Tuesday, December 14, 2010

Monday, December 13, 2010

Dylan Horrocks on the real meaning of copyright

It's not quite as seasonal as the real meaning of Christmas, but ace New Zealand cartoonist Dylan Horrocks has an excellent article on the real meaning (and dangers) of copyright online now.

Jan 6: Political Cartoons of the Civil War and Their Role in Shaping History

Here's a tip from Warren Bernard. This is apparently a National Archives event and hopefully will be free, but it's not on their calendar yet.

Thursday, January 6, at 7 p.m.

Presented at the Newseum's Walter and Leonore Annenberg Theater

555 Pennsylvania Ave., N.W. Washington, D.C.

Political Cartoons of the Civil War and Their Role in Shaping History

How do political cartoons from the Civil War era reveal what Americans thought about the war and how they participated in the politics of the day? Join us for an illustrated discussion focusing on political cartoons—whether humorous, clever, or scathing—and their role in providing insight into the economic, political and moral issues surrounding the Civil War. Featured will be both Union and Confederate political cartoons. Moderated by Harold Holzer, co-author of The Lincoln Image: Abraham Lincoln and Popular Print, panelists include Joshua Brown, author of Beyond the Lines: Pictorial Reporting, Everyday Life, and the Crisis of Gilded Age America, John Adler, who compiled for the online resource HarpWeek, Illustrated Civil War Newspapers and Magazines, and Richard West, co-author of William Newman: A Victorian Cartoonist in London and New York.

The National Archives Experience is pleased to present tonight's program in partnership with the Newseum.



Comic Riffs interviews Ward Sutton

PARODY OF THE DAY: The story behind 'How WikiLeaks Stole Christmas'
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog December 13 2010

Sutton's one of my favorite cartoonists - we need a collection of his work. He's done strips for TV Guide, and cartoon book reviews for Barnes and Noble's website...

Dec 14: Richard Thompson signing at Big Planet Comics


Richard Thompson will be at Big Planet Comics Bethesda on December 14th. That's tomorrow! He'll also be in Northern Virginia at a new bookstore on December 20th at 7 pm.

Yogi Bear wirestory in today's Express

There's Yogi Bear wirestory in today's Express, interviewing Dan Ackroyd about voicing Yogi.

Local Comic Book Writer Rob Anderson interview online at City Paper

Meet a Local Comic Book Writer: A Chat with Rob Anderson

Sunday, December 12, 2010

Local writer reviews new Eisner biography

Book review: 'Will Eisner: A Dreamer's Life in Comics,' by Michael Schumacher
By Chris Klimek / Special Contributor to The Dallas Morning News December 12, 2010.

In which it says, "Chris Klimek is a freelance writer based in Washington, D.C. Follow him on Twitter at @ctklimek."


Party Crashers exhibit opening photos

Bruce Guthrie has photographs of the Party Crashers exhibit opening on Saturday at Artisphere in Rosslyn on his website. I couldn't make the opening, but I previewed it at the City Paper site. I hope to see the exhibit over the holidays.

See an online preview of SL Gallant's GI Joe

See an online preview of SL Gallant's GI Joe, done with Larry Hama as a return to the classic era of the character.

G4's pick of the week is Luna Brother's The Sword

CAPES/NO CAPES: G4TV and Hero Complex pick the comics
LA Times Hero Complex Blog Dec. 10, 2010

"this ends with a gutpunch that will ... make you cherish your family just a little bit more..." says Blair Butler

Truitt on Batman incorporated

Batsuit up: The Dark Knight goes 'Incorporated'
By Brian Truitt, USA TODAY December 10 2010
http://www.usatoday.com/life/comics/2010-12-10-batman-incorporated_N.htm

Saturday, December 11, 2010

That darn Weingarten

In today's Post's print edition, letter to the editor writer Leonard Greenberg takes Gene Weingarten (specifically) of Barney and Clyde to task for a poop joke. The paper hasn't put the letter online though. Dave Clarke and Dan Weingarten are apparently considered non compos mentos and not named in the letter. Here's the cartoon, because the Post doesn't let you link to a specific day's cartoon.

Post editorializes in favor of cartoon dog mural

Arlington County's hounding of a dog-care business makes no sense
December 10, 2010
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/10/AR2010121006104.html

and in the print paper today. One of the website commentors notes that there is a back door to the store in the mural, with the name of the store painted over the door.

Elena Steier, friend of ComicsDC, profiled

How a Local Cartoonist Found Her True Calling
Popular West Hartford Art League teacher Elena Steier tells her story.
By Ronni Newton  | December 10, 2010
http://westhartford.patch.com/articles/how-a-local-cartoonist-found-her-true-calling

Friday, December 10, 2010

Truitt on Reconcilers

'The Reconcilers' mines old-school heroism, real-life drama
By Brian Truitt, USA TODAY December 10 2010
http://www.usatoday.com/life/comics/2010-12-10-TheReconcilers_N.htm

Comics>Cartooning says Caro

Caroline Small, our local comics litcrit* type, begins building a Comics is greater than Cartooning equation at the Hooded Utilitarian.

*Evidence = "Or, to return to the jargon, how can we expect the dialectic to work without antithesis?"

PR: Beyond Comics Artist Signing Tomorrow - FUBAR


Beyond Comics
Graphic Novel Release Event
Saturday December 11th
11:00am to 4:00pm




Beyond Comics Frederick
FUBAR is just another old fashioned zombie anthology featuring 15 stories by a large army of small-press creators. This zombie Nazi smashing epic spans the entire European Theater from Sussex to Stalingrad as the Allies come face to face with the walking dead.
JEFF McCOMSEY
BLOODY PULP, FUBAR, AMERICAN TERROR
Confession of a Human Smart Bomb.] is a freelance artist carving out a living illustrating funny books and anything else that comes within arm's reach. When Jeff isn't chained to his drawing board, he enjoys spending quality time with his all too understanding bombshell girlfriend, Samantha, in their swanky Lancaster City pad.

STEVE BECKER
In the past Steve has worked with White Wolf for the 6th edition of Gamma World, inked Tim Truman's pencils on a Grimjack miniseries for IDW, and worked a freelance gig with Rockstar Games NYC on the Grand Theft Auto IV add on "The Ballad of Gay Tony". Most recently Steve has contributed two stories and the back cover art as well as designed the zombie shooting target line of merchandise for Jeff McComsey's World War II zombie comic anthology FUBAR. Steve is also lead background designer on the Atomic Robo: Last Stop animated film currently in production with The Fictory.

MIKE IMBODEN
FIST OF JUSTICE, WARMAGEDDON,
Beyond Comics own store icon and creator/writer of Fist of Justice. Mike has become one of the top small press super-hero writers of the last several years and has written for divers comics throughout the indy arena. His latest work gets him back to one of his favorite subjects....zombies.
Beyond Comics

Frederick Location

5632 Buckeystown Pike
Frederick, MD 21704
(301) 668-8202

Richard Thompson has an artistic temperament and he's a sweetheart, says advice columnist

Carolyn Hax held Richard Thompson up as an exemplar of artistic temperament in her Tell Me About It column on November 29th. Funny, he didn't mention it. Me, I'd have t-shirts quoting her made for my family.

Artisphere’s Half of “Party Crashers” Exhibit Opens Tomorrow

Artisphere's Half of "Party Crashers" Exhibit Opens Tomorrow
Posted by Mike Rhode on Dec. 10, 2010

Comic Riffs on the end of Brenda Starr (which the Post didn't run)

After 70 years, Brenda Starr will soon face final deadline
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post December 10, 2010; C05
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/09/AR2010120907040.html


 

Thursday, December 09, 2010

Neal (Conan) on Neil (Gaiman) on NPR

Neal Conan, who's in Washington, according to this story's dateline, although that never occurred to me before, interviewed Neil Gaiman today -

Best Of 2010: Gaiman On The 'Golden Age' Of Comics
National Public Radio's Talk of the Nation December 9, 2010
http://www.npr.org/2010/12/09/131937258/neil-gaiman-selects-top-american-comics-of-2010
http://public.npr.org/anon.npr-mp3/npr/totn/2010/12/20101209_totn_03.mp3
http://www.npr.org/templates/transcript/transcript.php?storyId=131937258

- do you readers want me to link to more NPR stories since it's based here in DC? I can.

Politics and Prose's recommendations - (Almost) Wordless Books


December Graphic Novel Recommendations - (Almost) Wordless Books http://www.politics-prose.com/graphic-novels

Every month Adam Waterreus reviews graphic novels for our newsletter.

If you like this genre, consider participating in the Graphic Novel Bookgroup which meets the fourth Wednesday of every month.

Long-awaited Richard Thompson interview online now


Now posted to the City Paper -

Meet a Local Cartoonist: A Chat with Richard Thompson

Posted by Mike Rhode on Dec. 9, 2010
 

John Kelly on Arlington cartoon dog mural

Whether Arlington mural is a sign or art, compromise could help resolve dispute [print title, 'Time to play nice over illegal dog mural', December 9]

By John Kelly
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, December 8, 2010; 7:41 PM

Truitt on DC's Brightest Day

'Brightest Day' shines light on new DC Universe life By Brian Truitt, USA TODAY December 8 2010

Wednesday, December 08, 2010

SL Gallant's GI Joe comic book shipped today

Shannon "SL" Gallant, our Dupont Circle-area action hero artist, had the first issue of the GI Joe comic book reboot he's illustrating for 1980s fan favorite writer Larry Hama ship today - G.I. Joe #161 (IDW, $3.99) should be available at local comic stores.

McElhatton on Little

Greg McElhatton has a review up for Jason Little's new book Motel Art Improvement Service - I love Little's stuff. If only this had been out when his wife Myla Goldberg was in town last month signing her new book.

New Yorker cartoonist Liza Donnelly was in DC yesterday

According to the Daily Cartoonist, New Yorker cartoonist Liza Donnelly was in DC yesterday. Noted for history (although you can give TED $100 if you want to watch a recording of her talk).

Weldon explains the Green hero

A Chat With editorial cartoonist Steve Artley is up at City Paper

Meet a Local Cartoonist: A Chat With Steve Artley
by Mike Rhode on Dec. 8, 2010
 

Arlington cartoonish dog mural, continued.

A few days ago, I mentioned a mural of dogs in Arlington, and the battle over whether it's advertising a business or brightening up the adjacent dog park. Today's Washington Examiner reveals that the artist is Mark Gutierrez. The story says "The mural looks just like her logo," [Zoning administrator] Artman explained. "If you consider that the Mercedes Benz or Lexis logo is not advertising, then I suppose Ms. Houghton is correct."

So let's check that out:

Here's the top of Wag More Dogs website:



Looks like the same artist to me. Whether or not the mural is advertising for the business around the corner? I have no opinion, except that even if it is, I'd rather look at a piece of art than a blank wall. Gutierrez's painting is at least fun.


Tuesday, December 07, 2010

Jan 13: Brad Meltzer at Politics and Prose

January 13 at 7 pm, Brad Meltzer will be at Politics and Prose.

PR: New Kaltoons Store is Open

The new redesigned and refurbished Kaltoons store is now up and operational. Please stop by and browse for Kal books and the new fully illustrated Economist 2011 Wall Kalendar.  Here's the link:


Best wishes

Kal
Kevin Kallaugher
The KAL iPhone App is now available at the iTunes store.


Send a holiday e-card from Donna Lewis' forthcoming Reply All comic strip

You too can send a holiday e-card from Donna Lewis' forthcoming Reply All comic strip - click here.

Dec 20: Cul de Sac booksigning


Richard Thompson will be at a new bookstore on December 20th at 7 pm. As previously noted, he'll be at Big Planet Comics Bethesda on December 14th. Lucky these are bookstores so he can get his Christmas shopping done.

Comic Riffs on Charlie Brown Christmas

Cavna gets quotes from Mike Peters and Michael Chabon too-

Tonight's 'A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS': Show's Emmy-winning producer reflects on its enduring appeal

By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog (December 7 2010)

Comic art book reviews now at City Paper

International Ink: Think Holiday Thoughts



I'd be interested in hearing anyone's opinions about these, or any other books they'd recommend at the tail end of 2010.

Monday, December 06, 2010

PR: Fantom Comics Hardcover Holiday Sale


Fantom Comics - Where there is a comic book for everyone

 
They called us crazy the first time we did. People looked at us with skepticism, "How can you sell these beautiful, pristine Marvel hardcovers at such low, low prices?"
 
The answer is simple; at Fantom Comics, we make the impossibe, happen.
 
And we're about to do it again. Over 50 select Marvel hardcovers will be on sale while supplies last.
 
These aren't damaged books or remainder copies. No, these are a special purchase and absolute things of beauty.
 
And a perfect opportunity to pick that perfect Christmas gift.
 
Let me give you the names of a few of the books included within this sale:
 
ASTONISHING X-MEN HC VOLUME ONE (Written by Buffy The Vampire Slayer creator Joss Whedon)
 
HULK VOLUME ONE: RED
 
ONSLAUGHT REBORN HC
 
ETERNALS BY NEIL GAIMAN HC
 
Hardcovers previously retailing $35, now priced at or below $12!
 
Are we crazy? Not at all. Just people who know a good bargain when we see one and more importantly, know how to pass it on to our awesome Fantom Comics customer.
 
Sale starts Wednesday, December 12th!





Union Station - 50 Massachusetts Avenue NE | Washington, DC 20002 | 202-216-9478
www.fantomcomics.com


Arlington's dog mural

I hadn't paid much attention to the controversy over a Shirlington dog mural, but am being asked about it, so here's a couple of pieces on it -
 
 
Anybody know who the artist is?

Richmond's AdHouse Books' Duncan the Wonder Dog featured as NY Times holiday book

Chris Pitzer, publisher of Richmond's AdHouse Books' has been putting out some high quality books, and now Duncan the Wonder Dog is featured as NY Times holiday book -
 
By DAN KOIS
December 5, 2010

Sunday, December 05, 2010

Nick Galifianakis #1 on local booksales list

Nick Galifianakis' new book is #1 on the Post's local booksales list -

1. If You Loved Me, You'd Think This Was Cute: Uncomfortably True Cartoons About You

(Andrews McMeel, $12.99). By Nick Galifianakis (1)

Gallant's GI Joe 'pick of the week' by G4 on LA Times site

Shannon Gallant and Larry Hama's GI Joe is 'pick of the week' by G4's Blair Butler on the LA Times Hero Complex site. 

In Between the Panels: DC's Emergence on the Graphic Novel Scene - parts 1 thru 6 on YouTube

In Between the Panels: DC's Emergence on the Graphic Novel Scene - parts 1 thru 6
Filmed by Astray Productions Joe Carabeo
Astray Productions (December 3 2010)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x26ZBYIl5Oc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ft8mAYB_Yyc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pejmI3Q8Upo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwFoBZxVTPY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPp4Uc5WNqk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOoTnaoi1c4

In Between the Panels: DC's Emergence on the Graphic Novel Scene
Wednesday, November 17.
Busboys and Poets, 5th & K Streets, Washington, DC

The Women's National Book Association, DC Chapter  sponsored a panel discussion on the DC graphic novel scene. The panel for the event, was held at Busboys & Poets in Mount Vernon and included Carolyn Belefski, Molly Lawless, Matt Dembicki, and Mike Rhode.

Carolyn Belefski is the mastermind behind the web comic Curls. She is also one of the creators of several other comic books: Kid Roxy, Black Magic Tales, and The Legettes, and an indefatigable (nightly) poster to her blog, Sketch Before Sleep. Her work has appeared in USA WEEKEND Magazine, The Commonwealth Times, Virginia Living Magazine, Magic Bullet, CROQ Zine, and The Pulse on COMICON.com. Ms. Belefski is a nominee for the Kim Yale Award for Most Talented Newcomer for 2010.

Matt Dembicki is a DC-based cartoonist whose work includes the award-winning nature parable Mr. Big, The Great White Shark Story, Xoc, and The Brewmaster's Castle, about legendary DC brewer Christian Heurich. His latest anthology, Trickster: Native American Tales: A Graphic Collection, has received rave reviews from Booklist, Publishers Weekly and School Library Journal and has been nominated as one of the Young Adult Library Services Association's 2011 Great Graphic Novels for Teens. In addition to his own work, Dembicki also hosts kids' workshops in the DC area and beyond on making comic books.

Molly Lawless, a Boston native, moved to the DC area in 2005. She has self-published mini comics as well as a compilation, Infandum! Ad Infinitum. She is currently working on a full-length graphic novel for McFarland Publishing titled Hit by Pitch. She is an avid blogger and includes stories about her family in her daily posts.

Mike Rhode, panel moderator, is co-author of the comics research bibliography, editor of Exhibition and Media Reviews for the International Journal of Comic Art, and a contributing writer for Hogan's Alley. In 2008, he was named Best (Comics) Art Blogger by the Washington City Paper for his Comics DC blog. Rhodes edited Harvey Pekar: Conversations, a book of interviews with the late underground comic book writer and author of American Splendor published by the University Press of Mississippi. He has written for the Comics Journal and was selected as an RFK Journalism Awards judge for the editorial cartoon division of Comics Journal in 2009 and 2010. Rhodes currently writes about comics for the City Paper.


Matt Dembicki's Cartoon Cult exhibit photos

Matt Dembicki has put up some photographs of the opening of the Cartoon Cult exhibit at The Soundry in Vienna, VA.

Today: Capicon comics show at Tyson's Corner

Capicons Comic Book & Pop Culture Con
Sun, Dec. 5, 2010

10 am - 3 pm

Dunn Loring Volunteer Fire Hall, 

2148 Gallows Rd, Dunn Loring, Virginia

Admission $3 - Kids FREE!

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:
John Gallagher of Sky-Dog Comics (Buzzboy, Roboy Red)


Steve Conley (Star Trek, Astounding Space Thrills, Bloop, Kid Knight)


Andre Campbell and Tyran Eades of Heritage Comics HSQ


Dan Nokes, 21st Century Sandshark


Chris Flick, Capes & Babes


Rob Anderson, Panda Dog Press


Tim Dzon

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

Saturday, December 04, 2010

"In Between the Panels: DC’s Emergence on the Graphic Novel Scene" video online now

Carolyn 'Curls' Belefski has posted a link to "In Between the Panels: DC's Emergence on the Graphic Novel Scene" video which is online now. Carolyn, Matt Dembicki and Molly Lawless talked comics while I read questions at them. Carolyn's SO Joe Carabeo kindly recorded the event for posterity. Carolyn also mentioned another website - Jada Bradley's DC Cultural Examiner blog - that covered the event.

Arlington Art Center cartoon classes in January

January COMIC ART Mini Semester
The FUNdaMentals!
Saturdays, January 8 & 15
12:30- 2 pm
Grades 6-8
Instructor: Eric Piccione
$37
Have fun with wacky characters in this cartooning course. In single panel and multi-panel exercises, develop a humorous main character. You will build important sketching, drawing, and inking skills while you review methods cartoonist devised to create a dynamic main character in your story. Visit the Jenkins Gallery to see work by students who took classes with Eric Piccione this summer. Click here for more information and to register.


KAPOW! Comic Explosion

Sundays, January 9, 16 & 23

12:30- 3:30 pm

For adults and mature high school juniors & seniors

Instructor: Jacqueline Levine

$90

BAM! You try to look the other way, but there it is too... COMICS! It's in advertisements, on sneakers, CD covers, clothes, and on your uncle's bookshelf. It's everywhere and everybody loves it. Come to Arlington Arts Center where ZAPP! you'll land into the classroom to learn the basics about creating comic art imagery. Explore inking, character development, narrative, and composition. You will then have the opportunity to use experimental mediums and forms to create your art piece in the format you envision. By the end of this class, POOF!, you are a creative superhero.

Please click here for more information and to register.

thanks to Herschel K for the tip!

Maira Kalman and Walking Dead featured in Post

'And the Pursuit of Happiness,' illustrator Maira Kalman's quirky take on American history
By Monica Hesse
Washington Post December 4, 2010

This event was filmed so hopefully will show up on the Library of Congress website. The Hirschhorn director introduced Kalman by saying she does illuminated manuscripts.

Q&A: 'The Walking Dead's' Andrew Lincoln
By Liz Kelly
Washington Post's Celebritology 2.0 blog December 3, 2010



Tonight: Cartoon Cult exhibit opens in Vienna

“Cartoon Cult” is an art show celebrating contemporary art forms of cartoons, comics, digital animation, illustration, anime, and videogames (emphasis on original characters).

OPENING RECEPTION! SATURDAY DEC. 4TH 7-11PM
The Soundry, 316 Dominion Road, Vienna, VA 22180


ARTISTS:
Ivan Collich
Matt Somma
Matt Dembicki
Jeannette Herrera
Heather Moore
Joseph Galletta
Kristen Fritch
Xenia Latii
Chris Day
Bobby Moore
Jeff Block
Ralph Paine
Matthew Mehmel
Cavan Fleming
Annie Lunsford
Steve Loya
Christiann MacAuley

Friday, December 03, 2010

Dark Horse editor loves Finder

Dark Horse editor Rachel Edidin loves Carla Speed McNeil's Finder.

Rob Ullman's Capital's fangirl

Check out Rob Ullman's Washington Capital's fangirl.

Washington Times positive about local 'Annie'

'Annie' gets Olney in the holiday mood
by Terry Ponick
Washington Times' Curtain Up! blog December 1, 2010

Frank Cho on cover of DC magazine

Blog co-author Randy T reports "Frank Cho is on cover of DC magazine -  while his article is pretty terse, he did get the blurb and illustration on the cover: http://media.modernluxury.com/digital.php?e=WASH

 Up, Up and Away! Local comic book artist Frank Cho goes intergalactic and proves he’s a superhero in his own right
By Tiffany Jow
DC (December 2010): 48

  You can also download a pdf of the issue.


Oddly enough, the cover is Michelle Obama, getting the Cho superheroine treatment.

Monkey See blog on Tangled

Holmes, Linda.  2010.

Pop Culture Happy Hour: Disney Princesses And People We're Pulling For.

National Public Radio's Monkey See blog (December 3): http://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2010/12/03/131779569/pop-culture-happy-hour-disney-princesses-and-people-we-re-pulling-for and http://public.npr.org/anon.npr-mp3/npr/blog/2010/12/20101202_blog_pchh.mp3

International Journal of Comic Art 12:2/3 is out

The latest issue of the International Journal of Comic Art #12:2/3 is out. 712 pages in this issue. It's time to renew for 2012 at $45 / year.


George Washington University's Philip Troutman has a piece in the current issue, and the exhibit review section has work by me on local shows.

Table of Contents:
John A. Lent 1 Editor’s Note

Fabrice Leroy 2 Yves Chaland and Lue Cornillon’s Rewriting of Classical Belgian Comics in Captivant: From Graphic Homage to Implicit Criticism

Giancarla Unser-Schutz 25 Exploring the Role of Language in Manga: Text Types, Their Usages, and Their Distributions

Rick Marschall 44 Nurturing the Butterfly: My Life in Comic Art Studies

Derik A. Badman 91 Talking, Thinking, and Seeing in Pictures: Narration, Focalization, and Ocularization in Comics Narratives

Enrique Garcia 112 Coon Imagery in Will Eisner’s The Spirit and Yolanda Vargas Dulché’s Memín Pinguín and Its Legacy in the Contemporary United States and Mexican Comic Book Industries

Kerry Soper 125 From Jive Crows in “Dumbo” to Bumbazine and “Pogo”: Walt Kelly and the Conflicted Politics Reracinating African American Types in Mid-20th Century Comics

Robert Furlong and Christophe Cassiau-Haurie 150 Comic Books, Politics, and Manipulation: The Case of Repiblik Zanimo, the First Comic Strip and Book in Creole

Grazyna Gajewsk 159 Between History and Memory – Marzi: Children Should Be Seen and Not Heard Marzena Sowa and Sylvain Savoia

Matthew M. Chew and Lu Chen 171 Media Institutional Contexts of the Emergence and Development of Xinmanhua in China

Jörn Ahrens 192 The Father’s Art of Crime: Igort’s 5 Is the Perfect Number

Marco Pellitteri 209 Comics Reading and Attitudes of Openness toward the Other: The Italian-Speaking Teenagers’ Case in South Tyrol

Iren Ozgur 248 Have You Heard the One about the Islamist Humor Magazine?

Weidan Cao 251 The Mountains and the Moon, the Willows and the Swallows: A Hybrid Semiotic Analysis of Feng Zikai’s “New Paintings for Old Poems”

Candida Rifkind 268 A Stranger in an Strange Land? Guy Delisle Redraws the Travelogue

Daniel Stein 291 The Long Shadow of Wilhelm Busch: “Max & Moritz” and German Comics

Hannah Miodrag 309 Fragmented Text: The Spatial Arrangement of Words in Comics

Christopher Eklund 328 Toward an Ethicoaesthetics of Comics: A Critical Manifesto

Muliyadi Mahamood 336 The Malaysian Humor Magazine Gila-Gila: An Appreciation

Roy Bearden-White 354 Inheriting Trauma in Chris Ware’s Jimmy Corrigan: The Smartest Kid on Earth

Philippe Gauthier 367 On “Institutionalization”: From Cinema to Comics

Marc A. Londo 376 Mr. Tap and His African-American Cartoons of the 1940s/1950s

Marcia R. Ristaino 395 Two Linked by Another, Ding Cong: Interviews with Betty McIntosh and Shen Jun

Shelley Drake Hawks 402 Ding Cong’s “True Story of Ah Q” in Art and Life

John A. Lent and Xu Ying 425 Fengjing – The Town That Claimed Ding Cong

Phillip Troutman 432 The Discourse of Comics Scholarship: A Rhetorical Analysis of Research Article Introductions

Ross Murray 445 Referencing Comics: A Comprehensive Citation Guide

Sylvain Rheault 459 Curvy Alterations in “Gaston” by Franquin

Miriam Peña-Pimentel 469 Baroque Features in Japanese Hentai

Yuko Nakamura 487 What Does the “Sky” Say? – Distinctive Characteristics of Manga and What the Sky Represents in It

B.S. Jamuna 509 Strategic Positioning and Re-presentations of Women in Indian Comics

Meena Ahmed 525 Exploring the Dimensions of Political Cartoons: A Case Study of Pakistan

Camila Figueiredo 543 Tunes Across Media: The Intermedial Transposition of Music in Watchmen

Rania M. R. Saleh 552 Making History Come Alive Through Political Cartoons

Bill Kartalopoulos 565 Taking and Making Liberties: Narratives of Comics History

Toni Masdiono 577 An Indonesian Bid for the First Graphic Novel

John A. Lent 581 In Remembrance of Five Major Comic Art Personalities

Perucho Mejia Garcia 588 Ismael Roldan Torres (1964-2009) of Colombia: A Memorial Tribute

Zheng Huagai 598 Tributes to Two Famous, Anti-Japanese War Cartoonists: Zhang Ding and Te Wei

John A. Lent 614 The Printed Word

620 Book Reviews

644 Exhibition and Media Reviews

696 Correction

697 Portfolio

Dec 4: Cartoon Cult exhibit opens in Vienna

“Cartoon Cult” is an art show celebrating contemporary art forms of cartoons, comics, digital animation, illustration, anime, and videogames (emphasis on original characters).

OPENING RECEPTION! SATURDAY DEC. 4TH 7-11PM
The Soundry, 316 Dominion Road, Vienna, VA 22180


ARTISTS:
Ivan Collich
Matt Somma
Matt Dembicki
Jeannette Herrera
Heather Moore
Joseph Galletta
Kristen Fritch
Xenia Latii
Chris Day
Bobby Moore
Jeff Block
Ralph Paine
Matthew Mehmel
Cavan Fleming
Annie Lunsford
Steve Loya
Christiann MacAuley

Thursday, December 02, 2010

Ketcham and Hotchkiss' Navy cartoon posters from World War 2

Courtesy of the US Navy's Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, the National Museum of Health and Medicine has scans of these Navy posters from World War 2.

One is by Dennis the Menace creator Hank Ketcham -

mis09-7914-13

The rest are by Hotchkiss -

MIS09-7914-1

mis09-7914-3

mis09-7914-5

mis09-7914-7

mis09-7914-9

mis09-7914-11

mis09-7914-15

Cavna interviews Maureen Dowd comic book creator

Brenda Starr meets Batgirl: Artist gives MAUREEN DOWD her own bio-comic book (UPDATED)
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog December 2 2010.

He also got a few quotes including one by Stan Lee, on the passing of an Archie artist -

RIP, Archie Comics & Marvel artist John 'Jon' D'Agostino
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog December 1 2010

Meet a Local Cartoonist: A Chat With Kevin Ward

Now online at the City Paper - Meet a Local Cartoonist: A Chat With Kevin Ward, by Mike Rhode on Dec. 2, 2010.

Brad Meltzer, former local comics writer, interviewed on his new tv show Decoded


Brad Meltzer, a former local comics writer, answered some of my questions on his new tv show Decoded. First, here's some information about him from the press release for the show.
 
Brad Meltzer is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Book of Fate and six other novels. His first non-fiction work Heroes For My Son, a collection of historical heroes, recently hit the New York Times bestseller list. Meltzer is also author of the critically acclaimed comic books Identity Crisis and Justice League of America and is the first author to ever reach the #1 spot on both the New York Times and the Diamond comic book bestseller lists simultaneously. Meltzer's books have spent over eleven months on bestseller lists, and have been translated into over 25 languages.
  
Best-selling author Brad Meltzer loves a good mystery. A history enthusiast known for his immaculate research, he has studied and written about some of America's most revered institutions and documents. But sometimes he uncovers unverifiable stories that keep him awake at night. Is there another hidden message buried in the Statue of Liberty? What happened to the White House cornerstone that's been missing for two centuries?  Could it be true that John Wilkes Booth lived for 40 years after his presumed death under an assumed identity? 

In the new 10-part series BRAD MELTZER'S DECODED, premiering on Thursday, December 2 at 10 p.m. on HISTORY®, Meltzer scours secret clues, symbols and conspiracy theories to unravel some of society's most provocative enigmas. And the deeper he digs into the past, the more we learn about our future. 
 
Together with a team of experts – Buddy Levy, a professor and journalist who assumes there is always more than meets the eye; Christine McKinley, a mechanical engineer who believes only what she can prove; and Scott Rolle, a trial lawyer who is skeptical by nature – Meltzer hunts for answers to questions that have perplexed us for centuries yet have never been fully investigated.
 
The premiere episode rolls out with "The White House" as the team gets to the bottom – literally – of a mystery concerning the cornerstones of our democracy.  Laid by the ultra secretive Freemasons, this landmark piece of stone vanished. The search for the cornerstone has been on for over 200 years, everyone from Harry Truman to Barbara Bush have looked for it. Is it a coincidence…or is there a secret conspiracy tied to these stones and the buildings they were meant to support?
 
ComicsDC: Brad, to provide a figleaf of cover for this appearing on ComicsDC - you used to live in suburban Maryland, and you still write comics, correct?
 
Brad Meltzer: Of course.
 
 ComicsDC: How did the idea for the tv show come about?
 
Brad Meltzer: One of the heads of HISTORY read my novel The Book of Fate, which dealt with Freemasons and the secret codes that Thomas Jefferson used when he was President -- and then said, "We should do a show like this."  And y'know what that is?  That's dumb luck by me.
 
 ComicsDC: How did the topics get picked?
 
Brad Meltzer: I keep a book (now books) of every idea I've had over the years -- some stupid and dumb and not fleshed out -- and some that'll feed characters and comic books and anything else.  And there were just tons of historical details that I'd love to know the answers to, but just couldn't use in the books.  So really, I'm stealing from my future novels.
 
ComicsDC: How much research do you personally do or supervise?
 
Brad Meltzer: For the novels, I do all the research myself.  But for the show, HISTORY said, you give us the mysteries and we'll give you the research team to solve it.  The problem is, I still couldn't help myself and sometimes found myself digging as well.
 
ComicsDC: Which is your favorite show?
 
Brad Meltzer: Of Decoded?  I love this first one airing tonight -- about the first piece of the White House.  That was the very first idea I suggested, and it really set up a good model for the show.  Sure, we're not digging it up from below the White House -- but we do answer questions like, is it hollow?  And what's inside?  As for surprises, the John Wilkes Booth one is the one that kept me awake.
 
ComicsDC: Navy medical historian Jan Herman is a friend of mine - I've known him for 20 years - and he hasn't convinced me yet that Lincoln's murderer John Wilkes Booth may have escaped, as one of your shows examines. Did any of the shows change your mind about an historical 'truth'?
 
Brad Meltzer: I hear you.  And I started the Booth show thinking the exact same thing.  But wait till you see Booth's family telling their side of the story.  It's like "Who is Donna Troy?"  Will mess you up good.
 
ComicsDC: Is the show going to continue? If so, do you know what other topics you'd like to look into?
 
Brad Meltzer: It depends if we get more viewers than my last try at television -- Jack & Bobby.  There, our ratings were 14.  Not a 14 share.  Fourteen people.  Total.
 
ComicsDC: Is it really possible to solve a mystery for a tv show?
 
Brad Meltzer: Especially with historical shows, the biggest barrier is simply that so much of the physical evidence is gone or unavailable.  When Lee Harvey Oswald was dead, theories started that it wasn't him in the grave.  So they dug him up and proved it was.  If you want to solve the Booth mystery, dig up the grave.  For now, the government still won't allow it.  But when you watch our Lewis episode, the ballistic evidence and the other details we find definitely add a huge piece to the puzzle.  
 
ComicsDC: Your next book is about secrets in a museum or archives - can you tell us anything about that?
 
Brad Meltzer: The Inner Circle comes out 1/11/11 and for that one, I got help with the research from a former President of the United States.  So I'm now gearing up that release.
 
ComicsDC: What is your favorite museum or archives? 
 
Brad Meltzer: The National Archives.  No question.  It's the attic of the US Government.  Library of Congress is a close second.
 
ComicsDC: And bringing it all back home, do you have any plans to write another comic book? How about adapting your existing works to graphic novels?
  
Brad Meltzer: Love to write more comics.  Without question, comics still have had the biggest influence on my writing.  More than film.  More than novels.  More than anything.  They're still the best.
 

PR: Brad Meltzer's Decoded premieres on the History Channel tonight at 10pm/9c

Former local comics writer new tv show, Brad Meltzer's Decoded, is on the History Channel tonight.
http://www.history.com/shows/brad-meltzers-decoded/videos/behind-the-scenes-brad-meltzers-decoded#brad-meltzers-decoded-preview

Ian Sattler's come a long way from Big Planet Comics

DC Comics promotes Eddie Berganza and Ian Sattler
December 1, 2010 by Kevin Melrose

Ian was a clerk at the Bethesda store, years ago.

Wednesday, December 01, 2010

Dec 14 LIVE cartoonist/illustrator Richard Thompson at Big Planet Comics

As Mad used to say - Accept no imitations!

On Tuesday, December 14 from 7-9 PM, cartoonist/illustrator Richard Thompson will sign his newest Cul de Sac collection, Shapes and Colors, at Big Planet Comics, 4908 Fairmont Ave, Bethesda, MD. 301-654-6856.

--

Joel Pollack

Big Planet Comics
Bethesda
4908 Fairmont Ave
Bethesda, Maryland 20814
301-654-6856


Nick Galifianakis pics

100_0856

Here's a few shots of Nick Galifianakis signing his new cartoon collection book. Buy it now... or the Newfie may visit. My City Paper interview with Nick is here.

100_0860

Matt Dembicki posts photos of Party Crashers exhibit

Right here.

I still haven't made it back to the exhibit.

Drew Sheneman, latest editorial cartoonist casualty, interviewed on Comic Riffs

Exit Interview: Buyout in hand, Star-Ledger cartoonist DREW SHENEMAN plans a career 'reinvention'
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs December 1, 2010
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/comic-riffs/2010/12/exit_interview_star-ledgers_dr.html

Weldon reviews 'Special Exits'

It's a nice, touching review -
 
Going Gentle Into That Good Night Goes Awry: The Graphic Memoir 'Special Exits'

by Glen Weldon

National Public Radio's Monkey See blog December 1, 2010

  http://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2010/11/30/131699453/going-gentle-into-that-good-night-goes-awry-the-graphic-memoir-special-exits

Monday, November 29, 2010

Denys Wortman in DC (sort of)

James Sturm's been working on rediscovering Denys Wortman, an early 20th century cartoonist, and is doing a book on him with Drawn & Quarterly. A few articles have been appearing about the exhibit on Wortman that's in New York-

Cartoonist's Depression-Era NYC Drawings Featured in East Harlem Exhibit; The works of cartoonist Denys Wortman will be on display at the Museum of the City of New York through March 20.
By Della Hasselle
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer, November 19, 2010

Gotham Chronicle: Sharp Eye, and Pencil
By CAROL KINO
New York Times November 21, 2010

-and Allen Holtz put a nice early article online -

All N.Y. Poses For Wortman's Cartoons
Straphangers in the Subway and Flappers at Soda Fountains Are Unsuspecting
Models for New York World Artist Who Blends Comedy With Grim Reality in
"Metropolitan Movies" for N.Y. World
by John F. Roche (E&P, 3/23/29)

-tonight I was on the Smithsonian's Archives of American Art site and put in Wortman's name - and they have a collection of his papers (note the untranscribed interview)-

Wortman, Denys, b. 1887 d. 1958
Cartoonist
New York, N.Y., Mass.
Cartoonist, New York, New York. Born in Saugerties, New York, Wortman studied engineering at Stevens Institute of Technology and at Rutgers College. From 1906-1909, he studied at the Chase School of Art in New York City with Kenneth Hayes Miller and classmates George Bellows, Edward Hopper, and Rockwell Kent. Beginning as a landscape painter from the "Gloucester School," Wortman's career changed when his drawings of life as a sailor in World War I were published in the New York Tribune. From 1924-1954, his daily cartoons "Metropolitan Movies" and "Mopey Dick and the Duke" mirrored New York life in the New York World-Tribune.

Denys Wortman papers, 1887-1980
2.0 linear ft. (partially microfilmed on 1 reel)
Reel(s): 3014

Biographical material, letters, business records, notes, writings, art work, photographs, printed material; and an untranscribed interview.

REEL 3014: Thirty-five letters to Wortman from friends and colleagues (1910-1957), including Gifford Beal, James Cagney, Stuart Davis, Guy Pene Du Bois, Juliet and Pier Hamilton, Edward and Jo Hopper, Kenneth Hayes Miller, Herbert Satterlee, John Sloan, Austin Strong, Frank Sullivan, William Sulzer, Gluyas Williams, and Mahonri Young.

UNMICROFILMED: Biographical accounts and a certificate of marriage between Wortman and his first wife Aimée Kempe (1913); letters to Wortman (1911-1958) and to his second wife Hilda (1958-1980), some illustrated, from his mother, his brother Elbert, newspaper publishers, and colleagues including Peggy Bacon, Roy Baker, George G. Barnard, Gifford Beal, Ruth Benedict, Isabel Bishop, Charlton Bolles, Arthur Brown, E. Button, Stuart Campbell, Edward C. Caswell, Thomas Cole, Nathaniel Collier, Worth Colwell, Fred Cooper, Raymond M. Crosby, Benjamin Dale, Bob Davis, John Dawson, Ed De Cossey, Steven Dohanos, Max and Eliena Eastman, Pat Enright, W. D. Faulkner, Robert Fawcett, Max Fleischer, Juliana Force, Lora B. Fox, Fred Freeman, James Freeman, Alfred Frueh, Murray Harris, Jim Herbert, R. John Holmgren, Ellison Hoover, Will B. Johnstone, H. J. Kauffer, J. Graham Kaye, Clarence B. Kelland,Walter Klett, Gene Lockhart, Arthur Mann, Frank J. Marshall, Jim McKenna,Helen Miller, Gladys Mock, Feg Murray, Frank Netter, William Oberhardt, Lloyd Parsons, Audrey Parsons, Garrett and Florence Price, Raymond Prohaska, George Raab, Samuel Raab, Jack Ratcliff, Norman Rothschild, Harry Salpeter, Albert Sterner,
Jack Van Ryder, Leroy Ward, Mahonri Young, Carl Zigrosser, William Zorach, and Thomas Benton's wife Rita; legal material, including contracts with newspapers and publishers (1925-1938), client lists (1935-1954), and a lease (1924); financial records, including check stubs (1921-1922), an expense book (1923), and receipts (1923-1952); notes and writings, including membership lists for the Dexter Fellows Tent Circus Saints and Sinners Club of America and the Artists and Writers Golf Association; word puzzles and mathematical formulae; scripts "I Know What I Like" by Arthur William Brown and Phil Broughton and "Taxi,-Lady?" by William and Vivian Place, a notebook (1927), and a diary (1918) of Aimée Kempe Wortman; interviews, including a transcript of Wortman, Charles I. Stewart, and Johanna Harris discussing "Art Under a Democracy," and an untranscribed interview of Wortman conducted by Thomas Craven, ca. 1952; and art work, including 25 drawings and a a print by Wortman (undated and 1919), and drawings by Francis Hackett and William Zorach.

Also included are clippings (1903-1978), exhibition catalogs (1935-1953), programs (1938-1951), and printed material concerning The Players (1938) and the Society of Illustrators (1901-1939); photographs (1887-1956) of Wortman, his family, and colleagues, including Harry Beckhoff, Alexander Brook, Clarence Brown, Glenn O. Coleman, Fred Cooper, Thomas Craven, Rudy Dirks, Steven Dohanos, Max and Eliena Eastman, Duncan Ferguson, Stefan Hirsch, Will B. Johnstone, Frank Kidder, Richard Lahey, Robert Laurent, Joseph Lilly, Esther Merrill, Wallace Morgan, Willard Mullin, Garrett and Florence Price, Otto Soglow, Marguerite Zorach, and Thomas Hart Benton, sports cartoonist Feg Murray (3) with film celebrities Joan Crawford, Marion Davies, and Jean Harlow, works of art, stage productions by members of the Society of American Illustrators and a gathering at the Grand Central Galleries of modern artists including Peggy Bacon, Dorothy Varian, Max Weber, and William Zorach.

Location of Originals: Reel 3014: Originals returned to the lender, Hilda R. Wortman, after microfilming.

Material on reel 3014 lent from microfilming by Hilda Wortman, Wortman's widow. She donated the unmicrofilmed material 1979-1983. Craven interview tape donated 1981 by Denys Wortman Jr.

Greg McElhatton's Read About Comics recent reviews

Greg continues to crank through a variety of comics for review including CLAMP manga, old Marvel Fantastic Four reprints , French multicreator Donjon issues (drawn by a Spaniard in this case), Emitown a formerly online and now print diary comic, Charles Burns' take on Tintin.... for more just go check out Read About Comics.

Richard Thompson on his USN&WR days

Complete with a Bill Clinton caricature for old times sake - Your Old Caricature from USN&WR for Today, November 28, 2010

R.C. Harvey reviews 'Barney and Clyde'

R.C. Harvey reviews 'Barney and Clyde' at TCJ.com.

Carry the article to the end to see Rob Tornoe's take on Bucky the cat assailing Cul de Sac's Alice.

Comics Reporter interviews Rina Ayuyang, seen locally in Party Crashers exhibit

Spurgeon, Tom. 2010.
CR Sunday Interview: Rina Ayuyang.
Comics Reporter (November 28): http://www.comicsreporter.com/index.php/cr_sunday_interview_rina_ayuyang/

New comics on THURSDAY this week

No, I don't know why.

Kalman at Library of Congress article

Proud to be an American: Maira Kalman's Twelve Visual Essays at the Library of Congress
By Fiona Zublin
Express November 29, 2010
http://www.expressnightout.com/content/2010/11/maira-kalman-12-visual-essays-library-congress.php

Nov 30: Maira Kalman at Library of Congress

 

http://www.loc.gov/today/pr/2010/10-254.html

 

November 9, 2010

Renowned Writer and Artist Maira Kalman to Discuss New Book, "And the Pursuit of Happiness"

Event Is First Co-Sponsored by Library of Congress and Hirshhorn Museum

Noted writer, illustrator and designer Maira Kalman's year-long investigation of democracy and how it works has resulted in her newest book, "And the Pursuit of Happiness" (Penguin, 2010), which is also the name of her popular blog at NYTimes.com.

Kalman will discuss and sign her book on Tuesday, Nov. 30, at noon in the Montpelier Room on the sixth floor of the James Madison Building, 101 Independence Ave. S.E., Washington, D.C. This Books & Beyond event, co-sponsored by the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress and the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden, is free and open to the public; no tickets are required. The two institutions are planning additional co-sponsored programs.

"And the Pursuit of Happiness" combines words and pictures in an illustrated essay that is both probing and lighthearted. Beginning in 2008, Kalman traveled to Washington, D.C., launching a national tour that would take her from a town hall meeting in Newfane, Vt., to the inner chambers of the Supreme Court. She imagines making a home for herself in the center of the Lincoln Memorial, ponders Alexis de Tocqueville's America, witnesses the inner workings of a Bronx middle-school student council, takes a high-speed lesson in great American women in the National Portrait Gallery and considers the cost of war to the brave American service families of Fort Campbell, Ky.

Kalman is widely renowned for her contributions to The New York Times, The New Yorker and other major publications. Her book is also the subject of a discussion on Facebook. The new Books & Beyond Book Club is available at www.facebook.com/booksandbeyond/. Here readers can discuss books, the authors of which have appeared or will appear in this series. The site also offers links to webcasts of these events and asks readers to talk about what they have seen and heard.

Since its creation by Congress in 1977 to "stimulate public interest in books and reading," the Center for the Book in the Library of Congress (www.Read.gov/cfb/) has become a major national force for reading and literacy promotion. A public-private partnership, it sponsors educational programs that reach readers of all ages, nationally and internationally. The center provides leadership for 52 affiliated state centers for the book (including the District of Columbia and the U.S. Virgin Islands) and nonprofit reading-promotion partners and plays a key role in the Library's annual National Book Festival. It also oversees the Library's Read.gov website and administers the Library's Young Readers Center.

# # #

PR 10-254
11/09/10
ISSN 0731-3527

 

 


Sunday, November 28, 2010

Saturday, November 27, 2010

Glen Weldon attempts comic book schooling...

...the fool!

Pop Culture Happy Hour: We Give Thanks, Try Comics, And Debate Happiness
by Linda Holmes
National Public Radio's Monkey See blog November 26, 2010
http://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2010/11/26/131609227/pop-culture-happy-hour-we-give-thanks-try-comics-and-debate-happiness or

http://public.npr.org/anon.npr-mp3/npr/blog/2010/11/20101126_blog_pchh.mp3

George Will on comic book censorship

Our puritanical progressives
By George F. Will
Washington Post November 28, 2010

Ooooh, the 90 comments are vicious.

PR: Sun, Dec 5-Capicons Show

Capicons Comic Book & Pop Culture Con
Sun, Dec. 5, 2010

10 am - 3 pm

Dunn Loring Volunteer Fire Hall, 

2148 Gallows Rd, Dunn Loring, Virginia

Admission $3 - Kids FREE!

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:
John Gallagher of Sky-Dog Comics (Buzzboy, Roboy Red)


Steve Conley (Star Trek, Astounding Space Thrills, Bloop, Kid Knight)


Andre Campbell and Tyran Eades of Heritage Comics HSQ


Dan Nokes, 21st Century Sandshark


Chris Flick, Capes & Babes


Rob Anderson, Panda Dog Press


Tim Dzon

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

PR: Spider Man - The Musical - A First Look on 60 Minutes

Tomorrow night, 60 Minutes will have a segment on the upcoming Spider-Man musical. I must say I'm somewhat interested in whether or not the producers pull this off.

Their press release follows. Note there's additional content on the web.



 

November 23, 2010

 

U2'S BONO AND THE EDGE SAY WORKING ON

"SPIDER-MAN" WAS THE SOME OF MOST FUN

THEY'VE EVER HAD  – "60 MINUTES" SUNDAY

 

Lesley Stahl Gets the First Look at "Spider-Man: Turn off the Dark"and its Aerial Effects and Also Talks to Director Julie Taymor as She Works to Complete the Most Expensive Musical Ever

 

          U2 band-mates Bono and The Edge have been having fun helping to create what will be the most ambitious and expensive musical ever staged on Broadway.  Lesley Stahl and 60 MINUTES cameras have been following the production for more than a year and a half and will offer the first look at the much vaunted aerial effects and the U2 stars' music sessions on 60 MINUTES, Sunday, Nov. 28 (7:00-8:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. 

 

            "It has been one of the funest (sic), more joyful rides of our artistic life, for sure," says Bono. "We've moved out of the rock 'n' roll idiom in places, into some very new territory for us," he tells Stahl. "There's big show tunes and dance songs."    The Edge said working with Julie Taymor was "like being a student in a master class of musical theater and opera."  Watch a clip.

 

            "Julie Taymor is definitely a magician. I think that's what you call a person, who, even though they put the rabbit in the hat, is really surprised when it comes out," Bono tells Stahl. 

 

            The show's first preview is scheduled for Sunday, Nov. 28, after delays due to money woes, the complicated staging and flying effects that injured two actors. The show cost more than $60 million to make, and critics wondered if it would ever open.   But Taymor, with a string of stage and film successes, tells Lesley Stahl danger and risk make for a creative success.  "I love it when people say 'What a horrible, lousy idea.' I think that's great," Taymor says with a laugh. "I hate the comfort zone…I don't think that anything that's really creative can be done without danger and risk," says the two-time Tony winner, whose spectacular staging of "Lion King" is still playing in theaters after 13 years. 

 

            On Sunday, 60MinutesOvertime.com will feature a special, in-depth look at how Bono and The Edge collaborated with Taymor to write and play the music that defines the show's villains and heroes and drives its stunning special effects.