Friday, June 11, 2010

OT: National Geographic and Google on Jacques Cousteau's 100th birthday


My wife, Cathy Hunter, blogs for National Geographic in between her archivist duties and also provides some news stories for them. Today, one of hers on Jacques Cousteau's 100th birthday was picked up, and appparently used as the basis for Google's customized logo.

June 25: American Library Association in DC with comics programs

ALA Expands Graphic Novel Programming
At Its Summer Conference in D.C.
ICv2 06/11/2010

Some of this sounds like fun, but it'll only be open to registered attendees. However, I will be moderating a panel with some local cartoonists for the DC Public Library that weekend and will have more details as they're finalized.

Thursday, June 10, 2010

Lamont Cranston painting by Thomas Boatwright


Mr. Boatwright just put a note in the comments section of the Jim Amash's Shadow sketch post with a link to his painting of Lamont Cranston that I was lucky enough to buy at Heroes Con. It's a nice one isn't it? Spooky eyes though. Here's another painting he's done on the topic - I think I may buy a photoprint of that one after the Heroes Con bills fade.

This will join the Amash sketch, a Bill Sienkewicz poster and a Mike Kaluta cover to American Spectator magazine on my office walls.

Local animation student injured in Palestine protests

Emily Henochowicz was an American student who went to Israel to study animation, but then got caught up in Palestinian protests. I'm not sure if she's continuing with cartooning, but here's a story about her -

U.S. student pays devastating physical price to protest Israel's actions
By Robert McCartney
Washington Post June 10, 2010

Interview with Mike Short of Trickster up at City Paper

Meet a Local Cartoonist: A Chat with Trickster Cartoonist Mike Short
Posted by Mike Rhode on Jun. 9, 2010 at 10:32 am
http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/artsdesk/books/2010/06/09/meet-a-local-cartoonist-a-chat-with-trickster-cartoonist-mike-short/
 
Collect them all! 

Wednesday, June 09, 2010

Weldon explains Twitter and comics, but not why he wants ComicsDC on it

It's the return of Glen Weldon, who apparently took 3 weeks off, or maybe I just missed his posts - The Twittery Confluence of Comics, Comics, And (Of Course) Spider-Man, June 9, 2010.

Heroes Con 2010 pictures continued

More photos from Heroes Con 2010.

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Richard Thompson IS ready for business.

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Ben Towle namechecked me
- we had a nice conversation in the Westin bar.

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Richard Thompson, Cul de Sac webmonkey Chris Sparks and Shannon Gallant.

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The great Bernie Wrightson. I actually bought a piece of art from him. I never thought I'd own a Wrightson page. BTW, Joel, he says hello.

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Comics cover god Brian Bolland.

More of my pictures are online here.

Finally, Our Man Thompson in Joe Lambert's photo.

"Stories Without Words: A Bibliography with Annotations 2008 edition" free shipping

 
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Politics and Prose bookstore for sale

Politics and Prose bookstore to be put up for sale
By Michael S. Rosenwald
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, June 9, 2010; 1:01 PM

I'm taking this one at face value - the owners are old and tired. They tried to bring in a new partner a few years ago, but he didn't work out.

Shadow sketch from Heroes Con

Jim Amash did this sketch for me after seeing a painting of Lamont Cranston by Thomas Boatwright that I was carrying around. It turns out that we're both pulp hero fans. As Alex Toth said about doing a drawing of the Shadow for Jim "it had to be in the style of Ed Cartier" and so is this one.

Roger Langridge's Barney Google sketch

Roger Langridge did this drawing for me last weekend - I knew he was a big Barney Google fan so I asked him for this at Heroes Con.  I also bought two pages of an X-Men story in the style of Edward Gorey from him which are very cool. Professor X was a spooky kid.
 
 

Tuesday, June 08, 2010

Heroes Con 2010 pictures

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Evan Dorkin's perhaps ashamed to be caught buying a mainstream comic strip book from Richard Thompson.

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After talking about the Thomas Boatwright painting of Lamont Cranston I bought, Jim Amash drew this Shadow sketch for me.

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Richard Thompson is a fan of Kate Beaton.

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Raina Telgemeier and her fine Smile.

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And then there's Dazzler.

More pictures online here. Labels to follow.

Asaf Hanuka illustration in Sunday's Washington Post

It's not online of course, but Israeli cartoonist Asaf Hanuka had a big lovely illustration in the June 6th paper for this story -

Hit-hungry Hollywood gambles on litany of 'romaction' flicks

Caro Small on Asterios Polyp

Apparently, everyone is suddenly critiquing Mazzuchelli's Asterios Polyp, including DC's Caroline Small. I liked the book well enough, thought the art was stronger than the story, and thought the ending was silly. Read Craig Fischer rather than me though, because he thinks about these things.

Monday, June 07, 2010

Cul de Sac like "an anchor" says Comic Reporter readers

Tom Spurgeon often asks a Friday question of readers of his excellent The Comics Reporter blog (the only one I read 'cover to cover' although Journalista is a close second), and this past week he asked which five comic strips should be used to anchor a comic strip section. Many answered 'Cul de Sac' although there was a surprise 'Barney and Clyde' vote - a surprise since the strip didn't start until 3 days after the poll.

Comic Riffs' full court Weingarten press

The interview -

The 'Riffs Interview: GENE WEINGARTEN, New Cartoonist, dares to attempt comic pearls before breakfast
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs June 4, 2010

The discussion of the strip at the Post Hunt event -

POST HUNT: When a comic strip stands between you and $2K

PR: Wash Post Introduces Gene Weingarten's Comic Strip: "Barney & Clyde"

I meant to post on this over the weekend, but got behind. Cul de Sac has moved next to Doonesbury to make space for this strip.

The Washington Post today introduces a new comic strip by Pulitzer-Prize winning Post columnist Gene Weingarten and his son, Dan Weingarten, with illustrations by David Clark.  "Barney & Clyde" is about an accidental friendship between a billionaire and a homeless man. Fans of Weingarten's "Below the Beltway" humor column will recognize his wit and lack of social grace in this comic, a satire that re-examines measures of success, failure, and fulfillment. The comic  will run Monday-Sunday in The Washington Post's comic pages.

 Barney & Clyde is the newest addition to The Post's comics and puzzle pages in Style. Last April The Post added The Post Puzzler, a crossword puzzle from celebrated puzzle writer Peter Gordon.  

  To visit Barney & Clyde, go to http://www.postwritersgroup.com/comics/bcl2.htm#.  

 To visit the Post Puzzler, go to http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/artsandliving/crosswords/.  

 

Heroes Con pic of 3 cartoonists, 1 professor and 2 fanboy stalkers.



Dinner at Heroes Con. Left to right: Richard "Cul de Sac" Thompson, Mike "ComicsDC" Rhode, Shannon "G.I. Joe Gallant, Craig "Appalachian State" Fischer, Chris "Crogan's Vengeance" Schweizer and Chris "Cul de Sac webmaster" Sparks. Sparks and I are the fanboy stalkers because Fischer gets paid to do this stuff. The picture is Sparks' and we all had to really overtip the waitress by the time he was done asking her to take it.

Trickster’s Jacob Warrenfeltz interview online at Washington City Paper now

Meet a Local Cartoonist: A Chat with Trickster's Jacob Warrenfeltz
Posted by Mike Rhode on Jun. 7, 2010 at 10:48 am

Saturday, June 05, 2010

Rand Arrington chat up at City Paper

I'm still accompanying Richard T at HeroesCon so my internet access is spotty, but the interview with Rand Arrington from the Trickster anthology has been posted at the City Paper.,

Comics on the Rack, Quick Picks for Comics Due 06-09-10

COMICS ON THE RACK
Quick Picks for Comics Due 06-09-10
By John Judy
 
ASTONISHING X-MEN: XENOGENESIS #2 of 5 by Warren Ellis and Kaare Andrews.  The X-Men must investigate why incredibly destructive, dangerous babies are being born!  Guess Professor X hasn't given them "the talk."
 
AVENGERS ACADEMY #1 by Christos Gage and Mike McKone.  The next generation of Avengers is being trained by… Hank Pym?  But... he's Hank Pym!  Gotta look.
 
BATMAN #700 by Grant Morrison and His Art Squad of Death.  A celebratory overview of the Batmen of different eras: Bruce, Dick and Damian.  Recommended.
 
BUZZARD #1 of 3 written and drawn by Eric Powell.  From the pages of THE GOON, the mysterious Buzzard strikes out on his own.  Plus a back-up feature with Kyle Hotz: BILLY THE KID'S OLD TIMEY ODDITIES.  Highly recommended.
 
CAPTAIN AMERICA #606 by Ed Brubaker and Butch Guice.  Zemo wants to finish what his dad started:  Kill Bucky America!  Good times!
 
CHEW #11 by John Layman and Rob Guillory.  Agent Tony Chu, the fed who gains psychic knowledge of whatever he eats, is on the job.  This time he's hunting down rich guys who eat exotic animals for fun, including extinct ones!  Older teens and up.  Recommended.
 
CHEW, VOL. 2: INTERNATIONAL FLAVOR SC by John Layman and Rob Guillory.  Agent Chu goes abroad, but there's nothing innocent about it!  Recommended.
 
DAREDEVIL #507 by Andy Diggle, Antony Johnston and Marco Checchetto.  DD's still tusslin' with the ninjas!
 
DAYTRIPPER #7 of 10 by Gabriel Ba and Fabio Moon.  The focus is on friendship in the latest issue of this insanely beautiful series.  Highly recommended.
 
THE GOLDEN TREASURY OF KLASSIC KRAZY KOOL KIDS KOMICS HC edited by Craig Yoe.  This is a sweet collection of vintage humor strips from the 40s and 50s by such legends as Kirby, Ditko, Dr. Suess, Frank Frazetta ,Walt Kelly, Jules Feiffer, Dan DeCarlo, Carl Barks, Harvey Kurtzman and many more.  If you love comics and/or have a kid you need this one.  Features an intro by Mo Willems, the creator of the "Pigeon" series of kids books.  Great for all ages.  Highly recommended.
 
GREEN LANTERN PROMO RINGS by DC Comics and the Guardians of the Universe.  Tell your local retailer you're ready to take the oath!
 
HELLBOY, VOL. 10: CROOKED MAN AND OTHERS SC by Mike Mignola, Joshua Dysart, Richard Corben, Duncan Fegredo and Jason Shawn Alexander.  Includes the Eisner-winning title story as well as the rare "They Who Go Down to the Sea in Ships", "The Mole" and "In the Chapel of Moloch."
 
HEROIC AGE: PRINCE OF POWER #2 of 4 by Greg Pak , Fred Van Lente and Reilly Brown.  Super-smart Amadeus Cho is picking up where the late Hercules left off and there's lots of folks who ain't having none of it!  Head-busting and intrigues galore!
 
INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #27 by Matt Fraction and Salvador Larroca.  Still digging out from the Siege and his self-imposed lobotomy, Tony Stark is catching not a single break.  New faces and old conspire to keep putting the "Invincible" part of the title to the test.  Action-packed!
 
IRREDEEMABLE, VOL. 3 SC by Mark Waid and Peter Krause. The latest collection in the ongoing story of the world's most powerful superhero gone bad.  In this one his old compatriots start pushing back hard.  Recommended.
 
JUSTICE LEAGUE: GENERATION LOST #3 by Keith Giffen, Judd Winick and Fernando Dagnino.  Jamie Reyes gets onboard because it ain't the JLI without a Blue Beetle.  Maxwell Lord better watch his back!
 
KNIGHT LIFE: CHIVALRY AIN'T DEAD SC written and drawn by Jeff Chang. The follow-up to Chang's Harvey Award-winning daily humor strip "The K Chronicles."  If you like your sitcoms without plugging in the TV then check this out.
 
NEIL YOUNG'S GREENDALE HC by Joshua Dysart and Cliff Chiang.  A comic adaptation of an album by a rock legend.  Politics, mystery and adventure come together in a book that should go over well, except with southern men who don't need Neil Young around anyhow.
 
NEMESIS #2 of 4 by Mark Millar and Steve McNiven.  The worst super-villain ever sets his sights on the White House.  That's right: Nemesis is a teabagger!  Gotta look!
 
PREDATORS #1 of 4 by Marc Andreyko, David Lapham, Guilherme Balbi and Gabriel Guzman.  Yes, that is Lawrence Fishburne and Adrian Brody you see staring at you on the cover as the world's oldest, skinniest Navy SEALS.  "Official movie adaptation" is what they call that in Da Biz.
 
PUNISHERMAX #8 by Jason Aaron and Steve Dillon.  In the past all cops, even dirty ones, have gotten a pass from the Punisher.  But things are changing…  Recommended, not for kids.
 
RAWHIDE KID #1 of 4 by Ron Zimerman and Howard Chaykin.   Seven years after RAWHIDE KID: SLAP LEATHER, his previous outing with/of the character, Zimmerman has returned to use all the campy, gay sub-text innuendo he could think up during that time.  Plus gun-fights.
 
SECRET SIX #22 by Gail Simone and Jim Calafiore.  The concluding chapter of Catman's search for his son's kidnapers.  The only comic on the rack this week that actually drips blood when you pick it up.  Too intense for younger kids.
 
SHIELD #2 by Jonathan Hickman and Dustin Weaver. In which it is possible we will actually read a story about how exactly certain historical figures beat back Galactus and other cosmic threats in the days before electricity and indoor plumbing.
 
SIEGEL AND SHUSTER'S FUNNYMAN SC by Jerry and Joe.  The story of the futile attempt by the co-creators of Superman to catch lightning in a bottle a second time.  This volume collects the humorous adventures of "the first Jewish superhero" and recounts how he crashed and burned back in 1947.  Edited by Thomas Andrae and Mel Gordon. Recommended for any creative types who might be tempted to sell the rights to their greatest creation for a pittance.
 
SOLOMON KANE: DEATH'S BLACK RIDERS #4 of 4 by Scott Allie and Mario Guevara.  The final issue of the puritan avenger's battle against the hellspawn of the Black Forest.
 
TOM STRONG AND THE ROBOTS OF DOOM #1 of 6 by Peter Hogan, Chris Sprouse and Karl Story.  The great boys adventure science hero is back in a mini-series featuring time travel, Nazis and ruined weddings.  Recommended for young teens and up!
 
ULTIMATE COMICS AVENGERS 2 #3 by Mark Millar and Leinil Francis Yu.  Ultimate Nick Fury's super-mean Ultimate Avengers are gonna go beat up/kill Ultimate Ghost Rider.  Or, if he's really evil, make him join the team.
 
UNCANNY X-MEN #525 by Matt Fraction and Terry Dodson.  The X-folk have to destroy a bunch of Nimrods.  Look out, Arizona!
 
UNWRITTEN #14 by Mike Carey and Peter Gross.  The release of the new Tommy Taylor novel promises hijinks, geekery and violence galore!  Recommended.
 
YOUNG ALLIES #1 by Sean McKeever and David Baldeon.  This team consists of Nomad, Arana, Toro, Gravity and Firestar.  Never take a bet when you're drunk at the Marvel Christmas party, kids.  Just don't.  Ever.
 


Thursday, June 03, 2010

Mexican cartoonist obit in today's Post

Gabriel Vargas' obituary ran online a few days ago, but today it is in the hard copy - Mexico's 'Familia Burron' cartoonist dies at 95
The Associated Press
Wednesday, May 26, 2010; 6:20 AM

ComicsDC goes to Heroes Con; so does Thompson and Gallant

...but you shouldn't care about that. What you should care about is that crack local cartoonists Shannon "GI Joe" Gallant and Richard "Cul de Sac" Thompson will be appearing in Charlotte, NC at Heroes Con for three days only! No rain checks!

Tuesday, June 01, 2010

Brother Juniper's Washington connection

Fred McCarthy, the cartoonist of Brother Juniper the Franciscan monk, died last October. A newsletter account of his memorial mass mentioned an attendee "Fr. Emeric Szlezak, OFM, representing the theology classmates at Holy Name College, Washington, D.C., 1941-1945." I have no idea if he was cartooning while he lived in Washington.

Did you photograph Bill Day at the RFK awards?

If so, he'd like to hear from you - " If you have any other photos taken during the RFK Awards, could you send them to me? I posed for a number of shots with people, but I don't know whose camera was being used. I especially would like to get a copy of my United Media Syndication Director, Lisa Wilson." You can write to Bill, care of me.

Monday, May 31, 2010

Cavna on Reuben awards

Michael Cavna's got the story of who actually won what award here -'Bizarro' creator Dan Piraro named Cartoonist of the Year at Reuben Awards
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, May 31, 2010; C04

June 1: Superheroes special report on ABC's 2020

There's a little bit at the following link, including "Watch the full story on "SuperHumans!" a special edition of "20/20" Tuesday, June 1 at 10 p.m. ET"

Superhero Obsession: Why We Love Fantasy
From Jesus to Hercules to Superman and Iron Man, All Cultures Have Own Mythic Heroes
By JON MEYERSOHN
May 31, 2010

Another Trickster chat - Michael Auger

Meet a Local Cartoonist: A Chat with Trickster Illustrator Michael Auger
Monday, May 31st, 2010

Sunday, May 30, 2010

Dan Piraro, not Richard Thompson, wins Rueben


Hogan's Alley sent out an email last night saying that Dan Piraro has won the National Cartoonist Society's Rueben Award.  Piraro's been nominated multiple times, but hadn't won until this year.

Which probably means Richard will have to rent the tux and go win it next year, since the same is true for him now.

Trickster review in Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

Graphic artists illustrate American Indian tales in 'Trickster'
By Jim Higgins
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel May 29, 2010

The City Paper will have more Trickster cartoonist interviews this week too.

Saturday, May 29, 2010

The New York comics Times

Couple of things I saw while reading the paper this morning -

Itzkoff, Dave. 2010.
Flintstones Cereal Maker Rocked by Lawsuit From Hulk Hogan.
New York Times' Arts Beat blog (May 28); New York Times (May 29): C2.

On Marmaduke -

Barnes, Brooks. 2010.
Producer Is a Friend to Comic Animals.
New York Times (May 29): C1, 8.

But their weekly graphic novel sales list is still online only -
Graphic Books
May 27, 2010

Comics on the Rack, Quick Picks for Comics Due Thursday (NOT Wednesday) 06-03-10

COMICS ON THE RACK
Quick Picks for Comics Due Thursday (NOT Wednesday) 06-03-10
By John Judy
 
ADVENTURE COMICS #12 by Paul Levitz and Kevin Sharpe.  The legendary LEGION scribe takes Superboy back to the future for an untold tale of the LSH.  And check out the classic costumes on the cover!
 
AVENGERS PRIME #1 of 5 by Brian Michael Bendis and Alan Davis.  Let's hope Bendis trims the dialogue enough to leave room for all the great art!  Recommended!
 
BLACKSAD, VOL. 1 HC by Juan Diaz Canales and Juanjo Guarnido.  Collecting the first three stories of John Blacksad, cat detective!  These stories took top critical honors in Europe and are so good they almost won awards over here in 'Murika!  Highly recommended.
 
BRIGHTEST DAY #3 by Geoff Johns and His Band of Renown.  So for some folks coming back from the dead ain't all peaches and cream…
 
CAPTAIN AMERICA/BLACK PANTHER: FLAGS OF OUR FATHERS #3 by Reginald Hudlin and Denys Cowan.  Cap and the Panther start smacking down Nazis side-by-side!
 
ELECTRIC ANT #3 of 5 by David Mack and Pascal Alixe.  The twists keep coming in this awesome adaptation of Philip K. Dick's sci-fi/noir brain-bender!  Recommended.
 
FREAKANGELS, VOL. 4 SC by Warren Ellis and Paul Duffield.  Collecting the latest adventures of twelve strange children in a form you can hold in your hands and kill bugs with.  Recommended.
 
A GOD SOMEWHERE GN by John Arcudi, Peter Snejbjerg and Bjarne Hansen.  Veteran super-scribe Arcudi gives his take on "What if someone really got super-powers?"  Gotta look.
 
HAWKEYE AND MOCKINGBIRD #1 by Jim McCann and David Lopez.  For the serious fan of the avenging archer and his not really dead wife.  In this one they're taking on the Phantom Rider and Crossfire because… ya gotta start slow?
 
HERCULES: TWILIGHT OF A GOD #1 of 4 written and drawn by Bob Layton.  A Layton HERCULES is always worth a read.  Fun stuff.
 
IRREDEEMABLE #14 by Mark Waid and Diego Barreto.  Modeus has the Plutonian dancing on a string, doing stuff that's even more twisted and evil than he'd normally be doing anyway.  Recommended but not for kids.
 
IZOMBIE #2 by Chris Roberson and Michael Allred.  If Nancy Drew ate brains to stay alive she'd be iZombie!  More female empowering than "Sex and the City 2" and only half as revolting!  Recommended for older teens and up!
 
JONAH HEX: NO WAY BACK HC by Justin Gray, Jimmy Palmiotti and Tony DeZuniga.  An in-depth adventure with the legendary bounty hunter just in time for him to get Brolin-ized for the big screen!  Exciting!
 
JSA ALL-STARS #7 by Matthew Sturges and Freddie Williams II.  A farewell to Damage, the Black Lantern who didn't return to life.  There is also a back-up story of which we shall no longer speak…
 
JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #39 by Bill Willingham and Jesus Merino. 
It's hard to go wrong with the JSA fighting Nazis.  Sure, Roy Thomas managed it a few times but it wasn't easy…  Glorious traditional stuff.
 
MOUSE GUARD: LEGENDS OF THE GUARD #1 of 4 by Various Creators.  A series of tales told competitively among mice.  Gaiman-esque!
 
MOVING PICTURES GN by Kathryn and Stuart Immonen.  A struggle between a museum curator and an SS officer over art treasures and other stuff.  No capes.
 
RED HOOD: LOST DAYS #1 of 6 by Judd Winick and Pablo Raimondi.  Filling in some background on Jason Todd, the second Robin, mostly hipping us to how he became such a murderous rat.
 
SERENITY: FLOAT OUT ONE-SHOT by Patton Oswalt and Patric Reynolds.  Three tales of the late, lamented Hoban "Wash" Washburne from the Joss Whedon series "Firefly."  Written by the brilliant actor/comedian Patton Oswalt, so yeah, you need this.
 
THE STAND: HARDCASES #1 of 5 by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and Mike Perkins.  The heroes were getting tiresome.  How about we focus on the bad guys and crazies left behind after the most entertaining apocalypse Stephen King ever wrote?  Recommended.
 
STEPHEN KING'S N #4 of 4 by Marc Guggenheim and Alex Maleev.  The final issue as the madness contagion threatens to spread through "a journalist with millions of readers!"  I always knew Perez Hilton would be the death of us all….
 
SUPERMAN/BATMAN ANNUAL #4 by Paul Levitz and Renato Guedes.  A trippy jaunt into the future world of "Batman Beyond" where the new Batman gets called to duty in Metropolis.  What could go wrong?
 
TORCH #8 of 8 by Mike Carey, Alex Ross and Patrick Berkenkotter.  Yet another final issue in which we learn whether the original Human Torch lives or dies.  Again.
 
X-MEN FOREVER GIANT-SIZE #1 by Chris Claremont and Mike Grell.  This one's of interest to Fans of a Certain Age because it's a big fight between the Xs and the Shi'ar Imperial Guard.  The IG were a blatant rip-off, I mean "homage", to the Legion of Super-Heroes over at DC and one of the major artists on LEGION was Mike Grell.  Finally, just to be thorough, the late Dave Cockrum, co-creator of the ALL-NEW X-MEN, was also a major part of the LEGION redesign in the seventies.  It's a huge Nerd Milestone is what I'm saying.  Gotta look.
 


Friday, May 28, 2010

Weingarten's co-author on Clowes

Gina Barreca, who has collaborated with Gene Weingarten on his column in the Washington Post Magazine, looks at the recent Dan Clowes cover for the New Yorker - Is There a Doctorate in the House? Chronicle of Higher Education blog May 21, 2010.

PR: Sun, June 6 Capicons Comic Book & Pop Culture Con

Capicons Comic Book & Pop Culture Con
http://capicons.com

Our Biggest Show Yet!
Sunday, June 6, 2010
10 am - 3 pm

Dunn Loring Volunteer Fire Dept.
2148 Gallows Rd. Dunn Loring, VA 

Admission: $2! FREE for children under 10
$1 of each paid admission will be donated to The Hero Initiative

Special Guest:
Michael J. Hayde author of FLIGHTS OF FANTASY: The Unauthorized but True Story of Radio & TV's "Adventures of Superman" www.michaeljhayde.com

Also Featuring:
Cover Artist and Inker
Tim Dzon (Marvel Comics Presents, Avengers West Coast, Hawkeye, GI Joe, etc.)
http://tim-dzon.deviantart.com/

Artist/Publisher
Andre Campbell, Heritage Comics HSQ
http://heritagehsq.tripod.com/v2/index.html

Artist/Publisher Dan Nokes, 21st Century Sandshark Studios
http://21sandshark.com/

Chameleon Creations' Writer/Publisher Radi Lewis (The Children of the Phoenix)
http://www.thechildrenofthephoenix.com/

- Model Maker Extraordinaire Dave Wilson,
- Cartoonist Ali Gee


Free Parking! Fabulous door prize drawings!

The show is open to the public from 10 am - 3 pm. 40+ Tables. Buy, sell and trade...Gold, Silver, Bronze Age comics; Indie & Modern comics, Publishers & Creators, TV & Movie Collectibles. Non-sport cards; Videos and DVDs; Horror/Sci-Fi; figures, toys; Star Wars and Star Trek memorabilia; original artwork, posters, T-shirts/clothing and various other comic related items.

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

Metro: Take Orange Line to Dunn Loring Metro Station--We're 1.35 miles from the Metro stop and on both the Fairfax Connector and Metro Bus lines. Visit www.wmata.com to plan your trip to our show.

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

=============================================================
Capicons 2010 Dates
Sun. June 6
Sun, Aug. 1
Sun. Oct. 3
Sun. Dec. 5
=============================================================

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

PR: Stan Lee, Others Among Wash Post's Judges for Cartoonist Contest UPDATED

Here's some PR from the Post on their cartoon contest. One might also note that the area's crack cartoonist, Richard Thompson, whose career has been tightly intertwined with the Post, and who is up for a Rueben Award this weekend, is also a judge. One might.:

 

Today The Washington Post announced the final list of celebrity judges who will critique the work of the finalists of America's Next Great Cartoonist Contest.

Stan Lee, Stephen Pastis, Jerry Scott and Garry Trudeau are among the judges. For the complete list, visit Comic Riffs:

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/comic-riffs/2010/05/final_judges_list_washington_p.html

For more on the contest which looks to help a budding cartoonist launch their career, go here: http://views.washingtonpost.com/cartoonist/

Submissions are due June 4!

 



I just went to the Post website and see that there's a bunch of other judges they didn't list in the PR too - Lalo "La Cucaracha" Alcaraz, Darrin "Candorville" Bell, Mike "Penny Arcade" Krahulik, Hilary "Rhymes with Orange" Price, Tom "that darn" Toles, Gene "theoretical Barney & Clyde" Weingarten and Signe "Family Tree" & Pulitzer-winner Wilkinson.

Thursday, May 27, 2010

Heroes Con, Or Stuck Inside of Charlotte with the Cul de Sac Blues Again

Richard and I will be motoring down to Heroes Con next Thursday - I think this is pretty much a go since the schedule posted today says:

June 5 Saturday

3.00 PM

IN CONVERSATION | Richard Thompson
Room 206
Reuben Award -nominated Richard Thompson is widely hailed as one of the most talented cartoonists working today. From his strip Cul de Sac to his Richard's Poor Almanac humor strip to his illustrations for the New Yorker, the Washington Post, and more, he's a fascinating creator. Tom Spurgeon sits down to talk with Richard in this informal conversation.


Presumably I'll be the table monkey and miss it again.

Shannon "G.I. Joe" Gallant is also going down from DC. My buddy Craig Fischer's doing his thing again too.

Truitt on GI Joe, again

G.I. Joe fan Max Brooks gets deep with 'Hearts & Minds' By Brian Truitt, USA TODAY May 20 2010

Ann Telnaes photo from visiting Pixar


Ralph Eggleston, Ann, Bob Scott at Pixar

After our brief mention of Bob Scott yesterday, Ann Telnaes wrote in and sent this picture, noting "Ralph Eggleston and Bob Scott were classmates of mine at CalArts.   I was in SF a couple of months ago and stopped by for a tour."

Another Trickster interview is online at City Paper

Meet a Local Cartoonist: A Chat with Trickster Writer Joseph Stands With Many

Posted by Mike Rhode on May. 27, 2010 at 04:19 pm

 

Pixar animator Bob Scott likes Telnaes and Cul de Sac

Nickel, Scott.
A Nickel's Worth blog May 25, 2010
 
Read the interview, but here's the two quotes relevant to ComicsDC:
 
Of the more recent strips my favorites are DIAMOND LIL, CUL DE SAC, KISKALOO, CITIZEN DOG and  MONTY.
 
And Ann Telnaes does a great job with the  animated versions of her political cartoons.
 
 

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Bill Day's RFK Journalism award

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Bill Day, winner of the 2010 RFK Journalism award for editorial cartooning.

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Bill Day, winner of the 2010 RFK Journalism award for editorial cartooning, with 2010 Herblock award winner Matt Wuerker.

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Bill Day, winner of the 2010 RFK Journalism award for editorial cartooning, with 2010 judges Sara Duke and Mike Rhode.

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Barbarella, Cul de Sac - nothing in common

Caroline Small muses about Barbarella here.

Richard Thompson explains the gag in today's Cul de Sac here and noodles about the cover of the next (2nd) Treasury edition here.

Post cartoonist contest adds Stan Lee as judge

The Post's America's Next Great Cartoonist contest run by Michael Cavna added Stan Lee as a judge. This may be Our Man Thompson's chance to pitch his Spider-Man / Cul de Sac cross-over idea! Ernesto and Dr. Octopus!

Marvel posters at National Library of Medicine

Some times you're looking for something in a library (alcoholism posters) and up pops a surprise like these six posters from Marvel in 1987 on the dangers of drinking to excess.

Here's the links to the images and the catalogue information:

http://ihm.nlm.nih.gov/images/A26073  - Storm

http://ihm.nlm.nih.gov/images/A26074 - Iron Man

http://ihm.nlm.nih.gov/images/A26072 - Firestar and Iceman

 

RFK Journalism award given to Bill Day tonight

Editorial cartoonist Bill Day will receive the RFK Journalism Award for cartooning tonight at George Washington University. I'll be in the audience and should have photos tomorrow.

Weldon on Wednesday Comics

'Wednesday Comics,' Collected: 'Trippy, Experimental,' Still Freaking Huge, by Glen Weldon, May 26, 2010

 

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Webcomic con coming to DC in September.

This PR arrived over the e-transom today -

Intervention: Your Online Life, In Person. A Convention with Webcomics, Videos, Music, and You - September 10-12 2010 at the Hilton Washington DC. http://www.InterventionCon.com

Intervention is a convention for the independent comics, art, and music creators. The con was started by webcomic creator Onezumi Hartstein (http://www.Onezumi.com) and web developer James Harknell (http://www.AWSOM.org). This goal is to bring together different independent creators to party, educate, and appreciate the opportunities the Internet gives to all of us.

Intervention will have awesome webcomics geek-related programming and gaming all day and night from Friday through Sunday. There will be one dance party where the audience can assist the DJ in making live music and one NYC-style dance party. In addition to the Artist's Alley/Vendor Room over 30 webcomic and New Media experts will attend. The con is still being planned. Discussion is being held on the Intervention forum: http://interventioncon.com/forum/

City Paper comics reviews

International Ink: Back to the Future

Posted by Mike Rhode on May. 25, 2010.
 
This week I look at The Atomic Knights, the Legion of Super-Heroes and Oh My Goddess!

Monday, May 24, 2010

June 5: DC Anime Club’s Gundam Day

Press Release

DC Anime Club’s Gundam Day

DC Anime Club invites all Giant Robot fans to Gundam Day on Saturday June 5, 2010 2pm-5pm at the Martin Luther King, Jr Memorial Library, 901 G St NW Washington, DC 20001 in A5 on the A Level of the Library.

For those of you who are unfamiliar Gundam is a Japanese Animated metaseries by the Animation Studio in Japan Sunrise.

Gundam Day will consist of the following activities:

Model kit construction where attendees will learn how to build their own Gundams.

Attendees are encouraged to bring their own model kits.

An Marathon of the Japanese Animated Series Gundam Wing will be screened during Gundam Day.

An Anime Swap Meet will be included as part of Gundam Day.
Have anime dvd’s or Japanese Comics you don’t want anymore?
Come to the Anime Swap Meet and trade with fellow anime enthusiast who no longer.

We hope to see you there.

This event is free and open to the public.
Ages 13 and up.

For more information please visit the DC Anime Club website at http://dcanimeclub.org.

June 1: Swann Fellow's lecture on Turkish cartoonists

From Martha Kennedy at the Library of Congress -

Swann Fellow Yasemin Gencer presents her public lecture, "Cartooning Progress: Secularism and Nationalism in the Early Turkish Republic (1922-28)" at noon on Tuesday, June 1, in Dining Room A on the sixth floor of the Madison Building.

Gencer will discuss how cartoons of this era had the power to create, shape and project a new Turkish national identity based on European models. She will look at cartoons that highlight reforms initiated during the early years of the Turkish Republic. In one such image, for example, an automobile made of Latin letters speeds past a camel composed of Arabic letters, demonstrating how the cartoonist combines text with visual metaphor to underscore the benefits of changing the official alphabet. Such cartoons from 1922-28 illustrate many reforms aimed at secularizing the nation.

Meet a Local Cartoonist: A Chat with Trickster Artist Chris Piers


Meet a Local Cartoonist: A Chat with Trickster  Artist Chris Piers
 by Mike Rhode on May. 24, 2010

I've got a few more of these in the pipeline.


Sunday, May 23, 2010

Zadzooks on Iron Man 2 toys and some movie comics

Zadzooks: Escape From L.A., A Nightmare on Elm Street
Joseph Szadkowski, May 11, 2010

Zadzooks: War Machine, Mark VI Metalon and Iron Man Helmet
Joseph Szadkowski, May 19, 2010

Homer Simpson in Parade Magazine insert in today's Post

Homer's 6 Best Grilling Tips


Illustration by Julius Preite

Comics on the Rack, Quick Picks for Comics Due 05-26-10


COMICS ON THE RACK
Quick Picks for Comics Due 05-26-10
By John Judy
 
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #632 by Zeb Wells and Chris Bachalo.  Holy jeez, did the Lizard really eat his own kid?  Turn the page…  Recommended, but not for the easily creeped out.
 
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN ANNUAL #37 by Kurt Busiek and Patrick Olliffe.  A flashback tale of when Spidey met Captain America for the very first time!  Some villainous shmoes get a-pummeled, you bet!
 
BATMAN: THE RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE #2 of 6 by Grant Morrison and Frazer Irving.  The original Dark Knight is fighting his way back from the dawn of time!  This issue he's fighting Puritans!  Go!  Go!  Go!
 
BRAVE AND BOLD #34 by J. Michael Straczynski and Jesus Saiz.  The Legion of Super Heroes meets the Doom Patrol in a contest to see whose series can get canceled faster!
 
CHIMICHANGA #2 of 3 written and drawn by Eric Powell.  The monstrous "Chimichanga" joins the circus!  From the creator of THE GOON.  Highly recommended!
 
CHOKER #3 of 6 by Ben McCool and Ben Templesmith.  The murder rate in Shotgun City continues to rise even as Choker's hopes dwindle.  Recommended.
 
DAZZLER #1 by Jim McCann and Kalman Andrasofszky.  Because for some fanboys PET AVENGERS just isn't enough…
 
DCS GREATEST IMAGINARY STORIES VOL. 2 SC by Bill Finger, Sheldon Moldoff and Others.  Collecting the best of the Batman "imaginary stories" from the 60s and 70s by Batman's uncredited co-creator, Bill Finger.  Good for all ages.
 
DOC SAVAGE THE MAN OF BRONZE SC by Many Creators.  This volume collects the entire series originally published by Marvel in 1972 adapting four of the Doc Savage pulps from the 1930s.  Neat stuff.
 
FANTASTIC FOUR #579 by Jonathan Hickman and Neil Edwards.  Reed Richards has had enough of your guff and is bringing the huge, Kirby-dotted hammer down!  For your own good.  Excelsior!
 
GREEN LANTERN #54 by Geoff Johns and Doug Mahnke.  In which we learn how the various spectra of Lanterns are adjusting to their new home on Earth.  Check out the cover.  Recommended.
 
THE GUILD #3 of 3 by Felicia Day and Jim Rugg. Will seeing her boyfriend kissing a dude finally get Cyd to wake up?  Will her on-line game quest involve getting a life?  These are the days of our lives…  Recommended.
 
INCORRUPTIBLE #6 by Mark Waid and Horacio Domingues.  Newly reformed bad guy Max Damage goes on a rescue mission that leaves you wondering if Max hasn't gone as crazy with the hero gig as his arch-foe the Plutonian has with the villainy.  Great, unpredictable stuff.  Recommended.
 
INVINCIBLE GENE COLAN HC edited by Clifford Meth and drawn by Gene Colan.  A tribute book and retrospective of one of comics greatest illustrators, featuring analysis from such creators as Stan Lee, Neil Gaiman and many others lucky enough to have worked with Gene the Dean.  Highly recommended.
 
JUSTICE LEAGUE: GENERATION LOST #2 by Keith Giffen, Judd Winnick and Joe Bennett.  Maxwell Lord is back and screwing with the lives of the former JLI.  This series is turning out surprisingly well, maybe because the original creative team has been broken up, thus leading to less of the "Bwah-ha-ha" stuff that stopped being funny back in the 80s.
 
KEVIN SMITH'S GREEN HORNET #4 by Kevin Smith and Jonathan Lau.  The old Hornet is dead and now it's up to Kato to get the new one up to speed.  There's bad guys need to pay!
 
NORTHLANDERS #28 by Brian Wood and Leandro Fernandez.  The final chapter of the epic "Plague Widow."  Recommended.
 
PREVIEWS by Marvel and Diamond Comics.  Stuff in the future you can actually look forward to!  How great is that?
 
SCALPED #38 by Jason Aaron and R.M. Guera.  An issue set in the Vietnam War starring a character we finally get to know a little better.  Always highly recommended.
 
SECRET AVENGERS #1 by Ed Brubaker and Mike Deodato.  Hey, if I had Moon Knight on my team I'd keep it a secret too.  It's Brubaker and he makes stuff like this work.
 
THANOS IMPERATIVE: IGNITION #1 by Dan Abnett, Andy Lanning and Brad Walker.  I believe this is a one-shot that Thanos insists you set fire to.  A "burn after reading" thing, if you will.
 
THOR #610 by Kieron Gillen and Doug Braithwaite.  Thor dukes it out with his insane cyborg clone.  As if the sane ones aren't bad enough…
 
THUNDERBOLTS #144 by Jeff Parker and Kev Walker.  Luke Cage is now a parole officer for the worst villains on the planet.  If they want to see daylight they need to get their good behavior points from Mr. Cage.  It's almost as if it would be Suicide to be on this Squad!  Hey….  Gotta look!
 
ULTIMATE COMICS ENEMY #4 of 4 by Brian Michael Bendis and Rafa Sandoval.  So it turns out this is the concluding chapter of Part One of a three-part trilogy which means, according to my public school math, we have eight more issues comprising two more mini-series to go until this story is finished.  Recommended for people with money, patience and a desire to see if Ultimate Ben Grimm blows up real good.
 
WEDNESDAY COMICS HC by Many Cool Creators.  An oversized edition collecting all the glorious hits and misses of last year's Great Experiment.  If you don't find something to love in these pages you haven't looked hard enough.  Recommended.
 
WOLFSKIN: HUNDREDTH DREAM #2 of 6 by Warren Ellis, Mike Wolfer and Gianluca Pagliarani.  The prehistoric berserker travels north to chew bubblegum and fight monsters.  And bubblegum hasn't been invented yet!  Not for kids.
 
WOLVERINE WEAPON X #13 by Jason Aaron and Ron Garney.  Wolvie and Captain America have to take out a Deathlok army from the future without completely mucking up the timestream.  And they'd like fries with that.  Recommended.
 
WONDER WOMAN #44 by Gail Simone and Nicola Scott.  WW must thrash it out with her evil alien warlord cousin.  And, believe it or not, next issue is #600!  Just accept it!
 
 


Saturday, May 22, 2010

9 Chickweed Lane's post-war nookie

In a great extended flashback, Edna's grandmother has been telling of her World War II adventures as a femme fatale, who fell in love both with a German POW who taught her to sing better, and the American officer who sent her in. The American vanished during the invasion of France, but the Austrian has surface in New York, singing in the opera. The two have found each other and ... clenched hands have resulted.

This is the third example of sexuality that Brooke McEldowney has shown in his strip. Our notes on number one is here and number two is here.

Comic Riffs' Shrek interview

The 'Riffs Interview: 'SHREK' animator Walt Dohrn steps into the oh-so-green limelight
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog May 21, 2010

Cavna on the political cartoon.

THE RIFF: A day after 'Draw Muhammad,' the political cartoon gets a powerful reminder
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog May 21, 2010

Friday, May 21, 2010

Reason on the Danish Islam cartoons controversy again

I don't link to Reason often enough, although they're based in DC, because I think of them as a nationwide publication (as do they, I'm sure). Here's an editorial of interest -

And The Winner of The Everybody Draw Mohammad Contest is...
Nick Gillespie & Matt Welch | May 20, 2010

Cartoons, cartoons every where

Here's some pictures from 16th St, NW in DC today:

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Pom The Antioxidant Superpower ad in a bus stop.

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Shrek Forever After ad on a bus.

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Marmaduke the movie ad at a bus stop. The original comic strip is by Brad Anderson, a longtime gag cartoonist.

Matt Wuerker's very excellent hat and the Funny Times

As requested by no less than Richard Thompson, here are pictures from the recent Funny Times subscriber party in Arlington, which featured the first Irving Award presented to Matt Wuerker. The Irving Award is named in honor of publisher Ray Lesser's father, and his large collection of trophies, that Ray intended to regift, but never quite got around to. I'd like to thank Ray for making me welcome, and to note that I retroactively became a subscriber, especially since the magazine supports our local cartoonist Matt.

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The party.

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Matt and the hat.

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Cartoonists Matt Wuerker, Bill Brown and Joe Sutliff.

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Ray Lesser presenting the first Irving Award to Matt.

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Matt admiring his award.

Lots more pictures are here.

Post on Pakistan response to Draw Mohammed day

Pakistan blocks YouTube a day after shutdown of Facebook over Muhammad issueBy Karin Brulliard
Washington Post Foreign Service
Friday, May 21, 2010; A08

and some commentary from yesterday:

Drawing Muhammad respectfully
By guest bloggers Kelsey Sheridan and Saleha Mallick
Washington Post’s On Faith blog May 20, 2010

Shrek Forever After local reviews

The fourth time is the charm
By Michael O'Sullivan
Washington Post Friday, May 21, 2010

'Shrek Forever After' heavy on sight gags and sidekick antics [online title: Third time not as charming for ‘Shrek’].
By: Sally Kline
Washington Examiner May 21, 2010

Thursday, May 20, 2010

That darn Toles


Cartoon draws unfair comparisons to the Middle East

Washington Post Thursday, May 20, 2010

If the goal of Tom Toles's May 17 cartoon comparing the division of Jerusalem with Alexandria's retrocession to Virginia was intended to trivialize the issue and distort history, he succeeded. The U.S. Congress willingly agreed to Alexandria's request to return to Virginia, which was based on economic factors and lack of representation in Congress.

In contrast, Jews have lived in Jerusalem all but two times since the days of King David, and one of these times is when Jordan ruled East Jerusalem from 1949 to 1967 and prevented Jews, regardless of nationality, from praying at the most sacred places. To compare the division of Jerusalem with the Alexandria retrocession is beyond political cartoon license -- it is really outrageous.

Beth Marcus, Washington


Cavna article on 'Everybody Draw Muhammad Day,' an accidental provocation

By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, May 20, 2010; C04


InTHEIR TURN: 12 top cartoonists offer their take on 'Draw Muhammad Day' the Riffs blog has longer quotes from the cartoonists Michael interviewed.

 
The cartoonist who started the idea has since disavowed it:
 


But Over the Hedge and Mark Fiore both did rather different interpretations.

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Bamn goes to the classroom

Here's Troy Allen's report on visiting a Prince George's County school for Career Day - Career Day and ECBACC, May 19, 2010. Very cool of them.

Naif Al-Mutawa, creator The 99 comic series, was in DC recently

Naif Al-Mutawa, creator The 99 comic series, was in DC recently...
and we missed him. You can read an interview about his experiences here -

Comic book saving the world from stereotypical rhetoric, By Marriam Mossalli, Palestine Note blog May 18 2010