2009 John A. Lent Scholarship in Comics Studies
Students of comics!
ICAF, the International Comic Arts Forum, is proud to hold each year the John A. Lent Scholarship in Comics Studies competition. The Lent Scholarship, named for pioneering teacher and researcher Dr. John A. Lent, is offered to encourage student research into comic art. ICAF awards the Lent Scholarship to a current student who has authored, or is in the process of authoring, a substantial research-based writing project about comics. (Preference is given to master’s theses and doctoral dissertations, but all students of comics are encouraged to apply.) The Scholarship was established in 2005.
The Scholarship is subject to the condition that the recipient present a half-hour talk, based on her or his research, during ICAF. The award consists of up to US$500 in kind to offset the cost of travel to and/or accommodations at the conference. A commemorative letter and plaque are also awarded. No cash is awarded.
Applicants must be students, or must show acceptance into an academic program, at the time of application. For example, applicants for ICAF 2009 must show proof of student status for the academic year 2008-2009, or proof that they have been accepted into an academic program beginning in academic year 2009-2010.
The Scholarship competition is adjudicated by a three-person committee chosen from among the members of ICAF’s Executive Committee. Applications should consist of the following written materials, sent electronically in PDF form:
* A self-contained excerpt from the project in question, not to exceed twenty (20) double-spaced pages of typescript.
* A brief cover letter, introducing the applicant and explaining the nature of the project.
* The applicant’s professional resume.
* A brief letter of reference, on school letterhead, from a teacher or academic advisor (preferably thesis director), establishing the applicant’s student status and speaking to her/his qualifications as a researcher and presenter.
PLEASE NOTE that applications for the Lent Scholarship are handled entirely separately from ICAF’s general Call for Proposals (which can be viewed at http://www.internationalcomicartsforum.org/icaf/call-for-proposals-icaf-2009.html). Students who submit abstracts to the general CFP are welcome to apply separately for the Lent Award.
Send inquiries and application materials via email to Ana Merino of the ICAF Executive Committee, at ana.merino@dartmouth.edu. The deadline for 2009 submissions is May 1, 2009.
Thursday, March 05, 2009
Dave Astor's new Huffington Post column started today
Dave Astor, the great former E&P syndicate reporter, has started a new humor column at Huffington Post. Check it out - the first one is a good start.
Watchmen: The Art of the Film book review
Aperlo, Peter. Watchmen: The Art of the Film. London: Titan Books, 2009.
256 pages, $40 (hc).
ISBN-10: 1848560680, ISBN-13: 978-1848560680
Unsurprisingly, The Art of the Film complements and somewhat overlaps The Film Companion. It focuses more on the film’s design and special effects. Of special interest to comic book readers is concept art by Adam Hughes, David Finch and John Cassaday, prop art by James Jean and new art by Dave Gibbons and colorist John Higgins including three pages drawn as a new alternative ending to the comic book, and thus the movie.
The only word to describe this movie, and this resulting book is ‘lush.’ An ad for The Veidt Method (Page 13) quotes comic books’ one-time ubiquitous Charles Atlas self-improvement ads. Dozens of prop newspapers hang in a hallway, with decades spanned in their headlines, waiting for approval to use in the movie. Production manager Alex McDowell explained part of the rationale for such detail, “This film is interesting because environments really have to represent the characters iconically, because you are in this very complex, fluid time stream back and forth. You need something to ground you when you cut back to something that’s 1970 or ’77 or ’85.” (p.28-29) The small black & white television shown in the original Nite Owl’s apartment on p. 39 is actually the same model that this reviewer had in his bedroom as a teenager.
The Introduction chapter gives the basic rationale behind the design and look of the movie. Concept Art has the initial redesigns of characters, the storyboards and the new ending by Gibbons and Snyder. Several pages focus on James Jean’s painting of Silk Spectre I’s World War II propaganda poster. Jean painted her in both Norman Rockwell and Vargas’ styles. Production Art focuses more on how a scene is actually laid out and what it will look like – an example is the cemetery for the Comedian’s funeral which is shown as a painting and a set of elevation drawings. This leads naturally into the Sets chapter, which again shows design artwork and stills from the finished movie; here a good example is Dr. Manhattan’s apartment or Adrian Veidt’s office.
Props drills down into more detailed pieces especially, and unsurprisingly, weapons although it also includes the newspapers seen waiting for approval in the Introduction, Rorschach’s diary, Watchmen action figures from Veidt’s office (sculpted for the film by Neville Page, but the viewer can now own a set as a result of the movie, as reality and fiction intertwine). Moore and Gibbon’s original story had a secondary story running through it – a knock-off of an EC pirate horror comic called The Black Freighter. Interleaving that into the movie would have been impossible, so Snyder created an animated direct-to-video version which went on sale before The Watchmen opened. A few pages show artwork from the ‘comic book’ and the resulting animation.
The Owlship, a flying version of Batman’s Batmobile, gets a chapter to itself, as do Costumes. Both are filled with production artwork and the final results. The book ends with a look at the multiple poster campaigns designed for the movie. Like The Film Companion, this book is well-done and should appeal to those interested in more information than the movie alone could provide.
Watchmen movie reviews and other bits UPDATED
Gene George Gustines says the NY Times is starting a best-seller list (online only) for graphic novels.
And the City Paper recommends John Malloy's show in Maryland - "Sunday, March 8, at Art Whino," By Mike Riggs, Washington City Paper March 6, 2009: 37.
Now, Watchmen reviews from local papers:
"Men (and Women) in Tights: Watchmen is a slog; Ballerina is a poignant spectacle," By Tricia Olszewski, Washington City Paper March 6, 2009.
"Watching the Watchmen: Movie Review," By Michael O'Connell, Springfield Connection / Connection Newspapers Thursday, March 5, 2009.
"Blight 'Watchmen': Graphic Novel's Edge Is Dulled in Adaptation," By Philip Kennicott, Washington Post Staff Writer, Thursday, March 5, 2009; C01.
Slate intern Katie Rolnick sent me these next two links - thanks Katie!
"The wizard of "Watchmen": Alan Moore talks about his career, his favorite characters and his bad influence on the comics world," By Andrew Firestone, Salon Mar. 05, 2009.
"Alan Moore's environmental monster: The genius behind "Watchmen" redefined both the audience and the narrative possibilities of comic books with his newly reissued "Saga of the Swamp Thing."" By Andrew O'Hehir, Salon Mar. 04, 2009.
and finally I was interviewed at Arlington's Lost Dog Cafe for this article - "Real World in Four Colors: Movie, comic book fans find a world of entertainment in graphic novels," By Michael O'Connell, Springfield Connection / Connection Newspapers Thursday, March 05, 2009. I stand by my conclusions.
Ok, not quite finally - the Onion had 3 comics pieces today:
The movie review - "Watchmen" which got a B from Keith Phipps, Onion March 5, 2009.
A Rorschach interview - "Jackie Earle Haley," by Tasha Robinson, Onion March 5, 2009.
In the physical paper, this is 5 - "In the wake of Watchmen: 24 more graphic novels we'd like to see made into movies," by Chris Mincher, Genevieve Koski, Leonard Pierce, Noel Murray, Steven Hyden, Tasha Robinson, and Zack Handlen, Onion March 2, 2009.
And a podcast - "A.V. Talk: Watchmen" directly here.
And the City Paper recommends John Malloy's show in Maryland - "Sunday, March 8, at Art Whino," By Mike Riggs, Washington City Paper March 6, 2009: 37.
Now, Watchmen reviews from local papers:
"Men (and Women) in Tights: Watchmen is a slog; Ballerina is a poignant spectacle," By Tricia Olszewski, Washington City Paper March 6, 2009.
"Watching the Watchmen: Movie Review," By Michael O'Connell, Springfield Connection / Connection Newspapers Thursday, March 5, 2009.
"Blight 'Watchmen': Graphic Novel's Edge Is Dulled in Adaptation," By Philip Kennicott, Washington Post Staff Writer, Thursday, March 5, 2009; C01.
Slate intern Katie Rolnick sent me these next two links - thanks Katie!
"The wizard of "Watchmen": Alan Moore talks about his career, his favorite characters and his bad influence on the comics world," By Andrew Firestone, Salon Mar. 05, 2009.
"Alan Moore's environmental monster: The genius behind "Watchmen" redefined both the audience and the narrative possibilities of comic books with his newly reissued "Saga of the Swamp Thing."" By Andrew O'Hehir, Salon Mar. 04, 2009.
and finally I was interviewed at Arlington's Lost Dog Cafe for this article - "Real World in Four Colors: Movie, comic book fans find a world of entertainment in graphic novels," By Michael O'Connell, Springfield Connection / Connection Newspapers Thursday, March 05, 2009. I stand by my conclusions.
Ok, not quite finally - the Onion had 3 comics pieces today:
The movie review - "Watchmen" which got a B from Keith Phipps, Onion March 5, 2009.
A Rorschach interview - "Jackie Earle Haley," by Tasha Robinson, Onion March 5, 2009.
In the physical paper, this is 5 - "In the wake of Watchmen: 24 more graphic novels we'd like to see made into movies," by Chris Mincher, Genevieve Koski, Leonard Pierce, Noel Murray, Steven Hyden, Tasha Robinson, and Zack Handlen, Onion March 2, 2009.
And a podcast - "A.V. Talk: Watchmen" directly here.
Wednesday, March 04, 2009
Takoma Park librarian on Amelia Rules
See "Corner Books: Comics for kids" By KAREN MACPHERSON, Scripps Howard News Service, March 4, 2009, for her look at Amelia Rules! by Jimmy Gownley.
Watchmen: The Film Companion book review
Aperlo, Peter. Watchmen: The Official Film Companion. London: Titan Books.
176 pages, $19.95 (pb), $29.95 (hc)
ISBN-10: 1848560672 (pb), ISBN-13: 978-1848560673 (pb), ISBN-10: 1848561598 (hc), ISBN-13: 978-1848561595.
Watchmen, a movie that I thought would never be made due to its absolute need for familiarity with comic book superhero tropes, is generating merchandising and spinoffs just like the original comic books did over two decades ago. The movie audiences’ familiarity with DC Comics characters such as Superman and Batman apparently carried over to acceptance of the Watchmen characters which Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons had based on Charlton Comics’ superhero knockoffs of the DC heroes.
Titan Books has put out some handsome volumes on the making of the movie. To long-time American readers, Titan was best known for repackaging DC and Marvel comics for the British market, frequently collecting material like Neal Adams’ Batman in black and white. More recently, they have been the source for reprints of British works including comic strips like the excellent James Bond series. Now, as it publishes high quality books about the making of movies based on comics, the company has moved into a market held by Chronicle Books and Hyperion. This business decision was probably partly motivated by the success of books such as “The Art of (Our New Animated Movie)” which now accompany every new animation release.
The Official Film Companion is a lovely book. It is largely a photography book with a small amount of text, as these books tend to be. The printing is of excellent quality, and is far higher than earlier books of this type such as those that came out for the first Batman series. The book is divided into seven chapters: Pre-Production, World of Watchmen, The Characters, Production, Post-Production, Making Manhattan and Conclusion.
Pre-Production features some interesting artwork by other comic book artists, but is mostly devoted to background material such as set and prop designs. World of the Watchmen demonstrates the inherent difficulty of a book like this – the ‘history’ of the Watchmen’s world is written straightly and shown in photographs. Then director Zach Snyder is quoted. “What does [being a superhero] do to you?” Snyder asks … “Does it make you crazy? Does it make you a recluse? Does it make you lose touch with humanity?” (p. 38). The book then continues on describing the formation of the Minuteman team in the 1940s. The Characters, a chapter describing each one in some detail, has the same problem differentiating between the character’s reality and the actor’s reality. The next three chapters examine how the movie was actually made, especially the special effects. The chapter on Dr. Manhattan has many pictures of the motion-capture suit, and decisively settles the issue of how much of Billy Crudup’s anatomy is actually shown on the screen: none, except for his face.
Overall, this is a very well-produced, typical example of this type of book. If you are interested in knowing more about the film, or if you like looking at cool photos of props or special effects, you’ll find something of interest in the book.
Soon to come - reviews of The Art of the Film and Portraits.
Thanks to Katharine Carroll of Titan Books for providing review copies. A revised copy of this review will run in the Fall 2009 International Journal of Comic Art.
New Batman book written by local DC guy Kronenberg
In "HOLY INFO! EURY & KRONENBERG BATMAN COMPANION," by Jennifer M. Contino, Comicon's The Pulse February 24 2009, the interview with the two writers ends with "MICHAEL KRONENBERG: I’m primarily a graphic designer. I just wrapped up the designs for Batcave Companion and Hopalong Cassiday: An American Legend for Russ Cochran. I’m currently designing Grailpages: Original Comic Art and the Collectors for TwoMorrows publishing. I’m also the ongoing designer for the EC Archives, Twomorrows’ Rough Stuff magazine, and I’m Michael’s cover designer for Back Issue. Like Michael, I do have a day job; I’m the art director for a large environmental firm in Washington, DC." Another unsuspected local comics laborer revealed! Check out the whole interview for more details on the book - I like most of TwoMorrows productions because they're so obviously labors of love.
Watchmen in today's Express
The paper version has a Watchmen story from Angela Dawson and a Wonder Woman animation story from the LA Times Hero Complex blog, but their online version has an article by a new reader of the graphic novel - "Graphic, Not Novel: Who Reads the 'Watchmen'?" Stephen M. Deusner, Express at 9:30 AM on March 4, 2009.
Comic Art Indigene opens on Friday at American Indian museum
Here's the press info:
Comic Art Indigène
March 6, 2009–May 31, 2009
NMAI on the National Mall, Washington, DC
Storytelling has long been a part of Native American culture. Comic Art Indigène examines how storytelling has been used through comics and comic-inspired art to express the contemporary Native American experience. Under the larger definition of narrative art, comic art is more related to Native American art traditions than one might expect. The earliest surviving example of such narrative art is rock art. The historic examples used in the exhibition, such as photographs of rock art, ledger art, and ceramics, are meant to link Native American art traditions with contemporary voices.
Tuesday, March 03, 2009
Times of London picks up Doonesbury's Post - Post story
"Cartoonist Gary Trudeau upsets newspaper image," Tim Reid, The Times March 3, 2009.
Wimpy Kid's creator profiled in Post
Bob Thompson seems to be the Post's default graphic novel guy now.
"GET OUT OF HERE! Jeff Kinney Isn't Kidding About How 'Wimpy Kid' Came to Life," By Bob Thompson, Washington Post Staff Writer, Tuesday, March 3, 2009; C01.
And here's a podcast from February 13th.
"GET OUT OF HERE! Jeff Kinney Isn't Kidding About How 'Wimpy Kid' Came to Life," By Bob Thompson, Washington Post Staff Writer, Tuesday, March 3, 2009; C01.
And here's a podcast from February 13th.
Monday, March 02, 2009
March 6-7 Washington Antiquarian Book Fair
I imagine there's cartoon and comics material there. Washington Antiquarian Book Fair, Holiday Inn Rosslyn at Key Bridge, 1900 N Fort Meyer Dr in Arlington. 301-654-2626. It's Friday 5-9 pm and Saturday 10-5, $14 for both, $8 for just Saturday.
Richard Thompson at San Diego Comic-Con
Now it can be told! Even if he's not on YouTube, Richard will be a guest at the San Diego Comic-Con this year - he's got a link to an interview the Con did with him up now.
Live-action Avatar movie casting in Arlington
See "In Va., Casting About For Mongolian Actors," By Dan Zak, Washington Post Staff Writer, Monday, March 2, 2009; C01 for information on Avatar: The Last Airbenders leap from tv animation to movies. The article also talks about the controversy around the casting of the lead actors who are all white. Earlier this year cartoonist Derek Kirk Kim wrote about his objections on his blog - "New day in politics, same old racist world on the silver screen," January 20 2009.
NY Times calls out Post on Doonesbury reprints
The Post started running the Doonesbury Flashback (ie repeat) strips where they laid off Rick Redfern and then stopped last week, and then restarted them. I didn't really think this was a story since they'd already run the strips about the Post firing Rick Redfern closer to the time that they actually laid people off. However, since the Paper of Record has noted it, we will too - see "Washington Post Corrects a Goof on Doonesbury," By RICHARD PÉREZ-PEÑA, New York Times March 2, 2009.
Sunday, March 01, 2009
QUICK REVIEWS FOR COMICS DUE 03-04-09
QUICK REVIEWS FOR COMICS DUE 03-04-09
By John Judy
AGENTS OF ATLAS #2 by Jeff Parker and Carlo Pagulayan. This funky little fifties retro comic continues to be way cooler than it has any right to be. For readers who like the odder corners of the Marvel Universe. Recommended.
BATMAN CACOPHONY #3 of 3 by Kevin Smith and Walter J. Flanagan. If you like your Joker gay and your comics bi- (monthly) then Kevin Smith has a comic for you!
BLACK PANTHER #2 by Reginald Hudlin and Kan Lashley. The Black Panther is a girl now. This is the sort of stunt I usually hate but Hudlin is making it work so far. That cover by J. Scott Campbell has got to go though. Dr. Doom with a big “D” belt buckle? Please. Is this the Big Bad of the Marvel Universe or a Texas pimp?
THE BOYS #28 by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson. Wee Hughie’s undercover gig starts going seriously pear-shaped. Not for kids.
BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #23 by Drew Z. Greenberg and Georges Jeanty. Buffy and Andrew together on a mission to Italy. What’s Italian for “Kill me now?”
DAREDEVIL #116 by Ed Brubaker and David Aja. So what’s the Kingpin been up to lately? From the Dream Team who revamped IRON FIST into a readable title. Recommended.
GOON #32 (10th ANNIVERSARY ISSUE!) written and drawn by Eric Powell. “Okay, you drunken miscreants, it’s the Goon’s birthday and we’re gonna make it a good one, see!” Featuring pin-ups by Mignola, Jeff Smith and Bernie Wrightson! Recommended!
SECRET SIX #7 by Gail Simone and Nicola Scott. After last issue’s big betrayal and twisted revelation the only possible follow-up is a Seriously Big Fight. Guest-starring everyone. Recommended.
SOLOMON GRUNDY #1 of 7 by written and drawn by Scott Kolins. The hulking monster of Slaughter Swamp teams up with his alter-ego Bruce Banner to… oh, wait…
SUPERMAN WORLD OF NEW KRYPTON #1 of 12 by Greg Rucka & James Robinson and Pete Woods. Not a hoax, not a dream, not an imaginary story! The Last Son of Krypton (except for those 100,000 other guys, give or take) is going to spend a year screwing around on the other side of the sun with all the other Last Sons and Daughters of K-Town. Expect lots of intrigue and punch ‘em ups, starting here. And what about Zod?
ULTIMATE WOLVERINE VS HULK #3 of 6 by Damon Lindelof and Leinil Yu. I hesitate to mention this book until all six issues have been published and collected in trade paperback but… three years after issue two hit the stands… IT’S BACK! A big, hopelessly outdated by continuity fight between, well, y’know, it’s in the title. Gotta look. Too violent for younger kids.
www.johnjudy.net
By John Judy
AGENTS OF ATLAS #2 by Jeff Parker and Carlo Pagulayan. This funky little fifties retro comic continues to be way cooler than it has any right to be. For readers who like the odder corners of the Marvel Universe. Recommended.
BATMAN CACOPHONY #3 of 3 by Kevin Smith and Walter J. Flanagan. If you like your Joker gay and your comics bi- (monthly) then Kevin Smith has a comic for you!
BLACK PANTHER #2 by Reginald Hudlin and Kan Lashley. The Black Panther is a girl now. This is the sort of stunt I usually hate but Hudlin is making it work so far. That cover by J. Scott Campbell has got to go though. Dr. Doom with a big “D” belt buckle? Please. Is this the Big Bad of the Marvel Universe or a Texas pimp?
THE BOYS #28 by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson. Wee Hughie’s undercover gig starts going seriously pear-shaped. Not for kids.
BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #23 by Drew Z. Greenberg and Georges Jeanty. Buffy and Andrew together on a mission to Italy. What’s Italian for “Kill me now?”
DAREDEVIL #116 by Ed Brubaker and David Aja. So what’s the Kingpin been up to lately? From the Dream Team who revamped IRON FIST into a readable title. Recommended.
GOON #32 (10th ANNIVERSARY ISSUE!) written and drawn by Eric Powell. “Okay, you drunken miscreants, it’s the Goon’s birthday and we’re gonna make it a good one, see!” Featuring pin-ups by Mignola, Jeff Smith and Bernie Wrightson! Recommended!
SECRET SIX #7 by Gail Simone and Nicola Scott. After last issue’s big betrayal and twisted revelation the only possible follow-up is a Seriously Big Fight. Guest-starring everyone. Recommended.
SOLOMON GRUNDY #1 of 7 by written and drawn by Scott Kolins. The hulking monster of Slaughter Swamp teams up with his alter-ego Bruce Banner to… oh, wait…
SUPERMAN WORLD OF NEW KRYPTON #1 of 12 by Greg Rucka & James Robinson and Pete Woods. Not a hoax, not a dream, not an imaginary story! The Last Son of Krypton (except for those 100,000 other guys, give or take) is going to spend a year screwing around on the other side of the sun with all the other Last Sons and Daughters of K-Town. Expect lots of intrigue and punch ‘em ups, starting here. And what about Zod?
ULTIMATE WOLVERINE VS HULK #3 of 6 by Damon Lindelof and Leinil Yu. I hesitate to mention this book until all six issues have been published and collected in trade paperback but… three years after issue two hit the stands… IT’S BACK! A big, hopelessly outdated by continuity fight between, well, y’know, it’s in the title. Gotta look. Too violent for younger kids.
www.johnjudy.net
Examiner's USA Weekend magazine on Watchmen
The Washington Examiner's USA Weekend Sunday magazine is on Watchmen. That's the free paper that's delivered to some homes in the area. They commissioned Dave Gibbons to make them a new poster too, as seen on the right. I just walked around my neighborhood in the snow picking up copies for the libraries I supply. The poster's interesting - Gibbons used features of the actors so it's a curious blend of the graphic novel and the movie.
FYE in Georgetown has some Watchmen giveaway material too, I'm told.
Cul de Sac gets animated UPDATED
Now it can be told. Cul de Sac is being animated for cellphones by Ring Tales and Andrews McMeel has loaded an episode onto YouTube. They've also put up one for Argyle Sweater.
Apparently it can't be told. They took them back down a day later - although Michael Jantze of Jantze Studio wrote in to say that he worked worked on it. Jantze used to do a strip/book called The Norm which I enjoyed a lot.
Updated again - Alan Gardner notes that Ring Tales, not Andrews McMeel has the distribution rights to the animation.
Apparently it can't be told. They took them back down a day later - although Michael Jantze of Jantze Studio wrote in to say that he worked worked on it. Jantze used to do a strip/book called The Norm which I enjoyed a lot.
Updated again - Alan Gardner notes that Ring Tales, not Andrews McMeel has the distribution rights to the animation.
Mardi Gras parade with life-size Thompson finger puppets
The planning:
Design sketches for BonoTom's Richard Thompson-influenced entry at the Clarendon Mardi Gras parade in Arlington, VA.
The parade on Fat Tuesday in Clarendon, Arlington, Va:
The Secret Service clotheslined the guy in the vest seconds after this picture was taken.
That's the head of last year's float.
A print of two of Thompson's caricatures is wrapped around the beads they're tossing.
Design sketches for BonoTom's Richard Thompson-influenced entry at the Clarendon Mardi Gras parade in Arlington, VA.
The parade on Fat Tuesday in Clarendon, Arlington, Va:
The Secret Service clotheslined the guy in the vest seconds after this picture was taken.
That's the head of last year's float.
A print of two of Thompson's caricatures is wrapped around the beads they're tossing.
Zadzooks on Toy Fair
See "Zadzooks: Hasbro powers toy fair," Joseph Szadkowski, Washington Times Thursday, February 26, 2009 and "Watchmen, The End is Nigh and Halo Wars," BY JOE SZADKOWSKI, Zadzooks Blog February 26 2009.
In "Bennett's Best for the week of February 15," By Greg Bennett, Zadzooks Blog February 26 2009 recommends Urasawa. In "Bennett's Best for the week of February 22," By Greg Bennett, Zadzooks Blog February 26 2009, he recommends Scott Pilgrim and Black Panther.
In "Bennett's Best for the week of February 15," By Greg Bennett, Zadzooks Blog February 26 2009 recommends Urasawa. In "Bennett's Best for the week of February 22," By Greg Bennett, Zadzooks Blog February 26 2009, he recommends Scott Pilgrim and Black Panther.
OT: Hembeck. Fred Hembeck
I was out tonight with some other comics-loving people and Fred Hembeck came up. Fred is one of the funniest people to ever 'do' superheroes (along with Don Rosa), but the other guys didn't know he was doing a column now at the LA Times Hero Complex blog. So here's links to the first three:
Fred Hembeck's Hero Complex: Captain America (Part 1)
Feb 1 2009
Fred Hembeck's Hero Complex: Captain America (Part 2)
Feb 8 2009
Fred Hembeck's Hero Complex: The Hulk (Part 1)
Feb 18 2009
Seek out his new collection now for more Silver Age greatness.
Fred Hembeck's Hero Complex: Captain America (Part 1)
Feb 1 2009
Fred Hembeck's Hero Complex: Captain America (Part 2)
Feb 8 2009
Fred Hembeck's Hero Complex: The Hulk (Part 1)
Feb 18 2009
Seek out his new collection now for more Silver Age greatness.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
Get yer ComicsDC t-shirt at a discount this weekend
Get yer ComicsDC t-shirt at a discount this weekend. Zazzle's got a $4 off sale for shirts this weekend - Use code PATTYSHIRT09 during checkout. (Muscles not included).
Thanks again to local cartoonist David Hagen for the artwork, and remember he's got an exhibit opening in Arlington in March. Click on his name below to see the previous posts about him.
Ed Stein interview at Comics Riffs
After talking to Drew Litton yesterday, Michael also called the Rocky Mountain News' other cartoonist, Ed Stein - "As More Cartoonists Draw Severance, Honor Them While You Can," Michael Cavna, Washington Post Comic Riffs February 27, 2009. Stein also did Denver Square, an excellent strip that he ended a year or so ago.
Here's my review from the International Journal of Comic Art 6:1, Spring 2004, which is sadly dated now especially the line about newspapers supporting their cartoonists:
Charles Brooks, editor. Best Editorial Cartoons of the Year 2003 Edition, Gretna, LA: Pelican, 2003. ISBN 1-58980-090-7.
Ed Stein. Denver Square: We Need a Bigger House!, Gretna, LA: Pelican, 2003. ISBN 1-58980-115-6.
John Chase. The Louisiana Purchase: An American Story, Gretna, LA: Pelican, 2002. ISBN 1-58980-084-2.
Bob Artley. Christmas on the Farm, Gretna, LA: Pelican, 2003. ISBN 1-58980-108-3.
Bob Artley. Once Upon a Farm, Gretna, LA: Pelican, 2001. ISBN 1-56554-753-5.
Una Belle Townsend and Bob Artley. Grady’s in the Silo, Gretna, LA: Pelican, 2003. ISBN 1-58980-098-2.
The decline of comic art in America, whether comic strips, comic books, editorial cartoons or most recently hand-drawn animation, has been an accepted belief for at least a decade. Given the proliferation of cartoon characters in all media with attendant licensing, the movies based on comic books, dozens of museum and library exhibits per year, and the rising consumption of manga, I wonder how accurate this truism is. When a small American publisher like Pelican publishes over a dozen books by cartoonists, perhaps the field is changing and not diminishing. Pelican’s recent offerings run an interesting gamut – for this review, I have one editorial cartoon collection, one comic strip collection by an editorial cartoonist, one historical comic strip collection, and three apparent children’s books by an editorial cartoonist (see IJoCA 3:1 & 4:2 for other Pelican reviews).
Brooks’ 31st collection of editorial cartoons continues his useful sampling and should be a regular purchase by anyone interested in the field. Clay Bennett of the Christian Science Monitor (see IJoCA 5:1) won most of the major awards in 2002, including the Pulitzer, but to my eyes, his obviously computer-generated work is overly slick and reproduces badly in black and white. Ongoing Catholic church scandals got a hard-hitting section, as did, in a sign of the second Gilded Age, Enron’s collapse. 2002, and thus the book, was heavy on terrorism cartoons, and the youthful suicide bomber wrapped in dynamite sticks needs to be retired. An especially unfortunate example of a terrorism cartoon was Steve Kelley’s cartoon of Snoopy deciding to go after Bin Laden. Inexplicably, no cartoons by 2001 Pulitzer winner Ann Telnaes were included.
Ed Stein is a political cartoonist for the Denver Rocky Mountain News, and he also does a non-syndicated comic strip for them. “Denver Square” has been published since 1997, and a selection of strips from five years is included in the book. The strip follows a middle-class family of three, who are joined by live-in in-laws. Stein consciously decided to make his strip local, so the Denver Broncos football team, local wildfires, the Columbine High School murders, and the excesses of the tragic Jon Benet Ramsey murder investigation all are topics of the strip. As this list makes clear, Stein’s political cartoonist instincts are frequently on display in the strip. Both despite and because of its local focus, Stein’s strip is a good one, and this book is a nice example about what is still possible when newspapers support their cartoonists.
Non-fiction comic strips such as “Texas History Movies” (see IJoCA 5:2) have recently been rediscovered, and Chase’s “The Louisiana Purchase” is a reprint of 1950s strips with a text introduction that adds more detailed context. Moving far beyond Jefferson’s purchase, Chase begins with the discovery of America, and slowly moves through various explorers and a basic history of the settlement of the United States, even including two strips on the creation of the dollar sign. The strips are well-drawn competent basic history which I enjoyed, and much of IJoCA’s readership should too, but I am not sure today’s students have enough interest in comic strips for this reprint to attract a school-age audience.
Cartoonists have written children’s books (i.e. books written specifically for children and not collections of their work) throughout the entire twentieth century, and many recent notable examples spring to mind – masters such as Steig and Seuss, but also Breathed, Larson, Bliss, Spiegelman, Sfar, and Stamaty. Retired midwestern editorial cartoonist Artley illustrated Townsend’s true story of a cow caught in a feed silo. There is nothing particularly ‘cartoony’ about his illustrations, and my five-year-old daughter pronounced the story as ‘nice.’ Artley’s other two books recall his experiences growing up on a farm in the 1920s and collect drawings from his syndicated cartoons and “Once Upon A Farm” weekly half-page. These books are packaged as children’s books, but are really for an older audience; perhaps even one that remembers a lost rural way of life. Artley’s text is serviceable, and his drawings, either pen and ink or watercolor, are very good. There is some overlap between the two books, and the cartoon component of either is slight, but both are recommended.
Here's my review from the International Journal of Comic Art 6:1, Spring 2004, which is sadly dated now especially the line about newspapers supporting their cartoonists:
Charles Brooks, editor. Best Editorial Cartoons of the Year 2003 Edition, Gretna, LA: Pelican, 2003. ISBN 1-58980-090-7.
Ed Stein. Denver Square: We Need a Bigger House!, Gretna, LA: Pelican, 2003. ISBN 1-58980-115-6.
John Chase. The Louisiana Purchase: An American Story, Gretna, LA: Pelican, 2002. ISBN 1-58980-084-2.
Bob Artley. Christmas on the Farm, Gretna, LA: Pelican, 2003. ISBN 1-58980-108-3.
Bob Artley. Once Upon a Farm, Gretna, LA: Pelican, 2001. ISBN 1-56554-753-5.
Una Belle Townsend and Bob Artley. Grady’s in the Silo, Gretna, LA: Pelican, 2003. ISBN 1-58980-098-2.
The decline of comic art in America, whether comic strips, comic books, editorial cartoons or most recently hand-drawn animation, has been an accepted belief for at least a decade. Given the proliferation of cartoon characters in all media with attendant licensing, the movies based on comic books, dozens of museum and library exhibits per year, and the rising consumption of manga, I wonder how accurate this truism is. When a small American publisher like Pelican publishes over a dozen books by cartoonists, perhaps the field is changing and not diminishing. Pelican’s recent offerings run an interesting gamut – for this review, I have one editorial cartoon collection, one comic strip collection by an editorial cartoonist, one historical comic strip collection, and three apparent children’s books by an editorial cartoonist (see IJoCA 3:1 & 4:2 for other Pelican reviews).
Brooks’ 31st collection of editorial cartoons continues his useful sampling and should be a regular purchase by anyone interested in the field. Clay Bennett of the Christian Science Monitor (see IJoCA 5:1) won most of the major awards in 2002, including the Pulitzer, but to my eyes, his obviously computer-generated work is overly slick and reproduces badly in black and white. Ongoing Catholic church scandals got a hard-hitting section, as did, in a sign of the second Gilded Age, Enron’s collapse. 2002, and thus the book, was heavy on terrorism cartoons, and the youthful suicide bomber wrapped in dynamite sticks needs to be retired. An especially unfortunate example of a terrorism cartoon was Steve Kelley’s cartoon of Snoopy deciding to go after Bin Laden. Inexplicably, no cartoons by 2001 Pulitzer winner Ann Telnaes were included.
Ed Stein is a political cartoonist for the Denver Rocky Mountain News, and he also does a non-syndicated comic strip for them. “Denver Square” has been published since 1997, and a selection of strips from five years is included in the book. The strip follows a middle-class family of three, who are joined by live-in in-laws. Stein consciously decided to make his strip local, so the Denver Broncos football team, local wildfires, the Columbine High School murders, and the excesses of the tragic Jon Benet Ramsey murder investigation all are topics of the strip. As this list makes clear, Stein’s political cartoonist instincts are frequently on display in the strip. Both despite and because of its local focus, Stein’s strip is a good one, and this book is a nice example about what is still possible when newspapers support their cartoonists.
Non-fiction comic strips such as “Texas History Movies” (see IJoCA 5:2) have recently been rediscovered, and Chase’s “The Louisiana Purchase” is a reprint of 1950s strips with a text introduction that adds more detailed context. Moving far beyond Jefferson’s purchase, Chase begins with the discovery of America, and slowly moves through various explorers and a basic history of the settlement of the United States, even including two strips on the creation of the dollar sign. The strips are well-drawn competent basic history which I enjoyed, and much of IJoCA’s readership should too, but I am not sure today’s students have enough interest in comic strips for this reprint to attract a school-age audience.
Cartoonists have written children’s books (i.e. books written specifically for children and not collections of their work) throughout the entire twentieth century, and many recent notable examples spring to mind – masters such as Steig and Seuss, but also Breathed, Larson, Bliss, Spiegelman, Sfar, and Stamaty. Retired midwestern editorial cartoonist Artley illustrated Townsend’s true story of a cow caught in a feed silo. There is nothing particularly ‘cartoony’ about his illustrations, and my five-year-old daughter pronounced the story as ‘nice.’ Artley’s other two books recall his experiences growing up on a farm in the 1920s and collect drawings from his syndicated cartoons and “Once Upon A Farm” weekly half-page. These books are packaged as children’s books, but are really for an older audience; perhaps even one that remembers a lost rural way of life. Artley’s text is serviceable, and his drawings, either pen and ink or watercolor, are very good. There is some overlap between the two books, and the cartoon component of either is slight, but both are recommended.
Kevin Pope, formerly of Express ads
When the free Express paper started years ago, Juniper ran ads by cartoonist Kevin Pope. There were probably about 10 different full page ones before the campaign stopped in the paper. However, it continued online, until now. See "Juniper Kills the Cartoons!" Craig Matsumoto, West Coast Editor, Light Reading, FEBRUARY 24, 2009 and "Juniper's Cartoonist Isn't Bitter," Craig Matsumoto, West Coast Editor, Light Reading, FEBRUARY 27, 2009.
Unfortunately, the company also took the cartoons off their website, depriving us of an opportunity to play catchup.
Unfortunately, the company also took the cartoons off their website, depriving us of an opportunity to play catchup.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Katsucon by Kelts continued
See "SOFT POWER HARD TRUTHS / Cosplayers a breath of fresh air for D.C.," Roland Kelts / Special to The Daily Yomiuri (February 27 2009)
Richard Thompson, before he was world-famous
Richard Thompson, before he was world-famous, was just another Washington Post hack artist. Here's a couple of drawings I found today.
Lost in Translation, Washington Post March 1, 1992.
Hooked on Horror, Washington Post, Washington Post August 13, 1989.
Lost in Translation, Washington Post March 1, 1992.
Hooked on Horror, Washington Post, Washington Post August 13, 1989.
Sports cartoonist Drew Litton interview on Comic Riffs
See "The Interview: Drew Litton of the (RIP) Rocky Mountain News," By Michael Cavna, Washington Post Comic Riffs blog February 27, 2009.
Video game movies
Video game movies have animation blended into their DNA, so here's an online-only story on them. The hardcopy Express had an interview with Kristin Kreuk about her role in Street Fighter. See "Fightin' Words: Video Game Movies," by Express contributor Roxana Hadadi, February 25, 2009.
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Experimental comics exhibit in Charlottesville
Pedro Moura sent a note to the comix-scholar's list about a new exhibit he's worked on. Quoted with permission:
Next March the 6th, a show is opening at the Second Street Gallery, Charlottesville, Virginia, called Impera et Divide, which will host six artists who're working on the verge of what one might call experimental comics, or simply a very contemporary strand of comics. The artists are Frédéric Coché (France), Aerim Lee (South Korea), André Lemos (Portugal), Ilan Manouach (Greece), Andrei Molotiu (US) and Fabio Zimbres (Brazil). This show was curated by Charlottesville's own Warren Craghead III (of How to be everywhere fame) and yours truly.
To put it in a nutshell, this is a very heterogeneous group of people, but they're all can be seen as working in a fine line of experimental comics. I try to clear that up in an obstruse, tangled text (hey, English's not my language) to be published in a book I've edited and published with the artists' work. It is not a catalogue, but a companion publication. It's being printed as we speak, so I hope to have a few copies by the time I leave to the US. It's called Divide et Impera and it also has work from Craghead.
Here's the link to the gallery: http://www.secondstreetgallery.org/
And a blog put up by Craghead: http://imperaetdivide.blogspot.com/
The show will be held until April the 25th.
Next March the 6th, a show is opening at the Second Street Gallery, Charlottesville, Virginia, called Impera et Divide, which will host six artists who're working on the verge of what one might call experimental comics, or simply a very contemporary strand of comics. The artists are Frédéric Coché (France), Aerim Lee (South Korea), André Lemos (Portugal), Ilan Manouach (Greece), Andrei Molotiu (US) and Fabio Zimbres (Brazil). This show was curated by Charlottesville's own Warren Craghead III (of How to be everywhere fame) and yours truly.
To put it in a nutshell, this is a very heterogeneous group of people, but they're all can be seen as working in a fine line of experimental comics. I try to clear that up in an obstruse, tangled text (hey, English's not my language) to be published in a book I've edited and published with the artists' work. It is not a catalogue, but a companion publication. It's being printed as we speak, so I hope to have a few copies by the time I leave to the US. It's called Divide et Impera and it also has work from Craghead.
Here's the link to the gallery: http://www.secondstreetgallery.org/
And a blog put up by Craghead: http://imperaetdivide.blogspot.com/
The show will be held until April the 25th.
OT: MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY COMICS FORUM 2009
The Library's Comic Art Collection is where I send all my duplicate material (well I also send it to Ohio State's Cartoon Art Library and Museum and the Library of Congress' Prints and Photos Division, but MSU gets first crack):
ANNOUNCING THE MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY COMICS FORUM 2009
An Event for Scholars, Creators, and Fans
EAST LANSING, MI (February, 23 2009)- The Michigan State University Comics Forum is an annual event that brings together scholars, creators, and fans in order to explore and celebrate the medium of comics, graphic storytelling, and sequential art. The Michigan State University Comics Forum 2009 is scheduled to take place March 27-28 on the campus of Michigan State University.
This year’s keynote address will be given by David Petersen, creator of the critically acclaimed Mouse Guard. David Petersen won the 2007 Russ Manning Award for Most Promising Newcomer. In 2008, David won the Eisner Awards for Best Publication for Kids (Mouse Guard Fall 1152 & Winter 1152) and Best Graphic Album – Reprint (Mouse Guard Fall 1152 Hardcover).
The event will also feature an Artist’s Alley as well as several panel discussions with academics studying comic books and professionals working in the comic book industry.
The Michigan State University Comics Forum is accepting entries for the 2009 Original Comics Collection. Ten finalists will be chosen from among the entries, from which judges will choose a single winner who will receive a $150 award. Entries will be judged based on their creativity, quality, and storytelling. The work of all finalists will be displayed at the Michigan State University Comics Forum 2009, and be collected, archived, and preserved in the Comic Art Collection housed in Michigan State University’s Special Collections. The Comic Art Collection holds over 200,000 items and is the primary library resource for the study of U.S. comic book publications.
For more information concerning The Michigan State University Comics Forum 2009, as well as submission guidelines for the 2009 Original Comics Collection, please visit http://www.comicsforum.msu.edu/. You can also follow the The Michigan State University Comics Forum 2009 on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/msucomicsforum
ANNOUNCING THE MICHIGAN STATE UNIVERSITY COMICS FORUM 2009
An Event for Scholars, Creators, and Fans
EAST LANSING, MI (February, 23 2009)- The Michigan State University Comics Forum is an annual event that brings together scholars, creators, and fans in order to explore and celebrate the medium of comics, graphic storytelling, and sequential art. The Michigan State University Comics Forum 2009 is scheduled to take place March 27-28 on the campus of Michigan State University.
This year’s keynote address will be given by David Petersen, creator of the critically acclaimed Mouse Guard. David Petersen won the 2007 Russ Manning Award for Most Promising Newcomer. In 2008, David won the Eisner Awards for Best Publication for Kids (Mouse Guard Fall 1152 & Winter 1152) and Best Graphic Album – Reprint (Mouse Guard Fall 1152 Hardcover).
The event will also feature an Artist’s Alley as well as several panel discussions with academics studying comic books and professionals working in the comic book industry.
The Michigan State University Comics Forum is accepting entries for the 2009 Original Comics Collection. Ten finalists will be chosen from among the entries, from which judges will choose a single winner who will receive a $150 award. Entries will be judged based on their creativity, quality, and storytelling. The work of all finalists will be displayed at the Michigan State University Comics Forum 2009, and be collected, archived, and preserved in the Comic Art Collection housed in Michigan State University’s Special Collections. The Comic Art Collection holds over 200,000 items and is the primary library resource for the study of U.S. comic book publications.
For more information concerning The Michigan State University Comics Forum 2009, as well as submission guidelines for the 2009 Original Comics Collection, please visit http://www.comicsforum.msu.edu/. You can also follow the The Michigan State University Comics Forum 2009 on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/msucomicsforum
Thompson's Super-Size Me Finger Puppets
Here's some shots from Tuesday's Mardi Gras parade showing the life-size Richard Thompson Obama finger-puppet. I haven't checked my photos yet due to having a cold and feeling lazy.
Spider-Man on WAMU on Friday
Listen to "Spidey at the Library of Congress" on WAMU's Metro Connection tomorrow.
Last year, an anonymous donor gave the Library of Congress original drawings of the first comic book appearance of Spider-Man. The pen and ink illustrations made by creator Steve Ditko in 1962 are available for Spidey-scholars to peruse - and the acquisition was an instant hit. Sara Duke is Curator of the graphic arts division of the Library. Back in May of last year, Stephanie Kaye spoke with Duke, as she opened the long, flat archive boxes these Spider-Man images now call home.
I'm not sure why it took them 9 months to get the story on the air though - Sara doesn't usually need that much editing.
Last year, an anonymous donor gave the Library of Congress original drawings of the first comic book appearance of Spider-Man. The pen and ink illustrations made by creator Steve Ditko in 1962 are available for Spidey-scholars to peruse - and the acquisition was an instant hit. Sara Duke is Curator of the graphic arts division of the Library. Back in May of last year, Stephanie Kaye spoke with Duke, as she opened the long, flat archive boxes these Spider-Man images now call home.
I'm not sure why it took them 9 months to get the story on the air though - Sara doesn't usually need that much editing.
City Paper on Nanoman web comic / proto graphic novel
See "The Future Is Closer than You Think: A Review of Nanoman: The Post-Human Prometheus," by Mike Riggs, Washington City Paper's City Desk blog Feb. 26, 2009. We had a press release of this here earlier, Riggs says the editor of the graphic novel, Arthur Delaney, also writes for the City Paper which is cool to know. The first issue is online or for sale as print on demand, but it's planned to be a 144-page graphic novel.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
What‛s so funny about the economic crisis? Comics!
My friend Nick Thorkelson's got a new comic book out. He's sent me a copy and I'll be reviewing it, but here's the PR in the meantime.
February 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
What‛s so funny about the economic crisis?
ECONOMIC MELTDOWN FUNNIES
By Chuck Collins & Nick Thorkelson. Illustrated by Nick Thorkelson
Published by Jobs with Justice and the Institute for Policy Studies
Everyone’s looking for a straightforward explanation of what went wrong with the economy — and we all could use a good laugh, too.
Jobs with Justice and the Institute for Policy Studies Program on Inequality and the Common Good have just published an engaging 20-page comic book that graphically explains the causes of our current economic crisis, and how we can get the economy working again for working families.
“Economic Meltdown Funnies” is accessible,entertaining, and filled with facts to help you understand the causes and consequences of the current crisis. Formatted as a comic book, it’s a graphic explanation of how Wall Street and Washington caused the financial crisis, how it’s affecting real people in the real economy, and what we can do about it.
The book is available at a special rate for classrooms, unions or other organizations.
Bulk orders are just $5 each for 1-10 copies, $3.50 each for 11-99 copies, and $2 each for 100 copies or more. The book can also be downloaded for free at www.economicmeltdownfunnies.org. The website also features links to action and educational resources.
“Economic Meltdown Funnies” offers a sharp and witty progressive analysis and makes for a great workshop and organizing tool. The website also offers an opportunity for readers to leave comments, questions and suggestions.
Download the book, read it online, or order print copies at www.economicmeltdownfunnies.org, or call 617-541-0500, x302.
February 2009
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
What‛s so funny about the economic crisis?
ECONOMIC MELTDOWN FUNNIES
By Chuck Collins & Nick Thorkelson. Illustrated by Nick Thorkelson
Published by Jobs with Justice and the Institute for Policy Studies
Everyone’s looking for a straightforward explanation of what went wrong with the economy — and we all could use a good laugh, too.
Jobs with Justice and the Institute for Policy Studies Program on Inequality and the Common Good have just published an engaging 20-page comic book that graphically explains the causes of our current economic crisis, and how we can get the economy working again for working families.
“Economic Meltdown Funnies” is accessible,entertaining, and filled with facts to help you understand the causes and consequences of the current crisis. Formatted as a comic book, it’s a graphic explanation of how Wall Street and Washington caused the financial crisis, how it’s affecting real people in the real economy, and what we can do about it.
The book is available at a special rate for classrooms, unions or other organizations.
Bulk orders are just $5 each for 1-10 copies, $3.50 each for 11-99 copies, and $2 each for 100 copies or more. The book can also be downloaded for free at www.economicmeltdownfunnies.org. The website also features links to action and educational resources.
“Economic Meltdown Funnies” offers a sharp and witty progressive analysis and makes for a great workshop and organizing tool. The website also offers an opportunity for readers to leave comments, questions and suggestions.
Download the book, read it online, or order print copies at www.economicmeltdownfunnies.org, or call 617-541-0500, x302.
Wonder Woman writer Jodi Picoult
Colin S. reports, Wonder Woman writer Jodi Picoult is coming through your area soon on the book tour for her new novel:
MONDAY March 9 WASHINGTON DC AREA 7:30 PM Borders, 5871 Crossroads Center Way, Bailey's Crossroads VA. Contact 703-998-0404
TUESDAY March 10 BALTIMORE, MD 7 PM Digital Harbor High School, 1100 Covington Street, sponsored by B&N. Contact 410-385-1709.
MONDAY March 9 WASHINGTON DC AREA 7:30 PM Borders, 5871 Crossroads Center Way, Bailey's Crossroads VA. Contact 703-998-0404
TUESDAY March 10 BALTIMORE, MD 7 PM Digital Harbor High School, 1100 Covington Street, sponsored by B&N. Contact 410-385-1709.
D.C. Conspiracy tidbits
Matt Dembicki writes in with "D.C. Conspiracy tidbits. We've started what we hope to be a new feature on our Web site www.dcconspiracy.com called 'Three Questions,' where were ask three questions of creators in the group and feature a few photos. (We've done one for Evan Keeling and Scott White so far.)
Also, we've finally nailed down a date and place for Counter Culture Fest IV! It'll be Sunday, May 24, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. at the Soundry in Vienna, Va. Promotional poster to come soon!"
He also notes that you can vote for the Fest at the City Paper's Best of DC list.
Also, we've finally nailed down a date and place for Counter Culture Fest IV! It'll be Sunday, May 24, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. at the Soundry in Vienna, Va. Promotional poster to come soon!"
He also notes that you can vote for the Fest at the City Paper's Best of DC list.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
ComicsDC makes Olbermann's Countdown
Well, they used one of my pictures of Sean Delonas at least in their February 23rd "New York Post outrage goes national." Uncredited, I assume, but Our Man Thompson spotted it and let me know.
Christian Usera, D.C. graphic novelist, writes in
Christian Usera, a D.C. graphic novelist writes in: "Recently I was featured in 'Voces Del Caribe' an online scholarly journal sponsored by City University of New York.
The article, "Telling Ancient Narratives with New Media: The Art of Christian Usera," can be found here: www.vocesdelcaribe.com/journal/
Here's my book's website: www.myspace.com/theonesbook
I'm running behind tonight so I'm just throwing those links up and I'll try to take a closer look at them later in the week.
The article, "Telling Ancient Narratives with New Media: The Art of Christian Usera," can be found here: www.vocesdelcaribe.com/journal/
Here's my book's website: www.myspace.com/theonesbook
I'm running behind tonight so I'm just throwing those links up and I'll try to take a closer look at them later in the week.
Dark Knight story in Post a few days ago
THE BACK STORY: A 'Dark' Day When His Business Was Booming, Washington Post (February 22, 2009): M8, is about the movie's special effects.
Monday, February 23, 2009
More DC links in Stay Tooned #3
I'm reading this issue backwards, and there's an interview with Roll Call's cartoonist R.J. Matson, and Jim Scancarelli turns out to have lived in Arlington and been taught graphic arts at Wakefield High School. Order a copy at http://www.staytoonedmagazine.com
Reminder: Tuesday's Mardi Gras Parade in Arlington...
...will feature large Richard Thompson figures for the second year in a row. I'll be there, and he might as well. Remember to ask for your free Petey tattoo if you recognize him.
Rob Tornoe on Delonas chimp cartoon
Rob's emailed me that he's got a cartoon and commentary online now.
Blockbuster dumping anime at 1/2 off at some places
There's a few northern Virginia sites here, including Stafford.
Sunday, February 22, 2009
Zadzooks on Afro Samurai and Bennett's best
"Zadzooks: Review of Afro Samurai, the video game: Hip-hop hero seeks vengeance," Joseph Szadkowski, Washington Times Thursday, February 19, 2009.
And "Bennett's Best for the week of February 8," By Greg Bennett, Washington Times' Zadzooks Blog February 20 2009 is on Gaiman's Batman and Thor 600.
And "Bennett's Best for the week of February 8," By Greg Bennett, Washington Times' Zadzooks Blog February 20 2009 is on Gaiman's Batman and Thor 600.
April 25: CHS Otaku Fest
Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For information, contact:
Sophie Song
President of Centennial High School Anime Club
president.chsanime@gmail.com
609.220.1955
CHS OTAKU FEST ANNOUNCES PRICE REDUCTIONS
Ellicott City, MD February 21st, 2009 – CHS Otaku Fest, the new anime convention in Maryland to be held on April 25th, is pleased to announce that is has reduced its registration fee and dealers room fee.
The price is now $10 per person before March 21st and $15 after. At the door price has been reduced from $22 to $17 and the dealer’s room is now $60 per space.
Additionally, the official hours of the convention are now 10:30 am to 7:00 pm.
About The Centennial High Anime club and Otaku Fest: CHS Otaku Fest is brand new anime convention tons of events like the masquerade, AMV contest, live music, panels and much more. Its hosted by the Centennial High School anime club, an entirely high school based club with about 40 active members. Check out our website otaku-fest.webs.com for more information.
CHS Otaku Fest information
Date: Saturday April 25th, 2009
Time: 10:30 am to 7:00 pm
Location: Centennial High School
4300 Centennial Lane
Ellicott City, MD 21042
Registration fee: $10 before March 21st and $15 after. There is a $3 discount to groups of 10 or more ($7 per person before 3/21/09 and $12 after3/21/09). At-the-door registration is $17.
For additional information visit: otaku-fest.webs.com
E-mail: president.chsanime@gmail.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For information, contact:
Sophie Song
President of Centennial High School Anime Club
president.chsanime@gmail.com
609.220.1955
CHS OTAKU FEST ANNOUNCES PRICE REDUCTIONS
Ellicott City, MD February 21st, 2009 – CHS Otaku Fest, the new anime convention in Maryland to be held on April 25th, is pleased to announce that is has reduced its registration fee and dealers room fee.
The price is now $10 per person before March 21st and $15 after. At the door price has been reduced from $22 to $17 and the dealer’s room is now $60 per space.
Additionally, the official hours of the convention are now 10:30 am to 7:00 pm.
About The Centennial High Anime club and Otaku Fest: CHS Otaku Fest is brand new anime convention tons of events like the masquerade, AMV contest, live music, panels and much more. Its hosted by the Centennial High School anime club, an entirely high school based club with about 40 active members. Check out our website otaku-fest.webs.com for more information.
CHS Otaku Fest information
Date: Saturday April 25th, 2009
Time: 10:30 am to 7:00 pm
Location: Centennial High School
4300 Centennial Lane
Ellicott City, MD 21042
Registration fee: $10 before March 21st and $15 after. There is a $3 discount to groups of 10 or more ($7 per person before 3/21/09 and $12 after3/21/09). At-the-door registration is $17.
For additional information visit: otaku-fest.webs.com
E-mail: president.chsanime@gmail.com
QUICK REVIEWS FOR COMICS DUE 02-25-09
QUICK REVIEWS FOR COMICS DUE 02-25-09
By John Judy
AVENGERS INITIATIVE #22 by Christos Gage and Humberto Ramos. The New Warriors reunite to kill Ragnarok, the evil Thor Cyber-Clone. Why can’t “Heroes” be this good? Ever?
CAPTAIN AMERICA #47 by Ed Brubaker and Steve Epting. Bucky America’s still in China, still trying to rescue the remains of his old pal, the original Human Torch, who is still dead. Or is he….?
EERIE ARCHIVES, VOL. 1 HC by Many God-Like Talents. If you thought dark Horse was gonna stop the Warren reprint madness with CREEPY ARCHIVES, well, it looks like you were pleasantly mistaken. For fans of horror, sci-fi and fantasy done up as only the best comics creators can do them. Recommended.
FANTASTIC FOUR #564 by Mark Millar and Bryan Hitch. This issue has a Norman Rockwell tribute cover. It’s for their “very special Christmas issue” which we are (ha-ha) seeing in Almost March, so maybe that’s what’s so very-special about it. Also the Rockwell painting they’re tributing is called “Freedom from Want” or “Thanksgiving Dinner” so that makes it even funnier for a “very special Christmas issue.”
GARTH ENNIS BATTLEFIELDS: DEAR BILLY #2 of 3 by Ennis and Peter Snjeberg. So how screwed is that Japanese POW now that Nurse Vengeful is on his case?
GREEN LANTERN #38 by Geoff Johns and Ivan Reis. GL and Sinestro duke it out with the blood-puking Red Lanterns! They’re powered by Rage and need extra iron! Plus, a new Green Lantern Law is revealed! (“Thou shalt not ‘go commando’ in thy skintight uniform?”) Recommended.
HULK #10 by Jeph Loeb and Ed McGuinness. The Defenders reunite to fight four losers calling themselves “The Offenders.” This issue has three different covers, no less. Sadly, none of them feature President Obama.
JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #24 by Geoff Johns and Jerry Ordway. Now that they’re done chasing the stupid gray giant all over Africa and fighting each other, the JSA gets to scrap with Black Adam and Isis for control of the Rock of Eternity. Who will fall and who will get a piece of The Rock? And what about Dark Mary Marvel?
LARRY MARDER’S BEANWORLD BOOK 1: WAHOOLAZUMA! HC written and illustrated by Larry Marder. Collecting the first nine issues of this offbeat humor title that ran from 1985 to 1993. Marder has announced plans to pick up where he left off with new stories for today’s audiences. This one’s been getting praise from sources as diverse as Entertainment Weekly and The Village Voice. For fans of the off-beet.
MARVELS: EYE OF THE CAMERA #4 of 6 by Kurt Busiek and Jay Anacleto. Dying photographer Phil Sheldon continues his chronicles of the Marvel Universe even as everything seems to be going bad. Like Jim Shooter-Era bad…
MIGHTY AVENGERS #22 by Dan Slott and Khoi Pham. It’s Hank Pym’s Avengers versus Evil Possessed Quicksilver! Man, that guy’s always going Evil! Big fight!
MOUSE GUARD WINTER 1152 #5 of 6 written and drawn by David Petersen. The penultimate issue in the latest adventures of warrior mice from the middle ages. Kind of like Robin Hood meets the Rats of NIMH. Neat stuff.
NEW AVENGERS #50 by Brian Michael Bendis and Billy Tan. New Avengers versus Dark Avengers! Duck!
NO HERO #4 of 7 by Warren Ellis and Juan Jose Ryp. The latest bit of ultra-violent, quasi-corporate anti-heroics from that nice Mister Ellis. Not to be read for half an hour after eating.
PREVIEWS by Marvel and Diamond Comics. What you’ll be spending your stimulus check on in three months!
STARMAN OMNIBUS VOL. 2 HC by James Robinson and Many Fine Artists. This one collects issues 17-29 of the adventures of collector nerd turned legacy super-hero Jack Knight, along with a few other goodies. If you like the last few years of JSA adventures you have STARMAN to thank for reinvigorating DC’s entire Golden-Age catalogue. Great stuff. Recommended.
THUNDERBOLTS #129 by Andy Diggle and Roberto De La Torre. Oh no! The Green Goblin’s throwing pumpkin bombs at our new President! He must listen to Hannity and Rush! Loser! Fun stuff.
ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #125 by Brian Michael Bendis and Stuart Immonen. Ultimate Spidey meets Ultimate Hulk just in time for the end of the world.
WONDER WOMAN #29 by Gail Simone and Aaron Lopresti. WW’s still getting it together after the drubbing she received from Genocide, who by the way needs to marry Doomsday and have lots of freakish, chalky-skinned, hero-smacking babies.
www.johnjudy.net
By John Judy
AVENGERS INITIATIVE #22 by Christos Gage and Humberto Ramos. The New Warriors reunite to kill Ragnarok, the evil Thor Cyber-Clone. Why can’t “Heroes” be this good? Ever?
CAPTAIN AMERICA #47 by Ed Brubaker and Steve Epting. Bucky America’s still in China, still trying to rescue the remains of his old pal, the original Human Torch, who is still dead. Or is he….?
EERIE ARCHIVES, VOL. 1 HC by Many God-Like Talents. If you thought dark Horse was gonna stop the Warren reprint madness with CREEPY ARCHIVES, well, it looks like you were pleasantly mistaken. For fans of horror, sci-fi and fantasy done up as only the best comics creators can do them. Recommended.
FANTASTIC FOUR #564 by Mark Millar and Bryan Hitch. This issue has a Norman Rockwell tribute cover. It’s for their “very special Christmas issue” which we are (ha-ha) seeing in Almost March, so maybe that’s what’s so very-special about it. Also the Rockwell painting they’re tributing is called “Freedom from Want” or “Thanksgiving Dinner” so that makes it even funnier for a “very special Christmas issue.”
GARTH ENNIS BATTLEFIELDS: DEAR BILLY #2 of 3 by Ennis and Peter Snjeberg. So how screwed is that Japanese POW now that Nurse Vengeful is on his case?
GREEN LANTERN #38 by Geoff Johns and Ivan Reis. GL and Sinestro duke it out with the blood-puking Red Lanterns! They’re powered by Rage and need extra iron! Plus, a new Green Lantern Law is revealed! (“Thou shalt not ‘go commando’ in thy skintight uniform?”) Recommended.
HULK #10 by Jeph Loeb and Ed McGuinness. The Defenders reunite to fight four losers calling themselves “The Offenders.” This issue has three different covers, no less. Sadly, none of them feature President Obama.
JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #24 by Geoff Johns and Jerry Ordway. Now that they’re done chasing the stupid gray giant all over Africa and fighting each other, the JSA gets to scrap with Black Adam and Isis for control of the Rock of Eternity. Who will fall and who will get a piece of The Rock? And what about Dark Mary Marvel?
LARRY MARDER’S BEANWORLD BOOK 1: WAHOOLAZUMA! HC written and illustrated by Larry Marder. Collecting the first nine issues of this offbeat humor title that ran from 1985 to 1993. Marder has announced plans to pick up where he left off with new stories for today’s audiences. This one’s been getting praise from sources as diverse as Entertainment Weekly and The Village Voice. For fans of the off-beet.
MARVELS: EYE OF THE CAMERA #4 of 6 by Kurt Busiek and Jay Anacleto. Dying photographer Phil Sheldon continues his chronicles of the Marvel Universe even as everything seems to be going bad. Like Jim Shooter-Era bad…
MIGHTY AVENGERS #22 by Dan Slott and Khoi Pham. It’s Hank Pym’s Avengers versus Evil Possessed Quicksilver! Man, that guy’s always going Evil! Big fight!
MOUSE GUARD WINTER 1152 #5 of 6 written and drawn by David Petersen. The penultimate issue in the latest adventures of warrior mice from the middle ages. Kind of like Robin Hood meets the Rats of NIMH. Neat stuff.
NEW AVENGERS #50 by Brian Michael Bendis and Billy Tan. New Avengers versus Dark Avengers! Duck!
NO HERO #4 of 7 by Warren Ellis and Juan Jose Ryp. The latest bit of ultra-violent, quasi-corporate anti-heroics from that nice Mister Ellis. Not to be read for half an hour after eating.
PREVIEWS by Marvel and Diamond Comics. What you’ll be spending your stimulus check on in three months!
STARMAN OMNIBUS VOL. 2 HC by James Robinson and Many Fine Artists. This one collects issues 17-29 of the adventures of collector nerd turned legacy super-hero Jack Knight, along with a few other goodies. If you like the last few years of JSA adventures you have STARMAN to thank for reinvigorating DC’s entire Golden-Age catalogue. Great stuff. Recommended.
THUNDERBOLTS #129 by Andy Diggle and Roberto De La Torre. Oh no! The Green Goblin’s throwing pumpkin bombs at our new President! He must listen to Hannity and Rush! Loser! Fun stuff.
ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #125 by Brian Michael Bendis and Stuart Immonen. Ultimate Spidey meets Ultimate Hulk just in time for the end of the world.
WONDER WOMAN #29 by Gail Simone and Aaron Lopresti. WW’s still getting it together after the drubbing she received from Genocide, who by the way needs to marry Doomsday and have lots of freakish, chalky-skinned, hero-smacking babies.
www.johnjudy.net
Saturday, February 21, 2009
OT: David Lozell Martin appearances in March
My friend the novelist David Lozell Martin will be reading from his new autobiography. I'll be going to the Shirlington one most likely. Maybe both.
Busboys and Poets @ 14th & V
2021 14th St
NW DC 20009
(202) 387-7638
Author Event, David Lozell Martin
When Friday, March 13, 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Where Langston Room
Description 6:30 PM (Langston Room) - Author David Lozell Martin will discuss and sign his most recent work, "Losing Everything: A Memoir". "Losing Everything" is less about getting lost and more about finding your way home again. In his pursuit of stability, Martin uncovered lessons that might help others who have encountered loss: take pleasure in something as small as an ampersand, keep a list of people you know who have died, meet your own death like a warrior, and be glad you don't own a monkey. Deeply personal yet surprisingly universal, Martin's story is for anyone who has wandered astray. If not a road map, his journey is a guide, providing hard-earned wisdom to illuminate the path home.
Free and Open to the Public.
Busboys @ Shirlington
4251 South Campbell Ave
Arlington, VA 22206
(703) 379-9757
Author Event: David Lozell Martin
When Sunday, March 22, 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Where Shirlington Library/Busboys and Poets
Description Author David Lozell Martin will discuss and sign his most recent work, "Losing Everything: A Memoir". "Losing Everything" is less about getting lost and more about finding your way home again. In his pursuit of stability, Martin uncovered lessons that might help others who have encountered loss: take pleasure in something as small as an ampersand, keep a list of people you know who have died, meet your own death like a warrior, and be glad you don't own a monkey. Deeply personal yet surprisingly universal, Martin's story is for anyone who has wandered astray. If not a road map, his journey is a guide, providing hard-earned wisdom to illuminate the path home. Discussion will take place at Shirlington Library, followed by a book signing at Busboys and Poets.
This event is free and open to the public.
Busboys and Poets @ 14th & V
2021 14th St
NW DC 20009
(202) 387-7638
Author Event, David Lozell Martin
When Friday, March 13, 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Where Langston Room
Description 6:30 PM (Langston Room) - Author David Lozell Martin will discuss and sign his most recent work, "Losing Everything: A Memoir". "Losing Everything" is less about getting lost and more about finding your way home again. In his pursuit of stability, Martin uncovered lessons that might help others who have encountered loss: take pleasure in something as small as an ampersand, keep a list of people you know who have died, meet your own death like a warrior, and be glad you don't own a monkey. Deeply personal yet surprisingly universal, Martin's story is for anyone who has wandered astray. If not a road map, his journey is a guide, providing hard-earned wisdom to illuminate the path home.
Free and Open to the Public.
Busboys @ Shirlington
4251 South Campbell Ave
Arlington, VA 22206
(703) 379-9757
Author Event: David Lozell Martin
When Sunday, March 22, 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Where Shirlington Library/Busboys and Poets
Description Author David Lozell Martin will discuss and sign his most recent work, "Losing Everything: A Memoir". "Losing Everything" is less about getting lost and more about finding your way home again. In his pursuit of stability, Martin uncovered lessons that might help others who have encountered loss: take pleasure in something as small as an ampersand, keep a list of people you know who have died, meet your own death like a warrior, and be glad you don't own a monkey. Deeply personal yet surprisingly universal, Martin's story is for anyone who has wandered astray. If not a road map, his journey is a guide, providing hard-earned wisdom to illuminate the path home. Discussion will take place at Shirlington Library, followed by a book signing at Busboys and Poets.
This event is free and open to the public.
OT: Washington Post essay contest repost
More shameless shilling as I repost this from last month since there's 1 week left in the contest. Ooooh, I'm down to 1% - not good:
I got a letter a month or so ago from someone at Washingtonpost.com inviting bloggers to enter their "What does it mean to be a Washingtonian?" contest. They've posted entries online now for voting and mine is "An Intellectual Playground." I've read about 1/2 the essays so far, and I'm pretty impressed with most of them. A few of us strike the same tone of appreciating the cultural opportunities in the area, but since you're reading my blog, you should vote for me. Thanks.
I got a letter a month or so ago from someone at Washingtonpost.com inviting bloggers to enter their "What does it mean to be a Washingtonian?" contest. They've posted entries online now for voting and mine is "An Intellectual Playground." I've read about 1/2 the essays so far, and I'm pretty impressed with most of them. A few of us strike the same tone of appreciating the cultural opportunities in the area, but since you're reading my blog, you should vote for me. Thanks.
Pat Bagley wins Herblock award
The Salt Lake Tribune is reporting that their cartoonist, Pat Bagley, has won the Herblock award - see "Tribune political cartoonist wins distinguished Herblock prize
Biting humor » Pat Bagley cited for 'deft and witty' style documenting Utah politics," By Paul Beebe, The Salt Lake Tribune 2/20/2009. I've heard that Ted Koppel will be speaking at the ceremony. The Foundation has a press release buried on their website, and they've increased the award from $10,000 to $15,000 this year. The judges were Jules Feiffer, Garry Trudeau and last year's winner John Sherffius - an excellent panel.
Biting humor » Pat Bagley cited for 'deft and witty' style documenting Utah politics," By Paul Beebe, The Salt Lake Tribune 2/20/2009. I've heard that Ted Koppel will be speaking at the ceremony. The Foundation has a press release buried on their website, and they've increased the award from $10,000 to $15,000 this year. The judges were Jules Feiffer, Garry Trudeau and last year's winner John Sherffius - an excellent panel.
Kal on Delonas chimp cartoon
Kal sent a note saying that he's got a blogpost on the Delonas cartoon.
He's also traveling a bit:
In June I will be the featured international artist at the annual Knokke-Heist cartoon festival in Belgium. The festival, one of the largest of its kind , will feature an exhibition of 50 originals and a lecture/symposium in the summer. The exhibition will be on display at the Belgium seaside resort through September.
I am delighted and honored to announce that I will be at the University of Portland on Thursday, March 5 to deliver the introductory William James Mazzacco Memorial Lecture in Distributive Justice.The lecture takes place at the Buckley Center Auditorium (5000 N Willamette Blvd.) at the University of Portland at 7:30 p.m. The lecture is open to the public.
He's also traveling a bit:
In June I will be the featured international artist at the annual Knokke-Heist cartoon festival in Belgium. The festival, one of the largest of its kind , will feature an exhibition of 50 originals and a lecture/symposium in the summer. The exhibition will be on display at the Belgium seaside resort through September.
I am delighted and honored to announce that I will be at the University of Portland on Thursday, March 5 to deliver the introductory William James Mazzacco Memorial Lecture in Distributive Justice.The lecture takes place at the Buckley Center Auditorium (5000 N Willamette Blvd.) at the University of Portland at 7:30 p.m. The lecture is open to the public.
Katsucon 15 report
"Katsucon 15-The Melancholy of Your Weatherman," By Weatherman 02-20-2009, and he notes that it'll be in the new National Harbor hotel complex in Maryland next year.
Washington City Paper Best of DC 2009 poll
Last year, we were surprise winners (because it wasn't actually a category) of Best (Comic) Arts Blogger, which we appreciated immensely. Well, I did at least. The City Paper's just started its 2009 poll for Best of DC and it's still not a category, but go check it out and vote now.
Comic Riffs cited in AP article on cartoons and race
Michael Cavna's blog got a mention here - "Cartoonists treading lightly when drawing Obama," By JESSE WASHINGTON AP National Writer, Posted: 02/20/2009. If you're not reading Riffs daily, you really should.
Friday, February 20, 2009
History Repeats Itself, in the Secret History of Comics
Warren Bernard writes in with another bit of the Secret History of Comics:
Well, no question that all of us capitalists have taken it on the chin recently. To show how things do not change and for your enjoyment, (Well, OK, as much as one can enjoy seeing their life savings evaporate into thin air), here is a cartoon about the stock market from Puck Magazine in 1884.
'The Wall Street Hellgate' by F. Graetz, Puck, 1884.
Note the electrical/telegraph wires in the crown of the "Siren", as she plays her harp of speculation.
Replace the strings labeled "Western Union", "Erie" and "Pacific" (all railroad companies, the growth stock of the day) with "CDOs", "Mortgage Backed Securities" and "Ethanol" and Voila!! Instant 21st Century political cartoon!!
But my favorite part of the cartoon are the foot pedals on the harp. They are named, appropriately enough, "Puts" and "Calls".
We have not changed much in 125 years and I dunno about you, but I surely feel as if I just crashed on those rocks.
Well, no question that all of us capitalists have taken it on the chin recently. To show how things do not change and for your enjoyment, (Well, OK, as much as one can enjoy seeing their life savings evaporate into thin air), here is a cartoon about the stock market from Puck Magazine in 1884.
'The Wall Street Hellgate' by F. Graetz, Puck, 1884.
Note the electrical/telegraph wires in the crown of the "Siren", as she plays her harp of speculation.
Replace the strings labeled "Western Union", "Erie" and "Pacific" (all railroad companies, the growth stock of the day) with "CDOs", "Mortgage Backed Securities" and "Ethanol" and Voila!! Instant 21st Century political cartoon!!
But my favorite part of the cartoon are the foot pedals on the harp. They are named, appropriately enough, "Puts" and "Calls".
We have not changed much in 125 years and I dunno about you, but I surely feel as if I just crashed on those rocks.
OT: MTV on Watchman movie, 2/21/09
OK, I'm getting caught up in the hype. I've got 3 books from Titan on the movie that I'll try to get reviews up for this weekend too. They're lovely.
Spoilers Premieres Saturday, February 21 at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT
On February 21, at 8:00 p.m. ET, MTV will air the second episode of "Spoilers," a quarterly movie special that will deliver first looks at the year's biggest upcoming flicks, including behind-the-scenes action and exclusive scenes.
Taped in front of a live audience, the second episode will spotlight "Watchmen," and will feature appearances from the entire cast of the eagerly anticipated superhero flick.
Hundreds of die-hard movie fanswill attend MTV News' screening of the film, with the stars walking the blood-red carpet to chat in front of our cameras.
In addition to "Watchmen," the episode will also give viewers exclusive access to scenes from such upcoming blockbusters as "Star Trek," "Land of the Lost," "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince," "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" and more.
Spoilers Premieres Saturday, February 21 at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT
On February 21, at 8:00 p.m. ET, MTV will air the second episode of "Spoilers," a quarterly movie special that will deliver first looks at the year's biggest upcoming flicks, including behind-the-scenes action and exclusive scenes.
Taped in front of a live audience, the second episode will spotlight "Watchmen," and will feature appearances from the entire cast of the eagerly anticipated superhero flick.
Hundreds of die-hard movie fanswill attend MTV News' screening of the film, with the stars walking the blood-red carpet to chat in front of our cameras.
In addition to "Watchmen," the episode will also give viewers exclusive access to scenes from such upcoming blockbusters as "Star Trek," "Land of the Lost," "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince," "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" and more.
Montgomery on new Swamp Thing collection
My old comic-collecting buddy Robert chimes in on DC's new Swamp Thing collection, which has Alan Moore's first issue reprinted for the first time: DC is finally reprinting Alan Moore's Swamp Thing run in hardcover. So, of course, having waited for this for some time, I bought the first volume. When it arrived, first thing I noticed is that DC printed it on the same paper used in the trade paperbacks. Was I annoyed. I expected a high-quality product and basically got a trade with a hard cover. What the hell is DC thinking?
After I noticed the paper issue, I checked reviews on Amazon and people had the same reaction. They also complained about the cover being sticky - one person claimed they printed it on the wrong type of paper. The cover on my copy is a little sticky but don't know if I'd noticed it w/o having read the reviews.
After I noticed the paper issue, I checked reviews on Amazon and people had the same reaction. They also complained about the cover being sticky - one person claimed they printed it on the wrong type of paper. The cover on my copy is a little sticky but don't know if I'd noticed it w/o having read the reviews.
Weingarten on Prickly City, Doonesbury, Delonas' chimp
From the 2/10 Chatalogical Humor:
Washington, D.C.: Gene - what did you think of last Friday's Prickly City where they call Rush Limbaugh a jerk? It actually made me laugh.
Gene Weingarten: I would like this better if it were funny. I applaud the stance, but I think political cartoonists -- and political standup comics -- have an obligation to be funny.
_______________________
"...I think political cartoonists -- and political standup comics -- have an obligation to be funny." : Unless their name is Trudeau, the Garfield of political "humor."
Gene Weingarten: I was thinking specifically of Garry Trudeau and Doonesbury. He is the perfect example of the political satirist who sees his mission as humor first.
and 2/17's Chatalogical Humor:
Alexandria, VA: Hi,
No, Prickly City wasn't funny, and did you leave the "ly" off your link intentionally, or Freudian slip of a sort?
Gene Weingarten: I always call it Prick City, because of its politics. Been doing that for years.
_________
Richmond, Va.: I have a great Ralph Steadman story for you. At some point he was in town doing a book signing for his illustrated version of "Animal Farm" (it's so amazing). He was giving each signature a unique ink-blot and a fan came up and said "do something really crazy to mine!" So Steadman took out his lighter and set it on fire.
Gene Weingarten: Excellent. I have that Animal Farm book. It is brilliant.
------
UPDATED 2.20.09
Gene Weingarten: I want to begin with an important clarification. In yesterday's update I was asked if I found THIS photograph interesting in light of the sharply debated prior discussion involving posteriors. I responded with laughter. At some point during the day yesterday, the link mysteriously shifted to a different picture, namely THIS one, which was a highly controversial political cartoon from the New York Post. This cartoon was seen by many people as a racist commentary directed at President Obama. This one I would not have laughed at.
But let's talk about it!
It's by Post cartoonist Sean Delonas, a man whose work I have read and loathed for years. Delonas is strident, unfunny, rabidly right-wing and a virulent bigot, portraying gay people in a way so revolting you would think it's parody if you saw it in The Onion. It's not. Here is Sean Delonas, for example, on gay marriage. Here is Sean Delonas on Governor McGreevey. See that oddly raised leg? That is Delonas's signature move to show someone is gay: Gays are prancing lilyhoppers!
So what do we make of the furor over the chimp cartoon? Is it racist? Does Delonas get the benefit of the doubt?
Sure. I'll give it to him. This cartoon is interpretable without racial overtones: The stimulus bill is stupid, he thinks: It might as well have been written by a rabid chimp. The cartoon coincided with the story of the crazed chimp in Connecticut who ripped off a woman's face, and was shot to death by police. Obama wasn't really the author of the stimulus bill, though his was the most public face behind it. Mostly, I think comparing a black person to an ape is so archaic, so Depression-era, and so primitive that even a Neanderthal like Delonas wouldn't do it.
No, what Delonas would and did do is create a totally pathetic cartoon using the unspeakable tragedy of the chimp attack, which left a woman horrifyingly maimed, to make some lame political point about the stimulus package. It's inappropriate, unclever, and makes senseless use of a shockingly violent image. Pure Delonas, pure crap, but not racist.
Washington, D.C.: Gene - what did you think of last Friday's Prickly City where they call Rush Limbaugh a jerk? It actually made me laugh.
Gene Weingarten: I would like this better if it were funny. I applaud the stance, but I think political cartoonists -- and political standup comics -- have an obligation to be funny.
_______________________
"...I think political cartoonists -- and political standup comics -- have an obligation to be funny." : Unless their name is Trudeau, the Garfield of political "humor."
Gene Weingarten: I was thinking specifically of Garry Trudeau and Doonesbury. He is the perfect example of the political satirist who sees his mission as humor first.
and 2/17's Chatalogical Humor:
Alexandria, VA: Hi,
No, Prickly City wasn't funny, and did you leave the "ly" off your link intentionally, or Freudian slip of a sort?
Gene Weingarten: I always call it Prick City, because of its politics. Been doing that for years.
_________
Richmond, Va.: I have a great Ralph Steadman story for you. At some point he was in town doing a book signing for his illustrated version of "Animal Farm" (it's so amazing). He was giving each signature a unique ink-blot and a fan came up and said "do something really crazy to mine!" So Steadman took out his lighter and set it on fire.
Gene Weingarten: Excellent. I have that Animal Farm book. It is brilliant.
------
UPDATED 2.20.09
Gene Weingarten: I want to begin with an important clarification. In yesterday's update I was asked if I found THIS photograph interesting in light of the sharply debated prior discussion involving posteriors. I responded with laughter. At some point during the day yesterday, the link mysteriously shifted to a different picture, namely THIS one, which was a highly controversial political cartoon from the New York Post. This cartoon was seen by many people as a racist commentary directed at President Obama. This one I would not have laughed at.
But let's talk about it!
It's by Post cartoonist Sean Delonas, a man whose work I have read and loathed for years. Delonas is strident, unfunny, rabidly right-wing and a virulent bigot, portraying gay people in a way so revolting you would think it's parody if you saw it in The Onion. It's not. Here is Sean Delonas, for example, on gay marriage. Here is Sean Delonas on Governor McGreevey. See that oddly raised leg? That is Delonas's signature move to show someone is gay: Gays are prancing lilyhoppers!
So what do we make of the furor over the chimp cartoon? Is it racist? Does Delonas get the benefit of the doubt?
Sure. I'll give it to him. This cartoon is interpretable without racial overtones: The stimulus bill is stupid, he thinks: It might as well have been written by a rabid chimp. The cartoon coincided with the story of the crazed chimp in Connecticut who ripped off a woman's face, and was shot to death by police. Obama wasn't really the author of the stimulus bill, though his was the most public face behind it. Mostly, I think comparing a black person to an ape is so archaic, so Depression-era, and so primitive that even a Neanderthal like Delonas wouldn't do it.
No, what Delonas would and did do is create a totally pathetic cartoon using the unspeakable tragedy of the chimp attack, which left a woman horrifyingly maimed, to make some lame political point about the stimulus package. It's inappropriate, unclever, and makes senseless use of a shockingly violent image. Pure Delonas, pure crap, but not racist.
Express poll on Delonas chimp cartoon
Yesterday the Express asked "Was the New York Post's cartoon using a chimp to criticize the stimulus bill racist?"
http://www.expressnightout.com/pollcenter/index.php?poll_date=2009-02-19
A short sample of the answers is printed in today's paper, and you can click through the online link to read 75 more.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Silver Spring schoolgirl draws comics
See "Autistic pupil turns to comics to express herself," by Timmy Gelles, The Gazette February 19 2009.
Feb 24: Clarendon Mardi Gras parade features Thompson figures
At 8 pm on February 24th, Sarah Palin and Obama puppets based on Richard's designs will be in the Clarendon (of Arlington, VA) Mardi Gras parade on Wilson Boulevard. Cool, huh? Last year was great fun.
Wanna work on Herblock cartoons this summer?
Sara Duke tells me "you would like hands-on experience working with cartoon art this summer, the Junior Fellows who come to the Prints and Photographs Division will be working with our Herb Block Collection - more than 14,000 original drawings. Come to this page: http://www.loc.gov/hr/employment/index.php, and click on "Internship, Fellowship, and Volunteer Programs". The information for the 2009 Junior Fellows Program has just gone online. The deadline is March 11, 2009."
Spiegelman, Chabon, to read at George Washington University
Sara Duke tips us off that, for a course on Jewish literature, Spiegelman and Chabon will be at GWU this spring. "While on campus, several authors will give readings open to the entire GW community. Ulinich will read on March 5; Chabon, who will be introduced by GW's Wang Visiting Professor in Contemporary English Edward P. Jones, will present on March 23; and Spiegelman will read on April 2."
GWU's PR deptartment says, "The event is open and free to the public. It will be held at 8pm in the Jack Morton Auditorium, which is located on the main level of the Media and Public Affairs Building. The address is 805 21st St. NW."
GWU's PR deptartment says, "The event is open and free to the public. It will be held at 8pm in the Jack Morton Auditorium, which is located on the main level of the Media and Public Affairs Building. The address is 805 21st St. NW."
Arlington cartoonist Richard Thompson featured in Say Tooned! #3
Richard did the cover of the new Stay Tooned! #3 and there's a big interview with him (and another with Jim Scancarelli of Gasoline Alley) done at HeroesCon whilst I watched his table. Order a copy at http://www.staytoonedmagazine.com
NY Post chimp cartoon starts a firestorm on a Wash Post blog.
Posting for the blog host Mike Rhode:
Yesterday, Mr. Cavna asked about a Sean Delonas cartoon, "The Stimulus Monkey': Is Today's 'NY Post' Cartoon Racist?" As of this posting, he's got 81 comments, possibly a record for the Comic Riffs blog. Judging from the hits this blog got last night on Delonas (for a post about meeting him at a children's book signing), he's really touched a nerve.
Yesterday, Mr. Cavna asked about a Sean Delonas cartoon, "The Stimulus Monkey': Is Today's 'NY Post' Cartoon Racist?" As of this posting, he's got 81 comments, possibly a record for the Comic Riffs blog. Judging from the hits this blog got last night on Delonas (for a post about meeting him at a children's book signing), he's really touched a nerve.
Wednesday, February 18, 2009
OT: Ottaviani on the space race
Jim's got a new book coming out this spring and his stuff is always interesting - just like real life. See "The Race to the Moon in Comic Form: Ottaviani on T-Minus," By Zack Smith, Newsarama 18 February 2009.
Comic Riffs returns to Black Panther, or should that be Pantheress?
See "Talking "Black Panther: The Sex Change"," by David Betancourt, Washington Post's Comic Riffs blog (February 18):
Marvel's new female Black Panther debuted this month, and with the first issue now on the stands, Comic Riffs caught up with Black Panther writer Reggie Hudlin to discuss the direction of the new BP series.
:
Marvel's new female Black Panther debuted this month, and with the first issue now on the stands, Comic Riffs caught up with Black Panther writer Reggie Hudlin to discuss the direction of the new BP series.
:
April 26: Roz Chast at Smithsonian
Another tip from Herschel:
Roz Chast, Harold Holzer, Jamaica Kincaid and John Waters Participate in Second Annual Lecture Series
WASHINGTON, DC.- This spring, the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery and the Smithsonian American Art Museum, in partnership with Washington College in Chestertown, Md., present the second annual “American Pictures Distinguished Lecture Series.” The 2009 series speakers are Roz Chast, internationally recognized cartoonist for the New Yorker; leading Lincoln scholar Harold Holzer; critically acclaimed novelist Jamaica Kincaid; and actor, writer, visual artist and filmmaker John Waters.
“American Pictures” pairs great works of art with pre-eminent figures of contemporary American culture. Each lecture features a writer, critic, historian or artist who chooses a single image and investigates its meanings. In the process, the speaker also explores how works of art inspire creativity in many different fields and reveal American identity or a shared history. The series director is historian and essayist Adam Goodheart, who is director of the C.V. Starr Center for the Study of the American Experience at Washington College.
The series debuts Saturday, March 21, when Waters offers his insights into Cy Twombly’s drawing “Letter of Resignation” (1967). Kincaid will discuss the painting “Kept In” (1889) by Edward Lamson Henry Saturday, April 11. Holzer will examine John Henry Brown’s portrait of Abraham Lincoln (1860) Saturday, April 18. The 2009 series concludes Sunday, April 26, with Chast’s exploration of Charles Addams’s famous cartoon “Boiling Oil” (1946).
Additional information about the series and the speakers is available online at americanart.si.edu and npg.si.edu or in a printed brochure that is available at the museums’ information desks.
“American Pictures” is made possible through the pioneering partnership among Washington College, the National Portrait Gallery and the Smithsonian American Art Museum. Additional support comes from the Starr Foundation, the Hodson Trust, the Hedgelawn Foundation and other donors.
Roz Chast, Harold Holzer, Jamaica Kincaid and John Waters Participate in Second Annual Lecture Series
WASHINGTON, DC.- This spring, the Smithsonian’s National Portrait Gallery and the Smithsonian American Art Museum, in partnership with Washington College in Chestertown, Md., present the second annual “American Pictures Distinguished Lecture Series.” The 2009 series speakers are Roz Chast, internationally recognized cartoonist for the New Yorker; leading Lincoln scholar Harold Holzer; critically acclaimed novelist Jamaica Kincaid; and actor, writer, visual artist and filmmaker John Waters.
“American Pictures” pairs great works of art with pre-eminent figures of contemporary American culture. Each lecture features a writer, critic, historian or artist who chooses a single image and investigates its meanings. In the process, the speaker also explores how works of art inspire creativity in many different fields and reveal American identity or a shared history. The series director is historian and essayist Adam Goodheart, who is director of the C.V. Starr Center for the Study of the American Experience at Washington College.
The series debuts Saturday, March 21, when Waters offers his insights into Cy Twombly’s drawing “Letter of Resignation” (1967). Kincaid will discuss the painting “Kept In” (1889) by Edward Lamson Henry Saturday, April 11. Holzer will examine John Henry Brown’s portrait of Abraham Lincoln (1860) Saturday, April 18. The 2009 series concludes Sunday, April 26, with Chast’s exploration of Charles Addams’s famous cartoon “Boiling Oil” (1946).
Additional information about the series and the speakers is available online at americanart.si.edu and npg.si.edu or in a printed brochure that is available at the museums’ information desks.
“American Pictures” is made possible through the pioneering partnership among Washington College, the National Portrait Gallery and the Smithsonian American Art Museum. Additional support comes from the Starr Foundation, the Hodson Trust, the Hedgelawn Foundation and other donors.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
OT: Arizona store Atomic Comics posts interviews
This blog seems to be seeping out of DC and into the amorphous blogosphere... I got a newsletter from Atomic Comics today which noted that they had an interview, or Radiation Interrogation: Jay Faerber up today. I'm always interested in that type of thing, as I work on my big Comics Research Bibliography project. They also have interviews with Adam Kubert, Phil Hester, and Joe Pokaski up on their main page. I haven't poked any deeper yet.
March 10: Laughing Ogre Comics staff speaks
This tip is from Herschel Kanter, from the Fairfax Bibliophiles list:
10 March, 7:30 PM in the City of Fairfax Regional Library
Norah Curry is the Promotions Director at Laughing Ogre Comics (laughingogrecomics.com), a family of three comic book stores. She has an BA in Art History and History from the University of Iowa , and an MA in the History of Art and Architecture from the University of Pittsburgh . She is a life-long comic book fan.
This program will discuss comic books, graphic novels and manga. We will look at the differences and similarities between the three and how they were developed. We also will discuss how they are all interconnected with each other and their continuing importance in the US and abroad.
10 March, 7:30 PM in the City of Fairfax Regional Library
Norah Curry is the Promotions Director at Laughing Ogre Comics (laughingogrecomics.com), a family of three comic book stores. She has an BA in Art History and History from the University of Iowa , and an MA in the History of Art and Architecture from the University of Pittsburgh . She is a life-long comic book fan.
This program will discuss comic books, graphic novels and manga. We will look at the differences and similarities between the three and how they were developed. We also will discuss how they are all interconnected with each other and their continuing importance in the US and abroad.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Patton Oswalt Appearance
DC, Dark Horse, Image, and Bongo Entertainment comics writer Patton Oswalt will be appearing at an upcoming show at the Linsner Auditorium at GWU on 2/28/09 at 7pm and 10pm. I heard this show will be used for an upcoming CD and Comedy Central special.
Anyone else going?
Anyone else going?
David Horsey still kicking around DC...
... but he's depressed about it. See "Horsey: Financial collapse threatens real journalism," By DAVID HORSEY, P-I EDITORIAL CARTOONIST, February 13 2009.
Self-syndication seminar in Vegas features Amy Lago
Alan Gardner is reporting a self-syndication seminar in Las Vegas that will feature the Post's Am Lago, among others. My own 2 cents, which is worth 2 cents, is that self-syndication, at least for newspapers, is collapsing around the ears of the alternate cartoonists. On the other hand, this has some successful strip and webcomics cartoonists who are making a living without being with a syndicate.
Feb 27: DC Anime Club to screen Jungle Emperor Leo
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT: Chris Wanamaker, (202) 262 2083 president@dcanimeclub.org
DC Anime Club to screen Jungle Emperor Leo at the Japan Information and Culture Center, Embassy of Japan.
DC Anime Club in collaboration with Japan Information and Culture Center, Embassy of Japan Present Jungle Emperor Leo Friday February 27, 2009 6:30 pm as part of inaugural showing for a new film series based on both Anime (Japanese Animation) and Manga ( Japanese Comics).
Produced eight years after Dr. Osamu Tezuka's death, this movie is based on his epic "Jungle Emperor" manga. Jungle Emperor Leo tells approximately the last half of the original story. Previously, the first half had been adapted into the 1965 Jungle Emperor TV series (Kimba The White Lion outside of Japan), and the second half had been loosely adapted into the 1966 Susume Leo TV series (Leo the Lion in the U.S.). In some ways, the Jungle Emperor Leo movie is noticeably more faithful to the manga story than the latter TV series had been; in other ways -- most notably the relationships between the animals and humans -- it is very different.
This event is free and open to the public. Reservations are required.
RSVP to jiccrsvpspring08@embjapan.org.
Seating is limited and granted on a first come, first served basis.
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 (Former Vice President) and Craig Vaughn (Vice President) on Saturday June 5, 2003. We have a strong membership that continues to grow -- most of which are teenagers.
About Japan Information and Culture Center:
The Japan Information and Culture Center (JICC) is the cultural and public affairs section of the Embassy of Japan in Washington D.C. Our primary role is to promote better understanding of Japan and Japanese culture by providing a wide range of
information, educational services and programs to the public. The JICC is located on the lower level of the glass-enclosed Galleria at Lafayette Centre III in downtown Washington, D.C. Its facilities include a research library, a 152-seat auditorium, and a 1,500-square-foot exhibition gallery where a wide variety of events sponsored by the JICC are hosted throughout the year.
--
Christopher Wanamaker
DC Anime Club President
http://www.dcanimeclub.org
202 262 2083
CONTACT: Chris Wanamaker, (202) 262 2083 president@dcanimeclub.org
DC Anime Club to screen Jungle Emperor Leo at the Japan Information and Culture Center, Embassy of Japan.
DC Anime Club in collaboration with Japan Information and Culture Center, Embassy of Japan Present Jungle Emperor Leo Friday February 27, 2009 6:30 pm as part of inaugural showing for a new film series based on both Anime (Japanese Animation) and Manga ( Japanese Comics).
Produced eight years after Dr. Osamu Tezuka's death, this movie is based on his epic "Jungle Emperor" manga. Jungle Emperor Leo tells approximately the last half of the original story. Previously, the first half had been adapted into the 1965 Jungle Emperor TV series (Kimba The White Lion outside of Japan), and the second half had been loosely adapted into the 1966 Susume Leo TV series (Leo the Lion in the U.S.). In some ways, the Jungle Emperor Leo movie is noticeably more faithful to the manga story than the latter TV series had been; in other ways -- most notably the relationships between the animals and humans -- it is very different.
This event is free and open to the public. Reservations are required.
RSVP to jiccrsvpspring08@embjapan.org.
Seating is limited and granted on a first come, first served basis.
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 (Former Vice President) and Craig Vaughn (Vice President) on Saturday June 5, 2003. We have a strong membership that continues to grow -- most of which are teenagers.
About Japan Information and Culture Center:
The Japan Information and Culture Center (JICC) is the cultural and public affairs section of the Embassy of Japan in Washington D.C. Our primary role is to promote better understanding of Japan and Japanese culture by providing a wide range of
information, educational services and programs to the public. The JICC is located on the lower level of the glass-enclosed Galleria at Lafayette Centre III in downtown Washington, D.C. Its facilities include a research library, a 152-seat auditorium, and a 1,500-square-foot exhibition gallery where a wide variety of events sponsored by the JICC are hosted throughout the year.
--
Christopher Wanamaker
DC Anime Club President
http://www.dcanimeclub.org
202 262 2083
Sunday, February 15, 2009
Zadzooks reviews bad guys' comics
"Zadzooks: Reviews of Faces of Evil: Solomon Grundy and Skaar: Son of Hulk," Joseph Szadkowski, Washington Times Thursday, February 12, 2009.
QUICK REVIEWS FOR COMICS DUE 02-18-09
QUICK REVIEWS FOR COMICS DUE 02-18-09
By John Judy
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #587 by Marc Guggenheim and John Romita Jr. On election night Spidey must face 30 of his deadliest foes. That probably means we’re going to see Fancy Dan and the Gibbon. I mean, “Top 30?” You know some riff-raff’s gonna get past the rope…
DARK AVENGERS #2 by Brian Michael Bendis and Mike Deodato. Morgan le Fey comes gunning for this latest group of Avengers, seemingly unaware that these guys are psychos who gun back. On the other hand she could end up being their Scarlet Witch. It’s THUNDERBOLTS done up Bendis-style. Recommended.
GARTH ENNIS BATTLEFIELDS, VOL. 1: NIGHT WITCHES SC by Garth and Russ Braun. Collecting the first in a series of Ennis war stories, a hard-hitting tale of female Soviet pilots resisting the Nazi invasion. Graphic brutality. Not for kids.
GHOST RIDER #32 by Jason Aaron and Tan Eng Huat. It’s the final chapter in the battle of the Ghost Rider Corps! Or Legion of Substitute Ghost Riders! Or Spirits of Variant Action Figures! It’s a Ghost Rider-palooza! Crazy fun stuff. Go with it.
GI JOE: ORIGINS #1 by Larry Hama and Tom Feister. Leading up to yet another fabulous big-screen adaptation we get to meet Duke, Hawk, Stalker, Scarlett and some guy who’s not talking to anyone. Could it be Chris Brown?
HELLBLAZER #252 by Peter Milligan and Giuseppe Camuncoli. It’s John Constantine versus The Scab! Good to know JC is pro-union.
PUNISHER: FRANK CASTLE MAX #67 by Duane Swierczynski and Michel Lacombe. Frank’s been dosed with poison. That leaves him only a few hours to find and kill whoever did it. Be nice if there was an antidote somewhere but whatevs…
SOLOMON KANE #5 of 5 by Scott Allie and Mario Guevara. The Pulverizin’ Puritan starts hacking his way through some serious Kraut demonosity! Bout time! This has been a neat little series of Old School pulp adventure. Recommended.
UNCANNY X-MEN #506 by Matt Fraction and Terry & Rachel Dodson. The bad old days of 20 million sub-plots in one X-book are back! At least it’s purty.
X-FACTOR #40 by Peter David and Valentine De Landro. After the horrific (and somewhat hard to believe) events of last issue, Madrox goes looking for his dupe that went into the preacher biz for answers. Yeah, that’s gonna end well.
www.johnjudy.net
By John Judy
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #587 by Marc Guggenheim and John Romita Jr. On election night Spidey must face 30 of his deadliest foes. That probably means we’re going to see Fancy Dan and the Gibbon. I mean, “Top 30?” You know some riff-raff’s gonna get past the rope…
DARK AVENGERS #2 by Brian Michael Bendis and Mike Deodato. Morgan le Fey comes gunning for this latest group of Avengers, seemingly unaware that these guys are psychos who gun back. On the other hand she could end up being their Scarlet Witch. It’s THUNDERBOLTS done up Bendis-style. Recommended.
GARTH ENNIS BATTLEFIELDS, VOL. 1: NIGHT WITCHES SC by Garth and Russ Braun. Collecting the first in a series of Ennis war stories, a hard-hitting tale of female Soviet pilots resisting the Nazi invasion. Graphic brutality. Not for kids.
GHOST RIDER #32 by Jason Aaron and Tan Eng Huat. It’s the final chapter in the battle of the Ghost Rider Corps! Or Legion of Substitute Ghost Riders! Or Spirits of Variant Action Figures! It’s a Ghost Rider-palooza! Crazy fun stuff. Go with it.
GI JOE: ORIGINS #1 by Larry Hama and Tom Feister. Leading up to yet another fabulous big-screen adaptation we get to meet Duke, Hawk, Stalker, Scarlett and some guy who’s not talking to anyone. Could it be Chris Brown?
HELLBLAZER #252 by Peter Milligan and Giuseppe Camuncoli. It’s John Constantine versus The Scab! Good to know JC is pro-union.
PUNISHER: FRANK CASTLE MAX #67 by Duane Swierczynski and Michel Lacombe. Frank’s been dosed with poison. That leaves him only a few hours to find and kill whoever did it. Be nice if there was an antidote somewhere but whatevs…
SOLOMON KANE #5 of 5 by Scott Allie and Mario Guevara. The Pulverizin’ Puritan starts hacking his way through some serious Kraut demonosity! Bout time! This has been a neat little series of Old School pulp adventure. Recommended.
UNCANNY X-MEN #506 by Matt Fraction and Terry & Rachel Dodson. The bad old days of 20 million sub-plots in one X-book are back! At least it’s purty.
X-FACTOR #40 by Peter David and Valentine De Landro. After the horrific (and somewhat hard to believe) events of last issue, Madrox goes looking for his dupe that went into the preacher biz for answers. Yeah, that’s gonna end well.
www.johnjudy.net
Saturday, February 14, 2009
Comics in the world photos
I don't remember what bathroom I shot this in...
...but I'm glad I'm not a Disney collector. These are fish toys from Disney's Little Mermaid and Pixar's Finding Nemo in Petsmart in Cookeville, TN.
...but I'm glad I'm not a Disney collector. These are fish toys from Disney's Little Mermaid and Pixar's Finding Nemo in Petsmart in Cookeville, TN.
Arlington County's Central Library has a stand-alone graphic novel section now
Arlington County's Central Library has a stand-alone graphic novel section now - I found this out a few weeks ago and was quite surprised. There's a decent selection here too - let's name the titles in the comments. I'll start off here.
300 by Frank Miller, Breakdowns by Art Spiegelman, Shooting War, Late Bloomer by Carol Tyler, Jimbo in Purgatory by Gary Panter...
300 by Frank Miller, Breakdowns by Art Spiegelman, Shooting War, Late Bloomer by Carol Tyler, Jimbo in Purgatory by Gary Panter...
OT: Marvel Digital adds 4 pages to Spider-Man - Obama story
Here's the PR. I'm not sure how collectible the electrons will be:
MARVEL CELEBRATES PRESIDENT'S DAY AND PRESIDENT LINCOLN'S BICENTENNIAL WITH EXCLUSIVE ONLINE CONTENT OF PRESIDENTIAL PROPORTIONS
Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited celebrates President Lincoln's 200th birthday with President's Day release of exclusive free digital comic featuring Spider-Man and Captain America at the historic Gettysburg Address
Site will also offer free online access to hugely popular Spidey Meets the President! storyline featured in Amazing Spider-Man #583 along with exclusive new content for online release
NEW YORK - To honor President's Day and President Abraham Lincoln's 200th birthday, Marvel Comics will be celebrating all weekend long with the launch of two major exclusive events at Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited that will put both Presidents Lincoln and Obama in the Marvel Universe spotlight. The Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited destination can be accessed through www.marvel.com/digitalcomics/presidents.
In honor of President Lincoln's 200th birthday this month, Marvel will release Gettysburg Distress, an exclusive 6-page free digital comic featuring Spider-Man and Captain America as they witness Lincoln's historic Gettysburg Address. A tribute to the Bicentennial of the 16th President, the storyline - which is being written by Matt Fraction with art by Andy MacDonald - will be available online beginning President's Day, Monday, February 16, 2009.
Additionally, following the milestone 5th printing and unprecedented continued demand for Spidey Meets the President, in which President Obama joins Spider-Man in Amazing Spider-Man #583, Marvel will kick off President's Day weekend by offering the special storyline - along with added never-before-seen bonus content - for free on Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited. Four all-new, exclusive prologue pages have been added to the storyline -- created by the same team behind the original blockbuster (written by Zeb Wells and art by Todd Nauck and Frank D'Armata). The book will be available beginning Friday afternoon, February 13, 2009 at www.marvel.com/digitalcomics/presidents. All five variant covers created for each printing of the Amazing Spider-Man #583 issue featuring the Spidey Meets the President storyline will also be available to view at Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited.
"We were completely blown away by the overwhelming response to the Spidey Meets the President storyline. Comic book shops have not been able to keep it on shelves, so we thought it would a fitting way to celebrate President's Day by offering free online access to all fans to view and read the storyline - including some exclusive new content - only at Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited," says Dan Buckley, President of Marvel Publishing. "And in celebration of President Lincoln's historic Bicentennial, we could think of no better tribute in the Marvel Universe than to have Spider-Man and Cap honoring one of his enduring legacies, the Gettysburg Address."
Both comics can be viewed for free at Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited, Marvel's innovative online subscription service, accessible at www.marvel.com/digitalcomics/presidents.
Curated by Marvel editors, Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited is the ultimate digital comic Internet destination that allows unparalleled access to more than 5,500 comic books from Marvel's illustrious archives, along with exclusive content only available online. With subscription rates as low as $4.99/month, Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited is affordable to both new readers and longtime fans.
The comics aren't downloadable however.
MARVEL CELEBRATES PRESIDENT'S DAY AND PRESIDENT LINCOLN'S BICENTENNIAL WITH EXCLUSIVE ONLINE CONTENT OF PRESIDENTIAL PROPORTIONS
Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited celebrates President Lincoln's 200th birthday with President's Day release of exclusive free digital comic featuring Spider-Man and Captain America at the historic Gettysburg Address
Site will also offer free online access to hugely popular Spidey Meets the President! storyline featured in Amazing Spider-Man #583 along with exclusive new content for online release
NEW YORK - To honor President's Day and President Abraham Lincoln's 200th birthday, Marvel Comics will be celebrating all weekend long with the launch of two major exclusive events at Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited that will put both Presidents Lincoln and Obama in the Marvel Universe spotlight. The Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited destination can be accessed through www.marvel.com/digitalcomics/presidents.
In honor of President Lincoln's 200th birthday this month, Marvel will release Gettysburg Distress, an exclusive 6-page free digital comic featuring Spider-Man and Captain America as they witness Lincoln's historic Gettysburg Address. A tribute to the Bicentennial of the 16th President, the storyline - which is being written by Matt Fraction with art by Andy MacDonald - will be available online beginning President's Day, Monday, February 16, 2009.
Additionally, following the milestone 5th printing and unprecedented continued demand for Spidey Meets the President, in which President Obama joins Spider-Man in Amazing Spider-Man #583, Marvel will kick off President's Day weekend by offering the special storyline - along with added never-before-seen bonus content - for free on Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited. Four all-new, exclusive prologue pages have been added to the storyline -- created by the same team behind the original blockbuster (written by Zeb Wells and art by Todd Nauck and Frank D'Armata). The book will be available beginning Friday afternoon, February 13, 2009 at www.marvel.com/digitalcomics/presidents. All five variant covers created for each printing of the Amazing Spider-Man #583 issue featuring the Spidey Meets the President storyline will also be available to view at Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited.
"We were completely blown away by the overwhelming response to the Spidey Meets the President storyline. Comic book shops have not been able to keep it on shelves, so we thought it would a fitting way to celebrate President's Day by offering free online access to all fans to view and read the storyline - including some exclusive new content - only at Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited," says Dan Buckley, President of Marvel Publishing. "And in celebration of President Lincoln's historic Bicentennial, we could think of no better tribute in the Marvel Universe than to have Spider-Man and Cap honoring one of his enduring legacies, the Gettysburg Address."
Both comics can be viewed for free at Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited, Marvel's innovative online subscription service, accessible at www.marvel.com/digitalcomics/presidents.
Curated by Marvel editors, Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited is the ultimate digital comic Internet destination that allows unparalleled access to more than 5,500 comic books from Marvel's illustrious archives, along with exclusive content only available online. With subscription rates as low as $4.99/month, Marvel Digital Comics Unlimited is affordable to both new readers and longtime fans.
The comics aren't downloadable however.
Katsucon 15 featured in Post
For some reason, people volunteer to work in a maid cafe - "For Anime Fans: Maids For a Day," By Dan Zak, Washington Post Staff Writer, Saturday, February 14, 2009; C01. Notwithstanding this article, hopefully the manga/anime convention is going well. I've seen more than enough Pow! Zap! Wham! comic book articles to realize that what you get in the mass media isn't really what the people attending are enjoying.
I'm still not sure about maid cafes though...
I'm still not sure about maid cafes though...
Kerry James Marshall featured in Sunday's Post
A fine artist who uses comic book motifs is featured in Sunday's Post, including a new piece commissioned by the paper - see "Coloring Perception: Kerry James Marshall Thinks the Old Masters Have Room for a New Face: His Own," BY BLAKE GOPNIK - WASHINGTON POST STAFF WRITER, SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2009.
Friday, February 13, 2009
Richmond's Adhouse Books on Diamond limits
Actually, it's Chris Pitzer speaking on Diamond's new minimum orders at Indie Spinner Rack Issue #148, Friday, February 06, 2009.
Chicago Reader reports on City Paper's comics 'savings'
See "Comics Stripped: As alt-weeklies drop their funnies, is the end of a genre near?" By Michael Miner, Chicago Reader February 12, 2009, which reports on how much money the City Paper saved by dropping all its comics except Dirtfarm. Tip from Spurgeon.
Mar 6: Comic Art Indigène exhibit opens
On March 6th, the Comic Art Indigène exhibit opens at the National Museum of the American Indian. I'd be interested in putting together a group to visit this if anyone wants to...
Feb 18: Geppi's Entertainment Museum starts lecture series
On February 18th, Geppi's Entertainment Museum starts a lecture series with Arnold Blumberg speaking on pop culture and love.
OT: Cartoonists ads from Playboy continued
New Yorker cartoonist George Price ad for Chival Regal scotch in Playboy, March 1981. What a wonderful wacky line he has!
Edward Sorel art for an ACLU ad against the Moral Majority in Playboy, March 1981. Oooh, Sorel can be hard-hitting.
Arnold Roth caricature of William Buckley in letters section, Playboy, March 1981. Roth just had a lovely color illo in a recent New Yorker issue.
Editorial cartoonist Garner let go at Times?
Alan Gardner is reporting that Bill Garner has been fired as the Washington Times' editorial cartoonist. Rob Tornoe has more details on the story. I haven't seen the Times in a few weeks so I don't know if his work has been appearing or not.
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Beeler wins Berryman
Congratulations, Nate!
Details at "Examiner’s Beeler gets national praise for cartoons," By Alan Suderman, Washington Examiner Staff Writer 2/11/09.
Details at "Examiner’s Beeler gets national praise for cartoons," By Alan Suderman, Washington Examiner Staff Writer 2/11/09.
Toad, a local gag cartoonist
Toad Toons is a site that I've just been tipped to, by the eponymous 'Toad.' He's been doing and posting a gag cartoon per day for years, and would appreciate people checking the site out.
Ok, Luann's in DC, but Greg Evans isn't
On the south side of the Mall, close to the Lincoln Memorial, you really can't see a Starbucks or a McDonald's.
OT: What about this year's Angouleme festival anyway?
My buddy's got all the details on his blog - "Comix Influx Blog: Angoulême 2009" by Stephen Betts on 11th February 2009. Check it out, and then stay to note the Comix Influx project. Stephen and co. are translating European graphic novels into English, and then providing the text for you to read along with your copy. These aren't scanlations and you have to have the original comic already, but this is a neat way you can get ahead of Fantagraphics, Drawn and Quarterly or NBM and be the hippest person on your block.
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