Wednesday, December 29, 2010

2010 Washington City Paper comics writings

Tuesday, December 28, 2010

Truitt on Kirkman on Walking Dead

Robert Kirkman reflects on a bloody good year of 'The Walking Dead'
By Brian Truitt, USA TODAY December 28 2010
http://www.usatoday.com/life/comics/2010-12-28-WalkingDead_N.htm

Steve Conley restarts Bloop

Steve Conley restarted his Bloop webcomic yesterday - check it out here.

Monday, December 27, 2010

Washington cartoonist's favorites at City Paper

Arts in Review: The Year in Cartoons

Posted by Mike Rhode on Dec. 27, 2010
http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/artsdesk/books/2010/12/27/arts-in-review-the-year-in-cartoons/

Other papers may pick what they think were the best cartoons of the year. Here at the City Paper, we're doing it differently. We've asked some local cartoonists to pick their favorite piece that they made over the past year and share it with us. Click the link to read more.

Sunday, December 26, 2010

Truitt on Marvel's latest multipart storyline

Be afraid: Marvel's heroes gear up for 'Fear Itself'
By Brian Truitt, USA TODAY December 21 2010
http://www.usatoday.com/life/comics/2010-12-21-FearItself_N.htm

The year according to Toles: A review of 2010, from the drawing board of Tom Toles, The Post's political cartoonist.

The year according to Toles

A review of 2010, from the drawing board of Tom Toles, The Post's political cartoonist.

Washington Post (December 26 2010)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/gallery/2010/12/23/GA2010122303537.html#photo=1

Cul de Sac - another signature sketch

Friday, December 24, 2010

Merry Christmas from ComicsDC and MJ

Post's The Year in Cartoons

The Washington Post put this in print today. 10 cartoons: Sheneman, Kal, Luckovich, Jones, Cardow, Luckovich (again), Stantis, Davies, Pett and Ohman. Online there's a few more.

Merry Christmas from ComicsDC and MJ

Thursday, December 23, 2010

Washington Post's year in editorial cartoons

The Daily Cartoonist noted that the Washington Post's year in editorial cartoons has appeared online. Oddly enough, this hasn't been in the newspaper yet although it's dated online for December 17th. The New York Times' selection appeared in last Sunday's paper.

John Wilkes Booth's contested identity?

Brad Meltzer's Decoded, with my friend Jan Herman being interviewed, is on this topic tonight - 10 pm on the History Channel:

Booth descendants agree to brother's body ID tests

By Edward Colimore

Philadelphia Inquirer, Dec. 23, 2010

Comics ephemera freebies at Ballston's Regal Theater

On a giveaway table before you pass through the ticket taker, there's 2 pieces of comics ephemera freebies at Ballston's Regal Theater - a Green Hornet postcard with 3-D glasses and a small poster for the animated movie Rio.

Chris Morris illustration of Santa's sleigh's dashboard

Today's Express has a nice Chris Morris illustration of Santa's sleigh's dashboard. It's almost the full-tabloid size in the print edition.

Wednesday, December 22, 2010

USA Today's comic gift recs

Essential 2010 graphic novels for comics gift-giving
USA Today December 22 2010
http://www.usatoday.com/life/comics/2010-12-22-ComicsGiftGuide_N.htm

Brian Truitt is local - I'm not sure if the other guys are.

Dirk Deppey and Journalista go out with class

Dirk Deppey's Journalista blog was one of my comics news "must reads" every day (along with Gardner's Daily Cartoonist, Cavna's Comic Riffs and Spurgeon's Comics Reporter). Dirk's reporting that Fantagraphics could no longer support the extravagance of a full-time comics blogger's salary much like Comicon before it. Understandable, yet I'll miss the best link roundup out there. Go to the bottom of Dirk's last post to read him signing off with style.

In closing, I do hope we still see Comics Journal return to print.

MSU Comic Art Collection featured on Library of American Comics blog

Master of the Motherload in Michigan

posted by Dean Mullaney

Library of American Comics blog Dec 18th, 2010

http://www.libraryofamericancomics.com/blog/article/1540/

Ohio State too!

Caniff…a Visual Biography

posted by Dean Mullaney

Dec 15th, 2010

http://www.libraryofamericancomics.com/blog/article/1525/

Weldon's last NPR comics news wrap-up of the year

A Quick Comics Around-the-Horn (Not a Creature was Stirring Edition)

by Glen Weldon

December 22, 2010

http://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2010/12/22/132236695/a-quick-comics-around-the-horn-not-a-creature-was-stirring-edition

Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Magic Bullet #2 newspaper submissions open

The Magic Bullet #2 newspaper edited by Rafer Roberts has its submissions period open now.

Michael Auger video on YouTube

Michael Auger's Solo Show at Tryst Coffeehouse, Adams Morgan, Washington DC

Auger was in Trickster, and I did a short interview with him when that was published -thanks to Matt Dembicki's Facebook page for the link.

Carla Speed McNeil, Carolyn Belefski and Joe Carabeo video online

The Other Side of the Table: Lessons from Creators
December 17, 2010
http://curls-studio.blogspot.com/2010/12/other-side-of-table-lessons-from.html

The panel description is:

The Other Side of the Table: Lessons from Creators
Date: Friday, October 8, 2010
Time: 11:15 am - 12:15 pm
Location: Room 1A21, Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, New York City

Creating your product is only half the work it takes to succeed in the comics industry. What about the other half that we don't see as clearly after the product is released to the world? This panel will explore what it is like to be on the other side of the table, as a creator. We will discuss what it takes to exhibit at conventions, promote yourself, and gain a loyal audience - from the POV of professionals already behind the table. Join creators Jimmy Palmiotti (Painkiller Jane, Jonah Hex, The Pro), Raina Telgemeier (Smile, The Baby-Sitters Club), Bryan J.L. Glass (The Mice Templar, Thor: First Thunder) Carla Speed McNeil (Finder) and Carolyn Belefski (Curls, The Legettes) in this conversation, moderated by Joe Carabeo.

Photographs of Richard Thompson's Cul de Sac booksignings

Here's a set of the pictures of recent signings that Richard Thompson did for his new Cul de Sac book. One groups is at Big Planet Comics in Bethesda, and the other is at the new One More Page book store in Arlington. The images are labelled for Creative Commons so they can be downloaded.

Carolyn Belefski does National Geographic freelance illos

Carolyn Belefski has done some National Geographic freelance illos for some products for their Great Migrations tv show.

Tom Toles interviewed on climate change blog post

There's a video interview and transcript with Post cartoonist Tom Toles at another newspaper site -

Surber, Don. 2010.

Tom Toles on global warming

Daily Mail blog (December 19): http://blogs.dailymail.com/donsurber/archives/26807

Which refers to a Toles blog post -

Ear ache

By Tom Toles

December 17 2010

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/tomtoles/2010/12/friday_rant_fools_cold_edition.html

Monday, December 20, 2010

Comic Riffs wants your best comics of 2010

BEST OF 2010: Time to nominate your picks for top comics

By Michael Cavna

Get them in before December 27th.

Politics and Prose bookstore outlasts Thought Balloonists blog

Craig Fischer and Charles Hatfield are closing their Thought Balloonists blog and selling out to The Man (aka TCJ.com). Craig reminisces about their decision to blog about comics and notes that the genesis was in Politics and Prose bookstore (which means I dragged them there. I'm a lousy midwife though because I didn't notice the birthing pangs).

SPACE awards include local cartoonists

Matt Dembicki's got the story (as well as 2 nominations) and says Rafer "Plastic Farm" Roberts is nominated as well. Good luck, guys.

Barry Blitt in Sunday's Wash Post

It's not online but Blitt illustrated Season's Greetings, a putative Christmas letter from the Obamas, in the December 19th Washington Post.

PR: GPO RECEIVES TOP HONORS FOR SOCIAL MEDIA INITIATIVES [including comic book creation]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: December 13, 2010 No. 10-45
GPO RECEIVES TOP HONORS FOR SOCIAL MEDIA INITIATIVES

WASHINGTON-The U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO) won two Ava Awards from the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals (AMCP). GPO's Public Relations and Creative Services departments won a Platinum Award for the video production of Squeaks Discovers Type: GPO's First Comic Book. The video details GPO's process of creating and producing the comic book, which takes a unique approach to educate readers on the important role printing has played from the beginnings of civilization to today's digital world. GPO also won a Gold Award for the video production of Federal Register 2.0. With the help of the National Archives' Office of the Federal Register (OFR), GPO created a video explaining the new Federal Register 2.0 web site. GPO and OFR have worked together for 75 years to produce the Federal Register in both print and digital form, which provides the public with access to government information and federal regulations.

Link to Squeaks Discovers Type: GPO's First Comic Book video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2poFHDbcTEw

The comic book can be purchased at GPO's Bookstore:
http://bookstore.gpo.gov/collections/squeaks-discovers-type.jsp

Link to Federal Register 2.0 video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ADhP0KSmjkQ

The Ava Awards are an international competition administered and judged by AMCP. The awards recognize outstanding work by creative professionals involved in the concept, writing, direction, shooting, and editing of audio-visual materials and programs. Entrants include video and film production companies, web developers, advertising agencies, public relations firms, corporate and government communication departments, producers, directors, editors, and shooters.

"These awards are an example of the exceptional production work GPO can offer our federal agency customers in using the latest social media tools to promote their mission. Both of these videos showcase the great work GPO employees and our colleagues at the Office of the Federal Register are doing to promote the workings of our government," said Public Printer Bob Tapella. "I congratulate GPO's Public Relations, Creative Services and Publication and Information Sales teams for collaborating on these efforts and making the agency proud."

The GPO is the federal government's primary centralized resource for gathering, cataloging, producing, providing, authenticating, and preserving published U.S. government information in all its forms. GPO is responsible for the production and distribution of information products and services for all three branches of the federal government. In addition to publication sales, GPO makes government information available at no cost to the public through GPO's Federal Digital System (www.fdsys.gov) and through partnerships with approximately 1,220 libraries nationwide participating in the Federal Depository Library Program. For more information, please visit www.gpo.gov. Follow GPO on Twitter http://twitter.com/USGPO and on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/user/gpoprinter.

###

Sunday, December 19, 2010

Cavna on New Yorker's Mankoff in Washington Post

For the New Yorker, he calls the 'toons of the year

By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, December 19, 2010; E13
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/17/AR2010121705067.htmlm

Dec 20: Cul de Sac booksigning

Richard Thompson will be at a new bookstore on December 20th at 7 pm in outer Arlington, or outer Falls Church. The bookstore isn't quite open yet so it'll actually be in the condo's gathering room next door. I'm chauffeuring, so see you all there.

Zadzooks holiday gift suggestions

Zadzooks: Gift guide for pop culture fans
Gifts that get them into the action
By Joseph Szadkowski
The Washington Times December 15, 2010
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2010/dec/15/zadzooks-gift-guide-for-pop-culture-fans/

Saturday, December 18, 2010

Minor Herblock remembrance

Writing letters is a joyful craft
Ed Tant
Athens Banner-Herald December 18, 2010
http://www.onlineathens.com/stories/121810/opi_758164522.shtml

Friday, December 17, 2010

Steve Artley's father's latest book recommended in Smithsonian Magazine

Steve Artley writes in about his editorial cartoonist father (Bob) and brother Rob's new book -

A description and cover image of Memories of a Farm Kitchen was included in the "Holiday Gift Guide: A Food Book for Everyone on your List" of the Food & Think section on the electronic version of Smithsonian Magazine.

http://blogs.smithsonianmag.com/food/2010/12/17/holiday-gift-guide-a-food-book-for-everyone-on-your-list/

Memories of a Farm Kitchen, by Bob and Rob Artley. A charming and utterly unique memoir about growing up on a 200-acre farm in Iowa in the 1920s and 1930s, this homespun book recalls bygone days of icebox refrigerators, cellar larders, and ham hanging from the rafters.

Steve told me a bit more about the book's history-

"This was a book that almost didn't happen. My dad started it about 6 years ago. The last few years, he had a series of strokes that affected his vision and hearing, as well as his drawing hand. One day, while I was visiting him in his Florida studio, he showed me some of the pieces he was working on for the book, and I could see they were not up to his usual level of the dozen books he had produced up to that point. I told him this frankly, adding that I figured he'd want to know the truth."

"I offered to help assemble the pieces and layout the pages, if he could finish the text. A couple of years and another stroke later, he got the text to me and it was not quite up to his usual standards of writing either. So, I called in my brother. I told him the manuscript needed more than mere proofreading. It needed fixes in style, etc. I was so pleased that he took on the assignment with enthusiasm. He far exceeded my art direction. He used Dad's story, but dressed up the style. He even wrote an additional chapter, for which we had art, but no words."

"At my father's urging, the publisher had been planning to put my name as co-author. I was never comfortable with that from the beginning. I was just the art director and project manager. My sister Joan Artley-Sterner also took part in planning out the book. Both of us were more comfortable being listed in the acknowledgments only. So I told the publisher to make my brother the co-author."

That's a nice story about a family pulling together, isn't it?

Dean Haspiel's EW Harvey Pekar Tribute

Years ago, my friend Dean Haspiel suggested that I interview Harvey for a Small Press Expo panel - that turned into a journal article, and then a book, as well as a friend acquaintance with Harvey. Harvey died earlier this year, and Dean's got a nice tribute strip up about Harvey now.

Washington Post doesn't like CGI Yogi Bear

Hey, Boo Boo! Zzzzzzzz . . .
By Dan Kois
Washington Post December 17, 2010
http://www.washingtonpost.com/gog/movies/yogi-bear,1168809/critic-review.html

but neither does any other reviewer I've read.

A Chat with Dan Nokes now at City Paper

Meet a Local Cartoonist : A Chat with Dan Nokes

Posted by Mike Rhode on Dec. 17, 2010

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/artsdesk/books/2010/12/17/meet-a-local-cartoonist-a-chat-with-dan-nokes/

Thursday, December 16, 2010

Signed Doonesbury books on sale at Politics and Prose

I got mine!

SIGNED BOOKS OF THE WEEK

Signed

We are really excited about our offerings this week. And the Doonesbury collections are both discounted 20% for members since they are featured in our holiday catalogue!

JUST KIDS
Signed by National Book Award Winner Patti Smith
(Ecco, $16)
Paperback - September 2010

40: A DOONESBURY RETROSPECTIVE
Signed by Garry B. Trudeau
(Andrews McMeel, $100)
Hardcover - October 2010
First editions, first printings.

and

DOONESBURY AND THE ART OF G.B. TRUDEAU
Signed by Garry Trudeau
(Yale Univ., $49.95)
Hardcover - November 2010
First editions, first printings.

When Brian Walker first interviewed Garry Trudeau in 1973, it was for an article on the new comix for the alternative weekly, Silver Lining. While Trudeau denied being a spokesman for the counterculture, it became a label that he had difficulty shaking. Walker later curated the first exhibition of Trudeau's work. DOONESBURY AND THE ART OF G.B. TRUDEAU (Yale Univ., $49.95) explores the evolution of the artist from his prep-school drawing to Bull Notes, the predecessor of Doonesbury, and the impact the series has had on pop culture, from the Broadway musical to ties and Starbucks mugs. Walker also introduces the collaborators Trudeau has worked with over the years. There are plenty of strips here as well, from those early days to the present. It's a lovely companion to 40: A DOONESBURY RETROSPECTIVE (Andrews McMeel, $100), which contains 1,800 strips Trudeau selected as representative of the 40 years since Gonzo, Mike, J.J. B.D., and the huge cast of characters first appeared in papers nationwide. He also provides bios of these iconic characters—all contained in a beautiful slip-cased box. - Deb Morris

Click here to see more of our Signed Event Books. Also, for only $1.50 additional per book, Politics & Prose now offers an Archival Book Covering Service. Click here to add this item to your order!

Politics & Prose Bookstore
5015 Connecticut Avenue, N.W.
Washington, DC 20008
(202) 364-1919 or
(800) 722-0790
Fax: (202) 966-7532
www.politics-prose.com
e-mail: books@politics-prose.com
Click here for directions to Politics & Prose
----------
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(202) 362-2408
www.moderntimescoffeehouse.com
moderntimescoffeehouse.blogspot.com
Opens daily at 8 a.m.
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Store Hours
Monday - Saturday	9 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Sunday (December Hours)	10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

PR: Fantom Comics Holiday Recommendations

Fantom Comics - Where there is a comic book for everyone

We're just abouta week from Christmas and there's still plenty of time to do right by your favorite comics fan. So, put down The Chia Pet 'cause Fantom Comics is here to help with a handy-dandy list of recommendations for the comics fan or anyone looking for something new and exciting!

If you're a fan of The Walking Dead comic and TV series (Image Comics), you may like:

Chew Vol. 1 through 3 (Image Comics):

Vice cop Tony Chu lives in a world where, after a global epidemic of avian flu, all poultry is illegal. Chu also has a secret; he's a "cibopath," a person who gets psychic impressions from the things he eats. While investigating an illegal chicken smuggling operation, he tastes a bowl of chicken soup, finding himself on the trail of a serial killer.

If you're a fan of the current Batman series of movies, you may like:

Batman: Year One (DC Comics)

The skill of leaping from rooftop to rooftop while dodging bullets isn't something you learn overnight. No, there's a definite learning curve. This book explores the forging of a man into a hero. Batman: Year One is what many believe to be Batman: The Dark Knight Returns and Sin City writer/artist Frank Miller's stronger Batman work.

If you're a fan of Breaking Bad, you may like:

Scalped Vol. 1 through 6 (Vertigo):

Bearing nunchucks and an attitude, Dashiell Bad Horse returns to the Prairie Rose Reservation he left fifteen years ago. A lot's changed in the years, he's been gone, meth labs litter the area adding more misery to the already crushing poverty. Soon, a 97 million dollar casino will open on this land, headed up by Lincoln Red Crow, a man from Dash's past who'll also play a major hand in his future. With brilliant characterization and sharp dialogue, Scalped is simply of the best books being printed today.

If you're a fan of TV's Mad Men, you may like:

Richard Stark's Parker series by Darwyn Cooke (IDW Publishing):

Parker is neither hero nor villain. He knows exactly who he is. He's a thief, simply out for his next dollar. What makes him the character so interesting is that when it's all said and done, you'll respect the character's honesty. Adapting author Richard Stark's singular character is master storyteller Darwyn Cooke of DC: The New Frontier fame. Art-wise, Cooke builds a world reminiscent of the time in which Mad Men is set while maintaining the stylistic flourishes comics fans have come to appreciate within his work. Look for both The Hunter and the newly released, The Outfit.

If you're a fan of James Bond and The Jason Bourne series of books and movies, you may like:

Queen and Country Definitive Editions One through Four (Oni Press):

Tara Chace is an operative within The British Secret Service. The work is rarely glamorous and rarely involves traveling to exotic locations, sipping martinis. When the assignment does come, it usually involves being sent to some far off place with the express knowledge that you may be being sent off to die and knowing that if you live, you may need to drink to forget the things you've done. You'll never see the espionage thriller in the same way after reading this.

If you're a fan of Calvin and Hobbes, you may like:

Tiny Titans (DC Comics):

Full of good, simple fun and drawn in an art style accessible to young and old, The Tiny Titans are the child sidekicks of some of superherodom's most famous heroes. Robin, Superboy, a couple of Wonder Girls, a Kid Flash and few super-pets, among others, hang out in a clubhouse while keeping the world safe for whimsy.

If you're a fan of the Iron Man movie and comics series, you may like:

Secret Avengers (Marvel Comics):

Following the events of the Siege mini-series, Steve Rogers, the former Captain America, realizes a need for a more pro-active team of Avengers; one that takes the fight directly to any potential threat. Featuring Avengers mainstays such as Black Widow while utilizing mission specific and insanely clever additions such as Shang Chi, The Master of Kung Fu, Secret Avengers is what happens when childhood fave G.I. Joe meets the storied Avengers franchise.

If you like True Blood book and TV series, you may like:

American Vampire Volume One, co-written by Stephen King (Vertigo Comics):

Skinner Sweet is sick. Sick of aristocratic vampires trying to run the world. Sick of the romanticizing of what he is. Sick of vampires who seek the light. Skinner Sweet is an outlaw and vampire turned during the height of The Wild West. Skinner Sweet does not sparkle. Under the stellar writing of Stephen King and Scott Snyder, he shines.

If you're a fan of political thrillers, you may like:

Ex Machina Vol. 1 through 10 (DC/Wildstorm)

Following his actions during a pivotal moment in American history, Mitchell Hundred has become the first superhero ever to be elected Mayor of New York. Operating in real time, Ex Machina follows this man through his four years in office. One of comics' best series, Ex Machina opens with a first chapter that will leave you absolutely stunned and a final chapter that will leave you speechless

If you're a fan of the Harry Potter series of books, you may like:

The Books Of Magic (DC/Vertigo)

Tim Hunter, a bespectacled, young British orphan is taken on a tutorial through The Books of Magic by some of the world's greatest magicians. Will he reject or embrace his destiny to become the world's greatest magician? Released in 1990, a full seven years before the first Harry Potter novel, The Books Of Magic is written by Sandman and American Gods author Neil Gaiman.

If you're a fan of the recent Green Lantern trailer, you may like:

Green Lantern (DC Comics)

Hal Jordan is a test pilot, ne'er do well and possessor of the most powerful weapon in the universe, the Green Lantern Power Ring, a ring fueled by the only thing he has in spades: willpower. The only thing that can stop Hal Jordan is the one thing he's never known: fear. When the two meet, a battle of truly universal importance will take place and a legend will be born. To get your best look at just who Hal Jordan is; the trade paperback collections of Green Lantern: Secret Origin and Green Lantern: Rebirth are both highly recommended.

These and many other fine titles are in stock and ready to make a day. As always, feel free to come down and see us and we'll be more than happy to help out.

Best!

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

Xavier Xerexes pulls together a webcomics roundtable

Arlington's Xaviar has an all-star lineup talking about webcomics here -

The ComixTalk 2010 Roundtable
by Xaviar Xerexes on December 16, 2010
http://comixtalk.com/comixtalk_2010_roundtable

Cartoonists Rights Network on Malaysia's Zunar

The Cartoonists Rights Network, based in suburban Northern Virginia, has issued a letter on Malaysia's Zunar and his problems with censorship.

Comic Riffs on Bob Mankoff and the New Yorker

'Riffs Best Books of 2010: THE NEW YORKER's Bob Mankoff offers a comic window into the year
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog December 16 2010
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/comic-riffs/2010/12/the_new_yorker.html#more

New Disney animator Jocelyn Cofer is from PG County

A fairy-tale job: Prince George's native draws for Disney movie
By Liz Skalski
The Gazette Thursday, December 16, 2010; T15
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/14/AR2010121407277.html

Dec 29: Politics and Prose bookgroup meeting

Wednesday, December 29, 7:30 p.m.
Graphic Novel Bookgroup
The group is meeting the fifth Wednesday due to the holiday.
Black Hole, by Charles Burns

Wednesday, January 26 selection: City of Glass, by Paul Auster; adapted by Paul Karasik and David Mazzucchelli

Wednesday, December 15, 2010

Politico blog on Sarah Palin comic book

There's not much too it, but for the record, here's Politico's Click blog on the second Sarah Palin comic book - because one was not enough.

Warren Bernard on the International Manga Museum in Kyoto

One of the nice things about going overseas is seeing how much more other countries respect comics than we do in the United States. Though indeed we invented many elements of the medium, we still are far behind our international counterparts in giving comics and cartooning their due in a museum environment.

I was in Kyoto, and decided to take a half day off from seeing amazing Japanese gardens and Zen Buddhist temples to go through the International Manga Museum that was conveniently a six-block walk form my hotel. A true happy accident of planning.

The museum is housed in the Tatsuike Primary School that was built in the late 1860s, when downtown Kyoto began to see a population explosion that required a number of schools be built to handle all the new students. Like America's classic central-city population migration to the suburbs, by the 1990's the school, along with many others, was closed. After having the property lie dormant and vacant, a partnership between the City of Kyoto and the Kyoto Seika University had the school renovated and made into a museum. They have kept two rooms as a museum to the school itself. One had portraits of all the principals that ran the school from inception -- a hard looking bunch if there ever was one.

This museum is in many ways very different from the Tintin Museum in Brussels or the Cartoon Museum in London. One of the main draws of the IMM is the availability of a library of over 50,000 volumes of manga that one can read there, although not take home as in a traditional library. I saw many people there who paid the admission of 500 yen (about $6.25) just to come and read. They were camped out, reading away, in the hallways of the old school or on the main floor at large picnic tables near the main entrance.

The Museum had a very small section of translated material from France, Germany and the United States, which you could also sit and read. But my Japanese is not that good (OK, it's non-existent...) and I already owned all the translated American material so I went to look around.

The manga volumes were stacked in floor to ceiling book cases, some of these reaching over 12 feet high. Computer kiosks were throughout the museum to help you locate a specific book in the densely-packed shelves. The manga were mainly grouped by styles, but in one section that appeared to be in the old gymnasium, they were grouped by decade.

Also in this old gymnasium was the main series of displays that showed the evolution of manga. It is a nice showcase as to the tools and techniques used by the manga artists. I had no idea that Japanese versions of Puck, the American political humor magazine from the 19th-early 20th century, had copycat versions in Tokyo, Yokahama and Osaka. That being said, this museum's view of history was about the development of manga, especially the explosion of it after World War Two. No Little Nemo, Superman or Marvel Superheroes are in this place.

There were three other exhibition areas, of one which had a great exhibit about French cartoonists doing stories about The Louvre. This was apparently the first exhibit they have hosted at the IMM from France and was looked at as introducing French "bande dessinee" to Japanese manga fans. These main exhibition areas were all in both English and Japanese, as were all exhibits I saw there.

But the best part of the trip there? I got the last Astro Boy mug they had in stock.

The next time you're in Kyoto, stop into the International Manga Museum and take a look around. You'll think, just as you wonder about the Japanese shinkensen (bullet train) and their mass transportation system in general, "hey, why don't we have one of these?"

Kal Draws Bill Clinton

Kevin Kallaugher of Baltimore writes in

I have just posted a video and sketches from the recent "World in 2011 Festival" in NYC where I was the official artist. Guests included Bill Clinton, Commander of the US Navy Admiral Roughead, Celebrity Chef Jose Andres and Grammy award winning artist Loudon Wainwright III.

You can view them here: http://www.kaltoons.com/wordpress/2010/12/sketches-from-the-world-in-2011-festival/

Kal
Kevin Kallaugher
kal@kaltoons.com
www.Kaltoons.com
The KAL iPhone App is now available at the iTunes store.

and to bring it all back home, while Clinton was a famous person in Washington, Jose Andres (pictured above) lives here and started his restaurant empire with the excellent Jaleos, featuring Spanish tapas.

Weldon's Christmas book recommendations

$683 of great reading!

The Nerds' Noel: Ten Great Gifts for the Picky Comics Lovers on Your List

by Glen Weldon

December 15, 2010

http://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2010/12/15/132050957/the-nerds-noel-ten-great-gifts-for-the-picky-comics-lovers-on-your-list

Party Crashers artist interviews on the web

Here's a couple of new interviews with people featured in the Party Crashers exhibit in Arlington -

Jamar Nicholas -

Local artist brings graphic life to Canada's history of violence
By ASHLEY HUBER
Philadelphia Daily News December 14 2010
http://www.philly.com/dailynews/features/20101214_Local_artist_brings_graphic_life_to_Canada_s_history_of_violence.html

-and-

Comics 'n Things: An interview with Gabrielle Bell
by Ariel Schrag
December 13, 2010
http://www.afterellen.com/column/comics-n-things-2?page=0,0

Comic Riffs tracks down Yogi animator

The 'Riffs Interview: Animator surprised by virality of his 'BOO BOO KILLS YOGI' video
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog December 14 2010
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/comic-riffs/2010/12/yogi_1.html