Quick Reviews for Comics Due THURSDAY (not Wednesday) 09-10-09

QUICK REVIEWS FOR COMICS DUE THURSDAY (not Wednesday) 09-10-09

By John Judy

 

ADVENTURE COMICS #2 by Geoff Johns, Michael Shoemaker, Francis Manapul and Clayton Henry.  Superboy and Wonder Girl have "the talk."  So do Lightning Lad and his evil brother Lightning Lord, after a fashion.  Hijinks ensue.

 

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #604 by Fred Van Lente and Barry Kitson.  In which we learn how wrapping yourself in web fluid can keep you alive and breathing for days in a vat of flesh and bone disintegrating acid while the Chameleon assumes your identity.  Also the Black Cat maybe shows up and acts all flirty.

 

DARK AVENGERS / UNCANNY X-MEN: EXODUS #1 by Matt Fraction and Mike Deodato. Big fight containing nuggets of plot and character.  Because you demanded it or something!

 

DARK REIGN: THE LIST AVENGERS ONE-SHOT by Brian Michael Bendis and Marko Djurdjevic.  "Clint Barton fans… you are not going to want to miss this one!"

 

DOOM PATROL #2 by Keith Giffen, J.M. DeMatteis, Matthew Clark and Kevin Maguire.  The DP fight a black hole and the Metal Men go into space.  That's right: Space!

 

KICK-ASS #7 by Mark Millar and John Romita Jr.  Four months after the last issue came out we finally learn what hideous fate awaits Big Daddy, Hit-Girl and that dirty traitor Red Mist.  You do remember Big Daddy, Hit-Girl and that dirty traitor Red Mist, don't you?  Come on, it's only been four months!  Quality takes time and so does KICK-ASS!  Stop whispering how the last time an issue of KICK-ASS came out Michael Jackson still had two months to live!  Just stop it, I say!

 

MARVELS PROJECT #2 of 8 by Ed Brubaker and Steve Epting.  The best thing to happen to Marvel/Timely's golden age since THE TWELVE.  See how it all came to be with a little retroactive continuity polish.  Highly recommended.

 

PUNISHER FRANK: CASTLE MAX #74 by Vic Gischler and Goran Parlov.  It's a sign of just how low Frank has fallen when his survival depends on the punk he had doped up and stuffed in his trunk.  Featuring hulking hillbilly swamp cannibals.  Recommended.

 

SECRET SIX #13 by Gail Simone and Nicola Scott.  After last issue's brutal take-down of Wonder Woman you probably didn't think the Six could get darker.  Guess again.  The closest the DCU has to an old-school EC crime/horror comic.  Recommended.

 

STITCHES HC written and drawn by David Small.  The autobiographical story of how a young boy woke from a "harmless operation" to discover a major and unpleasant surprise.  No capes, but lots of action.  Highly recommended.

 

SUPERMAN: WORLD OF NEW KRYPTON #7 of 12 by James Robinson, Greg Rucka and Pete Woods. What alien race would be dumb enough to declare war on a planet full of super-powered Kryptonians?  Other than humans?  The answer may surprise you.  Or not.  Either way this thing is playing out much stronger than expected.  Recommended.

 

THUNDERBOLTS #135 by Andy Diggle and Miguel Angel Sepulveda.  The T-Bolts were backstabbing, corrupt and psychotic before DARK REIGN made it cool.  Let's see who ends up with the most steel between their ribs, shall we?  Recommended.

 

ULTIMATE COMICS AVENGERS #2 by Mark Millar and Carlos Pacheco.  So Ultimate Red Skull is Ultimate Captain America's son and Ultimate Tony Stark now has an "older, richer, smarter brother" who we somehow never saw in his own series.  Oh, Millar…!

 

UNWRITTEN #5 by Mike Carey and Peter Gross.  A little stand-alone tale of Rudyard Kipling and how he fits in with Tommy Taylor's rapidly collapsing ficto-verse.  Highly recommended.

 

WEDNESDAY COMICS #10 of 12 by Various Creators.  Lots going on as the end draws nigh but seeing Superman and Hawkman getting ready to stomp alien monsters and dinosaurs respectively promises great fun still to be had.  Recommended.

 

www.johnjudy.net

Tamaki in Style

Jillian Tamaki, one of the cousins behind Skim, illustrated the Post's Style section story on swine flu. It's an abstract watercolor, which I don't think is her typical style.

Tom Toles back when he was a Buffalonian

Here's some 1973 art by Toles - scott edelman, "Tom Toles and the Cosmos," Failing Better blog 03 September 2009.

Kevin Rechin on Extreme Makeover in Hyattsville

Kevin just sent this note in about a really cool project he just worked on -

Well, last week I did something totally different for me. I designed and painted a mural with the help of a couple assistants for a kids room for Extreme Makeover, Home Edition in Hyattsville, MD. Basically I had a few days to come up with the color sketch and characters. As for the execution, we finally got into the room at 3:30 p.m. last Friday and worked non-stop until about 2 p.m. the next day. Literally about an hour before the final reveal to the family.

All I can say is that it was one of the most surreal, amazing things I ever been involved with. 

The show will probably air sometime in late October.

Here's a link to the Post story on the family. I'm sure it's a really sweet piece of art.

Weldon on Masterpiece Comics By R. Sikoryak

I haven't read the book yet, buy Sikoryak is a master of mimicking styles.

Weldon, Glen.  2009.
Classics, Comics In Masterful Mashups.
National Public Radio's Books We Like (September 3):
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=112510733&ps=cprs

Georgetown U paper reviews Ponyo

Miyazaki and the animated bowl of delights
Jeff Reger
Georgetown Voice September 3 2009

PR: Small Press Expo Announces John Porcellino and Willy Linthout as Guests

Small Press Expo Announces John Porcellino and Willy Linthout as Guests for SPX 2009

 

For Immediate Release                              

Contact: Warren Bernard

E-Mail: warren@spxpo.com

 

Bethesda, Maryland; September 3, 2009 - The Small Press Expo (SPX), the preeminent showcase for the exhibition of independent comics, graphic novels and alternative political cartoons, is pleased to announce John Porcellino and Willy Linthout as guests for SPX 2009.

John Porcellino is the creator of the mini-comix series King-Kat Comics, that began in 1989 that has spanned 69 issues of some of the best and most influential mini-comix around today. His autobiographical Diary of a Mosquito Abatement Man, a collection of stories from King-Kat Comics, won the Ignatz Award in 2005.  Porcellino's work has been translated into French, German, Spanish, Swedish, Italian, and Korean and has contributed to McSweeney's Quarterly, Kramer's Ergot and Comics Journal Special. SPX is honored to have John join SPX 2009

Willy Linthout saw his first published comics in the Dutch edition of (À Suivre) magazine. In 1983 he began a collaboration with the Dutch comic actor Urbanus,  producing more than 130 enormously popular albums with Urbanus that has sold millions of copies. In 2004 Linthout's son took his own life. Linthout processed his reactions to that experience in the graphic novel Years of the Elephant, published in Dutch by Bries and published this year in an English-language edition by Fanfare/Ponent Mon. The book won the Dutch Stripschapspenning award for best literary graphic novel (2007), the Flemish Community Cultural Award (2008), the Bronzen Adhemar (2009) and the Carolus Quintus Prize(2009). Willy appears at SPX with the generous support of the Flemish Literature Fund.

John Porcellino and Willy Linthout are in addition to the previously announced guests Gahan Wilson, Paul Karasik, Carol Tyler and Josh Neufeld.

SPX will be held Saturday, September 26 from 11AM to 7PM and Sunday, September 27, noon-6PM at The North Bethesda Marriott Convention Center in Bethesda, Maryland. Admission is $10 for a single day and $15 for both days.

 

For further information on the Ignatz Awards, the nominees or to request an interview, please contact Warren Bernard at warren@spxpo.com.

 

For more information on the Small Press Expo and the Ignatz Awards, please visit http://www.spxpo.com.

Batman videogame reviewed in Express

A Video Game Fit for a Hero: Being Batman is a joy at the art controls of 'Arkham Asylum' [videogame; online title: Fit for a Hero: 'Batman: Arkham Asylum'].

Posted By Micah Pearson

Express September 2, 2009

Online at http://www.expressnightout.com/content/2009/09/batman-arkham-asylum.php

Alliance Comics expands into Baltimore

Baltimore Books Examiner A. Jarrell Hayes reports that the Silver Spring store Alliance Comics opened a new store in Baltimore today.

PR: Joe Kubert Comes to the 2009 Baltimore Comic-Con!

Joe Kubert Comes to the 2009 Baltimore Comic-Con! Baltimore, Maryland - August 19, 2009 - The Baltimore Comic-Con is proud to announce the addition of Joe Kubert as a guest at our 10th Anniversary show on Saturday, October 10th and Sunday, October 11th, 2009.   A returning guest, Joe Kubert is one of the living legends in the comics field today.  With over 60 years of experience working in the industry, Joe has seen it all!  He been a writer, artist, editor, and teacher, working in both comics and comic strip syndication.  His work is well-regarded and noteworthy both in and outside of comic book circles, having worked on everything from DC Comics' Sgt. Rock and Hawkman to Dark Horse's Fax from Sarajevo and iBooks' Yossel:  April 19, 1943.  You can currently find his art in DC Comics' weekly Wednesday Comics project, where he is drawing the Sgt. Rock strip.  His school, The Joe Kubert School of Cartoon and Graphic Art, has produced and continues to teach a new generation of comics professionals.   "We are thrilled and honored that Joe is coming back to our show," said Baltimore Comic-Con promoter Marc Nathan.  "He represents everything that's right about comics, having spent a lifetime both working at his own career and helping others to be the future of comics with his school." Other Guests In addition to Joe Kubert, the Baltimore Comic-Con is pleased to announce the following guests:  Tommy Castillo (Kong:  King of Skull Island), Chris Ivy (Beast Boy), Jack Purcell (Gotham Underground), and Brian Reber (Captain Britain and MI13). Already announced guests, new and returning, include:  Jason Aaron (Wolverine), Mike and Laura Allred (Madman), Dick Ayers (Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos), Paul Azaceta (Amazing Spider-Man), Brian Michael Bendis (Avengers), Ryan Bodenheim (Red Mass for Mars), Doug Braithwaite (Wolverine: Origins), Pat Broderick (Vincent Price Presents), Buzz (Atomika), Jim Calafiore (Batgirl), Eric Canete (Iron Man:  Enter the Mandarin), Nick Cardy (Aquaman), Jerry Carr (Cryptozoo Crew), Mike Cavallaro (ACT-I-VATE)Bernard Chang (Wonder Woman), Jo Chen (New Avengers:  The Reunion), Sean Chen (Dark Reign:  Fantastic Four), Jimmy Cheung (New Avengers: Illuminati), Cliff Chiang (Green Arrow & Black Canary), Frank Cho (Ultimates 4), Chris Claremont (X-Men Forever), Steve Conley (Star Trek:  Year Four), Amanda Conner (Power Girl), J.M. DeMatteis (Metal Men), Todd Dezago (Marvel Adventures:  Spider-Man), Michael Dolce (Descendant), Evan Dorkin (Beasts of Burden), Jim Dougan (ACT-I-VATE), Jan Duursema (Star Wars:  Legacy), Sarah Dyer (Superman Adventures), Steve Englehart (Avengers), Jay Faerber (Noble Causes), Michel Fiffe (ACT-I-VATE), David Finch (Ultimatum), Bob Fingerman (Recess Pieces), Matt Fraction (Uncanny X-Men), Simon Fraser (ACT-I-VATE), John Gallagher (Buzzboy), Ron Garney (Wolverine:  Weapon X), Bryan J.L. Glass (Mice Templar), Michael Golden (Spider-Man 1602), Jimmy Gownley (Amelia Rules), Sanford Greene (Marvel Adventures Spider-Man), Tim Hamilton (ACT-I-VATE), Cully Hamner (Detective Comics), Tony Harris (Ex Machina), Dean Haspiel (ACT-I-VATE), Jennifer Hayden (ACT-I-VATE), Mark Hempel (Absolute Sandman), Greg Horn (Cover Stories:  The Art of Greg Horn), Adam Hughes (Power Girl), Jamal Igle (Supergirl), Kathryn Immonen (Runaways), Stuart Immonen (New Avengers), Joe Infurnari (ACT-I-VATE), Georges Jeanty (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Van Jensen (Pinocchio, Vampire Slayer), J.G. Jones (Final Crisis), Joe Jusko (Kolchak:  Tales of the Night Stalker), Karl Kesel (Marvel Apes), Robert Kirkman (The Walking Dead), Barry Kitson (Amazing Spider-Man), Scott Koblish (Final Crisis:  Legion of Three Worlds), Scott Kurtz (PvP), Michael Lark (Daredevil), Erik Larsen (Savage Dragon), Greg LaRocque (Peter Parker:  The Spectacular Spider-Man), Jerry "The King" Lawler(Headlocked), Norman Lee (GeNext), Steve Lieber (Underground), Luna Brothers (The Sword), Andy MacDonald (NYC Mech), David Mack (Kabuki), Tom Mandrake (The Outsiders), Larry Marder (Beanworld), Laura Martin (Thor), Ron Marz (Witchblade), Sean McKeever (Teen Titans), Mark McKenna (BananaTail), Mike McKone (Amazing Spider-Man), Bob McLeod (New Mutants), Carla Speed McNeil (Finder), Pop Mhan (World of Warcraft), Mark Morales (Secret Invasion), Doug Murray (Jungle Girl Season 2), Steve Niles (30 Days of Night), Phil Noto (Batgirl), Kevin Nowlan (The Spirit), Mike Oeming (Mice Templar), Ryan Ottley (Invincible), Jimmy Palmiotti (Jonah Hex), Jeff Parker (Agents of ATLAS), Dan Parsons (Star Wars:  The Clone Wars), Guest of Honor George Perez (Final Crisis:  Legion of Three Worlds), David Petersen (Mouse Guard), Brandon Peterson (Ultimate Comics Armor Wars), Khoi Pham (Mighty Avengers), Whilce Portacio (Spawn), Eric Powell (The Goon), Buddy Prince (Night), Brian Pulido (Lady Death), Mike Raicht (Army of Darkness), Tom Raney (Dark Reign:  Hawkeye), Kat Roberts (ACT-I-VATE), Alex Robinson (Too Cool to be Forgotten), James Robinson (Superman), Budd Root (Cavewoman), Don Rosa (Uncle Scrooge), Craig Rousseau (Iron Man & The Armor Wars), Stephane Roux (Amazing Spider-Man), Andy Runton (Owly), Stan Sakai (Usagi Yojimbo), Tim Sale (Heroes), Ian Sattler (Final Crisis:  Aftermath), Scott Christian Sava (Dreamland Chronicles), Alex Saviuk (The Phantom Generations), Marc Silvestri (Witchblade), Walt Simonson (Thor), Andy Smith (Dean Koontz's Nevermore), John K. Snyder III (Doctor Mid-Nite), Allison Sohn (Star Wars trading card artist), Taki Soma (Rapture), Richard Starkings (Elephentmen), Jim Starlin (Strange Adventures), Brian Stelfreeze (Final Crisis Aftermath:  Ink), Paul Storrie (Worlds of Dungeons & Dragons), Karl Story (Batman:  Streets of Gotham), Mark Texeira (Punisher), Robert Tinnell (EZ Street), Peter Tomasi (Blackest Night:  Batman), Herb Trimpe (Hulk), Billy Tucci (Sgt. Rock:  The Lost Battalion), Jim Valentino (Shadowline Comics), Rob Venditti (The Surrogates), Dexter Vines (Wolverine), Neil Vokes (The Black Forest), Doug Wagner (The Ride), Matt Wagner (Grendel), Mark Waid (The Incredibles), Len Wein (Justice League of America), Mark Whealey (Lone Justice), Renee Witterstaetter (Tex:  The Art of Mark Texeira -- The Artist's Great Escape), Brian Wood (sponsored by Laughing Ogre Comics, Northlanders), Bernie Wrightson (Swamp Thing), Kelly Yates (Amber Atoms), and Thom Zahler (Love & Capes). Tickets As a reminder, we encourage you to buy your ticket in advance via http://www.baltimorecomiccon.com/tickets.htm to avoid the ticket line at the show.   Hotel Room Deadline September 9, 2009 is the final day of the discount hotel room guarantee via http://www.baltimorecomiccon.com/hotels.htm.  The show has negotiated special, limited-time rates on a limited number of rooms at hotels around the Baltimore Convention Center -- please take advantage of this opportunity while it exists! In coming weeks, look for ongoing announcements from the Baltimore Comic-Con.  We are looking forward to adding yet more guests and providing details on the Harvey Awards, industry exclusives, and programming.  The latest developments can always be found at our website, Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, and ComicSpace pages. This year's Baltimore Comic-Con will be held October 10-11, 2009. Convention hours are Saturday 10 AM to 6 PM and Sunday 10 AM to 5 PM. The ceremony and banquet for the Harvey Awards will be held Saturday night, October 10th. As we continue to get ready for this year's show, we would like to remind you to mark your calendar for next year's Baltimore Comic-Con dates: August 28-29, 2010. About The Baltimore Comic-Con The Baltimore Comic-Con is celebrating its 10th year of bringing the comic book industry to the Baltimore and Washington D.C. area. With a guest list unequaled in the industry, the Baltimore Comic-Con will be held Oct 10-11, 2009. For more information, please visit www.baltimorecomiccon.com.   About The Harvey Awards The Harvey Awards are one of the comic book industry's oldest and most respected awards. With a history of over 20 years, the last 4 in conjunction with the Baltimore Comic-Con, the Harveys recognize outstanding achievements in over 20 categories. They are the only industry awards nominated and selected by the full body of comic book professionals. For more information, please visit www.harveyawards.org.

PR: The ACT-I-VATE PRIMER Debuts at Baltimore Comic-Con

Note DC writer Jim Dougan's in this, as well as other exciting cartoonists.

The ACT-I-VATE PRIMER Debuts at Baltimore Comic-Con Baltimore, Maryland - August 30, 2009 - Members of the premier webcomix collective, ACT-I-VATE, will debut their very first print anthology THE ACT-I-VATE PRIMER, at the Baltimore Comic-Con, October 10th & 11th.     There will be an ACT-I-VATE panel discussion featuring Dean Haspiel, Mike Cavallaro, Tim Hamilton, Joe Infurnari, Simon Fraser, Michel Fiffe, Kat Roberts, Jim Dougan, and Jennifer Hayden.  For more information on ACT-I-VATE, please visit:   http://www.act-i-vate.com/   "I'm excited that the ACT-I-VATE crew chose our show to debut their book," said Baltimore Comic-Con promoter, Marc Nathan. "Their web-comics have garnered a great deal of attention, so I am anxious to get to see fans' first look at the printed works." This year's Baltimore Comic-Con will be held October 10-11, 2009. Convention hours are Saturday 10 AM to 6 PM and Sunday 10 AM to 5 PM. The ceremony and banquet for the Harvey Awards will be held Saturday night, October 10th. As we continue to get ready for this year's show, we would like to remind you to mark your calendar for next year's Baltimore Comic-Con dates: August 28-29, 2010. About The Baltimore Comic-Con The Baltimore Comic-Con is celebrating its 10th year of bringing the comic book industry to the Baltimore and Washington D.C. area. With a guest list unequaled in the industry, the Baltimore Comic-Con will be held Oct 10-11, 2009. For more information, please visit www.baltimorecomiccon.com.   About The Harvey Awards The Harvey Awards are one of the comic book industry's oldest and most respected awards. With a history of over 20 years, the last 4 in conjunction with the Baltimore Comic-Con, the Harveys recognize outstanding achievements in over 20 categories. They are the only industry awards nominated and selected by the full body of comic book professionals. For more information, please visit www.harveyawards.org.

NPR's Weldon on Disney-Marvel media agglomeration

Weldon, Glen.  2009.

Why Disney's Delicious Snack Cakes Don't Threaten Marvel's Golden Eggs

National Public Radio's Monkey See blog (September 2):

http://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2009/09/disney_marvel_and_the_tortured.html?sc=nl&cc=msb-20090902

Conversations with ADD free ebook!A

Alan David Doane kindly gave me permission to use his interview with Harvey in the Conversations book, and now he's put all of his comics interviews into one free e-book! He writes:

Conversations with ADD Now Available -- My third eBook is now available for download here on Comic Book Galaxy.

Nearly 300 pages in length, Conversations with ADD compiles almost all of the interviews I have conducted with writers, artists, editors and publishers since I started writing about comics ten years ago. The Foreword is by writer Christopher Allen, and the Afterword is by autobiographical cartoonist Jason Marcy.

Isn't that neat? Although to be honest, I'd buy a print copy. There's something about paper...

Harvey Pekar: Conversations - a true collector's item!

Apparently the University Press of Mississippi has sold around 600 copies of my Harvey Pekar: Conversations book which is filled with fine interviews with Harvey, covering a 25-year period. If every copy sold in the US, that's 1 copy per every half million people. And actually apparently 2 sold overseas! We're talking real scarcity here. If you want to get in before they're all gone, the Press will be glad to sell you a copy. Or two.

Big Planet Bethesda's still got a couple on the rack too...

...not that I'm begging or anything.

Nate Beeler's excellent cartoon Disney and Marvel

follow the link...

When Superhero Mutants Go Disney
By: Nate Beeler
Examiner Staff Writer
9/1/09http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/opinion/blogs/NateBeelerToons/When-Superhero-Mutants-Go-Disney-56425677.html

Comic Riffs interviews Lee on Disney buy

The 'Riffs Interview: Stan Lee Sizes Up the Disney-Marvel Deal
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog September 1, 2009
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/comic-riffs/2009/09/the_riffs_interview_stan_lee_s.html#more

W Post on Disney-Marvel deal

Deal Packs a Punch For Disney, Marvel
By Frank Ahrens
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, September 1, 2009
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/31/AR2009083101416.html

Peter Kuper and Comics fan at Fall for the Book in Fairfax

Tip courtesy of Ignatz-nominee Matt Dembicki -

2009 Fall for the Book festival in Fairfax

Comic-Book Fan Adam Besenyodi
When: Tue, September 22, 3pm – 4pm
Where: Grand Tier III, Center for the Arts, George Mason University, 4400 University Dr., Fairfax, Virginia 22030

Besenyodi discusses his new book, Deus ex Comica: The Rebirth of a Comic-Book Fan, praised by Wired as a “a great study in emotional psychology and the things in life that really get our brains ticking and our hearts pumping.”

Graphic Novelist Peter Kuper
Wed, September 23, 4:30pm – 5:30pm
Center for the Arts, Grand Tier III, George Mason University, 4400 University Drive, Fairfax, VA 22030

Graphic novelist Kuper explores the history of comics as political art — from Thomas Nast to Diego Rivera to the artists of World War 3 Illustrated — and offers a visual tour of the art he produced while living in Oaxaca, Mexico, when striking teachers and federal troops clashed.

PR: Small Press Expo Announces Paul Karasik and Jeff Lemire as Guests for SPX 2009

Small Press Expo Announces Paul Karasik and Jeff Lemire as Guests for SPX 2009  For Immediate Release                                   Contact: Warren Bernard                         E-Mail: warren@spxpo.com  Bethesda, Maryland; August 31, 2009 - The Small Press Expo (SPX), the preeminent showcase for the exhibition of independent comics, graphic novels and alternative political cartoons, is pleased to announce Paul Karasik and Jeff Lemire as guests for SPX 2009.  Paul Karasik is a contributor to both The New Yorker and Nickelodeon magazine. He is the former associate editor of the ground breaking RAW Magazine and a former teacher at the Rhode Island School of Design.  As a graduate of the School of Visual Design, he studied with Art Spiegelman, Will Eisner and Harvey Kurtzman. He was the co-creator of the graphic novel "City of Glass", in collaboration with David Mazzucchelli. Paul's critically acclaimed "I Shall Destroy All The Civilized Planets" on the works of Fletcher Hanks won the 2008 Eisner Award for the category Best Archival Collection/Project-Comic Books. His latest book is another collection of the works of Fletcher Hanks "You Shall Die By Your Own Evil Creation!" published by Fantagraphics Books.     Jeff Lemire won a Xeric Award in 2005 for his book "Lost Dogs." Between 2007 and 2009 Top Shelf Productions published his Ignatz, Harvey, and Eisner-nominated "Essex County Trilogy" of graphic novels "Tales From the Farm," "Ghost Stories," and "The Country Nurse". They were collected into a single volume and issued earlier this year by Top Shelf as "The Complete Essex County". Jeff has won the 2008 Joe Shuster Award for Outstanding Canadian Comic Book Cartoonist, the 2008 Doug Wright Award for Best Emerging Talent, and the 2008 American Library Association's Alex Award (For Adult Books with Teen Appeal.) This year also saw the release of his original graphic novel "The Nobody" from DC/Vertigo. Jeff is currently writing and drawing the new monthly Vertigo series "Sweet Tooth," which will begin in September.  Paul Karasik and Jeff Lemire are in addition to the previously announced guests Carol Tyler and Josh Neufeld.  SPX will be held Saturday, September 26 from 11AM to 7PM and Sunday, September 27, noon-6PM at The North Bethesda Marriott Convention Center in Bethesda, Maryland. Admission is $10 for a single day and $15 for both days.  For further information on the Ignatz Awards, the nominees or to request an interview, please contact Warren Bernard at warren@spxpo.com.  For more information on the Small Press Expo and the Ignatz Awards, please visit http://www.spxpo.com.

Aug 31: Batman Forever in Crystal City

Crystal Screen - Superheroes

Join the Crystal City BID for 21 weeks of Superheros! On Monday nights from May 4, 2009-September 21, 2009, Crystal City will be protected by Batman, Spiderman, Superman, and many others. Each night will also have special giveaways, sponsors, and other activities.

Date(s):
May 4, 2009 - September 21, 2009

Location:
18th and Bell Street - Courtyard Across from Crystal City Metro Station & Marriott Hotel

Event Fee:
Free

Hours:
Movies begin at sundown

Description:
Join the Crystal City BID for 21 weeks of Superheros! On Monday nights from May 4, 2009-September 21, 2009, Crystal City will be protected by Batman, Spiderman, Superman, and many others. Each night will also have special giveaways, sponsors, and other activities. Check back here for more information.

CRYSTAL KID BONUS: Since it gets dark later in the summer and movies often start past bedtime, the BID has partnered with Crystal City Sports Pub to rebroadcast each movie at 3:30 PM on the 3rd Floor of CCSP on the Wednesday following the outdoor showing, starting May 6. Bring your kids and a blanket and enjoy the fabulous surround network of TVs.

Festival Rules: Patrons can bring their own picnics as long as they abide by city and festival rules. Low-backed chairs and blankets are allowed, but grills, umbrellas, and pets are prohibited.


Schedule

August 31, 2009 - Batman Forever
September 2, 2009 - Batman Forever - at CCSP
September 7, 2009 - Batman & Robin
September 9, 2009 - Batman & Robin - at CCSP
September 14, 2009 - Batman Begins
September 16, 2009 - Batman Begins - at CCSP
September 21, 2009 - Batman: The Dark Knight
September 23, 2009 - Batman: The Dark Knight - at CCSP

Quick Reviews for Comics Due 09-02-09

QUICK REVIEWS FOR COMICS DUE 09-02-09

By John Judy

 

AGENTS OF ATLAS #10 by Jeff Parker, Gabriel Hardman and Paul Rivoche.  Don't you hate it when your ex-girlfriend turns out to be an international super-villain and she's got way cooler stuff than you?

 

BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #28 by Jane Espenson and Georges Jeanty.  A submarineless slayer must strategize success sans sorcery!  Recommended!

 

DARING MYSTERY COMICS 70^th ANNIVERSARY EDITION #1 by David Liss and Jason Armstrong.  What's that?  You say you want a previously untold solo story of Dick Jones, the Phantom Reporter?  Buddy, you won't have to wait another 70 years!  Enjoy!

 

DC LIBRARY: JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA BY GEORGE PEREZ, VOL. 1 HC by Gerry Conway and George Perez.  The first of two volumes collecting GP's run on JLA in the eighties.  This one gives us #184-186 and #192-194, plus a super rare postcard set by Perez.  A must for fans of a certain age.

 

FINAL CRISIS AFTERMATH: RUN #5 of 6 by Matthew Sturges and Freddie E. Williams II.  OK, forget that he helped kill the Martian Manhunter and taped it on his cell phone!  I like the Human Flame!  The kid's got moxie!  Recommended!

 

GHOST RIDERS: HEAVEN'S ON FIRE #2 of 6 by Jason Aaron and Roland Boschi.  "Save the Anti-Christ, save the world!"  And it's got skull-faced dudes on burning motorcycles!  Finish huffing that last bag of paint and read it!

 

IMMORTAL WEAPONS #2 of 5 by Cullen Bunn, Duane Swierczynski, Daniel Brereton and Travel Foreman.  Everything you ever wanted to know about the Bride of Nine Spiders but were too petrified down to your soul to ask.  Recommended.

 

INCOGNITO #6 by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips.  The final issue of Zack Overkill's wacky hijinks.  Highly recommended.

 

IRREDEEMABLE #6 by Mark Waid and Peter Krause.  The Plutonian's old team mates are looking real hard for anything that will take old Tony down.  So far they got bupkiss…

 

JUSTICE LEAGUE: CRY FOR JUSTICE #3 of 7 by James Robinson and Mauro Cascioli.  At this time I would also like to cry for Freddie Freeman not to be called "Shazam" as his super-hero name.  Honestly, it appears the whole Marvel Family is getting a bad case of Hawkman continuity…

 

MAGOG #1 by Keith Giffen and Howard Porter.  The horn-headed, demi-god, ex-Marine, great-grandson of Franklin Roosevelt is off to work on some issues until he has to play a role in nuking Kansas in KINGDOM COME.  Guest-starring the Justice Society of America.

 

MARVEL ZOMBIES RETURN: SPIDER-MAN #1 by Fred Van Lente and Nick Dragotta.  For those of you still interested…

 

MYSTIC COMICS 70^th ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL #1 by David Lapham and Juan Doe.  A little number featuring the Golden-Age Vision, who was frankly much more of a bad-ass than the modern-day android version ever thought about being.  Gotta look!

 

NORTHLANDERS #20 by Brian Wood and Davide Gianfelice.  The return of Sven the Returned!  Sven the Returned is awesome and we have missed him.  Recommended.

 

RED TORNADO #1 of 6 by Kevin van Hook and Jose Luisi.  If you like your androids possessed by the spirits of benign air elementals then this is the book for you!

 

STRANGE TALES #1 of 3 by Tons of Twisted Indy Comics Creators!  Imagine what some of your favorite indy creators would do with Marvel's iconic characters if they had no fear of getting sued by Von Doom and Sons, Attorneys at Law!  Well, you're gonna get three issues of it starting right here.  How does "The Incorrigible Hulk" by Peter Bagge sound to you?  Highly recommended.

 

STUDS TERKEL'S WORKING GN by Harvey Pekar and Various Artists.  An adaptation of the late journalist's anthology of first-person accounts of what it was like working various jobs in 1974 America.  Recommended.

 

SWEET TOOTH #1 written and drawn by Jeff Lemire.  Sort of like "The Stand" meets "Island of Dr. Moreau."  Lemire's been doing a lot lately and it's all interesting.  Gotta look.

 

TORCH #1 of 8 by Mike Carey, Alex Ross and Patrick Berkenkotter.  Okay, the good news is it looks like they're bringing the original Human Torch back (again).  The disturbing news is they're allowing Alex Ross to do something other than paint it.  Also, somehow Toro's not dead anymore either.  Maybe in eight issues it'll make sense…

 

ULTIMATE COMICS SPIDER-MAN #2 by Brian Michael Bendis and David Lafuente.  Wow, it's almost like ULTIMATUM never even happened.  Maybe there's a lesson there somewhere…

 

WEDNESDAY COMICS #9 of 12 by Lotsa People.  Worth it just for Kamandi and Hawkman alone.  Lots to love here!

 

www.johnjudy.net

Matt Dembicki interview by DC Comic Books Examiner

Matt's nominated for an Ignatz this year - here's an interview with him -

Matt Dembicki loans sharks a re-introduction
DC Comic Books Examiner Mark Ruffin
August 30, 2009

Animator Mike Judge's live-action movie

Cavna's got a story on animator Mike Judge in today's paper, but had the full interview on his blog yesterday.

The 'Extract' Interview: Filmmaker Mike Judge After 'Office Space'
By Michael Cavna | August 29, 2009;
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog

Here's the story -

It Took a Decade, But the Boss of 'Office Space' Is Back in Business
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, August 30, 2009

- and here's a similar one at the NY Times -

Men at Work: Finding Humor in Missteps
By DENNIS LIM
New York Times August 30, 2009

Cartoons for the Classroom - Berryman's Teddy Bear

The August 30 2009 Cartoons for the Classroom features Washington Star cartoonist Clifford Berryman and the teddy bear he created.

Review of Harvey Pekar: Conversations I missed

A friend just sent me a link to this, asking if I'd seen it. I hadn't so I'm sharing it with you all (we're south of the Mason-Dixon line, so I use that instead of youz).

Bredehoft, Tom. 2009.
Harvey Pekar Conversations,
VillageGrouchy blog Sunday, November 30, 2008
http://villagegrouchy.blogspot.com/2008/11/harvey-pekar-conversations.html

Dean Haspiel art on HBO

I got a tip! One of my buddy's is doing some art for tv:

 Dean Haspiel's art was in the first episode of the upcoming HBO  show "Bored to Death" starring Jason Schwartzman, Ted Danson and Zach Galifianakis based on a story by Jonathan Ames.

Haspiel and Ames did The Alcoholic graphic novel together last year.

LEGO Brickfest 2009 continued

Kids - don't buy ice cream from Uncle Joker's trucks. Presumably this came with a specialty Batman set when the movies were released.

Washington Post editorial on Danish Islam Cartoons

Here's a good editorial, opposed to Yale's decision, and written by an Egyptian-born columnist.

Yale's Misguided Retreat
By Mona Eltahawy
Washington Post Saturday, August 29, 2009

LEGO Dilbert

Unlike Calvin and Hobbes, this is a 'mosaic'.

As is this Mickey Mouse in the Sorcerer's Apprentice.



And this Wall-E.

LEGO Brickfest 2009

There's always some comic art-types at Brickfest, which was held last weekend in Tyson's Corner. Here's a favorite of mine.

New Luna Bros. interview online

I assume they'll be at Baltimore Comic-Con again this year...

The Luna Brothers Sheathe "The Sword", by Josh Wigler, Staff Writer, Wed, August 26th, 2009.

Oct 27: Crumb and Mouly at VCU in Richmond

Genesis: A Conversation with R. Crumb and Françoise Mouly
Sponsored in part by the E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Foundation

Presented in partnership with the Department of Art & Art History, University Museums, Velocity Comics and VCU Libraries Special Collections

“Crumb doesn't posit answers to the human mess; instead he affirms it, in all its craziness, and invites us to laugh at the spectacle.” – The Boston Globe

“Robert Crumb . . . is the one and only genius the 1960s underground produced in visual art, either in America or Europe.” – The Guardian (UK)

Tuesday, October 27, 2009
7:30 pm
Carpenter Theatre, Richmond CenterStage
A Modlin Downtown Event

R. Crumb, regarded as the founding father of underground comics, got his first taste of fame, as well as notoriety, during the 1960s – his “Zap Comix” rapidly attracted the attention of a fan base whose members dwelt well beyond the geographical parameters of San Francisco’s Bay Area. Crumb, whose cartoons are controversial, funny, at times bizarre and always idiosyncratic, today occupies a place of honor in the world of high culture and art. His graphic narrative Genesis, scheduled for release in the fall of 2009, has generated more-than-eager anticipation. For his Richmond engagement, one of only five appearances nation-wide, Crumb will participate in a conversation with Françoise Mouly, art editor for The New Yorker since 1993. She is also the founder, publisher, designer and co-editor along with her husband, cartoonist Art Spiegelman, of the avant-garde comics anthology RAW.

Audience Advisory:
Mature audiences only; contains sexual content.

Public Tickets: $19-$38 with discounts for seniors & children; through Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000 or ticketmaster.com. Patrons requesting accessible seating should contact the Modlin Center Box Office at (804) 289-8980. Tickets for this and all Modlin Downtown events go on sale through Ticketmaster on August 24, 2009.

Campus Tickets: $30 employees (limit 4), FREE for students (limit 2); the campus community should contact the Modlin Center Box Office for premium tickets.

Zadzooks reviews comic books

Zadzooks: Comic book reviews, Blackest Night, X-Force/Cable and more: Geronimo rescues Sphinx, By Joseph Szadkowski, Washington Times August 27, 2009.

Politico on Ted Kennedy comic book

This comic is solicited in Diamond's September previews which came out Weds, should you which to buy one.

Ted Kennedy: The comic book, By PATRICK GAVIN, Politico.com 8/27/09.

That darn Post editorial board!

Yale's Cartoon Controversy
Washington Post Thursday, August 27, 2009
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/26/AR2009082603531.html

The Aug. 23 editorial "Self-Muzzled at Yale" criticized Yale University Press for its decision to exclude controversial Danish cartoons of the prophet Muhammad from a forthcoming book. We found this to be a curious opinion given The Post's own decision not to publish the cartoons. This very fact validates Yale Press's decision.

We were two of the many experts in diplomacy, national security and academia asked by Yale Press to assess the likelihood of violence if the cartoons and other images of the prophet Muhammad were published in a book about the cartoon controversy. We advised Yale Press that publishing these images was very likely to result in violence, as there was a clear record of violence following their publication. More than 200 innocent people have been killed, and hundreds more injured, as recently as June 2008.

We who counseled Yale understand the book is a balanced, scholarly work. However, experience shows the book's purpose and tenor would not mitigate the risk of violence. In choosing not to print the cartoons, The Post made that very same judgment.

IBRAHIM GAMBARI

Under-Secretary-General

JOSEPH VERNER REED

Under-Secretary-General
United Nations
New York

The right of free speech guarantees that we may speak the truth without fear of government reprisal. This precious right is not compromised in any way by the Yale University Press deciding not to publish cartoons that would needlessly offend the sensitivities of large numbers of people. Even The Post editorial, which describes some of the cartoons, illustrates that publication of the cartoons was not necessary to make a point -- although inclusion of the offensive material would undoubtedly improve sales.

STAN NAMOVICZ

Takoma Park

PR: Small Press Expo Announces Carol Tyler and Josh Neufield as Guests for SPX 2009

Small Press Expo Announces Carol Tyler and Josh Neufeld as Guests for SPX 2009

 

For Immediate Release    
Contact: Warren Bernard

  Phone: 301-537-4615

                                                                          E-Mail: warren@spxpo.com

 

Bethesda, Maryland; August 27, 2009 - The Small Press Expo (SPX), the preeminent showcase for the exhibition of independent comics, graphic novels and alternative political cartoons, is pleased to announce Carol Tyler and Josh Neufeld as guests for SPX 2009.

Carol Tyler, one of the original "Wimmen" cartoonists, has contributed to Weirdo, Drawn & Quarterly, Zero Zero, along with the anthologies Wimmens Comix and Twisted Sisters. She will be at SPX to talk about her latest graphic novel, You'll Never Know Book One "A Good and Decent Man", released by Fantagraphics. You'll Never Know has received acclaim from critics and librarians alike for its portrayal of not only her fathers story of his experiences in World War 2, but how those experiences shaped Carol and her family.  See more of Carol's work at her web site http://www.bloomerland.com.

Josh Neufeld, author of the Xeric Grant winner A Few Perfect Hours, spent time as a volunteer for the Red Cross in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. This resulted on the online graphic novel A.D. New Orleans After The Deluge, which is now a full color book published by Pantheon that has garnered rave reviews. Josh also created the series The Vagabonds and as well as collaborating with Dean Haspiel on Keyhole. Visit Josh at his website at http://joshcomix.home.mindspring.com/.

Both Josh and Carol will be on discussion panels to talk about their works, in addition to being available for book signings while at SPX.

SPX will be held Saturday, September 26 from 11AM to 7PM and Sunday, September 27, noon-6PM at The North Bethesda Marriott Convention Center in Bethesda, Maryland. Admission is $10 for a single day and $15 for both days. 

For further information on the Ignatz Awards, the nominees or to request an interview, please contact Warren Bernard at warren@spxpo.com.

For more information on the Small Press Expo and the Ignatz Awards, please visit http://www.spxpo.com.

Heavy Metal animation showings this weekend

Heavy Metal, the animated movie, is showing at AFI Silver in Silver Spring on Friday at 10 and on Saturday at midnight for $10. The number is 301-495-6700.

Tip from the Express.

Weldon on Hiro, Johnny Hiro

I liked this quite a lot too.

See:
Weldon, Glen.  2009.
The Greatest American Hiro.
National Public Radio's Monkey See blog (August 26):
http://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2009/08/the_greatest_american_hiro_1.html?sc=nl&cc=msb-20090826

Examiner comics page alters time

It's fishwrap now, but Monday's Examiner printed Tuesday's comic strips. Then they were repeated on Tuesday. No word as to whether the miscreant playing around with time has been disciplined.

Brant Parker used to live in Centreville

Brant Parker used to live in Centreville back when it wasn't a farm of tract houses. See his wife's reminiscences in "‘Wizard of Id’ cartoonist’s wife makes Lynchburg home" By Liz Barry, The Lynchburg News & Advance August 25, 2009.

I remember being a kid 30 years ago and reading the Wizard of Id, B.C. and Crock in those paperback reprints. For a while there the Hart-Parker-Rechin team was unbeatable.

That darn Archie

'Archie' on Bended Knee
Washington Post Saturday, August 22, 2009
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/21/AR2009082103417.html

Regarding the Aug. 19 Style article "Arch Rivals":

Lost in the "Archie" comic's Betty/Veronica debate are the voices of Archie's parents. Has his father's 401(k) been so depleted that the parents are more concerned with their own golden retirement funding than they are with their son's moral compass and his welfare?

Maybe we've overestimated Archie himself these many years. Perhaps, the man is so insecure that he needs a trophy wife for validation.

Archie's decision to propose to Veronica may be revealing of his true character, not out of character.

Materialism and egocentrism vs. altruism and selflessness . . . the battle continues.

DONNA MANZ

Vienna

--

It has been a long time since I read "Archie" comics but, based on what I know, it is hard for me to believe that Archie Andrews would marry Veronica Lodge. We can only hope that he comes to his senses, recants his proposal and marries his one true love -- Jughead.

ROBERT J. TETLOW

Vienna

Bert Hansen's book on mass media images reviewed in today's Times

This article -

 

When a Doctor Is More, and Less, Than a Healer

By ABIGAIL ZUGER, M.D.

August 25, 2009

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/25/health/25book.html

 

Reviews Bert’s new book -

 

PICTURING MEDICAL PROGRESS FROM PASTEUR TO POLIO

A History of Mass Media Images and Popular Attitudes in America. By Bert Hansen. Rutgers University Press. 348 pages. $37.95.

 

-which I thought was excellent. It has a lot of material on cartooning and comic books.

Carol Tyler at SPX

Carol Tyler, who has recently published You'll Never Know Book One " A Good and Decent Man"about her father's World War II experience, will also be appearing at SPX according to Karen Flage.

PR: SMITH magazine announces THE PEKAR PROJECT

Harvey's tackling a new media - should be fun. Also check out Josh Neufeld's A.D.: New Orleans After the Deluge from Smith - I bought the hardcover collection last week.

THE PEKAR PROJECT
Harvey Pekar's First Ongoing Webcomics Series
www.smithmag.net/pekarproject

Harvey Pekar's been mining the mundane for magic for more than 30 years in his autobiographical American Splendor comics. Now he has teamed with SMITH and four remarkable artists to create his first ongoing webcomics series—and some of his jazziest work to date. The new stories will appear every other week, with interviews, creator spotlights, and behind-the-scenes goodies, as well as essays and art from Pekar collaborators and inhabitants of the extended Pekarverse.

The Pekar Project seeds were planted when Pekar discovered artist Tara Seibel, a fellow Clevelander. They began collaborating on stories for her blog, Rock City Comix. For The Pekar Project, Pekar has formed a band including editor Jeff Newelt and four artists: Seibel, Joseph Remnant, Rick Parker, and Sean Pryor. Just as Duke Ellington composed pieces with a particular featured soloist in mind, Pekar is tailoring each true-life tale to these artists' individual strengths.

Tara Seibel is the Thelonious Monk of the bunch—wholly different from the rest. Once you lock-in to her avant-garde, design-and-color driven way of doing comics, its like the first time Hendrix starts sounding less like chaos and more like Heaven.

Joseph Remnant was introduced to Pekar by underground comics legend Jay Lynch, and to SMITH by way of his superb work for Arthur Magazine. He's our resident classicist, a chip off the ole' Crumb.

Sean Pryor is a pyrotechnic young artist, who first collaborated with Pekar for Royal Flush magazine, on a boisterous strip that had Pekar reviewing heavy metal CDs.

Rick Parker is a veteran comics master craftsman, with a style at once elegant and mischievous. Parker, a long-time letterer for Marvel Comics, drew the Beavis and Butt-Head Comic Book, currently draws the intro pages for the new Tales From The Crypt comics, and is working on a graphic novel Tales From The Crypt: The Diary of A Stinky Dead Kid.

With The Pekar Project, SMITH has encouraged Harvey to go out there, to go in there, to be abstract, jazzy, esoteric, silly, erudite, and most off all, to have fun. Call it autobiography as poetry, or as art—or call it anything you like. We call ourselves honored to be working with a legend of personal storytelling.

SMITH is proud to present The Pekar Project.

— Jeff Newelt, Comics Editor

Just give Richard Thompson all of your money now

As Richard and Andrews McMeel continue to monetize his brain and drawing hand, they're offering a 2010 Cul de Sac desk calendar... 4 months early!

PR: Cartooning in Conflict, a New Project from the Parents Circle/Families Forum

I was interested to see this spinoff of Cartooning for Peace is due to come to DC at some point.

Cartooning in Conflict The PCFF, together with Israel's most famous cartoonist 'Kichka' as curator, have created an exhibition of cartoons with a reflection on conflict, its consequences and in many of the works hope and reconciliation. This exhibit, will act as a catalyst for the Parents Circle - Families Forum to bring its message of empathy rather than revenge, of dialog rather than violence to an audience who might otherwise never have been exposed to an alternative to the hatred and impasse in the Middle East. Some of the world's most famous cartoonists, many of whom have won the "Pulitzer" and other prestigious awards have contributed their works to this exhibition which will include round 60 - 100 cartoons. We created a calendar from the cartoons that displays the Moslem, Jewish, Druze and Christian holidays. We will also create a catalog. All the funds from the sale of the above will go towards the education project in Israeli and Palestinian schools. The Exhibition will open in September 12, 20:00 PM, at the Cartoon Museum in Holon Israel, and we hope Bethlehem or Ramalla and then travel to many European Capitals. We would like to bring it to New York in 2010. It will then go to Washington where we are exploring venues. We would also like to send it to the West Coast as well as Miami. The Exhibition will always be accompanied by a Palestinian and an Israeli member of our group so that lectures on reconciliation will be part of all venues. Being exposed to the cartoons and also to a Palestinian and Israeli who have paid the highest price and yet are willing to speak in one voice for reconciliation, can only benefit any audience. Famous names like Oliphant, Danziger, Donnelly and Morin from the States, No Rio, Japan, Plantu France, El-Roto Spain, Wilcox Australia are just a small example of the quality of work. The calendar is a perfect gift for the holiday season! For more information see http://www.theparentscircle.com/products.asp Buy the calendar online!

PR: 'Xoc' #1 nominated for Ignatz

And a local cartoonist is up for one of the awards. Good luck, Matt!

From: Matt Dembicki <threecrowspress@gmail.com>
Date: Mon, Aug 24, 2009 at 4:12 PM

Just wanted to drop a quick note that Xoc #1 has been nominated for the 2009 Ignatz Award in the Outstanding Mini-Comic category!
If you haven't the read the book, please do before the Small Press Expo Sept. 26-27 in Bethesda, Md., so you can make an informed decision on the Ignatz ballot! If you're noting going to SPX, just read it for the heck of it!


Thanks for your time and support!
Matt
http://threecrowspress.blogspot.com

Small Press Expo Announces the Ignatz Award Nominees for SPX 2009

Small Press Expo Announces the Ignatz Award Nominees for SPX 2009 For Immediate Release                                        Contact: Warren Bernard                                                                           Phone: 301-537-4615                                                                           E-Mail: warren@spxpo.com Bethesda, Maryland; August 24, 2009 - The Small Press Expo (SPX), the preeminent showcase for the exhibition of independent comics, graphic novels and alternative political cartoons, is pleased to announce nominees for the thirteenth annual presentation of the Ignatz Awards, a celebration of outstanding achievement in comics and cartooning. The Ignatz, named after George Herriman's brick-wielding mouse, recognizes exceptional work that challenges popular notions of what comics can achieve, both as an art form and as a means of personal expression. The Ignatz Awards are a festival prize, the first of such in the United States comic book industry. The nominees for the ballot were determined by a panel of five of the best of today's comic artists, Lilli Carre, Vanessa Davis, Robert Kirby, Scott Mills and Laura Park with the votes cast for the awards by the attendees during SPX. The Ignatz Awards will be presented at the gala Ignatz Awards ceremony held on Saturday, September 26, 2009 at 9:00 PM. SPX will be held Saturday, September 26 from 11AM to 7PM and Sunday, September 27, noon-6PM at The North Bethesda Marriott Convention Center in Bethesda, Maryland. Admission is $8 for a single day and $15 for both days. For further information on the Ignatz Awards, the nominees or to request an interview, please contact Warren Bernard at warren@spxpo.com. For more information on the Small Press Expo and the Ignatz Awards, please visit http://www.spxpo.com. Outstanding Artist Tim Hensley, Mome (Fantagraphics), Kramer's Ergot #7 (Buenaventura) Nate Powell, Swallow Me Whole (Top Shelf) Richard Sala, Delphine (Fantagraphics/Coconino) Josh Simmons, Mome (Fantagraphics) Carol Tyler, You'll Never Know, Book One: A Good and Decent Man (Fantagraphics) Outstanding Anthology or Collection Abandoned Cars, Tim Lane (Fantagraphics) Against Pain, Ron Rege Jr.. (Drawn & Quarterly) Drawn & Quarterly Showcase Book 5, T. Edward Bak, Anneli Furmark, Amanda Vähämäki (Drawn & Quarterly) Fuzz and Pluck: Splitsville by Ted Stearn (Fantagraphics) Kramer's Ergot 7, ed. Sammy Harkham (Buenaventura) Outstanding Graphic Novel Acme Novelty Library #19, Chris Ware (Drawn & Quarterly) Disappearance Diary, Hideo Azuma (Fanfare/Potent Mon) Drop-In, Dave Lapp (Conundrum) Nicolas, Pascal Girard (Drawn & Quarterly) You'll Never Know, Book One: A Good and Decent Man, Carol Tyler (Fantagraphics) Outstanding Story "The Carnival," Mome #14, Lilli Carre (Fantagraphics) Disappearance Diary, Hideo Azuma (Fanfare/Potent Mon) "Seeing Eye Dogs of Mars," Acme Novelty Library #19, Chris Ware (Drawn & Quarterly) "Untitled," Drawn & Quarterly Showcase Book 5, Amanda Vähämäki (Drawn & Quarterly) "Willy," Papercutter #10, Damien Jay (Tugboat) Promising New Talent T. Edward Bak, Drawn & Quarterly Showcase Book 5 (Drawn & Quarterly) Colleen Frakes, Woman King (self-published) Hellen Jo, Jin & Jam #1 (Sparkplug), "Diamond Heights," Papercutter #9 (Tugboat) Ed Luce, Wuvable Oaf (self-published) Amanda Vähämäki, Drawn & Quarterly Showcase Book 5 (Drawn & Quarterly) Outstanding Series Danny Dutch, David King (Sparkplug) Delphine, Richard Sala (Fantagraphics/Coconino) Interiorae, Gabriella Giandelli (Fantagraphics/Coconino) Reich, Elijah Brubaker (Sparkplug) Uptight, Jordan Crane (Fantagraphics) Outstanding Comic Danny Dutch #1, David King (Sparkplug) Dead Ringer, Jason T. Miles (La Mano) Interiorae #3, Gabriella Giandelli (Fantagraphics/Coconino) Reich #6,  Elijah Brubaker (Sparkplug) Uptight #3, Jordan Crane (Fantagraphics) Outstanding Mini-Comic Claptrap #2, Onsmith Just So You Know #1, Joey Alison Sayers Stay Away From Other People, Lisa Hanawalt Stewbrew, Kelly Froh & Max Clotfelter Xoc, Matt Dembicki Outstanding Online Comic Bodyworld, Dash Shaw (www.dashshaw.com) Danny Dutch, David King (www.flickr.com/photos/kingkomics/sets/72157603500714748) Thingpart, Joey Alison Sayers (www.jsayers.com/thingpart/thingpart.html) Vanessa Davis's comics for Tablet (www.tabletmag.com/author/vdavis/) Year of the Rat, Cayetano Garza (www.magicinkwell.com)

Quick Reviews for Comics Due 08-26-09

QUICK REVIEWS FOR COMICS DUE 08-26-09

By John Judy

 

BATMAN AND ROBIN #3 by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely.  Professor Pyg gets his.  You don't go up against Batman with a name like Professor Pyg.  Even the Calendar Man feels bad for guys named Professor Pyg.

 

BATMAN: WIDENING GYRE #1 of 6 by Kevin Smith and Walter Flanagan.  They're letting Smith write Batman again.  Be sure to ask your grand-children yet unborn to bring you issue six at the home.

 

BOYS: HEROGASM #4 of 6 by Garth Ennis and John McCrea.  What exactly did Black Noir do to Wee Hughie?  Thumbs down?  Not for kids.

 

DARK AVENGERS #8 by Matt Fraction and Luke Ross.  Something vile, kinky and yet strangely exciting is going on in San Francisco.  Just another day really…

 

DARK X-MEN: THE BEGINNING #3 of 3 by Jason Aaron, Paul Cornell, Humberto Ramos and Jock.  Don't even pretend you don't want to read an X-Men story by the guy who writes SCALPED.  Mutant Madness.  Recommended.

 

DETECTIVE COMICS #856 by Greg Rucka, JH Williams III and Cully Hamner.  The continuing adventures of Batwoman and the Question!  A perfect gift for the tough as nails lesbian crime-fighters in your life!  Recommended.

 

FANTASTIC FOUR #570 by Jonathan Hickman and Dale Eaglesham.  Reed Richards explains it all to you.  New creative team starts here!  Gotta look!

 

FLASH: REBIRTH #4 of 6 by Geoff Johns and Ethan Van Sciver.  Barry Allen continues his triumphant but ominous return from Speed Force/Death.

 

GREEN LANTERN #45 by Geoff Johns and Doug Mahnke.  Is there anything better than seeing old friends you never thought you'd see again?  Johns' masterpiece continues.  Recommended.

 

HULK #14 by Jeph Loeb and Ian Churchill.  Apparently Red Hulk has his own team now.  It is called "Code Red" and I think the best course for all concerned is to start treating this stuff as taking place in an alternate universe far, far away from anywhere in which "continuity" is a recognized word. 

 

INCREDIBLE HULK #601 by Greg Pak and Ariel Olivetti.  I'm kind of hoping that this whole "Son of Hulk" business ends with the Hulk's son and Wolverine's son hooking up and finding a nice little cabin together in the Negative Zone or Counter-Earth or wherever Spider-Clones go to die.  For pete's sake, did we learn nothing from "Superman Returns?"

 

JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #30 by Matthew Sturges, Bill Willingham and Jesus Merino.  The return of Dr. Fate!  Because this team can never be too big!

 

KING CITY #1 written and drawn by Brandon Graham.  Drugs, aliens and super-cats.  Save room for dessert!

 

NEW AVENGERS #56 by Brian Michael Bendis and Stuart Immonen.  Okay, who turned off all the Avengers' powers in the middle of the Big Fight?  Fess up.  We're not leaving here until somebody puts this Deus back in the Machina….

 

PREVIEWS by Marvel and Diamond Comics.  To help you plan what you'll be begging, nagging and guilting your loved ones for this holiday season.  Excelsior!

 

RED CIRCLE: THE SHIELD #1 by J. Michael Straczynski and Scott McDaniel.  JMS completes his relaunch of four classic heroes originally from the ARCHIE line of comics.  And this ain't Riverdale, pal…

 

SCALPED #31 by Jason Aaron and R.M. Guera.  In which crooked, vicious, insane FBI Agent Nitz learns to be careful what he wishes for.  Highly recommended.  Not for kids.

 

SUPERMAN'S PAL JIMMY OLSEN SPECIAL #2 by James Robinson and Bernard Chang.  It's all up to Jimmy Olsen.  Does anything else promise Comic Book Excitement in quite the same way?  Hide your daughters.

 

WEDNESDAY COMICS #8 of 12 by Lotsa People.  Still weekly.  Still mostly awesome.  Recommended.

 

WONDER WOMAN #35 by Gail Simone and Aaron Lopresti.  WW and Black Canary continue with the bad guy spankage!  Great fun!  Recommended!

 

www.johnjudy.net

PR: Fantom's New Subscription Policy

Attention Store Update Email List recipients: If you're a comic book subscriber with Fantom Comics and have not yet transferred your pull list to Comixology.com, please do so ASAP! This Wednesday, August 26th will be the last day we pull your books from the lists we have on file. On Thursday we will be deleting every single book on subscription and using only the Comixology lists. Visit our Subscription Policy page for instructions on how to sign up with Comixology. It's a huge, colossal improvement over our current method of tracking subs, and a fun website on top of that. So please sign up and enjoy! PS: If you'd like us to email you your current pull list - or have any questions at all about the new policy - just email your request to info@fantomcomics.com. And here's the link to the August Diamond Previews (deadline for guaranteed August books is this Friday at 11:59pm). Union Station - 50 Massachusetts Avenue NE | Washington, DC 20002 | 202-216-9478 www.fantomcomics.com

Aug 24: Batman Returns in Crystal City

Crystal Screen - Superheroes

Join the Crystal City BID for 21 weeks of Superheros! On Monday nights from May 4, 2009-September 21, 2009, Crystal City will be protected by Batman, Spiderman, Superman, and many others. Each night will also have special giveaways, sponsors, and other activities.

Date(s):
May 4, 2009 - September 21, 2009

Location:
18th and Bell Street - Courtyard Across from Crystal City Metro Station & Marriott Hotel

Event Fee:
Free

Hours:
Movies begin at sundown

Description:
Join the Crystal City BID for 21 weeks of Superheros! On Monday nights from May 4, 2009-September 21, 2009, Crystal City will be protected by Batman, Spiderman, Superman, and many others. Each night will also have special giveaways, sponsors, and other activities. Check back here for more information.

CRYSTAL KID BONUS: Since it gets dark later in the summer and movies often start past bedtime, the BID has partnered with Crystal City Sports Pub to rebroadcast each movie at 3:30 PM on the 3rd Floor of CCSP on the Wednesday following the outdoor showing, starting May 6. Bring your kids and a blanket and enjoy the fabulous surround network of TVs.

Festival Rules: Patrons can bring their own picnics as long as they abide by city and festival rules. Low-backed chairs and blankets are allowed, but grills, umbrellas, and pets are prohibited.


Schedule

August 24, 2009 - Batman Returns
August 26, 2009 - Batman Returns - at CCSP
August 31, 2009 - Batman Forever
September 2, 2009 - Batman Forever - at CCSP
September 7, 2009 - Batman & Robin
September 9, 2009 - Batman & Robin - at CCSP
September 14, 2009 - Batman Begins
September 16, 2009 - Batman Begins - at CCSP
September 21, 2009 - Batman: The Dark Knight
September 23, 2009 - Batman: The Dark Knight - at CCSP

Death Note 2: The Last Name at JICC

Death Note 2: The Last Name 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 Present screen Death Note 2: The Last Name on August 28, 2009 6:30 pm as part of inaugural showing for a new film series based on both Anime (Japanese Animation) and Manga ( Japanese Comics).

Yagami Light, a young man who resents the crime and corruption in the world. His life undergoes a drastic change when he discovers a mysterious notebook, known as the "Death Note", lying on the ground. The Death Note's instructions claim that if a person's name is written within it while picturing that person's face, that person shall die. Light is initially skeptical of the notebook's authenticity, but after experimenting with it, he realizes that the Death Note is real. After meeting with the previous owner of the Death Note, a shinigami named Ryuk, Light seeks to become "the God of the New World" by passing his judgement on those he deems to be evil or who get in his way.

Soon, the number of inexplicable deaths of reported criminals catches the attention of the National Police Agency and a mysterious detective known only as "L". L quickly learns that the serial killer, dubbed by the public as "Kira" (キラ ?, derived from the Japanese pronunciation of the word "killer"), is located in Japan. L also concludes that Kira can kill people without laying a finger on them. Light realizes that L will be his greatest nemesis, and a game of psychological cat and mouse between the two begins.

This event is free and open to the public. Reservations are required.

RSVP to jiccrsvpsummer09@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.