Truitt on Denise Mina's new graphic novel

Denise Mina brings a 'Sickness' to Vertigo Crime family
By Brian Truitt, USA TODAY October 14 2010

Anybody read this? Is it any good?

Washington tv cartoonist weather girl dies

A Local Life: Tippy Stinger Huntley Conrad, 80; Beatiful TV 'weather girl' charmed city of Washington
[online: Tippy Stringer Huntley Conrad, charming D.C. weather beauty, dies at 80, October 23].
By Emma Brown
Washington Post Staff Writer October 24, 2010
p. C7


"She was often joined on-air by a cartoon character she created named Senator Fairweather, whose doe-eyed likeness was photographed with Tippy for Life magazine in 1955."

The Hill on Missouri cartoonist running for Congress

Unique congressional contenders include chaplain, pastry chef
By Kris Kitto - 10/23/10

Oct 24: DC Counter Culture Festival

This Sunday, the DC Counter Culture Festival 5 will see a lot of cartoonists hanging around downtown, many of them with the DC Conspiracy. Click here for a list of attendees.

This Sunday, October 24th
12 noon -- 8pm
RFD's
810 7th St NW
Washington DC 20001

OT PR: Comica Festival 2010

This is from my friend Paul, the man at the crossroads of comics. Anything Paul's involved with is good. If you're in England, go see it.

NEWS FROM PAUL GRAVETT - COMICA - ESCAPE BOOKS COMICA FESTIVAL 2010 Where: London Print Studio and other venues When: Throughout November 2010 Friday, 22 October 2010 saw the opening of the Comica Festival 2010 and the exhibition I have curated with a full two-month run at the London Print Studio, 425 Harrow Road, London W10, on till 18 December and admission free. Entitled That's Novel: Lifting Comics Off The Page, it presents original artworks and specially conceived digital prints by a range of British and transnational creators. The accent here is on innovation and on how comics can transcend their printed forms, both literally and physically in Karrie Fransman's and Philippa Rice's hand-crafted three-dimensional comics, or adapted for the big and small screens, such as Charlie Adlard's Walking Dead or Pulp Theatre's Alien Ink for Channel 4's website, as well as more subtly, for example being used to help carers, patients and relatives coping with depression or mental illness in Brick's Depresso or Darryl Cunningham's Psychiatric Tales, or as searing personal testimonies and astonishing works of art in their own right, as in the case the late John Hicklenton's last, tortured masterwork, 100 Months. More details... The exhibition at the London Print Studio forms the hub of this year's Comica Festival and already we've got an array of brilliant events lined up there, kicking off with Comica Conversations with Brick and Darryl Cunningham, and with Charlie Adlard and Alex Fitch, on Saturday 6 November, and a rare UK appearance by Ho Che Anderson, graphic biographer of Martin Luther King Jr, on Monday 15 November, talking with UK artist Paul Peart-Smith. More amazing events to come at LPS but meantime be sure to book tickets online as numbers are limited. And we have not left the ICA, by no means. The grand finale event on 1 December will be at the ICA's Cinema 1 where two legends of British comics, Steve Bell and Bryan Talbot, get together to reveal all about their prolific careers and launch their brand new books. More details.... In tune with the times, Comica Festival also continues to offer you great free events, and this year's programme kicks off again on Friday 5 November - 'Remember, Remember!' - with a free full-day Comica Symposium. The whole day's schedule is now online. Come and hear, and engage with, some of the UK's brightest researchers into all kinds of comics culture, from manga to superheroes, bandes dessinées to autobiography, and watch the fireworks fly! More details... And we're adding an exciting new venue and attraction to the regular free Comica Comiket Independent Comics Fair this year from 12-5pm at the Royal National Hotel, Bloomsbury on Sunday 7 November. As well as a dazzling variety of self-publishers, small presses, zinesters and collectives offering you the chance to buy their latest titles direct, we've invited a range of exciting artists from this scene to a 'Drawing Parade', in which they will draw live, before your very eyes, and inside their books if you like, and have their performances viewable on a large overhead screen. Among those taking part are: Charlie Adlard (Walking Dead), Paul Duffield (Freak Angels), Hunt Emerson (Firkin, Fortean Times), Garen Ewing (Rainbow Orchid), Paul Grist (Jack Staff, Torchwood), Roger Langridge (Muppets, Thor), Ellen Lindner (Whores of Mensa) and others. More details... This year's 4th Observer/Jonathan Cape/Comica Graphic Short Story Prize has once again unearthed some amazing UK-based talents. The winner will have their 4-page strip printed in The Observer on Sunday 7 November, but you can see many of the finalists on show at Orbital Comics Gallery from Monday 1 November till the end of the month. We're also compiling links again to as many entrants' stories as we can, so do please contact us once you've posted yours online. More details... And a last plug for two imminent events that I'm involved with. First up, today (Saturday 23 October) at 7pm, I am chairing a panel on Indian Graphic Novels as part of the new DSC South Asian Literary Festival, with special guests Mustashrik, Kripa Joshi, Woodrow Phoenix and S. Anand plus, technology willing, a live Skype-chat with Vishwajyoti Ghosh in New Delhi. The Indian comics scene is blossoming, come and discover its latest blooms! More details... And secondly, The Crick Crack Club are bringing to London (Tuesday evening 26 October) and Oxford (Wednesday lunchtime 27 October) a totally wild and thrilling 21st century version of Kamishibai, the Japanese performance storytelling tradition which is a major precursor of both manga and anime. Spice Arhur 702 have to be seen to be believed - you can see a video of them in action here. A unique chance to experience this inventive manga-performance troupe in the UK! More details... I'll sign off there, with the promise of more frequent newsletters as the Comica Festival season bubbles into life and as our very first Escape Book, The Great Unwashed by Warren and Gary Pleece, nears completion, ready for us to preview to you soon. More details... Thanks again for supporting my websites and the varied events and projects that spin out of them. Your continued interest means a lot to me and do hope you can spread the word to let more people know about them. I hope you'll enjoy more of the wonders of the comics world with me. Warmest wishes. Paul Gravett Comica Director www.PAULGRAVETT.com  -  www.COMICAFESTIVAL.com  -  www.ESCAPE-BOOKS.com

Comic books at the USA Science and Engineering Festival

Today and tomorrow on the Mall by the Smithsonian, hundreds of scientific groups have set up including ASME's Heroes of Engineering comic panels.






ed

Catching up with some photos

OSU's Wexner's book store had my Pekar book for sale! I couldn't believe it. More pictures from the OSU Festival of Comic Art are here.


Matt Groening and Tom Gammill.




Jeff Stahler construction cartoons at the Columbus Museum of Art.


Jen Sorenson and Richard Thompson admiring Crumb's line.



Pictures of Ted Rall at Busboys and Poets are here.

Caro on SPX minicomic buy Alexis Frederick-Frost’s "Voyage”

Here Be Lovely Monsters: Alexis Frederick-Frost's Voyage

Mark Zaid's legal comics exhibit coverage continues

Opening Statements - Comic-Con: The Legal Edition
By Jill Schachner Chanen
Posted Nov 1, 2010
http://www.abajournal.com/magazine/article/comic-con/

"The Book in Art & Science," deadline November 30, 2010. SHARP meeting, Washington DC 14 July through Sunday, 17 July 2011

I did a paper for this conference a few years ago - it's a neat venue.

A reminder that the deadline for individual and panel proposals for the Society for the History of Authorship, Reading & Publishing (SHARP) 2011 conference, CFP "The Book in Art & Science," is November 30, 2010. The links to the electronic proposal submission forms can be found at http://www.sharpweb.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=360&Itemid=62&phpMyAdmin=1326493665cf5bcaf15cc4e30ad5ea2c&lang=en

SHARP's  nineteenth annual conference will be held in Washington, DC, Thursday, 14 July through Sunday, 17 July 2011. The sponsors of the conference are the Smithsonian Institution Libraries, the Library of Congress, the Folger Shakespeare Library and Institute, and the Corcoran College of Art + Design. The National Library of Medicine will be the site for welcome ceremonies and the conference's opening keynote address by Dr. Jon Topham, Senior Lecturer in History of Science & Director of the Centre for History and Philosophy of Science, University of Leeds.

Evoking Washington's status as an artistic and scientific center, "The Book in Art & Science" is a theme open to multiple interpretations. Besides prompting considerations of the book as a force in either art or science or the two fields working in tandem, it also encourages examinations of the scientific text; the book as a work of art; the art and science of manuscript, print, or digital textual production; the role of censorship and politics in the creation, production, distribution, or reception of particular scientific or artistic texts; the relationship between the verbal and the visual in works of art or science; art and science titles from the standpoint of publishing history or the histories of specific publishers; and much more.

Such topics raise a host of possible questions:

What tensions exist between the book in art and the book in science? What collaborations emerge? How do these tensions or collaborations differ according to time or place? What roles have materialforms-manuscript, print or digital embodiments or books, periodicals, journals, editions-played in the histories of artistic and scientific works?  How does the lens of art or science inform histories of reading and readers?  What does this lens reveal about histories of authorship?
How have commercial factors or economics influenced the production or distribution of scientific or artistic works? What roles have states or institutions played in the history of the book in art and science?

The conference hopes to welcome many longstanding SHARP members but also aims to attract new members. The conference's address of art and science in its title invites those working on the history of science, technology, knowledge production, or the scientific book, to join us.

The full CFP is available now at www.sharpweb.org

Eleanor F. Shevlin, Ph.D.
Dept. of English
548 Main Hall
West Chester University
610-436-2463
eshevlin@wcupa.edu


Society for the History of Authorship, Reading & Publishing (SHARP)
Membership Secretary<mailto:eshev@loc.gov>
members@sharpweb.org<mailto:members@sharpweb.org>

Home/Mailing Address

2006 Columbia Road, NW
Apt. 42
Washington, DC 20009
Phone: 202-462-3105

History of the Book in the West, Vol. 3, 1700-1800
http://www.ashgate.com/isbn/9780754627685

Comic Riffs talks to Pastis on Pearls before screens

Casting 'PEARLS BEFORE SWINE': Stephan Pastis & RingTales take aim at screens big and small
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog (October 22, 2010):
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/comic-riffs/2010/10/pearls_before_swine_animations.html

Note that Ringtales also did an interview with Richard Thompson, according to this.

"Tamara Drewe" movie review in Post

I love Posy Simmonds' work and the graphic novel this was based on.

 

A silly tale that wins by a nose
By Michael O'Sullivan
Washington Post October 22, 2010

http://www.washingtonpost.com/gog/movies/tamara-drewe,1167026/critic-review.html

Cartoons continue to show up in weird court cases

`South Park' Cartoon Threats Result in Terror Guilty Plea for Virginia Man
By William McQuillen - Oct 20, 2010
http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2010-10-20/-south-park-threats-result-in-terrorism-guilty-plea-for-virginia-man.html

Joe and other local cartoonists will be at the DC Counter Culture Festival downtown tomorrow.

Meet a Local Comic Book Writer: A Chat with Joe Carabeo

Posted by Mike Rhode on Oct. 22, 2010

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/artsdesk/books/2010/10/22/meet-a-local-comic-book-writer-a-chat-with-joe-carabeo/

Nate Beeler Youtube interview that we may never have linked to

Cartoonist Nate Beeler interviewed by Daryl Cagle
CagleCartoons | June 20, 2010


Daryl Cagle, the political cartoonist for msnbc.com and owner of the Cagle Cartoons syndicate, speaks with Nate Beeler, the editorial cartoonist for the Washington Examiner, at the 2010 AAEC Convention in Portland, Oregon.

Our Man Thompson on Our OSU Trip

Richard blogs about the trip to OSU's Cartoon Festival, so I don't have to. However, I do have pictures waiting to go up on Flickr. And more people knew who he was - must be something about having your name in a couple hundred papers, rather than a blog and a local paper, that leads people to recognize you. At least that's the only thing I can figure.

PR: Lynd Ward graphic novel prize established

Wordless comics have been a minor interest of mine - you can still buy a 2008 bibliography of them I did. Lynn Ward actually had more influence on me via his illustration work - my grandfather had a copy of the Frankenstein that Ward illustrated. His engravings for that are stunning. It's one of my favorite books, partly due to Pop's owning it, of course. Georgetown University here in DC also has a sizable Ward collection in its Library's special collections.

 

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE October 8, 2010

Penn State announces new graphic novel award in honor of Lynd Ward

University Park, PA—Penn State University Libraries and the Pennsylvania Center for the Book are pleased to announce the creation of the Lynd Ward Prize for Graphic Novel of the Year.

The Lynd Ward Graphic Novel Prize honors Ward's seminal influence in the development of the graphic novel and celebrates the gift of an extensive collection of Ward's wood engravings, original book illustrations and other graphic art donated to Penn State University Libraries by his daughters, Robin Ward Savage and Nanda Weedon Ward. Between 1929 and 1937 Ward published his six ground-breaking wordless novels—"Gods' Man," "Madman's Drum," "Wild Pilgrimage," "Prelude to a Million Years," "Song without Words" and "Vertigo"—which are being re-issued this month by

The Library of America in a two-volume boxed set entitled "Lynd Ward: Six Novels in Woodcuts," the first time the nonprofit publisher has included a graphic novelist in its award-winning series.

Sponsored by Penn State University Libraries and administered by the Pennsylvania Center for the Book, an affiliate of the Center for the Book at the Library of Congress, the Lynd Ward Graphic Novel Prize will be presented annually to the best graphic novel, fiction or non-fiction, published in the previous calendar year in the United States by a living American citizen or resident. The announcement of the award will take place each spring and the prize of $2500, the two volume set of Ward's six novels published by

The Library of America, and a suitable commemorative will be presented each fall to the winner at a ceremony to be held at Penn State.

The selection jury for the award will have representatives from various Penn State academic departments who use the graphic novel in their teaching or research, as well as representatives with graphic novel expertise from among Penn State's alumni. The inaugural selection jury for 2011 includes John Meier, an assistant librarian in the Physical and Mathematical Sciences Library; Jarod Rosello, a cartoonist, writer and doctoral student in curriculum and instruction in the College of Education; Jean Sanders, an associate professor of art in the School of Visual Arts; Scott T. Smith, an assistant professor of English and comparative literature in the College of the Liberal Arts; and Jerry Zolten, an associate professor of communication arts and sciences and American studies at Penn State Altoona.

For more information about the selection criteria and how to submit books for consideration for the Lynd Ward Graphic Novel Prize, contact Steven Herb at 814-863-2141 or visit the Pennsylvania Center for the Book website http://www.pabook.libraries.psu.edu/activities/ward/index.html

Dustin Harbin draws me in a comic strip

My buddy Dustin Harbin drew me (and Richard Thompson and Roger Langridge) in a comic strip about a meal at SPX - how cool is that?

Zadzooks on Spider-Man videogame and comic book movies

Zadzooks: Spider-Man: Shattered Dimensions review
Re-piecing reality in 4 Spidey universes
By Joseph Szadkowski
Washington Times October 13, 2010

Zadzooks: Jonah Hex, Superman/Batman: Apocalypse and 30 Days of Night
By Joseph Szadkowski
Washington Times, October 20, 2010

Oct 28: Cartoons & Cocktails

The annual auction of editorial cartoons at Cartoons & Cocktails is coming on October 28th. Tickets are on sale now.

Comic Riffs' Cyanide and Happiness webcomic interview

The 'Riffs Interview: 'CYANIDE & HAPPINESS's' Dave McElfatrick tackles visas, viscera & American humor
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog October 20, 2010

OSU Festival of Cartoon Art report from Isaac Cates

My friend Isaac Cates (who has a very cute Halloween minicomic to give out to kids in his neighborhood) has a good report on the OSU Festival on his blog. I'll try to get one of mine written up soon.

Mark Zaid's comic book lawyer exhibit continued

Mark Zaid's exhibit on the law in comic books continues to spin off online interest. Here's some new bits:

Video of "Superheroes in Court!" talk is now available by Mike Widener, Yale Law Library - Rare Books Blog October 18, 2010

Mark's talk on the exhibit - Superheroes on Court! Lawyers, Law and Comic Books by Yale Law Librarians Oct 18, 2010

An audio interview - Where We Live: It's A Bird, It's A Plane, It's A Lawyer! Today Lawyers become Superheroes and Comics, Kind of

Host: John Dankosky

Guest: * Mark S. Zaid
* Michael Widener
* Joey Novick
* Dale Cendali
WNPR's Where We Live Oct 04, 2010 and the mp3.

And an interview by lawyers - Abnormal Interviews: Lawyer/Comic Book Collector Mark Zaid, by Phil Reeves and Stephanie Flynn, Abnormal Use blog October 18, 2010

And finally, Mark's other career as a lawyer is mentioned here in the NY Times - A Stimulus Plan, Disguised as Censorship, By JOHN SCHWARTZ, October 9, 2010

Jim Dougan's "SAM & LILAH" webcomic updated

Jim Dougansays Subject: SAM & LILAH Updated Today! We're getting close to the end of Chapter Three! Grab on tight! http://www.facebook.com/l/d8ba6dTdlIm6iozbtIy3oBdDumg;www.activatecomix.com/42-3-33.comic Need to catch up first? Start here: Chapter 1: http://www.facebook.com/l/d8ba6nyOitWBrXT3pzwkQaQLGgA;www.activatecomix.com/42-1-1.comic Chapter 2: http://www.facebook.com/l/d8ba62Jcu0GtKLk8YfyjzA38NAw;www.activatecomix.com/42-2-1.comic Chapter 3: http://www.facebook.com/l/d8ba6JkWo22aM4Z7WWhH6OxbvzQ;www.activatecomix.com/42-3-1.comic We'll be back with more in just two weeks! See you November 1! In the meantime, here's where to go for all the OTHER great comix at ACT-I-VATE: http://www.facebook.com/l/d8ba6vr23tgin9ixCOlsk7xdbHw;www.activatecomix.com If you haven't already, why not pick up a copy of the ACT-I-VATE PRIMER? We didn't win the Harvey Award, but being nominated still counts! Right? http://www.facebook.com/l/d8ba6Kbi51vGFLLaRpqBm7Ha8Dg;www.amazon.com/gp/product/1600105289

Beyond Comics zombie commercial makes newspaper

Zombies invade downtown Frederick in the name of small business promotion
Beyond Comics shoots zombie-themed commercial downtown Sunday
by Courtney Pomeroy
October 18 2010
http://www.gazette.net/stories/10182010/frednew153745_32548.php

Berkeley Breathed talks to Comic Riffs

MOVIE POSTER OF THE DAY: Berkeley Breathed talks 'Mars Needs Moms'
By  Michael Cavna 
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog October 19, 2010

Nostalgia rears its head in Baltimore

The tabloid comic book is being reprinted and fans are getting ready.

Superman! Vs. Muhammad Ali!
By Vincent Williams
Baltimore City Paper October 20, 2010

Frederick cartoonist Mark Burrier's websites

Mark Burrier wrote a nice note to me today, so I clicked through his links and discovered he's in Frederick, MD and has been nominated for an Ignatz at SPX. I've sent him my City Paper interview questions - in the meantime you can start checking out his work at these sites.

http://markburrier.com

http://rarewords.org - "Rare Words is a collaborative blog where you submit words or a phrase that become the creative starting point for drawings."

http://twitter.com/markburrier

Post on 'Train Your Dragon' home release

A fabulous 'Dragon' tale on DVD and Blu-ray
By Jen Chaney
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, October 12, 2010; 12:41 PM
published as Extras Make for a Powerful 'Dragon', October 15 2010
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/12/AR2010101202914.html

Post's review of Red

This is based on a comic book by Warren Ellis and Cully Hamner

Armed and still very dangerous
By Ann Hornaday
Washington Post October 15, 2010

http://www.washingtonpost.com/gog/movies/red,1147995/critic-review.html

Oct 20-24: Disney on Ice's Toy Story 3 in town

Disney on Ice has Toy Story 3 at the Patriot Center from October 20-24th. Tickets run between $14 and $70 dollars.

Tonight! Peter Sis at Politics and Prose

Illustrator Peter Sis is at Politics and Prose (5015 Connecticut Ave, NW; 202-364-1919) in DC tonight at 7 pm signing his new book Madlenka Soccer Star.

Kal on Iraqi Cartoonists, his exhibit in San Francisco and his trip to Russia

Kal just wrote in with a pile of news:

 

First, if you haven't seen this CNN video about cartooning in Iraq, I thought you'd appreciate it...

http://www.kaltoons.com/wordpress/2010/10/iraqi-cartoonists-on-cnn/

Also below is a press release from the Cartoon Art Museum in San Francisco which will be hosting an exhibition of my work starting November 6.

Finally, I am just back from St Petersburg, Russia where I was featured in a cartoon exhibition at the State Museum Russian Political History. I will be posting photos later this week on my blog:

http://www.kaltoons.com/wordpress/

For Immediate Release:  October 13, 2010
Contact Andrew Farago, 415-227-8666, ext. 309;
Amy Jaick,Communications Manager, The Economist, AmyJaick@economist.com, 212-641-9834
Images Available on Request

Drawn From The Economist: The Editorial Art of KAL

Cartoon Art Museum exhibition:  November 6, 2010 – March 13, 2011

Opening Reception Friday, November 12, 2010, 7:00 – 9:00pm 
Please RSVP to reception: cartoons@economist.com

San Francisco, CA:  For 30 years, Kevin "Kal" Kallaugher has been a prominent editorial cartoonist for The Economist, the world renowned magazine focusing on commentary and analysis of world politics, business, finance, science, technology, culture, society, media and the arts.  The Economist and the Cartoon Art Museum will present a special limited-run exhibition of Drawn From The Economist: The Editorial Art of KAL. 

This exhibition will feature over 40 of Kal's favorite cartoons from his time with The Economist, during which he has published approximately 3,000 cartoons, including 120 covers.  Kal has used his wit and his pen to expose political hypocrisy, illuminate crises in the environment and the economy, and deconstruct complex international events.  His art has captured the faces and foibles of US President's and world leaders, using caricature to create a window into their personalities. The works featured in this exhibit focus on national and international political satire and cover a broad range of social issues.

"Editorial cartoons are amazing parcels of information," says Kevin "Kal" Kallaugher, editorial cartoonist for The Economist. "They can arouse, engage, inspire, educate and entertain. I am delighted to share some of my favorites from the past three decades at The Economist in this show." 

Opening Reception with KAL

All Economist fans and Cartoon Art Museum supporters are welcome to join KAL at the Cartoon Art Museum for a personal introduction to the exhibition on Friday, November 12, from 7:00 to 9:00pm.  Please RSVP to this free event at cartoons@economist.com

About The Economist 

Edited in London since 1843, The Economist is a weekly international news and business publication offering clear reporting, commentary and analysis on world politics, business, finance, science, technology, culture, society, media and the arts.  The Economist has a North American circulation of more than 800,000, a global circulation of more than 1.4 million and more than 4 million monthly unique visitors at The Economist online.  Because of its international editorial perspective, it is read by more of the world's political and business leaders than any other magazine.

About The Cartoon Art Museum

From editorial cartoons to comic books, graphic novels to anime, Sunday funnies to Saturday morning cartoons, the Cartoon Art Museum has something for everyone. Located downtown in San Francisco's Yerba Buena cultural district, the museum is home to over 6,000 pieces of original and cartoon and animation art, a comprehensive research library, and five galleries of exhibition space. Join us for one of our many book signings, lectures, cartooning classes or workshops; mix and mingle with professional and aspiring cartoonists; or visit our bookstore. Whether it's nostalgic, educational, or just plain fun, a trip to the Cartoon Art Museum will be an experience you will never forget.

]{[^]}[
Cartoon Art Museum - 655 Mission Street - San Francisco, CA 94105 - 415-CAR-TOON - www.cartoonart.org
Hours:  Tues. - Sun. 11:00 - 5:00, Closed Monday
General Admission: $7.00 - Student/Senior: $5.00 - Children 6-12: $3.00 - Members & Children under 6: Free

The Cartoon Art Museum is a tax-exempt, non-profit, educational organization dedicated to the collection,
preservation, study and exhibition of original cartoon art in all forms.

Oct 24: DC Counter Culture Festival 5

This Sunday, the DC Counter Culture Festival 5 will see a lot of cartoonists hanging around downtown, many of them with the DC Conspiracy. Click here for a list of attendees.

This Sunday, October 24th
12 noon -- 8pm
RFD's
810 7th St NW
Washington DC 20001

Mark Zaid's comic book lawyer exhibit profiled in Scoop

Comic Book Heroes at Yale Law School
Forrest C. Helvie,
Scoop October 15 2010

Our local attorney / comic book collector / curator's presentation at Yale is reported on.

TPM on anti-Michelle Bachman political comic book

TPMDC ran a review on an anti-Michelle Bachman political comic book - the fourth issue of one actually. The comic book is about a politician in Washington, of course, but I think the review is also written by someone in the TPM's DC bureau.

The Bachmann Comic, Issue 4: Michele Talks With God
Eric Kleefeld | October 18, 2010

Columbian caricaturist exhibit opens downtown tomorrow

Bruce Guthrie has passed along this information which looks neat. I can't find much at the OAS's website though.


The Inter-American Commission of Women (CIM), the Art Museum of the Americas and the Permanent Mission of Colombia to the Organization of American States (OAS), cordially invite you to the inauguration of an exhibition of caricatures by five Colombian artists:

"Mujeres en su Tinta"

Opening Tuesday, October 19, 2010 at 3 p.m.
OAS Main Building - Marcus Garvey Hall
17th Street and Constitution Ave, NW
On view until Friday, October 29th

Smithsonian magazine on Superman

Cleveland, the True Birthplace of Superman
Comic book fans and city activists hope that people think of the Ohio city, and not Krypton, as the home of the Man of Steel
By Anne Trubek
Smithsonian.com, August 19, 2010

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/Cleveland-the-True-Birthplace-of-Superman.html

Smithsonian magazine interviews Jules Feiffer

Q and A: Jules Feiffer

The cartoonist, illustrator, author and playwright reflects on happy memories and the positive side of failure

By Jesse Rhodes

Smithsonian magazine, September 2010

http://www.smithsonianmag.com/arts-culture/Q-and-A-Jules-Feiffer.html

 

This online version is an expansion of the print one.

Weldon on Jaffee

In A New Book, See The Writer Side Of ... MAD Magazine's Al Jaffee
by Glen Weldon
National Public Radio's Monkey See blog (October 14, 2010)
http://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2010/10/13/130536664/the-writer-side-of-mad-magazine-s-al-jaffee

Brodner cartoon of Obama as Superman

Yesterday's print edition of the Washington Post had a lovely Brodner
cartoon of Obama as Superman for this article -

In this recovery, Washington has less power over the economy than you think
By Allan Sloan, Tory Newmyer and Doris Burke/ Fortune
Sunday, October 17, 2010

Nick Galifianakis' new blog and book announcement

Nick Galifianakis just wrote in to say:

 

Nick's book and website can be found at:

www.NickandZuzu.com

and his official blog can be found at:

www.nickandzuzu.blogspot.com/

Peanuts surprise in Post

In the print Washington Post's Style section for Oct 14 2010, there's an article about the lawyer Dick Cheney shot while the two were hunting. There's a picture of him with what appears to be an original signed Peanuts strip on his wall.

Curls Studio at Crafty Bastard fair pics online

And now in lighter news, Carolyn's got pictures of this year's Crafty Bastards fair, which I missed, on her blog.

Cartoon characters are imaginary, even in porn. Really, they are.

Every year, there's a new case of someone being arrested in America for having images of cartoon characters having sex. Here's the latest.

Beyond a trademark violation, I still don't see how this can actually be illegal.

Former teacher pleads guilty to downloading 'Simpsons' porn
By KBOI Web Staff
Oct 13, 2010

BOISE, Idaho - A former middle school teacher in Meridian has pleaded guilty to
possession of visual representations of child sex abuse.

The U.S. Attorney's office said [he] had downloaded more than 70 animated cartoon pornographic images on his computer. Many of them depicted child characters from The Simpsons.

These are imaginary characters. They're not real. They're never going to be real or be hurt or ever feel anything.

How can this be a crime, with in this case, "a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison and a fine up to $250,000"? And the federal government is spending tax dollars prosecuting this? There's no other crime in Idaho to worry more about?

For the record, this type of comic art doesn't interest me at all. I also don't care about furries (but if you do, more power to you). I do care about free speech and justice though, and this is wrong.

I'm a member of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund and I urge all my readers to join as well.

Japanese anime music band played in DC last night

Well, I missed the Boom Boom Satellites at the 9:30 Club. How about you?

Boom goes the dynamite
By May Wildman
University of Maryland Diamondback October 12, 2010

So Richard and Mike go to Columbus...

...for the 2010 Ohio State University's Festival of Cartoon ...

...and darned if DC doesn't follow them there. Here's the warnings we just got about Sunday's travel being interrupted by events...

 

The first event is the Columbus Marathon, which is taking place from 7:30 am until 3:00 pm.  The route includes the portion of High Street between the Hyatt and OSU's campus.    Here is a link to the map showing the route: http://www.columbusmarathon.com/race-information/course-map.

 

The second event is a recently-scheduled Moving America Forward rally on the OSU Oval featuring President Barack Obama.  Doors open at 5:15 pm, but people may begin arriving even earlier.   It is possible that the President's visit will cause some flight and traffic delays. 

...I thought we were leaving these problems in DC!

Post ombudsman follows up on censoring Non Sequitur

Readers insist on equal treatment for 'offensive' cartoons
By Andy Alexander
Washington Post's Omblog October 12, 2010

Monkey See blog on Simpsons

Since I've arbitrarily decided that Linda Holmes lives around here -

'The Simpsons' Tries To Get Its Edge Back With A (Kind Of) Daring Opening
by Linda Holmes
National Public Radio's Monkey See blog October 12, 2010

CBS Overtime rerunning 1999 Charles Schulz interview

We don't normally pay much attention to things beyond our Washington, DC scope, but in honor of the Peanuts 60th anniversary and Mrs. Schulz's recent donation to the National Gallery, here's a link to 60 Minutes Overtime site -

Charlie Brown Turns 60: A look back at "Peanuts" creator Charles Schulz

Comic Riffs on Joe Simon

Joe Simon was one of the important early creators of superheroes, including Captain America -

'Superheroes': Turning 97 today, JOE SIMON reflects on his legacy with JACK KIRBY (*As do STAN LEE and NEIL GAIMAN)
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog October 11, 2010

Hoxwinder Hall from Post contest launches as webcomic

'NEXT GREAT CARTOONIST': Finalist launches 'Hoxwinder Hall' webcomic
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog October 10, 2010

Politics and Prose's Carla F. Cohen 1936-2010

This is one of my all-time favorite bookstores, and they've had a lot of cartoonists come through in recent years. Ms. Cohen was one of the two owners. Politics and Prose's release follows.

Carla F. Cohen 1936-2010

Carla F. Cohen 1936-2010 With deep sorrow, I am writing to inform our friends and neighbors that my beloved store co-owner Carla Cohen died this morning. For all of us here at Politics & Prose, it is difficult to believe that someone larger than life is gone, and I will deeply miss my friend and partner. In lieu of flowers, her family has requested that contributions may be made to Jews United for Justice, the Washington Literacy Council or Community Hospice.  A funeral will be held at Tifereth Israel, 7701 16th Street, N.W.  at 1:30 p.m. on Wednesday, October 13th.   The store will be closed from 12- 4 p.m. on that day. We will have a memorial service in the store at a date to follow in November. Apart from this closing, all other events will proceed as scheduled.)  Please read the obituary from the Washington Post here. We welcome and encourage your condolences, tributes, and memories here.

Politics & Prose Bookstore and Coffeehouse www.politics-prose.com 5015 Connecticut Avenue NW Washington, DC 20008 (202) 364-1919 or (800) 722-0790 Fax: (202) 966-7532

Oct 30: Frank Cho Appearing at Big Planet College Park

Frank Cho will be appearing at Big Planet Comics in College Park on October 30th from 1:00pm to 3:00pm.  Frank will have some updates about some new Liberty Meadows projects he is working on.  So stop by and check it out. Also new comics will be on time this week,  no delay for Columbus Day.  And this week looks like a really good week for superhero comics. Finally, Big Planet College Park has a new sale table, we just set up, with T-shirts and hard cover books at 50% off. Peter Casazza Big Planet Comics College Park 7315 Baltimore Ave College Park, MD 20740 301.699.0498

Comics scholarship issue of the French web journal Transatlantica online now

Transatlantica 1 | 2010
American Shakespeare / Comic Books

There's an article I wrote a couple of years ago on the state of comics bibliography, but there's other good stuff in this French journal's look at American culture.

Brainstorm Comics moves within Frederick, MD

Frederick comic store moves, doubles space
Associated Press
10/10/10

Truitt on Dapper Men and X-Force

'Dapper Men' descend upon New York Comic-Con
By Brian Truitt, USA TODAY October 8 2010

'Uncanny X-Force' swings into action against mutant terrorism
By Brian Truitt, USA TODAY October 6 2010

Right wing blogosphere notices Ted Rall interview

A few weeks ago I interviewed Ted Rall about his new manifesto prior to his local appearance.

The interview's being negatively noticed by the right now, although honestly, I think Rall's so far to the left that he's curving around to meet the right on this issue. I like Ted personally, but we're agreeing to disagree on this book.

Radical Cartoonist Ted Rall, Off the Deep End: New Book Calls for Violent Overthrow of the Government
By Tim Graham
Newsbusters.org's Tim Graham blog 10/09/2010

This next one misses the point that Rall's just calling for revolution of any sort, although he would prefer a Marxist one.

Is America Ready for a Marxist Dictator?
by Donald May
LubbockOnline.com's Mr. Conservative blog 2010-10-10

And I am ashamed to admit that Graham found a local interview that I missed -

Man Of Action: Ted Rall, 'The Anti-American Manifesto,' Buboys (sic) and Poets
Written by Express contributor Roxana Hadadi
Express September 27, 2010

Post ombudsman on censoring Non Sequitur

The ombudsman has issues with the Post not running the Non Sequitur comic strip last weekend.

Where was the 'Where's Muhammad?' cartoon?
By Andrew Alexander
Ombudsman
Washington Post October 10, 2010; A17

Why are some of the Post's Sunday comics colored pink?

It's a Breast Cancer awareness campaign thought up by Dan Piraro and done by King Features Syndicate. All of the strips can be seen at Cartoonists Care: The Sunday Funnies Pink Project. There's a link to donate to cancer charities from the main page.

Jef Mallett's kind words for Cul de Sac

"Today, my absolute favorite strip is called 'Cul de Sac.' I think it's only about three years old. It's by a guy named Richard Thompson and he's an absolute genius. He's in the Washington, D.C. area, but he's actually got roots in Michigan. He's absolutely brilliant and his strip is a thing of beauty."

The rest of the long interview is at -

Frazz is moving in: Comic strip with Michigan roots finds a new home in the Enquirer
Andy Fitzpatrick • The Enquirer • October 10, 2010

Matt Dembicki interviewed by Mark Ruffin

Here's another Capicons con interview by Mark Ruffin, DC Comic Books Examiner - DC Conspiracy's Matt Dembicki discusses graphic novel of Native American stories leads to the video Matt Dembicki re: Trickster, October 7th, 2010.

Library of Congress Swann Foundation Fellowships Available

Library of Congress
101 Independence Avenue SE
Washington DC   20540

October 8, 2010

Public contact: Martha Kennedy (202) 707-9115, mkenn@loc.gov

Swann Foundation Accepting Fellowship Applications
Foundation Supports Research in the Humorous Arts of Caricature and Cartoon

The Caroline and Erwin Swann Foundation for Caricature and Cartoon, administered by the Library of Congress, is accepting applications for its graduate fellowship for the 2011-2012 academic year.  Applications are due by close of business on Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2011, and notification will occur in the spring. 

The Swann Foundation seeks to award one fellowship annually (with a stipend of up to $15,000) to assist in continuing scholarly research and writing projects in the field of caricature and cartoon.  Depending on the number and quality of proposals, the advisory board may elect to make multiple, smaller awards.

A fellow is required to be in residence in Washington, D.C., for a minimum of two weeks, use the Library's extensive collections and deliver a public lecture at the Library on his or her work.  Each fellow must also provide a copy of his or her dissertation, thesis or postgraduate publication upon completion, for the Swann Foundation Fund files.

Guidelines and application forms are available through the Swann Foundation's website www.loc.gov/rr/print/swann/swannhome.html or by calling Martha Kennedy in the Prints and Photographs Division of the Library at (202) 707-9115.

To be eligible, an applicant must be a resident of the United States and a candidate for a master's or doctoral degree at a university based in the United States, Canada or Mexico.  The applicant must be working toward completion of a dissertation or thesis for that degree or be engaged in postgraduate research within three years of receiving an M.A. or a Ph.D.  Individuals who are not U.S. residents but who otherwise meet these academic qualifications may also apply and be considered for a fellowship, contingent upon their visa eligibility. 

The applicant's research must be in the field of caricature and cartoon.  There are no restrictions on the place or time period covered.  To encourage research in a variety of academic disciplines, any university department may oversee a project proposed for the fellowship, provided the subject pertains to caricature or cartoon art.

Requirements for the fellowship applications include a statement of qualifications, a one-page abstract of the proposed project, a project description that specifies research needs and a budget, two letters of reference and official transcripts.

The Swann Foundation Fellowship in Caricature and Cartoon is one of a small number of scholarly fellowships that provide direct support for continuing graduate research in the field.  It has supported groundbreaking research on caricature and cartoon that focuses on a variety of subjects and topics such as the Cold War; representations of race, class conflict and disease; and the early origins of caricature and political satire, and the cultural and social forces that have influenced the development of prominent cartoonists' work.  For a list of research projects, visit www.loc.gov/rr/rint/swann/swann-fellowslist.html.

The Caroline and Erwin Swann Foundation for Caricature and Cartoon is overseen by an advisory board composed of scholars, collectors, cartoonists and Library of Congress staff members.  The foundation's activities support the study, interpretation, preservation and appreciation of original works of humorous and satiric art by graphic artists from around the world.  New York advertising executive Erwin Swann (1906-1973) established the Swann Foundation for Caricature and Cartoon in 1967.

# # #

PR10-229
10/8/10
ISSN: 0731-3527

 

NPR's Monkey See blog's podcast on Superman

Pop Culture Happy Hour: Superman, Tim Gunn, And Other Everyday Heroes
by Linda Holmes
National Public Radio's Monkey See blog's Pop Culture Happy Hour (October 8 2010)

With Glen Weldon of course. And I'm now guessing that Linda Holmes must be in the area too?

Canadian profile of Jeff Kinney, former UMD cartoonist

The man behind the Wimpy Kid; Author Jeff Kinney struggles with the question of whether the children should grow up
By Katherine Monk, Postmedia News October 8, 2010

Former area comics reporter Scott Rosenberg on NY Comic con

Ahh, I miss the days when the Examiner had 3 pages of comics and Rosenberg and Truitt cranking out comic book stories...

New York Comic Con: Four Tips to Survive the Extravaganza
By Scott A. Rosenberg
AM NY October 7 2010

Ed Stein's Fresh Squeezed strip added to Fredericksburg paper

'Squeeze' more fun out of Sundays; New comic is 'Freshly Squeezed'
BY EDIE GROSS
Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star 10/8/2010

I think this should be a good strip. I really liked his previous one, Denver Square.

Comic Riffs on Davies lawsuit and Neufeld diplomatic trip

Political cartoonist MATT DAVIES named in candidate's multimillion-dollar lawsuit
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog October 8, 2010.

Davies won the Herblock award a few years ago.

State Dept. sends Katrina cartoonist JOSH NEUFELD to Mideast to 'showcase cultural freedoms'
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog October 8, 2010

Cul de Sac starts Batman homage UPDATED

Richard Thompson in Cul de Sac starts a Batman homage or parody or swipe today.

If you're not familiar enough with the superhero to see the whatchamacallit, click here.

Ok, apparently I wasn't the first to notice that. Richard mentioned it on his blog yesterday. BTW, it's his birthday.

Xavier Xerexes reviews Bone's Tall Tales

Arlingtonian Xavier Xerexes reviewed Bone: Tall Tales yesterday.

Also, we met for coffee this week.

Oct 17: Beyond Comics says Zombies Needed: Appear in our new commercial!

Beyond Comics Is Looking For Zombies Zombies Needed Beyond Comics will be filming our new commercial on Sunday October 17th in and around Frederick. If you or someone you know wants to be a zombie for the commercial please let us know. Our goal is to have as many zombies as we can. If you have your own zombie costume you can bring it. Otherwise plan to wear old clothes and we will zombiefy you. We will be announcing shoot times by this weekend but it could be an all day event. We will specifically note times we need the most help. Contact Jon at the Frederick store if you are interested. jon@beyondcomics.com 301-668-8212 The new commercial will air during the Walking Dead television program on AMC. Thanks, Jon Beyond Comics Beyond Comics Frederick Location 5632 Buckeywstown Pike Frederick, MD 21704 (301) 668-8202

Sam and Lilah and Jim and Hyeondo at NY Comic Con

Jim Douganwrites in

Subject: SAM & LILAH at the New York Comic-Con! Original Art for Sale!

Hey everybody! This weekend (Friday, October 8 - Sunday October 10) is the New York Comic Con at the Jacob K. Javits Center (http://www.facebook.com/l/58a521vGz5W3-52FKfg64q47waw;www.newyorkcomiccon.com/), and in addition to many, many comic and pop culture luminaries, your humble SAM & LILAH creators, Hyeondo Park (http://www.facebook.com/l/58a52okiq5XHoNusjBp3YQqI3kg;www.hanaroda.net) and Jim Dougan, will be in attendance! Hyeondo is sharing Table Q3 in Artists' Alley with his friend Jack Forbes (http://www.facebook.com/l/58a526P9BazG9c89zax5TM1fgBg;thehebrewgod.com/), and selling all kinds of neat stuff, including his work on the manga adaptations of JULIUS CAESAR and HUCKLEBERRY FINN, and hopefully some copies of the ACT-I-VATE PRIMER and NO FORMULA.

But most important of all: for the first time, Hyeondo will be selling SAM & LILAH original art!!! All pages are for sale from $40 to $50, so come on down and take a look! You know you want to, but just in case, here's a taste of what's available (in this case, Chapter 3, page 1):

http://www.facebook.com/l/58a52tBsgD2pSTi667O2WKvdE5w;i5.photobucket.com/albums/y196/chatterbox_dc/hp_sl_i_03_01copy.gif

The map below tells you where to go! See you in New York!

http://www.facebook.com/l/58a52WgeAhckWeYtO33vdcn5qjg;i5.photobucket.com/albums/y196/chatterbox_dc/NYCC2010floorplan-revx.jpg

Mark Ruffin with 3 more Capicon interviews

Mark Ruffin, the DC Comic Books Examiner, started working the crowd of cartoonists at Capicons as I was leaving. He got his money's worth with some video interviews.

A short blurb Of werewolf and comics store: North Virginian speaks on webcomic at Capicon leads to Interview with Chris Flick at Capicon October 5th, 2010.

The Booga Fish artist and writer interviews from Capicon leads to Carolyn Belefski at Capicon October 6th, 2010.

DC Conspiracy member Rafer Roberts talks on anthology Magic Bullet leads to Rafer Roberts and the Magic Bullet October 6th, 2010.

I suspect there are more to come.

Capicon con covered by DC Comics ExaminerMark Ruffin

Mark Ruffin's got a short article and video up now -

Capicon revitalized as local keepsake event
Mark Ruffin
DC Comic Books Examiner October 4th, 2010

The video, at almost 10 minutes long, is interesting. At around the 2 minutes mark, the owners talk about setting up a local small press show.

And co-owner Laura Daugherty says that they're going to have more local cartoonists at the next show - "We're hosting Hero Initiative with John K. Snyder, III on December 5, along with John Gallagher, Steve Conley and Andre Campbell from Heritage Comics HSQ."

Washington Times, lacking comic strips, still finds them newsworthy culture

Culture Briefs, WASHINGTON TIMES October 4, 2010, includes bits on Cathy and Peanuts.

Friend of ComicsDC Dustin Harbin featured on Comic Book Resources

Talking Comics with Tim - Dustin Harbin
by Tim O'Shea
October 4, 2010

Comic Riffs explains this weekend's pink comics

HILARY PRICE on why her 'Rhymes With Orange' will turn pink this Sunday
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post October 5, 2010.

Nice idea, and a good amount of participation. BTW, men can get breast cancer too.

Academic review of Looking for Calvin and Hobbes online now

Perna, Laura.

"Review of Looking for Calvin and Hobbes." .

ImageTexT: Interdisciplinary Comics Studies. 5.3 (2010). Dept of English, University of Florida.

http://www.english.ufl.edu/imagetext/archives/v5_3/perna/

Meet a Local Cartoonist: A Chat with Colorist Lauren Affe

A SCAD graduate starting on her career answers my standard questions -

Meet a Local Cartoonist: A Chat with Lauren Affe
Posted by Mike Rhode on Oct. 5, 2010 at 10:11 am
http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/artsdesk/books/2010/10/05/meet-a-local-cartoonist-a-chat-with-lauren-affe/

Oct 27: Politics and Prose book group discusses Tintin

The Politics and Prose book group will meet October 27th at 7:30pm, reading Tintin in Tibet.

Following that, the titles planned are:

Black Hole by Charles Burns

City of Glass by Auster and Karasik

Market Day by James Sturm

From Hell by Moore and Campbell

The Fixer by Joe Sacco

Jef "Frazz" Mallett's kind words for Weingarten

Meet new faces on the comics pages: Frazz and Dustin
By The Times-Union October 3, 2010

In this interview, Mallett says, "The funny thing is I spent most of my adult life trying to draw like George Booth and write like Gene Weingarten. I’m not there yet …"

Washington Post runs scared, censors Non Sequitur

The Post joined the group of newpapers afraid to publish a Non Sequitur strip that dared mention Muhammed - see the bigger story here  - 

The Non Sequitur you may not have seen

 by Alan Gardner

October 4, 2010

The Post also issued a 'No Comment' to its own blog -
'Muhammad' does -- and does not -- appear in today's 'NON SEQUITUR' comic By Michael Cavna, Washington Post Comic Riffs blog October 3, 2010.

The Post's strong tradition of censoring on its comics page what it would never consider in the news pages continues - click on censorship in the tags to see other examples.

Original Spider-Man art visits Cumberland, MD

...or more accurately, it appears a reasonable facsimile of it did.

Area residents get small taste of what Library of Congress holds
Kristin Harty Barkley
Cumberland Times-News October 1, 2010

No 'Cathy' retirement bump for 'Cul de Sac'?

I've been reading a lot of articles about papers replacing Cathy, and what they're choosing and haven't seen anyone add Cul de Sac yet. Does anyone know of a paper that's added it?

Stone Soup seems to have picked up a few. Rhymes with Orange, Red and Rover, Tundra, Arlo and Janis, nothing, and the new Dogs of C-Kennel are some replacements I've seen.

Saturday Peanuts report

Matt Dembicki was at Saturday's Peanuts event at the National Portrait Gallery and has a brief report on his blog.

Capicon show today w/ DC Conspiracy and Curls

I just got back from this - it's a good show and has a lot of discounted 1/2 price collectons and $1 comics. Also, these folks are there -

Please note the DC-area talent we have scheduled to join us, including 2010 Lulu Nominee Carolyn Belefski and members of DC Conspiracy Matt Dembicki, Andrew Cohen, Rafer Roberts and Evan Keeling.
......
Capicons Comic Book & Pop Culture Con
Sun, Oct. 3, 2010
10 am - 3 pm

Dunn Loring Volunteer Fire Hall, 2148 Gallows Rd, Dunn Loring, Virginia

Admission $3 - Kids FREE!
FREE Admission for those in Costume (Costume Contest at 1 PM)

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

FEATURING:
2010 Lulu Nominee Carolyn Belefski, Curls Studio
Matt Dembicki, Artist/Publisher and Editor of Trickster: Native American Tales: A Graphic Collection
D.C. Conspiracy--a collective of DC comic creators, writers, publishers & artists

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.

--
Laura Daugherty
Capicons
PO Box 2488
Merrifield, VA 22116
http://capicons.com

David Hagen featured in today's Examiner

The 3-minute interview: David Hagen
Washington Examiner October 3, 2010

David's the man who did our Capitol-capped logo.

Schulz photo at National Portrait Gallery

Bruce Guthrie photo of Snoopy, Mrs Karsh and Mrs Schulz

Bruce Guthrie has his photos of the ceremony in which a Karsh portrait of Charles Schulz was donated to the National Portrait Gallery.

Schulz's hometown paper covered the event - Portrait Gallery presents 'Peanuts' creator Schulz, by CHRIS SMITH, THE PRESS DEMOCRAT October 1, 2010

as did the Associated Press - Smithsonian Portrait Gallery presents ‘Peanuts’ creator, By Associated Press Saturday, October 2, 2010

Today in The New York (Comics) Times

Animated series via India from Tom Hanks - Tom Hanks Uses Web to Plot the Future, By DAVE ITZKOFF, October 2, 2010

People will still be talking about going to San Diego - Comic-Con to Stay in San Diego Through 2015, By DAVE ITZKOFF, October 2 2010

and Al Jaffee, the great Mad cartoonist is profiled - New Sketch of a Madcap’s Mad Life, By ALISON LEIGH COWAN, October 2, 2010

Meet a Local Cartoonist: A Chat with Ava Ann Vrooman

My next 'Meet a Local Cartoonist' with Ava Ann Vrooman snuck onto the City Paper's website yesterday.

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/artsdesk/books/2010/10/01/meet-a-local-cartoonist-a-chat-with-ava-ann-vrooman/

Friend of ComicsDC Dustin Harbin featured on Inkstuds

Dustin Harbin.
Inkstuds September 29 2010
http://inkstuds.com/?p=3174

Gazette features local Maryland stores

Big Planet College Park and Comic Classics are the two stores in
Comic stores struggle to adapt in the digital age
College Park, Laurel stores rely on "guilty pleasure" of books
by Lindsey Robbins
Gazette September 29 2010

Regarding retaining or attracting customers - I realize this is just a blog, but one would think someone at one of the stores would have sent me a note about the article. Also, I've never even heard of Comic Classics*, let alone gotten a note asking to feature a link to them. Sour grapes? or poor business practices?

*they don't appear to have a website either.

Groening curates American Visionary Museum of Art exhibit in Baltimore

Making them smile: With 'Simpsons' creator Matt Groening, the American Visionary Museum of Art enlists some star power for its latest exhibit
By Michael Sragow, The Baltimore Sun October 1, 2010

Frank Cho at Mid-Ohio Con

Scoop has the details on Cho's November 6-7 appearance.

Cavna on Peanuts at Portrait Gallery

'PEANUTS' TURNS 60: Smithsonian pays tribute this weekend with portrait unveiling & Family Day
By Michael Cavna 
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog October 1, 2010

The end of 'Cathy' comes Sunday

Cathy Guisewite is ending her strip 'Cathy' on Sunday and there's been some newspaper articles wondering how it'll end. Here's how I think it will NOT end:

With Cathy having shed 20 pounds and gotten a full-body wax for a flourishing career as a swimsuit model;

With Cathy and Irving putting their son in a rocket and sending him from their doomed planet;

With Cathy and Irving waving goodbye to their children as the train leaves for Hogwarts;

With Cathy having died to save the universe from the Anti-Monitor;

With Cathy and Irving riding a sled through the woods;

With Cathy gunned down on a city street after seeing a Zorro movie while her young son watches in horror;

With Cathy frozen in a block of carbonite;

With Cathy elected as the first female President of the US;

With Cathy drowning while saving a young child from a swollen stream;

With Cathy and Irving walking off, saying "This could be the beginning of a beautiful friendship";

With protests throughout the Muslim world.

Warren Bernard's new book solicited in new Previews

Previews is the catalogue that comic book stores use to stock their shelves. Friend of ComicsDC Warren Bernard's new book Drawing Power, on advertiesments by cartoonists, is solicited in new Previews. Since Previews' website sucks, here's a link to Drawing Power by Rick Marschall and Bernard at Fantagraphics Books' site.

Ben Claassen III's Crafty Bastardly Paper in City Paper

Ben Claassen's done artwork for the guide to this weekend's Crafty Bastards fair that's in the Oct 1 City Paper.

Oct 9: Crumb appears in Maryland

A tip from Warren Bernard -

Chestertown Book Festival

Good to the Last Crumb
Saturday, October 9
1:00-3:00PM
Prince Theatre, 210 High Street, Chestertown, Maryland 21620

R. Crumb, founder of the underground comix movement, will be in conversation with Idiots' Books illustrator Robbi Behr. Crumb and Behr will discuss his life's work, the importance of the public library in a community, and field audience questions. Book sale and signing to follow.

-and Michael Dirda, the Post's excellent book critic will be there too.

Jack Black illustration for Express

There's another lovely Jack Black illustration in today's Express - an alien family watching television.