Jan 26: APOCALYPTOON 2012 exhibit at Artisphere

APOCALYPTOON 2012

In Partnership with Art Soiree

THU JAN 26 - SUN JAN 29
$25 ticketed opening party on Jan 26 / On view for free Jan 27-29
Terrace Gallery

Buy Tickets

Ticketed opening party: Thu Jan 26 / 6pm / $25

Against the backdrop of a region steeped in politics and with a touch of art, style and humor, Art Soiree will unveil what 2012 will bring by presenting a unique pop-up exhibition that takes a humorous outlook on the year to come and features works, some created exclusively for this exhibition, by renowned editorial and political cartoonists. ApocalypToon 2012 features works, some of which were created exclusively for this exhibition, by cartoonists such as Kal of The Economist, Tom Toles of The Washington Post, Jeff Danziger (Los Angeles Times, Huffington Post), Daryl Cagle of MSNBC, Matt Wuerker of Politico, Damien Glez (La Monde, Courrier International, La Gazette) and Dan Piraro of Bizzaro. These simple pen stroke political cartoons foreshadow the future, poke fun at the past and imply hidden motives in ways that elude written or spoken reporting. The result of this creative license is a unique perspective on the future—entertaining, clever and insightful.

ApocolypToon kicks off with a $25 ticketed opening party on Thursday, January 26 at 6pm where guests can mingle with exhibiting cartoonists and enjoy complimentary food, live music and a cash bar. The pop-up exhibition in Artisphere's Terrace Gallery is free and open to the public from Friday, January 27 to Sunday, January 29.

Continuing with the zany nature of the cartoons, the ticketed party on January 26 celebrates the opening of the exhibit with live music from local journo-band Suspicious Package, comprised of reporters armed with their musical talent and rock star looks. The contents of the Suspicious Package are: Pulitzer Prize-winning Editorial Cartoonist at The Washington Post Tom Toles, Deputy Assistant U.S. Trade Representative Dr. Christina Sevilla, Deputy Assistant Secretary of HUD Bryan Greene, former TIME/Bloomberg correspondent and journalist Tim Berger and Director of Education and Outreach for the National Security Journalism Initiative at Northwestern University's Medill School of Journalism, Josh Meyer.

The opening party will also feature the sounds of DJ Neekola, international DC-based female DJ and producer, who will perform along with live percussionist Kamajian. In addition, the party includes a special guest performance by DJ Manifesto, an all-time DC favorite who both DJs and plays violin during his sets.

ApocalypToon 2012 is part of Notasphere, a month of programming created by local artistic collaborators. From a pop-up restaurant and political cartoons to Brazilian beats, Artisphere will be filled with fresh, thought-provoking off-beat arts events presented by creative partners from across the DC-region throughout January 2012.

New comics store in Vienna offers Living Social deal

Game On! Comics

$30 to Spend on Comic Books and Games

^$15

buy now!

 

You fold laundry, cook dinner, and double-check math homework -- sometimes all at once. The only thing separating you and the superheroes in your kids' comic books is a cape and a full spandex suit. Pull one more valiant feat, and nab today's deal from Game On! Comics in Vienna. Pay just $15 and get $30 worth of comic books and games from this brand-new independent retailer, where the shelves are lined with DC and Marvel favorites, as well as titles from independent publishers. And don't miss the store's huge game section, featuring games for your little ones as well as for your whole family. That's not a bird or a plane -- it's a half-off deal that will have your kids marveling at your superhuman powers.

 

Tip courtesy of Lisa Cherkasky
Food Stylist and Writer
Website: www.lisacherkasky.com
Blog:       www.thelunchencounter.com

Feiffer play onstage in Arlington

A revival of Jules Feiffer's dark play Little Murders opens tomorrow Friday January 13th (hmmm) and runs to Feb. 11 at Gunston Theatre Two, 2700 S. Lang St., Arlington, 703-998-4555,
http://americancentury.org .

 

and here's the Post's favorable preview:

 

Death and mayhem: Gadzooks! In 'Little Murders,' making dark comedy of exaggerated violence [online title: "Backstage: Death and mayhem in 'Little Murders'"
By Jessica Goldstein
Washington Post (January 11 2012)
online at http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/backstage-death-and-mayhem-in-little-murders/2012/01/10/gIQAaMnMpP_story.html

 

That darn Beeler, Salt Lake City edition

Outrageous cartoon
Kathleen Preston Knight
Salt Lake Tribune Jan 11 2012
http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/opinion/53261313-82/constitution-obama-recess-senate.html.csp

Publishers Weekly on Buzzboy

New Buzzboy Graphic Novel Out in Print, the Web, on iPad
By Calvin Reid
Dec 21, 2011
http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-book-news/article/49926-new-buzzboy-graphic-novel-out-in-print-the-web-on-ipad.html

PR: Baltimore Comic-Con Rolls Into Philly with JG Jones

Baltimore Comic-Con Rolls Into Philly with JG Jones BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - January 12, 2012 - Baltimore Comic-Con promoter Marc Nathan is hitting the road in 2012, bringing a little bit of the Baltimore Comic-Con to you! The first show of 2012 will be the Philadelphia Comic-Con this Sunday, January 15th, and he'll be bringing along his pal, JG Jones. Stop by to meet JG, talk to Marc about the show, and buy some comics while you're there! Marc will also have Exhibitor and Artist Alley forms for this years convention on September 8th and 9th. Information about the Philadelphia Comic-Con can be found on their website, http://www.philadelphiacomic-con.com/. It will be held at the Ramada Philadelphia Airport, 76 Industrial Highway, Essington, PA 19029 from 10am to 4pm. Be sure to stop by! Guest List The 2012 Baltimore Comic-Con will feature the following announced guests: Laura & Michael Allred - Madman, iZombie Greg Capullo - Batman, Spawn Frank Cho - Avengers vs. X-Men, Liberty Meadows Steve Conley - Bloop Rich Faber - Roboy Red John Gallagher - Buzzboy Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez - Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman Keith Giffen - Superman, OMAC, Green Arrow Larry Hama - G.I. Joe, Wolverine, The 'Nam Dean Haspiel - Billy Dogma, ACT-I-VATE, Trip City J.G. Jones - Wanted, Doc Savage Scott Kurtz - PvPonline.com David Mack - Kabuki David Petersen - Mouse Guard Frank Quitely - All Star Superman, Batman & Robin Walter Simonson - Thor, Legion of Super-Heroes, Avengers Scott Snyder - Batman , Severed, Swamp Thing Billy Tucci - A Child Is Born, Shi Matt Wagner - Tower Chronicles, Mage, Grendel Mark Waid - Daredevil, Incorruptible, Irredemable ...With more on the way! Stay tuned to our website or use the "Sign up" link at the bottom of our website to receive update announcements as we make them! Contact Information Please use the following e-mail addresses to contact the Baltimore Comic-Con: press@baltimorecomiccon.com - for any general press inquiries or to be added to our PR distribution promoter@baltimorecomiccon.com - for requesting exhibitor, publisher, and Artist Alley applications registrar@baltimorecomiccon.com - for inquiries about submitted registrations harveys@baltimorecomiccon.com - for communications regarding the Harvey Awards ceremony and banquet general@baltimorecomiccon.com - for general Baltimore Comic-Con inquiries About The Baltimore Comic-Con The Baltimore Comic-Con is celebrating its 13th year of bringing the comic book industry to the Baltimore and Washington D.C. area. With a guest list unequaled in the industry, the Baltimore Comic-Con will be held September 8-9, 2012. For more information, please visit www.baltimorecomiccon.com. About The Harvey Awards The Harvey Awards are one of the comic book industry's oldest and most respected awards. With a history of over 20 years, the last 7 in conjunction with the Baltimore Comic-Con, the Harveys recognize outstanding achievements in over 20 categories. They are the only industry awards nominated and selected by the full body of comic book professionals. For more information, please visit www.harveyawards.org.

Comic Riffs on Reuben Awards and Pearls Before Swine aps

THIS JUST IN: 'Pearls Before Swine' launches immersive-- and 'intimate' — new app (*Shirt optional)
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog January 11 2012
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/comic-riffs/post/this-just-in-pearls-before-swine-launches-intimate-new-app/2012/01/11/gIQAKuGqqP_blog.html

REUBEN AWARDS invite webcomics, animators — and Jim Davis
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog January 11 2012
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/comic-riffs/post/reuben-awards-invite-webcomics-animators--and-jim-davis/2012/01/10/gIQAoTNkpP_blog.html

PR: PELICAN PUBLISHING COMPANY PUBLISHER AND OWNER PASSES

I haven't seen this appear anywhere else, so I'll post it. Pelican published Charles Brooks' series Best Editorial Cartoons of the Year as well as former editorial cartoonist Bob Artley's children's books and reminiscences.

 

 

For Immediate Release
PELICAN PUBLISHING COMPANY PUBLISHER AND OWNER PASSES

(Gretna, La.) January 9, 2012––In March of 2010, New Orleans area based Pelican Publishing Company, Inc., celebrated the fortieth anniversary of publisher and president Dr. Milburn Calhoun. Today we mourn his passing.

A bookman, publisher, philanthropist, and retired physician, he died Saturday, January 7, 2012, at West Jefferson Hospital in New Orleans following a lengthy illness. He was eighty-one. Visiting takes place today, Monday, January 9, 2012, from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. with a service immediately following at Oak Park Baptist Church, 1110 Kabel Drive, New Orleans. Additional services will be held Thursday, January 12, 2012, at Kilpatrick Funeral Home, West Monroe, La., with visitation from 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. with a service and interment immediately following at Sibley Cemetery in Choudrant, La.

Born in West Monroe, on January 15, 1930, he was a graduate of Ouachita Parish High School, 1947; Northeast Junior College, 1949; Louisiana State University, 1951; and the LSU School of Medicine, 1955. After an internship at New Orleans Charity Hospital, 1955-56, he practiced medicine in Buras for nine years, interrupted by two years in the United States Air Force where he attained the rank of major. He practiced medicine at Nicholson, Baehr, & Calhoun from 1965 until his retirement in 1997. He also served as chief of staff at West Jefferson Hospital. He was a longtime member of Oak Park Baptist Church where he served as a deacon and in numerous support positions.

A lifelong bibliophile, he was a recognized expert on rare books. He founded Bayou Books, an old, rare, and out-of-print book dealer specializing in Louisiana and Southern subjects, and in 1961, he opened a Gretna bookstore by the same name. In 1970, he and family members acquired Pelican Publishing Company, a small New Orleans book publishing company that they relocated to Gretna. Publishing standouts include the blockbuster success of motivational titles such as Zig Ziglar's See You at the Top and the publication of Cajun Night Before Christmas®. In addition to spawning Pelican's wildly successful series of more than thirty Night Before Christmas titles and products, the publication of Cajun Night Before Christmas® marked the beginning of Pelican's children's book division, which is now the company's largest niche. Other areas of specialty include cookbooks, architecture titles, the Best Editorial Cartoons of the Year Series, works on Southern history and culture, Civil War scholarship, black studies, and books covering every aspect of life in Louisiana.

"We were not a people of means," Dr. Calhoun said, describing the challenge of purchasing a bankrupt publishing house, "so we did it the old-fashioned way. We published important books that other publishers were not publishing and a large part of the population wanted."

The model worked. Pelican's sales doubled each year during the first ten years of Dr. Calhoun's leadership. Business expanded into all fifty states, and soon the company began to establish its international presence and enjoy global distribution in the sale of English-language rights to publishers throughout Asia, Africa, Europe, and South America. Today, with a backlist of more than 2,500 titles, Pelican is the largest independent trade book publisher in the South. In continuous operation since 1926, Pelican remains a family-owned, independent general trade and children's publisher committed to publishing books of quality and permanence on a wide variety of subjects.

In 1998, he funded the Mary and Darrell Calhoun Recreational Center at the Louisiana Baptist Children's Home in Monroe, and in 1999, he endowed the one-million-dollar Mary E. and Darrell L. Calhoun Chair in Pharmacology at the University of Louisiana at Monroe. He and his wife established the Milburn and Nancy Calhoun Foundation in 2009 to support religious and educational activities. Donations may be made to the foundation at 9 Muirfield Place, New Orleans, LA 70131.

Dr. Calhoun reflects on some of the highlights from his forty years, along with Pelican's history and the publication of Sherwood Anderson and Other Famous Creoles, the first trade title by William Faulkner and the first book in Pelican Publishing history, here.

For media inquiries, contact Antoinette de Alteriis, Promotion Director, Pelican Publishing Company 504-368-1175 x 331 or adealteriis@pelicanpub.com.
###

Sam Golden
Pelican Publishing Company
Fan us on FACEBOOK: www.facebook.com/PelicanPublishing
Follow us on Twitter: @PelicanPub, www.twitter.com/PelicanPub
Find us on the web: www.pelicanpub.com

USA Today comic stories

Marvel's superstars assemble on Facebook
By Mike Snider, USA TODAY January 8 2012
http://www.usatoday.com/life/comics/story/2012-01-08/marvel-comics-facebook-avengers/52456414/1

'Justice League' named best-selling comic book of 2011
By Brian Truitt, USA TODAY January 10 2012
http://www.usatoday.com/life/comics/story/2012-01-10/Justice-League-top-comic-of-2011/52477614/1

Health Reform graphic non-novel

This article also appeared in today's print Washington Post:

To Understand Health Overhaul, Try A Comic Book
by Michelle Andrews
Partner content from: Kaiser Health News
January 10, 2012
 http://www.npr.org/blogs/health/2012/01/10/144977971/to-understand-health-overhaul-try-a-comic-book

Comics Research Bibliography 2012 print edition now for sale

Since 1996, John Bullough and I have been working on the online Comics Research Bibliography. In recent years, I began working with John Lent who had published 10 volumes of citations through an academic press (at a price of over $1000 for the whole set) and started arranging citations according to his system. In 2009, the International Journal of Comic Art published a print version that I compiled using Lent's arrangement. This bibliography of articles and books on all aspects of comic and cartoon art including comic books, comic strips, cartoons, animation, editorial cartoons, is newly updated as of the end of 2011. The two volumes of books include tens of thousands of citations with links to information on comic book movies, the Danish Islam cartoon controversy, cartoon responses to 9-11 terrorism and other topical matters. * marks entries or articles that are new since the last printed version in the International Journal of Comic Art at the end of 2009 – 4,816 of them.

Volume 1 includes Comic books & strips of the United States, and is 435 pages for $16.50.

Volume 2 includes caricature, animation, gag and editorial cartooning in the United States, and all aspects of comic art in the rest of the world, and is 400 pages for $15.00.

A complete and searchable pdf electronic version with working hotlinks is also available for $10.

Lulu is having a sale for a couple of days: Enter coupon code SECONDHALF305 at checkout and receive your second book for 50% off. You need to have 2 books in your shopping cart for this coupon to work. The maximum savings for this offer is $50.

Here's a sample:

9-11 Response

*Bell, Melissa. 2011. Sept. 11 cartoons give the tragedy back to the victims. Washington Post's Blog Post blog (September 9): http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/blogpost/post/sept-11-cartoons-give-the-tragedy-back-to-the-victims/2011/09/09/gIQA6ZeiFK_blog.html

Bok, Chip. 2006. Viewpoints: The world since 9/11. After the attacks on the US in September 2001, many commentators and political leaders declared that the world had changed for ever. Five years on, what exactly has changed? Six writers and commentators give us their views. Chip Bok, American political cartoonist. BBC News (September 8): http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/5317612.stm#bok

*Britten, Bob. 2010. Picturing Terror. Visual and Verbal Rhetoric in The 9/11 Report Graphic Adaptation. International Journal of Comic Art 12 (1; Spring): 355-369

*Byrd, David. 2011. Comic Strips to Blend Comedy, Tragedy for 9/11 Anniversary. Voice of America News (September 8): http://www.voanews.com/english/news/arts-and-entertainment/Cartoonists-Blend-Comedy-Tragedy-for-911-Anniversary-129463863.html

*Cavna, Michael. 2011. 9/11 Tribute: Comics pages will mark 10th anniversary of Sept. 11 tragedy. Washington Post Comic Riffs blog (August 30): http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/comic-riffs/post/911-tribute-comics-pages-will-mark-10th-anniversary-of-sept-11-tragedy/2011/08/30/gIQAZMm4pJ_blog.html

*Clark, Noelene. 2011. 9/11 anniversary: Comic strips remember the heroes, victims. Los Angles Times' Hero Complex blog (September 9): http://herocomplex.latimes.com/2011/09/09/911-september-11-2001-pictures-cartoons-cartoonists-comics-memorial-attacks/#/0

*Colton, David. 2011. Sunday comics will offer 9/11 remembrances. USA Today (August 30): http://www.usatoday.com/life/comics/story/2011-08-30/Sunday-comics-will-offer-911-remembrances/50182588/1

Flinn, Tom and Milton Griepp. 2007. After 9/11; Graphic Novel Sequel to the '9/11 Report'. ICv2 (November 29): http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/11700.html

*Machosky, Michael. 2011. ToonSeum to host cartoon retrospective of 9/11. Pittsburgh Tribune-Review (August 30): http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/ae/museums/s_754237.html

*McLaughlin, Katie. 2011. Sunday comics plan unique 9/11 tribute. CNN (September 9): http://www.cnn.com/2011/SHOWBIZ/09/09/cartoonists.remember.9.11/

*Moore, Matt. 2011. Cartoonists plan Sept. 11 anniversary tribute. Associated Press (August 30): http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/Article_2011-08-30-Sept%2011-Comic%20Tribute/id-p3bdf5ee449404f4ba7f45a86e94bc008

and here's a basic table of contents:

Table of Contents (highlights only)

VOLUME 1

United States

1. Comic Books and Strips 003

2. Comic Books 010

· BUSINESS ASPECTS - Publishers, Companies 016

· BUSINESS ASPECTS - Distribution, Sales 040

· COMIC BOOK MAKERS AND THEIR WORKS 093

· CHARACTERS AND TITLES 225

3. Comic Strips 342

· CHARACTERS AND TITLES 349

· Cartoonists 405

3a. Web Comics, webcomics 434

VOLUME 2

4. Animation, Caricature, and Gag and Political Cartoons 435

4a. Comic Art 436

4b. Gag, Illustrative, Magazine Cartoons 445

· New Yorker magazine 446

4c. Animation 478

· Animators and Their Works 486

· Characters and Titles 495

· Companies, Networks, and Studios 571

4d. Caricature 579

4e. Political Cartoons 586

· Feiffer, Jules 596

Canada 629

Global & Europe 639

· Danish Islamic Cartoons - Religion & Censorship Controversy 640

· Belgium 668

· France 676

a. Satrapi, Marjane 680

· Great Britain 707

Africa 752

Middle East 758

Asia 767

· India 772

· Japan 776

Australia and Oceania 814

Central and South America 817

Caribbean 823

Mark Burrier interview finally online

I've finally put this interview online -

 

Meet a Local Illustrator: A Chat With Mark Burrier

 by Mike Rhode on Jan. 10, 2012

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/artsdesk/visual-arts/2012/01/10/meet-a-local-illustrator-a-chat-with-mark-burrier/

Politics and Prose bookstore noted in Doonesbury

Rick Redfern was visiting Washington's Politics and Prose bookstore in the January 9th Doonesbury for his son's booksigning. Unfortunately I missed that one, although I believe it would have been conflicting with William Gibson's appearance.

PR: Fantom Comics January newsletter

connect with us: SURPLUS COMICS AT AMAZING DISCOUNTS!!! visit FANTOM'S EBAY STORE Fantom's COMIC BOOK RESERVATION SERVICE now at pulllist.comixology.com   reserve your comics,          never miss an issue! Buying digital comics? Buy once, read anywhere!   Support Fantom by: 1) Skipping in-app purchases 2) Purchase on the web using our exclusive link, also available on our home page. 3) Download your purchased comics to any device using your comiXology account.     LIVE ON TWITTER Each New Comic Book Day From 1-2pm #ShopTalk Catch the pulse of your favorite comic book shop at the height of the weekly rush!   Not local to Washington DC? No problem! Sign up for the Fantom Comics Mail Order Service and we'll ship to you!!!   Ready to explore comics beyond superheroes?? Follow The Comics Journeyman on Twitter and via his e-newsletter   Each Sunday night, @CmxJourneyman calls out the best in non-superhero comics.   Twitter hashtag: #PrimeTimeCmx (8:00 pm EST)   Twitter account not required   Jonesing For The new January Previews? Fantom Comics is here to help!   Oh. Is it January, already?   (See what I did there?)   Join me in checking out the January Previews Available via FC Comic Book Reservation Service, powered by comiXology!   Now, on to the highlights...   DARK HORSE COMICS B.P.R.D HELL ON EARTH: THE PICKENS COUNTY HORROR #1 The ranks of The B.P.R.D. continue to be stretched even thinner as they're called to investigate the goings-on of a reclusive Southern vampire clan who simply want nothing more than to keep their secrets. Secrets covered in decades of death and blood. B.P.R.D. HELL ON EARTH: THE PICKENS COUNTY HORROR #1 (OF 2) is co-written by Hellboy creator Mike Mignola and B.P.R.D. regular Scott Allie and drawn beautifully by Loose Ends creator Jason Latour!   San Francisco is overrun with zombie/vampire hybrids so what's a vampire slayer to do? Regroup? Rest? Re-think this whole Slayer thing? Marry Spike? Yeah, read BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER SEASON 9 #7!   DMZ and Wolverine & The X-Men: Alpha & Omega writer Brian Wood's seminal work CHANNEL ZERO returns to print! Released in 1997 and drawn by his frequent collaborator Becky Cloonan (Demo, Conan The Barbarian), Channel Zero touches on themes such as mass media control and freedom of speech and remains more relevant than ever before. Featuring an introduction by Warren Ellis and loads of sketches, short stories and an all-new cover by Brian Wood.     DC COMICS SUPERMAN #7 Something big is happening in the DC Universe. Grifter and Voodoo continue to fight the Daemonite menace while Stormwatch and Demon Knights do so as well. In SUPERMAN #7, the series not only welcomes the new writing team of Keith Giffen (Justice League) and Dan Jurgens (The Death of Superman) but the return of one of the former Wildstorm Universe's greatest threats, Helspont!    Another DC title sees a new creative team come into the fold with GREEN ARROW #7! Writer Ann Nocenti (Daredevil) and Harvel Talibao (Psylocke) get together to put The Emerald Archer through the ringer having him face off against his one weakness: not one, not two but three deadly, intelligent blondes!   One of graphic designs greatest, Chip Kidd brings his considerable talents to Batman, writing the all-new hardcover graphic novel, BATMAN: DEATH BY DESIGN. Gotham City is going through an epic rejuvenation. Bright, new buildings are in various stages of completion, spurred on by the efforts of one Bruce Wayne. Suddenly, buildings are being torn apart and Bruce Wayne as Batman, of course, suspects foul play. Beautifully drawn by former Batman : Shadow Of The Bat artist Dave Taylor.   VERTIGO COMICS FAIREST #1 The universe of Fables expands with the new ongoing series FAIREST #1! Focusing on the secret tales of the women of Fables, Fairest will feature stories by some of comics best and greatest. First up, a tale of Briar Rose, not seen since her abduction by the Goblin Army in Fables #107. Written by Fables series creator Bill Willingham and masterfully drawn by Phil Jimenez with covers by Adam Hughes!   The United States of America is primed for a change. Arcadia Alvarado, the Mexican-American governor of New Mexico meets the challenge and emerges as the Democratic candidate for POTUS. On the eve of her accepting the nomination, in order to become President and possibly save the world, she decides she must make an announcement. She was abducted by aliens. SAUCER COUNTRY #1 is an all-new ongoing series written by the ever-brilliant Paul Cornell (Stormwatch, Doctor Who), featuring art by a personal favorite Ryan Kelly (New York Five).   Uppercrust Victorians have voluntarily turned themselves into vampires in order to escape the fates of the lower class; who've all been turned into zombies.When a young aristocrat's body is found dead upon the banks of the Thames, Detective George Suttle finds himself having to solve the murder of one who should already be dead in THE NEW DEADWARDIANS #1 (of 8) written by Annihilation and Resurrection Man's Dan Abnett!   In the wake of Katrina, many find hope in their faith. The Voodoo Queen has been found dead and all signs point to a young unsuspecting grad student as the sole suspect. Alliances will be made, faith will be crushed and truths exposed as lies in this all-new series, DOMINIQUE LAVEAU: VOODOO CHILD #1 written by comics newcomer Selwyn Sefu Hinds with art by The Question artist Denys Cowan.     IMAGE COMICS SAGA#1   One of comics' best writers, Brian K. Vaughan (Y: The Last Man) makes his long-awaited return to comics with the creator owned series, SAGA #1! In the middle of a war a child is born and two new parents will put their lives on the line to ensure this child's future.   Einstein utters the words, "Do you have any idea what we've done here?" The Manhattan Project was a front. Other deadly programs were in play and the world doesn't know just how much more it has to fear. That is THE MANHATTAN PROJECTS #1, a new series by FF and Fantastic Four writer Jonathan Hickman!   A generation ago, the first superheroes were born and the generation beind them fight to remake a world they had no hand in building and can barely understand in this all-new series HELL YEAH #1 by Eisner Award winning writer Joe Keatinge (Glory).   DYNAMITE ENTERTAINMENT   THE BIONIC WOMAN #1 From the pages of Kevin Smith's The Bionic Man comes the all-new ongoing BIONIC WOMAN #1 by writer Paul Tobin (Spider-Man)! OSI agent Jaime Summers is in pursuit of The Mission, a collective of surgeons who kill OSI agents to harvest their bionic prosthetics for billionaire patients and fetishists. Sounds crazy. I'm in.   BOOM! STUDIOS   What happens in a world of young superheroes are more aware of the cameras than self-aware? Find out in the new series, SUPURBIA #1 (of 4), written by rising star talent Grace Randolph.   IDW PUBLISHING   The Rocketeer is back in ROCKETEER ADVENTURES 2 #1 (of 4) and flying higher than ever! The second volume of the late Dave Stevens' greatest creation features all-new stories from the industry's best!   MARVEL COMICS AVENGERS ASSEMBLE #1 Writer Brian Michael Bendis and artist Mark Bagley, the team behind the epic Ultimate Spider-Man run reunite to bring you the new ongoing series AVENGERS ASSEMBLE #1! The Avengers of the upcoming movie come together in The Marvel Universe come together to do battle with one of their greatest villains!    One of Spider-Man's oldest villains, Doctor Octopus is near death and nearly in control of the entire world. Near death, Ock may finally have given Spider-Man the fight of his life in Part One of the new epic "Ends Of The Earth" storyline beginning in AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #682!   In America, supervillainy is a dime a dozen. All of the good spoils are taken and your every move is watched so you do what any good entrepeneurs would and diversify. Spain's about to get its own supervillains. Poor Spain. SUPER CROOKS #1 is brought to you by the superstar team who brought you Superior, writer Mark Millar (Kick-Ass) and drawn by Leinil Yu!   Scarlet Witch, the Avenger responsible for the genocide of the mutant race with the utterance of "No more mutants" is back and fully aware of the new mutant messiah and Uncanny X-Men member, Hope Summers. AVENGERS VS. X-MEN #0 written by Brian Michael Bendis & Jason Aaron and drawn by Frank Cho is the prelude to the BLOCKBUSTER COMICS EVENT, Avengers Vs. X-Men!   As always, if you have any questions, feel free to contact us. Have a great one and...   BEST! Union Station - 50 Massachusetts Avenue NE | Washington, DC 20002 | 202-241-6498 www.fantomcomics.com

Truitt on Superboy

Superboy straddles line between right and wrong in DC series
By Brian Truitt, USA TODAY January 9 2012
http://www.usatoday.com/life/comics/story/2012-01-09/Superboy-comic-book-series/52468274/1

When Groth met Hitch in DC

My Dinner with Hitch
BY Gary Groth Jan 9, 2012
http://www.tcj.com/my-dinner-with-hitch/

San Diego Comic-Con cofounder obituary

This appeared in the print version of the Post on January 8th:

San Diego's Richard Alf, Comic-Con co-founder, dead at 59
By Associated Press,
Washington Post.com January 6 2012
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/san-diegos-richard-alf-comic-con-co-founder-dead-at-59/2012/01/06/gIQAMW2EeP_story.html

The Doonesbury strips we didn't see last month

The Washington Post repeated two Doonesbury strips in the print newspaper last month (see above) - skipping the actual strips for December 15th and 16th, which can instead be seen at the Doonesbury archives. The Post didn't mention it, but the Toledo Blade explained why the strips were substituted for certain sensitive newspapers. My neighbor Bill. C came through with the print edition so I was finally able to confirm that the Post hadn't run them.

Jef Thompson originals on Etsy

Big Planet Comics clerk, and children's book artist, and sometimes comic book artist Jeffrey Thompson is selling the original scratchboards to his illustration work on Etsy now.

Mark Burrier on drawing an ad for Big Planet Comics

Process: Drawing a One Page Comic for Big Planet Comics

 By Mark Burrier

January 8, 2012

 http://www.markburrier.com/blog/process-drawing-a-one-page-comic-for-big-planet-comics/

 

I've got an interview with Mark that's been hanging out on my harddrive for months (sorry Mark!) that I'll try to get onto the City Paper site this week.

PR: John Fantucchio at Apocalyptic Adventure

You are cordially invited to the most controversial art exhibit in the metropolitan area!  The theme this month is "Artist Warriors Post Apocalyptic Adventure."  Artists imagine themselves surviving in the landscape of a post Apocalyptic world.  John G. Fantucchio has three paintings which have the art community stirring.  This veteran artist of Arlington will be at the Del Ray Artisans Gallery Sunday, January 22,  from 12 noon to 3 p.m.   The address is 2704 Mount Vernon Avenue, Alexandria, VA, 22301-1124.  John found paintings by his fellow artists thought provoking and of such intense quality that he bought one himself for his personal collection.  If you are a Sci-Fi fan, a mystery lover, a graphic novel enthusiast, and an EC connoisseur, you dare not miss this exhibit.  Each work of art will grab you by the throat, and you'll try to say 'I want to see more!'  John will be there to answer your questions.  Each of his paintings is rendered in a different medium: pastel, thick and juicy acrylic, and marvelous mixed media.  Collectable post cards are also available while they last.  Save them, and after Doomsday they'll be worth a small fortune.  Looking forward to seeing you, and please bring a friend.  

USA Today's comics stories

'Fatale' creeps out with a mix of noir, horror
By Brian Truitt, USA TODAY January 4 2012
http://www.usatoday.com/life/comics/story/2012-01-04/fatale-comic-book-series/52369082/1

Brian K. Vaughan returns to comics with 'Saga'
By Brian Truitt, USA TODAY January 9 2012
http://www.usatoday.com/life/comics/story/2012-01-09/Saga-sci-fi-comic-book-series/52457718/1

Fight club: 'Versus' series ties into 'Avengers vs. X-Men'
By Brian Truitt, USA TODAY January 6 2012
http://www.usatoday.com/life/comics/story/2012-01-06/Avengers-X-Men-Versus-miniseries/52419466/1

Mowgli gets a makeover in Zenescope's 'Jungle Book'
By Brian Truitt, USA TODAY January 6 2012
http://www.usatoday.com/life/comics/story/2012-01-06/Jungle-Book-comic-series/52415834/1

'The Annotated Sandman' gives new insight into Gaiman series
By Brian Truitt, USA TODAY January 4 2012
http://www.usatoday.com/life/comics/story/2012-01-04/Annotated-Sandman-hardcover-book/52374846/1

Laura Hudson recommends Finder

Spurgeon, Tom.  2012.
CR Holiday Interview #17 -- Laura Hudson.
Comics Reporter (January 6): http://www.comicsreporter.com/index.php/cr_holiday_interview_10_laura_hudson/

- at the very end...

Comic Riffs on latest Bluewater political comics

MITT ROMNEY GETS OWN COMIC: Bachmann, Paul & Perry also get new bio-books
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog January 5 2012
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/comic-riffs/post/mitt-romney-gets-own-comic-bachmann-paul-and-perry-also-get-new-bio-books/2012/01/05/gIQAA7w2dP_blog.html

Post's Searle obituary

British illustrator Ronald Searle dies at 91

By Emily Langer, Washington Post January 6 2012

http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/british-illustrator-ronald-searle-dies-at-91/2012/01/04/gIQAAzIkdP_story.html

Call for Submissions: 2012 Robert F. Kennedy Book & Journalism Awards

January 6, 2012 Call for Submissions:   2012 Robert F. Kennedy Book & Journalism Awards   Dear Friends, The Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights is currently accepting submissions the 2012 RFK Book and Journalism Awards. The deadline for submissions is February 1, 2012. Read more about the Book and Journalism Awards below or online at www.rfkcenter.org. Sincerely, Lynn Delaney Executive Director, RFK Center for Justice and Human Rights THE ROBERT F. KENNEDY BOOK AWARD The Robert F. Kennedy Book Award was founded in 1980 with the proceeds from Arthur Schlesinger, Jr.'s best-selling biography, "Robert Kennedy and His Times." Each year, the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights presents an award to the book which "most faithfully and forcefully reflects Robert Kennedy's purposes – his concern for the poor and the powerless, his struggle for honest and even-handed justice, his conviction that a decent society must assure all young people a fair chance, and his faith that a free democracy can act to remedy disparities of power and opportunity." The RFK Book Award has been recognized as one of the most prestigious honors an author can receive. THE ROBERT F. KENNEDY JOURNALISM AWARDS The Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Awards honor outstanding reporting on issues that reflect Robert Kennedy's concerns, including human rights, social justice, and the power of individual action in the United States and around the world. Winning entries provide insights into the causes, conditions, and remedies of injustice and human rights violations, and critical analyses of relevant policies, programs, individual actions, and private endeavors that foster positive change. The RFK Journalism Awards are among the few in which winners are determined by their peers. Past winners include The Washington Post, National Public Radio, CBS's 60 Minutes, ABC's 20/20, and Home Box Office. Deadline: Entries must be received no later than February 1, 2012. Rules for entry: For the rules for entry please visit www.rfkcenter.org. For more information, please contact RFK Book & Journalism Award Manager Christina Taylor, at ctaylor@rfkcenter.org. Through its annual awards, the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights amplifies the work of activists, authors, journalists, and students to a global audience. Follow us on: Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights 1367 Connecticut Avenue, N.W. Suite 200 | Washington, DC 20036

Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights

Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights
1367 Connecticut Avenue, N.W. Suite 200
Washington, DC 20036

Examiner on Madagascar ice sculpture creating

THE 3-MINUTE INTERVIEW: Larry Walter
- Ben Giles
Washington Examiner (January 5 2012): 5.
online at http://washingtonexaminer.com/local/people/2012/01/3-minute-interview-larry-walter/2065306

As the assistant show producer at ICE!, the Gaylord National hotel's chilly holiday attraction that runs through Sunday, Walter helped oversee the sculpting of more than 2 million pounds of ice into characters from DreamWorks' Christmas special "Merry Madagascar." ..

Death in an allied field

Winifred Milius Lubell, political graphic artist and book illustrator, dies
By David Brown,
Washington Post January 5 2012
http://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/books/winifred-milius-lubell-political-graphic-artist-and-book-illustrator-dies/2012/01/05/gIQAmHSmdP_story.html

Warren Bernard on Ronald Searle

Ronald Searle: 1920-2011

BY Warren Bernard Jan 6, 2012

http://www.tcj.com/ronald-searle-1920-2011/