PR and OT: Top Shelf comics sale

I like Top Shelf's products a lot and just bought more from them at SPX. To move this slightly on-topic, 'Regards from Serbia' is a journalistic/autobiographical comic about the wars in the Balkans and I helped compile it.

 

THE 2010 TOP SHELF MASSIVE $3 SALE
*******************************************************

For the next ten days -- thru Friday September 24th -- Top Shelf is having a giant $3 graphic novel web sale. When you visit the site, you'll find over 100 graphic novels and comics on sale -- with over 70 titles marked down to just $3 & $1!

To go directly to the list of items on sale at the Top Shelf website, just click here:

http://www.topshelfcomix.com/specialdeals
http://www.topshelfcomix.com/specialdeals

But here are a few sample sale items:

-- Slashed Prices: Lost Girls, Alec: The Years Have Pants!
-- Slashed Prices: Essex County, Moving Pictures, BB Wolf!
-- Slashed Prices: Owly Hardcovers and Plushy, Undeleted Scenes!
-- Slashed Prices: Dodgem Logic, The Surrogates Owner's Manual!
-- Slashed Prices: The 120 Days of Simon, Far Arden, and more!

-- $3 Titles: Voice of the Fire, The Surrogates (Vols 1 & 2)!
-- $3 Titles: Sulk (Vols 1, 2, & 3), I Am Going To Be Small!
-- $3 Titles: SuperF*ckers #1-#4, Lower Regions, Please Release!
-- $3 Titles: Regards from Serbia, Delayed Replays, and more!

-- $1 Titles: The Surrogates #1-#5, Black Ghost Apple Factory!
-- $1 Titles: The Man Who Loved Breasts, Comic Diorama, 24x2!
-- $1 Titles: Jack's Luck Runs Out, Tales/Great Unspoken, & more!

Please note that Top Shelf accepts PayPal (as well as Visa, MasterCard, Amex, and Discover -- all secure), and that this
sale is good for retailers as well (and comic book shops will get their wholesale discount on top of these sale prices).

http://www.topshelfcomix.com/specialdeals
http://www.topshelfcomix.com/specialdeals

Your friend thru comics,

Chris Staros
Top Shelf Productions
PO Box 1282
Marietta GA 30061-1282
USA

Another Gallant sketch

Another sketch from Shannon, for another con goer -

"St Trinian's girl..."

 
- and he didn't even have a table. This is a Searle tribute, of course.

Another reason to buy sketches from Shannon (SL) Gallant at cons

My 3rd original Shadow drawing is this sweet piece. I now have a collection. Coming soon - Roger Langridge's SPX drawing.

Jerzy Drozd's arrival at SPX on his Comics Are Great podcast

This is a new podcast, and since I'm too tired to post any of my SPX bits yet - here's one to try out.

http://comicsaregreat.com/?p=790

Off to SPX and Intervention

I'll be hanging around SPX until around 4 today, and then moving over to Intervention. Tomorrow I'll be at SPX and running a panel with Richard Thompson, Keith Knight and Marguerite Dabaie.

Kleefeld visits Big Planet

Big Planet Comics, Bethesda
Wednesday, September 08, 2010

"The inside of the store was almost surprisingly clean." Who needs a better recommendation than that?

Niffenegger and Feiffer also at Politics and Prose

Audrey Niffenegger will be signing her new comic book, The Night Bookmobile on Sept 18th at 3:30 pm.

 

Jules Feiffer and Norton Juster will be signing The Odious Ogre at 11 am on Sept 26th.

 

Not a comics writer, but science fiction author William Gibson will be there later the same day at 1 pm.

 

Here's an NPR piece with Feiffer:

 

 

Hansen, Liane.  2010.

'Phantom Tollbooth' Creators Reunited By An 'Ogre'.

National Public Radio's Weekend Edition Sunday (September 5).

online at  http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129608795

http://public.npr.org/anon.npr-mp3/npr/wesun/2010/09/20100905_wesun_08.mp3

and http://www.npr.org/templates/transcript/transcript.php?storyId=129608795

Sturm at Politics and Prose tonight

Note that it's an hour later than usual.

James Sturm - Market Day
8 p.m. Co-founder of the Center for Cartoon Studies, Sturm has set this beautifully crafted historical fiction in the Eastern European countryside of the 1900s. His day in the life of Mendleman, a carpet peddler, uses spare narrative and finely-honed images to achieve a powerful emotional resonance.

Geppi Museum curator Arnold Blumberg featured in Post

Exploring the undead: University of Baltimore to offer English class on zombies

By Daniel de Vise
Washington Post September 10, 2010; B01

Weldon on Cruse's Stuck Rubber Baby

A book I liked a lot although I haven't read it since it originally came out.

Back in Print: In 'Stuck Rubber Baby,' Civil Rights In Black & White & Gray
by Glen Weldon
September 8, 2010

Comic Riffs on Peanuts syndication move

These are strange times...

Good grief: 'PEANUTS' will leave syndicate in February for Universal [UPDATED]
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog September 9, 2010

Tonight! Keith Knight and Richard Thompson duet

They're at Politics and Prose bookstore on Conn Ave, NW in the District -

Thursday September 9
Richard Thompson & Keith Knight
7 p.m. In conjunction with the Small Press Expo (September 11-12 at the Bethesda North Marriott Hotel & Conference Center), we're delighted to host two artists who excel at contemplating the minutiae of everyday life and making it hilarious. Thompson's strip is focused on a loveable family in a suburban development, while Knight's is told through the eyes of a city dweller.

and the following evening-

Friday September 10
James Sturm - Market Day
8 p.m. Co-founder of the Center for Cartoon Studies, Sturm has set this beautifully crafted historical fiction in the Eastern European countryside of the 1900s. His day in the life of Mendleman, a carpet peddler, uses spare narrative and finely-honed images to achieve a powerful emotional resonance.

New local comics publisher Lost Art Books launches at SPX

Meet a Local Comics Publisher: A Chat with Joe Procopio

Posted by Mike Rhode on Sep. 9, 2010 at 11:06 am

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/artsdesk/general/2010/09/09/meet-a-local-comics-publisher-a-chat-with-joe-procopio/

 

Joe's reprinting some of the lesser known, but still interesting, artists of the late 19th and early 20th century.

3 - count 'em - 3 links to local writers' stories

Baltimore's great cartoonist Tim Kreider smacks around Cathy-

Requiem for an Overweight
by Tim Kreider on September 7th, 2010

Caro looks glancingly at the great Radebaugh -

Too Much is Never Enough: Morris Lapidus’ Postmodern Curves
by Caroline Small on September 8th, 2010

and Weldon sneaks in a Kevin Huizenga review -

A Funny, Fractured Field Guide To A 'Wild Kingdom'
by Glen Weldon
National Public Radio's Books We Like September 4, 2010

PR: Bamn at SPX This Weekend

Troy Allen says,

Don't tell the other cons this...but the Small Press Expo is my favorite.

Created with the purpose of showcasing the brightest in indie comics (and letting them pimp thier books to you), SPX takes place every year in my home state of Maryland. But that's not why she's my prize stallion. Nope, the reason is that SPX is where Bamn, Jay, and I introduced ourselves to the comic industry. It's the moment of realization that we weren't the fans anymore, we were the professionals. For that reason, --- for the nostalgic electricy in the air at SPX --- she's my favorite.

Like previous years, SPX will be held at the Marriott in North Bethesda and, once again, she seems primed to disrupt the quiet "city" of Rockville for 2 nights.

You should be there this weekend. Buy some stuff and discover some new art. I'm certain it will be as memorable for you.

The Official SPX Website  

We Are At Table W6b!  

The DC Conspiracy Will Be There With Fresh Copies Of The Magic Bullet! 

Greg McElhatton's Read About Comics website

One local blogger who's been at it longer than most of us (except perhaps Zadzooks?) is Greg McElhatton. I never link to Greg's Read About Comics! site because he runs reviews of comics, and I tend to mostly note news and happenings here. That is a stupid reason, but it has the advantage of being the truth. It's still lame. So here's Greg's description of his site, just as he puts a notice up that he's taking a break for SPX:

Welcome to Read About Comics! Read About Comics’s goal is to help keep you informed and updated on comics of all shapes, styles, sizes, and genres. Hopefully there will be a little something for everyone here, no matter what sort of comics you enjoy reading. Read About Comics is written and produced by Greg McElhatton.

Greg McElhatton was a founding contributing writer to Wizard: The Guide to Comics, providing interviews and articles on a regular basis between issues #1 and 58. He has served on the Small Press Expo Steering Committee since 1997, and was Executive Director for the 2002 and 2003 shows. Between 1999 and 2006 he wrote 1000 reviews for iComics.com. He has served as a judge for the Eisner Awards, wrote the monthly “Things to Come” column for just over two years at Ninth Art, and contributed an essay to St. Martin’s Press’ The Year’s Best Graphic Novels, Comics & Manga in 2005. Outside of comics his fiction has been published by Penguin Putnam and Barnes & Noble. In his spare time he runs marathons.


Since he's taking a break, that gives you all a chance to go through and read everything he's posted so far.

I've also added some links to local sites, including Greg's to the far right list.

October 17: "Max and Moritz: A Cartoon Opera in Seven Pranks" at National Gallery of Art

New York Opera Society at the National Gallery of Art
"Max and Moritz: A Cartoon Opera in Seven Pranks" by Gisle Kverndokk

October 17 at 6:30PM

East Building Concourse, Auditorium

World premiere performance
Presented in honor of Edvard Munch: Master Prints and in conjunction with Norway Comes to Washington

PR: Fanfare Ponent Mon at SPX 2010!

	FANFARE/PONENT MON AT SPX 2010 THIS WEEKEND Indie UK Publisher honored with two Ignatz Award noms North America's premiere independent cartooning and comics arts festival, SPX, is underway this weekend—Saturday and Sunday, Sept. 11–12, at the Bethesda North Marriot Hotel in Bethesda, Maryland—and Fanfare/Ponent Mon is pleased to announce its participation in this venerable event. This will be the independent UK publisher's second year as an exhibitor and to celebrate, the company is offering attendees the chance to win four Fanfare/ Ponent Mon titles. There is no purchase necessary and you do not have to be present when the winning entry is drawn. Just stop by booth F7 and fill out a form. Saying "Hi" doesn't hurt either! Double-Dose of Ignatz Fanfare/Ponent Mon is also proud to announce that it has received three nominations for the prestigious Ignatz Awards, SPX's yearly distinction for the best in graphic literature and cartooning. Jiro Taniguchi's mountain-climbing epic, The Summit of the Gods, Vol. 1, was honored with a pair in the categories of Outstanding Series and Outstanding Graphic Novel, while Willy Linthout's wrenching examination of his son's suicide, Years of the Elephant, received one, also in the latter category. Receiving a single nod is an incredible honor, never mind three, and Fanfare/Ponent Mon would like to thank everyone involved in the selection process. East Coast Premiere SPX 2010 will also feature the East Coast debut of Korea as Viewed by 12 Creators, the long-anticipated follow-up to the company's 2007 Eisner Award nominated Japan as Viewed by 17 Creators. The anthology features work by such graphic art luminaries as Choi Kyu-sok, Mathieu Sapin and Lee Doo-hoo. A limited number of the book will be available for purchase at a special show price. Hope to see you there! A limited number of the book will be available at the show for only $16, a savings of four dollars off the retail price.

PR: ICAF 2011 at the Center for Cartoon Studies

ICAF started in DC and stayed here for a decade. I've got a soft spot in my heart for it. Not soft enough to travel to Vermont though.

The International Comic Arts Forum to hold 15th Anniversary Academic Conference at The Center for Cartoon Studies in 2011

The International Comic Arts Forum (ICAF) is very pleased to announce that The Center for Cartoon Studies (CCS) will host the forum's next academic conference from September 29 - October 1, 2011 in White River Junction, Vermont. A call for conference papers and panels will be forthcoming this fall.

Since 1995, ICAF has been dedicated to promoting the scholarly study and appreciation of comic art, including comic strips, comic books, comics albums and graphic novels, magazine and newspaper cartooning, caricature, and comics in electronic media. This new partnership with the Center for Cartoon Studies - one of the nation's most highly-respected institutions dedicated to the training of cartoonists, writers, and designers - promises to further the mission of both units in providing a supportive, collegial environment to showcase innovative comics scholarship and comic art for critics, historians, teachers, and comics professionals from around the world. Previous forums have been held at the School of the Art Institute in Chicago, Georgetown University, and the Small Press Expo in Maryland.

For more information on ICAF's previous programs, scholarships, and our new Executive Committee members (Casey Brienza, Bill Kartalopoulos, Toph Marshall, Mark Heimermann and Qiana Whitted) visit: http://www.internationalcomicartsforum.org/. Additional information about The Center for Cartoon Studies can be found by visiting: http://www.cartoonstudies.org/.

A Pre-SPX Chat with R.M. Rhodes up at City Paper

Meet a Local Sequential Artist: A Chat with R.M. Rhodes

Posted by Mike Rhode on Sep. 8, 2010

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/artsdesk/general/2010/09/08/meet-a-local-sequential-artist-a-chat-with-r-m-rhodes/

No new comic books today

Due to Labor Day on Monday, new comics day is on Thursday this week.

A few SPX items from Matt Dembicki

 Matt Dembicki would like us to know:

-The D.C. Conspiracy (www.dcconspiracy.com) will have tables W3-W9
-We'll have FREE copies of our latest project, the 'Magic Bullet' comics newspaper
-Native American storyteller and 'Trickster' contributing writer Joseph Stands With Many will be a guest at my table at W9 on Sat., from 3-5
p.m.

A Chat with Carolyn Belefski online at City Paper

SPX is coming up and here's an interview with a cartoonist who'll be selling her books there -

Meet a Local Cartoonist: A Chat with Carolyn Belefski

Posted by Mike Rhode on Sep. 7, 2010

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/artsdesk/general/2010/09/07/meet-a-local-cartoonist-a-chat-with-carolyn-belefski/

Another Intervention convention interview

Giving the Internet An INTERVENTION: A Q&A With Onezumi
Posted on Tuesday, August 17th, 2010 at 1:28 pm
http://charmcitycurrent.com/bmorenerdy/2010/08/17/giving-the-internet-an-intervention-a-qa-with-onezumi/

Sept 9: One Night Only! Richard Thompson + Keith Knight LIVE

They're at Politics and Prose bookstore on Conn Ave, NW in the District -

Thursday September 9
Richard Thompson & Keith Knight
7 p.m. In conjunction with the Small Press Expo (September 11-12 at the Bethesda North Marriott Hotel & Conference Center), we're delighted to host two artists who excel at contemplating the minutiae of everyday life and making it hilarious. Thompson's strip is focused on a loveable family in a suburban development, while Knight's is told through the eyes of a city dweller.

and the following evening-

Friday September 10
James Sturm - Market Day
8 p.m. Co-founder of the Center for Cartoon Studies, Sturm has set this beautifully crafted historical fiction in the Eastern European countryside of the 1900s. His day in the life of Mendleman, a carpet peddler, uses spare narrative and finely-honed images to achieve a powerful emotional resonance.

Small Press Expo This Weekend with Jaime Hernandez, James Sturm, Dean Haspiel, Raina Telgemeier, Richard Thompson and A Cast of Thousands

Small Press Expo This Weekend with Jaime Hernandez, James Sturm, Dean Haspiel, Raina Telgemeier, Richard Thompson and A Cast of Thousands

Bethesda, Maryland, September 7, 2010 - The Small Press Expo will be held this weekend, Saturday September 11 and Sunday September 12. This year we are featuring the First Annual SPX Animation Showcase along with showings of Nina Paley's full length movie Sita Sings The Blues. This is in addition to the Ignatz Awards presentation Saturday night, September 11 at 9PM, which is open to all SPX attendees.There will be a programming slate running both days that includes one on one interviews with James Sturm and Jaime Hernandez, as well as a dialogue on cartooning between Julia Wertz and Kate Beaton. There will be the ever present exhibitors hall with over 350 exhibitors selling the best in graphic novels, as well as self published comics and mini-comics.

The hours for SPX 2010 are 11AM-7PM Saturday, September 11, and noon-6PM Sunday, September 12. Admission is $10 for a single day and $15 for both days.

More information is available on our web site at 

http://www.spxpo.com.

Here is the complete list of special guests:

Richard Thompson writes and draws the successful syndicated comic strip Cul de Sac and drew the weekly Washington Post cartoon Richard's Poor Almanac, best known for the George W. Bush parody "Make the Pie Higher." Thompson was nominated for the National Cartoonist Society's Reuben award in 2009, and his illustrations have appeared in The New Yorker and the Atlantic Monthly.

 Jaime Hernandez is the Harvey Award winning and critically acclaimed creator behind the long running LOCA series from Love and Rockets. He has also done work for The New Yorker, as well as album covers for such bands as Los Lobos and Michelle Shocked. He drew the cover for Strange Tales Vol.2 #2 from Marvel, due in November and there will be a new installment of Loca in Love and Rockets: New Stories #3, to be released in September from Fantagraphics. 

James Sturm is an Eisner and Xeric Award winner as well as being a co-founder of The Center for Cartoon Studies. His latest graphic novel, Market Day, published by Drawn and Quarterly, drew critical acclaim from such media outlets as The New York Times and NPR. James is the creator of the equally well received The Golem's Mighty Swing,  as well as co-authoring Satchel Paige: Striking Out Jim Crow. He just completed a long stint off the Internet and e-mail, which was documented in a series he did on the subject for Slate. 

Kate Beaton  is the winner of the 2009 Doug Wright Award for Best Emerging Talent. She recently had her first cartoon published in The New Yorker, and drew a poster for Janus Films. She will be part of the next issue of Marvel Strange Tales, due out in October. Her History Comics  takes an irreverent and comical view of history and historical figures, this leading to coverage in Wired Magazine, Bitch and Macleans. Kate is responsible for a number of the banners on the SPX site, for which SPX has received rave reviews. Kate's work can be viewed at her web site http://harkavagrant.com/.

Dean Haspiel  won the Emmy Award for Best Title design for his work on the show Bored to Death for which he also did a comic available on the shows web site. He is the one of the founders of the renown web comic cooperative ACT-I-VATE , as well as a having collaborated with the late, great, Harvey Pekar on The Quitter and American Splendor. He has worked for such outlets as New York Times, Marvel, DC/Vertigo as well as Dark Horse, where he illustrated Michael Chabon's The Escapist. See Dean's work on the ACT-I-VATE web site at http://act-i-vate.com/.

Nate Powell is a novelist, publisher and musician who owns the DIY record label Harlan records. He received the 2009 Eisner Award for Outstanding Graphic Novel for his work Swallow Me Whole and also received the 2009 Ignatz Award for Best Artist. Visit his web site at http://www.seemybrotherdance.org.

R. Sikoryak has been producing comics adaptations of literary classics, turning familiar cartoon imagery and tropes into quirky and insightful parodies, starting with his early appearances in the groundbreaking series RAW. He has published drawings in The New Yorker and Esquire among others, including The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. He currently teaches illustration at Parsons in New York City

Vanessa Davis is known for her work for such magazines/web sites as BItch, Vice, Tablet and Bust. Her latest book, Make Me A Woman from Drawn and Quarterly, is premiering at SPX.  Make Me A Woman is a collection of her diary series that spans her life from her Bat Mitzvah to the current day. Check out her website at http://www.spanielrage.com/.

Keith Knight is the creator of the hit newspaper strip The Knight Life and will be on hand at SPX to sign the first compilation of that series, entitled The Knight Life: Chivalry Ain't Dead from Grand Central Publishing. Keith is a multiple Glyph Award winner and has drawn for such publications as Mad and ESPN Magazine. His (TH)ink and K Chronicles series have been critically acclaimed and may be found on his web site at http://www.kchronicles.com/.

Raina Telgemeier's latest work, Smile (A Dental Drama) published by Scholastic Press, led to excellent reviews by both Publishers Weekly and the New York Times. She drew four graphic novels for Scholastic based on the best seller series by Ann M. Martin, The Baby-sitters Club. Raina has won the Eisner, Ignatz and Kimberly Yale Awards and is the artist for this years SPX poster. Raina's website is http://goraina.com/.

Jim Rugg is an illustrator and cartoonist from Pittsburgh. His graphic novels and comic collections include Afrodisiac (Adhouse Books), Street Angel (SLG Publishing), The PLAIN Janes and Janes in Love (DC Comics), One Model Nation (Image Comics) and The Guild (Dark Horse Comics). He has also produced short comics for VH1, New York Magazine, True Porn, Meathaus, Cinema Sewer and Project Superior.

SPX is a registered 501(c)3 which brings together more than 300 artists and publishers to meet their readers, booksellers and distributors each year. Graphic novels, mini comics and alternative comics will all be on display and for sale by their authors and illustrators. 

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

Paul Conrad's obit in Washington Post

Pulitzer-winning political cartoonist Paul Conrad dies at 86
By Matt Schudel
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, September 6, 2010; B04

Grand Comics Database expanding

For many years, a dedicated group of people have been attempting to index comic books worldwide into the Grand Comics Database. Back before I had projects like this blog, I used to contribute data and I still love the idea of the project. Recently a spin-off project for comic strips was begun and you can get in at the ground floor here.

Cavna on Paul Conrad

IN MEMORIAM: RIP Paul Conrad, Pulitzer-winning giant of political cartooning
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog September 5, 2010;
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/comic-riffs/2010/09/in_memoriam_paul_conrad.html

Today in The New York (Comics) Times

Pekar, Paul Conrad and Rutu Modan -

The Unfinished Tale of an Unlikely Hero
By DAVE ITZKOFF
Harvey Pekar, the obsessive chronicler of everyday lives, was collaborating at the end of his life on a Web project whose fate in print remains uncertain.

Paul Conrad, Cartoonist, Dies at 86
By ROBERT D. McFADDEN
Mr. Conrad’s editorial cartoons in The Los Angeles Times and other papers slashed presidents, skewered pomposity and exposed what he saw as injustice for six decades.

And Rutu Modan illustrated the review of Skippy Dies in the Book Review.

Comics in today's Washington Examiner

There's a review of Seymour Chwast's version of Dante's Inferno and a wire story about PBS' Cat in the Hat cartoon.  Links may follow.

"Superheroes in Court: Lawyers, Law and Comic Books" exhibit done by local collector/lawyer

Local lawyer and big-time comic book collector Mark Zaid has got an exhibit of legal-related comic book covers up in a Yale law library. That's a neat idea for a theme. Here's 3 links about the show that Mark sent me:
 

http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/09/03/graphic-books-best-sellers-throwing-the-book-at-them/

http://advocatesstudio.com/2010/09/03/art-imitating-law-comic-style/

http://www.abajournal.com/news/article/holy_smokes_batman_law_in_comics_featured_in_new_exhibit/?from=widget

Penny Arcade interview at Post

The 'Riffs Interview: 'PENNY ARCADE' artist Mike Krahulik talks success, charity & today's PAX
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog September 3, 2010

That darn Cho!

Another Saturday, another letter to the editor...

You should have named Le Pont des Arts in Paris
Washington Post September 4, 2010
Judith Judson, Arlington

...at least they reran Cho's picture.

Post runs book review by graphic novelist

The most interesting piece for this blog is "Gabaldon's latest novel, "The Exile: An Outlander Graphic Novel," will be published later this month."

Review of Anne Fortier's novel "Juliet," a riff on "Romeo and Juliet"
By Diana Gabaldon
Washington Post September 4, 2010; C03

John K Snyder III and Matt Wagner visit Library of Congress

John K Snyder III and Matt Wagner visited the Library of Congress to see the original Spider-Man pages last week, before attending the Baltimore Comic-Con. Scoop has the story. You can see friend of ComicsDC, librarian Sara Duke, in the 2nd picture behind Matt.

Truitt on Wolverine

Wolverine goes to hell in his new comic
By Brian Truitt, USA TODAY September 2 2010

Mark Ruffin's take on Baltimore Comic Con

We were loooking for each other, but missed again.  As a group, DC's comics bloggers are great individualists.

Hundreds of talents, patrons and vendors commenced valuable identity for Baltimore Comic Con Thursday, September 2, 2010 As a specialty reference comic-con may be an accustomed jargon nation-wide, driven by online frequency, over the last three years to be institutionally known as a variable of descriptors in the capacity of a household term. Infuse comic-con into any... Read more » DC Comic Books Examiner, Mark Ruffin Mark Ruffin, a freelance writer and story editor, recalls a first read of Peter Parker, the Amazing Spider-Man #8 and a collection of comic books from that point. Following honorable service in the military, he has contributed and edited articles on subjects political, sports car related, and of murder mystery dinner games. Grouped with his enthusiasm for culinary arts and sports, he enjoys discussions on the various perspectives of the comics medium. Contact Mark here.

PR: Fifth Annual Washington DC Comics Conspiracy Counter Culture Festival

The Washington DC Comics Conspiracy is proud to announce that the Fifth Annual Counter Culture Festival will be held on October 24th, from 12-8pm. The event will be held at RFD's, with an entrance on 8th street NW, between H and I streets - just one block from the Gallery Place-Chinatown metro station. Admission is free.

The event will feature vending by local comics creators and artists, as well as music and entertainment. For more information, including how to reserve a vending space, please visit:

http://www.dcconspiracy.com/blog/2010/09/counter-culture-festival-5.html

Please contact RM Rhodes at rhodes@oletheros.com with any questions.

Class of '63 Oceanus Procellarum Book Two the new webcomic
by R. M. Rhodes
http://www.webcomicsnation.com/oletheros/op

A Chat with Onezumi Hartstein of Intervention at the City Paper

Meet a Local Con Organizer: A Chat with Onezumi Hartstein of Intervention
Posted by Mike Rhode on Sep. 3, 2010 at 9:57 am
http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/artsdesk/books/2010/09/03/meet-a-local-con-organizer-a-chat-with-onezumi-hartstein-of-intervention/

Former cartoonist Shayne Stratyner exhibits in Frederick, MD

Life’s a journey not a traffic jam
By Lauren LaRocca
Frederick News-Post September 02, 2010

PR: SPX Announces A Fort Thunder/Monster Debut Event with Brian Ralph and Paul Lyons

Bethesda, Maryland, September 2, 2010 - From 1995 to 2001, the Fort Thunder artists' space and performance venue in Providence, Rhode Island was a fertile creative center. Work produced by artists living at the Fort – both at the time and individually in the years since the space was shut down – has been enormously influential in the worlds of fine art, music, and comics. In addition to a wealth of posters, prints, artists' books and individual comics, two publications served as the venue's de facto comics anthologies: the mini-comics series Monster and the comics newspaper Paper Rodeo. Nine years after the
Fort's closing, a new issue of Monster will debut at this year's SPX.

The oversized (10" x 14") book, featuring offset-printed interiors and a silkscreened cover, will include new and previously unpublished work by Fort Thunder alumni including Mat Brinkman, Brian Chippendale, Jim Drain, Paul Lyons and Brian Ralph, as well as work by friends and colleagues including Keith Jones, Michael DeForge, and Chuck Forsman.

To mark the occasion, SPX Programming coordinator and Parsons faculty member Bill Kartalopoulos will moderate a special panel event titled "Return of the Monster: The Fort Thunder Legacy" on Saturday, September 11 at 5:30 as part of the festival's larger schedule of
programming events. The panel will feature artists and former Fort Thunder residents Brian Ralph and Paul Lyons. The discussion will also include Tom Devlin, who has published work by Fort Thunder artists both through his own former publishing company Highwater Books and now as creative director of Drawn and Quarterly, and PictureBox publisher Dan Nadel, who has extensively interviewed Fort Thunder artists and currently publishes work by Fort co-founders Brinkman and Chippendale.
Please join us for this special consideration of a landmark contribution to recent comics history.

SPX is a registered 501(c)3 which brings together more than 300
artists and publishers to meet their readers, booksellers and distributors each year. Graphic novels, mini comics and alternative comics will all be on display and for sale by their authors and illustrators.

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

The hours for SPX 2010 are 11AM-7PM Saturday, September 11, and noon-6PM Sunday, September 12. Admission is $10 for a single day and $15 for both days.

Smithsonian inspires lad to be comic book writer

Writer's Workshop #3: ERIC TRAUTMANN
By David Pepose, Newsarama 27 August 2010

Caro on Lilli Carré’s minicomic “The Thing about Madeline”

Caroline "Caro" Small writes on Lilli Carré’s minicomic “The Thing about Madeline” and also her film Head Garden which will be shown at SPX.

Nevin Martell's expanded Calvin and Hobbes book featured

The paperback edition is generating new reviews for Nevin's book:

Expanded Book Chronicles Search for Bill Watterson, Calvin and Hobbes Creator
D.X. Ferris
Cleveland Scene Aug 31, 2010

Searching for Watterson: The confounding creator of Calvin & Hobbes
By Raymond Cummings
San Antonio Current September 1 2010

Here's my take on the original edition from a year ago.

Baltimore City Paper reviews graphic novels.

Drawing Fire: Strong artwork saves two otherwise flawed graphic novels about war
By Andrea Appleton
Baltimore City Paper September 1, 2010

Reviews War is Boring, By David Axe and Matt Bors (NAL) and Greendale, By Joshua Dysart, Cliff Chiang, Dave Stewart, and Todd Klein (Vertigo).

Meet a Local Con Organizer: A Chat with Small Press Expo’s Jeff Alexander

Meet a Local Con Organizer: A Chat with Small Press Expo's Jeff Alexander

Posted by Mike Rhode on Sep. 1, 2010 at 9:27 am 

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/artsdesk/books/2010/09/01/meet-a-local-con-organizer-a-chat-with-small-press-expos-jeff-alexander/

Weldon's suggested comics links

Weldon, Glen.  2010.

An End-of-Summer Comics Linkdump. Um, 'Roundup.' Meant to Say Roundup.

National Public Radio's Monkey See blog (September 1): http://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2010/08/31/129563688/an-end-of-summer-comics-linkdump-um-roundup-meant-to-say-roundup

Jim Dougan's Sam & Lilah webcomic updated

In spite of being at the Baltimore Comic-Con and bringing all the cosplay G.I. Joes over to Shannon Gallant's table, Jim's got new pages of his excellent webcomic up now:


SAM & LILAH Updated Today!

We're back! Here's two more pages from Chapter 3....


http://www.activatecomix.com/42-3-28.comic

Need to catch up first? Start here:

Chapter 1: http://www.activatecomix.com/42-1-1.comic

Chapter 2: http://www.activatecomix.com/42-2-1.comic

Chapter 3: http://www.activatecomix.com/42-3-1.comic

We'll be back with more in just two weeks! See you September 13!

Frank Cho's Zatanna painting featured on Comic Riffs

FRANK CHO UPDATE: Oil painting sells at Comic-Con auction for $10K
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs August 31, 2010

Zadzooks interviews George Romero

Zadzooks: George Romero Interview
A visit with zombie-film king Romero
By Joseph Szadkowski
The Washington Times August 26, 2010

Bruce Guthrie's Baltimore Comic-Con photos

Richard Thompson and 'Cul de Sac' website manager Chris Sparks.

Bruce Guthrie has put his Baltimore Comic-Con photos online, in spite of an illegal towing of his car. Bruce is a long-time friend of Richard Thompson, and a maniac photographer who puts his material online through essentially a Creative Commons, attribution, non-commercial use license. Be sure to check out this crazy Little Nemo commission that Jeremy Bastian did.

MD -- Baltimore Comic-Con (2010) -- Day 2 (of 2) -- Miscellaneous (Partially reviewed)

MD -- Baltimore Comic-Con (2010) -- Day 2 (of 2) -- Artists
Artists in sequence: Marv Wolfman, Jim Shooter, Jim Calafiore, Barry Kitson, Jerry Robinson, Paul Pope, Howard Chaykin, Tom Raney, Jim Starlin, Ron Marz. Brian Pulido, Bob McLeod, Antonio Clark, Brad Samuelson, ???, Jose Garcia-Lopez, Matt Wagner, John K. Snyder III, Walter Simonson, Louise Simonson,... (Partially reviewed)

MD -- Baltimore Comic-Con (2010) -- Day 2 (of 2) -- Greg LaRocque and friends (Partially reviewed)

MD -- Baltimore Comic-Con (2010) -- Day 2 (of 2) -- Richard Thompson and friends (Partially reviewed)

MD -- Baltimore Comic-Con (2010) -- Day 1 (of 2) -- Miscellaneous (Partially reviewed)

MD -- Baltimore Comic-Con (2010) -- Day 1 (of 2) -- Artists
Artists in sequence: Dennis O'Neil, Jerry Robinson, Matt Wagner, John Snyder III, Marv Wolfman, Jim Shooter, Michael Golden, Joe Jusko, Mark Wheatley, Denis Kitchen, Steve Conley, Tim Truman, Todd McFarlane, Timothy Lantz, Bryan Brown, Terry Moore, Bill Tucci, Walt Simonson, Paul Pope, Don Rosa, Sergio... (Partially reviewed)


MD -- Baltimore Comic-Con (2010) -- Day 1 (of 2) -- Greg LaRocque and friends
Artists here: Greg LaRocque, Julie (Ms Marvel), and Cesar Castillo Jr. (Partially reviewed)

MD -- Baltimore Comic-Con (2010) -- Day 1 (of 2) -- Richard Thompson and friends
Artists: Richard Thompson and Shannon Gallant. (Partially reviewed)

Mark Waid says copyright is too long at Harvey Awards speech

Apparently there's something in the air lately. Here's The Beat's report on Mark Waid's speech about copyright. Here's me on the topic a few days ago. In the comments on The Beat, I agree with Stuart Moore's reasoned take. Note Dean Haspiel's remark about building his brand as well.

Rina Piccolo interview at Comic Riffs

'RHYMES WITH ORANGE': Rina Piccolo fills us in on her Hilary Price fill-in
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog August 30, 2010

Wertham papers at LoC article

I'm working on an article for the City Paper, but here's another person's take on the story:

Papers of anti-comic book crusader now open to scholars
By Matthew Lasar
August 30 2010

Oh, and he's got a link to an internal LoC article -

Papers of Comic-Book ‘Villain’ Open at Library
August 27th, 2010 by Matt Raymond
My colleague Erin Allen wrote the following for the Library’s in-house letter, The Gazette, and I thought it worth sharing with a wider audience:

Ask Stan Lee a question, on CNN

This one was sent to me by one of my Arlington neighbors, so it's ComicsDC turf by default - thanks, Mike McM!

Ask Stan Lee

Got a question about "The Hulk," "X-Men" or "Spider-Man" that's eating at you? Want to pick the brains of one of the Marvel revolution's key masterminds?

Iconic comic book creator and writer Stan Lee will be stopping by CNN HQ on Thursday to sit down with us and take your questions.

Put yourself on camera and ask a concise question for Lee. Get it to us by Tuesday, August 30 at 5 p.m. and your video just might be chosen.

Guidelines:

Video questions please

Try to keep them under 30 seconds

Have fun

Jerry Beck on History Detectives in 1/2 hour

History Detectives

Monday, August 30 -- 9:00pm
26 - WETA
WB Cartoons, Galvez Papers, Mussolini Dagger

A box of cartoon drawings and cels reveals information about the early days of animation and the people behind it; emancipation papers for a female slave that were signed by a regional governor; a dagger that may have belonged to Benito Mussolini.

A reason to buy a sketch from SL Gallant at a Con

At Baltimore Comic-Con my buddy Shannon Gallant gave me a sketch he did of "Real Leela," based on the Futurama character. You too can commission him to draw one of these (actually I asked for the Shadow, but he stayed busy all weekend doing G.I. Joe and other characters). Link is NQ SFW cheesecake.

America's Next Great Cartoonist begins running in Post

Olivia Walch's six-week stint in the Post with Imogen Quest begins today.

Rafer Roberts interview on Magic Bullet up at City Paper

Meet a Local Cartoonist: Rafer Roberts of Plastic Farm and Magic Bullet

Posted by Mike Rhode on Aug. 30, 2010 at 11:01 am

 

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/artsdesk/books/2010/08/30/meet-a-local-cartoonist-rafer-roberts-of-plastic-farm-and-magic-bullet/

PR: Small Press Expo Announces Richard Thompson, Nate Powell and R. Sikoryak as guests for SPX 2010.

Small Press Expo Announces Richard Thompson, Nate Powell and R. Sikoryak as guests for SPX 2010.

Bethesda, Maryland; August 30, 2010 - The Small Press Expo (SPX), the preeminent showcase for the exhibition of independent comics, graphic novels and alternative political cartoons is pleased to announce that Richard Thompson, Nate Powell and R. Sikoryak will be guests for SPX 2010, to be held September 11 and September 12 at the Marriott North Bethesda Hotel and Conference Center in Bethesda, Maryland, across from the White Flint Metro stop. These guests are in addition to the previously announced Jamie Hernandez, Vanessa Davis, Keith Knight, James Sturm, Raina Telgemeier, Jim Rugg,  Kate Beaton and Emmy Award Winner Dean Haspiel.

 

Richard Thompson writes and draws the successful syndicated comic strip Cul de Sac and drew the weekly Washington Post cartoon Richard's Poor Almanac, best known for the George W. Bush parody "Make the Pie Higher." Thompson was nominated for the National Cartoonist Society's Reuben award in 2009, and his illustrations have appeared in The New Yorker and the Atlantic Monthly.

 

Nate Powell is a novelist, publisher and musician who owns the DIY record label Harlan records. He received the 2009 Eisner Award for Outstanding Graphic Novel for his work Swallow Me Whole and also received the 2009 Ignatz Award for Best Artist. Visit his web site at 

http://www.seemybrotherdance.org.

R. Sikoryak has been producing comics adaptations of literary classics, turning familiar cartoon imagery and tropes into quirky and insightful parodies, starting with his early appearances in the groundbreaking series RAW. He has published drawings in The New Yorker and Esquire among others, including The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. He currently teaches illustration at Parsons in New York City.

 

SPX culminates with the presentation of the Ignatz Awards for outstanding achievement in comics and cartooning on Saturday night, September 11 at 9PM. Attendees at SPX get in free to the Ignatz Awards. The Ignatz is the first Festival Prize in the US comic book industry, with winners chosen by ballots submitted by attendees during SPX. 

 

For detailed information about guests, panels and the Ignatz Awards, visit the SPX web site at www.spxpo.com.

 

SPX is a registered 501(c)3 which brings together more than 300 artists and publishers to meet their readers, booksellers and distributors each year. Graphic novels, mini comics and alternative comics will all be on display and for sale by their authors and illustrators. 

 

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

  

The hours for SPX 2010 are 11AM-7PM Saturday, September 11, and noon-6PM Sunday, September 12. Admission is $10 for a single day and $15 for both days.

Cliff Chiang interviewed at Comic Riffs

The 'Riffs Interview: Comic artist CLIFF CHIANG offers an insider's tour of Neil Young's 'Greendale'

By Michael Cavna 

Washington Post Comic Riffs blog August 29, 2010.

Baltimore Comic-Con on Sunday

I'm a bit tired so here's some new pictures.

A few of interest:


Shannon Gallant and his Valkyrie sketch.


Don Rosa sketching Uncle Scrooge.


Frank Cho's painting of Mara Herning as Zatanna, being air-dried by Mara before auctioning.


Chris Sparks, Sergio Aragones and Richard Thompson share a laugh


Frederick, MD's Stephen Blickenstaff and his monsters.

Charlotte Observer editorial cartoonist would like to see daily Cul de Sac

'Dustin' moves in
Kevin Siers
Charlotte Observer's You Write the Caption blog August 25 2010

This is Richard's mother's hometown paper by the way.

DC Comic Books Examiner: Big Start at the Baltimore Comic Con

Mark Ruffin's still posting, but we didn't find each other today. Mark's got photos of the cosplayers at the bottom of this post.

Big Start at the Baltimore Comic Con Sunday, August 29, 2010 Throngs convergently formed lines of ticket-purchasers at the Conference Center on Pratt St. for 2010s Baltimore Comic Con. Escaping the heat to indulgently homage the escapism of sequential arts, certain conventioneers put accentuation during their... Read more » DC Comic Books Examiner, Mark Ruffin Mark Ruffin, a freelance writer and story editor, recalls a first read of Peter Parker, the Amazing Spider-Man #8 and a collection of comic books from that point. Following honorable service in the military, he has contributed and edited articles on subjects political, sports car related, and of murder mystery dinner games. Grouped with his enthusiasm for culinary arts and sports, he enjoys discussions on the various perspectives of the comics medium. Contact Mark here.

Today in The New York (Comics) Times

Computer Animation, Made by Hand
By JOHN ANDERSON
New York Times August 29, 2010

DC Comic Books Examiner at Baltimore Comic-Con

Mark Ruffin's being more productive at the Con than I am -

Throwback to inspiring heroics for Fist of Justice modernization Sunday, August 29, 2010 Mike Imboden has nothing against superheroes with an edgier side than the Silver Age costumed champions. On the other hand, he considers the comics industry has enough scape for that championing role-model with altruistic motives. Fist of Justice... Read more » Motorcycleboy talks truth behind the fiction Sunday, August 29, 2010 Stationed in Artist's Alley, two tables away of a directly opposite designation from an extensive line cued by Todd McFarlane as he signed comics, the talents behind Maryland-based Motorcycleboy consecutively drew crowds of their own. After some... Read more » DC Comic Books Examiner, Mark Ruffin Mark Ruffin, a freelance writer and story editor, recalls a first read of Peter Parker, the Amazing Spider-Man #8 and a collection of comic books from that point. Following honorable service in the military, he has contributed and edited articles on subjects political, sports car related, and of murder mystery dinner games. Grouped with his enthusiasm for culinary arts and sports, he enjoys discussions on the various perspectives of the comics medium. Contact Mark here.

Day 1 of Baltimore Comic-Con with photos

Shannon "S.L." Gallant with his new banner.

Some quick notes - the Con seems to be a smash success. The line wrapped around the convention center this morning and people were still waiting to get in at lunch time.

I met some of the local comic book creators who've been mentioned in this blog, but not in detail such as the Luna Brothers, Pop Mahn and Frank Cho. Expect more on all of them to follow.


Pop Mahn

The Trickster anthology creators have a strong presence with about five of them in various locations, including Matt Dembicki, Rand Arrington and Mike Carr that I've found so far. Dembicki and Andrew Cohen's history of the Heurich Mansion is out and I've bought mine from them.

Todd McFarlane's signing line was stunningly long, snaking through a set of stanchions and then following the wall behind the whole Kid's section.

Pictures of many local creators are here (for the present, see the photo name for the title). Carla Speed McNeil isn't pictured, but is at the con. Same with the Bamn crew.


Emmy-winning Dean Haspiel had a single copy of his newest graphic biography. However he's got promos comica of his Emmy artwork.

Baltimore Comic-Con plans

I'll be at the Con on both Saturday and Sunday, with Richard "Cul de Sac" Thompson and Shannon "G.I. Joe" Gallant the first day, and just Shannon on the second. You can probably find me through them and their table at the kids comics island, but you'd do better buying stuff from them and the other people there.

Satoshi Kon obit in Post, and the New York (Comics) Times

The Post had a little wire story obituary of anime director Satoshi Kon today.* Instead of worry about finding that, read animation historian Charles Solomon's excellent one:

Satoshi Kon dies at 47; Japanese anime director
His boldly original visions and technical sophistication made him one of the
most admired in contemporary animation. Among his films were 'Millennium
Actress,' 'Paprika' and 'Tokyo Godfathers.'
By Charles Solomon, Special to The Los Angeles Times
August 26, 2010

or the NY Times one:

Satoshi Kon, Anime Filmmaker, Dies at 46
By A. O. SCOTT
August 26, 2010

and speaking of the Paper of (Comics) Record, this one in antiques might sneak by people, but an Edward Gorey collection's been donated to Columbia University and pop culture auctioneer Heritage Auctions is coming to Manhattan:

Restoring the Studio of a Meticulous Sculptor
By EVE M. KAHN
August 26, 2010

Finally, Michael Cavna's got a bit on the Baltimore Comic-Con:

BALTIMORE COMIC-CON: Has it become the supreme antidote to San Diego?
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog August 27, 2010

*this one it turns out:

Japanese animated film director Kon dies at 46
By MARI YAMAGUCHI (AP) August 26 2010

Ed Power interviewed on Comic Riffs blog

FAREWELL: His dream shot down, 'MY CAGE' cartoonist has a word for comics fans
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog August 26, 2010

WashPost Mag: Behind the Scene of Frank Cho's Art World

The Post sent me this notice that their Frank Cho story is online already:

This Sunday's Washington Post Magazine features a profile of comic book artist Frank Cho, who talks about how he started a comic strip in Beltsville, Maryland, despite being raised by parents who expected him to be a doctor or engineer.
 
Cho draws about six comics a year for Marvel and he's working on breaking into television.

Be sure to check out our video interview with Cho, where he talks about his love of brunettes (and the inspiration for the main character in his strip "Liberty Meadows") and his love of animals (usually dead on a plate, despite his animal-centric comic). Plus, go behind the scenes of The Post's magazine cover shoot featuring Frank on a hand-drawn set (a full day's work captured in less than 2 minutes):
 
Washington Post: Frank Cho's World (Video + Profile)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/artsandliving/frank-chos-world/  

Baltimore Sun on Baltimore Comic-Con

A comic con for comic fans
At a time when the big comic conventions are trying to be all things to all people, Baltimore's tries to keep its focus narrow
By Chris Kaltenbach, Baltimore Sun August 26, 2010

and if you missed it, here's me on it:

New Father Marc Nathan on His Other Baby, the Baltimore Comic-Con

Posted by Mike Rhode on Aug. 23, 2010

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/artsdesk/books/2010/08/23/new-father-marc-nathan-on-his-other-baby-the-baltimore-comic-con/