Comic Riffs interviews Dragon Trainers

The 'Riffs Interview: 'TRAIN YOUR DRAGON' directors enter a new dimension
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog March 26, 2010

Small Press Expo adds animation

The Small Press Expo is showing animation for the first time and the application process is online now.

Podcaster Marc Maron roams DC after talking to Bob Fingerman

I haven't listened to this yet, but I doubt if he found the soul of America in DC - just a feeling I have.

Episode 58 - El Chupacabra / Bob Fingerman. Marc Maron, WTF with Marc Maron Podcast (March 25 2010): http://wtfpod.libsyn.com/index.php?post_id=596953 and http://media.libsyn.com/media/wtfpod/WTF_-_EPISODE_58.mp3


By popular demand, Marc welcomes El Chupacabra back to WTF. Plus, artist and writer Bob Fingerman takes a unique look at the end of the world (forward by Marc Maron). And Marc searches for the soul of America as he wanders around Washington, DC.

Whither Thingpart, late of the City Paper

Before the City Paper's great (blood-)shedding of comics a couple of years back, they ran a strip called Thingpart close to the front. Here's an interview with the cartoonist - Joey Alison Sayers Interview, Dan Copulsky, Question Riot blog March 25th, 2010.

The cartoon made me do it

I don't really follow sports, but I imagine the cartoon defense in a weapons charge isn't all that common - Arenas’ ‘Character’ Witness Is a Cartoon Character: Gazo the Pranksta, by Rend Smith Washington City Paper City Desk blog Mar. 24, 2010.

Post review of How To Train Your Dragon

Movie review: 'How to Train Your Dragon': 3-D you can sink your teeth intoa
By Mike Clark
Washington Post March 26, 2010; WE26

March 27: Steranko at Geppi's Entertainment Museum REPOST

Colin Solan sends in "GEM hosts Steranko for a retrospective exhibit." Geppi's Museum site is here. As hard as it is to believe, it seems the exhibit is only up for 3 days. Steranko will be there in person for one day.

April 2-4: Cards, Comics & Collectibles Annual Easter Sale

Annual Easter Sale

From the Store that Brings You the Baltimore Comic-Con...

This Friday, April 2nd through Sunday, April 4th, come to the Cards, Comics & Collectibles Annual Easter Sale for amazing savings of 20% to 70% all weekend! Fill in those missing back issues or pick up that paperback, hardcover, or action figure you've been meaning to buy! This is the weekend to shrink that want list!

50% OFF: PAPERBACKS, HARDCOVERS, TOYS, TOON TUMBLERS, AND MORE!
70% OFF: MODERN BACK ISSUES, CARD SINGLES!
30% OFF: GOLD & SILVER AGE COMICS!
PLUS! DISCOUNTS ON CARD PACKS, POSTERS, AND MORE!

SUNDAY ONLY SPECIALS:
80% OFF: MODERN BACK ISSUES!
60% OFF: PAPERBACKS & HARDCOVERS!


Our address: 100 A Chartley Dr., Reisterstown, MD 21136
Our Hours: Friday, 11am-7:30pm; Saturday, 11am-7pm; Sunday, 12am-5pm
For more information, call Cards Comics and Collectibles: 410-526-7410

This annual sale has run for over 20 years, and this year, we're stocked to the gills!

Ask us about Free Comics every Wednesday!

Truitt on The Guild

Felicia Day takes her 'Guild' offline and into comics, By Brian Truitt, USA TODAY March 24 2010.

This is getting to be like the Good Old Days when the Examiner was introduced with 3 pages of comics, and a weekly page of comic book articles by Truitt and Scott Rosenberg...

Free Kick-Ass posters at Big Planet Bethesda

I'm not really looking forward to this movie, but Big Planet Bethesda has a pile of free Kick-Ass movie posters today.

Unexpected editorial cartoons in today's Post

The 'Russia Today' advertising section actually has 4 editorial cartoons or illustrations in it. 2 traditional cartoons are signed V Bogorad. 2 illustrations are by Dimitry Divin. At least 1 cartoon by Bogorad from a previous section can be seen on their website.

 

 

President Obama in Archie comic book

Now up at the Washington City Paper site -

Obama Returns to Comic Books, Tasks Veronica with Powering Economy

Posted by Mike Rhode on Mar. 24, 2010

PR: Baltimore Comic-Con

Publishers and Creators Come to the 2010 Baltimore Comic-Con!

Baltimore, Maryland - March 19, 2010 - The Baltimore Comic-Con is proud to announce our first series of guests for the 2010 convention. Major publishing houses Image Comics, Boom! Studios, and Top Cow Productions are the first announced exhibitors for our 11th annual show. In addition, we are pleased to announce the following guests: Mike and Laura Allred (Madman), Sergio Aragones (Groo), Ivan Brandon (Nemesis: The Imposters), Jim Calafiore (Secret Six), Eric Canete (New Avengers: Luke Cage), Howard Chaykin (Black Kiss), Cliff Chiang (Greendale), Frank Cho (Ultimate Comics New Ultimates), Steve Conley (Star Trek Omnibus: The Original Series), Amanda Conner (Power Girl), Dan DiDio (The Outsiders, Co-Publisher, DC Comics), Al Feldstein (MAD Magazine), Ron Garney (Wolverine: Weapon X), Michael Golden (Marvel 1602: Spider-Man), Cully Hamner (Detective Comics), Dean Haspiel (ACT-I-VATE), Geoff Johns (Blackest Night, Chief Creative Officer, DC Comics), J.G. Jones (DC Universe Legacies), Rich Koslowski (BB Wolf and the 3 LPs), Michael Lark (Spider-Man: Return of the Hunter Saga), Laura Martin (Girl Comics), Mark McKenna (Banana Tail), Terry Moore (Echo, SiP), Phil Noto (Avengers: The Origin), Ryan Ottley (Invincible), Jimmy Palmiotti (Jonah Hex), Khoi Pham (Mighty Avengers), Eric Powell (The Goon), James Robinson (Justice League of America), Stephane Roux (Zatanna), Louise Simonson (X-Factor Forever), Walter Simonson (Wednesday Comics), Jim Starlin (Dreadstar), Brian Stelfreeze (The Authority: The Lost Year), Karl Story (Zatanna), Mark Texeira (X-Men: Origins), Billy Tucci (Shi), Doug Wagner (World of Warcraft: Horde), Mark Waid (Irredeemable, Editor-in-Chief, Boom! Studios), Marv Wolfman (New Teen Titans), and John Workman (Heavy Metal).

"We're months away from show-time, and already, we've lined up some of the biggest stars of the industry. We're excited to have the presence and support of Image, Boom!, and Top Cow - we have an excellent relationship with all three publishers, and can sense the fans lining up to see them already!" said Marc Nathan, promoter of the Baltimore Comic-Con. "We're also very proud to have Dan Didio and Geoff Johns from DC Comics joining us again this year. Both have been great friends for some time now, and they produce some of the most cutting edge comics on the market today. There are so many noteworthy guests coming to the show that represent a cross-section of the comics industry's genres, creative roles, eras, and publishing models, we think 2010 is shaping up to be one of our best yet!"


In coming weeks, look for more announcements from the Baltimore Comic-Con. We are looking forward to highlighting our guests, the Harvey Awards, industry exclusives, and programming. The latest developments can always be found at our website (http://www.baltimorecomiccon.com/), Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/baltimorecomics), Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/baltimorecomiccon), MySpace (http://www.myspace.com/baltimorecomics), and ComicSpace (http://www.comicspace.com/baltimorecomicon) pages.

This year's Baltimore Comic-Con will be held August 28-29, 2010. 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, August 28th.

Contact Information
Please use the following e-mail addresses to contact the Baltimore Comic-Con:

press@baltimorecomiccon.com - for any general press inquiries or to be added to our PR distribution
promoter@baltimorecomiccon.com - for requesting exhibitor, publisher, and Artist Alley applications
registrar@baltimorecomiccon.com - for inquiries about submitted registrations
harveys@baltimorecomiccon.com - for communications regarding the Harvey Awards ceremony and banquet
general@baltimorecomiccon.com - for general Baltimore Comic-Con inquiries

About The Baltimore Comic-Con
The Baltimore Comic-Con is celebrating its 11th 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 August 28-29, 2010. 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 5 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: KAL returns from Public diplomacy trip to Middle East and releases iPhone App

We noticed he was gone, and now KAL tells us he's back -

Friends and colleagues

I wanted to share with you some recent exciting news. 

I have just returned from a 12 day visit to Amman, Jordan and Beirut, Lebanon as part of a strategic speaker initiative sponsored by the US Embassies in the region. During my visit I addressed a wide variety of groups including University students on six campuses, cartoonists, animators, journalists, and civic leaders. Our discussions centered on  the opportunities and limitations of political cartoons in promoting freedom of expression. There was great interest in the region in the program particularly in light of the controversial Danish cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohammed.

My visit garnered a good bit of media exposure. There were numerous press and television interviews. Links to some of the news stories along with photos and observations from the trip will be available on my blog (www.kaltoons.com/wordpress) in the days ahead.

A also would like to announce the launch of the first KAL iPhone App.  Created in conjunction with RevelMob, the iKal-Book is just $.99 and available at the iTunes store. Please see our press release below.

Best

Kal

Kevin Kallaugher
kal@kaltoons.com
www.Kaltoons.com

KALTOONS GET THE IPHONE TREATMENT

Kevin KAL Kallaugher, the editorial cartoonist for The Economist magazine, launches his first iPhone app  

Baltimore/London: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

If you love fun and witty political cartoons of the highest quality, you will love the new iPhone application by Kevin KAL Kallaugher, the world-renowned editorial cartoonist for The Economist magazine.

Designed for the iPhone, this new application is an impressive collection of KAL's award winning political cartoons, hand-picked by the artist himself.  Browse through 150+ examples of KAL's work, including 29 color covers and illustrations from The Economist magazine. Store them on your iPhone, upload to Facebook or share with friends. 

Kal uses his poison pen to comment on Presidential elections, the War on Terror, American politics and international affairs. 

"Speaking about the iKal Book app, Kevin KAL Kallaugher said:

"iKal Book is more than an assembly of individual cartoons... together, the over 150 images read like a history lesson of recent world events."

"Among the award winning art found in the iKal-book are all the cartoons from my print collection "KAL Draws Criticism"($20.00) but at a fraction of the cost ($.99)"

Roman Grigorjev, Founder and Managing Partner of Revel Mob, comments:

"Cartoons are graphically engaging, instantaneous and fun to share with friends ... making them perfect for mobile devices like smartphones and iPhone in particular"

Revel Mob and KAL are also looking into developing more interactive and engaging applications for KAL in the near future and are welcoming any ideas and contributions as to what you would like to see in the next KAL iPhone application. Make your ideas count - post them on Revel Mob's Facebook Fan page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/RevelMob/296197102796?ref=ts

The iKal Book app is available for $0.99 from the App Store on iPhone and iPod Touch.

Marc Singer on teaching Bechdel's Fun Home

Marc Singer is on week 9 of his comics class and teaching Bechdel's Fun Home, which is one of my favorite graphic novels. He's got a much better sense of the formalist art that I ever will though.

Comic book writer wanted in DC?

This is making the rounds of the internet... I don't know anything else about it, but it does specifically mention DC.

My company is starting a project that will require us to develop manga-style comics for our client. We already have an excellent manga artist, and now we’re looking for a freelance writer who can translate business stories (esp. positive behaviors in the workplace) into an interesting comic book or graphic novel style narrative.

The general roles and responsibilities would include:
- Work with the project lead to develop potential characters, settings, and general plots
- Create interesting story lines based on information provided by the client
- Interact with the cartoonist to translate the story lines into a comic book

Qualifications for the job are:
- Successful screenwriting, comic, or graphic novel portfolio
- Demonstrated knowledge of global corporate environments (beyond Dilbert)
- Free to work on a 1099 basis
- Available for ~20 hours per week during May-June
- Preference for individuals located in NYC or Washington, DC
- Experience in agency or consulting environment is a plus

To be considered for this position, please send a cover letter, resume, and work samples/portfolio via email to:

Gordon Hui
Peer Insight LLC
ghui@peerinsight.com
Thanks,
Gordon

Brian Truitt reviews The Bronx Kill

Mystery abounds in Milligan's 'The Bronx Kill'
By Brian Truitt, USA TODAY March 22 2010

Jeff Kinney interviewed about reading

 

The future of children's book publishing

By Stephen Lowman
Washington Post  March 21, 2010; BW08

Chatalogical Humor on Weingarten's new comic strip

Today's Chatalogical Humor is on Gene Weingarten's new comic strip "Barney & Clyde" as well as the quality of early Dennis the Menace.

Updating this a little, Barney and Clyde is a comic about a billionaire and a pauper. It's got a Facebook page now, and will be appearing in the Post when it launches.

April 26: Kim Deitch at Johns Hopkins U

from Eric Reynolds of Fantagraphics....
CARTOONIST KIM DEITCH TO SPEAK AT JOHNS HOPKINS APRIL 26

The Homewood Art Workshops wraps up its 35th anniversary celebration with a slide talk by legendary cartoonist Kim Deitch on Monday, April 26. Deitch’s talk, “The Search for Smilin’ Ed and Other Tales,” will begin at 5:30 p.m. in Room 101 of the F. Ross Jones Building, Mattin Center, on the Homewood campus at 3400 N. Charles St. in Baltimore.

Along with Robert Crumb, Bill Griffith and Art Spiegelman, Deitch transformed the art of cartooning in the psychedelic late 1960s. Combining a love of early 20th century comic strips and animation with the media-savvy satire of mid-century MAD Magazine, these artists gave a raucously subversive jolt to a nearly moribund medium.
Deitch, 65, began doing comic strips for the New York underground newspaper, the East Village Other, in 1967. Since then, his work has appeared in dozens of publications, including RAW, Pictopia, Details, Nickelodeon Magazine, and Little Lit. Among his groundbreaking comic books and graphic novels are Hollywoodland, The Mishkin Files, A Shroud for Waldo, The Boulevard of Broken Dreams and Alias the Cat! His latest book, The Search for Smilin’ Ed, will be published by Fantagraphics in June. Deitch will sign advance copies of Smilin’ Ed at the Johns Hopkins Barnes & Noble, 3330 St. Paul Street, on Sunday, April 25, from 4 to 6 p.m.

Deitch has been recognized with the comics industry’s highest honors, including an Eisner Award, an Inkpot Award and a retrospective exhibition at the Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art in 2008. He lives in New York City with his wife, Pam.

To download images of Deitch’s work, go to: http://www.jhu.edu/artwork/deitch.html

“The Search for Smilin’ Ed and Other Tales” is co-sponsored by Homewood Art Workshops and Homewood Arts Programs. Visitor parking on campus is available in the South Garage, 3101 Wyman Park Drive, Baltimore, Md. 21211. Admission is free and open to the public. For more information, call 410-516-6705.

April 11: Rob Rogers at the Newseum

Inside Media: The Best of Editorial Cartoonist Rob Rogers
Guest: Rob Rogers
Date: Sunday, April 11, 2010
Location: Knight TV Studio, Level 3, 2:30 p.m.

The editorial cartoons of Rob Rogers have been gracing the pages of newspapers since 1984 when he was hired by the Pittsburgh Press.

A syndicated cartoonist with United Features Syndicate, Rogers has covered a diverse range of topics, including the Cold War, gun control, smoking, racism, the environment, 9/11 and presidential elections.

He talks about his new retrospective "No Cartoon Left Behind! The Best of Rob Rogers," which recounts his humorous path to cartooning. He also shares his own personal perspective on the major news stories of the past 25 years.

In a chapter called "Where's the Beef: Fear and Drawing On the Campaign Trail," Rogers shares his best cartoons from the last seven presidential races, including President Barack Obama's historic win in 2008. This unique retrospective includes a chapter for every White House he has covered.

Rogers's cartoons appear regularly in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Newsweek, and USA Today.

A book signing will follow the program.

thanks to Bruce Guthrie for the tip.

You still have a chance to send Ted Rall to Afghanistan...

His latest plea for money (I've given some)-

Heading Toward the Finish

My plan to return to Afghanistan this summer is halfway there--more than 140 backers have put up 50% of the $25,000 I will need (I'm also going to spend about $10,000+ of my own money) to get there and around. War zones are crazy expensive, and this is actually the bargain rate for this sort of journalism, particularly when one isn't backed by a major publication or broadcasting company.

This is the do-or-die phase. I'm halfway there, but there are less than two weeks left. Unless the pace of pledges accelerates, I won't make it. If you have been considering whether or not to participate, please think about it now!

As always, I remain ready, willing and able to answer any and all questions, comments, concerns, etc. about this project.

To comment on this update or see previous updates:
http://www.kickstarter.com/e/7JEIG/projects/tedrall/comix-journalism-send-ted-rall-back-to-afghanista-0/posts/9163?show_token=c63ec49fab336c2c

Von Allen, friend of ComicsDC, interviewed at Sequential Tart

The Road To God Knows... A Very Personal Story: Von Allan
By Corrina Lawson
Sequential Tart March 22, 2010

Chris Flick interview on City Paper's Arts Desk

Meet a Local Cartoonist: A Chat with Chris Flick

Posted by Mike Rhode on Mar. 22, 2010

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/artsdesk/books/2010/03/22/meet-a-local-cartoonist-a-chat-with-chris-flick/

Chris talks about his webcomic Capes and Babes.

Kal in Beirut

American cartoonist says future of trade in doubt
By Kenny Laurie
Special to The Daily Star March 22, 2010

April 13: Fantom Comics 1st Comic Book Happy Hour

From their March newsletter...

Fantom Comics would like to invite you to our first Comic Book Happy Hour, to be held from 6-8pm at The Laughing Man Tavern (just off Metro Center) on the 2nd Tuesday of every month.

April 13th will be our first event, featuring a panel of three policy wonks and a Marvel Comics editor discussing "Politics in Comics". Come for the 20 minute discussion and Q&A, stay for the fun of meeting other comic book nerds in the area! More details will be posted on the website in a couple of weeks, but remember to save that date: Tuesday, April 13th!

Zadzooks reviews comic books, including Captain America's return to life

Zadzooks: Captain America, The Crazies and Sparta U.S.A.
Joseph Szadkowski
Washington Times March 20, 2010

Meanwhile at Bennett's Best, Greg has a couple of recommendations, neither of which I can get behind.

Takoma Park librarian's kids comics recommendations in Post

Graphic novels for beginning readers
By Dave Burbank and Karen MacPherson
Washington Post March 21, 2010; BW10

Washington bedtimes stories feature Feiffer, comic books

See Washington figures name the book they most enjoyed reading to their children.

May 12: Brad Meltzer @ Barnes & Noble

Colin Solan comes through again to tell us about a local reading -

Brad Meltzer (Justice League of America, Identity Crisis) signs his new book Heroes for My Son on May 12, 2010 at 7:00 PM.
Barnes & Noble Booksellers
4801 Bethesda Avenue, Bethesda, MD 20814
301-986-1761 

Cartoonists Rights Network quoted on Voice of America

Robert Russell is interviewed on the Danish Islam cartoons in Cartoonist Defender Asks Muslims to Accept Free Speech Principles, Nico Colombant, Washington 20 March 2010.

That darn Luckovich

Cartoon is out of sync with painting it resembles
Washington Post Saturday, March 20, 2010


The March 13 Drawing Board cartoon drawn by Mike Luckovich for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution was inaccurate.

It purported to depict the Constitutional Convention. What was actually depicted was the famous John Trumbull painting, "Declaration of Independence," showing the presentation of the draft of the Declaration of Independence to John Hancock by Thomas Jefferson and the rest of the "Committee of Five."

Today the image appears on the reverse of the two-dollar bill. The image is also found in the life-size mural in the U.S. Capitol. Jefferson was in Paris as minister to France when the Constitutional Convention was held.

H. Wayne Elliott,
Charlottesville

Dembicki's Trickster previewed at Graphic Novel Reporter

You can see some pages of Matt Dembicki's new book, Trickster, here.

Glen Weldon recommends Iranian webcomic

In spite of Glen Weldon's recommendation, I'll be reading this on paper when it's collected - Zahra's Paradise: The Revolution Will Be Bookmarked. National Public Radio's Monkey See blog (March 17 2010).

Mark Millar's Nemesis to be set in DC

Marc Ruffin has a story on how Mark Millar's Nemesis is to be set in DC.

Marc Singer on teaching Nat Turner

Marc Singer writes on teaching Kyle Baker's Nat Turner for week 8 of his class on comics at Howard.

MTV's Real World cartoonist met Tom Toles

There's a story on the Express website and one at the WTOP site, about Andrew, the would-be editorial cartoonist on MTV's The Real World: DC meeting Tom Toles and drawing a cartoon for the Washington Times.

Post does review Diary of a Wimpy Kid movie

Given how big this book series is, I didn't expect the review for it to be buried in the Weekend section

In 'Diary of a Wimpy Kid,' the ordinary hero has a certain draw
By Dan Kois
Washington Post March 19, 2010; WE27

Feiffer at Politics and Prose pictures online

Man about town photographer Bruce Guthrie has put his pictures of the Jules Feiffer reading online.

'Losers' comic book a prize in Style Invitational contest, while Staake is taken to task

In today's Style Invitational contest, 2nd prize is an issue of DC Comics' The Losers #176 from the 1970s: Second place gets a comic book we're surprised we hadn't heard about before: This 1970s series was about a group of Nazi-fighting World War II heroes -- one for each branch of the services -- who called themselves the Losers because they kept getting refrigerator magnets with stupid cartoons on them. No, it was because men had died under their command. Whatever, this is an original comic, sealed in plastic, and was donated by Fighting Loser Peter Metrinko.

Nice Joe Kubert cover on that comic. The early issues were covered by Jack Kirby. I'm surprised they haven't heard of the comic, because DC brought it back 8 years or so ago, set in Rwanda perhaps, and it's now being turned into a movie.

Meanwhile, on the letters page, cartoonist Bob Staake is taken to task for his drawings for last week's contest. Humor.. . it's just so not funny.

Comics on the Rack, Quick Picks for Comics Due 03-24-10

COMICS ON THE RACK

Quick Picks for Comics Due 03-24-10

By John Judy

 

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #626 by Fred Van Lente and Michael Gaydos.  Next Spidey villain to get the "Gauntlet" treatment: The Scorpion!  No, the other one…

 

ANGEL SPECIAL: LORNE ONE-SHOT written and drawn by John Byrne.  This time it's the beloved green crooner's turn to save the world.  An overdue tribute to the memory of the late Andy Hallett.

 

BLACK BLIZZARD GN written and drawn by Yoshihiro Tatsumi.  A little unearthed treasure here from Drawn and Quarterly: A re-issue of a 1950s manga noir that's part "The Fugitive" and part "The Defiant Ones."  A couple of violent crooks escape a derailed prison train into a blizzard.  Hijinks ensue.  Gotta look!

 

BOOK OF GRICKLE HC written and drawn by Graham Annable.  A collection of off-beat humor strips by the award-winning animator and storyboard artist on "Coraline."

 

CAPTAIN AMERICA #604 by Ed Brubaker and Luke Ross.  Bucky America and the fifties Cap duke it out while the Falcon beats on some racist anti-government extremists who are NOT the teabaggers!  Honest.  They just carry the same signs and believe the same stuff.  But they're different.

 

GREEN LANTERN #52 by Geoff Johns and Doug Mahnke.  Okay, looking at the cover I can honestly say I never saw that one coming.  Recommended.

 

GUILD #1 of 3 by Felicia Day and Jim Rugg.  The comic book adaptation of the web series about a bunch of role-playing gamers.  You will regain your virginity just looking at this book.  On the other hand, the preview was great and it contains the line: "Oboists.  All that blowing makes them brain dead."  Recommended.

 

HELLBLAZER #265 by Peter Milligan and Simon Bisley.  Constantine gets tangled up with a bunch of punks who worship Sid Vicious.  (Sid was a naughty lad who died before you were born, children.)

 

HOME FOR MR. EASTER GN written and drawn by Brooke A. Allen.  Just in time for the season!  The story of an awkward teen who inadvertently finds the Easter Bunny.

 

JUSTICE LEAGUE: THE RISE OF ARSENAL #1 of 4 by J.T. Krul and Geraldo Borges.  Things Roy Harper can no longer say: "Boy, I'd give my right arm for ____."  And the story proceeds from there.

 

KING OF FLIES, VOL. 1: HALLORAVE HC by Mezzo and Pirus.  The first of three graphic novels containing what appear to be random short stories, but which in fact are setting up an epic trilogy of suburban suspense.  Volume two is due out this Summer from Fantagraphics.  Appropriate for older teens and up.

 

MARVELS PROJECT #7 of 8 by Ed Brubaker and Steve Epting.  Cap meets Bucky, the world meets the Destroyer and Prince Namor meets his match!  Recommended.

 

MIGHTY AVENGERS #35 by Dan Slott and Khoi Pham.  Ultron's back.  Isn't he always?  And at the worst possible time!

 

NEMESIS #1 of 4 by Mark Millar and Steve McNiven.  If you are a fan of the unchecked ultra-violence and incidental story of KICK-ASS and everything else Millar's ever written then this is the book for you.

 

NEW AVENGERS #63 by Brian Michael Bendis and Stuart Immonen.  Much fighting out Asgard way.  That Sentry boy ain't got no sense, no-how!

 

NEWSBOY LEGION BY SIMON AND KIRBY, VOL. 1 HC by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby.  Back in the early 1940s there was a book called STAR-SPANGLED COMICS featuring the adventures of a bunch of kids who sold newspapers, which were sort of the internets of their day only more literate and you could touch them.  Anyway, these kids fought crime with the aid of a super-hero called The Guardian.  It was great and you should read this if only for the intro by the surviving co-creator, Joe Simon.  Recommended.

 

NORTHLANDERS #26 by Brian Wood and Leandro Fernandez.  Gunborg is totally on top of his frozen, plague-scarred village.  Those heads on pikes are strictly decorative.  Nothing to see here… Recommended.

 

NORTHLANDERS, VOL. 3: BLOOD IN THE SNOW SC by Brian Wood and Many Fine Artists.  Collecting issues #9, 10 and 17-20.  Bunch of awesome tales of blood and thunder from the bad, old Viking Days.  Highly recommended.

 

PETER PARKER #1 of 5 by Bob Gale and Patrick Olliffe, plus a back-up by Fred Hembeck.  Between three issues of his regular book each month, his guest-appearances in others, his daily newspaper strip and the underwear I have on right now, is it possible to have too much Spider-Man?  Let's find out shall we? 

 

SCALPED #36 by Jason Aaron and Davide Furno.  After all this time, we finally get to know Shunka a little better.  And what better way to do so than by watching him sort some things out for his boss Lincoln Red Crow?  This is the one comic each month you always have to buy.  Highly recommended.

 

THE STAND: SOUL SURVIVORS #5 of 5 Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and Mike Perkins.  Y'know what's really interesting after all the doctors in the world die of the super-flu?  Surgery.  Not for kids.  Recommended.

 

SUPERGOD #3 of 5 by Warren Ellis and Garrie Gastony.  That nice Mister Ellis makes Gods that fight!  Wizard!

 

SUPERMAN #698 by James Robinson and Bernard Chang.  Supes and Mon-El duke it out with Brainiac.

 

THOR #608 by Kieron Gillen and Billy Tan.  The Sentry has destroyed Asgard.  Now it's Thor's turn at bat.

 

THUNDERBOLTS #142 by Jeff Parker and Wellinton Alves.  In which we find out which of the current T-Bolts is good, bad and/or crazy.

 

UNCANNY X-MEN #522 by Matt Fraction, Phil Jimenez and Whilce Portacio.  Kitty Pryde is back with a silver bullet!

 

VICTORIAN UNDEAD #5 of 6 by Ian Edgington and Davide Fabbri.  The penultimate issue of this great series finds Holmes and Watson as the last hope against the undead plague sweeping London.  And is it possible Moriarty the Living Zombie has more tricks up his blood-soaked sleeve?  Recommended.

 

WACKY PACKAGES NEW NEW NEW HC by Various Creators including Art Spiegelman, Bill Griffith and Kim Deitch with an intro by Jay Lynch.  All the product parody stickers from series #8-14 (1974-75) that weren't included in the first hardcover.  A must for boys of a certain age.

 

X-FACTOR #203 by Peter David and Valentine Delandro.  Monet and Guido go on a jungle rescue mission.  Those always go well.

 

www.johnjudy.net

Dougintology, on the webcomics he reads

A buddy of mine who lives in DC has been listing the webcomics he reads on his blog. He's up to 8 pages of lists. Obviously, he's more plugged in than I am.

Comic strips - part 1

Comic strips - part 2

Comic strips - part 3

Comic strips - part 4 - he wanders into the syndicated strips he reads here.

Comic strips - part 5

Comic strips - part 6

Comic strips - part 7

Comic strips - part 8

and he took in Short Animation Oscar nominees just for good measure.

Highlights from Jules Feiffer's talk now at City Paper website

The Quotable Jules Feiffer: Highlights from the Cartoonist's Talk at Politics and Prose
Posted by Mike Rhode on Mar. 19, 2010, at 2:37 pm

March 24: Final Herblock exhibit talk by curators

Sara Duke and Martha Kennedy will be giving their last Treasure Talk in the Herblock! exhibition on Wednesday, March 24, 2010 at noon in the South Gallery of the Jefferson Building of the Library of Congress.

This week they are in the introductory section, and will bring treasures from the cartoon collections of the Prints and Photographs Division to show how Herblock fits into a long tradition of caricature and cartoon, not only in the United States, but in Europe as well.

Independent scholar Warren Bernard returns to the Library of Congress on Wednesday, March 31, to give a talk in conjunction with the Herblock! exhibition, "Declaration of Independence: Herblock: His Foes and His Editors". This event will take place in Dining Room A located on the 6th Floor of the Madison Building at noon.

Twilight comic book review on Express website

Mangled Manga: 'Twilight: The Graphic Novel, Volume 1'

Written by Express contributor Roxana Hadadi

Express March 19, 2010

Bill Baker interviews Greg Houston

We see Greg Houston's work off-and-on in the City Paper, and I haven't known anything about him. Bill Baker's got a two-part interview with him online now -

BAKER'S DOZEN for 03/03/2010
Send in The Clowns
Greg Houston on The Vatican Shuffle, part one

BAKER'S DOZEN for 03/17/2010
Send in The Clowns
Greg Houston on The Vatican Shuffle, part two

Tim Kreider reviews Al Columbia's new book

I'd rather see his cartoons in the Baltimore City Paper, but this is better than nothing -

Pim & Francie: The Golden Bear Days: Artifacts and Bone Fragments

Posted by Tim Kreider on March 18th, 2010.

New map of Cul de Sac will let YOU visit Alice

Richard's got a blogpost up with a nice watercolor of Cul de Sac land, which if you squint, vaguely resembles Washington, DC. Squint harder.

AP story about Toy Story 3 in today's Express

Not much more to say - apparently Buzz and Woody go to college.

Animar.te exhibit at American University

Bruce Guthrie reports:

http://www1.american.edu/cas/katzen/museum/exhibitions10spring.cfm

Express had an ad today for Animar.te, a new exhibit at Katzen Arts Center (American University museum) March 23 - May 1 . Discover short animation films and the creative processes behind them.

Featuring Carlos Grangel, digital designer of characters in multiple animated films: Prince of Egypt, Madagasacar, Kung Fu Panda, and Corpse Bride.

March 18: Feiffer on Diane Rehm Show

From: Matt Dembicki

http://thedianerehmshow.org/shows/2010-03-18/jules-feiffer-backing-forward

Jules Feiffer on Diane Rehm Show today at 11 a.m. on NPR.

PR: 2010 National Cherry Blossom Festival Anime Marathon Cosplay Contest!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Tom Vic, 202 633 0468 fsgasiafilms@si.edu


Announcing the 2010 National Cherry Blossom Festival Anime Marathon Cosplay Contest!

On April 3, 2010 at 1:30 PM, the Freer and Sackler Galleries, in partnership with Otakorp, Inc. and the DC Anime Club, will host a cosplay contest as part of our annual National Cherry Blossom Festival Anime Marathon.  The contest is open to individuals or groups.  Each individual or group will be given a maximum of three minutes to perform before an audience in the 300-seat Meyer Auditorium.  A panel of judges will present awards at the end of the event.  All costumes and performances must be family-friendly.

To enter, send an email to fsgasiafilms@si.edu  with your name, the number of people in your group (if applicable), and a brief description and picture of the character(s) you will be performing.  The first 20 individuals or groups who respond will be accepted.

For more information on the Freer and Sackler Galleries film programs, please visit www.asia.si.edu/events/films.asp.

We look forward to your participation in what is sure to be a very fun event!

About Freer and Sackler Galleries:

About Otakorp:
Otakorp, Inc. is the not-for-profit organization best known for running Otakon, one of the world's premiere gatherings of fandom. It's an educational non-profit that promotes understanding and appreciation of Asian culture, by means of celebrating its popular culture.
About DC Anime Club:
DC Anime Club was established in 2003 to introduce and educate people in the Washington, DC area about East Asian culture, through viewing and discussion of Japanese animation (also known as anime) and Japanese comics (manga).

We also work to provide a positive, alternative activity to the youth in the area by exposing them to foreign culture, encouraging artistic expression and creativity, and providing opportunities for participation in community activities and leadership.

DC Anime Club is a 501(c)(3) not for profit organization. Contributions to DC Anime Club are tax deductible to the extent allowable under the law.

DC Anime Club has been featured in many newspapers and publications .

In addition to our meetings, the club holds an Art Show, a Cosplay Party fundraising event, and anime lectures at local schools . Our club works with the Japan Information and Culture Center, Embassy of Japan, Smithsonian Freer Gallery and DC Asian Pacific American Film Festival on their anime screenings. Our Marketing Team has helped promote performances for several Japanese bands such as Puffy Ami Yumi, Pine am, The Slants, The Captains and Ayabie.

DC Anime Club was founded by Chris Wanamaker (President), Jules Chang (former Vice President) and Craig Vaughn (Vice President) on Saturday June 5, 2003. We have a strong membership that continues to grow.

Feiffer at Politics and Prose on Thursday at 4 pm

Tomorrow - I'm there. I've heard him read part of this before, and it's good. See one of the great cartoonists and read his memoir.

Interview with former University of Maryland cartoonist, OR There's a Diary of a Wimpy Kid movie coming out?

Author Jeff Kinney on his movie-bound 'Wimpy Kid'
Liesl Bradner
Los Angeles Times' Jacket Copy blog March 17, 2010

How to draw Cul de Sac video

Richard's got a blog post up linking to a Youtube video where he draws Alice from Cul de Sac. This is only sped up about 1.5x - the guy's an absolute menace to be standing next to, as he draws and his arms flail around and that razor-sharp pen nib comes within millimeters of you...

Ugly Americans cartoon reviewed in Post

 'Ugly Americans': Trying to get along can be monstrously funny [online title: Hank Stuever reviews Comedy Central's new animated series 'Ugly Americans'].

By Hank Stuever

Washington Post Staff Writer

Wednesday, March 17, 2010; C01

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/16/AR2010031604003.html

OT: Tom Inge on Harvey Kurtzman

My friend Tom Inge, one of the sharpest writers on comics and humor, has a new essay online - he writes in, "My essay on MAD comics and Harvey Kurtzman appears on the Comics Journal website in two parts, March 15 and 16: http://www.tcj.com/history/m-thomas-inge-harvey-kurtzman-and-modern-american-satire-..."

Check it out - it's well worth it.

Another Harvey Pekar interview

This one's an audiofile so it's going to be kind of hard to cut it out and tuck it in Harvey Pekar: Conversations, but I have faith in your ingenuity.

Phone call with Harvey Pekar
by LADYGUNN . March 15th, 2010 .
http://ladygunn.com/love-life/phone-call-with-harvey-pekar
http://vimeo.com/10181052

Washington Times confirms award-winning editorial cartoon no longer appearing

Regarding Alexander Hunter's The Big Picture, this article refers to it in the past tense - Illustrator for Times wins editorial-cartooning award, WASHINGTON TIMES March 16 2010.

Any hope of a collection?

Politics and Prose graphic novel book club schedule

Good lineup here...

March 24th
West Coast Blues by Jacques Tardi.

April 28th
Logicomix by Apostolos Doxiadis

May 26th
Crossing the Empty Quarter by Carol Swain

June 23th
The Photographer by Emmanuel Guibert

July 28th
Superman: Red Son by Mark Millar

August 25th
Whatever Happened to the World of Tomorrow by Brian Fies

September 22nd
Burma Chronicles by Guy Delisle

South Park article in Examiner and Express

Today, both free papers ran David Bauder's Associated Press article on South Park's caricaturing of Tiger Woods.

Environmental Film Festival starts tomorrow

Here's the Washington Post's take on the children's portion of the Festival. I think the Environmental Film Festival website is a bit hard to use so I'll give a quick rundown of the schedule of animated films here. Free, unless otherwise noted.

March 16: MLK Library, 1:30 pm
The Goat That Ate Time
Wishful Thinking
Cravings
Smart Machine
Chicken of the Sea

March 17: Palisades Neighborhood Library, 1:30 pm
The Goat That Ate Time
Wishful Thinking
Cravings
Smart Machine
Chicken of the Sea

March 18: Lamond-Riggs Neighborhood Library, 1:30 pm
The Goat That Ate Time
Wishful Thinking
Cravings
Smart Machine
Chicken of the Sea

March 20: National Gallery of Art, 10:30 am
Delivery
Papiroflexia
Miro: Flower
Once Upon a Tide
Manantial (The Spring)
Varmints

March 20: National Geographic Society, 1:00 pm, $5
Up

March 21: National Gallery of Art, 11:30 am
Delivery
Papiroflexia
Miro: Flower
Once Upon a Tide
Manantial (The Spring)
Varmints

March 22: Anacostia Library, 10:30 am
The Goat That Ate Time
Wishful Thinking
Cravings
Smart Machine
Chicken of the Sea

March 23: Parklands-Turner Neighborhood Library, 10:30 am
The Goat That Ate Time
Wishful Thinking
Cravings
Smart Machine
Chicken of the Sea

March 27: Carnegie Institution for Science, 6:00 pm
Clean Coal (4 minute short before three non-animated films)

March 31: Herblock lecture by Warren Bernard

Warren writes in,

This time, I am going to lecture on his editorial independence, and get into a few battles he had with his editors. This will include showing the cartoons that even the Washington Post did not run (though indeed his syndicated papers did run them) when Herblock and the then-editor of the Post, Phil Graham went head to head. This was not the first time Herblock battled his editors; we will also get into a large battle he had prior to his coming to the Post He was an ardent anti-isolationist, much to the chagrin of the isolationist syndicate he worked for.

We will get into all of this, and show cartoons galore!!

Here are the details, hope to see you!!!

Date: Wednesday March 31

Time: Noon (that 12:00PM...)

Place: Madison Building, Library of Congress
101 Independence Ave Washington, DC

Room: Dining Room A, 6th Floor

Metro: Capitol South exit, Blue or Orange Line

Alex Hunter of Washington Times wins award

Editor and Publisher is reporting that Alexander Hunter of the Washington Times has won the Scripps Howard Journalism Award which includes $10,000 and a trophy. Hunter does a full broadsheet multipanel editorial cartoon that I find fascinating. While I don't agree with his politics, I'd buy a book of the cartoons - I had the opportunity to see them recently and he's a facile cartoonist who can quote a lot of styles when making his arguement.

Unfortunately, I wonder if he's still in the paper since they dropped their weekend edition?

Comic Riffs interviews Judge Parker's Mike Manley

The 'Riffs Interview: Artist Mike Manley makes his 'Judge Parker' debut today
By Michael Cavna
March 15, 2010

Animator in Richmond

A bit far to the south perhaps, but we can drive there fairly quickly, so check out "Saxton Moore Gets Richmond Animated," By Andrew Cothern, Richmond.com March 15, 2010.

Andrew Cohen interview by DC Comic Books Examiner Mark Ruffin

Mark Ruffin catches up with one of the DC Conspiracy members - "Andrew Cohen constructs an ol' scratched vinyl note on comics," March 15, 2010, DC Comic Books Examiner on the same day that I do. At least we picked different people.

Weingarten on 'Watch Your Head' comic strip

In "Past imperfect: Is Gene Weingarten old school or just old?" By Gene Weingarten, Washington Post Magazine March 14, 2010; W36, http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/05/AR2010030503120.html, he says of the strip:

 I consider myself an expert on newspaper comics; I can confidently deconstruct how a single panel of a 1939 Krazy Kat episode contained a sly foreshadowing of the anomie that would come to define the beat generation. But my own newspaper is now running a new strip, "Watch Your Head," that is hip and modern and filled with ironic detachment; therefore, I not only cannot understand the jokes, but I cannot tell for sure which characters are male and which are female. Hip people like this strip.

 

A Chat with Matt Dembicki online at City Paper now

Meet a Local Cartoonist: A Chat with Matt Dembicki

Posted by Mike Rhode on Mar. 15, 2010

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/artsdesk/books/2010/03/15/meet-a-local-cartoonist-a-chat-with-matt-dembicki/

ACT-I-VATE at Politics and Prose pictures

ACT-I-VATE webcomics people at Politics & Prose, l-r Simon Fraser, Jim Dougan, Joe Infurnari, and Dean Haspiel. Further down, Jim and Joe switch seats...




(that's Jim's wife who read some of the parts in the comics)

PR: April 16-18: T-MODE gaming and anime convention

T-MODE GETS READY TO ROCK

T-Minus 36 days and counting to the popular D.C.-area convention

ALEXANDRIA, VA. (March 12, 2010) – With just over a month to go, T-MODE 2010 is gearing up for a party like no other. The popular local anime and gaming convention makes its triumphant return April 16-18, 2010, and will be held this year at the Hilton Alexandria Old Town, just steps from the King Street Metro.

T-MODE offers a chance to get up close and personal with some of your favorite guests, including voice actors Wendee Lee ("Cowboy Bebop," "The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya"... enough shows that we could be here all day!), Todd Haberkorn ("D.Gray-Man," "Claymore") and Cristina Vee ("Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha," "Anime TV"); author Roland Kelts ("Japanamerica"); musician Random ("Mega Ran") and webcomic artists Jessi and Matt Pascal ("Geeks Next Door") – with more surprises in store as the convention draws closer.

Along with guests and performances, T-MODE 2010 presents video game tournaments, a Cosplay Variety Show and Masquerade Prom, live event sessions, an interactive video room, the Otaku Bazaar with vendors and artists and much, much more. T-MODE also offers several different membership options, including its signature collection of Otaku Passports for fans who prefer closer interaction with the convention guests. For a truly unforgettable weekend, check out the Otaku Passport Premier. Only five of these very special memberships will be sold, but T-MODE guarantees a VIP fan experience like no other. Registration is still open and available online at www.tmode.org.

About T-MODE
T-MODE is where Asian, western and urban pop culture collide into a completely fun and unique convention experience. Held in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, T-MODE is a "fun-sized" event that celebrates the fusion of anime, gaming, music, cosplay, and all things otaku. T-MODE also strives to create a friendly and more personal atmosphere for convention attendees.

For more information about T-MODE and T-MODE 2010, please visit our Web site: www.tmode.org.

Comics on the Rack, Quick Picks for Comics Due 03-17-10

COMICS ON THE RACK

Quick Picks for Comics Due 03-17-10

By John Judy

 

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #625 by Joe Kelly and Max Fiumara.  The new Rhino and the old Rhino butt heads.  Heh-heh…

 

AMERICAN VAMPIRE #1 by Scott Snyder, Stephen King (yes, THE Stephen King) and Rafael Albuquerque.  A Vertigo title throwing King's well-worn hat back into the Vampire ring.  This time it's the story of how vampirism came to the good old US of A and how we made it our own.  No "sparkling" guaranteed.  Recommended.

 

BRAVE AND THE BOLD #32 by J. Michael Straczynski and Jesus Saiz.  Give JMS credit, he comes up with team-ups that would not occur to the average bear.  This month: Aquaman and the Demon Etrigan.  Underwater flame breath sold here!

 

BRONX KILL HC by Peter Milligan and James Romberger.  A writer's wife goes missing and he has to go look for her.  He does.  Doesn't he?  Recommended.

 

CHOKER #2 by Ben McCool and Ben Templesmith. Having inked his deal with the devil, Choker meets his new partner on the Shotgun City force.  You love this comic and need it to be happy.  Highly recommended.  Not for kids.

 

DARK AVENGERS #15 by Brian Michael Bendis and Mike Deodato.  Ms. Marvel (Moonstone) and Hawkeye (Bullseye) get sick, twisted and deviant.  Also the sun rises in the East.

 

GARTH ENNIS BATTLEFIELDS: THE FIREFLY AND HIS MAJESTY #4 of 9 by Garth and Carlos Ezquerra.  It's a first for an Ennis war book: The return of a character from a previous story.  In this case it's Corporal (now Sergeant) Stiles from THE TANKIES and he's got a new and improved Nazi-killing machine.  Unfortunately the ratzis have some new stuff of their own.  Highly recommended.

 

HULK #21 by Jeph Loeb and Ed McGuinness.  More big strong monsters fighting.  Reveal of Red Hulk's identity currently scheduled for 2013.

 

INCREDIBLE HULK #608 by Greg Pak and Paul Pelletier.  Bruce Banner leads the Avengers, or at least some people who have been Avengers, against people Bruce Banner doesn't like.  Sweet gig.  Plus, a Red She-Hulk back-up story.

 

IRREDEEMABLE #12 by Mark Waid and Peter Krause.  Modeus, the one guy who might be able to take out the Plutonian, has returned.  And he's pulling the big guy's strings.  Highly recommended but too violent for younger kids.

 

SIEGE #3 of 4 by Brian Michael Bendis and Olivier Coipel.  A bunch of idiots attack Asgard, unaware perhaps that it's full of Gods!

 

SPIDER-WOMAN #7 by Brian Michael Bendis and Alex Maleev.  Can Spider-Woman be an Avenger and an Agent of S.W.O.R.D. at the same time?  It's like she's torn between two lovers, feelin' like a fool.  Lovin' both of them is breakin' all the rules…  And who came up with "S.W.O.R.D.?"  S.H.I.E.L.D. and H.A.M.M.E.R. weren't enough already?  We needed "S.W.O.R.D.?"  Oy…  Alex Maleev is a great artist.

 

SUPERMAN 80-PAGE GIANT #1 by Lotsa People.  An anthology of adventures featuring the Superman Family's most colorful characters.

 

X-MEN LEGACY #234 by Mike Carey and Yanick Paquette.  Rogue can finally, for the first time in her life, make skin contact with a man without knocking him out or killing him.  This could be The Greatest Marvel Comic of All Time.

 

www.johnjudy.net

Molly Crabapple in G40: The Summit exhibit in Crystal City

Today's Washington City Paper has an article about some legal problems for a couple of artists in the G40 exhibit, but it also mentions in passing that cartoonist Molly Crabapple is in the show. The article's online here, and mostly talks about 'lowbrow' art.

Here's the Post review - "'G40: The Summit' brings art to empty Crystal City space," by Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post Staff Writer, Friday, March 12, 2010. And details from the Post on the hours:

G40: The Summit Through March 27 at 223 23rd St., Arlington (Metro: Crystal City). From the Metro, follow the trail of "G40" signs stuck to the floor of Crystal City's underground tunnels. Performance schedules and information about public programs can be found at http://www.artwhino.com/g40. All works are for sale, with prices ranging from $20 to the mid four figures. Hours: Open Fridays 5 p.m. to midnight; Saturdays noon to midnight; Sundays noon to 6 p.m.; Wednesday-Thursday 5 to 10 p.m. Admission: Free

Here's the NY Times with a better explanation of this type of art.

Washington City Paper best of DC poll

I haven't looked at this yet, but the City Paper (for whom I now freelance) is running their annual Best Of poll. I was a surprised winner of Best Comics Blog in 2008, especially since that wasn't a category.

OT: Nickelodeon looking to hire storyboard cartoonist

Editorial cartoonist MJ, who designed one of our logos (and it's on the current 'Friend of ComicsDC' pin that I'm handing out) wants unemployed fellow cartoonists to know about this storyboard artist job announcement at Nickelodeon.

World Bank online game based on comic, and offers free trip to DC

Not being a gamer, I'm not quite sure what to make of ""The entire game revolves around this graphic novel, this comic book which occur 10 years into the future," [Game producer Bob] Hawkins explained." but perhaps this will interest some of our readers, who oddly enough, come from around the globe: "By the end of the game, the top players will be mentored by business leaders and also win a trip to a conference next year in Washington."

For more details, see World Bank Online Game Invites Youth to Solve Global Problems
Zulima Palacio | Washington
Voice of America 10 March 2010

Comic Riffs noses around Bluewater political comics bio line

Sure, Michael ignored the comics about Hillary and Michele, but now that Bluewater's profiling a comedian....

Coming soon: Senator AL FRANKEN, comic book 'hero'
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post's Comic Riffs blog March 11, 2010

I supposed I should really cover these books, since they're usually set in DC, by default, but I just can't get too excited about them. By the way, Barack the Barbarian is actually still being published...

...and at local cons, you can buy the Marvel Spider-Man hardcover collection of his meeting with President Obama for $3.

My Feiffer blurb in today's City Paper

Jules Feiffer at Politics and Prose Thursday, March 18

By Mike Rhode
Posted: March 10, 2010

 

I believe this one is in print - the 2nd bit to so be honored.

Nate Beeler on the continuing Islam cartoon issue

Nate's got a great self-portait cartoon in today's Examiner about the ongoing Danish Islam cartoon issue.

Beyond Comics cracks down on scofflaw subscribers

And who can blame them? I never let my box go longer than 2 weeks - it adds up for the store owner. From their newsletter:

Delinquent Subscription Notification

To all subscribers delinquent in picking up your subscription, we ask that you please get caught up by the end of March.

Due to the tight economic conditions we have no choice but to begin to enforce some of our rules regarding subscriptions. While we have been exceedingly lenient over the last several years, we are no longer in the position to hold comics over any extended period of time unless the entirety of the subscription is purchased at pick up. What this means is that we can no longer store comics to be purchased "eventually." To this end, we are giving our subscribers (who have not made prior arrangements) until the end of March to clear out all of the old comics or we will take one or more of the following actions; loss of subscriber benefits, removal of comics, or suspension of subscription.

This applies to specialty items as well as comics. If you have been having us hold merchandise for you please make the effort to pick it up.

If you are one of our subscribers who have already made other arrangements to pick up your comics on a different schedule, we do not anticipate any change in service.

Additional Subscription Notices
If you are not sure whether you are currently subscribing to a title you want, please let us know and we will add it.

We have been finding subscription comics returned to the shelves and would like to take this time to point out that we order many of our non-returnable comics based on subscription numbers. If you no longer want to get a comic please inform us and we will remove it from your pull list. Do be aware that changes to your sub can affect some of you subscription benefits.

Glen Weldon on upcoming comics movies

For Glen's thoughts on Iron Man 2 (brief), Green Lantern (longer) and the attractiveness of superhero costumes (longest), see Steel and Spandex: Two Oscar Night Super-Developments, Considered, National Public Radio's Monkey See blog (March 10 2010).

May 3: Dan Clowes at Politics and Prose

Dan Clowes is at Politics and Prose, May 3rd at 7 pm. The Drawn & Quarterly blog says that he's got a 2-page story in the new New Yorker using Wilson, the character from his new book, that doesn't appear in the new book, so you might want to buy that now and bring it along in May.

ComicsDC Facebook group

Ok, I started a group on the suggestion of John Judy, who also writes for ComicsDC - but I have no idea what to do w/ it. Or even how to link to it. Have at it.

Nina Paley interview done by local blogger online now

Caroline Small's interview with Nina Paley is up at tcj.com, with part 2 now up as well. Caro, as I've never called her, joined HU last month, and one can frequently find her lurking around cartoonist events in DC, although she always claims she's there for her cousin. Well, now the truth is out.

Library of Congress animation exhibit reviewed at City Paper

Library of Congress' "Molto Animato!" Exhibit Is Hardly Vivace

Posted by Mike Rhode on Mar. 10, 2010

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/artsdesk/visual-arts/2010/03/10/library-of-congress-molto-animato-exhibit-is-hardly-vivace/#more-19988

Beyond Comics' St. Patrick's Day sale

St. Patrick's Sale
25% OFF
GREEN GRAPHIC NOVELS
If it's Green, get a discount.

(Green Lantern, Green Arrow, Hulk, etc.)
Offer Expires: March 16, 2010

Cute idea.

Polite Dissent - a blog on comics and medicine

I can't believe I haven't run across this before - Polite Dissent - a blog on comics and medicine, but no, I hadn't until Bert Hansen pointed it out today. And "Scott"'s been doing this since 2004 with 1738 posts on comics! I need to dip in more obviously, especially if I'm going to keep talking about Comics and Cancer (next at American Association for the History of Medicine, Rochester, MN, late April - be there).

Honorary ComicsDCist Von Allan interviewed

Headline's a bit harsh though - 'You suck. Stop drawing' By Bruce Deachman, The Ottawa Citizen March 7, 2010.

R.C. Harvey on the Reuben, syndication, and by extension, Cul de Sac

Bob Harvey talks about what it takes to win the National Cartoonist Society's Rueben Award, which Our Man Thompson is up for this year. Harvey gets his opinion of the strip in too - "Thompson’s quirky stylistic mannerism is a good part of his strip’s charm, which is considerable. I like his work, both art and comedy, a great deal; some say his strip is the new Calvin and Hobbes, and while it embodies an active imagination as a vital part of childhood, I wouldn’t go so far as to say Thompson is the new Watterson. Thompson’s comedy is different; ditto his take on childhood."

Bert Hansen's book on medicine and comics wins award.

My friend Bert's excellent book, Picturing Medical Progress from Pasteur to Polio (Rutgers University Press), is winning an award at the Popular Culture Association meeting - see Baruch Historian Bert Hansen Honored for Book on Medicine and Popular Culture.

We're not journalists, but we agree with this PSA

Shooting ones' self in the foot? Or, 'Go to our website for comics'

A few months ago, we took the Express to task for dropping 2/3 of its comics page. One of the editors responded with the rationale that you could read them on their website. Here's an ad from the March 4th edition, conveying the same thing, but before I clipped it, it originally was sandwiched between two paid ads -- which they ain't getting on their website, or if they are, they won't make the same amount of money. And the rationale of going to their site is still weak, since you can go directly to the syndicates or some larger papers and read dozens of strips.

Is Second Life animation?

Obviously, it's an animation of a sort, just like motion capture movies like Avatar. But is it suitable to be considered comic art and covered here? I'm not sure - I've decided that Avatar and Alice in Wonderland are not the type of animation I want to cover here.

Read this and then feel free to give me your opinion -

Second Life's virtual money can become real-life cash
By Michael S. Rosenwald
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, March 8, 2010; A01

USA Today's Truitt on First Wave

Doc Savage is back! Brian Truitt on "'First Wave' reintroduces pulp heroes to new readers," USA Today (March 3 2010)

March 13: A true comic opera

This weekend is The Metropolitan Opera's staging of Shostakovich's The Nose. And why should we care? Because it's being directed by South African fine art animator William Kentridge and carried on WETA 90.9FM at 1 pm on March 13. The NY Times reviewed it today.

Comic Riffs' Michael Cavna interviewed at Tall Tales Radio

Episode 77 – Michael Cavna, "Comic Riffs"

By Tom Racine on March 8th, 2010
http://talltalefeatures.com/2010/03/08/episode-77-michael-cavna-comic-riffs/

Thanks to Our Man Thompson for the tip - he's been on the show too.

Matt Wuerker interview up at City Paper

Meet a Local Cartoonist: A Chat with Politico's Matt Wuerker

Posted by Mike Rhode on Mar. 8, 2010

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/artsdesk/books/2010/03/08/meet-a-local-cartoonist-a-chat-with-politicos-matt-wuerker/

PR: Sal Buscema book out

Sal Buscema was a Marvel mainstay for many years. I've got hundreds of comics he drew. He lives in Northern Virginia now, although I haven't had the luck to meet him.

 

If you enjoyed our previous books on Gene Colan and John Romita, Sr., don't miss SAL BUSCEMA: COMICS' FAST & FURIOUS ARTIST, which ships this week from TwoMorrows! And when you order directly from us, you get 15% off the retail price! (NOTE: Discount does not apply to the Ultra-Limited Hardcover sketch edition.)

In 1968, Sal Buscema joined the ranks of Marvel Comics and quickly became one of their most recognizable and dependable artists. Following in the footsteps of his big brother John Buscema, Sal quickly came into his own, and penciled some of Marvel's most memorable storylines, such as the original Avengers/Defenders war, as well as "The Secret Empire Saga" and the Nomad arc in the pages of Captain America. He also had a ten-year run on the Hulk and drew 100 consecutive issues of Spectacular Spider-Man, making him one of the few definitive artists of the Bronze Age. Sal Buscema: Comics' Fast & Furious Artist, by Alter Ego's Jim Amash with Modern Masters' Eric Nolen-Weathington, explores the life and career of this true legend of the comics industry, through an exhaustive interview with the artist, complete with extensive examples of his art, including a deluxe color section, and a
gallery of work from Sal's personal files. Fans love the fast and furious style of Sal Buscema, and this first-ever career-spanning book is guaranteed to please!  (NOTE: The deluxe hardcover contains a dust jacket, printed endpapers, and 16 extra full-color pages, not found in the softcover edition!)

The $26.95 SOFTCOVER can be ordered HERE at 15% off:
http://twomorrows.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=793

The standard $46.95 HARDCOVER can be ordered HERE at 15% off:
http://twomorrows.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=794

The $100 ULTRA-LIMITED HARDCOVER (which includes an individually numbered PENCIL SKETCH of one of Sal's favorite characters) can be ordered HERE:
http://twomorrows.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=106&products_id=838


Or just go to www.twomorrows.com where you'll find them listed on the home page for ordering. And as always, thanks for supporting TwoMorrows!

Best regards,
John Morrow, publisher
TwoMorrows
10407 Bedfordtown Dr.
Raleigh, NC 27614
919-449-0344
fax 919-449-0327
www.twomorrows.com

Cavna on animation Oscars race

Animation station: A race to the finish for these features
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, March 7, 2010; E06

March 27: Steranko at Geppi's Entertainment Museum

Colin Solan sends in "GEM hosts Steranko for a retrospective exhibit." Geppi's Museum site is here. As hard as it is to believe, it seems the exhibit is only up for 3 days.