Saturday, April 18, 2009

Judge Parker returns to Post, Cul de Sac joins KC Star and Twitterverse

Michael Cavna of the Post's Comic Riffs blog naturally had the story first, but I think there's a few unattributed quotes in "Here Comes the Judge: Reader Protests Bring Back Comic Strip," By Harry Jaffe, Washingtonian's Capital Comment Blog Friday, April 17, 2009. Michael also noted that the Post's ombudsman felt compelled to address the Judge Parker issue tomorrow.


Also Cul de Sac has been picked up by the Kansas City Star. Yay, Richard! Ohh, and Richard's Tweeting. Boo, Richard!

Friday, April 17, 2009

April 25: Sal Buscema Spider-Man drawing auctioned

The bit of interest to us is "we also have an original 11 x 17 black and white drawing of "Spiderman" drawn for us and donated by Mr. Sal Buscema, artist and inker for Marvel Comics since the late 1960s."

Spring Auction at Northern Virginia Christian Academy
On Friday, April 24 from 7 - 10 p.m. the Northern Virginia Christian Academy, 11000 Berry St., Fairfax, is holding a Silent and Live Auction. Sports, vacation, day excursion, and children's party packages available for bids. Admission is $10 per person. Call 703-273-0803 or visit www.nvchristianacademy.org.

April 25: Library Workshop: Creating Graphic Novels

Reminder time.

Workshop: Creating Graphic Novels
Saturday, April 25 1pm

Columbia Pike Branch Library
816 S. Walter Reed Drive
Arlington, Va.
Learn the basic and finer points of creating graphic novels from Josh Elder, a graphic novelist and author of "Mail Order Ninja."

Appropriate for students ages 10 and up.

Contact mmiller@arlingtonva.us or call 703-228-5261 for more details.

Ivan Brandon Signing at Laughing Ogre Comics

After a reasonably lengthy dry-spell, DC's getting a massive influx of comics-oriented events going on during this weekend! In addition to Craig Yoe and Josh Elder appearances, we now get Ivan Brandon!

Ivan Brandon Signing
Writer of Viking
April 25, 2009 4:00pm - 7:00pm
Landsdowne, VA

Ivan Brandon, writer of the new Image book Viking will be signing at Laughing Ogre Comics LANSDOWNE from 4-7 on Saturday April 25. Brandon is also known for writing such titles as NYC Mech and Cross Bronx.

Thursday, April 16, 2009

Peanuts play in DC this weekend

GWU's got You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown running for 3 days this weekend. See "Directors tackle Charlie Brown, Godot," by Emily Katz, George Washington University Hatchet 4/16/09.

Here's the relevant details:

"You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown," presented by Forbidden Planet Productions, will run from Friday, April 17 through Sunday April 19 in the Mitchell Hall theater. "Waiting for Godot," presented by Fourteenth Grade Players, will run from Thursday, April 16 through Saturday, April 18 in Lisner Downstage. Tickets for each performance are $5.

Tom Shales doesn't like Sit Down, Shut Up

Read what the Post's long-time TV critic has to say - "'Sit Down': Arrested Development, Indeed," By Tom Shales, Washington Post Staff Writer, Thursday, April 16, 2009.

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Nov 20-21 BSO plays Superman-based Metropolis Symphony

Daugherty's Metropolis Symphony is probably almost a couple of decades old by now. Hard to believe. The Baltimore Symphony Orchestra is playing part of it next fall.

Demons, Drama, Dance
Friday, November 20, 2009 at 8:00 p.m.
Saturday, November 21, 2009 at 8:00 p.m.

Marin Alsop, conductor
Jean-Yves Thibaudet, piano
Daugherty - "Red Cape Tango" from Metropolis Symphony
Liszt - Totentanz
Berlioz - Symphonie fantastique

Marin Alsop leads a program of musical flair and fantasy. Michael Daugherty's whimsical "Red Cape Tango" portrays Superman's fight to the death with Doomsday. French pianist Jean-Yves Thibaudet flashes his breathtaking technique in Franz Liszt's "Dance of Death" for piano and orchestra. And Berlioz's symphony takes us on a rollicking dream of passion gone mad.

Walt Simonson and Joel Pollack

Joel Pollack of Big Planet Comics and I were talking today, and Walt Simonson's name came up in passing. Joel met him when Simonson was working at the Maryland Book Exchange, and drew a sign for their science fiction section that Joel asked about. Joel says that when Simsonson decided to go to NYC to make it in comics, Joel passed along Howard Chaykin's phone number. A little bit of comics history there for you, brought up by the fact that NYC Graphic Novelists blog has a Simonson interview up this week.

Michigan State U's Comic Art Collection's January 2009 additions, and another comics library

Before we get into looking at MSU, Richard Graham of the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Library has created a Government Comics Collection of 168 scans of educational comic books. Check it out.

At MSU, new acquistions waited until January 5th of this year and started with ...

Avengelyne Deadly Sins. -- Anaheim, CA : Maximum Press, 1995.
-- col. ill. ; 26 cm. -- Complete in 2 nos. -- Superheroine
and horror genres. -- LIBRARY HAS: no. 1. -- Call no.:
PN6728.6.M34A935 1995


...eh... and then there's a bunch of Batman and Star Trek comics, just to get back to the base...

Star Trek, Deep Space Nine Special Hero Edition. -- Calabasas,
CA : Malibu Comics Entertainment, 1995. -- 16 p. : col.
ill. ; 26 cm. -- Distributed with the magazine Hero
Illustrated. -- "January 1995." -- Science fiction genre.
-- Call no.: PN6728.6.M25S764 1995


...although editorial cartoons aren't #1 on their wish list, MSU collects them too...

The Race for the 2008 Republican Nomination : a Book of
Editorial Cartoons / edited by Eric Appleman. -- Gretna,
La. : Pelican Pub. Co., 2008. -- 160 p. : ill. ; 28 cm. --
Includes index. -- Call no.: E902.R335 2008


...(hmmm, I appear to have fallen off Pelican's reviewer list) and you don't have to be an American editorial cartoonist either...

Yardley Jones Cartoons : book one. -- Edmonton, Alta. :
Edmonton Sun, 1981. -- 95 p. : ill. ; 28 cm. -- Canadian
political cartoons, from the Edmonton Sun. -- Call no.:
NC1449.J66A79 1981


...a lot of licensed superhero children's books are being published by the UK's Dorling Kindersley (I picked up a Spider-Man one myself tonight) and MSU is getting them...

JLA Green Lantern's Book of Inventions / written by Clare
Hibbert. -- New York : Dorling Kindersley Pub., 2005. -- 48
p. : col. ill. ; 24 cm. -- (Dorling Kindersley Readers. 4,
Proficient Readers) -- Includes index. -- Summary (from
OCLC): Comic book superhero Green Lantern introduces some
important inventions like the wheel, flying machines, and
digital images. -- Call no.: T48.H382 20046:45 PM 1/13/2009
Hibbert, Clare, 1970-
-----------------------------------------------------
Spider-Man's Amazing Powers / written by James Buckley, Jr. --
New York : Dorling Kindersley Pub., 2001. -- 48 p. : col.
ill. ; 23 cm. -- (Dorling Kindersley Readers. 4, Proficient
Readers) -- Summary (from OCLC): Describes Spider-Man's
super powers, from web-slinging and wall-crawling to the
mysterious "spider sense." Includes facts about spiders. --
Includes index. -- Call no.: PN6728.A5B8 2001


They've got a run of Ryan Claytor's comics (we've mentioned him here before), and he's teaching at MSU now, including this one I don't have (and just added to next edition of the the wordless bibliography on sale at the right; if you own the current one, pencil it in)...

Rock & soul : a 24-Hour Comic Book Challenge / written &
illustrated by Ryan Claytor. -- Santa Ynez, Calif. :
Elephant Eater Comics, 2004. -- 24 p. : ill. ; 22 cm. --
Indicia title: Ryan Claytor's Rock and Soul. -- "No. 1." --
Story without words. -- Alternative genre. -- Call no.:
PN6727.C557R6 2004


...some Crock books, and Kevin Rechin, Bill's son is a DC-area cartoonist mentioned here before...

Crock, You're All Heart! / by Bill Rechin and Don Wilder. --
New York : Fawcett Gold Medal, 1981. -- 125 p. : ill. ; 18
cm. -- Funny military genre. -- Call no.: PN6728.C74Y63
1981
-----------------------------------------------------
It's a Bird, It's a Plane, It's a Crock! / by Bill Rechin and
Don Wilder. -- New York : Fawcett Gold Medal, 1982. -- 126
p. : ill. ; 18 cm. -- Funny military genre. -- Call no.:
PN6728.C74 I8 1982


...oooh, some David Low, the great British cartoonist, and another darn silent comic book...

Lions and Lambs / by Low ; with interpretations by 'Lynx'. --
London : Jonathan Cape, 1928. -- 156 p. : ill. ; 26 cm. --
Call no.: NC1479.L65L5 1928
-----------------------------------------------------
Bone House. -- United Kingdom : Bonehouse Books, . -- ill. ;
18 cm. -- Wordless comics by Jon Chandler. -- Alternative
genre. -- LIBRARY HAS: v. 4 (2006). -- Call no.:
PN6737.C45B6


...another plug for a friend, or rather his wife...

Oval Comics / Ellen Lindner. -- London : Little White Bird, 2006. -- 28 p. : ill. ; 26 cm. -- Alternative genre. --
Call no.: PN6727.L495 O87 2006


Ellen's got a new romance comic book out, Undertow, which can be found at Lulu. I just read and enjoyed my copy...

...and here's Ben Towle with another darn mute comic...

Gravity / by Ben Towle. -- Greenville, SC : Wide Awake Press, 2006. -- 20 p. : ill. ; 11 cm. -- Story without words. --
Alternative genre. -- Call no.: PN6727.T655G7 2006


I really liked Ben's Midnight Sun.

...and here's an excellent science fiction strip...

Gil Kane and Ron Goulart's Star Hawks : the Complete Series / foreword by Ron Goulart ; introduction by Daniel Herman. --
Neshannock, PA : Hermes Press, 2003. -- 320 p. : some col.
ill. ; 23 cm. -- Science fiction genre. -- Call no.:
PN6727.K27G5 2003


...another classic strip I haven't read enough of...

Moon Mullins / by Willard. -- New York : Cupples and Leon,
1930. -- 136 p. : ill. ; 26 cm. -- Cover title: Moon
Mullins Big Book. -- Call no.: PN6728.M63W5 1930


...something that most of us won't ever need, but it's good to know it's out there...

Batmobile Owner's Manual / written by Mike McAvennie. --
London : DK Pub., 2008. -- 31 p. : col. ill. ; 31 cm. --
Includes flaps to lift and 1 loose piece in pocket. --
Summary (from OCLC): This incredible new format puts Batman
fans behind the wheel and under the hood of the coolest car
ever imagined! Fabulous photos, illustrations, and diagrams
of Jim Lee's Batmobile fill the pages of this super-guide
to every Batman fan and grease monkey out there. -- Call
no.: PN6728.B37 O9 2008


...and other oddities...

Adventures @ eBay. -- eBay, 2000. -- 12 p. : col. ill. ; 18
cm. -- "Premiere issue" ; "#1". -- Comic book to introduce
eBay to comics collectors. -- Educational genre. -- Call
no.: PN6728.25.E2A3 2000


...an unlikely book (the cartoonists are uncle and niece) that I enjoyed...

The Virgin Project : Real People Share Real Stories : a Comics
Anthology / by K.D. Boze and Stasia Kato ; introduction by
Ellen Forney. -- Seattle, WA : Girlie Press, 2008. -- 142
p. : ill. (some col.) ; 28 cm. -- "For mature readers." --
Autobiographical genre, stories of first sexual
experiences. -- Call no.: PN6726.V48 2008


...and I'm exhausted. I don't know how Randy does it. Tune in again for... February!

Weldon on Yoe on Shuster on porn

Glen Weldon's got a new piece on Joe Shuster's sweat mag art at "Faster Than a Speeding Bullwhip: Superman Creator's Kinktastic Art," National Public Radio's Monkey See blog (April 15 2009). Remember Craig Yoe will be speaking about and signing the book at Politics and Prose and Big Planet Comics

OT: Doonesbury in the New Yorker

The April 20th New Yorker has an original Doonesbury prose piece by Trudeau, 'The Tweets of Roland Hedley'. Trudeau's popped up with Doonesbury in other magazines before, although not recently I don't think. Mike and JJ got married in Life, Zonker covered Newsweek at least once, and the New Republic printed the Silent Scream II strips that the syndicate refused to carry (all from memory so doublecheck yourself).

There's also a cover by Jacques de Loustal and spots by Petit-Roulet, both of France.

Rosenberg spoils Spider-Man

Our old buddy, former-Examiner-and-Express-columnist-gone-big-city-boy-reporter, Scott Rosenberg's got a story in AM NY that reveals so much you don't actually have to buy the comic book. Take it away, Scott - "Marvel Comics shocker: Bloomberg out, Spider-Man's nemesis in as city's new mayor," by Scott A. Rosenberg on April 15, 2009.

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Michigan State's Comic Art Collections November- December 2008 attractions

We're back to check out what the MSU Library added to its comic collection in November, 2008.

Mid-month saw a bunch of original Tijuana Bibles (of which this is only a few)...

Robert Mitchum in Goof Butts. -- between 1930 and 1950? -- 8
p. : ill. ; 78 x 101 mm. -- A "Tijuana bible." -- Erotic
genre, about smoking marijuana. -- Call no.: PN6728.15.R6
1930z
-----------------------------------------------------
Popeye the Sailor in A Pisser of an Episode. -- between 1930
and 1950? -- 9 p. : ill. ; 70 x 113 mm. -- A "Tijuana
bible." -- The pages are numbered, starting with the cover,
J1 through J9. -- Erotic genre. -- Call no.: PN6728.15.P58
1930z
-----------------------------------------------------
Harold Teen in The Wrong Number. -- between 1930 and 1950? --
8 p. : ill. ; 80 x 109 mm. -- A "Tijuana bible." -- Erotic
genre. -- Call no.: PN6728.15.H32 1930z
-----------------------------------------------------
Johnny Quick in 30 Sec's. Flat. -- between 1940 and 1950? -- 8
p. : ill. ; 77 x 101 mm. -- A "Tijuana bible." -- Erotic
and superhero genres. -- Call no.: PN6728.15.J65 1940z
-----------------------------------------------------
Little Annie Rooney. -- between 1930 and 1950? -- 8 p. : ill.
; 70 x 101 mm. -- A "Tijuana bible." -- Erotic genre. --
Call no.: PN6728.15.L5 1930z
-----------------------------------------------------
Ella Cinders in Tsk-Tsk. -- Between 1930 and 1950? -- 8 p. :
ill ; 70 x 104 mm. -- A "Tijuana bible." -- "16". -- Erotic
and career girl genres. -- Call no.: PN6728.15.E42 1930z
RESEND TO CHANGE FROM PHOTOCOPY TO REAL
-----------------------------------------------------
George Raft in Gangster Up! -- between 1930 and 1950? -- 8 p.
: ill. ; 69 x 115 mm. -- A "Tijuana bible." -- Erotic
genre. -- Call no.: PN6728.15.G43 1930z
-----------------------------------------------------
Saltydick Inc. Presents Little Annie Rooney and Zero / Elmer
Zilch. -- between 1930 and 1950? -- 8 p. : ill. ; 68 x 108
mm. -- A "Tijuana bible." -- Appearances of Popeye and
Wimpy. -- Erotic genre. -- Call no.: PN6728.15.L52 1930z
-----------------------------------------------------
Upyer Brown Presents Boots in Love's Labor Lost. -- between
1930 and 1950? -- 8 p. : ill. ; 69 x 101 mm. -- A "Tijuana
bible." -- Erotic genre. -- Call no.: PN6728.15.B59 1930z


... a whole lot of Israeli comics, presumably from Ofer B. ...

Sipure Gugi / Uri Fink. -- Netanyah : Shim'oni, 2005. -- 108
p. : ill. ; 17 x 20 cm. -- (Kuts : Komiks Yisre'eli) --
Alternative genre. -- Call no.: PN6790 .I83 F5S5 2005


...and PvP before Image picked them up...

PvP. -- Colleyville, TX : Toonhound Studios, . -- ill. ; 26
cm. -- Collects a webcomic about computer gaming. -- PvP
stands for Player versus Player. -- Dork Storm logo on
cover. -- LIBRARY HAS: v. 1, no. 2 (2001). -- Call no.:
PN6728.75.T6P2


Slow month! Off to December.

This Norwegian one is from me iirc, donated by the creators at SPX ...

Oslo Comics Expo 07 : Schous Plass, 4-5 Mai / redaktør,
Kristoffer Kjølberg. -- Oslo : OCX 07, 2007. -- 32 p. :
ill. (part col) ; 33 cm. -- Call no.: folio PN6790.N6 O8
2007

...an Ariel Schrag interview in a publication I've never heard of...

"Ariel Schrag is All Grown Up" / by Diane Anderson-Minshall.
p. 46-47 in Curve, v. 18, no. 10 (Dec. 2008) -- "Her comics
are a candid take on adolescence. Now, this cult favorite
is turning her hand to TV, film and children's books." --
An interview, with a photograph of Schrag. -- Call no.:
HQ75.D4v.18no.10


(Here's an article about her from last week).

A bunch of new books on comic art were added including Michaelis' Schulz bio, Best American Comics 2007, How to Make Webcomics, and my friend Gene's book...

500 Essential Graphic Novels : the Ultimate Guide / Gene
Kannenberg, Jr. -- New York : Collins Design, 2008. -- 527
p. : col. ill. ; 21 cm. -- Includes indexes. -- Contents:
Adventure ; Non-fiction ; Crime and mystery ; Fantasy ;
General fiction ; Horror ; Humor ; Science fiction ;
Superheroes ; War. -- Each entry is a cover reproduction, a
plot summary and a review. -- Call no.: PN6710.K35 2008


...the 24-hour comic idea has gone international...

Amsterdam 24 Hour Comics Day 2006. -- Amsterdam :
Stripantiquariaat Lambiek, 2007. -- 300 p. : ill. ; 21 cm.
-- Introduction in Dutch; some comics in Dutch, some in
English, and some wordless comics. -- Alternative genre. --
Call no.: PN6790.N42A5 2007

...some surprisingly brand-new material, perhaps overstock from a local store...

Ambush Bug : Year None. -- New York : DC Comics, 2008-2009. --
col. ill. ; 26 cm. -- To be complete in 6 nos. -- Superhero
genre. -- LIBRARY HAS: no. 1. -- Call no.: PN6728.7.D3A47
2008
-----------------------------------------------------
Final Crisis : Legion of Three Worlds. -- New York : DC
Comics, 2008-2009. -- col. ill. ; 26 cm. -- LIBRARY HAS:
no. 1-2. -- To be complete in 5 nos. -- Superhero genre.
-- Call no.: PN6728.7.D3 F52L4 2008


...Romance genre fotonovelas? Superhero miscellanea?

Tu y yo. -- Capital (Argentina) : Ediciones Record, . -- ill.
; 27-29 cm. -- Romance genre fotonovelas. -- LIBRARY HAS:
no. 52, 83, 88-89 (1972-1979). -- Call no.: PN6790.A74T8
RECLASSIFY
-----------------------------------------------------
Tú & Yo. -- Medellín, Colombia : Ediciones Albon Zig-Zag, . --
ill. ; 28 cm. -- Romance genre fotonovelas. -- LIBRARY HAS:
nr. 10 (1970). -- Call no.: PN6790.C64T8
-----------------------------------------------------
Marvel Heroes Activity Book. -- Ashland, OH : Bendon
Publishing Int'l, 2006. -- 30 p. : ill. ; 27 cm. --
Includes coloring pages, stickers and a poster. --
Superhero miscellanea. -- Call no.: PN6714.M3C6 2006


...Milt Caniff popping up in surprising places...

A Pocket Guide to China / prepared by Special Service
Division, Services of Supply, United States Army. --
Washington, D.C. : War and Navy Departments, 1942. -- 75 p.
: ill. ; 14 cm. -- "How to Spot a Jap" / by Milton Caniff,
comics insert: p. 65-75. -- Call no.: DS710.U6 1942


...and the last book of the year...

Fury/Agent 13. -- New York : Marvel Comics, 1998. -- col. ill.
; 26 cm. -- Published no. 1 (June 1998) - no. 2 (July
1998). -- Spy genre. -- LIBRARY HAS: no. 1. -- Call no.:
PN6728.6.M3F815


Tomorrow, we see what 2009 has brought!

Jack Ohman wins RFK Journalism award

100_6889Sara Duke (foreground), Mike Rhode (seated) and Nick Galifianakis judging the 2009 RFK Journalism award for cartooning. Warren Bernard, the 4th judge, submitted his comments earlier.


RFK CENTER ANNOUNCES WINNERS OF 2009 ROBERT F. KENNEDY JOURNALISM AWARDS

4/13/2009

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Simone Greggs
202-463-7575, ext. 234
greggs@rfkmemorial.org

Washington, D.C. – The Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights has announced winners of the nine professional and four student categories of the 41st Annual Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Awards. This year's winning journalists attacked diverse subjects including the risks faced by the workers who bring chicken to America's tables, the crackdown on rights and democracy in Russia under Vladimir Putin, the effects of gun violence in the United States and Guatemala, and new evidence about the conviction that led to the longest stretch of solitary confinement endured by any prisoner in modern U.S. history.

The RFK Journalism Awards honors outstanding reporting on issues that reflect Robert F. Kennedy's concerns, including human rights, social justice and the power of individual action in the United States and around the world. Winning pieces examine the causes, conditions and remedies of injustice and analyze relevant public policies and attitudes and private endeavors. The winning entries were selected by a panel of 40 judges in several rounds. The Journalism Committee, comprised of five advisors, chose the grand prize winner from the first place contenders in each category.

The RFK Journalism Awards will be presented at a ceremony on Thursday, May 28, 2009 at 6:00 PM at George Washington University in Washington, DC. The Grand Prize winner will be announced at the ceremony. Winners receive a cash prize and a bust of Robert Kennedy created by Robert Berks. For more details on the event, please visit www.rfkcenter.org.

The winners of the 41st Annual RFK Journalism Awards (clipped to just the cartoonist):

Cartoon Winner: Jack Ohman, The Oregonian: Ohman's cartoons tackle a range of difficult topics including poverty and unemployment in Oregon, the practice of shuffling Oregon teachers suspected of molesting children to other schools, rising college tuition costs, and human rights in China. From civil rights to the election of our nation's first black President, from ethanol to the struggles of American families in the economic downturn, his graphic journalism on behalf of the downtrodden exudes an insightful sensitivity.


I was one of the judges for this with cartoonist Nick Galifianakis, librarian Sara Duke and collector and library cataloguer Warren Bernard.. It was quite interesting. All of the portfolios were full of good cartoons, and that didn't make deciding on a winner easy. Mr. Ohman won for a particular reason that made him stand out, but I won't mention it as I'm not sure how this award process actually works, but it's mentioned specifically in the judges' letter to the RFK Center.


100_6891
Nick makes a point, and then because he's Greek, continues to make it.
100_6892

100_6888 Sara Duke, Mike Rhode, Nick Galifianakis

100_6887 Sara Duke

100_6885
The pile of portfolios we had to go through. It was really cool to see such a selection.


100_6886 Nick GalifianakisWe're luck we had Nick - he had plenty of experience being a judge and helped us with the procedure, although Sara and I had begun before he arrived.

April 30: Dan Didio on intellectual property and economic recovery

This sounds pretty interesting - if one wants to go, just RSVP. I'm mulling it over.

YOU'RE INVITED
•••••••••••••••••••••

Institute for Policy Innovation


It's a Bird! It's a Plane!
It's...

Dan DiDio
Senior Vice-President, Executive Editor - DC Comics



Dan DiDio of DC Comics joins the line-up for IPI’s Fourth Annual World Intellectual Property Day Forum,
“The Role of Intellectual Property in the Global Recovery”

•••••••••••••••••••••

Previously Confirmed Speakers:
Michael Gallagher
President, Entertainment Software Association

Dr. Mark Esper
Executive Vice President, U.S. Chamber of Commerce Global Intellectual Property Center


Program Discussion Panels:
The Role of IP in a Struggling Economy
Does Growing Protectionism Limit Access to Innovation?
Insider Forum: IP and the Future of Innovation


Make Plans Now To Attend:
Thursday, April 30, 2009
9:30 AM to 1:00 PM
Reserve Officers Association (ROA) Headquarters Minuteman Memorial Building
Minuteman Ballroom, 5th Floor
One Constitution Ave NE
Washington DC 20002

*Complimentary lunch will be served.

RSVP: Erin Humiston at (972) 874-5139 or erin@ipi.org

Craig Yoe and Joe Shuster at Big Planet

Here's the offical info: Craig Yoe, author of Secret Identity: The Fetish Art of Superman Co-Creator Joe Shuster, will appear at Big Planet Comics Bethesda store (4908 Fairmont Ave.) to sign and discuss the book, on Saturday, April 25 from Noon-2 PM.

Unfortunately I'll be at the American Association for the History of Medicine meetings.

Monday, April 13, 2009

Michigan State U's Comic Art Collection's new acquisitions

Those in the know can see records for material that Randy Scott's catalogued recently at Michigan State University's Comic Art Collection. I'll begin with August of 2008, but you can follow it up to today, as he's recently caught up and is now doing it daily. I usually surf through and see what he's listed that I've never heard of.

In August, we find a few things that I passed along to him iirc, including this on Barbarella's father...

"Dossier Jean-Claude Forest" p. 6-41 in Schtroumpf, les
Cahiers de la Bande Dessinée, no. 26 (1975). -- Contents:
"Entretien avec Jean-Claude Forest" p. 8-22 ; "Jean-Claude
Forest en Ses Mythes" p. 23-27 ; "Barbarella Cache Forest"
p. 28-29 ; "Forest et les Couvertures de S.F." p. 30-32 ;
"Une Chanson de Jean-Claude Forest" p. 33 ; "L'Île Mystère
Rieuse" p. 34-35 ; "Bibliographie de Jean-Claude Forest" p.
36-41 -- Photographic portrait and brief biography on back
cover. Forest was born in 1931. -- Call no.:
PN6745.S37no.26


...and here's a wordless comic that I had listed as "Fisk" in my bibliography (see right for ordering info) at least for the Danish version. Anyone know if the name changed as it moved to the US?

Fish / Peter Kielland. -- New York : Kim-Rehr Productions,
2004. -- 68 p. : ill. ; 26 cm. -- "In prehistoric times,
the somewhat naive Fish lives an easy life, deified by a
tribe of ape men. When visitors from outer space zap the
ape men out of their ignorance, Fish must suddenly fend for
himself. Being unable to do so, he instead digs a hole in
the ground and goes into hibernation. Aroused by
construction work in the sewers, Fish wakes up in the midst
of modern life. Confused and scared, he must make sense of
the people and events he encounters." -- Story without
words. -- Fantasy genre. -- Call no.: PN6790.D33 K52F5 2004

In August, you ain't getting this just anywhere...

Sangokushi / Yokoyama Mitsuteru. -- Tokyo : Ushio Shuppansha,
1974-1988.-- ill. ; 18 cm. -- (Kibo Komikkusu) -- Complete
in 60 vols. -- History of China (Three Kingdoms, 220-265
A.D.) --- Adapts a work of Lo Kuan-chung (ca. 1330- ca.
1400) -- LIBRARY HAS: v. 1-60. -- Call no.: PL842 .O58 S26
1974

...nor this (3, 5 & 6 are also available)...

O Tico-Tico : Jornal das Crianças, no. 1 (Outubro 11, 1905)
COMICS CONTENTS: "Manda quem Póde" p. 1 -- "Por Causa de
uma Laranja" p. 2 -- "No Circo" p. 5 -- "A Mulher Enganou o
Diado" p. 8 -- "A Morte do Gato" (As Historias de seu
Fortunato, 1) p. 9 -- "A Corrida com o Jagunço" (As
Desventuras do Chiquinho, 1) p. 10 -- "A Vingança de
Velludo e Mimi" p. 11 -- "Historia sem Palavras" p. 12 --
"Pum!" p. 15 -- "O Menino que Montou no Cachorro" p. 16 --
Call no.: folio PN6790.B74T462 2005


...or this...

Honey Talks : Comics Inspired by Painted Beehive Panels. --
Slovenia : Forum Ljubljana, 2006. -- 1 cardboard box (with
10 booklets) : ill. (some col.) ; 13 x 22 x 4 cm. -- Each
booklet is 12 x 21 cm. and has a small rectangle cut from
the bottom center of its front cover for the passage of
bees. -- Some of the stories do not have any words. --
Alternative genre. -- Contents: Honey talks : comics
inspired by painted beehive panels ; The king of the bees /
Feuchtenbergerowa ; Grandma's painting / by Matthias
Lehmann ; Pegam & Lambergar / by Milorad Ktstic ; Beton &
honey / Danijel Zezelj ; Wanted! / Vladan Nikolic ;
Sidetracked / by J. Klemencic ; The hunter's daughter / by
Rutu Modan ; The goat / by Koco [20]05 ; Alvearium / Marcel
Ruijters. -- Call no.: PN6790.C944H6 2006

...but you will this - surely someone can donate the rest of this run...

The Spirit. -- New York : DC Comics, 2007- . -- col. ill. ; 26
cm. -- Began with no. 1 (Feb. 2007). -- Cover title: Will
Eisner's The Spirit. -- Detective genre. -- LIBRARY HAS:
no. 1. -- Call no.: PN6728.7.D3S64


...and there's news that didn't happen - Walker sent the Museum's collection to Ohio State instead which has just announced plans to add footage for the collection...

"Walker Takes Museum to Big Apple" p. 43 in The Comics
Journal, no. 271 (Oct. 2005). -- (Newswatch : Journal
Datebook) -- International Museum of Cartoon Art will move
to the Empire State Building and open in 2006. -- Call no.:
PN6700.C62no.271


...and material that somebody needs to collect...

Scooby-Doo and Scrappy-Doo Playtime Fun Pad. -- Harbor House
Publishers, 1985. -- Cover title: Scooby-Doo Happytime Fun
Pad. -- 64 p. : chiefly ill. ; 28 cm. -- A coloring and
activity book. -- "13377". -- Call no.: PN1992.77.S35C6
1985


October had...

...a bunch more Treasure Chests, the Catholic comic, that Randy's been cataloguing for a while...

Treasure Chest of Fun and Fact, v. 11, no. 17 (Apr. 19, 1956)
CONTENTS: "How to be Popular with your Family" (Patsy
Manners) p. 3-4 -- "Ernie Pyle was a Hero, But Who Wants to
be a Dead Hero?"* (Chuck White) p. 5-10 -- "The Eyes Have
It!" p. 11 -- "The Weather Story" p. 12-17 -- "What Makes
Us Do It?" p. 18-19 -- "Mr. Wizard's Science Secrets" p.
20-21 -- "The Merry Martyr, part 7" p. 22-26 -- "Honored
Athletes Maintain a Balanced Perspetive When Winning!"
(Secrets of Success in Sport) p. 27-31 -- "The Rookie" text
p. 32-34 -- "Timber!"* (Woody) p. 35 -- Call no.:
PN6728.1.P43T7v.11no.17


...and somebody must have asked for the "Milk in Comics" folder, because at MSU they catalogue strips by subject...

"You Must Drink Your Milk If You Want to Be Big and Strong!"*
(Hank and Honey, Nov. 4, 1946) / by Seeg. -- Summary: Honey
is urging Elsworth (in his high chair) to drink his milk,
and Hank sneaks a glass for himself. -- Call no.: PN6726
f.B55 "milk"
-----------------------------------------------------
"When You Order Milk, They Bring the Cow to Your Table!"*
(Garfield, Apr. 22, 1993) / Jim Davis. -- Summary: Garfield
is impressed with a fancy restaurant. -- Call no.: PN6726
f.B55 "milk"
-----------------------------------------------------
"Where Is It Written That Humans Must Give Cats Milk in
Saucers?"* (Garfield, Aug. 17, 1984) / Jim Davis. -- Call
no.: PN6726 f.B55 "milk"
-----------------------------------------------------
"We're Almost to the Dairy Section"* (Marvin, Nov. 14, 1984) /
Tom Armstrong. -- Summary: The family is grocery shopping,
and Marvin has to be restrained. -- Call no.: PN6726 f.B55
"milk"
-----------------------------------------------------
"Ice Cream and Three Cows"* (Dennis the Menace, Sept. 18,
1984) / Ketcham. -- Summary: Dennis names four things that
contain milk. -- Call no.: PN6726 f.B55 "milk"
-----------------------------------------------------
"The Clean-Up After the Clean-Up"* (Out Our Way, Feb. 1, 1969)
/ Neg Cochran. -- Summary: The dog gets to clean up the
spilled milk, and the Dad gets a sponge mop to clean up
after the dog. -- Call no.: PN6726 f.B55 "milk"
-----------------------------------------------------
"I Hate the Aftertaste of Diet Milk"* (Marvin, Sept. 13, 1984)
/ Tom Armstrong. -- Summary: Marvin's mother gives him 2%E
milk. -- Call no.: PN6726 f.B55 "milk"
-----------------------------------------------------
"Please Leave 1 Qt. of Grade A Milk"* (Donald Duck, Nov. 21,
1941) / by Walt Disney. -- Summary: Daisly leaves an empty
bottle and a note by a cow on Gus Goose's farm. -- Call
no.: PN6726 f.B55 "milk"
-----------------------------------------------------
"Why Not Just Leave It In The Cow?"* (Flintstones, Sept. 24,
1982) -- Summary: Pebbles has a way to keep milk from
spoiling in hot weather. -- Call no.: PN6726 f.B55 "milk"


...and a superhero 'collectible' comic...

Wizard Presents Nightwing 1/2. -- Congers, NY : DC Comics and
Wizard Press, 1997. -- 24 p. : col. ill. ; 26 cm. --
Superhero genre. -- Call no.: PN6728.6.D3N5215 1997

...but not Lady Rawhide #4! Come on, someone send a copy in...

Lady Rawhide. -- New York : Topps Comics, 1995-1996. -- col.
ill. ; 26 cm. -- "Vol. 1," complete in 5 nos. --
Superheroine and western genres. -- LIBRARY HAS: no. 1-3,
5. -- Call no.: PN6728.6.T63L3 1995
-----------------------------------------------------
Lady Rawhide Mini Comic / Don McGregor, writer ; Estaban
Maroto, artist. -- New York : Topps Comics, 1995. -- 16 p.
: col. ill. ; 22 cm -- "Vol. 1, no. 1, July 1995." --
"Supplement to Wizard the Guide to Comics." -- Western
genre. -- Call no.: PN6728.6.T63L29 1995


...and here's some of the King Features Syndicate proof collection that showed up last year...

Gunner : daily syndicate proof sheets / by José Luis Salinas &
Alfredo J. Grassi. -- New York : King Features Syndicate, .
-- ill. ; 36 x 22 cm. -- (King Features Syndicate Proof
Sheet Collection) -- Six strips per leaf. -- Complete run
starts with week of Mar. 22, 1976. -- Later art signed:
Lucho Olivera (1977), Andrada (1979), Carlos Pedrazzini
(1979), Tobias (1979-1981), Ricardo Barrosa (1981-1983),
Klacik (1984). -- Stored remotely. Please request from
Special Collections staff at least three days in advance of
use. -- Sports genre, about a soccer player and team. --
LIBRARY HAS: 1976-1984. -- Call no.: oversize PN6726.K52G84

Tune in tomorrow as we look at November, 2008!

Pulse magazine's lamented comics pages

My buddy Mark Weidenbaum was an editor of comics for Tower Records' Pulse Magazine and he's put an index of some of the strips on his website. I used to grab these magazines in the DC store - I lived across the street from it at George Washington University for a couple of years, and then, as I got more into comics, I'd stop in just to pick up this magazine.

Sunday, April 12, 2009

Dave Astor's new column takes on comic strips

Dave just shot me a link to his latest column which stars many familiar names from the comics - "Good Grief! Comic Characters Leave Newspapers for a Day," Huffington Post April 12, 2009.

April 24 anime Crayon Shin Chan: Bravo! Samurai Battle

Crayon Shin Chan: Bravo! Samurai Battle to be screened at the Japan Information and Culture Center, Embassy of Japan.

DC Anime club in Collaboration with Japan Information and Culture Center, Embassy of Japan will screen Shin Chan The Movie April 24, 2009 6:30 pm as part of inaugural showing for a new film series based on both Anime (Japanese Animation) and Manga ( Japanese Comics).

After dreaming about a beautiful lady dressed as a feudal ear princess, Shin Chan’s dog discovers an ancient box of letters while tearing up the garden. Inside, they find a note written in Shin Chan’s clumsy script, but he has no memory of writing it. Suddenly, he finds himself transported to Japan’s war-torn Warring States Period, surrounded by riots, rebellion and strife. Will Shin Chan’s crazy antics save his new samurai friends and rewrite history?

To celebrate the 10th anniversary Yoshito Usui’s popular manga and animated series, Crayon Shin-chan: Bravo! Samurai Battle is full of the great gags and silly scenarios Shin Chan fans have come to love. Winner of the prestigious Agency for Cultural Affairs’ Media Arts Festival Grand Prize for Animation, which was also awarded to Hayao Miyazaki’s Academy Award winning Spirited Away the year before, the surprisingly moving final scene is sure to bring tears to your eyes.

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.

CONTACT: Chris Wanamaker, (202) 262 2083 president@dcanimeclub.org

Another DC-area Josh Elder Appearance!



Making Comics the Ninja Way

Learn how to create your own comics and how to make it in the comic industry with Josh Elder, award-winning author of Batman Strikes and the nationally syndicated comic strip and graphic novel series, Mail Order Ninja.

7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on April 24 at Patrick Henry Library.

Register (after April 9) either online or by calling 703-938-0405. Cosponsored by the library's Center for the Book. Teens & adults.

Pekar's new book reviewed in NY Times


New York Times Book Review April 12, 2009
The Mad Ones
By JOHN LELAND



THE BEATS: A Graphic History
Text by Harvey Pekar and others.
Art by Ed Piskor and others.
Edited by Paul Buhle
199 pp. Hill & Wang. $22

My book on Harvey is still available from the U. Press of Mississippi - I just got the new catalogue and there's six new books on comics and animation in it!

QUICK REVIEWS FOR COMICS DUE 04-15-09

Note the Herbie collection - Mike

QUICK REVIEWS FOR COMICS DUE 04-15-09
By John Judy


ACTION COMICS #876 by Greg Rucka and Eddy Barrows. Ursa enters. Breaks stuff, burns stuff, gets sassy. Bad Ursa. Being named after a bear is no excuse.

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #591 by Dan Slott and Dale Eaglesham. Big changes are afoot and Spidey’s unmasking is just the start!

CAPTAIN AMERICA #49 by Ed Brubaker and Luke Ross. Sharon Carter, the woman who “killed” Captain America, is having bad dreams. Go figure.

HERBIE ARCHIVES VOL. 3 HC by Shane O’Shea and Ogden Whitney. The final volume collecting issues 15-23 of the sixties cult series about Herbie Popnecker, the Fat Fury, and his supernatural lollipops! It was the sixties, gang….

INCOGNITO #3 by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips. Introducing the lovely and talented Ava Destruction! You can tell Ed and Sean had themselves a ball with this series. Highly recommended!

RAMPAGING WOLVERINE #1 by Various Creators. It is a Wolverine first issue and it is in black and white. Contains no ads!

THE STAND: AMERICAN NIGHTMARES #2 of 5 by Mike Perkins and Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa. Randall Flagg’s rockin’ the apocalypse, Trashcan Man shows up and Larry Underwood faces the long, dark Lincoln Tunnel. Highly recommended.

SUB-MARINER COMICS 70th ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL #1 by Will Everett, Roy Thomas, Mark Schultz, Mitch Breitweiser and Al Williamson. Featuring Prince Namor’s first appearance, a new Roy Thomas story with Nazis and more. Three stories, three covers, no waiting. Fun for all ages unless you like Nazis. Then you’ll be a little put out. Fair warning, goose-steppers. “Imperious Rex!”

UNCANNY X-MEN #508 by Matt Fraction and Greg Land. Fraction’s throwing sub-plots around like the love-child of Chris Claremont and Grant Morrison! Greg Land is tracing the porn! Put ‘em together and somehow… it just works. Plus there’s a Wolverine/Vincent Van Gogh variant cover that’s so good it may need to become a poster. Recommended.

WALKING DEAD #60 by Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard. Rick and the gang are surrounded by a zombie horde. No time-outs. Recommended as always.

WOLVERINE NOIR #1 of 4 by Stuart Moore and C.P. Smith. Logan’s a Bowery detective in 1937. You like this stuff or you don’t.

X-FACTOR #42 by Peter David and Valentine DeLandro. Madrox still has that annoying M tattoo/brand on his face. That’s really gotta go.

X-MEN LEGACY #233 by Mike Carey and Scot Eaton. Professor X faces the sentient danger room robot he once enslaved. Again. Because telling that story once simply was not enough. Featuring another artsy Wolverine variant cover.

www.johnjudy.net

Saturday, April 11, 2009

Secret Asian Man's birthday is...


Secret Asian Man's birthday is...

...oddly enough, the same as mine and comics scholar Gene Kannenberg. Hmmm. Gene and I have been seen in the same place at the same time, but has Gene and S.A.M.?

Free Comic Book Day at Collectors Corner in Baltimore

We're a little ways out yet, but I did get this notice, and there are a good number of creators appearing at the store (as well as other entertainment!), so I thought I'd pass it along:

Free Comic Book Day - May 2nd 2009 9AM - 8PM
When:Saturday, May 02, 2009
9:00 AM to 8:00 PM EDT
Where:Collectors Corner
8108 A Harford Rd.
Baltimore, MD 21234

Scheduled Creator & Character Appearances
All artists and characters will appear from 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM on May 2nd

Writers and artists:

Jo Chen (Buffy The Vampire Slayer, Runaways)
Pat Carlucci (Hotinks Studios)
H.C. Noel (Mr. Scootles)
Michael S. Bracco (Birth & Novo)
Nathan Getz (No One)
Tony Calandra (No One)
GW Fisher (Image Comics' Shadowhawk)
Frank Zeigler (Waki & Rusty)
Patrick Kelly (Local Artist)
Carlos Taylor (Local Artist)
Chris Hewitt (The Living Corpse)
Tom Arvis (Sureshot Comics)

Character Appearances : (Spider-Man, Captain America, Black Cat, Elektra, Supergirl, Rorschach, Venom, Iron Man, Wolverine, Hawkeye, Ozymandias, The Comedian, Batman, War Machine, Hulk, Deadpool, Superman, White Queen, Daredevil)

SALE all DAY - 20% Off Everything in the store on Free Comic Book Day!

Charm City Roller Girls (Baltimore's Own Pro Roller Derby Girls)
Vu Skateshop : Gary Smith - Professional Skateboarder

Plus, Live Music and Free Pizza & Refreshments All Day!

Game demonstrations, MTG, D&D, HeroCLix and BOARD GAMES too!

BAND list and schedule : Playing in front of the Gaming Clubhouse in the back parking lot behind the store -

12:00 – 12:40 – The Alameda
1:00 – 1:40 – Bene Gesserit Witch
2:00 – 2:40 - Davey G and the Keyboard
3:00 – 3:40 - Muscle Twin
4:00 – 4:40 - Person Parcel (Gary B)
5:00 – 5:40 - Mandroids

- Collectors Corner MD

Friday, April 10, 2009

Washington City Paper Best of DC 2009 comic stores

I missed this the first time I skimmed the issue desparately looking for my name to be a best of again, but in "Best Way to Come Out to Yourself as a Geek," Glen Weldon first recommends the Freer's anime marathon which has passed, but then suggests a comic book store crawl beginning with Big Planet Georgetown, moving to Fantom Comics in Tenleytown and wrapping up with Big Monkey Comics on 14th St.

I didn't realize or remember Weldon was local - he writes regularly for NPR's Monkey See blog which I'll start throwing links up to.

Geppi's Entertainment Museum spring lecture series

GEM's new ad from Baltimore's tourism site.

Arnold Blumberg announced a new lecture schedule today in his Scoop column:

GEM “Coffee with the Curator”
GEM relaunches its lecture series with a more casual, conversational mood that invites collectors to join us on the third Wednesday every month at 6pm for coffee and pop culture chat with Curator Dr. Arnold T. Blumberg. In the months ahead, “Coffee with the Curator” will cover the reimagining of the Star Trek universe, the world of L. Frank Baum’s Oz, the magical saga of Harry Potter in books and films, and the many incarnations of G.I. Joe.

All of these meetings will take place on Wednesday evenings at 6-7:30pm.

April 15
Rebirth, Regeneration and Renewal in Pop Culture: The concept of rebirth, so intrinsic a part of many religious faiths, is also an ingrained part of our shared pop culture heritage. Why are we so fascinated by the “hero reborn” myth in the form of Superman, Batman, the Doctor of Doctor Who, and so many more? What aspects of this phenomenon speak to us on such a primal level? As we enter a refreshing new season, take a look at pop culture characters that have also returned again and again.

May 13
Reinventing Star Trek: Boldly Going Where We’ve Been Before

June 17
The Long and Winding Yellow Brick Road: More Than a Century of Oz

July 15
Cinematic Wizardry: A Look at the Harry Potter Films

August 12
Real American Heroes: The Changing Faces of G.I. Joe

OT: Bechdel interview online

Fun Home was one of my favorite books for the year when it came out, and I was picking up the Washington Blade regularly to read Dykes when she was still doing it. Here's an interview - "Bechdel on the Essential Dykes To Watch Out For" by Alex Dueben, Guest Contributor, Thu, April 9th, 2009.

Thursday, April 09, 2009

Kal in North Carolina at Chapel Hill

He's getting around...

I wanted to give you a news alert that l will be one of the featured guests at the 7th annual Carolina Comedy Festival at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, April 16 and 17. I will be giving a presentation and leading a hands on workshop on the art of political cartooning.

The festival is the brainchild of comedian and UNC alum Lewis Black who will be performing with other prominent guests during the festival.

Mo Willems at National Zoo members-only reading

Free Members-Only Event!

Mo Willems Reads at the National Zoo
Tuesday, April 21, 4-6 p.m.

Friends of the National Zoo
is proud to offer our treasured members an exclusive book reading by #1 New York Times best-selling author and illustrator Mo Willems. He is best known for his Caldecott Honor-winning picture books Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!, Knuffle Bunny: A Cautionary Tale, and Knuffle Bunny Too: A Case of Mistaken Identity. His newest book, Naked Mole Rat Gets Dressed introduces young readers to one of the National Zoo's most popular small mammals. The main character, Wilbur, is different from the other naked mole-rats in his colony because he likes to wear clothes.

Come and meet the author and get your books signed. (Books will be available for purchase at the event.) Also, meet Zoo biologist David Kessler and get up close to one of the Zoo's underdressed inhabitants -- a naked mole-rat!

This exciting event is free and open just to members to thank you for your support, but space is limited. You must RSVP and bring your FONZ membership card for admittance. We anticipate the event will fill up quickly, so RSVP now!

Comic Riffs Interviews DC Comics's editor Dan DiDio

They've got a somewhat atypical piece today - DAVID BETANCOURT has "The Interview: DC Comics's Dan DiDio," Washington Post Comic Riffs blog (April 9 2009) mostly on changes in Superman and The Flash.

Tuesday, April 07, 2009

Weingarten's comic strip picked up, opinions on other comics cease

From the April 7th chat, Gene Weingarten says,

I have a wonderful announcement about how Chatological Humor is going to get even better! This is exactly like announcements you've been seeing in other newspapers practically every day now about how they are cutting costs, paper quality, paper size, staff and features in order to bring to you, the reader, an EVEN BETTER, MORE STREAMLINED PRODUCT!

Well, this is the last week Chatological Humor will offer its picks for the best comics of the previous week. Yes, the CPOW [Comic Pick of the Week] is dead. All for your benefit!

Okay, as it happens, there is nothing dastardly or craven behind this decision and no one I can yell at self-righteously. Last week, the Washington Post Writers Group syndicate picked up its option on "Barney and Clyde," the comic strip being developed by me, my son, Dan, and cartoonist David Clark. Editors at The Writers Group feel that I can no longer offer my half-assed, semi-knowledgeable opinions about other comic strips that might, in the future, compete for space with mine. I hate to admit it, but they have a point.

_______________________

Alexandria: So, when does Barney and Clyde's run begin? And what will it replace? (this is news, not commentary, I'm asking for)

Gene Weingarten: No clear answer to either question; no way of knowing even if The Washington Post will run it. There are no obligations in any direction.

_______________________

Comics abomination: Gene, I noticed on Sunday that while some of the regular strips seem to have shrunk or the panels squeezed together oddly (Pearls especially got the short end of the stick), the Slylock Fox panel has grown significantly.

I'm all for encouraging youngsters' abilities to solve petty crimes through observation, but does it really need to be larger than most of the other strips?

Gene Weingarten: This may be deliberate, and smart. Pearls Before Swine (Pastis will hate me for this) seems to be drawn shrewdly, to deter shrinkage. Its characters are simple, dialogue simple, spaces big. It can shrink without injury more than most can.

_______________________

Re: Pearls Before Swine: I disagree with Pastis' strategy - I think he is inadvertently enabling shrinkage instead of deterring it. A comic editor might see his strip and assume that shrinking all comics won't hurt the content. What if the comics fought shrinkage by adding more art and content, so that readers would complain to the comics editors?

Gene Weingarten: Uh, that would be a lot of nose-cutting for face-spiting.

_______________________

Pearls shrinkage: I think you might be missing the point. Whether or not Pastis is deliberately drawing his strip to survive the Great Comic Shrink of 2009 or not, SLYLOCK FOX IS GETTING BIGGER!

Surely another comic deserves enlargement before Slylock.

Gene Weingarten: If you are going to run Slylock, you need to give it space! A lot of stuff is going on in there.

Bamn and DC Conspiracy PR

This one came in a few days ago, but slipped down the screen...

On the shoe laces of the DC Conspiracy’s “Horrors of War” anthology, we have now agreed to do another short for the DCC. This time, a yet-to-be-titled crime comic. Not sure who will be doing the art just yet (Dave or Jay), but David seemed intrigued and little disturbed by the opportunity to draw a person with their head crushed by a TV…

Similar to “Horrors of War,” the book will be edited by Evan Keeling and is tentatively scheduled for a July release date.
Want to find out more about the DCC and their quarterly anthology comics? Go here: http://www.dcconspiracy.com/

David Dean (“Bamn” Co-creator and “Horrors of War” artist) has agreed to be the colorist for the cover to Bamn #2. This will be our first color cover, but David showed me a few samples of some pre-existing artwork and it looks awesome. He definitely knows his way around whatever-the-hell-software he uses to work with.
We got a bit of flack from convention-goers (and friends) for doing Bamn #1 with a Black & White cover. Ultimately, it was issue of finances and time restraint (we literally got our original print a few days before our first comic show).

There has been a bit of delay in getting Bamn #1 to Alliance Comics and Games, it was entirely due to printing issues. It took a little bit longer this time, but we’ve been informed that the books should be out of Comixpress in NJ and into our possession very soon. That means, that very soon, Alliance Comics and Games will be the first store to sell Bamn directly off the shelf.

We are also working on bringing the title to Third Eye Comics in Annapolis, MD…and of course you can always purchase Bamn at comixpress.com: http://store.comixpress.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=1195&zenid=ls8k97lgud2a7aivip7ah57va0

Lastly, The DCC is hosting their annual Counter Culture Fest at The Soundry in Viena, Va. The Fest will feature artwork, comics, music, and sellable accoutrements from a pack of DC-Area creatives. The show will be held on May 24, 2009 and Bamn is slated to debut its’ second issue there. Be sure to come on out, get inspired, get creative, and get supportive. For more info about The Counter Culture Fest, go to:
http://www.soundry.net/

Bamn comic now available in DC area

Some local PR came in (without the pictures unfortunately):

The Bamn crew is happy to announce that Bamn #1, our debut issue, is now available at Alliance Comics and Games.

Pictured above are the two variant covers for issue #1.

If you are in the Washington, DC Metro-area and haven’t already tried purchasing the book at Comixpress, feel free to stop by and pick up a copy of Bamn #1.

Alliance has two locations:

Alliance Comics and Games in Silver Spring, MD
8317 Fenton St
Silver Spring, MD 20910
(301) 588-2546
Metro accessible. Take the Red line to Silver Spring station.

Alliance Comics and Games in Bowie, MD
6820 Hilltop Plaza
Bowie, MD 20715
(301) 352-4322

You can find out more about Alliance @ http://www.allianecomicsonline.com/

BAMN #1
Written by TROY JEFFREY ALLEN
Penciled by JAY PAYNE
50/50 Cover for Issue #1 by JAY PAYNE


Nerds vs. Jocks; Bullies vs. Misfits; the Weak vs. the Strong. Everyone loves a good underdog story...SO LETS GET READY TO RUMBLE! BAMN gets its title from the embittered main character. A surly and washed-up former pro wrestler, Bamn has spent the dying years of his career throwing up in bars. He lives out of his car and uses stolen credit cards to pay for beer. A chance encounter with a pair of local high schoolers, Art and Ian, brings him to the FWF, A backyard wrestling federation ran by the two young fans. When the school’s wrestling squad shows up to bully the kids, Bamn steps in. In a rare moment of clarity he promises all the teenagers that he’s going to teach them the most important thing they will ever learn…HOW TO FIGHT BACK AND LOOK GOOD DOING IT!
28PGS.(each)/Black & White/Parental Advisory …$3.50 (each)

OT: Arnold Roth & Al Jaffee audio interviews

Bob Andelman's got an excellent interview "Humble Mr. Media welcomes two classic cartoonists, Al Jaffee and Arnold Roth, for a chat about Hefner, Kurtzman and Humbug!" today. To get a local slant, Roth's favorite comic strip is Bud Grace's Piranha Club. Mark Tatulli gets a shout-out from Andelman and Roth too. Jaffee recommends Bechdel's Dykes to Watch Out For and Fun Home. Both cartoonists like Nicole Hollander's Sylvia too.

OT: Steve Brodner audio interview

Brodner's one of the best caricaturists working regularly and I was lucky enough to hear him speak a few years ago at SPX. Here's a new interview with him - "MoJo Audio: Meet Cartoonist Steve Brodner: Satirical illustrator Steve Brodner talks about Newt Gingrich, Richard Nixon, and which senator he most wants to draw," by Nikki Gloudeman, Mother Jones podcast April 3, 2009. The direct download is http://www.motherjones.com/audio/download/21368/brodner_final.mp3

Comic Riffs interview with Monsters vs Aliens animator

See "The Interview: 'Monsters' Animator Phil 'Captain 3-D' McNally," By Michael Cavna, Washington Post Comic Riffs blog April 7, 2009.

Herblock award winner Pat Bagley on his experience

Herblock award winner Pat Bagley did a radio interview on his experience - "Bagley Wins Herblock Prize," by Jennifer Napier-Pearce, National Public Radio's KUER (April 6, 2009). He talks a little about the award, then his career and then his favorite cartoon which he also descirbed for us at the award ceremony. The cartoon can be seen on KUER's site.

Monday, April 06, 2009

On finally seeing the first Spider-Man

After breaking the news almost exactly a year ago, I finally got around to seeing the first Spider-Man original art by Steve Ditko in Amazing Fantasy #15.

100_7122

The art was lovely, but it was somewhat anti-climactic since I'd read the story literally hundreds of times. Foolish, I know. There's a small bit of new information to be gleaned from the artwork, where Stan Lee asked for changes, but Ditko followed his pencils very closely so there's not a lot of underlying drawing.

The entire comic book art is there, so there are three other stories with Ditko art that aren't seen nearly as often.

100_7126

I really can't think of any better home for this than the Library. Lee and Ditko's creation has become an American icon over almost 50 years now. More pictures are here.

Herblock award at Library of Congress

I was fortunate enough to be invited to the Herblock award ceremony at the Library of Congress where the award was presented to Pat Bagley. Ted Koppel was the featured speaker and spoke first as he was catching a plane. Koppel was quite entertaining, but Bagley did a good job, and then we saw a new short film on Herblock's life, that I guess will be on the Foundation's website at some point. At the reception, there was a large cake for Block's 100th birthday.

100_7128

100_7129

100_7131

Wall Street wrong on Pixar too

Here's an interesting article - "Pixar's Art Leaves Profit Watchers Edgy," By BROOKS BARNES, New York Times April 6, 2009. Apparently the new UP isn't commercial enough, and neither were Ratatouille or Wall-E. Sigh. Aren't these the same Wall Street people that have run our country's finances into the ground?

Frank Springer has died

Frank Springer died in Long Island - he was a comic strip artist who migrated to comics in the 1970s and did a lot of books I bought. He worked on the Invaders and the Human Fly for Marvel, and for DC, the Shadow. I mention it here because he's survived by children in Fairfax County, and he brought many hours of enjoyment to my youth. See "LI comics artist Frank Springer dead at 79," BY JENNIFER BARRIOS, Newsday April 5, 2009.

Sunday, April 05, 2009

Award for Dave Astor's 2nd career

Dave writes in that he's "co-won 2nd-place New Jersey Press Association award for my work in the editorial section of The Montclair Times. That's the newspaper for which I write the weekly "Montclairvoyant" topical humor column. Also, that editorial section includes the weekly work of cartoonist M.e. Cohen, whose drawings run on the page opposite to my column." He's at W23 - Packaging the News Product - Editorial Section Layout and Content if anyone wants the exact citation. His daughter Maggie won for a piece on Teenage Drinking in Montclair (see W-19 at the same link).

Dave's latest humor column for the Huffington Post can be found here, but boy I really miss his syndicate coverage for Editor & Publisher. And unfortunately I have the same view of the Yankees that he does.

QUICK REVIEWS FOR COMICS DUE 04-08-09

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


ALL-NEW SAVAGE SHE-HULK #1 of 4 by Fred Van Lente and Peter Vale. Okay, she’s got grey skin and Thundra’s old clothes and she’s from another dimension. On the surface this would appear to be a huge glowing Gamma Bomb of screwed up continuity, but it’s written by Fred Van Lente and it’s only four issues. Gotta look.

CAPTAIN BRITAIN AND MI13 #12 by Paul Cornell and Leonard Kirk. Super-Limeys fight Dracula! Nuff said!

DARK REIGN: HAWKEYE #1 of 5 by Andy Diggle and Tom Raney. Yes, HAWKEYE mini-series are traditionally forgettable filler on our nation’s proud comic racks but this one’s by Andy Diggle and it’s actually about the Evil, Homicidal, Psychotic Fake-Hawkeye, a.k.a. Bullseye so it should provide gruesome amusement to beat the band.

GREEN LANTERN #39 by Geoff Johns and Philip Tan. GL meets the villainous Agent Orange whose power is fueled by greed. But isn’t greed good? GL’s not going commie, is he?

HARVEY COMICS CLASSICS, VOL. 5: THE HARVEY GIRLS SC edited by Leslie Cabarga. The best adventures of Little Audrey, Little Dot and Little Lotta from the years 1952-1962. All-ages fun providing keen insight into the society that screwed up your mothers and grandmothers.

IGNITION CITY #1 of 5 by Warren Ellis and Gianluca Pagliarani. “Where did the space heroes go to die?” The answer’s in this retro sci-fi noir series set in 1956 where the rockets are cool and the laser pistols are hot. Published by Avatar Press so you know you’re not paying for pesky frills like publicity and updated websites.

MARVEL ZOMBIES 4 #1 of 4 by Fred Van Lente and Kev Walker. This never gets old! Not for kids.

NORTHLANDERS #16 by Brian Wood and Ryan Kelly. The final chapter of “The Cross and the Hammer” in which we discover whatever became of little Brigid. Recommended.

PUNISHER: FRANK CASTLE MAX #69 by Duane Swierczynski and Michel Lacombe. Frank’s still dying and the bad guys are still trying to hurry things along.

SECRET IDENTITY: FETISH ART OF SUPERMAN’S CO-CREATOR JOE SHUSTER HC by Craig Coe. Exactly what it sounds like. Not for kids but highly recommended anyway.

SECRET SIX #8 by Gail Simone and Carlos Rodriguez. So what do you do to unwind when you’re a loose-knit band of renegade spandex baddies being hunted by heroes and villains alike? Does the word “inappropriate’ even mean anything at that point?

SUPERMAN: WORLD OF NEW KRYPTON #2 of 12 by James Robinson, Greg Rucka and Pete Woods. Superman and Zod fail to bond. Go figure.

TIMESTORM 2009/2099 #1 of 4 by Brian Reed and Eric Battle. You know what would make those old 2099 heroes really awesome? A re-boot! Hey, it worked for the New Universe. A little. When Warren Ellis took a shot at it. A few years ago… For all you 2099 completists out there.

ULTIMATE WOLVERINE VS HULK #4 of 6 by Damon Lindelof and Leinil Francis Yu. After three-years the big pay-off is… Ultimate She-Hulk! Now sure, this She-Hulk may be Ultimate, but is she All-New and/or Savage?

WOLVERINE: WEAPON X #1 by Jason Aaron and Ron Garney. The comic so awesome it needed five separate covers, not counting whatever they whip out for second and third print-runs! Seriously, this one re-unites the WOLVERINE Dream Team of Aaron and Garney, the last guys to regularly deliver Wolverine stories that did not uck-say uge-hay. Recommended.

www.johnjudy.net

Saturday, April 04, 2009

Zadzooks reviews comic books!

It's been a while, but Zadzooks reviews actual comic books this week!

See "Zadzooks: Reviews of Marvel Apes and New Brighton Archaeological Society," Joseph Szadkowski, Washington Times Thursday, April 2, 2009.

Zadzooks also reviews Monsters vs Aliens videogame .

Captain America and Morrison's Sea Guy are "Bennett's Best for the week of March 29," By Greg Bennett, Zadzooks Blog April 02 2009.

Faithkiller theater show with superheroes

See "A Postmodern Multimedia Experience," By Chris Klimek, Washington Post Friday, April 3, 2009; WE49.

The play is described by the Post as "The story concerns the creator of a fictional 1940s radio series, also called "The Faithkiller," chronicling the two-fisted adventures of the titular superhero who battled the Nazis with his Brain Drain Gun, from which a single, humanizing blast could cure even the staunchest brownshirt of his taste for fascism and genocide. We also see a present-day TV update, wherein the Faithkiller wages a guerrilla campaign against the fundamentalist theocracy that is the U.S. government of the near future."

Cartoon postcard in new Medical Museum collection

Otken Collection
Postcard sent by Luther B. Otken, a World War 1 surgeon in the American Expeditionary Forces, stationed in France. This collection of WW1 correspondence was donated to the National Museum of Health & Medicine last month.

Friday, April 03, 2009

Kal in NYC on April 7th

Kal writes in:

I will be giving a public lecture at Columbia University on Tuesday evening April 7 at 7:30PM titled ”Drawing from Politics: Cartoons and Satire in the new digital age”. The event is free and open to the all.

The event will be at the Davis Auditorium - 412 Shapiro Center (new science building). To get to this building you enter the Columbia gates at 116th street and Broadway and proceed to the north of campus, the building is located on campus between 120th and 119th street, between Broadway and Amsterdam. Once you enter the building, the auditorium is to the right of the entrance.

He's always a lot of fun in his talks.

Is The Onion peeling?

I've noticed that a bunch of Onion boxes were removed and it's not been distributed at Big Planet Comics for the past two weeks. Is the Onion's DC edition struggling?

Cavna twitters Thompson (no, not that one)

Boy, that headline sounds dirty. See "The Twitter Interview: Political Cartoonist Mike Thompson," By Michael Cavna, April 3, 2009 to get those images out of your head.

Craig Yoe and Joe Shuster at Big Planet

Craig will be signing his new book on Superman artist Joe Shuster's... alternative comics drawings ... at Big Planet Comics on Saturday, April 25th.

Thursday, April 02, 2009

Cagle and Cavna; Weingarten on comic strips

Off to the Herblock award, but check out "The Twitter Interview: Cartoonist Daryl Cagle," By Michael Cavna, April 2, 2009.

Gene Weingarten has a longish discussion of comic strips so I won't quote all of it - "Chatological Humor: Comics Section Shrinkage, Erogenous Zones (UPDATED 4.2.09)", Washington Post.com (March 31 2009).

Finally, there's a play with a superhero theme in town -
"A Crusade Against Religion: In 'The Faithkiller,' an atheistic superhero gets mixed reactions," by Express contributor Erin Trompeter, April 2, 2009.

Wednesday, April 01, 2009

British fascination with faces on transportation leads to autism cartoon dvd

This has been all over the place, but the Post picked it up so here you go - the country that gave us Thomas the Tank Engine and whatever those airplanes with faces on PBS were called is carrying anthropomorphism into new realms - "British DVD Takes Aim At Autism: Cartoons Focus on Facial Expressions," Rachel Saslow, Washington Post Tuesday, March 31, 2009; HE04.

Batcave Companion interview with Kronenberg

Their publisher has a podcast interview with the two authors - "TwoMorrows Tune-In #19: Michael Eury and Michael Kronenberg (The Batcave Companion)," April 1 2009. The direct link is http://twomorrows.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/19_rt_me_mk_090401.mp3

Cavna talks to Bell, Kurtz and other social networking cartoonists

Two are online at the Comic Riffs blog - "'Candorville' Cartoonist Finds His [Short-Form] Muse," By Michael Cavna, March 31, 2009 and "The Twitter Interview: 'PvP' Creator Scott Kurtz," By Michael Cavna, April 1, 2009. Cavna writes in that he would also like you to see "The Interview: Animator Bryan Brinkman," Michael Cavna, March 23, 2009, even though I had already linked to this as long ago as March 23rd.

In the physical post was "Cartooning's Webcrawler: The Micro-Blogs of Twitter," By Michael Cavna, Washington Post Staff Writer, Wednesday, April 1, 2009; C12. A similar article appeared on PBS's website - "Newspaper Cartoonists Engage Audiences (Including Haters) Online," by Mike Rosen-Molina, PBS Mediashift March 30, 2009.

Kal Theme Park

Kevin "Kal" Kallaugher says:
Today April 1, The Economist reports about a new theme park being built in Europe.(Also reported this morning on NPR) You can read the entire article here:
http://www.economist.com/world/britain/displayStory.cfm?story_id=13395767&source=features_box4

April 2: Art Spiegelman at George Washington U

Art Spiegleman on April 2 will be at GWU's Jack Morton Auditorium at 7 PM.

I'll be at the Herblock award so I'll have to miss this, but he's always an entertaining speaker.

Thanks to Phil T. for the tip.

Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Wildly OT, but amusing: Hustler cartoonist's blog

Dan Collins just wrote in, "I recently started my own cartoon blog. I've been a full time professional cartoonist since 1976."

Dan's work certainly fits into the Secret History of Comics - as he notes on his site, "Those cartoons have no doubt shown up in the inboxes of most of you at one time or another. Just look for the 'collins' at the bottom. If only I had a nickel every time they did."

I'm sure I've seen Dan's work that way too, but his blog is darned funny.

Express reviews Complete Peanuts 11

See "This One Goes to 11: 'The Complete Peanuts 1971-1972'," by Express contributor Ewa Beaujon, Express (March 30 2009). I think this was online only. Anyone know?

OT: Donna Barstow, editorial cartoonist

Donna found me while looking for Dave Astor (sorry Dave!) and sent the following PR in, but she also noted "there are only 2 other women in [UCLICK's editorial group (over 60), and it's quite a switch to go from magazine gag cartoons to editorials (although I'm still doing mag cartoons mostly)! I'm hugely enjoying the challenge, but haven't gotten much feedback yet." So check her out on Slate (which actually offers you the opportunity to "Buy Donna Barstow for your Web, wireless or print publication." Is this the next step in cartooning?

She's also got a new New Yorker blog, "Why I did It".


Editorial Cartoonist Donna Barstow Brings Fresh, Original Voice to UCLICK® Website GoComics.com

Kansas City, MO (February 24, 2009) - Editorial cartoonist and acclaimed blogger Donna Barstow is bringing her signature style to GoComics.com, the popular Uclick comic strip and editorial cartoon portal that is home to some of the nation’s most renowned cartoonists.

Barstow’s new feature will update two to three times per week, putting on full display the unique commentary that has made her cartoons a hit on the pages of widely-read newspapers and periodicals such as Parade, The New Yorker, Harvard Business Review, the Los Angeles Times, and Glamour, among others. She has 2 books in print of cartoons for women, and her cartoon on food has run for several years in mainstream and alternative papers, including Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Philadelphia Inquirer, Salt Lake Tribune, Albany Times Union, Pasadena Weekly, and more.

Barstow approaches her job as an editorial cartoonist in a way that differs from the political myopia that sometimes dominates the field.

“I try to see more of the positive in the news,” said Barstow. “It’s important to have a point of view, but does it have to be fatalistic? I try and bring light to a subject even though I might loathe it.”

While the focus of Barstow’s feature will usually fall on politics, the cartoonist expects a large dose of pop culture to work its way into the mix as well, all filtered through the lens of her own perspective.

“Living in Hollywood, I can’t help but be influenced by entertainment, and yes, sadly, the drama of it all,” said Barstow. “I’m originally from the East Coast, so I definitely see the conflict and layers in East vs. West coast culture! It’s a challenge I enjoy, letting my opinions be known.”

Barstow joins a star-studded lineup of editorial cartoonists on GoComics.com. The site features 27 Pulitzer Prize winners, including Pat Oliphant, Mike Luckovich, Matt Davies, David Horsey, Mike Ramirez and more.

“Donna paints the world in shades most of us don’t even consider,” said Douglas Edwards, Uclick CEO. “She brings an original point of view and an instantly recognizable cartooning style to her work, not to mention her brilliant wit. She’s a great fit for the GoComics community.”

Check out Donna Barstow’s cartoons at GoComics.com/DonnaBarstow.
GoComics.com is owned and operated by digital entertainment provider Uclick, America's #1 provider of comics on the web and on mobile phones.

About UCLICK:
UCLICK® is the leading digital entertainment provider of humor, comic strips, manga, graphic novels, editorial cartoons, and other content for desktop, web and mobile phones. Uclick is also the leading creator and distributor of crosswords, and other word and number puzzles. Partners featuring Uclick content include the leading consumer portals Yahoo!, MSNBC.com, New York Times, Slate.com, washingtonpost.com, CNN, USA Today, and AOL. Uclick features include the top brand franchises Garfield, Doonesbury, Calvin and Hobbes, Paul Frank, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, TOKYOPOP, USA Today, Pat Sajak, Wyland, and many more. Uclick creative content and services are available through the GoComics.com website, U.S. mobile phone operators, the iTunes App Store, and other distributors worldwide. UCLICK, LLC is a division of Andrews McMeel Universal, the leading newspaper syndicate and publisher of humor books and calendars in North America.

For more information on Uclick, visit www.uclick.com.

Monday, March 30, 2009

OT: Cartooning in Africa book now available

I saw John Lent yesterday and got a copy of his new book, Cartooning in Africa. It's an edited volume of essays on Africa as a whole, Angola, Algeria, Cameroon, Egypt, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Southern Africa, South Africa, Tunisia and Tanzania. Here's the description lifted from Amazon's site:

Product Description
This volume documents from historical and contemporary perspectives, the situations, trends and issues of cartooning in a number of African countries, and profiles the individuals, forms and phenomena that stand out. All types of cartooning are covered, including comic books, comic strips, gag and political cartoons, and humour magazines.
Product Details

* Paperback: 383 pages
* Publisher: Hampton Press (October 2008)
* Language: English
* ISBN-10: 1572735546
* ISBN-13: 978-1572735545

Malaria Moe cartoons on Flickr

088266-32
My colleague at the Medical Museum put up a bunch of scans of World War 2 Malaria Moe propaganda cartoons on Flickr today. The artist, Frank Mack, later went on to work for Ripley's Believe It Or Not.

Dave Astor's idea for jobless editorial cartoonists

It's a doozy.

That Darn Auth

Tom Toles isn't the only editorial cartoonist that gets complaints at the Post. Even though he works for a Philly paper, Tony Auth came in for this gripe, although he was unnamed. The accompanying cartoon was signed.


Catholicism Under Attack
Washington Post Saturday, March 28, 2009; A11

Of all the cartoons published last week, why did you choose one that is anti-Catholic for Drawing Board on March 21? Not only was it offensive, but its implications were false.

The cartoon showed Pope Benedict XVI in an AIDS ward saying, "Blessed are the sick, for they have not used condoms." The implication was that condoms would reduce the incidence of AIDS.

However, no less an authority than Edward C. Green, a senior research scientist at the Harvard Center for Population and Development Studies, was quoted as saying in National Review Online last week that "we have found no consistent associations between condom use and lower HIV-infection rates."

When asked to comment on a statement by Pope Benedict XVI on AIDS, Green said that the pope is correct, "or put it a better way, the best evidence we have supports the pope's comments."

The implication of the cartoon that the pope does not care about the plight of AIDS victims was insulting and outrageously untrue. What other group can match the care given to AIDS victims throughout the world by Catholic institutions and health-care workers?

-- Robert H. Follett
Lansdowne

Post drops, shrinks comics

The Post introduced its new 2 comics pages today. The strips are about 1/4 smaller. They justified themselves in several places recently. First the ombudsman, and then the managing editors:

"Why Monday's Post Will Look a Lot Different,"
By Andrew Alexander
Washington Post Sunday, March 29, 2009; A11

Another [way to cut costs] is to trim the physical size of the paper. The savings can be substantial.

A single page of newsprint in the daily Post, with its 650,000 circulation, costs roughly $2,500. A single page on Sundays, with its 870,000 circulation, costs about $3,500.

Shaving two pages from each daily and Sunday paper can save close to $2 million a year. ...

Reducing the number of comics and games was a simple matter of gauging reader preferences. The Post uses an outside firm to regularly question more than 3,000 adults in the Washington area and also conducts its own surveys. To evaluate the comics and games, adults were asked which ones they read, and adults with children were asked which ones their kids read.

Those scoring at the bottom with both adults and kids got the ax.

So, by that logic, if you cut printing the paper out completely at 100 pages (guesstimate for an average day) X $2,500 = $250,000/page/day. Multiple that by the 650,000 copies you print and you can save $162 billion dollars a day! They may have solved the economic crisis!

Ask The Post: Liz Spayd and Raju Narisetti, Washington Post Managing Editors
Monday, March 30, 2009; 12:00 PM

The Washington Post's managing editors, Raju Narisetti and Liz Spayd were online Monday, March 30 at 12 p.m. ET to discuss the recent changes and enhancements in both the newspaper and Web site. They will also answer your questions about the current state of the news industry.

Anonymous: "For all the choices we are making, we have used reader surveys to make sure we keep the features that are most popular."

Does that include comics? Because I never saw one, and I'm a faithful reader.

How was the decision made to drop six current, ongoing strips while keeping Peanuts reruns and tired old "zombie" strips that might as well be reruns, such as Family Circus, Garfield, Beetle Bailey, Mark Trail, and Dennis the Menace. those strips should have been put our of their (and our) miserry years ago.

Sacred cows, anyone?

Raju Narisetti and Liz Spayd: We do regular readership surveys both on the phone and in-person and the comics that moved online were the least popular with our readers.

_______________________

Silver Spring, Md.: Why don't you put Gene Weingarten in charge of the Comics section?

Raju Narisetti and Liz Spayd: We are putting it on our list of things to ask Gene!!

Sunday, March 29, 2009

QUICK REVIEWS FOR COMICS DUE 04-01-09

QUICK REVIEWS FOR COMICS DUE 04-01-09
By John Judy


AGENTS OF ATLAS #3 by Jeff Parker, Clayton Henry and Gabriel Hardman. Fighting commies back in The Day and everyone else in the Here and Now, these vintage super-folk just don’t know when to quit! A must for all aficionados of robots and talking gorillas!

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #590 by Dan Slott and Barry Kitson. Lots of doings in the Spider-verse, with a guest appearance by the Fantastic Four!

ANGEL: BLOOD AND TRENCHES #2 written and drawn by John Byrne. Oddly enough, both the best Angel story and best work from John Byrne in quite a while. Reminiscent of the TV show in all the ways his latest series isn’t. Good stuff.

AVENGERS/INVADERS #9 of 12 Alex Ross, Jim Kreuger and Steve Sadowski. Still coming out.

BATMAN: BATTLE FOR THE COWL: MAN-BAT #1 by Joe Harris and Jim Calafiore. Between you and me, that cowl ain’t gonna fit.

BLACK PANTHER #3 by Reginald Hudlin and Ken Lashley. While T’Challa heals the mysterious new lady Panther continues her quest to even some scores.

THE BOYS #29 by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson. The dark secret of the G-Men is exposed at last! Not for kids.

BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #24 by Jim Krueger and Cliff Richards. A Faith/Giles titanic team-up! Here’s hoping they take down the Dollhouse!

CAPTAIN AMERICA COMICS 70th ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL #1 by Joe Simon, Jack Kirby, James Robinson and Marcos Martin. A look back to Steve Rogers’ pre-Super Soldier days and a classic tale from Cap’s legendary creators. Recommended!

THE DESTROYER #1 of 5 by Robert Kirkman and Cory Walker. Legendary WWII hero Keen Marlowe (swear to god) is dying and with a name like “The Destroyer” he’s kind of obliged to take as many nefarious nogoodniks with him as he can. From the creator of WALKING DEAD and MARVEL ZOMBIES so you know it’s gonna be a twisty ride. Gotta look!

FLASH: REBIRTH #1 of 5 by Geoff Johns and Ethan Van Sciver. Barry’s back. Must Have!

GLAMOURPUSS #6 written and drawn by Dave Sim. For anyone interested in tracking CEREBUS creator Dave Sim’s inexorable path to the rubber room.

JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #25 by Geoff Johns and Jerry Ordway. At last! The big smack-down with Black Adam and Mighty Isis!

MY MOMMY IS IN AMERICA AND SHE MET BUFFALO BILL HC by Jean Regnaud and Emile Bravo. The English translation of the award-winning French graphic novel about the postcards a young French boy receives from his mother who’s off “traveling the world.” Recommended for readers age ten and up.

PREVIEWS by Diamond and Marvel Comics. To help you plan what to do with your bail-out money!

SCALPED #27 by Jason Aaron and Francesco Francavilla. Ladies and Gentlemen: FBI Agent Baylis Earl Nitz! May want to wear a rain poncho because this one’s gonna get wet! Highly recommended. Not for kids.

SEAGUY: THE SLAVES OF MICKEY EYE #1 of 3 by Grant Morrison and Cameron Stewart. And speaking of “wet” here’s more of the cartoon madness that is Grant Morrison. Hey, it’s only three issues. I mean, “Darn it!”

www.johnjudy.net

Saturday, March 28, 2009

Newseum offering news?

Bruce Guthrie sent in this link to a story about Brenda Starr on the Newseum's website - "A Starr Is Mourned," By Sharon Shahid, senior Web editor, Newseum March 26, 2009.

While the comics are certainly part of a newspaper (take that, Washington Post), I have no idea why the Newseum would be devoting a writer to this given that they probably don't have anything about Brenda Starr on display.

Zadzooks on Resident Evil vidoegame, Bennet on Ambush Bug

"Zadzooks: Resident Evil 5 review," Joseph Szadkowski, Washington Times Wednesday, March 25, 2009 and "Bennett's Best for the week of March 22," By Greg Bennett, Zadzooks Blog March 26 2009. Greg recommends Ambush Bug, a comic I love.