QUICK REVIEWS FOR COMICS DUE 11-26-08

QUICK REVIEWS FOR COMICS DUE 11-26-08
By John Judy

(This week we are thankful for comics and not being a turkey at a Sarah Palin interview.)

BATMAN #681 by Grant Morrison and Tony Daniel. “Batman R.I.P.” wraps up here, leading into all kinds of stories in which Batman is not allowed to be technically alive and present. Don’t think about this too hard. Just go with it…

BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #19 by Joss Whedon and Karl Moline. Dark Willow, Fray, Time-Travel. Who doesn’t love time-travel stories? Only your evil alternate-future selves, that’s who!

CAPTAIN AMERICA #44 by Ed Brubaker and Luke Ross. Only Brubaker could make Batroc the Leaper versus Bucky a smashing good yarn. It’s miraculous really…

CREEPY ARCHIVES VOL.2 HC by Various Creators, including Archie Goodwin, Alex Toth, Al Williamson and many more! Collecting issues 6-10 of the classic horror mag! Originals are valued at over 500 bucks! Yours here for a lot less. Recommended.

DAREDEVIL #113 by Ed Brubaker and Michael Lark. And did I mention Lady Bullseye? I mean, whatever they’re feeding Brubaker I’ll take a case. This is the same guy who writes CRIMINAL, one of the best comics EVER! Take a gander.

GARTH ENNIS BATTLEFIELDS: NIGHT WITCHES #2 of 3 by Garth and Russ Braun. It’s Krauts versus Commies in this fact-based WWII adventure as things heat up between The Hun and the honeys! Boom!

GLAMOURPUSS #4 by Dave Sim. Gotta be honest, the only way to describe this book is “It’s a Dave Sim project.” Take it or leave it, CEREBUS fans.

HOLY SH*T: THE WORLD’S WEIRDEST COMICS HC by Paul Gravett and Peter Stanbury. Exactly what it sounds like, folks. Gotta look!

HULK #8 by Jeph Loeb, Frank Cho and Art Adams. Wendigos (“Wendigoes?”), Lady Liberators and a couple of Hulks. You want more, write your own HULK comic!

JSA KINGDOM COME SPECIAL: THE KINGDOM #1 by Geoff Johns and Fernando Pasarin. More Gog, but at least it’s Geoff Johns writing it. Plus, Starman finally comes clean about his mission, his insanity and his Commander Riker-looking beard. Okay, two out of three. Gotta look.

MARVEL MASTERWORKS ALL-WINNERS, VOL.3 HC by Various Creators. Collecting issues 9-14, currently valued at over ten grand in near-mint. Cheaper here. Lotsa Golden-Age ruckus guaranteed!

NORTHLANDERS #12 by Brian Wood and Ryan Kelly. The Vikings continue their tour of the Emerald Isle. Hijinks ensue. NOT for kids. Highly recommended.

PREVIEWS by Marvel and Diamond Comics. As if 2009 wasn’t looking good enough already!

SUPERMAN #682 by James Robinson and Renato Guedes. The 100,000 Kryptonian refugees start to figure out the INS can’t really do anything to them. Lou Dobbs goes into hiding.

THOR: MAN OF WAR #1 by Matt Fraction and Patrick Zircher. Thor and his dad have a fight. Hey, they’re both gods! It’s a Big Fight!

UMBRELLA ACADEMY: DALLAS #1 of 6 by Gerard Way and Gabriel Ba. If you liked the first Eisner-winning limited series you’ll love this. Featuring rampaging stone Presidents!

WALKING DEAD #55 by Robert Kirkman and Charles Adlard. Bi-weekly now? Does this mean the zombies are getting faster? Awesome! Not for kids.

WELCOME TO HOXFORD #4 of 4 writ and scribbled by Ben Templesmith. It’s the insane criminals versus the werewolves in their final battle. From the co-creator of FELL and 30 DAYS OF NIGHT, since you ask.

www.johnjudy.net

Rees reminder

David "Get Your War On" Rees at Busboys and Poets in an hour. I'm definitely going, having just spent a grand to replace the washing machine that locked up this morning - I need a break from domesticity.

(However the new one is energy and water efficient).

Update - I went, and it was cool. Quotes, photos and a review of the book to come soon.

Thanksgiving sale at Cards, Comics, & Collectibles

Got a postcard today for a Thanksgiving sale at Cards, Comics, & Collectibles in Reistertown, MD. Friday Nov 28-Sunday Nov 30, 20%-70% off things. Fri - 11-7:30, Sat 11-7, Sun 12-5. Call 410-526-7410 for details.

That darn Toles, continued

Disrespect for the President
Washington Post November 21 2008

The Nov. 18 "Obama ends torture" editorial cartoon by Tom Toles was tasteless and mean-spirited and reflected an angry and biased mind-set.

One may not like President Bush or agree with his agenda, but the U.S. president deserves the respect of all Americans. That includes The Post's editors and cartoonist.

-- Billups E. Lodge

California, Md.

Post obituary for Belgian former cartoonist and caricaturist

"Guy Peellaert; Belgian Painter Of Surreal Art, Album Covers," By Joe Holley and Adam Bernstein, Washington Post Staff Writers, Saturday, November 22, 2008; B04.

Zadzooks and Bennett's best

ZADZOOKS: Black Canary, General Obi-Wan Kenobi on shelves
Joseph Szadkowski
Washington Times Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Bennett's Best for the week of November 9
By Greg Bennett
Zadzooks Blog
POSTED November 17 2008

Advertisements using comics motifs

These would more properly go on my friend The Ephemerist's blog, but I'll stick them up here. A request for advertisements showing comics influences to use in teaching went up on the comix-scholars list recently. I tend to have a lot of clippings files on comics, and this was one that I could help with. Here's what I scanned for the request - a lot of these date from the 1990s because I was much better about getting things filed when I had no children and wasn't writing about comics.


Watson Wyatt superhero motif ad, Washington Flyer magazine, May 1998.


1st National Bank of Maryland's Superchecking ad was obviously influenced by the Superman logo. Washington Post, September 29, 1996.


Paramus Honda ran a series of ads with a continuing comic strip in the Bergen [County, NJ] Record. This one is from November 29, 1996.


Norton Utilities compared themselves to superheroes in this ad from Government Computer News, September 4, 1995.


AOL's cd mailer went for the superhero ad motif.


The "Commander in Chief" tv show ran several gag cartoon ads in both the Washington Post and the New York Times. This one is from the Times, September 14, 2005.


"Superhero Action Figures - They Really Exist" from Inova Hospital for Children, Washington Post, October 26, 1996.


Neal Adams' Continuity Associates Studio undoubtedly did this series of ads for the Mercury Tracer car that ran in magazines in 1996. This one is from Entertainment Weekly, September 6, 1996.




The 1st Tennessee Bank used a superhero comic strip ad, Cookeville Herald-Citizen, September 11, 1994.


Paramount's Kings Dominion amusement park and MTV teamed up in this ad, Washington Post, June 25, 1995.


An ad, probably done inhouse by an amateur cartoonist, for Fitzgerald Auto Malls, Washington Post January 17, 1997.


Perry Ellis ad, New York Times, February 6, 2006. These panels were from a longer storyline.


Perry Ellis ad, New York Times, June 6, 2006.


Perry Ellis ad, New York Times, June 30, 2006.


Balvenie whiskey ad, Washington Post March 28, 2006. These ran longer in the NY Times than the Post, and an earlier series is available on their website. A lot of these were about holidays.


Balvenie whiskey ad, New York Times May 13, 2006.


Balvenie whiskey ad, New York Times October 6, 2006.

Beeler's High School willing to claim him, now that he's a success

See Editorial cartooning: Bexley graduate national honoree, Columbus Dispatch Friday, November 21, 2008

Dave Gibbons on Comic Riffs

Like everyone else who wasn't busy interviewing Art Spiegelman on his book tour, Comic Riffs interviewed Dave Gibbons on his book tour - Betancourt, David. 2008. The Interview: "Watchmen's" Dave Gibbons. Washington Post Comic Riffs blog (November 20).

Unfortunately for all of you, I believe I bought Big Planet's last copy of Watching the Watchmen yesterday.

Local News and Reviews

A couple of local Bolt reviews, a surprise Wall-e review and a look at a Japanese cartoonist are in our local papers today:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/20/AR2008112003758.html
Disney's 'Bolt,' Picking Up Pixar's Trail
By Dan Kois
Special to The Washington Post
Friday, November 21, 2008; C01

http://www.dcexaminer.com/entertainment/Bolt_a_cute_tale_designed_for_younger_audiences_11_21.html
'Bolt' a cute tale designed for younger audiences
By Sally Kline
Washington Examiner Movie Critic 11/21/08


One Lovable 'WALLE,' Four Fantastic DVD Sets
By Jen Chaney
washingtonpost.com Staff Writer
Washington Post Friday, November 21, 2008; WE32

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/20/AR2008112003659.html
Kafka of the Cubicle
Japanese Cartoonist Chronicles the Indignities Endured by Young, Dutiful, Sad Office Drones
By Blaine Harden
Washington Post Foreign Service
Friday, November 21, 2008; A01

Nov 23: David Rees at Busboys and Poets reminder

This Sunday! I'm planning on being there at the moment.

David Rees, creator of the infamous Get Your War On cartoon, will be making people laugh at Busboys and Poets (1025 5th Street, NW (5th and K), Washington DC) on Sunday, November 23, at 6pm.

Here's a recent audio interview -

Champion, Edward. 2008.
David Rees (BSS #248).
Bat Segundo Show (November 4):
http://www.edrants.com/segundo/david-rees/

Richard Thompson on his White House reporting

Richard's got part 1 of his covering a White House ceremony on his blog - it's hilarious.

Bolt review in City Paper

"Bolt and JCVD: Star Stuck: Two films take a smirking glimpse into the limitations of fame," By Tricia Olszewski, Washington City Paper November 19, 2008. If my daughter has any say in the matter, I'll be seeing this one.

Dec 3: Kramer's Ergot 7 tour kicks off in Baltimore

Colin Solan, Senior Editor at www.comicartfans.com and www.comicbookconventions.com wrote in to point out that the extremely large anthology, Kramers Ergot 7 will be signed by some of the cartoonists in Baltimore. Sammy Harkham is the founder and editor of the anthology and I'm sure he'd appreciate people stopping in to buy the large, large book.

Kramers Ergot Book Tour Itinerary

Wednesday, December 3rd
7pm
Atomic Books
3620 Falls Rd
Baltimore, MD.
Sammy Harkham, Kevin Huizenga, John Pham, Ron Rege Jr.

Comic Riffs gets comments on Lee's medal

See "Plaudits Still Pour In for "Spider-Man's" Stan Lee," By Michael Cavna, November 19, 2008 for comments by Marvel writers Matt Fraction and Jeph Loeb. Reggie Hudlin, writer of the Black Panther chimed in yesterday.

Big Planet Comics comics Delayed!

Joel Pollack from Big Planet Comics e-mailed us to say (and our guess is that this will affect other local stores):

Subject: Heads-up - NEW COMICS DELAYED!

There was a hazmat incident at the Laurel UPS center early Tuesday morning, which kept us from receiving our books on Tuesday.

That means, at the very least, we will not have new comics on our racks until 3 PM on Wednesday, and that's a best-case scenario.

If you are a Wednesday regular, please feel free to call us before dropping in.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

--

BIG PLANET COMICS
4908 Fairmont Ave.
Bethesda, MD 20814
301-654-6856

Also affiliated with:

BIG PLANET COMICS
3145 Dumbarton St. NW
Washington, DC 20007
202-342-1961

BIG PLANET COMICS
426 Maple Ave. East
Vienna, VA 22180
703-242-9412

BIG PLANET COMICS
7315 Baltimore Ave.
College Park, MD 20740
301-699-0498

Stan Lee hits DC for award.

He was here over the weekend - see "Arts, Humanities Medals Awarded; Bush Awardees Include Stan Lee, Olivia de Havilland," By Joel Garreau, Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, November 18, 2008; C02.

Most of us missed him, but not one sharp-eyed lad - "Hey, Isn't That...?" Washington Post (November 18): C3.

And here's the official press release.

For those who'd like something tangible of Stan's, the charity Hero Initiative has copies of the new Stan Lee's Soapbox collection signed by both Lee and John Romita.

Pekar and Bechdel strip on Daily Cross Hatch

Brian Heater's site, Daily Cross Hatch, has a nice piece by Harvey Pekar and Alison Bechdel about a reading tour (probably the one they did in North Carolina). Brian mentioned Harvey Pekar: Conversations, but neglected to note that an interview he did is reprinted in the book. By the way, Bechdel illustrated one of Harvey's strips back in the '80s... Josh Neufeld's got a list.

Dec 8: Swann fellow speaks on Civil War prints

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

101 Independence Avenue SE
Washington DC 20540
Phone: (202) 707-2905
Fax: (202) 707-9199

November 17, 2008

Public contact: Martha Kennedy (202) 707-9115, mkenn@loc.gov

MAZIE HARRIS TO DISCUSS CIVIL WAR ERA CHROMOLITHOGRAPHS BY HENRY LOUIS STEPHENS AT LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, DEC. 8

Swann Foundation grantee Mazie Harris, in a lecture at the Library of Congress, will discuss the Civil War Era chromolithographs by Henry Louis Stephens, the primary illustrator for the satirical New York journal Vanity Fair.

Harris will present the lecture, “A Colorful Union: The Development of Union Patriotism in Henry Louis Stephens’ 1863 Chromolithographs,” at noon on Monday, Dec. 8, in Dining Room A on the sixth floor of the James Madison Building, 101 Independence Ave. S.E., Washington, DC.

In her illustrated talk, Harris will describe her research on the work of Stephens (1824-1882), a caricaturist as well as illustrator. She will draw on examples of his imagery from works held in the Library’s Marian S. Carson Collection and other source material in the Prints and Photographs Division.

The Emancipation Proclamation compelled Stephens to reconsider his previously virulently anti-abolitionist propaganda, according to Harris. In her talk, she will contend that after Abraham Lincoln’s groundbreaking executive orders in 1862 and 1863, Stephens deployed color printing and caricature in an attempt to reformulate views of race relations in the North and mobilize military enlistment.

Harris will analyze Stephens’ visual narratives by considering hand-written directions to the printer that the illustrator scrawled on the margins of each sketch for the series. These technical notes on color, which could be regarded simply as artistic instructions, when carefully examined and assessed, make explicit the particular political ideology of the prints.

Harris is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of the History of Art and Architecture at Brown University. She completed an M.A. in art history from Boston University, and became interested in the work of Henry Louis Stephens while working as a curatorial assistant in the Agnes Mongan Center for the Study of Prints, Drawings and Photographs in Harvard University’s Fogg Art Museum.

This presentation is part of continuing activities of the Caroline and Erwin Swann Foundation for Caricature and Cartoon to support the study, interpretation, preservation and appreciation of original works of humorous and satiric art by graphic artists from around the world. The foundation is overseen by an advisory board composed of scholars, collectors, cartoonists and Library of Congress staff members.

The foundation strives to award one fellowship annually (with a stipend of up to $15,000) to assist scholarly research and writing projects in the field of caricature and cartoon. For 2008-2009, 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.

Applications for the academic year 2009-2010 are due Feb. 13, 2009. For more information about the fellowship, visit www.loc.gov/rr/print/swann/swannhome/ or email swann@loc.gov.

# # #

PR08-216
11/17/08
ISSN: 0731-3527

Comic Riffs interviews latest fired editorial cartoonist

Unfortunately this seems to have been the year when many papers who had editorial cartoonists decided they could probably do without one. Michael Cavna interviews the latest victim in "The Interview: Steve Greenberg: Life as a Pink-Slipped Political Cartoonist" on the Comic Riffs blog.

Nate Beeler's Berryman award featured in Sunday's Examiner

This is a bit late, but you can probably still find copies in your neighbor's driveway. This article "Examiner editorial cartoonist wins prominent national award," By Bill Myers, Examiner Staff Writer 11/14/08, appears in print today along with a gallery of five of Nate's cartoons that allegedly precipitated the winning of the Berryman award. Nate's regular cartoon, still reduced to barely legible at 3x4 inches, also appeared today, along with the large caricature on the front of the tabloid. Nate's now drawing 3 Sunday caricatures for the DC, Baltimore and a California, possibly LA, issues.

Mr. IS, the realtor advertisement webcomic, continues

Episode 4: "Restoration" continues the free entertainment by the Washington-based MRIS.

Nov 19: Free educator tour at Geppi's Entertainment Museum

Arnold Blumberg's column has the information including, "We’re inviting teachers and educators to join us at Geppi’s Entertainment Museum on Wednesday, November 19, 2008, for an evening of pop culture, refreshments, and an exclusive introduction to our Educational Tour Program. Join us here at GEM from 4:00 to 6:30 PM and meet me as well as our Educational and Special Programming Associate, Bailey Ball, and Director of Sales and Marketing, Julie Meddows. We’ll be taking everyone on a private tour of the museum’s collection and providing educator’s kits containing information on our education program, related teacher resources, and more."

I love this Museum and recommend this if you qualify to go.

QUICK REVIEWS FOR COMICS DUE 11-19-08

From the US Virgin Islands! Enjoy!

QUICK REVIEWS FOR COMICS DUE 11-19-08
By John Judy

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #578 by Mark Waid and Marcos Martin. The start of a two-part adventure featuring one of President-Elect Obama’s two favorite heroes! That’s right! “That One” is a comics geek! “One of us! One of us!” Also Waid and Martin are swell. Recommended.

AVENGERS/INVADERS #6 of 12 by Alex Ross, Jim Krueger and Steve Sadowski. At the half-way mark as Toro learns he’s dead and the Torch decides to liberate his Life-Model Decoy brethren from… GAH! I mean, robots and androids, Ross! How can you be a comics professional and not know the difference? GAH!

CONAN THE CIMMERIAN #5 by Timothy Truman, Tomas Giorello and Richard Corben.. Another thrilling adventure from President-Elect Obama’s other favorite hero! Featuring tough chicks with swords! Yes!

EX MACHINA #39 by Brian K. Vaughan and Tony Harris. Wrapping up the “Dirty Tricks” storyline with a call-back to issue #1. Yeah, that BK Vaughan knows how to pay it off. Recommended!

FANTASTIC FOUR #561 by Mark Millar and Bryan Hitch. The Invisible Woman dies. Oops! I mean, “Spoiler Alert!” (Come on, the story’s called “The Death of the Invisible Woman” so just save your hate-mail for when Millar gets to write the next Superman movie.)

GHOST RIDER #29 by Jason Aaron and Tan Eng Huat. Johnny Blaze vs. Danny Ketch is a Ghost Rider/Ghost Rider smack-down. I kinda want this to wrap up quick so Aaron can get out of having to make sense of the hopelessly insane Ghost Rider continuity and just start telling stories like “Zombie Highway.” Still, Big Fight! My money’s on the guy they made the movie about.

GOON #30 written and drawn by Eric Powell. The gorgeous cartoon noir fun continues. “The only reason you ain’t dead is that he’d never forgive me.” Highly recommended.

GREATEST HITS #3 of 6 by David Tischman, Glenn Fabry and Gary Erskine. A great-looking riff on the super-hero as Rock Star, guaranteed to pluck the heartstrings of any Beatlemaniac comics fans out there. You know who you are…

HELLBLAZER #249 by Andy Diggle and Leonardo Manco. Wrapping up Diggle’s run as Constantine returns to Ravenscar Mental Hospital for the big showdown.

JACK KIRBY’S THE DEMON OMNIBUS HC written and drawn by Da King. Even though DC seems to be killing off every one of its Kirby characters lately, they took the time to collect all 16 issues of the last survivor of Camelot, the demon Etrigan and his mortal host Jason Blood. Bizarre seventies horror adventure for them that likes it!

JSA KINGDOM COME SPECIAL MAGOG #1 by Peter J. Tomasi and Fernando Pasarin. The latest doings with resurrected Marine and Franklin Roosevelt descendant David Reid and the being he has become. Can Magog be a hero in spite of the creepy name and awkward headgear? Here’s all the stuff that won’t fit into the regular JSA book!

PUNISHER MAX #64 by Gregg Hurwitz and Laurence Campbell. Frank’s still pretty annoyed by those drug dealers making him think he killed a little girl so this one’s bound to be a little bumpy. Not cool, drug-dealers. Not for kids.

SCALPED #23 by Jason Aaron and R.M. Guera. “The Gravel in Your Guts” continues in this stark, hypnotic crime comic that just happens to be set on an Indian reservation. Can the murderous Chief Lincoln Red Crow ever redeem himself? Will Dino Poor Bear follow the same dead end path? This is the comic you should read first then hide from your family. Highly recommended.

STAN’S SOAPBOX: THE COLLECTION SC by Da Man. Collecting every one of Smilin’ Stan Lee’s interstitial manifestos from 1967 to 1980. These were the monthly asides that made a generation of fans feel like Stan Lee was standing right behind us, whispering in our ears even when he usually wasn’t. A true geek “Must-Have!”

SUPERGIRL #35 by Sterling gates and Jamal Igle. For you “New Krypton” completists who can’t wait for the trade.

THUNDERBOLTS #126 by Andy Diggle and Roberto De La Torre. A new creative team asks the musical question “What happens when a team of criminal nut-jobs who hate each other are left unsupervised by the criminal nut-job who’s supposed to be in charge of them?” It’s kind of like that time Dick Cheney got locked in the bathroom and the economy collapsed…

UNCANNY X-MEN #504 by Matt Fraction and Terry & Rachel Dodson. A new creative team is clearly chomping at the bit to get started with FOUR distinct storylines starting in one issue! Which ones will be resolved and which ones will trail off into Claremontian nothingness? Place yer bets, bub!

X-MEN LEGACY #218 by Mike Carey and Scot Eaton. Professor X tries to help Wolver-Boy, y’know the one whose healing factor can’t quite manage to take care of his tattoos and stupid haircut. Definitely NOT one of President-Elect Obama’s favorite heroes! Nuff said!

www.johnjudy.net

Nate Beeler of the Washington Examiner Receives Berryman Award for Editorial Cartooning

Good news for my buddy Nate!

Nate Beeler of the Washington Examiner Receives Berryman Award for Editorial Cartooning


Washington, D.C. – Cartoonist Nate Beeler of the Washington Examiner has been awarded the 2008 Clifford K. Berryman and James T. Berryman Award for Editorial Cartooning, the National Press Foundation has announced.

The Berryman judges said they were “taken with Nate Beeler's technical skill and wry sense of humor. His grasp of politics is excellent, which is particularly important when you're drawing for an audience of Washington insiders. Beeler is a new talent in one of the most popular forms of journalism.”

The Berryman award – and six other major prizes – will be presented at the National Press Foundation’s 26th Annual Awards Dinner, on February 10, 2009, at the Hilton Washington Hotel. Announcement of other winners will be made shortly. The awards include the Benjamin C. Bradlee Editor of the Year, the Sol Taishoff Broadcaster of the Year, the W.M. Kiplinger Award for Distinguished Contributions to Journalism, the Dirksen Awards for Print and Broadcast Coverage of Congress and the NPF Award for Online Journalism.

Beeler will comment on a dozen or more of his cartoons, which take clear delight in skewering the powerful and bursting the bubbles of the self-absorbed. Beeler follows in a distinguished line of Berryman winners, including Jim Morin of The Miami Herald, Chan Lowe of the Sun-Sentinel in South Florida, and Jimmy Margulies of The Record in New Jersey.

The Berryman judges this year were NPF board members Sandra K. Johnson, an independent journalist and former Washington bureau chief for the Associated Press; Deborah Howell, the ombudsman of The Washington Post; and Peter Copeland, Washington bureau chief for Scripps Howard News Service. Also serving as a judge was Ann Telnaes, a syndicated cartoonist with Women’s eNews and the 2003 Berryman winner.

Beeler is a 2002 graduate of American University, in Washington. His drawings can be found on the Examiner’s website, http://www.dcexaminer.com/opinion/blogs/NateBeelerToons/

A selection of cartoons from other Berryman winners can be found on the NPF website,
http://www.nationalpress.org/info-url3520/info-url_list.htm?cat_id=635

For information about the NPF Annual Awards Dinner contact Kerry Buker, kerry@nationalpress.org, or call 202-663-7282.

Bruce Campbell tonight!

Unfortunately, it's sold out:

Washington, D.C.: E Street Cinema
Film Opens Fri, Nov 14
Bruce Campbell In Person Sat, Nov 15 at 7:45 & 10:15pm.
Please note that both performances are now SOLD OUT.

Bruce Campbell has written The Hire and Man with the Screaming Brain for Dark Horse and Obergeist for Top Cow (Image).

But hey, just because it's sold out doesn't mean you can't show up and try to get a scalped ticket. Or just stalk the side entrance looking for an autograph. (Just don't try to get your Army of Darkness from Dynamite Entertainment signed!)

Elena Steier's new book

Fringe: A Cartoon History of the George Dubya Bush Administration is Elena Steier's new book of political cartoons. I was Elena's guest at the only Cartoons & Cocktails that I've been to (as she's a friend of my friends Gene and Kate), and these are cartoons about the Administration, so there's two DC links. This press release gives the details on the book and how to order it.

Zadzooks reviews

"ZADZOOKS: Comic book reviews of Dear Dracula and The Joker; Boy seeks Dracula's assistance," Joseph Szadkowski, Washington Times Thursday, November 13, 2008.

OT: Harvey Pekar opera?

In a forlorn hope of seeing some reviews for Harvey Pekar: Conversations, I have a Google alert for Pekar. Today's alert noted, in addition to the University of San Diego Libraries buying a copy of the book (thanks!), the blog LIBeral ARTs: News from the Clarence Ward Art Library is reporting that Harvey Pekar will write and appear in an opera at Oberlin. There's no word if this is another American Splendor adaptation, but it seems like it might be. Here's the official information from Oberlin's website:

LEAVE ME ALONE!: A Jazz Opera

Director & Sponsor: Jonathon Field, Bibbins 131, x58206

Full Credit - Group Project

Category: Academic Study

On Campus: Finney Chapel

Limit: 15 - Fee: None

Oberlin Opera Theater, in association with Real Time Opera, is presenting a world premiere of the jazz opera LEAVE ME ALONE!, with music by Dan Plonsey and libretto by Harvey Pekar. This opera will feature Oberlin students as performers, both vocal and from the jazz department. Due to the nature of the writing, vocal soloists do not necessarily have to be classically trained singers, and the Jazz Department has expressed their willingness to help out as well. There are also opportunities for designers, technicians, performers and stage management students to participate.

The opera will feature Mr. Plonsey and Mr. Pekar onstage playing themselves, both as characters and as individuals having a dialogue about creating an opera. Often times the singers will take over from the authors themselves, giving an atmosphere of "reality opera", where the creators and the interpreters are one and the same. This opera will be presented in Finney Chapel on January 31, and will have a live web-stream version that will open up the world of an international audience to this event. A kind of "Lost Highway" meets Dave Brubeck.

First Second reads Cul de Sac

Mark Siegel who's doing a generally excellent job picking books at First Second brings some high praise to Cul de Sac on his blog. Regarding First Second, check out Bourbon Island 1730 by Apollo and Trondheim - it's my favorite comic of the fall so far.

Ira Schnapp, the genius that most inspired Joel Pollack's interests in comics

Big Planet Comics founder and owner Joel Pollack sent me a note which he said I could reprint here:

Just found on Wikipedia, an article on Ira Schnapp, the genius that most inspired my interests in comics. Ira was a friend of my Aunt Kitty Goldberg, and hosted me to two long visits to DC Comics offices when I was 15.

Ira's career before comics was amazing. His comic work was unsung, but he helped define the look of DC Comics covers from 1938-68. To what should be DC's great shame, Ira was left out of "The 50 That Made DC Great" commemorative publication.

The ultimate Ira Schnapp article.

The Wikipedia article is interesting, but also of note is the kindness shown to a 15-year-old who ended up making comics his career. I've had a few people do the same for me - my Mom and Dad bought comics we read to death; Mike Violante who married my cousin and shared his collection of Silver-Age DC and Marvel with me; Frank Grembowiec the owner of Collectors Comic Shop formerly in the Bergen Mall in Paramus NJ who sold me comics in my teens, Joel who picked that role up, John Lent who asked me out of the blue to be a part of the International Journal of Comic Art... there's a lot of people I could list and you just never know how things will work out.

OT: Stan Lee's Soapbox raising money for cartoonist's charity

Hero Initiative is receiving money from reprints of Stan Lee's Soapbox columns from Marvel Comics in the 1970s. Here's a video message from Stan - and a review of the book - "Comics: Stan's Soapbox: The Collection," By Chris Landers, Baltimore City Paper November 10 2008. I've already ordered mine from Previews. Nostalgia and charity - two great tastes that taste great together!

Nov 12: Billy Tucci and WWII veterans in Reistertown

Billy Tucci and WWII veterans are signing Sgt Rock comics tomorrow in Reisterstown at:

Cards, Comics & Collectibles
100 Chartley Drive
Reisterstown, Maryland 21136
(410) 526-7410
Special Guests: 442nd RCT veterans Kelly Kuwayama and Terry Shima, and Merrill's Marauders' Grant Hirabayashi

I'm not sure of the time, but give them a call. More information on Sgt Rock's mixing with real-life units is at Tour of Duty 11 - Some Will Say "It's Just A Comic Book" By Billy Tucci, Newsarama 2008-11-03.

Brian Wood interview

This one's online only. See "'Local' Matters: Brian Wood," by Express contributor Scott A. Rosenberg, November 10, 2008

Deepak Chopra appearance

11/12/08, 7:30 P.M. - Deepak Chopra, a teacher of Eastern philosophy and spirituality, discusses and signs his new book, Jesus: A Story of Enlightenment, at the National Cathedral, Wisconsin & Massachusetts Ave. NW. Tickets are $22, $16 for students and seniors; call 877-537-2228 or visit http://www.cathedral.org.
Deepak Chopra has written Buddha - A Story of Enlightenment and Beyond for Shakti (Virgin Comics).

Animator Seth McFarlane interview in Express

Today's Express has an Associated Press interview with animator Seth McFarlane who created Family Guy and American Dad and has just been signed to a $100 million production deal.

KAL at Duke this week

Charm City's editorial cartoonist Kal sent in this note:

From November 10-14, Editorial Cartoonist for The Economist Kevin "KAL" Kallaugher will be an Artist-in-Residence at Duke University's Sanford Institute for Public Policy. During his time on campus, he will be creating a clay sculpture to commemorate the 2008 Presidential campaign.

The Sanford Institute will also be holding a forum titled “Laughing at Power: Satire in American Politics” on Tuesday November 11. It will feature Kal and North Carolina cartoonist Dwane Powell as well two staff members of the “Daily Show” with Jon Stewart. The forum is Free and open to the public.

For more information visit the Sanford Institute's website: http://www.pubpol.duke.edu/news/features/panel_nr102208.php

Irwin Caplan 1951 gag cartoon

This has nothing to do with ComicsDC, but I saw this Irwin Caplan gag cartoon on the back of a clipping from the International Herald Tribune, March 18, 1951 so I tossed it on the scanner. Enjoy.

Comics in the World photographs - National Museum of Natural History

The new Oceans exhibit in the National Museum of Natural History in Washington has some cartoons scattered through it. According to one of the exhibit designers, Jill Johnson (in a comment below), they're "by local artist Jim Haynes, Graphics Plus, Silver Spring, MD." The exhibit is very good, and big, so there's probably more than these three that I caught:

Art Spiegelman at Politics and Prose

Spiegelman gave his usual entertaining performance at a booksigning for Breakdowns last week. The crowd was standing room only, but I was near the front due to Rick B's vigilant saving of a seat. After noting that he didn't have to worry about the government trying to kill him or any of his usual fears, Spiegelman ran through a powerpoint that covered the high points of the Breakdowns book, touched on his children's book for his wife's imprint and then took questions. You can buy a recording of the talk from Politics and Prose.

Bruce Guthrie took his usual load of shots, but here's three that I got:

November: Thurber play

A Thurber Carnival is appearing on Fridays and Saturdays this month at The Kellar Theater in Manassas. Written by a cartoonist who spent time in the area as a child, the show also features Amy "Mrs. Cul de Sac" Thompson. Amy made some of the props based on Thurber's artwork, which sounds cool to me.

Today's finger puppet - Obama!

Our Man Thompson finally draws a finger puppet that I want to make - Obama!

QUICK REVIEWS FOR COMICS DUE 11-12-08

QUICK REVIEWS FOR COMICS DUE 11-12-08
By John Judy

ACTION COMICS # 871 by Geoff Johns and Pete Woods. In which we learn if you didn’t escape Krypton before it exploded it’s only because you didn’t try.

BATMAN: CACOPHONY #1 of 3 by Kevin Smith and Walt J. Flanagan. Don’t worry, the working title of this comic was not “Bruce and Selina Make a Porno.” Unfortunately the Big Bad’s name is “Onomatopoeia” and I am not making that up. To save you a trip to Wikipedia I’ll tell you that the word is Greek in origin and refers to the making of words that sound like their meanings. Words like buzz, bop, thump and whatever sound Kevin Smith’s head makes when you smash it repeatedly into a concrete floor for trying too damn hard to be clever. Oh yeah, “Onomatopoeia” in this case is the name of a “mysterious masked killer” bent on vexing the Gotham Goliath. No doubt by making him say his name three times fast. Oy…

BLACK TERROR #1 by Alex Ross, Jim Krueger and Mike Lilly. No, it’s not about what red state voters are experiencing this week. It’s a series spun off from PROJECT SUPERPOWERS that will no doubt appeal to both of the people still reading PROJECT SUPERPOWERS. I liked the Alan Moore TERRA OBSCURA version better on account of Moore being able to write. Hey, these Golden-Age revamps are public domain so write your own if you like!

CAPTAIN BRITAIN AND MI 13 #7 by Paul Cornel and Leonard Kirk. The Mindless Ones are on the attack! Guess they’re still not over last Tuesday. J

JLA/AVENGERS SC by Kurt Busiek and George Perez. Finally one of the biggest of Big Fights is collected in affordable, bookshelf-friendly, trade paperback form. From the days when Big Event comics didn’t suck and/or take all year to come out. Recommended for all ages.

JSA KINGDOM COME SPECIAL: SUPERMAN #1 written and illustrated by Alex Ross. This is the first comic ever done by Alex Ross flying solo. That automatically gets it a “Gotta Look.” Here’s hoping it’s more KINGDOM COME and less EARTH X or PROJECT SUPERPOWERS. Fingers crossed.

THE STAND: CAPTAIN TRIPS #3 of 5 by Stephen King, Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and Mike Perkins. The best Stephen King adaptation ever continues as we see the super-flu begin its extermination of the world population. No more long lines at the polls! Recommended.

THUNDERBOLTS, VOL.2: CAGED ANGELS SC by Warren Ellis and Mike Deodato. That nice Mister Ellis shows us what happens when one attempts the psychic domination of people who self-mutilate, eat people and throw exploding pumpkins at Spider-Man. Most entertaining! Not for kids.

WALKING DEAD #54 by Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard. New friends, old friends and lotsa zombie-killin’! It’s good to vent now and then. Recommended. Not for kids.

WOLVERINE #69 by Mark Millar and Steve McNiven. Okay, much as I hated the movie “Wanted” and don’t want Millar on the next Superman flick, he is delivering a solid, intriguing alternate-future Wolverine story here. But the pay-off better not be that he saw a puppy die and swore off claw-popping forever. Fair warning has been given. Recommended.

X-MEN: MAGNETO TESTAMENT #3 of 5 by Greg Pak and Carmine Di Giandomenico. The Nazis invade Poland and young Magneto still hasn’t powered up. A dark story that doesn’t flinch from the history in which it’s based. Probably too intense for young kids. Good for teens and up. Recommended.

www.johnjudy.net

Local Reviews of Madagascar 2

Local reviews of the new animated movie -

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2008/11/06/ST2008110601327.html
'Escape 2 Africa': The Hip Are Best When Shaking It [Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa]
By Ann Hornaday
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, November 7, 2008; C01

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/06/AR2008110601106.html
Who's That Voice? [Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa]
By Ellen McCarthy
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, November 7, 2008; WE26

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/06/AR2008110601103.html
Animation: Not Just A Push of a Button [Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa]
By Ellen McCarthy
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, November 7, 2008; WE27

'Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa' has some humor for everybody
By Sally Kline
Washington Examiner (November 7): 21
http://www.dcexaminer.com/entertainment/Madagascar_Escape_2_Africa_has_some_humor_for_everybody.html

Germain, David / Associated Press. 2008.
Youthful Appeal: 'Madagascar 2' is yet another manic mess aimed at the children.
[Washington Post] Express (November 7): 19

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/nov/07/madagascar-2-knows-how-to-move-it/
Washington Times Friday, November 7, 2008
MOVIES: 'Madagascar 2' knows how to move it
Kelly Jane Torrance

http://movies.nytimes.com/2008/11/07/movies/07mada.html?partner=permalink&exprod=permalink
New York Times November 7, 2008
Duck! The Penguins Are Flying the Plane [Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa].
By MANOHLA DARGIS

OT: My friend, the Food Fluffer

See how food styling really works, and quickly discover you wouldn't want to actually eat that dish in "How to Build a Dish Like a Food Stylist; Step One: Be very, very picky," by Jule Banville, Washington City Paper November 5, 2008. It features my friend Lisa Cherkasky.

Art Spiegelman! (updated!)

'Toonsmith Art Spiegelman Gets Graphic About His Life, Career and the Processes of a Comics Universe
By Bob Thompson
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, November 6, 2008; Page C01
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/05/AR2008110504443.html

Secret Identity: Art Spiegelman's Life Work
Written by Scott A. Rosenberg for Express
Posted By Express at 12:08 AM on November 6, 2008
http://www.expressnightout.com/content/2008/11/secret_identity_art_spiegelman_and_his_l.php


Athitakis wrote in to point out:

another interview -
Art Spiegelman Is Not Arrogant
Posted by Mark Athitakis
Washington City Paper City Desk blog Nov. 6, 2008, at 10:56 am
http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/2008/11/06/art-spiegelman-is-not-arrogant/

and a review of Breakdowns -

Art Spiegelman
Friday, Nov. 7, at Politics and Prose
By Mark Athitakis
Washington City Paper November 6, 2008
http://washingtoncitypaper.com/display.php?id=36439

Michigan State's comic librarian

My buddy Randy Scott is featured in "Fortress of comic-tude: Almost 40 years of collecting has left MSU with the world's largest library comic book collection," By Sarah Harbison, MSU's The State News November 4, 2008. There's also a video showing some of the collection. I regularly send MSU material and encourage you all to do so as well. Icelandic comics! Polish Tom & Jerry! (actually I think that one IS from me).

Seth in today's New York Times

Good luck finding a hard copy, but Canadian cartoonist Seth illustrated five poems about the Presidential election for the New York Times' editorial page. Fortunately they actually put them on the web this time - and a one, and a two, and a three, and a four, and a five.

Yesterday, Sarah Wheaton had an article on a Treasure Chest comic featuring a black president. The story's been kicking around a while - Catholic University even put out a press release linked to here earlier about owning the issue. See "Foreshadowing a Political First," By Sarah Wheaton, New York Times November 4, 2008.

That darn Toles, continued

Spurgeon called him "the Best Editorial Cartoonist in North America" and linked to today's cartoon, which I liked immensely as well.

November Bash paper hits the streets

I picked mine up yesterday. This is issue #4.

Nov 7: Art Spiegelman at Politics and Prose

Politics and Prose Friday, November 7, 7 p.m.
BREAKDOWNS
ART SPIEGELMAN
(Basic Books, $26.95)

The creator of the Pulitzer Prize-winning Maus explores the comics form—and how it formed him. Spiegelman traces his life, from a MAD-comics-obsessed boy in Queens to an adult examining his parents’ memories of Auschwitz. An illustrated essay looks back at the ’60s as the artist reaches sixty.

Nov 6: Israeli comics lecture at Library of Congress REPOST

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS
101 Independence Avenue SE
Washington, DC 20540
Phone: (202) 707-2905
Fax: (202) 707-9199
Email: pao@loc.gov

October 3, 2008

ISRAELI COMICS TO BE SUBJECT OF NOV 6. LECTURE

Drawing both from Judeo-European and American cultures, comics have been a mainstay of Israeli newspapers and readers’ markets since the early 1930s. Little known outside the Middle East, these comics open an interesting window into Israeli society, past and present.

Ofer Berenstein will deliver a lecture titled “Israeli Comics: Past and Present” at the Library of Congress at 1 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 6, in the Montpelier Room, located on the sixth floor of the James Madison Building at 101 Independence Ave S.E., Washington, D.C.

The lecture, which is sponsored by the Library’s Prints and Photographs Division, Serial and Government Publications Division and the Hebraic Section of the African and Middle Eastern Division, is free and open to the public; tickets are not required.

Ofer Berenstein is a founding member of the Israeli Comic Book Readers and Collectors Society. He served in the Israeli Army Home Front Command as a photographer, graphic designer and editor. He is a graduate student at Bar-Ilan University in Israel.

The Library of Congress, the nation’s oldest federal cultural institution, is the world’s preeminent reservoir of knowledge, providing unparalleled integrated resources to Congress and the American people. Founded in 1800, the Library holds more than 138 million items, including 21 million cataloged books, 61 million manuscripts and nearly 14 million photographs, posters, prints and drawings.

The Library’s Prints and Photographs Division houses the Library’s outstanding holdings of original cartoon and caricature drawings and makes them accessible through its online catalog at www.loc.gov/rr/print/catalog.html. The Library’s Serial and Government Publications Division houses the world’s largest comic book collection (5,000 titles; 100,000 issues).

The Library’s African and Middle Eastern Division (www.loc.gov/rr/amed) is the center for the study of some 78 countries and regions from Southern Africa to the Maghreb and from the Middle East to Central Asia.

# # #

PR 08-181
ISSN 0731-3527
10/3/08

Baltimore City Paper's Tim Kreider interviewed

Brian Heater's got the interview at "Election 2008: An Interview with Tim Kreider," Daily Cross Hatch (November 2). Unfortunately Kreider says he's going to pack it in next year. Say it ain't so, Tim! I get the Baltimore City Paper hand-delivered largely for your comic!

Shilling for Ted Rall

He asked nicely, so here's a press release about Ted Rall's EXCELLENT AND EXCITING NEW ANIMATION:

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

New Animated Cartoon by Ted Rall:
DEATH CAB FOR SARAH PALIN

Editorial cartoonist Ted Rall and animator David Essman have released a hilarious, vicious parody of GOP vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin to celebrate Election Day 2008.

Distributed for free on YouTube and at tedrall.com, "Death Cab for Palin" is an animated political cartoon that lampoons Sarah Palin's presidential ambitions. Noting that vice presidents frequently become presidents, "Death Cab" depicts a rabid Vice President Palin trying to poison and bomb President McCain in the style of the classic "Road Runner" cartoon series.

Rall, a syndicated cartoonist for Universal Press Syndicate, is no stranger to controversy. His "Terror Widows" and "FDNY 2011" cartoons after 9/11 were some of the most controversial cartoons in U.S. history. Will "Death Cab for Sarah" join their ranks? "I don't know," says Rall, "but it was such a fun idea I just couldn't resist going with it."

Permission for reproduction and broadcast are freely given under the condition that the piece not be altered in any form without express permission. To contact Ted Rall, please email ted@rall.com.

---

TED RALL's editorial cartoons and columns are syndicated to more than 100 newspapers around the U.S. Twice the winner of the RFK Journalism Award and a Pulitzer Finalist, he is President of the Association of American Editorial Cartoonists.

DAVID ESSMAN is an animator currently at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. His animated films have been screened across the country, including Animation Block Party, The Chicago Underground Film Festival, and the St. Louis International Film Festival.

Luna Bros. interview on Filipino site

The local cartoonists are interviewed in "Luna Brothers conquer US comic book scene," Interview by DAVID DIZON, abs-cbnNEWS.com 10/31/2008.

Nov 14: Doraemon The Movie

DC Anime Club and Japan Information and Culture Center, Embassy of Japan Present: Doraemon The Movie

The DC Anime Club and the Japan Information and Culture Center (JICC), Embassy of Japan present Doraemon on Friday November 14, 2008 at 6:30pm as part of the Anime/Live Action Series based upon Manga (Japanese Comics).

The adorable blue robo-cat from the future and beloved Japanese icon Doraemon is back and better than ever in this 2006 remake of his first feature length film. Doreamon's human friend Nobita discovers an egg that hatches into a cute little dinosaur. However as the baby dino grows bigger and bigger the entire town is thrown into chaos. With both the town and the dinosaur in danger, Nobita realizes that he must return the creature to its own time. With Doraemon's help, the gang sets out on a prehistoric adventure full of obstacles and danger.

The screening will be held at the Japanese Information and Culture Center, Embassy of Japan located at Lafayette Center III 1155 21st Street, NW Washington, DC 20036-3308.

Seating for the screening of Doraemon is limited and attendees are encouraged to rsvp by sending an e-mail to jiccrsvpfall08@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.

--
Christopher Wanamaker
DC Anime Club President
http://www.dcanimeclub.org

Big Planet Comics alumni Dan Nadel in HEEB 100

Joel Pollack reports, "Hip Jewish magazine, HEEB, has picked Big Planet Comics alumni, Dan Nadel, for the HEEB 100.

Congratulations, Dan!"

Two comics articles in Express today

For some reason, the Express, which is owned by the Washington Post, ran a wire story on Trudeau calling the election in Doonesbury from the LA Times even though the story was broken by the Post’s own Michael Cavna on the Post’s Comic Riffs blog.

Also, Scott Rosenberg had an article, "Comedy Before Country: A Mad magazine man talks about poking fun at the political" interviewing John Ficarra in the Express (November 3): 18.

QUICK REVIEWS FOR COMICS DUE 11-05-08

QUICK REVIEWS FOR COMICS DUE 11-05-08
By John Judy

(NOTE: What better day to read comics, either in celebration or to escape?)

ADVENTURE COMICS SPECIAL: GUARDIAN by James Robinson and Pere Perez. The Great Kirby Character Kill-Off continues! Pretty soon they’ll be down to the Marvel romance and western characters. Still pretty good in all.

AVENGERS: INITIATIVE SPECIAL #1 by Dan Slott and Steve Uy. Two of your favorite characters have it out. Can True Love win out over secret Hydra membership? And Dan Slott’s back at the helm! Recommended.

FINAL CRISIS: RESIST #1 by Greg Rucka, Eric Trautman and Ryan Sook. Darkseid’s in the driver’s seat and it’s up to Checkmate, Snapper Carr and Mister Terrific to pull him over. I know, but it’s Rucka so it’ll actually be good.

FREAKANGELS, VOL. 1 SC by Warren Ellis and Paul Duffield. The notorious web-comic in tangible form for the first time, in full color. Featuring twelve special children with one big secret. Gotta look!

IRON MAN: THE END #1 by David Michelinie and Bernard Chang. The latest in Marvel’s continuing series of “Last” stories of iconic characters. I believe this one involves an aging and still bitter Terrence Howard.

JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #20 by Geoff Johns, Alex Ross and Dale Eaglesham. Alternate Universe JSAs do battle and Gog the big scary guy hangs back being all cryptic and omnipotent. Come on, people! Let’s show Geoff Johns the love so he gets to write the next Superman movie instead of Mark Millar! Did you see “Wanted?” We cannot let that happen again!

POPEYE, VOL. 3: LET’S YOU AND HIM FIGHT HC by E.C. Segar. The third of six volumes from Fantagraphics collecting Segar’s complete run of Popeye strips. This one covers the years 1932-34 and includes a two-week extra large sequence done specially for the Chicago World’s Fair. It has never been reprinted anywhere until now. Also includes the only appearance of Popeye’s arch-rival Bluto by Segar. Highly recommended.

SANDMAN: DREAM HUNTERS #1 of 4 by Neil Gaiman and P. Craig Russell. Yes, it’s a re-telling of an illustrated story released ten years ago, but it’s Neil and P. Craig so we are all compelled to buy it and sleep with it tucked under our pillows next to our guns. Highly recommended.

SECRET SIX #3 by Gail Simone and Nicola Scott. It’s the Six versus everyone they used to drink with. As usual. Also a new member joins the team. Who? Well, that’s the “secret” part, isn’t it? Good stuff.

TOP TEN SEASON TWO #2 of 4 by Zander Cannon and Gene Ha. Among the best news in comics is that this police procedural set in the world of capes and tights holds up fine even without co-creator Alan Moore scripting. Recommended for fans of both genres.

ULTIMATUM #1 of 5 by Jeph Loeb and David Finch. The great powers of the Ultimate Universe band together against… bad weather? Will this mark the debut of Ultimate Al Roker?

WOLVERINE: CHOP SHOP #1 by Mike Benson and Roland Boschi. Some dope thinks he’s gonna harvest Wolverine’s organs. That’s why this is a one-shot.

www.johnjudy.net

That darn Agnes

Pope Trashed
Washington Post Saturday, November 1, 2008; Page A13

At first I thought I must have misread the "Agnes" comic strip you published Oct. 29. How do you justify publishing such a vitriolic attack on the beloved Pope John XXIII? The comic frivolously associated him with a 12th-century mass murderer.

Anti-Catholic slants seem to be acceptable in The Post. Would you have allowed such a mention of a figure from another religion?

-- Jean Shema
Gaithersburg

Good stuff in today's papers

"Godzilla's Older, Creepier Cousins: Beings Such as Filth Licker Haunt Japanese Culture," By Blaine Harden, Washington Post Foreign Service, Friday, October 31, 2008; A01. This is about creatures called yokai, who are apparently roughly equivalent to goblins and boggarts. Hiroko Yoda and Matt Alt are a married couple have written a book about them, when not translating manga.

The animated movie Fear(s) of the Dark was also reviewed in "Gripped (at Times Loosely) by Fear," By Neely Tucker, Washington Post Staff Writer, Friday, October 31, 2008; Page C06.

Meanwhile in the Post's Comic Riffs, Michael Cavna's interviewed a bunch of cartoonists about the election including locals Telnaes, Sorenson, and Wuerker in "Who'll Win the White House? Cartoonists Issue Their Predictions" as well as decidedly non-local Garry Trudeau in "Obama Wins? Yes, 'Doonesbury' Calls the Election!"

And on Disney's direct to video movie and Fairies product line is "Disney Hoping 'Tinker Bell' Spreads Fairy Dust on Sales" By BROOKS BARNES, New York Times October 31, 2008.

Comics articles in Thursday's papers

The Washington City Paper has reviewed the film Fear(s) of the Dark - it's animated, and based on the works of famous cartoonists Blutch, Charles Burns, Marie Caillou, Pierre di Sciullo, Lorenzo Mattotti, and Richard McGuire.

Steve Niles' Cal McDonald and Criminal Macabre artist is interviewed in "ZADZOOKS: Nick Stakal's lifelong love of art," Joseph Szadkowski, Washington Times Thursday October 30, 2008.

New Ware and the Joker are "Bennett's Best for the week of October 26," Zadzooks Blog October 30 2008.

The Onion has a hilarious article on Bazooka Joe which is now online, and an interview with comic book store owner, writer and filmmaker Kevin Smith which is.

OT: Phil Jupitus' latest BBC interview with Zippy

Since I've linked to the others, here's Phil Jupitus' October 28th interview with Zippy's Bill Griffith.

Eiserike on Ultimate Spider-Man

I owe Josh a review of his comic book that I picked up at SPX but haven't had a chance to read yet. In my defense, I haven't read anything I picked up at SPX yet, including athe minicomics. So instead of the review, read "Column: For the love of Spider-Man and Mary Jane," By Josh Eiserike, October 30, 2008.

Someday soon I hope to get around to reading and reviewing some of the books from SPX including Josh's and some manga from Fanfare that I both bought and was kindly given by Deb Aoki who writes about manga for About.com.

Chance visit in DC causes lifetime of collecting

See "Political cartoons inspired alumnus; Michael Kahn, a UCLA graduate of 1970, boasts an extensive collection of more than 75,000 images," by Max Schneider, Daily Bruin Tuesday, October 28, 2008.

The article begins, "Michael Kahn remembers the moment he fell in love with political cartoons... The UCLA alumnus, who graduated in 1970, was studying in Washington D.C. and while visiting his professor’s apartment with his class, he saw something that struck a chord."

OT: Ask Bob Mankoff, the New Yorker cartoon editor a question

The New Yorker cartoon issue is shipping now, although I haven't looked at mine yet. They've got some online features including a selection of Luckovich cartoons and a Bob Mankoff Q&A. I had a drink with Mankoff once, along with some other cartoonists. He's got a keen appreciation of humor and cartooning as well as a very good grasp of the economics of cartooning.

Questions for Bob Mankoff

Bob Mankoff, The New Yorker’s cartoon editor, takes questions about the November 3, 2008, Cartoon Issue, the Cartoon Caption Contest, and drawing for the magazine.

Submit questions for Mankoff here; he will post his answers later in the week. Your questions may be edited for length and clarity, and
will be answered at The New Yorker’s discretion.

Gaiman's The Graveyard Book - Politics and Prose book of the week.

Politics and Prose's BOOKS OF THE WEEK
(20% off through 11/5)

“It is going to take more than just a couple of good-hearted souls to raise this child. It will…take a graveyard.” And so the living baby, Nobody (Bod) Owens, is adopted and raised by the folk of the graveyard. They grant Bod “Freedom of the Graveyard,” teaching him to pass through walls and see in the dark, just like the dead do. Bod encounters adventures and dangers in the graveyard, but the greatest danger lurks just outside its gates: the man, Jack, who murdered Bod’s family and intends to finish the job. Beloved master storyteller Neil Gaiman weaves a creepy tale for all ages and any time of year in THE GRAVEYARD BOOK (HarperCollins, $17.99). Ages 9 and up. • Heidi Powell

Nov 23: David Rees at Busboys and Poets

Here's the slightly edited (to take out a review copy offer and modify an F-word that a filter might choke on) - I plan on going to this. Rees has been in DC a lot, but I've never been able to make it to see him. Busboys and Poets is a cool place too. And note that bit about Rees putting his profits into land mine removal - wow.

Are you planning your post-election elegies for the Bush regime yet?

David Rees, creator of the infamous Get Your War On cartoon, will be making people laugh at Busboys and Poets (1025 5th Street, NW (5th and K), Washington DC) on Sunday, November 23, at 6pm.

Check out the latest animated strip at the Huffington Post blog:
http://www.236.com/video/2008/get_your_war_on_jump_off_the_r_9773.php

In the aftermath of 9/11, when experts and citizens rallied behind President George W. Bush and his worldwide "War on Terror," a scrappy internet comic called "bullshit" on the whole undertaking and never looked back.

It's taken years for conventional wisdom to catch up to Get Your War On.

David Rees's infamous cartoon—which went on to be serialized in Rolling Stone, adapted for the stage, and animated—isn't just a caustic analysis of American foreign policy. It's also an emotional kaleidoscope of American life and absurdity, from October 9th, 2001, when American bombs first fell in the poverty-stricken, terrorist safe haven of Afghanistan, to 2008, when bombs continue to fall in the poverty-stricken, terrorist safe haven of Afghanistan. (There's some stuff about Iraq in the middle, too.)

Get Your War On: The Definitive Account of the War on Terror, 2001-2008 illustrates better than any artist, politician, or pundit the true state of America's soul--its violence and its compassion.

And it's f*cking hilarious.

"Riotous and principled."--Washington Post

"Brilliant."--USA Today

"[T]he Thomas Nast of the internet."--Comedy Central

"[H]ilariously deadpan fatalism . . . a surprisingly articulate expression of our anxieties."--Newsweek

"Rees [is] a phenomenal cult hero."--Variety

"A glorious excoriation of our post-9/11 loony bin."--New York Times

"The most original cartoon to emerge since . . . well ever. Raw, enraged, sardonic, hilarious, despairing, and impossible to pigeonhole."--Rolling Stone

About the Author:
David Rees was working a crummy magazine job when Operation: Enduring Freedom inspired him to make his cartoon Get Your War On. The satire about the war on terrorism became an Internet phenomenon—sales of the two GYWO books have raised almost $100,000 for land mine removal in western Afghanistan, it has been published in British, French, Spanish, and Italian editions, and it has been adapted for the stage by the Austin theater company the Rude Mechs. His comics have appeared in Rolling Stone, GQ, the Guardian, the Village Voice, and the Nation. He currently lives in Beacon, NY.


-------------------------------------------------
Listing:
Sun, Nov 23, 6:00pm – 7:30pm
Busboys and Poets
1025 5th Street, NW (5th and K), Washington DC
Come Get Your War On with David Rees at the 5th and K location of Busboys and Poets (DC). David Rees will presumably be reading from his newly released book, Get Your War On, or he could also be talking to us about... whatever he wants. You'll never know unless you check it out! It's at Busboys and Poets @ 5th & K 1025 5th Street NW Washington, DC 20001 for more info, the Busboys' website: http://www.busboysandpoets.com/about_5th.php

Dec 6: Grave of the Fireflies anime at Freer

Gorgeous Entertainment Presents New Anime Masterpieces Film
"Grave of the Fireflies" at the Freer's Meyer Auditorium

Washington, DC-Anime Masterpieces, a new series highlighting the best in Japanese animated feature films, presents "Grave of the Fireflies," Saturday, Dec. 6, 2 p.m., in the Freer Gallery of Art's Meyer Auditorium. The film is followed by a panel discussion with leading authorities on the subject of Japanese animation, or anime.

Produced by New York-based company Gorgeous Entertainment, the series is aimed at enhancing the understanding and appreciation of the Japanese art of anime. At each screening, audience members are given study guides containing essays by eminent scholars of Japanese pop culture and animation, which are supplemented by numerous images from the film.

Major support for the series is provided by the Japan External Trade Organization. Arrangements for the screening are also made possible by Central Park Media, the U.S.-based distributor for the film.

The winner of several international film awards, "Grave of the Fireflies," written and directed by Isao Takahata, chronicles the experiences of two children as they valiantly struggle to survive amidst the ravaged landscape of Japan during World War II. It is considered by many critics as one of the most moving anti-war films ever made. Chicago Sun-Times critic Roger Ebert calls the film "an emotional experience so powerful it forces a rethinking of animation."

The panel discussion features Pulitzer prize-winning historian John W. Dower, author of "Embracing Defeat: Japan in the Wake of World War II"; Japanese literary authority Susan J. Napier, author of "Anime from Akira to Howl's Moving Castle"; and manga and anime historian Frederick L. Schodt, author of "Manga! Manga! The World of Japanese Comics."

The next scheduled screening of "Grave of the Fireflies" is Feb. 11, 2009, at the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston.

The next film in the Anime Masterpieces series is "Tekkonkinkreet" and is available for screenings courtesy of Sony Home Entertainment beginning January 2009. For more information, visit www.AnimeMasterpieces.com or contact Kenji Kono at (212) 398-7145 or e-mail at kenji@gorgeousentertainment.com.

Up to two free tickets per person to the "Grave of the Fireflies" screening at the Meyer Auditorium will be distributed one hour before show time. For a listing of all featured films, please visit www.asia.si.edu/events/films.asp.

The Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, located at 1050 Independence Avenue S.W., and the adjacent Freer Gallery of Art, located at 12th Street and Independence Avenue S.W., are on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. every day, except Dec. 25, and admission is free. The galleries are located near the Smithsonian Metrorail station on the National Mall. For more information about the Freer and Sackler galleries, the public is welcome to visit www.asia.si.edu. For general Smithsonian information, the public may call (202) 633-1000.

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1050 Independence Avenue SW
Washington, DC 20013
202.633.1000
Metro: Smithsonian
www.asia.si.edu

Editor and Publisher on what a great guy Dave Astor is...

...isn't it a shame they had to lay him off? Here's the article - "Astor Hailed on Departure from 'E&P' After 25 Years," By Greg Mitchell, October 29, 2008. No word yet on whether or not they gave him a gold watch along with the push.

Washington after a new young President, almost 50 years ago

Ger Apeldoorn has posted Washington Frontier Sketches by Ed Fisher reporting on DC after Kennedy's election from Help #10... ...the more things change...

NY Times article suggests cutting newspaper content may not help circulation

Those who aren't just downloading the Joker pumpkin pattern may recall that in reporting on Dave Astor's firing I suggested that reducing the content of a publication wasn't a good way to keep readers. Here's a NY Times article in which that point is made by people paid to know these things:

Analysts have warned in recent years that by offering steadily less in print, newspapers were inviting readers to stop buying. Most papers have sharply reduced their physical size — fewer and smaller pages, with fewer articles — and the newsroom staffs that produce them.

“It just seems impossible to me that you’re cutting costs dramatically without having some impact on the editorial quality of your product,” said Peter Appert, a newspaper analyst at Goldman Sachs. “I can’t prove that this is driving circulation, but it’s certainly something that if I were a newspaper publisher would keep me up at night.”

Knight Life hits the Sunday Post

Comic Riffs has the story of how it's replacing Opus.

The incredible shrinking Examiner cartoon

The Washington Examiner, Nate Beeler's home paper, has cut the size of its editorial cartoons in half again to about 3" x 4" - tiny in other words. They've got Nate doing a full cover color caricature for the front of the Sunday tabloid (and two other editons), but inside you can barely see the cartoon. When the paper started a few years ago, Nate's cartoon ran at about 1/3 of a page and they had two pages of comic strips which are now gone. I'm sensing a trend...

KAL illos in Washington Post Health section

Our Man Thompson may be gone from the Post's Health section, but today they've got two illustrations by the incomparable KAL. One is online.

Weingarten on Doonesbury and judging people by their comic strips

Two weeks of the Chatalogical Humor chat by Gene Weingarten leads to a couple of interesting observations on comics.

From Tuesday, October 14, 2008:

Gimmeabre, AK: I agree that Sarah Palin is singularly unqualified to be Vice President, let alone President. And I also grit my teeth whenever some yahoo starts spouting off about the sanctity of "family values." But I think Gary Trudeau went waaaay over the line in Sunday's "Doonesbury." Now, I know you are a regular worshiper at the Church of St. Gary, but since when is "stay-at-work mom" (which I think most people call, "working mother") pejorative? And who told Trudeau that Palin's last pregnancy was unplanned? And was the shot at Palin's pregnant daughter really warranted? Come on, Gene; man up, and admit that your hero blew it this time.

washingtonpost.com: Doonesbury, (Oct. 12)

Gene Weingarten: I had no problem with the shot at Bristol; Palin made Bristol a subject of public discussion, and the "family values' Republican mantra makes it germane. I wondered about the other things, too, though. And after I saw your posting, I emailed Garry about it. Here is his answer:

I believe that Palin has said herself that Trig was a surprise. Certainly her choosing to hide her pregnancy for many months suggests she didn't find it convenient. But planned or not, I regret including that detail for another reason; since Palin is married, it has no bearing on "family values". It's value-neutral, and I should have left it out.

"Stay-at-work Mom" is just a play on the "Stay-at-home Mom", once viewed as morally superior in family values universe. The general point, of course, is that conservatives have used family values as a bludgeon against liberals for many years, and that the general messiness of Palin's family life has complicated that line of attack. What Mark is saying is that despite our best intentions, life DOES happen, and as he makes clear in the last panel, he doesn't exempt himself. To him, the death of sanctimony is something to be celebrated.

and from October 28:

Washington, D.C.: My friends and I have been discussing: Is there any one book, movie, or TV show, that having as a favorite is an automatic deal breaker? What interests would prove to you that someone is totally unfunny, has a different worldview, and that this relationship would never work?

Some say "Da Vinci Code" as a favorite book is a deal breaker. The best example I've come up with is ruling out someone whose favorite television show is "Everybody Loves Raymond."

Gene Weingarten: Dan Quayle's favorite movie was, famously, "Ferris Beuller's Day Off."

I judge people by their taste in comic strips, where there are obvious and cliched deal breakers. But there are also subtle red flags. I'm worrying about someone who claims to like "Prickly City" or "Mallard Fillmore."

DowntheDrai, IN: Gene --

What was your reaction to Sunday's "Doonesbury?" I have trouble with this whole "attack Joe the Plumber" thing. For all you, I or Trudeau knows, Joe's a great plumber -- or maybe a terrible one -- but why should we care? The cartoon comes across as just a vicious personal attack on the guy for having the temerity to disagree with Obama.

So I figured there must be a deeper point being made -- some metaphor about the candidates -- but if Trudeau is trying to suggest that one of them will prove to be an inept bumbler who doesn't know what he's doing -- well, Obama's the one without the track record of accomplishment, but somehow I don't think that's where Trudeau was going.

Was this funny and I just missed it?

washingtonpost.com: Doonesbury, (Oct. 26)

Gene Weingarten: Yes, it was funny and you just missed it. First off, you need to understand that because of Sunday comic deadlines, Trudeau must have punched this out in minutes, the day after the last debate, when it became manifest that Joe the Plumber was not a licensed plumber.

Is this fair satire? Yep. Why? Because Trudeau knows exactly as much about Joe the Plumber as McCain apparently did before he hauled him out to be the CENTERPIECE of his failing, desperate campaign. McCain had already created this ridiculous stalking horse, and Trudeau is doing exactly what his job is: Exposing the hypocrisy behind it.

It doesn't matter whether Joe is a competent, unlicensed plumber. He's a caricature, and McCain made him one.

Louts on Onion AV Club comment board attempt to tear down Cul de Sac

Noel Murray reviewed Our Man Thompson's first collection in "Comics Panel: October 27, 2008," concluding "Once Thompson gets into a groove, he produces one of the few strips around where nearly every individual panel is standalone delight… A-"

The first comments bash the strip around, but then more literate defenders come on strong. Although really, who cares? Besides Richard, that is. Don't read the first comments, Richard!

Catholic University has a comics collection... who knew?

Of course, they're all issues of a Catholic comic - Treasure Chest, which had some pretty good art. See "CUA Archives Holds Comic Book With First Known Depiction of Black President," by Justine Garbarino, Catholic University's The Tower October 27, 2008 for the link between Obama and Nostradamus.*


*A new rumor! You heard it here first!

That darn Washington Post

Even its Sunday comics are liberal!

...now if only it's editorial page (with the notable exception of That Darn Toles) was...

Check out Tuesday's Comic Riffs

I hear there will be news on the Post's Sunday Comics Section on Comic Riffs on Tuesday morning.

Great Pumpkin resonates in comics

Two strips in the Post today, Lio and Little Dog Lost, both tipped a wink towards Peanuts and Linus' search for the Great Pumpkin. If Dave Astor still was at E&P, I wouldn't have to write posts like this.

In the USA Weekend magazine including in the Examiner, there's a funny Walmart ad for the video of the Incredible Hulk movie. A family is watching the Hulk movie, and the Hulk himself has busted through the wall of their house and is crunching one side of their sofa as he settles in to watch himself on the tv. The paper also included a trick-or-treat bag for Halloween with ads for animated movies Madagascar 2 and Monsters vs. Aliens.