Nate Beeler interview up at City Paper

Meet a Local Cartoonist: A Chat with Nate Beeler

Posted by Mike Rhode on Mar. 1, 2010

 

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/artsdesk/books/2010/03/01/meet-a-local-cartoonist-a-chat-with-nate-beeler/

 

Reason Magazine sort of recommends government comics library site

The local libertarian chaps at Reason Magazine have noted the digital library of government educational comics at the University of Nebraska - check out Hey Citizens! Comics! by Brian Doherty from the January 2010 issue.

March 4: Howard University comics symposium

Kyle Baker, William H. Foster visit Howard University

 

Comics artist Kyle Baker (Nat Turner, Truth: Red, White & Black, Birth of a Nation) and scholar William H. Foster III (Looking for a Face like Mine) will visit Howard University for "Comics on Campus," a symposium held in the Blackburn Auditorium from 3:00 to 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 4. Baker and Foster will discuss the history and production of graphic novels, recent landmark works, and the unique opportunities and challenges that face African American cartoonists. The event is sponsored by the Department of English with support from the Fund for Academic Excellence. For information please contact Prof. Marc Singer at msinger@howard.edu. The event is free and open to the public.

The Blackburn Auditorium is inside the Blackburn University Center, between 5th and 6th streets NW and above Howard Place. It's on the main quad at the top of campus. Here's a document with driving and Metro directions to Blackburn.

Here's an interview from last week with Dr. Foster - Full Color Fun With Dr. William Foster, Scoop (February 26 2010).

ACT-I-VATE signing report by comicsgirl

Comicsgirl has a good report on the ACT-I-VATE guys at Politics and Prose up now, so I'm just going to refer you to her site. The only thing I would add is that you can buy a cd recording of the event from the store if you want to hold her picture up and pretend you were there. This may be historically important at some point, like being able to claim you were at the Constitutional Convention.

I took a few snaps too, and when I pull them off the camera, I'll post them here if they're any good.

If anyone local is reading this, P&P has some good remaindered comic-type books. Plenty of copies of Hajdu's 10-Cent Plague, 1 copy of Art Spiegelman: Conversations by my friend Rusty Witek for $5, 1 copy of Stan Lee: Conversations for $5, a bunch of Tomine, and one of the odd Spirit pop-up comics. And the Barnes & Noble on Rte 50 in Fairfax has the Moby Dick pop-up comic while I'm thinking about it.

Kevin Rechin's Boom! out

I saw Kevin tonight and he had a copy of Boom! Splat! Kablooey!: Safe Science That's a Real Blast (Klutz) for which he did the cartoon illustrations. Buy 2 now - 1 for your collection, and 1 to use.

PR: Next Sun, March 7-Capicons Comic Book & Pop Culture Con

Capicons Comic Book & Pop Culture Con
Next Sunday, March 7, 2010
(Rescheduled from Feb. 7)
10 am - 3 pm
Dunn Loring Volunteer Fire Dept.
2148 Gallows Rd. Dunn Loring, VA

- FREE Admission!

- Our Guest Artist Tim Dzon--Marvel inker and cover artist (Avengers West
Coast, Hawkeye, Marvel Comics Presents, GI Joe, etc.)

- Also featuring:

Capes 'N Babes' creator Chris Flick
http://www.capesnbabes.com/

and 21st Century Sandshark Studios' Dan Nokes
http://21sandshark.com/

- Door Prize Drawing courtesy of Victory Comics-Falls Church's newest
comic shop
                                                                                                 
Vendors/Artist Tables will include:
21st Century Sandshark Studios/All-American Comics/Doug
Cheshire/Collector's Choice/Comics to Astonish/Michael & Connie
Creager/Tim Dzon/Everyday Comics/FANDATA/Fantasy Comics/Chris
Flick/Donald and Kathy Gehl/Outpost Station/Packcracker/Silver Fox/TNT
Comics/Tomorrow's Treasures/Victory Comics/Venture Effects/Zeno's
Books...and more!

The show is open to the public from 10 am - 3 pm. Buy, sell and
trade...Gold, Silver, Bronze Age comics; Indie & Modern comics, Publishers
& Creators, TV & Movie Collectibles. Non-sport cards; Videos and DVDs;
Horror/Sci-Fi; figures, toys; Star Wars and Star Trek memorabilia;
original artwork, posters, T-shirts/clothing and various other comic
related items.  

========================================================
Directions to DLVFRD:
========================================================
Take I-495 (DC/Capital Beltway) to Exit 47A (Rt. 7 West). Go 1/2 Mile,
Left on Gallows Rd. 1 mile to 2148 Gallows Rd

========================================================
Capicons is on Facebook!
========================================================
Become a fan on Facebook, and keep on top of show updates.
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Merrifield-VA/Capicons-Comic-Book-Pop-Culture-Con/221236176794?ref=ts

========================================================
Capicons 2010 Dates

Sun. March 7
Sun. April 18
Sun. June 6
Sun, Aug. 1
Sun. Oct. 3
Sun. Dec. 5

=======================================================

To book a table, be added to our mailing list, request flyers, or for more
info about our show, email info@capicons.com.

See you next week,
Jeff & Laura & Ed
Capicons

      

===================
 *Capicons does not guarantee the arrival, arrival time or departure time
of the artist(s)/writer(s)/other guest(s) attending our shows or attending
on behalf of another group.
 ===================

Capicons
PO Box 2488
Merrifield, VA 22116
capicons.com

Another reason to read Dougan's Sam & Lilah

Besides the interesting storyline and the lovely art, he destroys RFK Stadium in chapter 2 of Sam & Lilah.

Catching up with Bennett's Best at Zadzooks blog

I saw Greg Bennett yesterday and found out that he's still doing his Bennett's Best mini-reviews at Zadzooks blog - the Times had changed the address of the site. Here are links to what we missed, although it looks like only 2010 is still up so we definitely missed a bunch from 2009 unfortunately.

Bennett's Best: Ignition City and Kick Ass
Greg Bennett provides a pair of recommendations for comic book lovers for the week of February 14, 2010. This week its Ignition City: Volume 1 and Kick Ass.

Bennett's Best: Hicksville: Definitive Edition and Hellblazer: Pandemonium
Legendary comic book store owner Greg Bennett provides a pair of recommendations for comic book lovers for the week of February 7, 2010. This week its Hicksville: Definitive Edition and Hellblazer: Pandemonium

Bennett's Best: Ultimate Comics X and Demo
Legendary comic book store owner Greg Bennett provides a pair of recommendations for comic book lovers for the week of January 31, 2010. This week its Ultimate Comics X, No. 1 and Demo: Volume 2, No. 1.

Bennett's Best: Ultimate Comics Enemy and Atom and Hawkman
Legendary comic book store owner Greg Bennett provides a pair of recommendations for comic book lovers for the week of January 24, 2010. This week its Ultimate Comics Enemy, No. 1 and Atom and Hawkman, No. 46.

Beyond Comics Artist Appearance March 3rd

B E Y O N D      C O M I C S March 3rd ONLY! Meet ASPEN Comics Artist Micah Gunnell at the Beyond Comics Gaithersburg Square Store 536 North Frederick Avenue 4:00 pm to 6:30 pm   Free Sketches and Autographs   Original Art For Sale. INFO Now on Facebook Website eBay Store New Items Added 1/5/10 Amazon Store Follow us on Twitter Next Week Shipping Next Week On Sale Date Wednesday March 3rd Newsletter Signup Please Note, some items are not available at all store locations. For more information please speak with any store representative. Some items may also be allocated by the manufacturer and may not be available. Beyond Comics does not guarantee items being in stock; however we will do our best to keep them available. Email: Gaithersburg John Shine Mgr or Frederick Mike Imboden Mgr Gaithersburg Store 536 North Frederick Ave Gaithersburg, MD (301) 216-0007 Hours: M,Tu 11-8; W-Sat 10-9; Sun 12-6 Frederick Store 5632 Route 85 Frederick, MD (301) 668-8202 Hours: M,Tu 10-8; W-Sat 10-9; Sun 12-6

Comic Riffs confirms new Doonesbury collection

DOONESBURY: Garry Trudeau to release 40th-anniversary retrospective, Michael Cavna, February 25, 2010.

Not a stunning surprise as there have been specific collections for a couple of decades now - going back to Duke's Action Hero, I think, but welcome all the same. In my opinion, Doonesbury is still one of the top 3 strips in the paper.

Wimpy Kid movie posters begin appearing in DC

I've seen one in a bus shelter on 16th St, NW and here's one on the side of a bus courtesy of Kathleen Stocker. As we've noted before, Jeff Kinney was a U of Maryland cartoonist back when.

Comic Riffs on silly Batman auction price

1939 Batman Detective Comics No. 27 sells for record $1 million at auction, By Michael Cavna, Washington Post February 26, 2010.

Jim Dougan of ACT-I-VATE interview up at City Paper

Meet a Local Comics Writer: A Chat with Jim Dougan of ACT-I-VATE

Posted by Mike Rhode on Feb. 26, 2010

Family Guy's considered take on Down syndrome not appreciated by everyone

See The TV Column: 'Family Guy' actor speaks out against Palin joke
By Lisa de Moraes
Washington Post (February 25, 2010); C06

Disturbing Peanuts ad in Post

Today's Post has an ad from MetLife insurance company showing Woodstock and Snoopy looking at each other, and the caption reads "Imagine not being able to recognize your best friend." It's promoting the MetLife Foundation Award for Medical Research, but it's pretty striking because it's a half-page with a lot of white space and Snoopy in the middle. It ran in today's New York Times too.

Arlen Schumer covers Post's local living section

There's a nice comic book style drawing of a woman committing to a diet.  Well, it's a nice drawing at least. Schumer also did the interior illos for the story.

Weldon on the silliness of a million bucks for a comic book

I Found A Million-Dollar Comic (In A 5 and 10 Cent Store) says Glen Weldon, at National Public Radio's Monkey See blog (February 24 2010).

This Saturday: ACT-I-VATE Yourself with Web Comics Creators

Posted by Mike Rhode on Feb. 24, 2010

 

 

Oscar nominated shorts reviewed by City Paper

The Wrong and the Short of It: Jeb Stuart addresses the evil of segregation; a shorts collection celebrates quality over quantity.

By Tricia Olszewski
Washington City Paper February 19, 2010

online at http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/display.php?id=38495

 

...I almost missed this one. It's been hard to find a physical copy of the paper since the massive snowstorms.

That wascally Tom Toles

As my long-suffering wife pointed out, Tom Toles is channeling Bugs Bunny today.

Cavna on new Judge Parker artist

Michael's been busy this week...

THIS JUST IN: 'Judge Parker' names its new artist
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog February 23, 2010

I like the new artists work, but it's a lot more cartoony than Baretto's.

Cavna looks into Superman million dollar comic a bit more closely

Call the Daily Planet! Superman comic book sells for record $1M [UPDATED]
Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog February 22, 2010

2009 Luna Brothers interview I missed

Multiversity Comics Presents: the Luna Brothers by David Harper on Tuesday, September 22, 2009.

SPX 2010 press release

Announcing SPX 2010 To Be Held September 11-12 and New Executive Committee

 

For Immediate Release     
Contact: Warren Bernard

Phone: 301-537-4615

               E-Mail: warren@spxpo.com

Bethesda, Maryland; February 23 2010 - The Small Press Expo (SPX), the preeminent showcase for the exhibition of independent comics, graphic novels and alternative political cartoons, will be held Saturday Sept 11 from 11AM-7PM and Sunday, September 12 from noon-6PM. Tables for the show are still available, but get your tables orders in quickly, as last year, the show sold out its tables in May. The Ignatz Awards, the first festival prize in the U.S. comic book industry, will be held Saturday evening, September 11, with voting held that day by SPX attendees.

Small Press Expo also announces its new Executive Committee. Karon Flage, who oversaw SPX's successful move from its old facilities to the new, much improved, Marriott Convention Center, is stepping down as Executive Director and will take over the position of Treasurer. Jeff Alexander, the previous Assistant Executive Director, is now the new Executive Director. Warren Bernard will now assume the roll of Assistant Executive Director, as well as maintaining his position as Media Coordinator.

Stay tuned for future SPX news. In the coming weeks/months, we will be announcing our guests, as well some great, new SPX attractions.

SPX brings together more than 300 artists and publishers to meet their readers, booksellers and distributors each year. Graphic novels, mini-comix, political cartoon books and alternative comics will all be on display and for sale by their authors and illustrators. 

As in previous years, profits from the SPX will go to support the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund (CBLDF), protecting the First Amendment rights of comic book readers and professionals.  For more information on the CBLDF, go to their website at http://www.cbldf.org/.             

SPX will be held The North Bethesda Marriott Convention Center in Bethesda, Maryland, next to the White Flint Metro stop. Admission is $10 for a single day and $15 for both days.

Million dollar action

Both the Express and the Examiner ran stories about somebody paying a million dollars for a comic book with the first appearance of Superman. Here's the wire story they used: Superman's debut comic book issue sells for $1M By JAKE COYLE, The Associated Press, Monday, February 22, 2010.

Shutter Island comic review at City Paper site

Shutter Island, Version 2.0: The Graphic Novel by Christian De Metter
Posted by Mike Rhode on Feb. 23, 2010.

UK's Telegraph uses DC-area reviewer for Gervais show

The British newspaper, The Telegraph, is using a Washington-based reporter to review a Hollywood(iirc)-created cartoon based on British podcasts -

The Ricky Gervais Show (HBO): Review; The American cable TV channel HBO's animated series using the original recordings of The Ricky Gervais Show podcasts features the funnyman himself as well as his longtime collaborator Stephen Merchant.
By Rachel Ray, in Washington
Published: 2:35PM GMT 22 Feb 2010

R.C. Harvey on Matt Wuerker

It's pile-on the Wuerker gravy PR train, as R.C. Harvey writes on Matt Wuerker too. Remember, we'll be doing the same at the City Paper next week! Don't miss it as Matt reveals his favorite monument!

Richard Thompson is up for the Reuben and we forgot to mention it

Richard Thompson is up for the National Cartoonist Society's Reuben Award, which is the big enchilada. He told me before he was fleeing town recently and I stupidly forgot to scoop my peers and post something about it here. Now I'm sure it's spread all over Facebook already.

We're rooting for you, Richard!

Editorial cartoonist - New Yorker cartoonist links?

Tom Hollen has written in with an interesting observation, and a resulting question. Can anyone help him out? I've come up blank so far.

I'm a big fan of editorial cartoons and New Yorker cartoons. I was wondering you might be able to provide some background about political cartoonists who were also cartoonists for The New Yorker magazine. I know that ironically DC had two: Peter Steiner for the Washington Times and Christopher Weyant for The Hill. I think Weyant is the only one still regularly cartooning for both? Are there others?

I think it takes a special breed to be able to succeed at either type of cartooning, let alone both. I've had trouble finding any info on this subject. Have you ever covered this or do you know where I can find anything about it?

So, anyone in the collective mind got any help for Tom?

Joel Pett on Matt Wuerker

Joel Pett, whom we should pay more attention to because he cartoons for USA Today even though he lives in Kentucky (I think), has a nice little piece up about Matt - In the footsteps of Herblock: Editorial cartoonist Matt Wuerker of Politico took the first of this season's cartooning awards, the Herblock Prize, Los Angeles Times (February 21, 2010).

I'll have an interview with Matt on the City Paper's blog early next week.

Comix Claptrap podcast reviews Matt Dembicki

Dylan Horrocks is no slouch of course, so you might want to listen to the whole show.

Ayuyang, Rina and Thien Pham. 2010.
Dylan Horrocks - Season 2, Episode 4.
Comix Claptrap podcast (February 18): http://comixclaptrap.blogspot.com/2010/02/season-2-episode-4-dylan-horrocks.html and http://comixclaptrap.podomatic.com/enclosure/2010-02-18T08_30_25-08_00.mp3

Thien and Rina have the huge honor of interviewing distinguished comic artist and writer, Dylan Horrocks, whose celebrated comics masterpiece, "Hicksville" has just been re-released with a beautiful new edition published by Drawn and Quarterly. In this episode, Dylan talks about his personal journey in comics-making since the first printing of "Hicksville", as well as his revealing experiences writing for mainstream comics, the decision to serialize his comics on the internet, and the inspiring comics scene in New Zealand.

We also chat with our lovely New Comics reporter, cartoonist and buddy Josh Frankel about new work by Lewis Trondheim, Oliver East, Matt Dembicki, as well as McSweeney's Panorama. We are really happy about this episode, and hope you will be too -- have a listen!

Meet a Local Cartoonist: A Chat with Kevin Rechin

Posted by Mike Rhode on Feb. 22, 2010

 

is online now.

 

Future chats will include Jim Dougan of Act-I-Vate, the Examiner's Nate Beeler and Politico's Matt Wuerker.

 

 

Comics on the Rack, Quick Picks for Comics Due 02-24-10

 

COMICS ON THE RACK

Quick Picks for Comics Due 02-24-10

By John Judy

 

ALMOST SILENT HC written and drawn by Jason.  Otherwise known as the Jason Omnibus from Fantagraphics.  This collects four Jason graphic novels: "You Can't Get There From Here", ""Tell Me Something", "Meow Baby" and "The Living and the Dead."  Three of these are out of print and all of them are an entertaining way to spend a few hours.

 

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #622 by Several Guys.  A Flash Thompson story and a new round with Morbius the Living Vampire.  It's been too long.

 

BATMAN AND ROBIN #9 by Grant Morrison and Cameron Stewart.  Evil Zombie Clone Batman versus the Batman Family!  Boy, if Bruce Wayne goes dead for five minutes the whole place goes to heck!  Recommended.

 

BLACK LANTERN GREEN ARROW #30 by JT Krul and Will Conrad.  Oliver Queen: Dead Again!  Mostly.  Awesome Neal Adams tribute cover.

 

BLACKEST NIGHT #7 of 8 by Geoff Johns and Ivan Reis.  Okay, so Nekron wants to kill every living thing in the universe but he still has a dark secret?!  What, he likes reality TV shows?  Jeez!  Still recommended.

 

BLACKEST NIGHT: JSA #3 of 3 by James Robinson and Eddy Barrows.  Evil, undead, Black Lantern Earth-2 Superman comes back for one more pass at wiping out the JSA.  And he's just crazy enough to do it!

 

CAPTAIN SWING #1 of 4 by Warren Ellis and Raulo Caceres.  Electrical pirates and things that are not supposed to fly in 1830's London.  From that nice Mr. Ellis.  Gotta look!

 

CHOKER #1 by Ben McCool and Ben Templesmith.  Let's try this again, now that Image is actually releasing this comic:  There are so many reasons this comic is a must-have, but among the most compelling is this: The female lead is a cop nicknamed "Dick-Puncher."  Described by co-creator Templesmith as "A little bit like FELL with a bad case of Gonorrhea."  Highly recommended.  Not for kids.

 

CHRONICLES OF WORMWOOD: LAST BATTLE #3 of 6 by Garth Ennis and Oscar Jimenez.  Pope Jacko is back from Hell with a whole world of hurt for Danny the Anti-Christ and his loved ones.  And what's with Jay getting smart again?  Not for kids or the squeamish.

 

FALL OF THE HULKS: RED HULK #2 of 4 by Jeff Parker and Ed McGuinness.  Lotsa smashing.

 

FLASH: REBIRTH #6 of 6 by Geoff Johns and Ethan Van Sciver.  The Flash Family gets put in a blender set on "puree."  Of course for them that's like a slow gentle stir.  New Flash Facts start here!  Recommended.

 

HITMAN, VOL. 2: 10,000 BULLETS SC by Garth Ennis and John McCrea.  If you've never read the adventures of Gotham City hired gun Tommy Monaghan and his cohort Nat the Hat then you need to reserve your copy of this book today.  Re-released after a few years out of print, this collects issues #4-8 and Annual #2.  Highly recommended for teens and up.

 

IMAGE UNITED #0 of 6 by Robert Kirkman and Some Other Image Guys.  Beyond a new character fighting Savage Dragon, the paradoxical math on the issue numbering is the most eye-catching thing about this series.  I mean, if you're counting Zero as part of a numbered series you're always going to have one more than the number of issues you're advertising.  Unless you figure with Image's legendary lateness #6 becomes an imaginary number because we'll never see it during the lifetime of the Universe.  I have a headache now.

 

IRREDEEMABLE #11 by Mark Waid and Peter Krause.  Intrigues galore as Modeus gets closer to Tony and the remaining heroes are down to a skeleton crew.  Recommended.

 

JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #36 by Bill Willingham and Jesus Marino.  Nazis.  Is there anyone that sucks worse than Nazis?  No, and the JSA must remind them of this for the next few issues.

 

MARVELS PROJECT #6 of 8 by Ed Brubaker and Steve Epting.  Torch versus Subby, Round Two!  And now Captain America's on the scene!  Recommended.

 

NEW AVENGERS #62 by Brian Michael Bendis and Stuart Immonen.  The Hood and his hoods are back to trouble the Avengers because no one has thought to put the Hood out of his misery once and for all.  Honestly, he's such a wanna-be Osborn/Loki!  If the Big Bad Wolf doesn't eventually eat this guy I will be disappointed.

 

NORTHLANDERS #25 by Brian Wood and Leandro Fernadez.  In addition to the plague outside their walls the remaining Vikings begin to get cabin fever.  Not good in a place full of swords, axes and such.  Recommended.

 

PREVIEWS by Marvel and Diamond Comics.  What you'll be seeing on the racks in three months, once the snow and rains subside!

 

SCALPED #35 by Jason Aaron and Daniel Zezelj.  Now that Red Crow and Bad Horse have eliminated a whole bunch of distractions it's time for a stand-alone issue about what it takes to live on the Rez, the poorest community in America.  So far.  Highly recommended.

 

SUPERMAN #697 by James Robinson and Bernard Chang.  A short breather before Brainiac comes in for some ruckus.  Guest-starring the Legion, Superboy and of course Mon-El.

 

THOR #607 by Kieron Gillen and Billy Tan.  Norman Osborn's attacking Asgard and if Oklahoma gets in the way, so be it!  Osborn hearts Freedom!

 

THUNDERBOLTS #141 by Jeff Parker and Miguel Angel Sepulveda.  Osborn orders the remaining T-Bolts to fight Asgard and the Avengers because… he wants them to die?

 

ULTIMATE COMICS ENEMY #2 of  4 by Brian Michael Bendis and Rafa Sandoval.  So the Ultimate Enemy appears to be a huge red fungus blob.  Or maybe it's the guy behind it.  Outlook cloudy. Ask again later.

 

VICTORIAN UNDEAD #70 by Ian Edginton and Davide Fabbri.  So Professor Moriarty came out of the Reichenbach Falls as a zombie.  By Jove, the game's afoot!  A delicious, tasty foot….

 

WALKING DEAD #70 by Robert Kirkman and Charles Adlard.  Washington DC is a paradise and all it took was a plague of flesh-eating zombies.  I believe there's a lesson here.  Not for kids. Highly recommended.

 

WONDER WOMAN #41 by Gail Simone and Aaron Lopresti.  WW fights Power Girl some more.  Here's hoping they kiss and make up soon.

 

X-FACTOR #202 by Peter David and Bing Cansino.  Still looking for the Invisible Woman.  And a better metaphor.  Big fight with Doctor Doom or one of his robots or something.

 

X-MEN LEGACY #233 by Mike Carey and Clay Mann.  Proteus is back from the dead and making up for lost time, evil-wise.  Punch-ups galore.

 

www.johnjudy.net

Jo Chen covers Marvel's Girl Comics

You can see a preview of her cover for #3 here - Jeanine Schaefer on "Girl Comics". Comic Book Resources (February 19 2010).

Thanks to our Russian readers

Apparently an earlier post on Stalin cartoons is bringing in a lot of attention from Europe, and other places with Russian language readers - our usual readership is between 150-300 per day, but yesterday: Previous 24hrs: 1,303.

Martel speaks on Calvin and Hobbes tonight

Lifted from the Post's Going Out Guide blog:

Nerd Nite

When was the last time you went to a bar to actually learn something? Other than all the bits of obscure trivia you've picked up at quiz night over the years, we're guessing it hasn't happened too often. That's where DC9's Nerd Nite comes in: Wet your whistle while stimulating your cranium with informative discussions on insects and storm chasing, and a special presentation about elusive "Calvin and Hobbes" creator Bill Watterson by Nevin Martell, author of "Looking for Calvin and Hobbes: The Unconventional Story of Bill Watterson and His Revolutionary Comic Strip." Local punk rockers Authorization will perform between lectures. Don't be late: A limited number of door tickets are available, but given the size of the venue, they'll go quickly.
ad_icon

Saturday at 6 p.m. DC9, 1940 Ninth St. NW. 202-483-5000. http://www.dcnine.com. $10.

Comic Riffs interviews Wuerker on winning Herblock

Politico's Wuerker says winning Herblock Prize is 'mind-boggling', by Michael Cavna, Washington Post Comic Riffs blog (February 18 2010).

May 2: Washington, DC Comicon at George Mason University

Apparently there's a new Washington, DC Comicon at George Mason University (which is 20 miles out of town). Here's one story and here's another. ComicsDC will admit to feeling a bit snubbed on this news. We're also wondering if it will affect Marc Nathan's attendance at Capicon.

Julian Lytle interviewed at 4thletter! blog

Black Future Month ‘10: Julian Lytle
by david brothers
4thletter! blog February 18th, 2010

Post on animation - Ricky Gervais and Oscar shorts reviewed

 

'The Ricky Gervais Show': Animated hilarity

By Hank Stuever

Washington Post Staff Writer

Friday, February 19, 2010; C04

 

2010 Oscar-nominated short films at Landmark's E Street Cinema

By Michael O'Sullivan

Washington Post Staff Writer

Friday, February 19, 2010; WE29

 

The NY Times likes Gervais too:

 

Television Review | 'The Ricky Gervais Show' - Taking the Podcast Back to a Simpler Time

By ALESSANDRA STANLEY

February 19, 2010

Zadzooks on Dante's Inferno videogame

Videogame animation is one type of comic art this blog is weak on - there's just too much and it seems to attract different fans. But here's an article on an interesting new game - Zadzooks: Dante's Inferno: Divine Edition review, Joseph Szadkowski, Washington Times (February 18, 2010).

Nevin Martell jumps the big pond in search of Calvin and Hobbes

Unless he's moved to England (in which case we're dropping him like a hot potato), Nevin's got a guest piece here - The fantastic truth of Calvin and Hobbes: Bill Watterson's work remains hilarious, and wildly inventive – but it also manages to be authentic in a way that very few cartoons ever are. Guardian's Books Blog (February 17 2010)

Politics and Prose book group reads Alan Moore

Wednesday, February 24, 7:30 p.m.
Graphic Novel Bookgroup
Top 10: The Forty-Niners, by Alan Moore

My reflections on the emerging US Mint / Captain America conspiracy at the City Paper

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/artsdesk/books/2010/02/18/when-captain-america-throws-his-mighty-shield/

Aquaman's back, and Glen Weldon digs him

All, and probably more than you ever needed to know, is at "Aquaman No Longer Sleeps With The Fishes! I Should Probably Rephrase That," National Public Radio's Monkey See blog (February 17 2010) as Glen Weldon recounts the past two decades of history of the Sea King.

Rappahannock librarian has some reading suggestions

Have some frightful fun with today's graphic novel: Local children's librarian offers timely reading suggestions, Fredericksburg.com 2/16/2010- Caroline Parr is coordinator of children's services for Central Rappahannock Regional Library.

Superhero mixtape from DC dj

Jon Fischer of the City Paper passed along this - Davy DMV – The Mixtape Super Heros Mixtape (Hosted by DJ Torkaveli). I'm just downloading it now and haven't listened to it, but I like the cover.

Kal quoted

More on what makes Florida special from Kal...

Famous speakers find way to SW Fla.
Bush brothers here today; many others set to follow
By GLENN MILLER
Fort Meyer News-Press February 16, 2010

John Hopkins U's JohnCon details

Our colleagues at Baltimore Gamer have some of the details including a 24-hour anime room which actually sounds a bit rough to me.

Wuerker wins Herblock

Moving to the East Coast is finally paying off for Matt Wuerker. As a staff cartoonist he was a finalist for the Pulitzer last year, and just won the Herblock award. Congratulations, Matt. It couldn't happen to a nicer, more deserving guy.

Although it will be interesting to hear his speech...

'Kelly' back in the Onion

The Onion's editorial cartoonist "Kelly" (actually Ward Sutton) returned in the February 11th issue, with a Star Trek / NASA parody. The cartoons are purposefully horrible, parodying the worst of the field, but I'm glad to see them back.

Marvel's Civil War plays out on Post blog

The rationale behind Marvel's Civil War storylines plays out on Ezra Klein's Post blog where he wrote a paragraph concluding "Iron Man was right" in favor of superhero registration - and then the comments begin...

Local cartoonist Julian Lytle is Glyph Award nomine

Matt Dembicki writes in to tell us:

Local cartoonist Julian Lytle of "Ants" (http://ants.julianlytle.com/) is a nominee for the Glyph Award's rising star category.

Let's all wish him luck.

Mo Willems comic strip in Post

Mo Willems, best known for his children's books, is a cartoonist too. He's filling in for Hilary Price this week in the Rhymes with Orange comic strip in the Post.

The Big Planet ACT-I-VATE Primer signing details (TIME corrected)

The ACT-I-VATE Primer Signing

The creators at ACT-I-VATE.com have been serializing webcomics for free since 2006, and have finally put out a print edition with stand-alone, all-new stories - The ACT-I-VATE Primer. Please join Dean Haspiel (Billy Dogma, The Alcoholic), Simon Fraser (Lilly MacKenzie, Nikolai Dante), Joe Infurnari (ULTRA-lad!, the Process, Mush!), and Jim Dougan (Sam & Lilah, Crazy Papers, No Formula) for a discussion and signing of THE ACT-I-VATE PRIMER.

"ACT-I-VATE makes comics better."  - Warren Ellis

THE ACT-I-VATE PRIMER

•  Official Selection of The New York Times' 2009 Holiday Gift Guide
•  Featured on Big Planet Comics' "Best of 2009" List
•  Selected for Politics and Prose's Favorite Graphic Literature of 2009

http://www.activatecomix.com

Free!
Big Planet Comics
426 Maple Ave. East
Vienna, VA 22180
http://www.bigplanetcomics.com
703-242-9412
Saturday, February 27, 2010, 2-4 pm


###

For more information, a cover image, or art samples, please contact:

Kevin Panetta or Jared Smith
bigplanetvienna@verizon.net
703-242-9412
Big Planet Comics
426 Maple Ave. East
Vienna, VA 22180

Marc Singer on Watchmen, and the teaching thereof

Marc Singer writes on teaching Watchmen for weeks 3-4 of his class on comics at Howard.

What Kevin Rechin actually did on Extreme Makeover Home Edition

Now that the show has aired, and we saw less than 5 seconds of Kevin at work, let's quote his email about what he actually did, "The room was a superhero-themed room for two of the sons. I basically designed and painted a mural of a cityscape with caricatures of each kid as a superhero incorporated into the scene and also designed personal superhero logos for each kid. These were embroidered on capes for customized costumes and used as decals on a cool car bed built for the show. That's basically it. Keep in mind I had 4 days to come up with the design, get it approved and then had from about 4 p.m. Friday to 2 p.m. the next day to do the whole room with the help of a couple more people. Needless to say it was an all-nighter! Everything done for that show is done for free or as a donation."

The family was the Tripp family of Hyattville, MD and it's episode 717 that you can watch on the Extreme Makeover Home Edition website. I quite liked Kevin's mural, and have invited him to do one in my house. I encourage you all to do the same. This time, we could pay him. Bravo to Kevin for donating his time and creativity to this!

Comics on the Rack, Quick Picks for Comics Due 02-17-10

COMICS ON THE RACK

Quick Picks for Comics Due 02-17-10

By John Judy

 

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #621 by Dan Slott and Michael Lark.  More Dark Aunt May!  Finally!  Are those wheat cakes or carb-loaded disks of death?!  Gotta look!

 

AVENGERS VS. ATLAS #2 of 4 by Jeff Parker and Gabriel Hardman.  The original Avengers are in the modern day and ready to rumble with the Atlas gang!  Big fight!

 

BLACKEST NIGHT: THE FLASH #3 of 3 by Geoff Johns and Tony Daniel.  Barry dukes it out with Black Lantern Professor Zoom while the rogues try to figure out whose side they need to be on.  Good times!

 

CAPTAIN AMERICA #603 by Ed Brubaker and Luke Ross.  Bucky America and the Falcon take on a group of violent racist anti-government nuts who (honest!) bear no resemblance whatsoever to the tea-baggers who got so steamed up over the depiction of tea-bagger signs and slogans last issue that they got in Marvel Editor-in-Chief Joe Quesada's grill about it.  Sadly, Joe Q immediately groveled for tea-bagger forgiveness and promised that the tea-bagger signs would be redrawn for all subsequent printings of these stories featuring these evil scum who are (really!) not tea-baggers despite sharing many of the views openly espoused at tea-bagger rallies!  Point is: your first prints of these issues are now collectibles.  (BTW, Captain America would never put up with this stuff, Joe.  He'd bounce his shield off their heads and call it macaroni.)

 

DAREDEVIL #505 by Andy Diggle and Marco Checchetto.  DD heads to Japan to talk to the Hand.

 

DARK AVENGERS #14 by Brian Michael Bendis and Mike Deodato.  Ripping the Greek God of War apart with his bare hands will be a tough act for the Sentry to follow, but… Well, let's just look shall we?  Not for the younger kids.

 

DEVIL #1 of 4 by Torajiro Kishi and Madhouse Studios.  "A vampire virus rages through Japan!  This disease will devour mankind."  But it will be hungry again an hour later.

 

DOOMWAR #1 of 6 by Jonathan Maberry, Will Conrad and Scot Eaton.  Doctor Doom fights everyone for six issues starting NOW!

 

GARTH ENNIS BATTLEFIELDS: HAPPY VALLEY #3 of 3 by Ennis and Carlos Ezquerra.  It's the final mission for our heroic WW2 bomber crew.  One way or another.  Highly recommended.

 

GREEN LANTERN #51 by Geoff Johns and Doug Mahnke.  So Hal's Parallax again by choice, which is kind of a "Hail Mary" thing if you ask me.  Still a great spandex epic.  Recommended.

 

HELLBLAZER #264 by Peter Milligan and Giuseppe Camuncoli.  John Constantine wraps up an adventure in India.  Cue the dance number!

 

HULK #20 by Jeph Loeb and Ed McGuinness.  Okay, everyone raise your hand if you are NOT a gamma ray-powered, green, red or sometimes gray or blue rampaging monster.  Right, both of you go talk to Loeb, get him to fix you up, write you a maxi-series or something…

 

IGNITION CITY SC by Warren Ellis and Gianluca Pagliarani.  A gorgeously illustrated sci-fi noir set in earth's last spaceport.  This one reads like "Blade Runner" only with more alcoholic perverts.  Look at the credits and go figure.  Not for kids.

 

INCORRUPTIBLE #3 by Mark Waid and Jean Diaz.  The companion title to Waid's superb IRREDEEMABLE, this one is the story of Max Damage, a bad guy driven to virtue by a hero turned monster.  In this issue Max shuts down a mad scientist who's giving out super-powers for money.  And killing people.  Recommended.

 

INCREDIBLE HULK #607 by Greg Pak and Paul Pelletier. The Red She-Hulk fights everyone and then gets a back-up feature. The real Hulk appears too but only on the variant cover.  Excelsior!

 

JOE THE BARBARIAN #2 of 8 by Grant Morrison and Sean Murphy.  "Toy Story" meets a diabetic coma.  We shall see….

 

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #42 by James Robinson and Mark Bagley.  Lots of adjustments taking place in the wake of Red Arrow getting his arm ripped off.  Plus, Doctor Impossible!

 

KICK-ASS PREMIERE HC by Mark Millar and John Romita Jr.  All the violent, vulgar visuals collected in hardcover!  Suitable for reading AND throwing short distances!

 

MARVELS: EYE OF THE CAMERA #6 of 6 by Kurt Busiek, Roger Stern and Jay Anacleto.  Having reached my weekly limit on Marvel-bashing, I will say only that Kurt Busiek is a great writer, the art looks very nice and issue #5 was released on April 22^nd 2009.

 

SKIM GN by Mariko Tamaki and Jillian Tamaki.  This coming of age tale about a mixed-race Canadian Wiccan goth lesbian has won a bunch of awards.  Read it and see why.  Highly recommended.

 

SPIDER-WOMAN #6 by Brian Michael Bendis and Alex Maleev.  SW is fighting Skrulls, apparently unaware that she's seriously dating herself.

 

THE STAND: SOUL SURVIVORS #4 of 5 by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa.  Mother Abigail versus the rats of Flagg!  Highly recommended.

 

STARMAN OMNIBUS, VOL. 4 HC by James Robinson and Friends.  Collecting all kinds of adventures starring Starman Jack Knight and the heroes of many worlds!  Recommended.

 

UNCANNY X-MEN #521 by Matt Fraction and Greg Land.  Mutant mischief and mayhem, Part Infinity.

 

www.johnjudy.net

Tonight!: Kevin Rechin on Extreme Makeover Home Edition

Kevin Rechin writes in "I think you wanted me to give you a heads up about the air date for the Extreme Makeover Home Edition show. It airs this Sunday at 9 p.m. I designed and illustrated a mural and other elements for a superhero-based kid's room."

Belgian stop motion animation 'A Town Called Panic' at Landmark in DC

Here's the Post's review: "Movie review: 'A Town Called Panic' is a surreal riot," By Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post Staff Writer, Friday, February 12, 2010; WE29.

Michigan State U's Comic Art Collection additions for November 2009

It's been over a month since we looked at October, but I'm not getting a groundswell of interest in these posts anyway. So without further ado, here's bits added in November 2009 to the MSU Library's Comic Art Collection that struck me as interesting.

Hey, DC's Nate Beeler is the first entry:

"Bexley Graduate National Honoree" p. D3 in The Columbus
Dispatch, Nov. 21, 2008. -- Item about Nage Beeler and the
2008 Berryman Award for Editorial Cartooning. -- Call no.:
NC1320.S35 2008

This is followed by other articles from the newspapers, a lot of which are on Harvey Pekar for some reason. Maybe somebody else is doing a book on him.

Ahhh, remember the days when people really cared about the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles? Enough to parody them?

Adolescent Radioactive Black Belt Hamsters Classics. --
Eureka, CA : Parody Press, 1992- . -- ill. ; 26 cm. --
Began with no. 1 (Aug./Sept. 1992). -- Parody and funny
animal genres. -- LIBRARY HAS: no. 1. -- Call no.:
PN6728.6.P35A3


More newspaper articles, and oooh...

"Ultimate Comic Book" AP wirephoto in the Michigan State News,
East Lansing, Michigan, 1974. -- Shows collector Mitchell
Mehdy with a copy of Action Comics, no. 1 which he has
bought for $1,800. -- Call no.: PN6710.S35 1974

I wonder what's happened to that copy?

It's hard to imagine a comic less likely to cause ADD...

"Minds at 1,000 Miles an Hour" / by Michael D. Clark. p. 8A in
the Cincinnati Post, Dec. 4, 1989. -- Uses a Family Circus
panel by Bil Keane to illustrate an article on attention
deficit disorder. -- The panel is captioned: "Another
evening in the life on an A.D.D. child." -- Call no.:
PN6710.S35 1989

This looks vaguely interesting, at least to a bibliographer...

"Drawn from Life : How Comic Books are Changing Young People's
Lives, from Asia to the Middle East" / by Marco Visscher.
p. 20-24 in Ode, May 2009. -- Article about Suleiman Bakhit
and his company Aranim Media Factory, publishing comic
books for the Arabic language market. -- Call no.:
PN6710.S35 2009

I feel guilty saying it, but this sounds painful:

The Novel of Nonel and Vovel / Oreet Ashery ; Larissa Sansour.
-- Milano : Edizioni Charta, 2009. -- 183 p. : col. ill. ;
24 cm. -- "Oreet Ashery is from Israel and lives in London.
Larissa Sansour is from Palestine and lives in Copenhagen.
These two artists have created a very special graphic novel
that raises questions on artistic practice, the nature of
authority and art and politics, and offers an eye-opening
take on Palestine. All this assumes particular importance
considering that these artists come from both sides of the
Middle Eastern divide. Nonel and Vovel, the artists' alter
egos, are given superpowers from a virus compromising their
creativity. With their new powers and the help of local
ninja women, they strive to save Palestine" -- Political
and superhero genres. -- Call no.: PN6790 .I83 A77N6 2009

Remember when newspapers used to publish collections of their editorial cartoonists?

Macpherson Editorial Cartoons 1977. -- Toronto : Star Reader
Service, 1977. -- 126 p. : ill. ; 24 x 23 cm. -- Cartoons
published in the Toronto Star. -- Call no.: NC1449.M3A52
1977

Shouldn't there be a 'Little Orphan Annie' subject heading here?

"Little Red Wonder Girl : Annie, the Broadway Orphan Who Stole
Our Hearts Almost 30 Years Ago, Arrives at the Wharton
Center for a Six-Day Run" / by Mike Hughes. p. 1D, 3D in
the Lansing State Journal, Apr. 18, 2006. -- The Annie
musical arrives in East Lansing. Sidebar, "Stars Who've
Played Annie," lists several actresses. -- Call no.:
PN6710.S35 2006

Fantagraphics published 50 issues of this? Must be before they became ideologically pure (that's a joke, Gary)...

Critters. -- Agoura, CA : Fantagraphics Books, 1986-1990. --
ill. ; 26 cm. -- Published no. 1 (1986) - no. 50 (Mar.
1990). -- Funny animal genre. -- LIBRARY HAS: no. 1-50. --
Call no.: PN6728.5.F3C7
COMPLETE HOLDINGS

...actually I wonder if there's material worth collecting in there. I seem to recall some fairly good stuff in the few issues I've seen.

There's a lot of NY Times articles indexed. The Times is becoming the paper of record for comic art as well, something I'd never have predicted:

"Captain America Chooses Its Director" p. C2 in the New York
Times, Nov. 11, 2008. -- Item about Joe Johnston being
chosen to direct a Captain America film. -- Call no.:
PN6710.S35 2008
-----------------------------------------------------
"Sad News for Mad Fans" / George Gene Gustines. p. C2 in the
New York Times, Jan. 24, 2009. -- Item about Mad becoming
quarterly, quoting editor John Ficarra. -- Call no.:
PN6710.S35 2009
-----------------------------------------------------
"In Tough Times, Finding the Humor in Value" / Edward
Rothstein. p. C1, C6 in the New York Times, Jan. 31, 2009.
-- Review of an exhibition at the Morgan Library & Museum,
titled "On the Money : Cartoons for the New Yorker," which
collects cartoons about money. -- Call no.: NC1320.S35 2009
-----------------------------------------------------
"Civil War in Uganda, Illustrated and In Panels" / by George
Gene Gustines. p. C1, C5, in the New York Times, Aug. 12,
2009. -- Article about the DC/Vertigo series Unknown
Soldier. -- Call no.: PN6710.S35 2009
-----------------------------------------------------
"Spain Pulls Book with Grown-Up Tintin" p. B2 in the New York
Times, Aug. 19, 2008. -- Item about a book ("The Pink
Lotus") by Antonio Altarriba, which shows Tintin in his 30s
and "contains graphic sex scenes that the Hergé estate
considers to be inappropriate." -- Call no.: PN6710.S35


Not to worry though - obscurities continue!

George Morrow : His Book / with an introduction by E.V. Lucas.
-- 2d ed. -- London : Methuen & Co., 1921. -- 97 leaves :
ill. ; 25 cm. -- Cartoons reprinted from Punch and Land and
Water. -- Call no.: NC1479.M6G4 1921
Morrow, George, 1869-1955.
Lucas, E. V. (Edward Verrall), 1868-1938.
-----------------------------------------------------
More Morrow : a Book of Drawings / by George Morrow. -- London
: Methuen & Co., 1921. -- 97 leaves : chiefly ill. ; 25 cm.
-- Cartoons. -- "Thanks are due to the proprietors of Punch
for permission to reprint ... contributions in this
volume." -- Call no.: NC1479.M6M6 1921
-----------------------------------------------------
It's that Min again! (1968-69) : Cartoons from the New Zealand
Herald / by Minhinnick. -- Auckland : Wilson and Horton,
1969. -- 56 p. : chiefly ill. ; 19 x 24 cm. -- Editorial
cartoons. -- Call no.: NC1761.M5 I8 1969
Minhinnick, 1902-1992.

Furries!

1001 Arabian Tails. -- Miami, FL : Conquest Press, 1992. -- 32
p. : ill. ; 26 cm. -- Numbered "1" on cover. -- Indicia
title: 1001 Arabian Tales. -- Funny animal and erotic
genres. -- Call no.: PN6728.6.C59 O5 1992

The lack of follow through with this was a disappoint to me, as I'm a big Zelazny fan:

Roger Zelazny's Amber: Nine Princes in Amber / adapted by
Terry Bisson ; illustrated by Lou Harrison, Bryn Barnard,
Tom Roberts. -- New York : DC Comics, 1996. -- col. ill. ;
26 cm. -- Cover title: Roger Zelazny's Nine Princes in
Amber. -- Complete in 3 nos. -- "A Byron Preiss Visual
Publications, Inc. book." -- Fantasy genre. -- LIBRARY HAS:
no. 1-3. -- Call no.: PN6728.6.D3R638 1996

Here's our buddy Nevin's book:

Looking for Calvin and Hobbes : the Unconventional Story of
Bill Watterson and his Revolutionary Comic Strip / by Nevin
Martell. -- New York : Continuum International Publishing
Group, 2009. -- 247 p. ; 23 cm. -- Call no.: PN6727.W337M3
2009

Coming soon - December!

Feb 27: Act-i-vate at Big Planet Vienna too

At 2 pm.

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

Comic Riffs interviews Scott Kurtz

The 'Riffs Interview: 'PvP' creator Scott Kurtz speaks today at Macworld. Washington Post Comic Riffs blog (February 12, 2010). This is Cavna's 2nd interview with Kurtz, if you're a PVP fan.

Feb 27: Act-i-vate at Politics and Prose

Politics & Prose Bookstore
welcomes

The Act-I-Vate Primer
With contributors: Dean Haspiel, Jim Dougan, Simon Fraser and Joe Infurnari

Saturday, February 27, 6 p.m.

5015 Connecticut Avenue, NW • Washington, DC
www.politics-prose.com • (202) 364-1919

My new bookish thing

The new issue of the International Journal of Comic Art 11-3 is actually Comic Art, 2005-2009: A Global Bibliography, 626 pages of citations on comics compiled by John Lent and Mike Rhode. And it's got a special cover drawing done for us by Richard Thompson which makes it a collector's item (for collectors of Richard Thompson of course). You can buy it as a stand alone issue by sending $15 to John Lent. This is an addendum to John's previous 10-volume series of comics citations, and is a bargain because a set of those will cost you well over $1000.

Here's a sample from the 2010 version I'm working on now - the new citations for 2010 are marked with *:

Comic Book Sales
-Flage, Karon. 2001. Ranking and List Position [comic book sales]. Sequential Tart 4 (2: February): http://www.sequentialtart.com/
-Gustines, George Gene. 2009. Graphic Books Best Seller List: May 9. New York Times Art Beat blog (May 15): http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/05/15/graphic-books-best-seller-list-may-9/
-Gustines, George Gene. 2009. Graphic Books Best Seller List: June 6. New York Times Arts Beat blog (June 12): http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/12/graphic-books-best-seller-list-june-6/
*Hibbs, Brian. 2010. Looking At Bookscan: 2009. Comic Book Resources' Tilting at Windmills (February 12): http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=24818
-Miller, John Jackson. 2007. Comic Sales Analysis: January 2007–Snows, fifth week spur big month. Comics and Games Retailer (182; May): 26-27
-Reid, Calvin. 2009. February Comics Bestsellers. Publishers Weekly’s PW Comics Week (February 3): http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6634161.html
-Reid, Calvin. 2009. June Comics Bestsellers. Publishers Weekly (June 15): http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6665433.html
-Sheriff, Amanda. 2008. Comic Sales Figures Circulate. Scoop (December 5):
http://scoop.diamondgalleries.com/public/default.asp?t=1&m=1&c=34&s=268&ai=77604
*Unknown. 2010. Graphic Books. New York Times (February 4): http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/14/books/bestseller/bestgraphicbooks.html

Eduardo Barreto's illness leaves Judge Parker less lovely

Alan Gardner had a more hopeful story up at Daily Cartoonist, but Michael Cavna's Comic Riffs post says Eduardo Barreto's illness is meningitis and he'll be leaving the strip, which definitely leaves Judge Parker less lovely. It's one of the best looking action strips out there now, although Paul Ryan on the Phantom and Graham Nolan on Rex Morgan, MD do excellent work -- and those strips aren't in the Post.

PR: Greenwood Encyclopedia of Comic Books and Graphic Novels

I'm a contributor to this - I wrote the Harvey Pekar entry. I think it's a good project - for years I've thought we should have the equivalent of the volumes of Dictionaries of British Cartoonists which give the basic information about the person. This is a good start and I'm noodling over other plans with a knowledgeable person.

...The Greenwood Encyclopedia of Comic Books and Graphic Novels is due out at the end of May. It is now described on the Greenwood website at http://www.greenwood.com/catalog/GR5746.aspx and is up on Amazon as well.

Thanks again to all of you who helped to make this project a reality--I'm very pleased with the way it turned out. And thanks in advance to those of you who will help to make it a success by buying it or recommending it to your university or public libraries.
--
M. Keith Booker

That perfect Valentines/President's Day gift...

My latest City Paper blog post is another book review - “For the Wonky, Lovelorn Comics Reader, a Perfect Gift,” February 12, 2010,

Post finally realizes Disney released movie with black heroine

The Post finally realized Disney released a movie with a black heroine last year and just did an article on what it all means to children - "'The Princess and the Frog's' Tiana: A more modern heroine," By Mari-Jane Williams, Washington Post Staff Writer, Thursday, February 11, 2010; T17.

USA Today's Truitt on GI Joe

This is about writer Christos Gage, not our own SL Gallant, but I'm continuing to assume that Truitt is still in the area - "'G.I. Joe: Cobra' brings on the bad guys," By Brian Truitt, USA TODAY February 11 2010.

British not-quite comic books reviewed at City Paper

Reviewed: Classic Dan Dare: Safari in Space and The Best of Roy of the Rovers: The 1970s Straight from the "boys papers," two recently collected U.K. comic strips
By Mike Rhode
Washington City Paper February 11, 2010

Feb 14: Kevin Rechin on Extreme Makeover Home Edition

Kevin Rechin writes in "I think you wanted me to give you a heads up about the air date for the Extreme Makeover Home Edition show. It airs this Sunday at 9 p.m. I designed and illustrated a mural and other elements for a superhero-based kid's room."

Phoenix Comics/ Laughing Ogre Comics open

Both our locations at GMU and in Lansdowne are open today.

Thanks

Gary Dills

Beyond Comics store open in spite of snow UPDATED

Beyond Comics writes in:

GAITHERSBURG IS OPEN!

FREDERICK Pending Plowing of Parking Lot

We will update the newsletter and our face book page.

Bravo to the Washington Post

I think the Post's delivery people deserve a special thanks, although I'm sure none of them are reading this blog. We haven't gotten the paper everyday, but it's been delivered when the roads are passable. I was very surprised to look out this morning and see a bag poking out of the snow.

And the same thanks holds true for the production people and the reporters. I don't even have my car shoveled out again yet, but my wife is reading the Post and sipping coffee in comfort while the wind howls outside.

So to any Postie (you don't really use that term, do you?) reading this, thank you.