf
BEST SINGLE ISSUE OR STORY
Alice in Sunderland, Dark Horse Comics
All Star Superman # 8, DC Comics
Captain America # 25, Marvel Comics
Donald Duck: The Case of the Missing Mummy, Gemstone
I Killed Adolf Hitler, Fantagraphics Books
Immortal Iron Fist # 7, Marvel Comics
Stephen Colbert's Tek Jansen # 1, Oni Press
BEST BIOGRAPHICAL, HISTORICAL OR JOURNALISTIC PRESENTATION
Blah Blah Blog, Tom Brevoort, http://www.marvel.com/blogs/Tom%20Brevoort/
The Comics Journal, edited by Gary Groth and Michael Dean, Fantagraphics Books
Meanwhile...Comics!, John, Jason and Scott, http://www.meanwhilecomics.com
The Naked Artist: Comic Book Legends, Bryan Talbot and Hunt Emerson,
Moonstone Books
Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide, edited by J.C. Vaughn, Gemstone
Reading Comics: How Graphic Albums Work and What They Mean, Douglas Wolk,
Da Capo Press
BEST COVER ARTIST
John Cassaday, Astonishing X-Men, Marvel Comics
Marko Djurdjevic, Daredevil, Marvel Comics
James Jean, Fables, Vertigo/DC Comics
Mike Mignola, Hellboy, Dark Horse Comics
William Van Horn, Walt Disney's Comics and Stories, Gemstone
BEST LETTERER
Chris Eliopoulos, Daredevil, Marvel Comics
Jared K. Fletcher, The Spirit, DC Comics
Willie Schubert, Walt Disney's Comics and Stories, Gemstone
Douglas E. Sherwood, Local, Oni Books
Chris Ware, Acme Novelty Library, Acme Novelty
BEST COLORIST
Susan Daigle-Leach, Uncle Scrooge, Gemstone
Jamie Grant, All Star Superman, DC Comics
Matt Hollingsworth, Daredevil, Marvel Comics
Matt Kindt, Super Spy, Top Shelf
Laura Martin, Thor, Marvel Comics
BEST INKER
Stefano Gaudiano, Daredevil, Marvel Comics
Jeff Kinney, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Amulet Books
Steve Leialoha, Fables, DC Comics
Mark Morales, Thor, Marvel Comics
Kevin Nowlan, Witchblade, Top Cow/Image
BEST SYNDICATED STRIP OR PANEL
Doonesbury, Garry Trudeau, Universal Press Syndicate
Get Fuzzy, Darby Conley, United Feature Syndicate
The K Chronicles, Keith Knight, Self-Syndicated
The Mighty Motor-Sapiens, Mark Wheatley, Daniel Krall, Robert Tinnell, MJ Butler,
Craig Taillerfer, Matthew Plog, and Jerry Carr, Self-Syndicated
Mutts, Patrick McDonnell, King Features Syndicate
BEST CONTINUING OR LIMITED SERIES
All Star Superman, DC Comics
Captain America, Marvel Comics
Damned, Oni Press
Daredevil, Marvel Comics
Umbrella Academy, Dark Horse Comics
Uncle Scrooge, Gemstone Comics
BEST NEW SERIES
Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Amulet Books
The Order, Marvel Comics
Resurrection, Oni Press
Thor, Marvel Comics
Umbrella Academy, Dark Horse Comics
BEST NEW TALENT
Jeff Kinney, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Amulet Books
Jeff Lemire, Essex County, Top Shelf
Vasilis Lolos, Last Call, Oni Press
Robbi Rodriguez, Maintenance, Oni Press
Christian Slade, Korgi #1: Sprouting Wings, Top Shelf
BEST ANTHOLOGY
Flight Volume 4, edited by Kazu Kibuishi, Ballantine Books
Mome Volume 8, edited by Gary Groth and Eric Reynolds, Fantagraphics Books
Popgun Volume 1, edited by Joe Keatinge and Mark Andrew Smith, Image Books
Postcards: True Stories That Never Happened, edited by Jason Rodriquez, Villard
Walt Disney's Comics and Stories, edited by John Clark, Gemstone
Congratulations to all the nominees! If you know a nominee, please pass on the good news!
The Harvey committee and the Baltimore Comic-Con will make every effort to contact all nominees. If you are a nominee and do not hear from us by the end of June, please contact us at baltimorecomiccon@yahoo.com. We would love to discuss your involvement in the ceremony and the Baltimore Comic-Con.
For additional information about the Harvey Kurtzman and the Harvey Awards, visit www.harveyawards.org.
For additional information about the Baltimore Comic-Con, visit www.comicon.com/baltimore.
For additional information about the Harvey Awards Master of Ceremonies Kyle Baker, visit www.kylebaker.com.
Visit www.harveyawards.org for Ballots & Submission Details!
BALTIMORE, MD (June 18, 2008) -- The 2008 Harvey Awards Nominees have been announced with the release of the final ballot, presented by the Executive Committees of the Harvey Awards and the Baltimore Comic-Con. Named in honor of the late Harvey Kurtzman, one of the industry's most innovative talents, the Harvey Awards recognize outstanding work in comics and sequential art. They will be presented September 27, 2008 in Baltimore, MD, in conjunction with the Baltimore Comic-Con.
Nominations for the Harvey Awards are selected exclusively by creators - those who write, draw, ink, letter, color, design, edit or are otherwise involved in a creative capacity in the comics field. They are the only industry awards both nominated and selected by the full body of comic book professionals. Professionals who participate will be joining nearly 2,000 other comics professionals in honoring the outstanding comics achievements of 2007. Thank you to all that have already participated by submitting a nomination ballot.
Final ballots are due to the Harvey Awards by Friday, August 15, 2008. Full details for submission of completed ballots can be found on the final ballot. Voting is open to anyone involved in a creative capacity within the comics field. Final ballots are available for download at www.harveyawards.org. Those without Internet access may request that paper ballots be sent to them via mail or fax by calling the Baltimore Comic-Con (410-526-7410) or e-mailing baltimorecomicccon@yahoo.com.
This will be the third year for the Harvey Awards in Baltimore, MD. Our Master of Ceremonies will once again be Kyle Baker. Look for more details soon on how you can attend the Harvey Awards dinner.
This year's Baltimore Comic-Con will be held September 27-28, 2008. Convention hours are Saturday 10 AM to 6 PM and Sunday 10 AM to 5 PM. The ceremony and banquet for the 2008 Harvey Awards will be held Saturday night, September 27.
Without further delay, the 2008 Harvey Award Nominees:
BEST WRITER
Ed Brubaker, Captain America, Marvel Comics
Jeff Kinney, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Amulet Books
Grant Morrison, All Star Superman, DC Comics
William Van Horn, Walt Disney's Comics and Stories, Gemstone
Brian K. Vaughan, Y: The Last Man, Vertigo/DC Comics
BEST ARTIST
Gabriel Ba, Umbrella Academy, Dark Horse Comics
John Cassaday, Astonishing X-Men, Marvel Comics
Guy Davis, BPRD, Dark Horse Comics
Frank Quitely, All Star Superman, DC Comics
William Van Horn, Walt Disney's Comics and Stories, Gemstone
BEST CARTOONIST
Darwyn Cooke, The Spirit, DC Comics
Matt Kindt, Super Spy, Top Shelf
Jeff Kinney, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Amulet Books
Bryan Lee O'Malley, Scott Pilgrim Gets It Together, Oni Press
Vasilis Lolos, Last Call, Oni Press
William Van Horn, Walt Disney's Comics and Stories, Gemstone
BEST GRAPHIC ALBUM - ORIGINAL
The Arrival, Scholastic Books
Donald Duck: The Case of the Missing Mummy, Gemstone
Exit Wounds, Drawn & Quarterly
Laika, First Second
Scott Pilgrim Gets It Together, Oni Press
BEST GRAPHIC ALBUM - PREVIOUSLY PUBLISHED
The Annotated Northwest Passage, Oni Press
Antiques, Volume 1, Gemstone
Captain America Omnibus, Volume 1, Marvel Comics
Damned, Volume 1, Oni Press
Dark Tower: The Gunslinger Born, Marvel Comics
BEST DOMESTIC REPRINT PROJECT
Complete Peanuts, Fantagraphics Books
Complete Terry and the Pirates, IDW
EC Archives, Gemstone
Popeye, Fantagraphics Books
Walt and Skeezix, Drawn & Quarterly
BEST AMERICAN EDITION OF FOREIGN MATERIAL
Eduardo Risso's Tales of Terror, Dynamite Entertainment
Exit Wounds, Drawn & Quarterly
Manga Shakespeare: Romeo and Juliet, Abrams
Moomin, Volume 2, Drawn & Quarterly
Witchblade Manga, Top Cow/Image
SPECIAL AWARD FOR HUMOR
Chris Eliopoulos, Franklin Richards series, Marvel Comics
Nicholas Gurewitch, Perry Bible Fellowship, www.pbfcomics.com
Jeff Kinney, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Amulet Books
Bryan Lee O'Malley, Scott Pilgrim Gets It Together, Oni Press
William Van Horn, Walt Disney's Comics and Stories, Gemstone
BEST ON-LINE COMIC
Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Jeff Kinney, www.wimpykid.com
EZ Street, Robert Tinnell and Mark Wheatley, www.comicmix.com/title/ez-street/
Penny Arcade, Jerry Holkins and Mike Krahulik, www.penny-arcade.com
Perry Bible Fellowship, Nicholas Gurewitch, www.pbfcomics.com
Surreal Adventures of Edgar Allan Poo, Dwight L. Macpherson,
Thomas Boatwright and Thomas Mauer,
www.drunkduck.com/The_Surreal_Adventures_of_Edgar_Allan_Poo
SPECIAL AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE IN PRESENTATION
The Annotated Northwest Passage, Scott Chantler, Oni Press
Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Jeff Kinney, Amulet Books
EC Archives, Various, edited by John Clark, Gemstone
Postcards: True Stories That Never Happened, edited by Jason Rodriguez, Villard
Super Spy, Matt Kindt, Top Shelf
BEST SINGLE ISSUE OR STORY
Alice in Sunderland, Dark Horse Comics
All Star Superman # 8, DC Comics
Captain America # 25, Marvel Comics
Donald Duck: The Case of the Missing Mummy, Gemstone
I Killed Adolf Hitler, Fantagraphics Books
Immortal Iron Fist # 7, Marvel Comics
Stephen Colbert's Tek Jansen # 1, Oni Press
BEST BIOGRAPHICAL, HISTORICAL OR JOURNALISTIC PRESENTATION
Blah Blah Blog, Tom Brevoort, http://www.marvel.com/blogs/Tom%20Brevoort/
The Comics Journal, edited by Gary Groth and Michael Dean, Fantagraphics Books
Meanwhile...Comics!, John, Jason and Scott, http://www.meanwhilecomics.com
The Naked Artist: Comic Book Legends, Bryan Talbot and Hunt Emerson,
Moonstone Books
Overstreet Comic Book Price Guide, edited by J.C. Vaughn, Gemstone
Reading Comics: How Graphic Albums Work and What They Mean, Douglas Wolk,
Da Capo Press
BEST COVER ARTIST
John Cassaday, Astonishing X-Men, Marvel Comics
Marko Djurdjevic, Daredevil, Marvel Comics
James Jean, Fables, Vertigo/DC Comics
Mike Mignola, Hellboy, Dark Horse Comics
William Van Horn, Walt Disney's Comics and Stories, Gemstone
BEST LETTERER
Chris Eliopoulos, Daredevil, Marvel Comics
Jared K. Fletcher, The Spirit, DC Comics
Willie Schubert, Walt Disney's Comics and Stories, Gemstone
Douglas E. Sherwood, Local, Oni Books
Chris Ware, Acme Novelty Library, Acme Novelty
BEST COLORIST
Susan Daigle-Leach, Uncle Scrooge, Gemstone
Jamie Grant, All Star Superman, DC Comics
Matt Hollingsworth, Daredevil, Marvel Comics
Matt Kindt, Super Spy, Top Shelf
Laura Martin, Thor, Marvel Comics
BEST INKER
Stefano Gaudiano, Daredevil, Marvel Comics
Jeff Kinney, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Amulet Books
Steve Leialoha, Fables, DC Comics
Mark Morales, Thor, Marvel Comics
Kevin Nowlan, Witchblade, Top Cow/Image
BEST SYNDICATED STRIP OR PANEL
Doonesbury, Garry Trudeau, Universal Press Syndicate
Get Fuzzy, Darby Conley, United Feature Syndicate
The K Chronicles, Keith Knight, Self-Syndicated
The Mighty Motor-Sapiens, Mark Wheatley, Daniel Krall, Robert Tinnell, MJ Butler,
Craig Taillerfer, Matthew Plog, and Jerry Carr, Self-Syndicated
Mutts, Patrick McDonnell, King Features Syndicate
BEST CONTINUING OR LIMITED SERIES
All Star Superman, DC Comics
Captain America, Marvel Comics
Damned, Oni Press
Daredevil, Marvel Comics
Umbrella Academy, Dark Horse Comics
Uncle Scrooge, Gemstone Comics
BEST NEW SERIES
Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Amulet Books
The Order, Marvel Comics
Resurrection, Oni Press
Thor, Marvel Comics
Umbrella Academy, Dark Horse Comics
BEST NEW TALENT
Jeff Kinney, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Amulet Books
Jeff Lemire, Essex County, Top Shelf
Vasilis Lolos, Last Call, Oni Press
Robbi Rodriguez, Maintenance, Oni Press
Christian Slade, Korgi #1: Sprouting Wings, Top Shelf
BEST ANTHOLOGY
Flight Volume 4, edited by Kazu Kibuishi, Ballantine Books
Mome Volume 8, edited by Gary Groth and Eric Reynolds, Fantagraphics Books
Popgun Volume 1, edited by Joe Keatinge and Mark Andrew Smith, Image Books
Postcards: True Stories That Never Happened, edited by Jason Rodriquez, Villard
Walt Disney's Comics and Stories, edited by John Clark, Gemstone
Congratulations to all the nominees! If you know a nominee, please pass on the good news!
The Harvey committee and the Baltimore Comic-Con will make every effort to contact all nominees. If you are a nominee and do not hear from us by the end of June, please contact us at baltimorecomiccon@yahoo.com. We would love to discuss your involvement in the ceremony and the Baltimore Comic-Con.
For additional information about the Harvey Kurtzman and the Harvey Awards, visit www.harveyawards.org.
For additional information about the Baltimore Comic-Con, visit www.comicon.com/baltimore.
For additional information about the Harvey Awards Master of Ceremonies Kyle Baker, visit www.kylebaker.com.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Weingarten and the Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers and FBOFW
In his June 17th chat, GW amped his coolness factor considerably when he wrote,
One of my prize possessions is an autographed copy of a Furry Freak Bros. book. Gilbert Shelton signed it to me from where he lives, in self-imposed exile, in France. The French still love him. The book is in French.
The Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers were a great 1960s era comic for stoners. The brothers were Fat Freddie Freak, Freewheelin' Frank Freak, and Phineas Freak. Probably their best known line was: "Dope will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no dope." They also had a version of that quote where "sex" was substituted for "money." They both rang true back in 1969 or so.
and later, he wrote, He was a terrific cartoonist.
and a question about For Better or For Worse arose:
Elizabeth and Anthony: Re today's FBOFW: Is Lizzie (dare I suggest) knocked up? Is she fishing for a babysitter for Anthony's daughter, or her own bun in the oven?
washingtonpost.com: For Better or For Worse, (June 17)
Gene Weingarten: It's hard to be sure; we'll know tomorrow, won't we? My guess is that this is not a Major Announcement, for three reasons. First, I don't think Johnston would go there. Second,they've been talking a while about moving up the date of the wedding so Gramps can be there before he corks. If there were another pressing reason, I think this would indicate a degree of disingenuity about Elizabeth that Johnston wouldn't do. Elizabeth is perfect; the Madonna.
On the other side, look at how shocked Dee is in that final frame. Also, why would they suddenly be borrowing the babysitter? They've had Anthony's girl all along.
I vote no, tho.
Gene Weingarten: Okay, I meant two reasons, not three.
and a comment about Doonesbury:
Kensington, Md: I am slower than molasses in January. It just hit me that Doonesbury is back. Is there anyone else cartooning right now who could take 12 weeks off and expect to get his/her spot back in seemingly every newspaper in the country?
Gene Weingarten: Unfortunately, yes. Garfield, Beetle Bailey, etc.
Though, hm. Maybe not. Maybe sanity would prevail. Maybe that's why those strips never take a vacation.
but For Better issues are raised again...
FBOFW: Oh, Liz is clearly pregnant. "I already feel like a parent" is clue #1, Dee's face is #2, and the fact that Lynn Johnston ain't subtle is #3.
washingtonpost.com: Don't scare me like that.
Gene Weingarten: We'll see tomorrow. It's possible. So we have out of wedlock sex! But we also have that weird thing about advancing the wedding so grandpa can go...
I still think no.
and then again...
Washington, D.C.: I'm with Gene. Elizabeth is not pregnant. She feels like a parent b/c of Anthony's already existing child. They will be stealing the babysitter b/c they have been taking it slow, etc., not dating a lot. The wedding was pushed up in direct response to April's comment to move it up so Gramps could go. If she were going to be pregnant out of wedlock, they'd of kept her with the pilot dude
Gene Weingarten: Well, I just think she was ever going to be preggers out of wedlock.
_______________________
Arlington, Va.: Despite your cogent, detailed analysis of today's For Bettor or for Worse, you are a moron. The sudden ending makes little or no sense unless there's a pending/immediate NEED for a babysitter.
Lynn Johnston has used setups like this for other developments in the strip. Watch that space. And we'll see you in a few weeks at the baby shower.
Gene Weingarten: This is interesting.
I like that we'll know tomorrow. A real-time debate.
and the debate continues...
FOOB: Isn't it obvious? Dee's just horrified that she won't be able to escape from her twee little brats as often as she'd like.
Gene Weingarten: Yeah, I think you're right.
...this obviously struck a nerve...
Seattle: In Re: FBOFW's Elizabeth The Pure -- Remember, she lived with her boyfriend when she was in college; she dumped him after he cheated on her.
Gene Weingarten: Yes, but getting knocked up is different.
So, tune in tomorrow or later this week to see if Elizabeth is knocked up AS THE WORLD TURNS.
One of my prize possessions is an autographed copy of a Furry Freak Bros. book. Gilbert Shelton signed it to me from where he lives, in self-imposed exile, in France. The French still love him. The book is in French.
The Fabulous Furry Freak Brothers were a great 1960s era comic for stoners. The brothers were Fat Freddie Freak, Freewheelin' Frank Freak, and Phineas Freak. Probably their best known line was: "Dope will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no dope." They also had a version of that quote where "sex" was substituted for "money." They both rang true back in 1969 or so.
and later, he wrote, He was a terrific cartoonist.
and a question about For Better or For Worse arose:
Elizabeth and Anthony: Re today's FBOFW: Is Lizzie (dare I suggest) knocked up? Is she fishing for a babysitter for Anthony's daughter, or her own bun in the oven?
washingtonpost.com: For Better or For Worse, (June 17)
Gene Weingarten: It's hard to be sure; we'll know tomorrow, won't we? My guess is that this is not a Major Announcement, for three reasons. First, I don't think Johnston would go there. Second,they've been talking a while about moving up the date of the wedding so Gramps can be there before he corks. If there were another pressing reason, I think this would indicate a degree of disingenuity about Elizabeth that Johnston wouldn't do. Elizabeth is perfect; the Madonna.
On the other side, look at how shocked Dee is in that final frame. Also, why would they suddenly be borrowing the babysitter? They've had Anthony's girl all along.
I vote no, tho.
Gene Weingarten: Okay, I meant two reasons, not three.
and a comment about Doonesbury:
Kensington, Md: I am slower than molasses in January. It just hit me that Doonesbury is back. Is there anyone else cartooning right now who could take 12 weeks off and expect to get his/her spot back in seemingly every newspaper in the country?
Gene Weingarten: Unfortunately, yes. Garfield, Beetle Bailey, etc.
Though, hm. Maybe not. Maybe sanity would prevail. Maybe that's why those strips never take a vacation.
but For Better issues are raised again...
FBOFW: Oh, Liz is clearly pregnant. "I already feel like a parent" is clue #1, Dee's face is #2, and the fact that Lynn Johnston ain't subtle is #3.
washingtonpost.com: Don't scare me like that.
Gene Weingarten: We'll see tomorrow. It's possible. So we have out of wedlock sex! But we also have that weird thing about advancing the wedding so grandpa can go...
I still think no.
and then again...
Washington, D.C.: I'm with Gene. Elizabeth is not pregnant. She feels like a parent b/c of Anthony's already existing child. They will be stealing the babysitter b/c they have been taking it slow, etc., not dating a lot. The wedding was pushed up in direct response to April's comment to move it up so Gramps could go. If she were going to be pregnant out of wedlock, they'd of kept her with the pilot dude
Gene Weingarten: Well, I just think she was ever going to be preggers out of wedlock.
_______________________
Arlington, Va.: Despite your cogent, detailed analysis of today's For Bettor or for Worse, you are a moron. The sudden ending makes little or no sense unless there's a pending/immediate NEED for a babysitter.
Lynn Johnston has used setups like this for other developments in the strip. Watch that space. And we'll see you in a few weeks at the baby shower.
Gene Weingarten: This is interesting.
I like that we'll know tomorrow. A real-time debate.
and the debate continues...
FOOB: Isn't it obvious? Dee's just horrified that she won't be able to escape from her twee little brats as often as she'd like.
Gene Weingarten: Yeah, I think you're right.
...this obviously struck a nerve...
Seattle: In Re: FBOFW's Elizabeth The Pure -- Remember, she lived with her boyfriend when she was in college; she dumped him after he cheated on her.
Gene Weingarten: Yes, but getting knocked up is different.
So, tune in tomorrow or later this week to see if Elizabeth is knocked up AS THE WORLD TURNS.
Ahhh, what might have been...
This is a fascinating article.
The Web Time Forgot
By ALEX WRIGHT
New York Times June 17, 2008
The Mundaneum Museum honors the first concept of a world wide wonder, sketched out by Paul Otlet in 1934 as a global network of “electric telescopes.”
Boy, would the Comics Research Bibliography have been much easier, and less necessary to compile...
The Web Time Forgot
By ALEX WRIGHT
New York Times June 17, 2008
The Mundaneum Museum honors the first concept of a world wide wonder, sketched out by Paul Otlet in 1934 as a global network of “electric telescopes.”
Boy, would the Comics Research Bibliography have been much easier, and less necessary to compile...
Herblock and Oliphant cited by Clay Bennet as influences
See "The Cartoonist’s Cartoonists: Clay Bennett," By Alan Gardner, in the Daily Cartoonist June 17, 2008. Bennett's got an excellent list with some real surprises like Ron Cobb and Quino.
Joost Swarte at SPX!
from the New Yorker, Feb 19 2007.Joost Swarte, one of my absolutely favorite artists will be at the Small Press Expo this year:
Small Press Expo Announces New Yorker Artist Joost Swarte As The First Guest for SPX 2008
For Immediate Release Contact: Warren Bernard
E-Mail:webernard@mindspring.com
Bethesda, Maryland; June 16, 2008 - The 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 we hosting the internationally famous Dutch cartoonist and designer Joost Swarte as the first guest for SPX 2008.
This year, SPX will be held Saturday, October 4 and Sunday, October 5 at The North Bethesda Marriott Convention Center in Bethesda, Maryland.
Mr. Swarte is best known to American audiences for his covers and illustrations for The New Yorker, along with his internationally recognized comic and poster work. He has extended his unique cartoon style into the world of industrial design by designing stained glass installations, sculptures and furniture, as well as the Toneelshuur Theater in Haarlem, The Netherlands. SPX is proud to host Mr. Swarte in one of his rare United States appearances.
Additional guests will be added over the next few weeks, please stay tuned for those announcements.
For further information on SPX, go to the website at http://www.spxpo.com.
To request an interview or other media related inquiries, 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 11 am - 7 pm, Saturday, October 4 and Noon - 6 pm Sunday, October 5. Admission is $8 for a single day and $15 for both days.
SPX culminates with the presentation of the 12th Annual Ignatz Awards for outstanding achievement in comics and cartooning that will occur Saturday night, October 4. 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 3000 fans together to celebrate the art of storytelling.
Fables article in Express
Fables by Bill Willingham and Mark Buckingham, in which the characters from Fairy Tales are real and at war, is one of my favorite comics series. The Express had this article on the comic today - "Children's & Household Tales: 'Fables'," by Matthew Siblo.
RC Harvey opens his columns to all, in a limited time offer
I enjoy the biweekly column and you should check them out now and then subscribe and send Bob some money for the next quarter.
Open Access for Seasonal Beach Reading!!!
As a special summer swimsuit offer, Rants & Raves and Harv's Hindsight, normally accessible only to those who have paid the ridiculously low subscription fee of $3.95/quarter, will be open to all comers from June 14, Flag Day, through July 31, 2008, without charge. During that time, non-paying visitors will be able to read in their entirety the regular postings of Rants & Raves, a nearly bi-weekly round-up of cartooning news and reviews of comic books, graphic novels, and comic strips. Visitors will also have unfettered access to the archives of Rancid Raves (going back to May 1999) plus Harv's Hindsight, a on-going collection of cartoonist biographies and deep-thinking critical analyses of Great Works of the Cartooning Arts. Recent R&R articles include an examination of how trivial news coverage breeds trivial editorial cartoons, how David Hajdu's Ten-cent Plague short-changes comics history, and how the Tenth of February protest against racial tokenism in the funnies failed—and succeeded—plus reviews of Wordless Books: The Original Graphic Novels, Mark Evanier's Jack Kirby, and a biography of Jackie Ormes, the first African-American woman cartoonist. And in Harv's Hindsights lately, we've examined the history of Howard the Duck and offered appreciations of Gus Arriola's Gordo, Marty Links' Emmy Lou (Bobby Sox), and T.K. Ryan's Tumbleweeds. All amply illustrated. Oh—no swimsuits; sorry, that allusion is merely our cheap shot attempt at conjuring a fool-proof come-on. We apologize: it won't happen again. To gain access to all these intellectual riches, use Hogan as your ID; Alley as your password. The device is case sensitive, so be sure to capitalize Hogan and Alley. The ID and Password come to us courtesy Hogan's Alley magazine, an annual visitation to comic strips and cartooning that's worth your attention at msnbc.cagle.com/hogan . Try it, you'll like it.
In the current (today) posting of R&R, the last dance this time goes to a review of Frederik Peeters' graphic novel Blue Pills, but before we get there, we take a look at some of the book projects on the immediate horizon, consider the achievement represented by the completed runs of Lobster Johnson and Loveless, ponder again—this time with examples—what motion should contribute to the political commentary in an editorial cartoon, and report on the reputed financial status of the funnybook industry, particularly with regard to graphic novels and manga. And more, much more. Beam up by clicking below.
http://www.rcharvey.com/rantsraves.html
Open Access for Seasonal Beach Reading!!!
As a special summer swimsuit offer, Rants & Raves and Harv's Hindsight, normally accessible only to those who have paid the ridiculously low subscription fee of $3.95/quarter, will be open to all comers from June 14, Flag Day, through July 31, 2008, without charge. During that time, non-paying visitors will be able to read in their entirety the regular postings of Rants & Raves, a nearly bi-weekly round-up of cartooning news and reviews of comic books, graphic novels, and comic strips. Visitors will also have unfettered access to the archives of Rancid Raves (going back to May 1999) plus Harv's Hindsight, a on-going collection of cartoonist biographies and deep-thinking critical analyses of Great Works of the Cartooning Arts. Recent R&R articles include an examination of how trivial news coverage breeds trivial editorial cartoons, how David Hajdu's Ten-cent Plague short-changes comics history, and how the Tenth of February protest against racial tokenism in the funnies failed—and succeeded—plus reviews of Wordless Books: The Original Graphic Novels, Mark Evanier's Jack Kirby, and a biography of Jackie Ormes, the first African-American woman cartoonist. And in Harv's Hindsights lately, we've examined the history of Howard the Duck and offered appreciations of Gus Arriola's Gordo, Marty Links' Emmy Lou (Bobby Sox), and T.K. Ryan's Tumbleweeds. All amply illustrated. Oh—no swimsuits; sorry, that allusion is merely our cheap shot attempt at conjuring a fool-proof come-on. We apologize: it won't happen again. To gain access to all these intellectual riches, use Hogan as your ID; Alley as your password. The device is case sensitive, so be sure to capitalize Hogan and Alley. The ID and Password come to us courtesy Hogan's Alley magazine, an annual visitation to comic strips and cartooning that's worth your attention at msnbc.cagle.com/hogan . Try it, you'll like it.
In the current (today) posting of R&R, the last dance this time goes to a review of Frederik Peeters' graphic novel Blue Pills, but before we get there, we take a look at some of the book projects on the immediate horizon, consider the achievement represented by the completed runs of Lobster Johnson and Loveless, ponder again—this time with examples—what motion should contribute to the political commentary in an editorial cartoon, and report on the reputed financial status of the funnybook industry, particularly with regard to graphic novels and manga. And more, much more. Beam up by clicking below.
http://www.rcharvey.com/rantsraves.html
Monday, June 16, 2008
Hulk and Bush in NY Times
These two articles were flanking each other on the business page. Remember, cigars kill people, not children's books.
"Physicians’ Group Furious at Cigars in ‘Hulk’ Movie," By BROOKS BARNES, New York Times June 16, 2008
"The Secret to Success in Publishing: Bash Bush, With Nods to a Classic," By JOANNE KAUFMAN, New York Times June 16, 2008.
"Physicians’ Group Furious at Cigars in ‘Hulk’ Movie," By BROOKS BARNES, New York Times June 16, 2008
"The Secret to Success in Publishing: Bash Bush, With Nods to a Classic," By JOANNE KAUFMAN, New York Times June 16, 2008.
Argyle Sweater selected by Post?
In Sunday's paper, The Knight Life was dropped in favor of The Argyle Sweater - production mixup, or early preview of the Post's decision on the tryout comics? Or was Sunday's strip, with a mention of homelessness, just too insensitive for them?
Single and Looking ending?
I have no inside knowledge, but Sunday's strip showed Dilbert and Wally being shown through the strip with a real estate agent saying "This space becomes available in two weeks." Today's strip was about a sense of something catastrophic about to happen. I hope the strip isn't ending as I like it just fine.
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