Friday, April 23, 2010
Examiner reviews The Losers, based on a Vertigo comic
Examiner article on Nate Beeler's award
Washington Examiner 04/23/2010
Thursday, April 22, 2010
April 28: Joe Sacco to speak to Prof Wenthe's class at AU
Next Wednesday, April 28, at 2:10 P.M. in the atrium of the Battelle-Tompkins building here at American University, Joe Sacco will give a presentation and discussion of his work (notably _Footnotes in Gaza_) as the final event in my section of LIT 215: Writers in Print / in Person. Strictly speaking, this event will constitute the last class session for the course, so pride of place for the attendees will be my eighteen students (who discussed Sacco's work this past week), but we're holding it as an open, public event in in conjunction with the Middle East Studies Program here at AU and it will be generally advertised on campus.
Personally I've never heard Sacco speak, but I like his work. I'm sorry to miss this, but work is precluding my attendance.
Bill Day wins 2010 RFK cartooning award.
Here's what the Foundation put out:
Cartoon Winner: Series of cartoons, Bill Day, United Feature Syndicate: Cartoonist Bill Day sheds light on the continuing problem of infant mortality in America, especially among minority populations. His unusual special project creates clear and easily-readable cartoons, raising public awareness, partly through a grassroots movement that led to the introduction of legislation and policy improvements.
Nate Beeler wins this year’s Overseas Press Club award.
Congratulations, Nate!
Oh, and regarding today's cartoon, I think the tea-partiers are really ANTI-Federalists, since the Federalists including Hamilton, were in favor of more government, not less.
Wednesday, April 21, 2010
Tom the Dancing Bug, late of Wash Post, joins boing boing
Tuesday, April 20, 2010
Finder to Dark Horse - another article
The acclaimed self-published series will now be reprinted by Dark Horse
By Calvin Reid and Heidi MacDonald -- Publishers Weekly, 4/20/2010
Festival Imagé updated schedule
Booksigning tonight!
-Tuesday April 20 at AFDC, 6:30 pm:
Exhibition opening "Les Trois Ombres" by Cyril Pedrosa
Book signing by Antoine Dodé and Cyril Pedrosa
At the Alliance Française. The opening reception and book signing are free but reservations are mandatory. 202 234 79 11
-Wednesday April 21st at MICA, 7 pm:
Presentation: Laurence Arcadias
Short Films from SUPINFOCOM and MICA students
At MICA/ free
-Thursday April 22nd at Letelier Theater, 7 pm
Short Films from SUPINFOCOM and MICA students
At Letelier Theater 3251 Prospect Street, NW, Upper Courtyard, Washington DC/ free for MICA students and AF members - General admission $8
-Friday April 23rd at AFDC, 6:30 pm
Lecture by Pascal Fioretto: "Humor in comics"
At the Alliance Française/ free for MICA students and AF members - General admission $8
-Saturday April 24th at MICA:
-2 p.m., Room 140: MICA illustration faculty member Alain Corbel presents his Sequential Art students’ exhibition
-2 p.m., Room 110: MICA students' animation on display
-3 p.m., Room 140: Workshop with Cyril Pedrosa and MICA students on the narrative process
-4 p.m., Room 140: Professional forum with publishers Yvan Alagbé (Fremok/France), Jérôme Martineau (Carabas Revolution/France) and Calista Brill (First Second Books/US)
-6 p.m., Main Court: Closing party
At MICA/ free
-Sunday, April 25 at MICA
2-5 pm: Room 140: Closing of exhibition by MICA's Sequential Art class
At MICA/ free
Monday, April 19, 2010
Caroline Small reads Moore's Swamp Thing for the 1st time
U of MD's Diamondback's editorial cartoon controversy
The above cartoon is causing a controversy apparently - at least enough of one that the Diamondback's editor felt compelled to apologize - but with a twist:
What I do apologize for, however, is for failing the cartoonist. If you’ve been around the backlash from the cartoon, odds are you already know that the drawing of the armband made many readers interpret the cartoon as a connection between Israelis and Nazis — the imagery of the Israeli flag armband is often found in highly anti-Semitic propaganda.
She hadn’t meant to make such a connection, and so a tiny part of a drawing sparked a plethora of letters, feedback and more than a hundred comments online. I knew the cartoon would spark debate, but where I failed in my job was not realizing the connotation of the armband. Instead of constructive conversation, all anyone wants to talk about now is how this comparison can be interpreted as hate speech. And so, I failed my cartoonist, who never intended to make that statement.
You can read the rest of his editorial here: From the editor: All apologies By Rob Gindes, April 18, 2010, but this looks like another tiresome tempest in a teapot to me, largely caused by a lack of drawing chops (sorry Ms. Brager).
Jim Dougan interviewed by Mark Ruffin
DC Comic Books Examiner Mark Ruffin
April 19,2010
Another positive Kick-Ass review from a local woman critic
A cultish super hero flick about misfits. And ass-kicking.
By Tricia Olszewski
Washington City Paper April 16, 2010
Sunday, April 18, 2010
Baltimore Sun on French comics fest
Students at French CGI school Supinfocom, and MICA, create animated shorts as personal art
By Michael Sragow, The Baltimore Sun April 15, 2010
Library of Congress to save the Tweet
Library of Congress
101 Independence Avenue SE
Washington DC 20540
April 15, 2010
Twitter Donates Entire Tweet Archive to Library of Congress
Twitter is donating its digital archive of public tweets to the Library of Congress. Twitter is a leading social networking service that enables users to send and receive tweets, which consist of web messages of up to 140 characters.
Twitter processes more than 50 million tweets per day from people around the world. The Library will receive all public tweets—which number in the billions—from the 2006 inception of the service to the present.
"The Twitter digital archive has extraordinary potential for research into our contemporary way of life," said Librarian of Congress James H. Billington. "This information provides detailed evidence about how technology based social networks form and evolve over time. The collection also documents a remarkable range of social trends. Anyone who wants to understand how an ever-broadening public is using social media to engage in an ongoing debate regarding social and cultural issues will have need of this material."
Billington added: "The Library looks at this as an opportunity to add new kinds of information without subtracting from our responsibility to manage our overall collection. Working with the Twitter archive will also help the Library extend its capability to provide stewardship for very large sets of born-digital materials."
In making the donation, Greg Pass, Twitter's vice president of engineering, said: "We are pleased and proud to make this collection available for the benefit of the American people. I am very grateful that Dr. Billington and the Library recognize the value of this information. It is something new, but it tells an amazing story that needs to be remembered." Twitter's own take on the donation is posted on their blog http://blog.twitter.com/2010/04/tweet-preservation.html.
A few highlights of the donated material include the first-ever tweet from Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey (http://twitter.com/jack/status/20), President Obama's tweet about winning the election (http://twitter.com/barackobama/status/992176676), and a set of two tweets from a photojournalist who was arrested in Egypt and then freed because of a series of events set into motion by his use of Twitter (http://twitter.com/jamesbuck/status/786571964) and (http://twitter.com/jamesbuck/status/787167620).
The announcement came coincidentally on the same day the Library's own Twitter feed (@librarycongress) crossed 50,000 followers (April 14, 2010).
"I think Twitter will be one of the most informative resources available on modern day culture, including economic, social and political trends, as well as consumer behavior and social trends," said Margot Gerritsen, a professor with Stanford University's Department of Energy Resources Engineering and head of the Center of Excellence for Computational Approaches to Digital Stewardship, a partnership with the Library of Congress.
The archive follows in the Library's long tradition of gathering individuals' firsthand accounts of history, such as "man on the street" interviews after Pearl Harbor; the September 11, 2001, Documentary Project; the Veterans History Project (VHP); and StoryCorps. While the Twitter archive will not be posted online, the Library envisions posting selected content around topics or themes, similar to existing VHP presentations.
The Library has been collecting materials from the web since it began harvesting congressional and presidential campaign websites in 2000. Today the Library holds more than 167 terabytes of web-based information, including legal blogs, websites of candidates for national office and websites of Members of Congress. In addition, the Library leads the congressionally mandated National Digital Information Infrastructure and Preservation Program www.digitalpreservation.gov, which is pursuing a national strategy to collect, preserve and make available significant digital content, especially information that is created in digital form only, for current and future generations.
Founded in 1800, the Library of Congress is the nation's oldest federal cultural institution. The Library seeks to spark imagination and creativity and to further human understanding and wisdom by providing access to knowledge through its magnificent collections, programs and exhibitions. Many of the Library's rich resources can be accessed through its website at www.loc.gov and via interactive exhibitions on a personalized website at myLOC.gov.
# # #
PR 10-81
4/15/2010
ISSN 0731-3527
Carla McNeil's Finder to be published by Dark Horse
Zadzooks - barely about comics, but...
Joseph Szadkowski
April 12, 2010
Meanwhile, Greg's got a few suggestions, only 1 of which I concur with - see if you can guess which it is!
Bennett's Best: S.H.I.E.L.D., Invincible Returns and Art In Time
By Greg Bennett, Special to Zadzooks April 12, 2010
Most laughable reason to disagree with Fiore's Pulitzer goes to...
From April 18, 2010's "10 Lowlights of the Week" column:
#4 Puerile Pulitzer
Political cartoonist award goes to 'Tea Bag' jokester
The details: According to the Pulitzer committee, Mark Fiore "Set a high standard for an emerging form of commentary" with his animated cartoons on the Internet. Fiore is best known for a cartoon, "Learn to Speak Tea Bag" which has tea party protesters running around screaming "Nazi! - Socialist! Baby killer!" High standards, indeed.
On the next page, Nate Beeler picked his pro-Tea Party cartoon as his favorite of the week - can't agree with that call either, Nate.
Wuerker's Herblock award - Cavna makes his attendance tax-deductible
Politico's MATT WUERKER accepts the Herblock Prize
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post's Comic Riffs blog April 16, 2010
He also talked to Steve Breen and Jen Sorenson about their recent awards -
Fischetti-winning Steve Breen: Awards 'mean more than ever' in tough times
By Michael Cavna, April 17, 2010
NPR's Weldon, on the other hand, does not like Kick-Ass
Comics on the Rack, Quick Picks for Comics Due 04-21-10
April 18: Capicon Comic convention
Capicons Comic Book and Pop Culture Con
Dunn Loring Vol. Fire Dept, Dunn Loring, Virginia
Special Guests:
Martin Grams, Jr, Author of The Green Hornet: A History of Radio, Motion Pictures, Comics and Television
http://www.martingrams.com
Dan Nokes, Artist/Publisher--21 Sandshark Studios
http://21sandshark.com/
Also featuring
Artist Tom Arvis, Sureshot Comics
http://www.arvtoon.com
FREE admission! Door prize drawings!
Open to the public from 10 am - 3 pm. Buy, sell & trade: Gold, Silver, Bronze Age comics; Indie & Modern comics, Publishers & Creators, TV & Movie Collectibles. Non-sport cards; Videos & DVDs; Anime; Manga; Horror/Sci-Fi; figures, toys; Star Wars & Star Trek memorabilia; original artwork, posters and other comic-related collectibles.
See you there!
Laura, Jeff & Ed,
Saturday, April 17, 2010
Post on Fiore's iPhone rejection
Washington Post April 17, 2010
Alliance Française de Washington lecture today
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
The Alliance Française de Washington, MICA's Illustration and Experimental Animation Departments present
From April 16 to 24, 2010
Festival Imagé
French Comics and Animation Festival
Baltimore-Washington DC (USA)
The Alliance Française de Washington and The Maryland Institute College of Arts (MICA) are inaugurating their partnership with the Festival Imagé, first festival in the USA, which promotes the new generation of French artists working in comics and animated films.
From April 16 to 24, meetings, author-led workshops, and screenings of animated films will stress the similarities and differences which exist in "bande dessinée" and animated film between both sides of the Atlantic.
Five comics artists, four comic book publishers from both France and the US, as well as various comics connoisseurs and a series of events prepared by DC-based comics artists and students of MICA – America's oldest art school– will help animate this exceptional 10-day festival dedicated to sequential art.
The festival will engage a wide audience of amateurs, children, art students, Francophiles, and comic's aficionados of the "9ème Art" through the creativity and vitality of this made-in-France artistic format where more than 5000 titles are published each year.
Having been involved in the Festival Imagé since its inception, MICA's animation students will also have the chance to introduce their view of French culture through their own animated shorts, to be shown at two successive screenings.
During these two consecutive days, animated films from both MICA students and students from one of the most famous French schools, SUPINFOCOM, will be showcased in Baltimore and Washington.
A French author will also be visiting one of DC's underprivileged elementary schools through the Alliance Française's Outreach Program to share his passion with children.
On their side, students from MICA and local illustrators will meet French and US publishers and present their work through exhibitions during the professional forum.
This forum will offer a chance to create artistic ties and professional opportunities to be published in the USA but also in France.
Last but not least, French and American illustrators will launch a creative dialogue during the entire Festival Imagé with an interactive and collective production to be revealed during the festival's closing party.
Prepare to be overwhelmed by a new generation of talented and productive artists who interpret the daily complexities of modern society through an incredible variety of styles and artistic universes.
"Strike your imagination!"
Festival Imagé Program
-Friday April 16 at MICA:
7:30 pm: Opening reception
8 pm: Panel discussion with Nicolas Nemiri, Antoine Dodé, Alain Corbel, and Laurence Arcadias. Moderated by José Villarrubia.
Beginning of the contest
At MICA/ Free
-Saturday April 17 at AFDC, 2 pm
Workshop with Antoine Dodé
At the Alliance Française/ Free
-Monday April 19 at MICA, 8 pm
Lecture by José Villarrubia: "Colors in Comics"
At MICA/ Free
-Tuesday April 20 at AFDC, 6:30 pm
Opening reception of the exhibition Les Trois Ombres by Cyril Pedrosa
Workshop with Domitille Collardey
http://www.domitille-collardey.com/ink.html
At the Alliance Française/ Free for MICA students and AF members - General Admission $8
-Wednesday April 21st at MICA, 7 pm
Presentation: Laurence Arcadias
Short Films from SUPINFOCOM and MICA students
At MICA/ Free
-Thursday April 22nd at Letelier Theater, 7 pm
Short Films from SUPINFOCOM and MICA students
At Letelier Theater 3251 Prospect Street, NW, Upper Courtyard, Washington DC
Free for MICA students and AF members - General Admission $8
-Friday April 23rd at AFDC, 6:30 pm
Lecture by Pascal Fioretto: "Humor in comics"
At the Alliance Française/ free for MICA students and AF members - General admission: $8
-Saturday April 24th at MICA:
2:00 Alain Corbel presents his students work:
Exhibition "Gargantua"
2:30 pm: Workshop with Cyril Pedrosa http://www.firstsecondbooks.com/threeShadows.html
4 pm: Professional Forum with publishers from France and the US
Contest Results
6:30 pm: Closing Party
At MICA/ Free
Artists and speakers
Antoine Dodé was born in Amiens and lived there until he moved to Belgium to study illustration at the Saint Luc School of Art. He is best known in the French and Belgian market for his character Armelle, who has been featured in two graphic novels published under Carabas Revolution (Semic): "Armelle and the Bird" and "Armelle and My Uncle."
José Villarrubia was born in Madrid, Spain, but is a long time Baltimore resident. A professor of the Illustration Department at MICA, José is best known for his coloring work in comics for Marvel, DC, Dark Horse and other companies and for his collaborations with author Alan Moore.
Domitille Collardey (born 1981) is best known for founding the Chicou-Chicou comics collective with Aude Picault. She currently lives in Paris and Brooklyn, NY. Domitille graduated from les Arts Decoratifs de Paris in 2004.
She is currently working on an adaptation of Jean Teulé's novel "The Suicide Shop" for French publisher Delcourt, with Olivier Ka.
She also works for various press publications, such as Technikart, Beaux Arts Magazine, and Double.
http://www.domitille-collardey.com/ink.html
Pascal Fioretto Although he was a math whiz early on, having majored in chemistry at the Ecole normale supérieure of Chemistry, he also displayed a strong interest in literature and writing, which he finally gave in to. Catching the attention of cartoonist Marcel Gotlib, Fioretto then lent his wit to Fluide Glacial, a French monthly publication appealing to any and all lovers of truly tasteless jokes and irreverent humor.
Cyril Pedrosa began his career in animation, working on the Disney films "Hunchback of Notre Dame" and "Hercules." He has since become a rising star in a new kind of graphic storytelling, combining the influences of animation and the literary traditions of Borges, Garcia Marquez, and Tolkien to create a unique visual signature.
http://www.firstsecondbooks.com/threeShadows.html
Nicolas Nemiri is a French comics author and illustrator who has always been very much inspired by Japanese manga. His artistic style is unique in that it blends manga with French esthetics. Nicolas is actually working on the 3rd album of his series "Je suis morte" created with writer Jean-David Morvan, a sci-fi story where teenagers are dealing with life, death and eternity.
Alain Corbel. With comic creator Eric Lambe, he produced Mokka and Pelure Amere, two modern comic strip magazines that influenced many authors and publishers in France and Belgium like Amok, Freon and La Cinquieme Couche. He works as an illustrator, comic strip artist, and storywriter. He is also teacher at MICA, Illustration Department. He did many books published in France and Portugal. He has a passion for Africa where he organizes regularly with the Portuguese NGO ACEP illustration/writing workshops. http://www.alaincorbel.in-netz.com/ http://obaraleixo.blogspot.com/
Laurence Arcadias teaches animation at MICA and is the Co- chair of the Animation department.
She started her career in Paris as an illustrator and animator. She directed a TV show: "Alex", best animated TV series in Annecy festival and spent 3 years as Animator in Residence at Apple. She also worked for several companies such as hotwired, Kodak, Leapfrog…Her films have been screened internationally.
Located in the north of France, SUPINFOCOM is a unique school, made of passionate people for passionate students, armed with an educational experience and managed by a united team, a demanding school, which innovates, supports the students towards their professional future by developing their artistic sensitivity, and opens unclear ways. After 20 years of existence and 1246 graduates, SUPINFOCOM is still filled with the enthusiasm of pioneers and enriched with collective experience. http://www.supinfocom.org/
With the support of the Maryland Institute College of Art's Office of Academic Services, the office of Research and the Dean of Undergraduate Studies and Faculty.
Please include Festival Imagé, from April 16 to 24 in your cultural events listing. Do not hesitate to contact me directly if you want to attend or cover this event.
WHAT: Festival Imagé French Comics and Animation Festival
WHEN: From April 16 to 24, 2010
WHERE: At the Alliance Française 2142 Wyoming Avenue, NW, Washington DC 20008
MICA 1300 W. Mount Royal Avenue, Baltimore, Maryland 21217
And Letelier Theater 3251 Prospect Street, NW Upper Courtyard Washington DC 20007
COST: All of the events are free for MICA students and Alliance Française members
Events at the Alliance Française and Letelier Theater: free for MICA students and AF members - General Admission $8
Information/reservation: Alliance Française 202-234-7911 - MICA 410-225-2300
The Alliance Française is the largest network of French language and cultural centers in the world. Founded in 1949, the Alliance Française de Washington offers French classes for all levels, numerous cultural events throughout the year, and a multi-media library open to all members. For more information visit www.francedc.org
You can download our press kit here: http://www.francedc.org/en/Article.aspx?id=460
L'Alliance Française de Washington is on Facebook! Join our group at http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=4811854756
We are also on Twitter! http://twitter.com/FranceDC
Sonia Lahcene
Cultural Assistant
_______________________________________
Alliance Française de Washington
2142 Wyoming Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20008
tel: (202) 234-7911 ext 16
fax: (202) 234-0125
www.francedc.org
To subscribe to our email list and receive our messages on cultural activities, please go to www.francedc.org then "sign up for our e-newsletter".
You can also join our Facebook group: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=4811854756
April 17: Jules Feiffer at Portrait Gallery
American Art Museum, National Portrait Gallery
Goodheart, who is director of the C. V. Starr Center for the Study of the American Experience at Washington College.
Lectures begin at 4:30 p.m.
Free tickets available in the G Street lobby one hour prior.
Saturday, April 17, 4:30 p.m.
Cartoonist Jules Feiffer on Bob Landry's Fred Astaire in "Puttin' on the Ritz"
Friday, April 16, 2010
Washington Post likes Kick-Ass
By Ann Hornaday
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, April 16, 2010; C01
and here's an interview with the film's writer -
Wait 'til they get a load of Hit-Girl
By Jen Chaney
Washington Post's Celebritology 2.0 blog April 14, 2010
The Times liked it too. So far, that's 3 reviews by WOMEN reviewers and one interview with the WOMAN screenwriter. I'm missing something here.
It’s a Bird, It’s a Plane, It’s a Blood Bath
By MANOHLA DARGIS
April 16, 2010
Washington Examiner likes Kick-Ass movie
Shocking, funny 'Kick-Ass' does exactly that
By: Sally Kline
Washington Examiner April 16, 2010
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Express on Kick-Ass
Written by Express contributor Roxana Hadadi
Express at 9:15 AM on April 14, 2010
French comics and animation festival starts tomorrow
Accent on Art: Alliance Francaise's and MICA's Festival Image
Written by Express contributor Ryan Little
Express April 15, 2010
I'm off to see Matt Wuerker get the Herblock award.
Yoe on anti-war cartoons
Written by Express contributor Roxana Hadadi
April 15 2010
Reviewed: Kick-Ass: Creating the Comic; Making the Movie
Wednesday, April 14, 2010
Truitt on GI Joe
By Brian Truitt, USA TODAY April 14 2010
Bamn writer Troy Allen interview up at City Paper
Meet a Local Cartoonist: A Chat with Bamn Writer Troy Allen
Tuesday, April 13, 2010
Marc Singer on teaching Love & Rockets
April 12, 2010
My classes' reactions to "Human Diastrophism" have changed over the years, and mostly for the better. Seven or eight years ago a few of my students were awfully interested in branding the women of Palomar as "sluts." - click thru the link to see what Marc's current students got out of it.
Beyond Comics Kick Ass Movie Contest
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Comic Riffs interviews Pulitzer winner Mark Fiore
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog April 13, 2010
Cartoonist Jeff Koterba featured in Post's Tourette's Syndrome article
By Anne Miller
Special to The Washington Post
Tuesday, April 13, 2010; HE01
Monday, April 12, 2010
Matt Wuerker once again a nominee, not a winner of Pulitzer
The 2010 Pulitzer Prize WinnersEditorial Cartooning
Current tab: citation
For a distinguished cartoon or portfolio of cartoons characterized by originality, editorial effectiveness, quality of drawing and pictorial effect, in print or online or both, Ten thousand dollars ($10,000).
Awarded to Mark Fiore, self syndicated, for his animated cartoons appearing on SFGate.com, the San Francisco Chronicle Web site, where his biting wit, extensive research and ability to distill complex issues set a high standard for an emerging form of commentary.
Finalists
Also nominated as finalists in this category were: Tony Auth of The Philadelphia Inquirer for his masterful simplicity in expressing consistently fearless positions on national and local issues; and Matt Wuerker of Politico for his broad portfolio that encompasses the nation’s historic political year, using rich artistry, wry humor and sometimes animation to drive home his deft satire.
Sunday, April 11, 2010
Fantom's First Monthly Happy Hour This Tuesday
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Rose Herman, 1914-2010
My grandmother, Rose Herman, died yesterday a few weeks shy of her 96th birthday. Coming out of a poor family in Browndale, PA, and then being a young adult in the Depression, Gram didn't have much time for the foolishness of buying comic books for her grandchildren. However, she let me store 15,000 or so in her attic while I was out of space at home, or living at college or in rented apartments. She was quite amused when I'd show up every 3 months or so with another longbox to 'insulate her attic' (not a recommended way to store your comics, of course, but needs must). We used to visit her every Saturday when I was young too, and I used to sit on her back porch and page through the Overstreet Price Guide (pre-Internet), amazed at the number of comics I still had to even see, let alone collect.
Over the past few years, she'd been fading away, getting confused and aggressive, so she was in a nursing home in Texas near her son when she passed away, having outlived almost everyone she knew.
Saturday, April 10, 2010
CHS Otaku Fest Press Release.
For information, contact:
Sophie Song
Convention Chair of CHS Otaku Fest
Former President of Centennial High School Anime Club
president.chsanime@gmail.com
609.220.1955
CHS OTAKU FEST ANNOUNCES FOUR MUSICAL GUESTS!
The Protomen, Entertainment System, Lesser.core and DJ Sheephead!
Ellicott City, MD April 9th, 2010 – CHS Otaku Fest is proud to announce four new musical guests: The Protomen, Entertainment System, Lesser.Core and DJ Sheephead. All four bands will be performing at the convention on April 24th, 2010 at Centennial High in Ellicott City, MD.
The Protomen are more than just a band. They are messengers, riding atop an Iron Stallion on their way to deliver the most vicious rock 'n' roll fable that the world has ever known. With several planned albums, and a live show that could crumble mountains, there's no denying The Protomen have created a work unique to its medium
The first record, 'Act I', includes elements of Ennio Morricone, Queen and Black Sabbath, which culminate in a listening experience unlike anything you've ever heard. If you're afraid of sky cracking distortion and epic chaos, you won't survive this album.
'Act II' is a departure from the signature distorted sound of the first record. It focuses on a time before the world had fallen under darkness. It is a brighter and more optimistic look at the world The Protomen has created. The album is split into two separate eras (and sounds), and gives the feeling of two distinct albums in one. 'Act II' was produced by Alan Shacklock (Meatloaf, The Alarm, Bonnie Tyler, Babe Ruth, Roger Daltry) and The Protomen. Mastering was provided by Richard Dodd (Tom Petty, Jeff Lynne, Roy Orbison, George Harrison, Traveling Wilburys).
Since 2004, Entertainment System has been playing hard hitting arrangements of classic video game songs. A love of performing and a total lack of concern for their own safety brings an infectious energy to their shows, which have been described as "totally epic and somewhat dangerous." After 3 full length albums, 1 collaborative EP, and many, many melted faces, they have only just begun. They're new full length album, "Rock n' Roll Cereal", comprised entirely of Mario and Zelda songs, debuts this summer at their annual concert, Bit Gen Gamerfest. Become a fan of Entertainment System on Facebook for constant and typically self-indulgent updates on their status, concert dates, embarrassing videos, as well as songs from their previous albums.
Lesser.Core is a Newly formed Visual Kei/J rock band. The band is heavily influenced by J rock and American bands such as: X japan, Versailles, Dir en Grey, Lynch, Pierrot, Nightmare, Avenged Sevenfold, Attack Attack, and A day to remember. The band was formed in February 2010 in MD/DC, area with original members Ryuu [Guitar], Ton [Bass], and Ginny [Vocals]. Daniel [Drummer] joined the band a week before their first show. Upon its formation, each member of the band also took on pseudonyms which were already nicknames of theirs from their old bands. The band started to receive recognition, performing with bands such as Project Echo and Price of Gas. Currently, Lesser.Core is composing "New Material".
DJ Sheephead is a producer and a DJ. While working hard on his music projects, The Megadrives and Hypnotic Buddha, he always returns to his DJing roots, bringing you the hard sounds of underground electronic dance music. He is a man on a mission to put you on your feet and make you move to the groove.
In addition to these musical performances, events at CHS Otaku Fest includes Super Art Fight, Otaku Quest, a Cosplay Contest, an AMV contest, Artist Alley, Discussion Panels, Dealers Room, Manga Library, Anime Screenings, Gaming Tournament and more! Registration is still open! Pre-register now at chs-otakufest.com and save $5!
About the Centennial High Anime Club and CHS Otaku Fest: This organization is an entirely high school based club with about 30 active members. The club has been an establishment in the school since 2005 and is gaining membership annually. It is a place for otaku to gather and meet while relaxing and discussing anime and the community at large. Last year the club hosted our first successful convention, CHS Otaku Fest, a one day public event dedicated to all things anime and awesome. This year, the club is looking forward to making Otaku Fest even better.
CHS Otaku Fest information
Date: Saturday April 24th, 2010
Time: 10:00 am to 6:00 pm
Location: Centennial High School
4300 Centennial Lane
Ellicott City, MD 21042
Registration fee: $10 before January 31st and $15 after. There is a $3 discount to groups of 10 or more ($7 per person before 1/31/10 and $12 after 1/31/10). At-the-door registration is $20.
For additional information visit: www.chs-otakufest.com
E-mail: president.chsanime@gmail.com
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April 16: Craig Yoe at Politics and Prose
Craig Yoe - The Great Anti-War Cartoons
Start: April 16, 2010 - 7:00pm
End: April 16, 2010 - 8:00pm
Yoe, a historian of cartoons, has assembled a vast array of anti-war comics that span the globe and date back to the 1600s. These comics run the gamut of emotions, from Bill Mauldin’s humor to Francisque Poulbot’s sorrow. Yoe’s presentation will include source material from Warren Bernard’s private collection.
[The Great Anti-War Cartoons]
The Great Anti-War Cartoons (Paperback)
By Craig Yoe, Sara W. Duke, Muhammad Yunus
$24.99
ISBN-13: 9781606991503
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Fantagraphics Books, 12/01/2009
Location:
Politics and Prose
5015 Connecticut Ave. NWWashington, D.C. 20008
Jen Sorenson wins Social Justice Journalism award
April 18: Capicon Comic convention
Capicons Comic Book and Pop Culture Con
Dunn Loring Vol. Fire Dept, Dunn Loring, Virginia
Special Guests:
Martin Grams, Jr, Author of The Green Hornet: A History of Radio, Motion Pictures, Comics and Television
http://www.martingrams.com
Dan Nokes, Artist/Publisher--21 Sandshark Studios
http://21sandshark.com/
Also featuring
Artist Tom Arvis, Sureshot Comics
http://www.arvtoon.com
FREE admission! Door prize drawings!
Open to the public from 10 am - 3 pm. Buy, sell & trade: Gold, Silver, Bronze Age comics; Indie & Modern comics, Publishers & Creators, TV & Movie Collectibles. Non-sport cards; Videos & DVDs; Anime; Manga; Horror/Sci-Fi; figures, toys; Star Wars & Star Trek memorabilia; original artwork, posters and other comic-related collectibles.
See you there!
Laura, Jeff & Ed,
Brian Truitt's Kick-Ass interview
USA Weekend April 9th, 2010
Brian Truitt
I think the hard copy of this should be in tomorrow's Examiner.
Paul Fitzgerald's book on Will Eisner and PS mag nominated for Eisner award
Botetourt man gets nominated for Eisner comic industry award
Roanoke Times April 10 2010