OT: Zapiro's editorial cartoon controversy in South Africa

Obviously South Africa is a bit off this blog's usual beat, but reader Lorrainne Thompson wrote in a few minutes ago, "I was wondering what you thought about the recent caricature done by Zapiro (and the resulting furor) in South Africa?"

Since we're in America and I'm a First Amendment absolutist, here's the cartoon:



Now that's a strong and unpleasant cartoon. However, editorial cartoonists don't view their job as making a politician's life sweetness and light, and god bless them for that. Neither do I.

Secondly, Zuma and Zapiro have a history of going at each other. Last year when Zapiro was at the Cartoonists Rights Network to accept an award, it was because Zuma was suing him over another cartoon. This was reflected in the press release from the CRN which said:

Two of Shapiro's three "Zuma" cartoons are cited in a US$2 million defamation suit ANC Deputy President Jacob Zuma has brought against the cartoonist, editors and South African publishers. Zuma's political pedigree includes resistance organizer, 10-year Robben Island prisoner, exile, ANC negotiator, party official and former deputy president of South Africa. In recent years, Zuma has drawn criticism from the press due to his in-fighting for ANC leadership and the company he keeps. There are allegations of tax evasion, corruption and rape.

The rape case did go to trial and was deemed consensual sex by the court 8 May 2006. However, Zuma's own testimony outraged HIV/AIDS educators. This former chair of the National AIDS Council testified that he did not use a condom. He said he minimized the risk of infection from the 32-year-old HIV positive woman by taking a shower.

So we can see some of the same issues and motifs of concern to Zapiro popping up in this drawing - the shower head on Zuma's head, the rape threat, the complicity of South African political parties in the scandal. At this point, Zuma's a leading candidate for President, filling a seat once held by Nelson Mandela, in spite of being on trial for corruption charges. For more details, see
"Zuma's Cartoon Character," by Barrett Sheridan, Newsweek blog Wednesday, September 10, 2008.

Earlier this year in "Freedom of expression in Jester's space," April 15 2008, Zapiro defined his idea of an editorial cartoonists responsibility and rights: "The line stops when you make a tangible connection between what you are saying and instances of people going out and doing violence or causing physical hurt or death because of what you say," he said.

"Its about taboos, about whether a cartoonist has the right to go beyond a certain point. I am a freedom of expression junkie. I don't gratuitously go out of my way to piss people off."

In conclusion - I think Zapiro was perfectly right to draw what he wanted to, and I applaud his newspaper for standing behind him. Many of the articles I've seen have been generated by complaints from the parties depicted in the cartoon. If they, and Jacob Zuma, had ignored the cartoon, it would have been forgotten in a week. Instead it's being blogged about in Washington, DC. I welcome any comments others (or Lorraine) would care to make.


For those with a continuing interest, here's another article on Zapiro's career, followed by much of what I've compiled for the Comics Research Bibliography on this:

"Shooting Sacred Cows: A POLITICAL CARTOONIST DISCUSSES THE PERILS OF RIDICULING GEORGE W. BUSH--AND WHY HE GOT A PERSONAL PHONE CALL FROM NELSON MANDELA," Arlene Getz, Newsweek Web Exclusive, Oct 17, 2007.

Alan Gardner of the Daily Cartoonist found this interview - "Times Q & A with South African cartoonist under attack; Zapiro defends his cartoon depicting ANC chief and presidential hopeful Jacob Zuma as about to rape the justice system, which has drawn criticism from his supporters," By Robyn Dixon, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer, September 12, 2008.

IOL polled its readers and in 'Zapiro's cartoon was very much appropriate', By Fundile Majola, September 10 2008, reported:

With the cartoon having been a central theme of the international media this week, Shapiro himself has expressed shock at the volume of response. "I've had some pretty huge responses, but nothing has come close to this," he said.

Following the uproar, IOL decided to engage their readers on the issue, asking if they thought the picture was indeed inappropriate. Of the 548 readers who responded, an overwhelming 76 percent (412 votes) thought the cartoon was in fact the most appropriate reflection of what the judiciary is going through under the Zuma camp while a not-so-convincing 17 percent (94 votes) thought it was inappropriate and the remaining 6 percent (32 votes) just couldn't care less. I don't know who IOL's readers are - perhaps literacy is another unspoken issue in this - but that's a pretty lopsided vote of confidence in Shapiro.

This is typical of the press releases from parties pictured in the cartoon - "YCL calls on SAHRC to investigate Zapiro cartoon - Statement issued by National Secretary Buti Manamela," September 11 2008.

"Zapiro: cartoonists join the fray," September 10 2008.

"Paper supports cartoonist," Port Elizabeth Herald September 11 2008.

This is a good article about what's been going on, without the hyperbole - "Editor stands by Zapiro cartoon," Sapa, 10 Sep 2008.

"South Africa: We Should Draw on Our Humility in Cartoon Saga," Business Day (Johannesburg) COLUMN by Sipho Seepe, 10 September 2008.

"Zapiro cartoon gets SA talking," September 09 2008.

"Zuma camp vents fury over rape cartoon," By Ian Evans in Cape Town, Tuesday, 9 September 2008

Fleminger, David. 2008. "A Zap in the Face," The Times of South Africa' In My Humble Opinion blog 9 September 2008.

"Why, Zapiro? An open letter to Zapiro from Sandisiwe Vilakazi"

"Zuma cartoon: Worth a thousand words?," MAIL & GUARDIAN ONLINE REPORTER AND SAPA, JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA, Sep 09 2008.

and a few older articles:

"Zapiro: 'Strange things happening' in media freedom," by NATASHA MARRIAN, JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA, Apr 15 2008.

Berger, Guy. 2008. Dr Zapiro dispenses his muti. Mail and Guardian (April 2). Online at http://www.mg.co.za/articlePage.aspx?articleid=336076&area=/insight/insight__converse/

Enwemeka, Zeninjor. 2006. Cape Times cartoonist Zapiro wins top award [in South Africa].
IOL (April 7). Online at http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=3015&art_id=vn20060407015346380C125851

Thorpe, Lindsey. 2006. Public figures fair game - Zapiro. Saturday Argus (July 8): 10. online at http://www.int.iol.co.za/index.php?set_id=1&click_id=15&art_id=vn20060708103232744C351304

Unknown. 2006. Safm and Independent Newspapers scoop Journalism Awards. Media Online (August 30): http://www.themedia.co.za/article.aspx?articleid=282412&area=/media_news/

Geppi's Entertainment Museum sponsers mystery authors booksignings

Here's the article - "Geppi’s Entertainment Museum Welcomes Bouchercon" which lists a bunch of comic book writers appearing as well. Although it gives the details, In celebration of the arrival of Bouchercon XXXIX, the preeminent annual gathering of crime fiction authors, editors, artists, and fans, and in conjunction with Crimespree magazine, Geppi’s Entertainment Museum (GEM) will host a signing on Friday, October 10, 2008, from 1:00 PM to 3:30 PM, at the museum’s 301 West Camden Street facility in Baltimore, Maryland. the article doesn't say if you have to have signed up for Bouchercon or need to pay to get into the museum.

Also in Scoop, curator Arnold Blumberg talks about his UMD comics course.

NY Times on Frank Miller's latest

In "Arts, Briefly: A Superhero Glitch," By GEORGE GENE GUSTINES, New York Times September 12, 2008, he reports that DC has called for the destruction of shipped issues of All-Star Batman and Robin the Boy Wonder #10 due to language. Black bars were printed over top of Batgirl's profanity. Gustines says, "Unlike other series that are aimed at an older readership, this Batman title does not have a “Suggested for Mature Readers” label," but given the copy that I saw, DC wouldn't have published some of these words in any of their lines. This also begs the question of 'why letter them in, if you're going to suppress them?' It's not like they appear magically - somebody has to put them there and then sanitize them.

I rail against censorship in the comic strips in this blog, but there's only one word for Miller's writing here. Ridiculous.

Political cartoonist Chris Riddell at Aladdin's Lamp

Here's some pictures from Chris Riddell and Paul Stewart's excellent talk at Aladdin's Lamp bookstore in Arlington, VA. I bought a set of all their books and I'm looking forward to reading them after my daughter's done with them. Riddell is a cartoonist for the Observer of London. He drew a neat werewolf from their new book Barnaby Grimes: Curse of the Night Wolf while Stewart showed some of the props they carried over from England.

The link above has more photos (and check out the "talk" link), but here's a quick assortment showing the werewolf being drawn.







and that's Our Man Thompson in the blue shirt. Riddle was very complimentary about the level of American comic strips compared to UK ones.



Here's a couple more articles on Riddell from my Comics Research Bibliography:

Interview with David Fickling, saviour of the great British comic; For those of a certain age, comics are but a fond childhood memory, irrelevant to today's generation - until now. Tom Gatti meets the man behind the movement
Times 5/10/2008
http://entertainment.timesonline.co.uk/tol/arts_and_entertainment/books/children/article3896701.ece

Interview with Edge Chronicles creators
Feb 4 2008 by Hilarie Stelfox, Huddersfield Daily Examiner
http://www.examiner.co.uk/leisure-and-entertainment/arts-news/2008/02/04/interview-with-edge-chronicles-creators-86081-20430934/

Drawn to the charms of an ogre: Chris Riddell celebrates the master storytelling on display in Claudia J Nahson's The Art of William Steig
Saturday March 15, 2008 The Guardian
http://books.guardian.co.uk/reviews/childrenandteens/0,,2265542,00.html

Riddell at the Observer
http://www.guardian.co.uk/newsroom/story/0,,2238638,00.html#article_continue
This announcement has 3 links, including one to an audio interview.

Drawn, quartered ... and now hung; As the Observer's political cartoonist for 13 years, Chris Riddell has chronicled a tumultuous period in history - the reshaping of
post-communist Europe, the rise of New Labour, 9/11 and the Iraq war. On the eve of an exhibition of his work, he talks to Phil Hogan about the inspiration and method behind his polemical art, and chooses some of his favourites
Sunday January 27, 2008
The Observer
http://observer.guardian.co.uk/review/story/0,,2247375,00.html

From fantasy to satire. Elspeth Hyams talks to Chris Riddell
Cilip 29 November 2005
http://www.cilip.org.uk/publications/updatemagazine/archive/archive2005/december/interviewwithchrisriddell.htm

Through the Looking Glass: Tenniel did it, and so did EH Shepard. Chris Riddell, who does it himself, explains why political cartoonists who illustrate children's books have always fascinated him
Saturday July 9, 2005 The Guardian
http://books.guardian.co.uk/review/story/0,12084,1523520,00.html

More on Toles-quoting Obama speeches

Toles was contacted for this story and is quoted in it - "Obama Repeatedly Quotes Cartoonist While on Campaign Trail," by FOXNews.com, Wednesday, September 10, 2008.

1926 article on Clifford Berryman

Allan Holtz has reprinted a 1926 article on Washington Star cartoonist Clifford Berryman - "Cartoons Growing In Popularity Berryman Says; Washington Star Veteran Cites Government Officials and Congressmen Who Declare Powerful Cartoons Influence Po­litical Contests-Backs Them Against Humorous Writing," By Mary M. Crenshaw (E&P 5/29/26).

Marc Singer on the new Love & Rockets

See his review on his blog. I read the comic yesterday - I'm still not sure what to make of it. Jaime's artwork was lovely, but as surreal as his strips ever have been.

Emily Flake on how-to books

Presumably in the current hardcopy as well, but see Drawing Blood: Lulu Eightball's Creator Sits Down With Instructional Tomes On How to Bring Comics to Life, By Emily Flake, Baltimore City Paper September 10 2008.

Scott Rosenberg on 9-11 book

Scott used to live here and write for the Express. He's off to the big city now (and has a chapter in my Pekar book). For his look at "American
Widow," written by Alissa Torres and drawn by Sungyoon Choi, see "9/11 book seeks to explain tragedy" By Scott A. Rosenberg, AM New York September 10, 2008. I bought a copy of the book today, but haven't looked at it yet.

Editor and Publisher on local cartoonists

Dave Astor's got a few articles on local guys. It's good to hear that Richard's got 200 papers - now he can't afford not to do the strip:

One Year and 200 Newspapers for Popular 'Cul de Sac' Comic
By E&P Staff
Published: September 10, 2008 3:32 PM ET

Obama Uses the Anti-McCain Words of a Tom Toles Cartoon
By E&P Staff
Published: September 09, 2008 4:56 PM ET

New Harvey Pekar Book Is Edited by ComicsDC Blogger Mike Rhode
By Dave Astor
Published: September 08, 2008 11:11 AM ET

KAL at DNC report, and appearing in Philadelphia

There's a vignette at "Going Gonzo at the DNC: A Journey Through Four Days of Political Madness," by James Burrus, Yellow Scene Magazine.

Kal also wrote in today:

Tickets are now on sale for "The Art of Satire" on October 7 at Philadelphia's fabulous Kimmel Art Center.

Sponsored by The Economist, the show features sketch comedy, interactive animation, live drawing lessons and more. Tickets are moving fast so I suggest that you book your reservations soon.

Go to http://artofsatire.economist.com/ for more information.

The show continues for two shows in New York November 1. Tickets go on sale soon.

Best

Kal
Kevin Kallaugher
kaltoons@comcast.net
www.Kaltoons.com

Matt Fraction at Laughing Ogre Comics

Come and Meet Matt Fraction!

Writer of Invincible Iron Man, Uncanny X-Men and Casanova

September 13th, 12pm - 4pm
Lansdowne, VA

Matt Fraction, the writer of such notable titles as Invincible Iron Man, Uncanny X-Men and Casanova, will be signing at Laughing Ogre Comics Lansdowne on Saturday September 13, from Noon until 4:00 pm.

Mr. Fraction was kind enough to answer some questions for us about his writing and comics in general.

1. Which X-Men character is your favorite to write and why?

Right now, Cyclops. He's in an absolutely fascinating place right now, and it's just going to get more engaging as we go...

2. What makes your books different from the same titles five years ago?

Well, I think the X books are all discretely defined and each one has a unique identity and serves a function no other book in the X-line addresses. And, as you may have heard, there are "No more mutants." We're dealing with the X-Men in a time when they're not just sworn to protect a people that hates and despises them, but they're an endangered species. The future of humanity has been snuffed out. That's the spine of the X-Universe right now; that's the core of everything. And, for my money, that's a big turn from the epic and wonderful Morrison era, where there were millions and millions of mutants.

In terms of the Iron Man book, we're in the early days of a long reckoning for Tony Stark. He has a lifetime of sins that are going to demand atonement, regardless of whether he's ready or not. So Tony's on the precipice of a very brutal road...

3. Why was Tony right?

Was he?

4. What is the biggest difference between writing a team versus a solo book?

It's tricky making sure everyone has enough stage time in a team book; in a solo book, you can spend more quality time with your lead. There's a lot of balancing to be done in a team book...

5. Is continuity something to be embraced, or rewritten?

Neither; I think continuity is something to be respected but evolved. Consistency is the watchword.

We are very excited to have Matt Fraction in store! If you have any questions about the event, or need directions to our Lansdowne location, please email us at norah@laughingogrecomics.com, or call (703) 437-9530.

September 10: Junot Diaz at Politics and Prose

A third comics-related event tomorrow! Diaz was influenced by American comic books in his novel. This is at Politics and Prose. Unfortunately I don't think I'll make any of the three.

Wednesday, September 10, 7 p.m.
JUNOT DÍAZ
THE BRIEF WONDROUS LIFE OF OSCAR WAO (Riverhead, $14)
Díaz uses a mixture of Spanish and English to express the melting and melding that occurs when immigrants from the Dominican Republic meet New Jersey, USA. This splendid young Dominican-American writer has scored a home run with his zany, sweet, perceptive novel now appearing in paperback.

Tornoe spots Obama borrowing from Toles

Rob sent in this note and link to his blog:

Obama borrows line from Tom Toles cartoon

"Maybe what they're saying is, 'Watch out George Bush,'" Obama said with sarcasm, according to the Boston Globe. "Except for economic policies, and tax policies, and energy policies, and health care policies, and education policies, and Karl Rove-style politics -- except for all that, we're really going to bring change to Washington! We’re really going to shake things up!"

Great line. Too bad it came from Friday's cartoon by Washington Post cartoonist Tom Toles.

http://www.politicker.com/obama-borrows-line-tom-toles-cartoon

Small Press Expo Announces Ted Rall, Ruben Bolling and Matt Wuerker as Guests for “Outside Looking In: Alternative Political Cartooning in 2008”

Small Press Expo Announces Ted Rall, Ruben Bolling and Matt Wuerker as Guests for “Outside Looking In: Alternative Political Cartooning in 2008”

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

Bethesda, Maryland; September 9, 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 Ted Rall, Ruben Bolling and Matt Wuerker as guests for the SPX 2008 special event, “Outside Looking In: Alternative Political Cartooning in 2008”.

Ted Rall is the President-elect of the American Association of Editorial Cartoonists (A.A.E.C.) and has traveled extensively to Central Asia. Author, ATTITUDE editor, cartoonist, columnist and sometime TV personality, Ted’s most recent book is “Silk Road to Ruin: Is Central Asia the New Middle East?” and his latest cartoon collection is, “America Gone Wild”. For more information on Ted Rall, visit his website at http://www.tedrall.com.

Ruben Bolling is the creator of the multi-faceted, multi-paneled social and political weekly strip, Tom The Dancing Bug. His most recent book is “Thrilling Tom The Dancing Bug Stories”. SPX is grateful that Ruben is making his first appearance at SPX in a number of years. Visit his web site at http://www.gocomics.com/tomthedancingbug/.

Matt Wuerker is the cartoonist and illustrator at Politico.Com and the weekly Politico newspaper. His cartoons and illustrations have been published by Smithsonian Magazine, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times and The Nation. You can see his cartoons at http://www.politico.com.

Ted, Ruben and Matt will join previously announced Tom Tomorrow and Lloyd Dangle at a special series of panels and interviews surrounding the state of political cartooning in this historic election year.

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

The events surrounding “Outside Looking In: Alternative Political Cartooning in 2008” is included with the SPX admission fee of $8 for a single day and $15 for both days.

SPX will be held Saturday, October 4 from 11AM to 7PM and Sunday, October 5 noon-6PM at The North Bethesda Marriott Convention Center in Bethesda, Maryland.

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

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

SPX 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 and graphic novel festival. This annual event brings together comic creators, publishers and fans together to celebrate the art of visual storytelling.

OT: Langridge in Act-i-vate webcomix

Jim Dougan wrote in today: You may have seen this already, but as a fellow Langridge fan, and the local DC representative of webcomix collective ACT-I-VATE, you might want to know that he's joined up and will be dazzling us all with the new adventures of MUGWHUMP THE GREAT:

http://www.act-i-vate.com/60.comic

Roger talks about it at his blog here:

http://hotelfred.blogspot.com/2008/09/preee-sentinggg-mugwhump-great.html

Thanks for the tip, Jim! Sure, Roger's from New Zealand and lives in England, but DC's a state of mind, right? Unfortunately he won't be at SPX this year since he did HeroesCon earlier this year.

Speaking of IJoCA...

... today is founder, publisher and editor John Lent's 72nd birthday! Happy birthday, John!

Arthur Szyk in NY Times

Szyk was a Jewish cartoonist who fled to New York and did some awesomely hard-hitting propaganda during World War II. He was the subject of a couple of great exhibits in DC about five years ago too. This article discusses a new exhibit of his work in Germany -
"A Caricaturist, but No Funny Stuff Here," By MICHAEL KIMMELMAN, New York Times September 8, 2008.

I'll see if I can dig up my reviews of the exhibits for IJoCA and post them here later this week.

NY Times takes note of Google's Chrome McCloud comic

In "Archie and Jughead? No, Javascript," By GEORGE GENE GUSTINES, New York Times September 8, 2008. Although I don't subscribe to it like I do the Times, the Daily News ran this today "Interview with Scott McCloud, artist behind Google Chrome comic," BY PATRICK MONTERO, New York DAILY NEWS WRITER, Monday, September 8th 2008. Beyond Google spreading everywhere, this has nothing to do with DC, but you can read the comic here.

Annapolis Capital's publisher on For Better or For Worse

Oooh, there's a harsh opinion in "GONE TODAY, HERE TOMORROW," By TOM MARQUARDT, Publisher & Executive Editor, The Annapolis Capital Published September 07, 2008. Usually I just send you to the article, but I can't resist this quote:

"I guess Ms. Johnston's entrepreneurial attempt to ease herself into retirement without a loss of income - by interspersing a few new strips with old material - doesn't bother readers as much as it bothers editors asked to pay full price for the comic-page equivalent of reruns."

"How about rerunning sports results and County Council stories? Can't we all just get a grip and move on to another strip that has fresh story lines? Geesh, you guys are killing me."

Now, that's an editor.

Comic Riffs interviews Borgman

See "Interview With the Cartoonist: Jim Borgman of "Zits"," by Michael Cavna, September 8, 2008 for an interview with Jim Borgman, formerly of the Cincinnati Enquirer.

Spider-Man artwork donation to Library of Congress "controversial?"

See "Donation spotlights comic book dispute" By Robert K. Elder of the Chicago Tribune in the Barre Montpelier Times Argus September 8, 2008. Sara Duke of the Library is quoted extensively.

UK Political cartoonist in town on Tuesday night

Meet Author Paul Stewart & Author/Illustrator Chris Riddell
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
at 6:00 p.m.

[I'll be attending this, with family - let me know if anyone wants to meet up - Mike]

English co-authors Paul Stewart and Chris Riddell (who also is an illustrator) will introduce their newest book Barnaby Grimes: Curse of the Night Wolf, which tells the story of a young man who runs errands on the city rooftops, where he stumbles across strange mysteries and adventures. They also will talk about their other popular adventure and fantasy book series, including the Edge Chronicles and the Far Flung Adventures. A book signing will follow. Grades 4-8. Please call to register.

Mr. Stewart is a highly regarded author of books for young readers - everything from picture books to football stories, fantasy and horror. His first book was published in 1988 and he has had over fifty titles published. Mr. Riddell has illustrated many acclaimed books for children and is a renowned political cartoonist, whose work appears regularly in UK newspapers the Observer and the Guardian.

Mr. Stewart and Mr. Riddell have collaborated on numerous books together including all the titles in the Edge Chronicles (Beyond the Deepwoods, Stormchaser, Midnight Over Sanctraphrax, The Curse of the Gloamglozer, The Last of the Sky Pirates, Vox, Freeglader, The Winter Knights and Clash of the Sky Galleons), as well as the books in the Far Flung Adventures (Fergus Crane, Hugo Pepper and Corby Flood).

Aladdin's Lamp Children's Books and Other Treasures
In the Lee Harrison Shopping Center
Lower Level Shops
2499 N. Harrison St.
Arlington, VA 22207
Tel 703-241-8281
Fax 703-241-8283
Email: aladlamp@speakeasy.net
STORE HOURS: Monday, Wednesday, Friday, & Saturday 10 am to 6 pm, Tuesday & Thursday 10 am to 8 pm, Sunday 11 am to 5 pm

Meltzer at Politics and Prose

Here's a couple of pictures from the booksigning for The Book of Lies at Politics and Prose. Chris and Randy were there and perhaps can chime in with details.

Brad talked about his love for Superman, read parts of the 2nd and 3rd chapter, talked about his project to save Jerry Siegel's house, mentioned his marketing campaign for the book, and gave a shot out to California Tortilla (a founder can be seen in the back of one of the pictures). A recording of the talk can be bought from P&P.

QUICK REVIEWS FOR COMICS DUE 09-10-08

QUICK REVIEWS FOR COMICS DUE 09-10-08
By John Judy

ALL-STAR BATMAN AND ROBIN #10 by Frank Miller and Jim Lee. Brace yourself. This issue Miller’s writing his “All-Star” versions of the females of Gotham City. Like those “Spirit” billboards except you have to pay three bucks to look at ‘em. “Must…! Find…! Aspirin….!”

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #571 by Dan Slot and John Romita Jr. Could we just change this book to “The Amazing Norman Osborn?” Because I’m loving this character more and more. I’d like to see him and Lex Luthor in a sneer-off. Recommended.

AMERICAN WIDOW HC by Alissa Torres and Sungyoon Choi. A non-fiction account of a woman who lost her husband and father of her unborn son in the attacks of 9-11. About as far from escapist fantasy as you’re going to get this week. Recommended but too intense for younger readers.

BIG HERO 6 #1 of 5 by Chris Claremont and David Nakayama. Superheroes in Japan! Watch out, Gojira!

BOOSTER GOLD #12 by Chuck Dixon and Dan Jurgens. A Batgirl cover that makes you realize how much you miss the real Batgirl. What a great costume…

CRIMINAL 2 #5 by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips. A doll with a gun on the cover and a hard-luck cartoonist/forger inside. If you’re not reading this series you are part of The Problem. Highly recommended. Not for kids or wusses.

DARK TOWER: TREACHERY #1 of 6 by Robin Furth, Peter David and Jae Lee. For them what likes their Stephen King comic book adaptations and how!

EX MACHINA #38 by Brian K. Vaughan and Tony Harris. The George Bush-hating villainess “Trouble” continues her reign of Total Awesomeness! Spin-Off Series! Now!

FINAL CRISIS: REVELATIONS #2 of 5 by Greg Rucka and Philip Tan. Gotham Central’s Renee Montoya and Crispus Allen are reunited the hard way as the Spectre must pass judgment on the Question. And how often does that end well?

FREAK BROTHERS OMNIBUS SC by Gilbert Shelton. Just like you remember them! Although if you can remember them you were probably doing something wrong… Wait, what was I saying...? Recommended.

GOON #28 written and drawn by Eric Powell. “He ain’t been right in the head since his brother got an axe planted in his.” God, this series is great! Recommended.

SECRET INVASION #6 of 8 by Brian Michael Bendis and Leinil Francis Yu. The lying, fascist, religious maniac Skrull invaders are urging Earth to “Embrace change” and some of us are buying it. Perhaps because the Skrulls nominated Sarah Palin for Veep…

THE STAND: CAPTAIN TRIPS #1 of 5 by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and Mike Perkins. The first chapter in this adaptation of Stephen King’s end of the world story. A fulfilling week for King fans.

STAR WARS: CLONE WARS #1 of 6 by Henry Gilroy and Scott Hepburn. As someone how sat through the movie I can personally assure you that this comic will be much better.

ULTIMATE ORIGINS #4 of 5 by Brian Michael Bendis and Butch Guice. In which we learn that, in any universe, Hank Pym is the Levi Johnston of science heroes. Sorry Hank.

ULTIMATE X-MEN/FANTASTIC FOUR ANNUAL #1 by Lotsa People. There’s some fightin’ and some time-travelin’ and some crazy misunderstandings. And how!

WELCOME TO HOXFORD #2 written and drawn by Ben “Mommy, I’m Scared” Templesmith. At The Hoxford Home for the Profoundly Twinked-Out they believe the way to a man’s heart is through his stomach. Just don’t ask how they get to the stomach. Recommended. Not for kids.

WONDER WOMAN #24 by Gail Simone and Bernard Chang. Hollywood comes calling to pitch “Wonder Woman: The Movie!” But is Robert Downey Jr. available?

YOUNG LIARS #7 written and drawn by David Lapham. In which we learn how you follow the castration of your male lead and the possible death of your female lead. How about a psychedelic cover?!

www.johnjudy.net

A fourth Harvey Pekar article that didn't make the book

I had thought I convinced them to leave this one in Harvey Pekar: Conversations (available now for purchase), darn it. This one is Harvey interviewing himself in his comic book. The odd typesetting is an attempt to replicate the way it was printed originally. This is amusing because Harvey talks about never working for DC, but 20 years later they were his publisher.

Oh well. Print it out and tuck it in after Mike Barson's interview from Heavy Metal.

The Situation as of 9-20-85
From American Splendor #11, 1986. Reprinted with permission of Harvey Pekar.

To what extent were you involved in the production of the stage version of American Splendor?

Not at all. See- here's what happened. My wife you know knows the Bishops (Conrad Bishop is the Independent Eye's artistic director). The way she knew them—she used to work in the Delaware state prison system, and they did some programs together there for the inmates. And so when we got married, she sent them copies of my books, uh, you know and Conrad liked the stuff, and he thought he would possibly like to make a stage production out of it. So I talked to Conrad about it, and we seemed to be in general agreement about how to handle the material. And so, you know, really I had — I don't think I have anything to lose by him doing it, and possibly something to gain, so I said, "Sure. Why not?" That's how I became involved.

Why did you start the book, American Splendor?

Well, simply because it was just too difficult to get published in those days on a regular basis any place. And I had ideas that I didn't want to sit around for 25 years before I saw it in print. So I, uh, I just, uh, I mean I-I don’t known if you’ve ever read my books, but, uh—

(Interviewer): Uh, no, but I just bought some. I can’t find them in this area…

The once-a-year thing was just a matter of—that's about how long it takes to get the stories. It's a 60-page book, and that's about how 'long it takes to get the stuff illustrated. That's one reason. Another reason is I'm currently losing money on the book and have been on every issue, and I couldn't you know I can – I couldn’t — sustain the losses. I can recover from losses on one book a year, but I couldn't do it for two books. So there's a couple of practical reasons. You know, it just evolved, it just sort of evolved out of these circumstances and became a once-a-year book.

When I did the first one, I had no idea if or when the second one would be coming out, or even if I would call it another name instead of American Splendor. But the title--I don't know--I like it and people liked it, and so I just kept.it, and I just kept calling it number two and number three and stuff like that.

Have you had any offers from the big comic companies like DC or Marvel, or if you would get such an offer, would you consider it, considering that their product is mainly superheroes?

First of all, do you know I'm getting a contract, that I've signed a contract with Doubleday to get a 160-page trade paperback book, an anthology of stories from the first through the ninth book, that'll be coming out in April?

As far as the Marvel and DC thing, you realize how unlikely it is that they would offer me anything. It's almost like totally—I don't know—I've had contact. I haven't asked anybody there to do anything for me, but I've had contact with a few people at both companies. I mean, it's out of the question. They know my work, and some of the people over there--maybe a lot of them for all I know—liked it, but it's like asking some publisher that puts out these gothic romances to put out my comic books. I mean, it's like, yeah, they're books, they're both books, but there's a big difference between a plumbing textbook and a book of poetry.

And I think Marvel and DC--their comics are a lot more commercial than maybe you'd like to get into.

Yeah. Well, I mean it’s just –it’s much—you know – it’s true what I used to say – “form.” As a – uh – as a, as a, you know what I mean—My book is a comic book in form but not in content, and that means a typical comic book in form but not in content. In other words, by that I mean that the book is—I use balloons and panels and stuff, but as I said in the interview in The Comics Journal, people have traditionally used comics in a very limited way, when there's no reason for that. So when people think of comic books, they just think of like maybe a few genres actually, instead of when you say a novel, you want to know what kind of a novel. There arc all kinds of different novels. But when people say, "comic books," they think about some costumed superhero or maybe a talking duck or- something. But there's not really much variety in straight comics, and alternative comics are not easy to find or anything.

It's conceivable that what happened to comics could've happened to any art form; that is, if the people who employ the art form had just only wanted to do one thing. But in movies, at first the stuff they did was confined to rather narrow limits, but then eventually, guys were making movies about just about every subject and doing all kinds of things and affiliated with all kinds of artistic schools. If they had just stayed with, say, cowboy movies and slapstick comedies and something like that, the people would probably think movies are junk.

Do you think the play will help the sales of the book? Do you think it's good publicity?

It certainly won't hurt it. I mean, of course, I mean obviously you see an example here – you bought some books. But I mean as far as whether this will be just a local-uh-I mean, you know - you - you know, the book, I mean. The play got some very nice reviews in the morning and afternoon papers here, so that might stimulate some local interest in Lancaster, but Lancaster's not—this is not a real large theater, and Lancaster's not a real big community. So even if they like me a lot here-and I appreciate it if they do—it's not going to make a big impact on my standard of living or anything like that. But on the other hand, if it's a big Broadway hit or something like that, obviously it would help. You've just got to more or less use a rule of reason to think about the question. If it's a big national hit or something like that, it helps you, you know. But it's okay. It's great. I've been having a good time out here, and I've been treated very, very well, and I've been out here just today and yesterday, but I've had a great time, and that's worth it.

I'm not concerned about money that much, because I've got a steady job. I can live on the income. I'm not that greedy, you know. It just so happens that what I want can be purchased for relatively little money. What I want is a lot of books right now.

Is there a particular reason why you do the books autobiographically?

Yeah, there's a reason why I'm dealing with them autobiographically, because what I want to do is write about everyday experience, and I think that everday experience has a huge effect on people—the accumulation of everyday experience. Everyday experience has been ignored by far too many writers, and I wanted to write things that people could identify with, write about experiences that people could say, "Oh yeah, I knew that kind of guy," or "I went through that." I didn't want to write about generic experiences. I wanted to write about particular experiences, and I can write about because I think if you write about the particular rather than the general, it's much more specific, much more believable. So if you write stuff that's true, as accurate as possible, I think -- my work, anyway — has a chance to have much more impact on people.

When people invent fictional characters, I mean they're not really fictional, in a sense. There have been any number of novels, I suppose, that have been written where most of the material has been factual, except the names have been changed. But maybe a person's been a compilation, a character of a novel's been a compilation, of two people that a guy knew, and maybe he's fit the parts together badly, so that the character's implausible. I don't have to run that kind of risk doing the kind of thing I'm doing. So that's my rationale.

Obviously, not everybody thinks like me. Obviously, there are all sorts of different ways to write good stories, good novels, but I give you the reasons for why I do what I'm doing. This is the method I've evolved. In order to attain my goals, I employ autobiographical writing, and the reason that I employ autobiographical writing is –you know – I gave you the reasons – you know – it’s you know – so that – you know - it would be easier to identify with, so it would have a greater impact on people, stuff like that. Other people—I don't know. I can't speak for any other writer. I just speak for myself. I haven't talked to other guys about why they do this or don’t do that.

Editorial cartoonist Jack Ohman influenced by DC years

See the article, and video, "Cartoonist draws on his roots (video): Editorial cartoonist Jack Ohman describes his inspiration to the Columbia Forum," By SANDRA SWAIN, The Daily Astorian September 5 2008. Ohman lived in DC during the Watergate years.

September 10: Steve Niles at Big Monkey Comics

Chris of cIndy podcasts sent along this flyer which says that Steve Niles will be at Big Monkey Comics on 14th St at 5 pm on September 10th. That night the National Academy of Sciences is also having a comics-related event.


The NAS event is The Physics of Superheroes
Wednesday, September 10, 7:00 pm

Ever wondered how strong you would have to be to “leap a tall building in a single bound?” Was it the fall or the webbing that killed Gwen Stacy, Spider-Man’s girlfriend in the classic Amazing Spider-Man #121? How does Kitty Pryde from the X-Men comics and movies use quantum mechanics to walk through walls? And who is really faster, Superman or the Flash? Join in the fun as we explore physics through comic book examples where the superheroes got their physics right!

James Kakalios, Ph.D., is a professor in the University of Minnesota’s School of Physics and Astronomy. His research interests include amorphous semiconductors, pattern formation in sandpiles and fluctuation phenomena in neuroscience. He has been reading comic books longer than he has been studying physics. He is the author of The Physics of Superheroes and he knows the chemical composition of Captain America’s shield.

Thanks to Jeff Reznick for the tip!

Our Man Thompson in San Francisco exhibit

Richard donated a piece to this Totoro Forest Project exhibit which will support anime great Miyazaki's love for forests - "Local artists join to save forest in Japan," Beth Hughes, San Francisco Chronicle Staff Writer, Friday, September 5, 2008. See his blog for more details.

Local cartoonist John Gallagher on podcast

Buzz Boy John Gallagher's on Indie Spinner Rack from Heroes Con.

Harvey Pekar book is in my hand

Metaphorically at least. A box of them - 10 author copies - showed up in the mail today. It finally exists and I can move on. Well, I have to move some of them too - buy it here. But secondly....!

Thanks to the generosity of the Press, which donated two copies, Harvey's going to sign both copies and mail them back to me and I'll sign and bring them to the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund table for auction at the Small Press Expo in North (hah!) Besthesda this fall. This whole project started when Harvey was at the SPX and they needed someone to interview him, and that person turned out to be me. So I'll pay the CBLDF back a little bit with these books.

That'll be the super-collectible edition, limited to two.

Student cartoonist featured in Post

A student cartoonist featured in Post, but seventh-grader Crystal Wormack is only in the Prince William section. Fortunately, the article is online - "Middle-School Cartoonist Draws on Animal Insight," By Ian Shapira, Washington Post Staff Writer, Thursday, September 4, 2008; VA03.

Small Press Expo Announces Ben Katchor As A Guest For SPX 2008

For Immediate Release

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

Bethesda, Maryland; September 4, 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 Ben Katchor as a guest for SPX 2008.

Fresh from his appearance at the international comics exposition, Stripdaagen, held in Haarlem, The Netherlands, Mr. Katchor is making his first appearance at SPX. Mr. Katchor is known for his books "Julius Knippel, Real Estate Photographer", "The Jew Of New York", and "Beauty The Supply District". He is a contributor of comics to both The New Yorker and the New York Times, and has a regular strip that is printed in Metropolitan Magazine. Mr. Katchor has turned his talents to the stage, writing the libretto and creating the backgrounds for the plays "The Slug Bearers of Kayrol Island" and "The Rosenbach Company".

SPX is proud to add Ben Katchor to the other guests appearing at this years SPX, Joost Swarte, Bryan Lee O'Malley, Hope Larson, Tom Tomorrow and Lloyd Dangle.

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

This year, SPX will be held Saturday, October 4 from 11AM to 7PM and Sunday, October 5 noon-6PM at The North Bethesda Marriott Convention Center in Bethesda, Maryland. Admission is $8 for a single day and $15 for both days.

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

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

SPX 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 and graphic novel festival. This annual event brings together comic creators, publishers and fans together to celebrate the art of visual storytelling.

Peanuts Animator Obituary

Bill Melendez, 91; Award-Winning 'Peanuts' Animator
By Matt Schudel
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, September 4, 2008; B07
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/03/AR2008090303840.html

The Peanuts Gang
By Matt Schudel Washington Post's Post Mortem blog September 4, 2008; http://voices.washingtonpost.com/postmortem/2008/09/the_peanuts_gang.html?sid=ST2008090401641&s_pos=list

3rd Harvey Pekar article on his life, and the movie thereof

Here's the 3rd piece that got dropped from Harvey Pekar: Conversations for not being a conversation, except for between Harvey and his readers. The book's available now at UPM's site, even if Amazon's saying it's not ready.

My Film Future: Movie producers are not flooding me with projects

Harvey Pekar / 2004

From Cleveland Free Times, January 21, 2004. Reprinted with permission of Harvey Pekar.


I'm getting kind of tired of writing about my movie experiences, but if that's what the editors want from me, I don't see how I can refuse them. Now I'm told a lot of people want to know what it's like going from a nobody to the protagonist of a successful film. It's happened to others before me, I guess, but I would think each would've reacted differently. For me the movies were basically a one-shot opportunity to make some extra money.

I'm pleased that American Splendor turned out as well as it did, but I would've gladly signed up with filmmakers I did not believe were particularly competent if the monetary compensation was right. See, I'm not a moviemaker. Yes, the American Splendor film was based on my comic book stories and dialogue, and to that extent I guess my American Splendor comics had something to do with the film's success.

But I had very little to do with coming up with the style that directors Bob Pulcini and Shari Springer Berman created to make the film. No one was consulting with me about how to cast American Splendor, or which stories to base it on. And with good reason — I had virtually no experience in the film business on the one hand, and, on the other, producer Ted Hope put together a cast and crew that were highly competent — a group of all-stars. I was gonna tell them their business? Forget it! They knew what they were doing already.

Now that the movie's been made, I don't find a bunch of producers flocking to me to try to involve me in this or that film project. What would I have to offer them? My wife kidded me about being a has-been as far as movies are concerned, and I guess she's right. There's no place for me to go in the film business. American Splendor covered my life from when I was a little kid 'til I reached the age of 62. There's not much left to make a sequel about.

I never got too excited about the success of American Splendor because I figured it was, as I mentioned earlier, a one-shot deal. It'd be different if I had a bunch of film scripts lying around to produce after American Splendor , but I don't. I'm very grateful to be the object of praise and flattery, even if I don't really deserve it, but I'm not going to get my head turned by it so that I'll be riding for a fall.

I do face a daunting challenge, though, and that's how to increase the sales of my books, which I intend to continue to write. For one thing, the comic book industry is in terrible shape right now. Sales are down and they've been heading in that direction for some time.

For another, although I'm proud of my work in the comic-book area, and have been called an innovative and influential writer, sales of my own books have never been that hot, even when the rest of the industry was in fine condition. I was paid $17 a page for the last three comics I had published before the movie came out, to give you an idea of the amount of commercial success I'd attained.

Now I go back to my publisher after American Splendor has gotten awards at Sundance, Cannes and other places, and won the top prize for best film of 2003 by the National Society of Film Critics, to see what I'm offered for my next book. It turns out I'm offered $44 a page, or less than I received for the first book I did for him. So how much good did the American Splendor movie do me in my chosen profession — comic book writing? Not a lot, in view of the lack of interest that comic book producers are currently showing in my works.

There may be some signs of hope for me in the comic book biz, however. For one thing, my next comic stories are going to be printed in trade paperback, not the old pamphlet form. People who like my work best seem to be general readers who, unlike comic book fans, can't find my stuff in comic book stores or, in fact, don't even know such stores exist. Traditional comic book (super hero) fans have never had much enthusiasm for my work. They like escapist stuff. So if my books are released in trade paperback form, they may appear in places like Barnes & Noble and Borders, where general readers could find them.

I've already written a number of new stories for my new book and have lined up several top-notch artists to illustrate them. They're willing to do so even though they're not going to get much money either. It's nice to know that there are some talented people out there who're willing to work with me even though there's not much money in it for them.

So I'm busily preparing my next comic book opus, with some pleasure and plenty of apprehension. We'll see how things progress.

Comic Riffs interviews Hulk writer

See "Interview With the Cartoonist: "Hulk" Writer Jeph Loeb" By Michael Cavna, September 3, 2008. I'm not quite sure how Cavna is picking his interviewees, but more power to him.

OT: Deitch exhibit in NYC

Here's a posting for Bill K, who's handling the programming for SPX as well. This should be an excellent exhibit:

For immediate release
CONTACT: Bill Kartalopoulos
kartalopoulos@gmail.com

Major Retrospective of Work by Legendary Underground Cartoonist Kim Deitch Opens at MoCCA on September 9

• Exhibition dates: September 9 – December 5, 2008
• Opening Reception: September 12, 2008, 6 – 9 pm

The Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art (MoCCA) is pleased to announce a major retrospective of work by underground cartoonist and graphic novelist Kim Deitch (b. 1944), opening September 9th and running through December 5th, 2008.

Kim Deitch: A Retrospective will display original comics pages and other work covering the artist's entire career to date, beginning with full-page comic strips drawn for the East Village Other in the sixties up to recent graphic novels including The Boulevard of Broken Dreams, Alias the Cat, Shadowland, and Deitch's Pictorama. The exhibit will also feature rarely seen work including elaborate preparatory
drawings, hand-colored originals, animation cel set-ups and lithographs.

Kim Deitch was born in Los Angeles in 1944, the eldest son of Oscar-wining animator Gene Deitch (Tom Terrific, Munro). Deitch studied at the Pratt Institute, traveled with the Norwegian Merchant Marines and worked at a mental institution before joining the burgeoning underground press in 1967. As an early contributor to the East Village Other and the editor of Gothic Blimp Works, Kim Deitch was a charter member of the underground comix scene that exploded with the 1968 publication of Robert Crumb's Zap #1. Forty years later, he stands alongside Crumb, Bill Griffith, Aline Kominsky-Crumb, and Art Spiegelman as one the most notable and prolific artists to emerge from that milieu. In addition to his comic books and graphic novels, Deitch's work has appeared in venues including RAW, Weirdo, Arcade, Details, the L.A. Weekly, McSweeney's, Nickelodeon Magazine, and The New Yorker.

"Kim Deitch's career spans the entire post-war history of avant-garde comics, from the underground to the literary mainstream," said exhibit curator Bill Kartalopoulos. "Deitch brilliantly weaves vast intergenerational narratives that enfold a deep history of American popular entertainment. Distinctions between fiction and reality blur in his meta-fictional world just as real madness bleeds into the visions and schemes of the artists, entertainers, and hustlers who populate his stories. The result is a rich narrative tapestry as compelling and as breathtaking as Deitch's densely layered, tightly woven, and intricately detailed black and white comics pages."

Deitch's body of work stretches outward from comics to embrace a spectrum of visual-narrative modes, including extra-textual single images and illustrated prose modeled after Victorian illustrated fiction. His most recent book is Deitch's Pictorama, a collection of illustrated fiction produced in collaboration with brothers Seth and Simon Deitch. The exhibit includes several examples of Deitch's
career-long experimentation with text/image modes.

MoCCA will publish an original poster and 1" button featuring the "Sunshine Girl" character who stars both in Deitch's earliest and most recent work. The Museum will also host a series of talks and events related to the exhibit.

MoCCA is located at 594 Broadway, Suite 401, between Houston and Prince. New York, NY 10012
Phone: 212 254-3511
MoCCA is open to the public Monday through Saturday from 12 – 5 pm, Sundays 12 – 3 pm.
Suggested Donation: $5
The opening reception is free and open to the public.
For more information please visit: http://www.moccany.org

Pekar-saturated book now available!

Harvey Pekar: Conversations LIVES!

I got a laconic email from the master of marketing at the University Press of Mississippi today:

Books are in the warehouse and shipping.

The link to purchase is now live on our website.

So, go buy twenty-five years of Harvey Pekar reflecting on his life and career. Read about his triumph and tragedy. Marvel at his fortitude. 'Nuff said (for now).

Melter's Superman-tinged book released today

His wife sends out the PR! I love that! Here's the email, which since it was labelled "Brad’s new book -- pass it on..." I am posting here. Again, I'm going to the Thursday night signing at Politics and Prose.

Here it is -- Brad's new thriller, The Book of Lies, is published today, and as you'll see below, he's been waiting his whole life to write this one (which is why it's my true favorite). It's filled with his usual obsessive research, but this is the one that will make your Mom (and Dad) cry. So what's it about?

In Chapter 4 of the Bible, Cain kills Abel. But the Bible is silent about the weapon Cain used to kill his brother. That weapon is still lost to history.

In 1932, Mitchell Siegel was killed by three gunshots to his chest.While mourning, his son created the world's greatest hero: Superman. And like Cain's murder weapon, the gun used in this unsolved murder has never been found. Until now.

What do these two murders, committed thousands of years apart, have in common? The
answer is in The Book of Lies.

To buy the book, you can click here:
http://www.bradmeltzer.com/novels/book-of-lies/buy.php

To read the first chapter, click here:
http://www.bradmeltzer.com/novels/book-of-lies/first-chapter.php

To hear the soundtrack (oh, yes -- a real soundtrack from Victor Records, plus REM and the new Book of Lies song) is here:
http://www.bradmeltzer.com/soundtracks.php

To see the video Brad made with Joss Whedon, Christopher Hitchens and Damon Lindelof, click here: http://www.bradmeltzer.com/novels/book-of-lies/movie-trailer.php

And finally, to see the most important thing we've done with any of the books -- and what we're doing to save the house where Superman was created, click here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=25R2kcJxQuc

And of course he's on facebook, myspace, and all that other stuff I refuse to acknowledge exists.

Let me just say one last thing: I hope you know how much your love and support of Brad and the rest of us has meant over the past few months. In many ways, I was afraid that him seeing everyone on tour would turn into something sad, but it's clear it's truly a celebration. So please do go find Brad on one of the tour stops and give him a hug for me.

(that last is definitely from Brad's wife, not me.)

Terry Brooks signing in Bailey's Crossroads

Terry Brooks, an author whose Dark Wraith of Shannara title has been adapted as a Graphic Novel, will be signing this week:

September 3, 7:30pm
Borders Books & Music
5871 Crossroads Center Way
Baileys Crossroads, VA 22041
Reading, Q&A, Signing

The title is from Del Rey books, is adapted by Robert Napton, and has art by Edwin David.

Meltzer and Superman's house

"Repairing a House With Superman Ties," By GEORGE GENE GUSTINES, New York Times September 2, 2008

Dustin Harbin on Watchmen and beyond

I met Dustin at HeroesCon this year, and liked him immensely. Here's a link to something he's written - "Okay, I've Read Watchmen. What's Next?" By Dustin Harbin,
Newsarama 2008-08-28.

Another Meltzer bit or two

Here's a review of his new comic book "DC Universe: Last Will and Testament": John Hardick: "Kuberts create a surprising new tale," Lehigh Valley Express Times Saturday, August 30, 2008.

And here's a blog post: "Brad Meltzer: Faster than a speeding bullet," by Chauncey Mabe, South Florida Sun Sentinel's Off the Page blog August 31, 2008.

Give me that ol' time Bat-religion, and other news

R. Kikuo Johnson's illustrated today's New York Times magazine story on President Bush. Rutu Modan's comic story is continuing too, although it hasn't really captured my imagination.

"Must-See Sermons: Va. Pastor Culls Lessons From Silver Screen to Pull In Larger Audience," By Ben Hubbard, Washington Post Staff Writer, Sunday, August 31, 2008; C01 is about a minister who's preached dressed as both the Batman and the Joker during sermons.

Also, the last completely new For Better or For Worse strip appeared in the Sunday Post comics section. Ms. Johnston extrapolates what happens to the characters in the future, much as the last Harry Potter book did.

In the "Lord, what fools these mortals be" column we find "Studio War Involving ‘Watchmen’ Heats Up," By MICHAEL CIEPLY, New York Times August 30, 2008.














This piece explained a James Gillray cartoon, which can be incomprehensible at a remove of 200 years - "Be an Old Master, for 10 Guineas," By J. D. BIERSDORFER, New York Times August 31, 2008

In the Sunday Examiner's inserts - "Why I love Superman: A best-selling novelist on why he adores the Man of Steel," By Brad Meltzer, USA Weekend August 29 2008.

Jen Sorenson blogged from the DNC and we missed it

Jen's based in Charlottesville, and a regular attendee of SPX. She's also got a new book out. You can still see her blog on the DNC even if the event's over.

Family Circus has left Washington

The Family Circus flew out of DC yesterday, leaving via Dulles Airport (in a fine rendering of the architecturally significant airport). With four children and two adults, they significantly added to the local tourism economy in spite of sticking to free monuments and museums. We hope they enjoyed their visit.

QUICK REVIEWS FOR COMICS DUE THURSDAY 09-04-08

QUICK REVIEWS FOR COMICS DUE THURSDAY 09-04-08
By John Judy

(Note: Long weekends mean late comics but only by a day.)

AL JAFFE TALL TALES HC by Al Jaffe. Collecting 120 installments of the world’s first and last vertical newspaper comic-strip from the veteran MAD artist who gave us “Snappy Answers to Stupid Questions” and the folding back-cover gags of about a million issues of MAD. Very cool stuff. Recommended.

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #570 by Dan Slott and John Romita Jr. Big fights between Spidey, Venom and “Anti-Venom” so help me. Where’s a Skrull when you need one? But it’s Dan Slott so of course he makes it all sing.

ANGEL: AFTER THE FALL #12 by Brian Lynch and Nick Runge. The incomprehensibility continues! Contains vaguely humanoid shapes and words!

BOYS #22 by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson. The Legend wraps it up, the Homelander throws a hissy, and Butcher learns something. Featuring a variant glow-in-the-dark cover and lots of perversion. Not for kids. Recommended.

BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #18 by Joss Whedon and Karl Moline. Buffy’s in the future and Dawn’s a centaur. A really hot centaur… Hey Michelle Trachtenberg’s like 32 years old now so it’s okay! Oh man, it’s never gonna be okay….

GREEN LANTERN #34 by Geoff Johns and Ivan Reis. Hal Jordan and Sinestro take on Abin Sur’s killer. It’s like Anakin and Obi-Wan if George Lucas knew how to write. Recommended.

MARVEL APES #1 of 4 by Karl Kesel and Ramon Bachs. An alternate universe where the Marvel heroes are all monkeys. Hey, it was this or more zombies… Oh wait, they’re doing that too. I don’t care! It’s monkeys as heroes! I’m reading it! Ook-ook!

SECRET SIX #1 by Gail Simone and Nicola Scott. The always awesome Gail Simone returns to chronicle the on-going adventures of DC’s favorite anti-heroes. Strong, character-driven stories of triple-crosses, desperation, out-and-out psychosis and other stuff straight out of the GOP National Convention! Highly recommended.

STORMING PARADISE #3 of 6 by Chuck Dixon and Butch Guice. It’s game-on as the allies invade the Japanese mainland in this alternate-world history in which there was no Fat Man or Little Boy to end WWII. Weird, wild stuff. Recommended.

SUB-MARINER: DEPTHS #1 of 5 by Peter Milligan and Esad Ribic. The Marvel Knights version of Namor the Sub-Mariner which means it’s out of continuity and probably incredibly sexy, vulgar and violent. And other stuff straight out of the GOP National Convention! (Call-back! Yes!) Gotta look. Unless you’re a kid.

TWELVE ½ by Various Creators, including Stan Lee, Joe Simon and Basil Wolverton. Collecting early golden-age appearances of the stars of the hit series THE TWELVE. This issue includes the Fiery Mask, Rockman and Mister E. For those of us who love such stuff but can’t afford the big-buck back issue prices. Cool.

X-MEN: MANIFEST DESTINY #1 of 4 by Mike Carey, Michael Ryan and Others. A series of stories laying out the latest status quo of all things “X.”

www.johnjudy.net

Diary of a Wimpy Kid's Jeff Kinney at Baltimore Comic-Con!

Diary of a Wimpy Kid's Jeff Kinney at Baltimore Comic-Con!
Diary of a Wimpy Kid
Baltimore, Maryland - August 23, 2008 - Jeff Kinney, author of the #1 New York Times best-selling title Diary of a Wimpy Kid, and nominee in 8 Harvey Award categories this year, will be making his Baltimore Comic-Con debut on Saturday, September 27th!

"Jeff Kinney's been picking up accolades left and right with his series, and really draws a different demographic to the show," said show promoter Marc Nathan. "We're really excited to have him and think his appearance is going to be a huge hit."

Jeff is appearing courtesy of Amulet Books, an imprint of Harry N. Abrams, Inc., and will be signing in their booth on Saturday at 3pm.

A full list of retailers can now be found on our website.

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, Michael Bair (Identity Crisis, 52), Kyle Baker (Nat Turner, The Bakers), Brian Michael Bendis (Ultimate Spider-Man, Secret Invasion), Ivan Brandon (NYC Mech, Marvel Comics Presents), Buzz (JSA), Jim Calafiore (Exiles, Countdown), Dennis Calero (X-Factor, Countdown), Nick Cardy (Aquaman, Teen Titans), Tommy Castillo (Grimm Fairy Tales, Kong: King of Skull Island), Howard Chaykin (Wolverine, American Flagg), Cliff Chiang (Green Arrow & Black Canary), Gene Colan (Daredevil, Tomb of Dracula), Darwyn Cooke (New Frontier, The Spirit), Frank Cho (Liberty Meadows, Mighty Avengers), Steve Conley (Star Trek, The Escapist), Amanda Conner (Green Arrow/Black Canary, JSA Classified), Guy Davis (B.P.R.D., Lobster Johnson), Todd Dezago (Perhapanauts, Tellos), Steve Dillon (Punisher, Preacher), David Finch (World War Hulk, New Avengers), Ramona Fradon (Aquaman, Mermaidman and Barnacleboy), John Gallagher (Buzzboy, Roboy Red), Ron Garney (Wolverine, Skaar: Son of Hulk), Michael Golden (Micronauts, The 'Nam), Bryan J.L. Glass (Mice Templar), Mike Grell (John Sable, Iron Man), Cully Hamner (Blue Beetle, Black Lightning), Dean Haspiel (American Splendor, Brawl), Adam Hughes (Catwoman), Stuart Immonen (Ultimate Spider-Man), Chris Ivy (Beast Boy, Marc Spector: Moon Knight), Geoff Johns (Green Lantern, Action Comics), J.G. Jones (52, Wonder Woman), Robert Kirkman (Invincible, Ultimate X-Men), Barry Kitson (Amazing Spider-Man, Empire), Rich Koslowski (Marvel Comics Presents, Sonic the Hedgehog), Scott Kurtz (PvP), Erik Larsen (Savage Dragon, Image EIC), Jim Lee (All Star Batman & Robin, Wildcats), Norman Lee (Marvel Adventures: Spider-Man, Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane), the Luna Brothers (The Sword, Girls), David Mack (Kabuki, Daredevil), Sean McKeever (Teen Titans, Countdown), Mark McKenna (Banana-Tail, Annihilation: Conquest), Bob McLeod (New Mutants, Spider-Man), Pop Mhan (Blank, Marvel Adventures: Spider-Man), Carla Speed McNeil (Finder), Mike Mignola (Hellboy, Disney's Atlantis), Mark Morales (Civil War, Secret Invasion), Rags Morales (Identity Crisis, Batman Confidential), Phil Noto (Danger Girl, Jonah Hex), Michael Avon Oeming (Mice Templar, Powers), Mike Okamoto (Hellraiser, Chaos! Quarterly), Jimmy Palmiotti (Painkiller Jane, Jonah Hex), David Petersen (Mouse Guard), Brandon Peterson (Ultimate X-Men, Strange), Eric Powell (The Goon), Tom Raney (Annihilation: Conquest, Ultimate Secrets), Alex Robinson (Too Cool to be Forgotten, Box Office Poison), James Robinson (Superman, JSA), John Romita Sr. (Amazing Spider-Man), Don Rosa (Uncle Scrooge), Craig Rousseau (Perhapanauts, X-Men: First Class), Andy Runton (Owly), Tim Sale (Batman: The Long Halloween, Heroes), Alex Saviuk (Web of Spider-Man, Feast of the Seven Fishes), Tony Shasteen (O.C.T.: Occult Crimes Taskforce), Jim Shooter (Legion of Super-Heroes), John K. Snyder III (Grendel), Taki Soma (Silent Forest, You'll Never Die), Mark Sparacio (Heroes for Hire, Captain Action), Brian Stelfreeze (Midnighter, The Ride), Karl Story (Black Canary Wedding Planner, Number of the Beast), Robert Tinnell (EZ Street), Peter Tomasi (Nightwing, Green Lantern Corps), Herb Trimpe (Incredible Hulk), Timothy Truman (Conan, Grimjack), Billy Tucci (Shi, Sgt. Rock - The Lost Battalion), Neil Vokes (The Black Forest, The Wicked West), Doug Wagner (The Ride, Gun Candy), Matt Wagner (Zorro, Grendel), Mark Waid (Flash, Boom! Studios), Mark Wheatley (Frankenstein Mobster, Mighty Motor Sapiens), Ron Wilson (The Thing), and Thom Zahler (Love and Capes).

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. Final ballots are presently online at www.harveyawards.org. Kyle Baker will return as Master of Ceremonies for the evening's events.

Tickets are now available for sale. For more information about the Baltimore Comic-Con, email cardscomicscollectilbes@yahoo.com or call (410) 526-7410. The guest list, ticket information, directions, 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.

Upcoming Anime Con

The Anime USA convention, "For Otaku, By Otaku", is coming up at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City in Arlington, VA over the Columbus Day Weekend (October 10-12, 2008).

http://www.animeusa.org/

Guests include Robert DeJesus, a pretty big name in manga circles, and local yokel Jo Chen, who does covers for Runaways at Marvel and the vast majority of the Joss Whedon-verse titles at Dark Horse, among other things, plus Allison Strom, who does manga work at Seven Seas Entertainment, Matt Herms, who works at Archie, and webcomics artsts of Paradox Lost and Applegeeks.

As with all of these Anime conventions, the price of admission is steep -- $40 through the end of September, and then I assume it goes up. I guess if you're going for the whole experience, that might be more reasonable than if you're me and just want to see the folks I just mentioned above!

Selcuk Demirel is BACK

Turkish cartoonist Selcuk Demirel used to be a regular illustrator in the Post's Book World section, but he went missing years ago. Today he is BACK, illustrating the cover of the Weekend section. The above lift from the Post's website is 1/2 the cover he did, and obliterates the tree. More Demirel!

Also in today's Post is a review of the latest Nightmare Before Christmas DVD release which appeared online earlier in the week as "A Very Vivid 'Nightmare'," By JEN CHANEY, washingtonpost.com Staff Writer, Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2008 and in print as "An Early Christmas Present," Post August 29 2008, Weekend p. 32

More Meltzer ephemera

Brad's publisher is really pushing this book. Here's the postcard that came in the mail yesterday.


Brad's comic book Last Will and Testament came out from DC Comics this week and I picked it up, but haven't read it yet. It seems to deal with Geo-Force from the Outsiders and whatever the Final Crisis is.

Washington Post selects Little Dog Lost to replace FBOFW

Michael Cavna is reporting that on Monday the Post will begin running "Little Dog Lost," by Ohio-based artist Steve Boreman in place of Canada-based Lynn Johnston's "For Better or For Worse."

BASH! Magazine #2..."featuring new stories from D.C. artists in your monthly comic alternative"

I noticed issue #2 of BASH! Magazine was on the stands today at the Vienna Metro station (though not in the kiosk at Gallery Place yet!). Says the cover, "This month in Bash Magazine read about the strange fates awaiting those who dare take fake vacations, walk obsure forest paths, order frozen lobster, travel to Cuba, or ride the bus!" It truly is a cornucopia of variety and strangeness. From your political-leaning cartoons by the likes of Keith Knight and Jen Sorensen to the illustrated poetry of John Dimes.

For your edification, the Table of Contents:

Something Peculiar by John Dimes
As I Wait by Theo Ellsworth
Something Happens by Thomas K. Dye
Limbs of the Megalith by Eamon Espey
Onionhead by Bryan Stone
K Chronicles by Keith Knight
One Cannot Travel Where There are Not Roads by Morgan Pielli
Slow Wave by Jesse Rekaw and Susan Ortiz
Cuba Libre by Dan Archer
Tiny Sepuku by Ken Cursoe
slowpoke by Jen Sorensen
Animal Stew by Matt Dembicki

All that, and free to boot!

Zadzooks on videogame with minor comics tie-in and ill-fitting Star Wars characters

For info on some videogame called Soulcatcher IV, the DC comic book that comes with it, and the weird fact that you can have Darth Vader in your game, see "ZADZOOKS: Swords cast world into strife," Joseph Szadkowski, Washington Times Thursday, August 28, 2008.

We also have Bennett's Best online - I looked at the Superman 3-D Final Crisis and put it back. If I made a mistake, somebody let me know.

Disney expands on Blu-ray plans

"At Disney, Blu-ray Sales Team Is a Cast of Characters," By BROOKS BARNES, New York Times August 27, 2008 reports that five more animated films are joining Sleeping Beauty as Blu-ray releases - Pinocchio, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Fantasia, Fantasia 2000 and Beauty and the Beast.

They also had a mention of Virgin Comics imploding - "Virgin Comics Venture Is Shut Down," by JULIE BLOOM, New York Times August 27, 2008.

Smackin' around the Post over the Danish cartoons

I just loved this letter to the editor:

Throwing Stones At Random House
Washington Post Wednesday, August 27, 2008; Page A12

The Post was entirely correct to criticize Random House for preemptively caving in to Islamic fundamentalists who might take offense with the novel "The Jewel of Medina" ["Random House's Retreat," editorial, Aug. 22].

But I can't help but think you would have a little more credibility on the subject if you hadn't allowed the same potential threats to dictate how you reported the controversy two years ago over cartoons depicting the prophet Muhammad. The Post had its chance to assert its right to report current events as a major newspaper should by printing the cartoons, but instead you caved in to the mob just as Random House has.

JOE SCHWIND
Martinsburg, W.V.

Meltzer's Book of Lies begins getting press

USA Today raved about Meltzer's book and theory in "The crime that created Superman: Did fatal robbery spawn Man of Steel?" By David Colton, USA TODAY April 26 2008.

Today, The Cleveland Plain Dealer smacks it around a bit in response - "Novel's Superman lore a bit weak on the facts," by Patrick O'Donnell and Michael Sangiacomo, Wednesday August 27, 2008.

Seth MacFarlane's new animation for Burger King

A few days ago, I linked to a NYTimes article about Seth MacFarlane’s Cavalcade of Cartoon Comedy project. A rep from Burger King's ad agency wrote in to say that while "Exclusive Cavalcade content will be presented by BK on youtube.com/bk beginning September 10" there's a sneak peak up now. Which actually looks rather dementedly amusing. Plus she said nice things about the blog...

MTV wants you, maybe, perhaps...

I've started getting press releases due to this blog, and while I'd like to stay focused on the DC area, I'll stick a few up that tickle my funny bone or some other anatomical part. Here's one from MTV's True Life show, which beyond being over 28 by some years, I still wouldn't apply to go on. However if it appeals to you, here's the unedited PR:

ARE YOU A FANBOY?

MTV’S TRUE LIFE WANTS TO HEAR YOUR STORY!

Are you a young person who is obsessed with a certain book, comic, or video game? MTV’s True Life is looking for young people who are die-hard fans of certain brands, characters, or fantasy series.

Are you obsessed with comic books, anime, fantasy, or manga? Do you like to dress up as your favorite character and attend conventions with other fans? Have you ever waited in line overnight for a book, movie, or videogame release? Do you have tattoos depicting your favorite brand or characters? Have you ever missed work, school, or other important events to engage in role-playing or cosplay? Are you misunderstood by your family or significant other because of it? Do you aspire to author your own graphic novel or comic series despite your parents’ disapproval?

If you appear to be between the ages of 16 and 28, and want to share the story of your fantasy obsession, email us at fanboy@mtvn.com with all of the details. Be sure to include your name, location, phone number and a photo, if possible.

Tell MTV why you need to be seen and heard. This is your chance to let others see what your life is all about!

So there you have it. If you do decide to apply, feel free to let us know as well.

Threefer For Better or For Worse

Actually, there was a 3rd bit in the Post today, at least the electronic one - Cavna, Michael. 2008. "Interview With the Artist: "For Better or For Worse's" Lynn Johnston," Washington Post Comic Riffs blog (August 27). It ended with the surprise news that "As of next Monday, The Washington Post plans to drop "For Better or for Worse" from its print edition but continue to carry it online."

Twofer Betterfer Worse

For Better For Worse articles in today's Post:

Something for Everyone to Hate by Hank Stuever

and

Lynn Johnston's Drawn-Out Adieu to Cartooning by Michael Cavna

I expect we'll see many more of these before all is said and done!

Small Press Expo Presents Tom Tomorrow and Lloyd Dangle in “Outside Looking In: Alternative Political Cartooning in 2008”

Small Press Expo Presents Tom Tomorrow and Lloyd Dangle in “Outside Looking In: Alternative Political Cartooning in 2008”

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

Bethesda, Maryland; August 26, 2008 - Small Press Expo (SPX) 2008 will hold a special series of panel discussions, presentations, interviews and book signings in conjunction with the upcoming Presidential and National elections. Outside Looking In: Alternative Political Cartooning In 2008 will look back at the last 8 years and forward to the 2008 elections and beyond. Outside Looking In will survey the political landscape and how the field of political cartooning is adjusting to technology and business changes in the 21st Century.

Making a very rare comic convention appearance in conjunction with Outside Looking In is the award winning cartoonist, Tom Tomorrow, one of the pioneers in the alternative political cartooning field. The creator of the strip This Modern World and its protagonist, Sparky The Wonder Penguin, will promote his newly released book, The Future Is So Bright I Can’t Bare To Look!. Visit Mr. Tomorrow’s web site at http://www.thismodernworld.com.

Attending SPX as a guest for the first time in many years is the creator of the long running social and political cartoon series Troubletown, Lloyd Dangle. Mr. Dangle also has a new book out, Troubletown, I Told You So!. See his cartoons at http://www.troubletown.com.

Both Mr. Tomorrow and Mr. Dangle will be participants in panel discussions and will be available for signing their latest books over the two day event.

Outside Looking In events are included in the SPX admission fee of $8 for 1 day and $15 for both days

The best alternative political cartoonists in the United States will be added over the next few weeks to “Outside Looking In”, please stay tuned for those announcements.

This year, SPX will be held Saturday, October 4 from 11AM to 7PM and Sunday, October 5 noon-6PM at The North Bethesda Marriott Convention Center in Bethesda, Maryland.

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

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

SPX 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 and graphic novel festival. This annual event brings together comic creators, publishers and fans together to celebrate the art of visual storytelling.

Formal invitation to The Book of Lies by Brad Meltzer

Here's a scan of an invitation that arrived in the mail. As I've said, I'm going to the Politics and Prose one.