USA Today's Comic-Con recs put comics last

Guide to what is bound to create buzz at Comic-Con
By Bill Keveney, Mike Snider, Scott Bowles and Brian Truitt, USA TODAY July 21 2011
http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2011-07-19-comic-con-buzz_n.htm

Disney and Meatball films at National Archives in August

"What's Cooking, Uncle Sam?" Programs relating to our new exhibit include discussions on "The Frozen Sucker War" (July 12), The Astronaut's Cookbook (July 20), A White House Garden Cookbook (August 5), and screenings of Willie Wonka & the Chocolate Factory (July 16), The Plow That Broke the Plains & The Land (July 27), Walt Disney short films (August 18), and Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs (August 20).

Thursday, August 18, at noon
William G. McGowan Theater
From The Vaults: Walt Disney, Food, and the Government Film
We present a selection of short films Walt Disney created for the U.S. Government, including Out of the Frying Pan Into the Firing Line (1942), Water, Friend or Enemy (1943), and The Grain that Built the Hemisphere (1943).

Saturday, August 20, at noon
William G. McGowan Theater
Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs
Based on the children's book by Judy Barrett, this animated adventure follows a scientist who tries to solve world hunger only to see things go awry as food falls from the sky in abundance. (2009; 90 minutes)

 

Fanzine turned fine artist John Fantucchio in U.S.A. Art Show through this week

Sorry for the short time left in this - a computer virus crippled my machine recently.

This is a courtesy reminder of John Fantucchio's art exhibit and sale at the Del Ray Artisans Gallery, 2704 Mount Vernon Avenue, Alexandria, VA., 22301-1124.  The artwork is inspired by U. S. people, places, and/or things.  He has two exciting paintings - one reminiscent of the good old days, and the other is a futuristic trek to a far distant world painted with electrifying colors, which will dazzle the senses and take you one strop beyond.  Many paintings by other Del Ray artists are also on exhibit and for sale.  Any questions, call 703-237-6887.  The exhibit will run until Friday, July 22, 2011.  

Brian Truitt justifies his attendance at San Diego Comic Con

Grant Morrison chronicles 'Supergods' of comics
By Brian Truitt, USA TODAY July 20 2011
http://www.usatoday.com/life/comics/2011-07-20-Grant-Morrison-teaches-the-history-of-superheroes-in-Supergods_n.htm

Comic-Con showcases average heroes
By Brian Truitt, USA TODAY July 19 2011
http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2011-07-19-comic-con-preview_n.htm

First 'Amazing Spider-Man' figure swings into Comic-Con
By Brian Truitt, USA TODAY July 19 2011
http://www.usatoday.com/life/comics/2011-07-19-First-Amazing-Spider-Man-movie-figure-swings-into-Comic-Con_n.htm

Robert Kirkman and friends are as thick as 'Thieves'
By Brian Truitt, USA TODAY July 19 2011
http://www.usatoday.com/life/comics/2011-07-19-Robert-Kirkman-and-friends-team-for-Thief-of-Thieves-comic_n.htm

Marvel launches 'Season One' superhero graphic novels
By Brian Truitt, USA TODAY July 19 2011
http://www.usatoday.com/life/comics/2011-07-19-Marvel-launches-Season-One-line-of-superhero-graphic-novels_n.htm

Tom Spurgeon's Team Cul de Sac Fanzine contribution now online

You should still buy the zine, however...

On Jaime Hernandez's The Death Of Speedy
By Tom Spurgeon
For Favorites, The Team Cul De Sac Favorite Comic Zine, 2011
http://www.comicsreporter.com/index.php/otbp_favorites_the_team_cul_de_sac_favorite_comic_zine/

Weldon on Captain America

A Quick Cap Recap: Your Cheat Sheet To The Man, The Myth, & The Mighty Shield

by Glen Weldon

National Public Radio's Monkey See blog July 20, 2011

http://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2011/07/20/138518029/a-quick-cap-recap-your-cheat-sheet-to-the-man-the-myth-the-mighty-shield

Aug 25: ComicsDC's Warren Bernard at Politics and Prose

Warren Bernard - Drawing Power: A Compendium of Cartoon Advertising

Start: Aug 25 2011 7:00 pm

End: Aug 25 2011 7:00 pm

The comic strip has its roots in advertising as well as in art. In the first book-length study of these dual sources, Rick Marschall, founder of Nemo: The Classic Comics Library, and Bernard, a prolific commentator on and extensive collector of cartoons, look at work from the 1890s to the present, documenting how popular cartoon characters like the Yellow Kid, Little Orphan Annie, Dagwood, and a platoon of super heroes have figured in advertising campaigns. 

 

Long-time ComicsDC readers may recall Warren's Secret History of Comics articles for us. Now he's got a whole book of them.

PR: Small Press Expo welcomes back former Ignatz winners as guests for 2011

Small Press Expo welcomes back former Ignatz winners as guests for 2011 

For Immediate Release                             

Contact: Warren Bernard
                                                                                                                                               E-Mail: warren@spxpo.com

Bethesda, Maryland; July 20, 2011 – The Small Press Expo (SPX), the preeminent showcase for the exhibition of independent comics, graphic novels, and alternative political cartoons welcomes back a significant number of former Ignatz award winners as guests for SPX 2011.

The Ignatz Award for Outstanding Achievement in Comics and Cartooning is the first Festival Prize in the US comic book industry. Nominees for the awards are announced in August and are voted on by SPX attendees during the festival. The Ignatz Awards Presentation is open to the public and will be held on Saturday night, September 10 at 9PM.

Former Ignatz winners attending SPX 2011 include:

Craig Thompson
Ignatz for Outstanding Artist and Outstanding GN or Collection, 2004, Blankets
http://www.dootdootgarden.com/

Sarah Glidden
Ignatz for Promising New Talent, 2008, How To Understand Israel in 60 Days or Less
http://www.smallnoises.com/

Ken Dahl
Ignatz for Outstanding Story, 2010, Monsters
http://www.gabbysplayhouse.com/

Mike Dawson
Ignatz for Outstanding Online Comic, 2010, Troop 142
http://www.mikedawsoncomics.com/

Lisa Hanawalt
Ignatz for Outstanding Comic, 2010, I Want You
http://lisahanawalt.com/

Jim Rugg
Ignatz for Outstanding Mini-Comic, 2010, Rambo 3.5
http://jimrugg.blogspot.com/

Collen Frakes
Ignatz for Promising New Talent, 2009, Woman King
http://www.tragicrelief.com/

Greg Means
Ignatz for Outstanding Anthology or Collection, 2008, Papercutter #7 (editor)
http://tugboatpress.com/

Nate Powell
Ignatz for Outstanding Debut, 2008 Swallow Me Whole
http://www.seemybrotherdance.org/

Tom Neely
Ignatz for Promising New Talent, 2007, The Blot (I Will Destroy You)
http://www.iwilldestroyyou.com/

Alex Robinson
Ignatz for Outstanding Graphic Novel, 2006, Tricked
http://www.comicbookalex.com/

Carla Speed McNeil
Ignatz for Outstanding Series, 2005, Finder
http://www.lightspeedpress.com/

Dave Roman
Ignatz for Outstanding Debut, 2004, Teen Boat #6: VOTE BOAT
http://yaytime.com/


Detailed information about all of our announced guests is available at the SPX web site at www.spxpo.com. Additional guests will be announced on the Website as they are confirmed.

Interviews with cartoonists can be arranged by contacting the SPX press office at the email or telephone listed above.

About SPX

SPX is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit that brings together more than 300 artists and publishers to meet their readers, booksellers and distributors each year. Graphic novels, mini comics, and alternative comics will all be on display and for sale by their authors and illustrators, as well as a series of panel discussions and interviews with this year's guests.

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

The hours for SPX 2011 are 11am–7pm Saturday, September 10, and 12–6pm Sunday, September 11. Admission is $10 for a single day or $15 for the weekend.

State Dept. tour leads to Egyptian woman cartoonist interview in Western media

Hills, Carol.  2011.

Global Political Cartoons: Egyptian Cartoonist Doaa Eladl.

PRI's The World (July 14): http://www.theworld.org/2011/07/global-political-cartoons-egyptian-cartoonist-doaa-eladl/

 

Click on the video screen to hear the interview and see the cartoons.

 

 

Team Cul de Sac's FAVORITES Zine Available for Mail Order

For a fundraising effort near-and-dear to Our Man Thompson's heart, and one in which I have a slight contribution...

From: Craig Fischer

This is just a note to let you know that we're finally selling the Favorite zine through mail order. There's a PayPal button up now on the Team Cul de Sac blog [http://teamculdesac.blogspot.com/]. I've sold about $300 worth of the zines so far at conventions and to friends, but I'm confident that we'll sell a lot more now that people can mail-order.

PR: Intervention Con in September

INTERVENTION CONVENTION BRINGS CYBER-LIFE TO REAL LIFE

Event brings creators and fans together for weekend of learning and fun

ROCKVILLE, MD, June 14, 2011:

Intervention, taking place at the Hilton Washington DC/Rockville in Rockville, MD, from September 16-18, 2011, is an indie creator and geek culture convention for the Internet generation. One part conference, one part fandom event, Intervention aims to provide both creators and fans a venue to learn, appreciate, and celebrate the opportunities technology provides.

"James [Harknell] and I wanted to put together an event that would complement the existing print-centric conventions – we wanted to showcase the creators who use the Internet as their primary publishing method,"

says convention founder Onezumi Hartstein. "I went to conventions for years to promote my webcomic, and was always treated well, but felt that web creators needed their own space. We're giving them that with Intervention." After a very successful first run in 2010, this year will mark Hartstein's second time organizing the event.

Over thirty guests are currently scheduled to attend, bringing three days of panels and educational workshops. Fans of all stripes are also encouraged to submit their own cutting-edge programming, showcase their own works, and schedule their own meetups at the event. A special track of children's programming will be overseen by Matt Blum, managing editor of the GeekDad blog on Wired.com.

Sponsored by Think Geek (www.thinkgeek.com), Wacom (www.wacom.com), Foam Brain Games (www.foambrain.com), 4Imprint (www.4imprint.com), Squishable (www.squishable.com), and Toy Vault (www.toyvault.com), the convention will also feature video and board gaming, an extensive Artist Alley, live action roleplay (LARP), musical performances, a Steampunk-themed dance, and plenty of giveaways. A charity auction will benefit the Electronic Frontier Foundation (www.eff.org), a civil liberties group that aims to defend freedom on the Internet.

Tickets for Intervention can be bought at http://www.interventioncon.com for $35 for the full weekend (through June 30, 2011). Tickets bought at the door will cost $45, with single-day rates available. More information about guests and events can be found at http://www.interventioncon.com.

Beeler's Harry Potter cartoon leads to commentary

http://hotair.com/archives/2011/07/17/beeler-on-magical-thinking-and-the-debt/

Truitt on Superman

Superman flying solo in DC Comics relaunch

By Brian Truitt, USA TODAY July 18 2011

http://www.usatoday.com/life/comics/2011-07-18-superman-a-bachelor-in-comics-relaunch_n.htm

PEPCO to use stop motion animation in commercials

For those not in DC, PEPCO is the local electrical utility.  Here's a link to the PR:

 

Pepco Launches New Latino Advertising Campaign Using Stop Motion Animation to Deliver its Conservation Message
 Press Release Source: MAYA Advertising and Communications On Tuesday July 19, 2011,

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Pepco-Launches-New-Latino-prnews-2038735103.html?x=0&.v=1

 

July 20: Dan Wasserman speaks on political cartoons at Smithsonian

It’s a Draw: Political Cartooning Evening Seminar
Wednesday, July 20 - 6:45 p.m. to 8:45 p.m.

With the stroke of a pen, great political cartoonists bring clarity to political chaos. Over the centuries, they have used brevity to capture burning issues of their day—from war to civil rights. In the 19th century, Thomas Nast created the elephant as the symbol of the Republican Party. Washington Post cartoonist Herblock signaled Nixon’s tarnished image by giving him a thug-like beard.

Sharing drawings from his 30 years in the profession and examples from his predecessors, Boston Globe cartoonist Dan Wasserman, whose work is syndicated in 40 newspapers, discusses the history of the craft from the days of Benjamin Franklin to the Obama years. He also gives you the chance to write a caption for one of his political cartoons. The winner receives a signed copy of the cartoon.

$35 Member
$32 Senior Member
$45 Gen. Admission


LOCATION:
S. Dillon Ripley Center
1100 Jefferson Drive, SW
Metro: Smithsonian Mall Exit (Blue/Orange)

Quick Tix Code: 1H0-764

Truitt on Locke & Key and Graphic Elvis

'Clockworks' is the beginning of the end for 'Locke & Key'
By Brian Truitt, USA TODAY July 15 2011
http://www.usatoday.com/life/comics/2011-07-15-Clockworks-begins-the-end-of-Locke-amp-Key-comic_n.htm

'Graphic Elvis' illustrates The King's love of comics
By Brian Truitt, USA TODAY July 17 2011
http://www.usatoday.com/life/comics/2011-07-17-graphic-elvis-presley_n.htm

Post likes new Pooh movie

This Pooh is worth a bother
By Sandie Angulo Chen
Washington Post July 15, 2011
http://www.washingtonpost.com/gog/movies/winnie-the-pooh,1104787/critic-review.html

Comic Riffs' Rango interview

As a creative renaissance man, writer-director James Ward Byrkit brings 'RANGO' and 'PIRATES' film to your screen
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs Blog July 15 2011
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/comic-riffs/post/as-a-creative-renaissance-man-writer-director-james-ward-byrkit-brings-rango-and-pirates-film-to-your-screen/2011/05/26/gIQAhPlKGI_blog.html

Winnie the Pooh reviews run in today's free papers

Lemire, Christy / Associated Press.  2011.

'Winnie the Pooh' delights on every level without 3-D or CG.

Washington Examiner (July 15): 22

 

Chen, Sandy Angulo / Washington Post.  2011.

As Sweet as Honey: A children's classic gets a fitting update in 'Winnie the Pooh'.

Washington Express (July 15): 33

Truitt on Witchblade

'Witchblade' taps new writer for its resident superheroine
By Brian Truitt, USA TODAY July 13 2011
http://www.usatoday.com/life/comics/2011-07-13-Witchblade-comic-taps-new-writer-for-its-resident-superheroine_n.htm

Team Cul de Sac fanzine and prints now available to order online

Click here for more information on ordering Team Cul de Sac fanzines or prints.

August 10: Dave Roman and Raina Telgemeier in Arlington

·  Wed, August 10, 6:30 pm:  Special visit from the acclaimed authors/illustrators of Astronaut Academy (Dave Roman) and Smile (Raina Telgemeier)

One More Page | 2200 N. Westmoreland Street | #101 | Arlington | VA | 22213

 

Monkey See blog on graphic novels and Winnie the Pooh

Playing Catch-Up: Five Recent Graphic Novels You Really Shouldn't Miss.

by Glen Weldon

Natinonal Public Radio's Monkey See blog (July 13 2011):   http://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2011/07/13/137788687/playing-catch-up-five-recent-graphic-novels-you-really-shouldnt-miss

 

Will Christopher Robin Ever Grow Up?

by Andrew Lapin

National Public Radio's Monkey See blog (July 13 2011):  

http://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2011/07/13/137816699/will-christopher-robin-ever-grow-up

Mahendra Singh, former local cartoonist, profiled at length by Comics Journal

Carroll, Cross-Contour, and the Demi-Fecund Ram: An Interview with Mahendra Singh
BY Sean Michael Robinson Jul 12, 2011
http://www.tcj.com/carroll-cross-contour-and-the-demi-fecund-ram-an-interview-with-mahendra-singh/

...Mahendra Singh was born in Libya ("against his better judgment," reads one of his official bios) to German and Indian parents. Although he lived in Washington, DC for many years, he is now a resident of Montreal, where he works as an illustrator. His full-length comic debut was the (very) short-lived Adventures of Mr. Pyridine, published by Fantagraphics in 1989. ...

PR: Swann Foundation for Caricature and Cartoon Announces Fellowships

Library of Congress
101 Independence Ave. SE
Washington DC   20540

July 13, 2011

 Swann Foundation Announces Fellowships for 2011-2012

The Caroline and Erwin Swann Foundation for Caricature and Cartoon, administered by the Library of Congress, announces fellowship awards to four applicants for the 2011-2012 academic year: Lara Saguisag, Margaret Samu, Masha Kowell and Jeremy Stoll.

The award winners will use the Library’s collections to explore the following topics: child characters in early American comic strips; Russian caricature as a form of art criticism; political satire in Soviet posters; and the recent use of comic-book format by artists in India.

Due to an unusually large number of strong applications, the foundation's advisory board did not award a single fellowship this year but instead decided to support four applicants’ projects with smaller awards.

Lara Saguisag, a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Childhood Studies, Rutgers University, will conduct research for her dissertation “Drawing the Lines of Innocence: Representations of Childhood in Early American Comic Strips, 1896-1920.”  Focusing on “kid strips,” or comic strips that featured child protagonists, she will investigate why the child became a popular subject in early American comics.  She will analyze how these works at once reflected and shaped contemporary beliefs and anxieties about childhood.  She will study original drawings by such creators as Rudolph Dirks, Lyonel Feininger, Winsor McCay and R.F. Outcault, whose works are well represented in the cartoon collections of the Library’s Prints and Photographs Division.

Margaret Samu, a lecturer in the Education Department of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, will work on her postdoctoral research project titled “Russian Caricature and Art Criticism 1850-1910.”  Caricature in Russian periodicals became a significant outlet for voicing opinions on the state of the art world during the turbulent period of artistic and social reforms that Samu’s study covers. She will draw on the Library’s strong holdings of Russian satirical and political periodicals in her study, the first to address caricatures on art, in contrast with most work in the field, which has focused on political caricature.

Masha Kowell, a doctoral candidate in the History of Art Department at the University of Pennsylvania, will conduct research for her dissertation “Agit-plakat: Political Posters of the Thaw (1956-1967).”  Her project focuses on Soviet political satire produced by the publishing house Agit-plakat.  As an official player in the process of de-Stalinization, this publisher facilitated the transformation of caricature into a vehicle for previously forbidden stylistic diversity and formal experimentation.  The Library’s holdings of the Soviet humor magazine Krokodil and many Soviet posters will provide the main basis for Kowell’s comparative and contextual study of Agit-plakat iconography.

Jeremy Stoll, a Ph.D. candidate in Folklore and Ethnomusicology at Indiana University, will pursue research for his dissertation “Drawing Down the Nation: Reviving Folklore and Social Justice Through Comics in India.”  Stoll will explore how contemporary Indian artists combine regional folklore with comic-book format to produce visual narratives that convey to mass audiences the urgency of social change arising from industrialization and globalization.  He will study examples of recently published Indian comic books and the American roots of these works in the Library’s extensive comic-book collections.  

New York advertising executive Erwin Swann (1906‑1973) established the Swann Foundation for Caricature and Cartoon in 1967.  An avid collector, Swann assembled a large group of original drawings by over 500 artists, spanning two centuries, which his estate bequeathed to the Library of Congress in the 1970s. Swann's original purpose was to build a collection of original drawings by significant creators of humorous and satiric art and to encourage the study of original cartoon and caricature drawings as works of art.  The foundation=s support of research and academic publication is carried out in part through a program of fellowships.

# # #

PR11-132
7/13/11
ISSN: 0731-3527

 

Heroes Con panel on classic comic strips now online

Here's a panel that I moderated, but I haven't listened to the recording yet:

HeroesCon 2011: Taking over the Property-The Comic Strips
Dollar Bin podcast July 7, 2011
http://www.thedollarbin.net/shows/heroescon-2011-taking-over-the-property-the-comic-strips.html
http://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/www.thedollarbin.net/storage/shows/audio/Discussion-Taking-Over-the-Property-Comic-Strips.mp3

The Comic Strips—As always, this is another great year for the classic comic strips at HeroesCon. How do you follow a cartooning legend and take those already established characters and work to make them your own? Mike Rhode will ask veteran cartoonists Jim Scancarelli (Gasoline Alley), Marcus Hamilton (Dennis the Menace), Alex Saviuk (Spider-man) and we will be joined by welcome veteran newbie: Joe Staton (Dick Tracy)

Runtime 1 hour 05 minutes 47 seconds

Comic Riffs on Womanthology

THE WOMAN BEHIND 'WOMANTHOLOGY': Renae De Liz sees inspiration blossom for 140 female artists
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog (July 12 2011)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/comic-riffs/post/the-woman-behind-womanthology-renae-de-liz-sees-inspiration-blossom-for-female-artists/2011/07/11/gIQARTobAI_blog.html

Truitt on Flashpoint

Midpoint of 'Flashpoint' focuses on heroic relationships
By Brian Truitt, USA TODAY July 5 2011
http://www.usatoday.com/life/comics/2011-07-05-Midpoint-of-Flashpoint-comic-focuses-on-heroic-relationships_n.htm

USA Today on Xenoholics and Marvel's Alonso

Love of aliens and quirky mystery spawns 'Xenoholics'
By Brian Truitt, USA TODAY July 11 2011
http://www.usatoday.com/life/comics/2011-07-11-Love-of-aliens-quirky-mystery-spawn-new-comic-series-Xenoholics_n.htm

Meet Axel Alonso, the main man at Marvel Comics
By Brian Truitt, USA TODAY July 11 2011
http://www.usatoday.com/life/comics/2011-07-11-axel-alonso-marvel-comics_n.htm

Comic Riffs interviews Stephen Hess on political cartoons

Fresh off Press Club award, author insists that the American political cartoon still matters
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog July 11 2011
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/comic-riffs/post/fresh-off-press-club-award-author-insists-that-the-american-political-cartoon-still-matters/2011/07/08/gIQAOS0t8H_blog.html

Winnie the Pooh animation in today's Express

The Gang is Back: For its 'Pooh' reboot, Disney sticks with traditional animation.

Angela Dawson / Entertainment News Wire

Express (July 11 2011, p. 25)

Brandon Graham on Carla McNeil

Good long interview here:

 

Emma Peel Sessions 62 – Brandon Graham Interview
Supervillain blog 07/02/2011 by sean witzke
http://supervillain.wordpress.com/2011/07/02/emma-peel-sessions-62-brandon-graham-interview/

and here's the pull quote:

 

Carla Speed McNeil

I feel like her work shows how big comics can be. She does such a great example of what I was talking about earlier with clear enough storytelling over dense complex backgrounds.

Recently I got to do a panel with her at a con and took her calling me babe the way other dudes would take home an Eisner.

PR: Comic Book Diner relaunches Kickstarter campaign

Project Update #18: We've Relaunched the Buzzboy/Roboy/Leon Graphic Novel Collection!

Posted by Comic Book Diner - John, Rich & Jamar

NEW KICKSTARTER PROJECT: Buzzboy/Roboy/Leon Graphic Novel Collection! Hey folks– we've resubmitted and started up a new Kickstarter Project, with some nifty changes to the books, and some very col rewards, like hardcover editions of the Roboy, Buzzboy and Leon Books, original art, and even a chance to have a cameo in the books– if you backed us once we hope you'll do it again! If you missed it last time– here's your chance! Click the link below, or the pic above to get the full scoop! Thanks for your previous support-- hopefully you'll come join the fun again! NEW KICKSTARTER PROJECT: Buzzboy/Roboy/Leon Graphic Novel Collection!

USA Today on Savage Dragons' bin Laden

Osama bin Laden returns in the pages of 'Savage Dragon'
By Brian Truitt
USA Today July 6 2011
http://www.usatoday.com/life/comics/2011-07-06-Osama-bin-Laden-returns-in-Savage-Dragon-comic-series_n.htm

PR: Small Press Expo announces Pizza Island as guests for SPX 2011, with Kate Beaton, Sarah Glidden, Lisa Hanawalt, Domitille Collardey, Julia Wertz and Meredith Gran

Small Press Expo Announces Pizza Island as guests for SPX 2011, with Kate Beaton, Sarah Glidden, Lisa Hanawalt, Domitille Collardey, Julia Wertz and Meredith Gran

 

For Immediate Release                              Contact: Warren Bernard

                                                                       E-Mail: warren@spxpo.com

Bethesda, Maryland; July 7, 2011 – The Small Press Expo (SPX), the preeminent showcase for the exhibition of independent comics, graphic novels and alternative political cartoons is pleased to announce that the cartoonist studio Pizza Island—composed of Kate Beaton, Sarah Glidden, Lisa Hanawalt, Domitille Collardey, Julia Wertz, and Meredith Gran—will be guests for SPX 2011, held September 10–11, 2011, at the Marriott North Bethesda Hotel and Conference Center in Bethesda, Maryland, next to the White Flint Metro station. 

These guests are in addition to the previously announced cartoonists Roz Chast, Craig Thompson, Jim Woodring, Chester Brown, Johnny Ryan, Jim Rugg, Jay Stephens, Matthew Thurber, Ann Telnaes, and Diane Noomin.

Kate Beaton's Hark! A Vagrant is one of the most popular web comics, receiving over 500,000 unique hits a month. This fall it will be celebrated in a collection published by Drawn and Quarterly. Visit her site at http://www.harkavagrant.com.

Sarah Glidden is the creator of the well-reviewed How To Understand Israel In 60 Days Or Less, published by Vertigo Books. She is now working as a citizen journalist touring Syria for the Common Language Project to study the Iraqi refugee problem, posting her cartoon commentaries from this trip at http://www.cartoonmovement.com/comic/10. Visit her web site at http://www.smallnoises.com.

Lisa Hanawalt is a cartoonist and illustrator whose work was published in The New York Times, Vice Magazine, McSweeneys, The Believer and Glamour. In 2009, her mini-comic Stay Away From Other People won an Ignatz Award, and she followed that up in 2010 with I Want You #1 winning the Ignatz Award for Outstanding Comic. Her web site is http://lisahanawalt.com.

Julia Wertz has had two volumes of her popular web comic series Fart Party published by Atomic Books. Her latest book is Drinking at the Movies from Three Rivers Press, which details her migration from San Francisco to New York City. Julia's web site is http://www.juliawertz.com.

Meredith Gran is the author of Octopus Pie: There Are No Stars In Brooklyn, which was published by Villard Books, a Random House subsidiary. A compilation of her web comic, you can see new episodes regularly at http://www.octopuspie.com.

Domitille Collardey is a cartoonist and illustrator, having worked for a number of French magazines as well as McSweeneys. She is currently working on another comic book for Editions Delcourt.

For detailed information about all of our announced guests, visit the SPX web site at www.spxpo.com.

SPX culminates with the presentation of the Ignatz Awards for outstanding achievement in comics and cartooning on Saturday night, September 10 at 9PM. The event is open to the public. The Ignatz is the first Festival Prize in the US comic book industry, voted on by SPX attendees. 

SPX is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit that brings together more than 300 artists and publishers to meet their readers, booksellers and distributors each year. Graphic novels, mini comics, and alternative comics will all be on display and for sale by their authors and illustrators, as well as a series of panel discussions and interviews with this year's guests.

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

The hours for SPX 2011 are 11am–7pm Saturday, September 10, and 12–6pm Sunday, September 11. Admission is $10 for a single day or $15 for the weekend.

OT: Local artist Rob Liberace profiled

Local fine artist Rob Liberace is briefly profiled here - I know him slightly, and am in awe of his work.

Cars 2 animator from PG County

'CARS 2' animator Bob Moyer embodies Pixar 2.0: The Next Generation [in print as 'Local color was his inspiration', p. C2].

By Michael Cavna

Washington Post Comic Riffs blog (July 6, 2011): http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/comic-riffs/post/cars-2-animator-bob-moyer-embodies-pixar-20-the-next-generation/2011/06/27/gIQAJXve0H_blog.html

Cul de Sac nominated for Harvey Award

Cul de Sac is nominated for a Harvey Award which will be decided on at the Baltimore Comic Con this year.

Photos of recent DC-area comics events

2nd DC Comic Con

Daring to Draw: An Evening with Political Cartoonists from Around the World

Steven Weinberg and Casey Scieszka signing "To Timbuktu"

Abadzis's 'Laika' graphic novel gets new endings for Big Planet Comics

Big Planet Comics says "To help us celebrate our 25th anniversary, Nick Abadzis is going to be posting alternative endings to Big-Planet-favorite graphic novel Laika on our web page!"

Wow, this is totally cool, if ahistorical. Abadzis has a note about why he's doing this, under the first imaginary happy ending for the Russian space dog.

And Big Planet has a podcast? Since June? Who knew?

Californian cartoonist Monte Wolverton a "Beltway cartoonist?"

"I'm told some consider me a `Beltway cartoonist,'" Wolverton said.

 

To see why, read:

 

Cartoonist drawn to sharp views: B.G.'s Wolverton also pursues artistic endeavors
By Mary Ann Albright, Columbian Staff Reporter
Saturday, July 2, 2011
http://www.columbian.com/news/2011/jul/02/cartoonist-drawn-to-sharp-views/

Cul de Sac might be Chris Schweitzer's favorite comic strip

Find out why or why not at this interview (and let me parenthetically note that I love, LOVE, Chris's Crogan adventure stories -

Chris Schweizer - Cartoonist Survey #231
by David Paccia
June 27, 2011
http://david-wasting-paper.blogspot.com/2011/06/chris-schweizer-cartoonist-survey-231.html

Print available from Bill Day, 2010 RFK award winner

Bill Day, who was the 2010 RFK editorial award winner (of which I was a judge, hence this post), is selling a signed print of a cartoon about New York's support of gay rights - for ordering details, see

http://www.smartcitymemphis.com/2011/07/get-signed-limited-edition-of-bill-days-i-love-ny-t-shirt/