Today's news - Finder wins, Arlington's child Batman and FCBD at Third Eye Comics

My co-blogger has sent in some stories:

 

The Seven Year Old Batman Of Arlington

 

Finder: Voice wins the LA Times Book Prize for Graphic Novel - congratulations to Carla Speed McNeil!

 

The Road To Free Comic Book Day: Third Eye Comics Of Annapolis, Maryland

Meet a Semi-Local Cartoonist: Chris Otto

Chris Otto on the left and writer Ben Taylor at Intervention con.

Webcartoonist Chris Otto wrote a nice introduction for the Intervention con site last fall, which I'll quote here rather than rewrite it: "I started "A Dog's Life" last September after years of being a webcomics fan and wanted to try to make people as happy as I am when reading them. I just had to wait for inspiration to strike, and one day I started seeing my dog Hunter in my head in comic strip form, and there it was. I may have been a little hasty from conception to the time I started posting comics; I wrote and drew up 30 strips in 3 weeks and started posting. Am I insane for deciding to start up a comic with no artistic history and pushing 40? Perhaps. Have I had more fun than should be legal since I started drawing? You bet. Dogs rule, cats drool." He was kind enough to answer my usual questions.

Mike Rhode: What type of comic work or cartooning do you do?

Chris Otto: I am the creator of the comic “A Dog's Life” on the web. I write, draw, color...I do it all!

How do you do it? Traditional pen and ink, computer or a combination?

I draw the strip on Bristol board with pen and ink, then scan it into the computer for coloring and lettering.

When (within a decade is fine) and where were you born?

July, 1971.

Why are you in Washington now? What neighborhood or area do you live in?

I'm actually in Richmond, but I travel to DC often for comic events and visits with friends.

What is your training and/or education in cartooning?

Unless doodling Bloom County characters in my notebooks in high school counts, none... I just picked up a pen and started to draw.

Who are your influences?

Dave Kellett and Berke Breathed are the biggest ones.

If you could, what in your career would you do-over or change?

I would have waited until my drawing was more refined before launching the comic. The early strips are pretty scary, art-wise.

What work are you best-known for?

A Dog's Life. It's my first comic.

What work are you most proud of?

The 10th strip of the current story line, “Bark To The Future” is probably the best thing I've drawn; it's on my wall now.

What would you like to do or work on in the future?

I plan on doing the comic for a long time, and I'd like to take the book I nearly finished
writing and turn that into a second comic.

What do you do when you're in a rut or have writer's block?

I'll take a shower; my best ideas pop into my head in the shower. I take a lot of showers!

What do you think will be the future of your field?

Comics on the web have been around a long time, and more and more arrive every day. As
traditional print media dwindles, people will go to the internet for their comics.

What local cons do you attend ? The Small Press Expo, Intervention, or others? Any comments about attending them?


I was at Intervention for the first time this year, and hope to attend again next year. The DC Comicon is another of my favorites, run by Brett Carreras of the VA Con and MarcNathan of the Baltimore Comicon... it's a fantastic show.

What's your favorite thing about DC?

People from DC come from all over but inevitably become die-hard fans of the local teams, especially the Caps and the Nats...the sports fans here are great!

Least favorite?

Driving.

What monument or museum do like to take visitors to?

I'm a big fan of the Spy Museum.

How about a favorite local restaurant?

Ted's Bulletin. Best. Milkshakes. Ever.

Do you have a website or blog?

You can read “A Dog's Life” at http://adogslifecomic.com/

Truitt's recent USA Today comics stories

Graphic novel tells the tragic love story of 'fifth Beatle'
By Brian Truitt, USA TODAY 4/10/2012
http://www.usatoday.com/life/comics/story/2012-04-10/Fifth-Beatle-Stuart-Sutcliffe-remembered-in-graphic-novel/54149978/1

Morgan Spurlock geeks out for his Comic-Con documentary

By Brian Truitt, USA TODAY April 21 2012

http://www.usatoday.com/life/movies/story/2012-04-21/Morgan-Spurlock-Comic-Con-documentary/54443074/1?csp=34life

'Shooters' graphic novel hits home for Washington writers
By Brian Truitt, USA TODAY April 17 2012
http://www.usatoday.com/life/comics/story/2012-04-17/Shooters-graphic-novel/54351622/1

Batman, 'Smallville' lead DC Comics' digital charge
By Brian Truitt, USA TODAY 4/13/2012
http://www.usatoday.com/life/comics/story/2012-04-13/Batman-Smallville-lead-DC-Comics-digital-slate/54250030/1

Mark Waid makes a bold digital move with Thrillbent website
By Brian Truitt, USA TODAY April 13 2012
http://www.usatoday.com/life/comics/story/2012-04-13/Mark-Waid-Thrillbent-digital-comics-initiative/54265370/1

First look: 'TRON' gets animated with 'Uprising'
By Brian Truitt, USA TODAY 4/15/2012
http://www.usatoday.com/life/comics/story/2012-04-15/First-look-TRON-Uprising-animated-series/54292982/1

Batman's latest trial: The Court of Owls
By Brian Truitt, USA TODAY April 17 2012
http://www.usatoday.com/life/comics/story/2012-04-17/Batman-comic-book-series-Night-of-the-Owls/54321156/1

Ales Kot plots youthful rebellion in 'Wild Children'
By Brian Truitt, USA TODAY April 17 2012
http://www.usatoday.com/life/comics/story/2012-04-17/Wild-Children-graphic-novel/54346844/1

'Dragon's Lair' comic app expands Don Bluth's '80s quest
By Brian Truitt, USA TODAY April 18 2012
http://www.usatoday.com/life/comics/story/2012-04-18/Dragons-Lair-digital-comics-app/54371498/1

Some surprising local publications

I went to a couple of booksales this weekend and found some cartoon publications with local ties that surprised me.

The New Yorker isn't based here of course, but they do specialty books on demand. Here's a local one that was probably a fund-raising premium for the local public radio and tv station:



The New Yorker Book Of WETA Cartoons
New Yorker Magazine
New York: Cartoon Bank, 2004

The University of Maryland's Terrapin Anime Society (TAS) produced at least 10 issues of this Tsunami fanzine:





This Fandom Directory out of Springfield, VA was a complete surprise to me. The online version lives at FANDATA:



Fandom Directory Number 19 2000-2001 Edition
Hopkins, Harry and Mariane S.
Springfield, VA: FANDATA Publications, 2000

When I finally get all of my local books and comics arranged in one place, it will probably be at least a bookshelf and not the Six Feet of Local Comics I had expected. I bought about eight signed Herblock books this weekend too which will take up most of a shelf by themselves.

Meet a Formerly Local Cartoonist: T Campbell

Webcomic writer T Campbell was at the Intervention con last fall. I bought his collections of the Penny & Aggie webcomic when I saw artist Gisele Lagace's artwork, and enjoyed them immensely.He answers our usual questions, although refusing to tell what the 'T' stands for.

Mike Rhode: What type of comic work or cartooning do you do?

T Campbell: Most of my comics are on the Web, one way or another, though many are also in print. I've done a very little work for major print publishers like Marvel, Archie and Tokyopop.

How do you do it? Traditional pen and ink, computer or a combination?

I'm a writer, but many of the artists I work with have switched to a computer-based system since I started working with them. In some cases I honestly don't know. The look of computer work is more and more difficult to distinguish.

When (within a decade is fine) and where were you born?

I was born in Virginia Beach in the 1970s.

Why aren't you in Washington now? What neighborhood or area did you live in?

I bounced around several apartments in the DC area for a few years, trying to get enough freelance work to justify my continued residence there, then got a comics job which took me to Oxford. After that was over, I came back to the Virginia Beach area, where I was more comfortable.

What is your training and/or education in cartooning?

I did a little study at the Savannah College of Art and Design, but as more of a writerly sort, I had to apply my English degree and self-educate from there. Still, the scriptwriting course at UCLA probably helped.

Who are your influences?

Alan Moore, Peter David and Scott McCloud were the ones most in my mind when I started my career. I try to find a new one every few months, these days.

If you could, what in your career would you do-over or change?

Start earlier-- I have a running fantasy of getting in on the ground floor of the Web, when some well-chosen investments could've changed a whole lot of things! Failing that, not do my History of Webcomics book, which was a lot of work for too little money, too much politics and a lingering sense of dissatisfaction.

What work are you best-known for?

Almost certainly Penny and Aggie, my just-concluded seven-year story about teenage girlhood, followed by the epic fantasy Guilded Age.

What work are you most proud of?

That's a toughie. The aforementioned pieces are pretty good, but I also have to throw a little love to Fans, my longest-running and most inventive series, about science-fiction fans in science-fictional adventures.

What would you like to do or work on in the future?

I'm just starting a series called Quiltbag, about sexuality, college and finding your identity.


What do you do when you're in a rut or have writer's block?

It helps to change things up. I'm someone who can get very focused-- one might say fixated-- on one thing for an extended period, so I find that shifting that focus usually gives me time to recharge my interest in everything else.

What do you think will be the future of your field?

What local cons do you attend ? The Small Press Expo, Intervention, or others? Any comments about attending them?

I've attended both. They're good shows, full of people who seem to have very good attitudes about comics and generally commercially healthy.

What's your favorite thing about DC?

There's so much here-- so much history, so many remarkable things going on.

Least favorite?

Traffic.

What monument or museum do like to take visitors to?

I'm fond of the Udvar-Hazy Air & Space Museum. All those giant aircraft and spacecraft in one hangar. Really inspiring.

How about a favorite local restaurant?

I'm a simple sort: a Friendly's is as good for me as anyplace more exotic.

Do you have a website or blog?

Lots of websites, but you can check me out at http://tcampbell.net to get started.

Joel Pollack on moving Big Planet Comics' Bethesda store

Big Planet Comics Bethesda just moved for the second time in 25 years, once again staying within two blocks of its previous location. In fact, it's within fifty feet of its original 1986 location now. Chain founder Joel Pollack showed me the store yesterday, and answered a few questions by email.

Mike Rhode: How come you moved the store?

Joel Pollack: My cute answer is we either had to clean or move. The real answer is we've known for several years that our landlord intended to raze our building to build a 14- (or 17-) story condo. When we were given notice (subsequently rescinded) to vacate at year 2011's end, we realized it was time to go.

Why did you want to stay in the Woodmont triangle?

We briefly considered "North Bethesda" (really south Rockville) near White Flint Metro, but we always preferred the Woodmont Triangle, and were lucky to find a space 100 feet from our original second story location. I couldn't be happier.

What are the advantages of the new store?

Immediately, larger space, cheaper rent. Also, with Fairmont Ave. likely to be a construction mess for the foreseeable future, Cordell Ave.now becomes the per-eminent shopping/dining street in the Triangle.

How was the move?

Couldn't have gone better. Agent Tyke Papanicolas greased the wheels, every contractors' promise was fulfilled (special shout-out to Carlos Sanchez who did our build-out), the landlord granted us numerous concessions, and Carlos (not a mover by trade) got us moved with minimal problems. We did the entire move in three days, packing with the help of volunteers and employees on Sunday, moving on Monday, unpacking on Tuesday, and re-opening on Wednesday. Store monkey (his choice of words), Jef Thompson, did at least 70% of the unpacking. I'm convinced I used up any accrued good karma I had.

How many times have you moved the store?

The old location with the proposed condos sign.

This will be the second time - we previously moved from Cordell Ave. in March of 1991.

Will you be participating in Free Comic Book Day on May 5th?

But of course - it's our favorite comics-related event of the year.

What can people expect?

We will again have our kid's packs - a pre-pack of at least ten comics. Also, a nice variety of freebies for the so-called grown-ups. And another specially imprinted DC Comics sampler, with a terrific coupon, guaranteed to save customers money.

Anything else you'd like to mention?

Everything about the move has been positive, and I'm re-energized for another ten years of comic book sales.

Joel Pollack

Big Planet Comics
Bethesda
4849 Cordell Ave
Bethesda, Maryland 20814
301-654-6856

Fall 2011 Con photos

Roger Langridge at Small Press Expo

Continuing to play catchup on some undone tasks, here's pictures of 2011's Small Press Expo and Intervention cons. There's a few unlabeled images in the Intervention pics that I'd appreciate help with identifying. I'll be posting some more interviews from Intervention in this coming week.

Garth Graham at Intervention

Meet a Local Children's Book Creator: K. Michael Crawford

K. Michael Crawford is another illustrator who regularly sets up at the Capicons show in Tysons Corner / Dunn Loring. She answered my usual questions last fall.

Mike Rhode: What type of comic work or cartooning do you do?

K. Michael Crawford: I create first-of-their-kind Adventure Drawing Books to get kids to use their imaginations in hopes of creating future comic book artists. In the Bazel Lark Series, “The Mystery of Journey Crowne” and “The Island of Zadu,” the reader/artist has to answer clues to know what to draw on the page. The reader/artist decides what the answer will be for half the clues in the book, which gets them to make choices. This is a five-book series and I need to create the remaining three books. It takes me 2 years to create one book to make sure all the clues work and to complete all the drawing work so that everything comes together. I will be starting the next book soon.

With “Batty Malgoony’s Mystic Carnivale” Drawing Book, the reader/artist has to draw in all the carnivale characters. This book gets kids to use their imagination and make choices of what they want the characters to look like on each page.

In “Professor Horton Hogwash’s Museum of Ridiculous” Book, the reader/artist has to draw in all the Museum collection for each themed room or not, because, after all, it is the Museum of Ridiculous. A long as the child is using their imagination they can draw in anything driving the alien spaceships. They can even have dinosaurs driving the ships. I think there is a story there somewhere. Past meets the future. There are also true interesting facts on each page, but be warned, some of them are gross. Not for the faint hearted.
How do you do it? Traditional pen and ink, computer or a combination?

I still do all my art by hand. I pull out the paintbrush, load it with paint and slap it all over the paper, which sometimes it lands on me. I have a good day creating when I look down and see that I am covered in paint from head to toe. I also throw in the kitchen sink when I do my art, so to speak. To get the look I want, I start with the watercolor painting layers of it. Then I add color pencil for texture and definition. After that, I throw in some acrylic and pastels for special effects.

In some of my paintings, I have even used sea salt, plastic wrap and tissue paper to create some cool effects in my art.

When (within a decade is fine) and where were you born?

I was born in Pennsylvania in a time when we where taught how to use our imaginations. My parents thought I might have trouble spelling the state name, so they moved us to Maryland when I was three with the cows and the chickens. Not much cows and chickens left any more, but we do have lots of deer, groundhogs, squirrels, birds and raccoons that stop by my place to tell good tail or I should say tale.

We had no computer games, video games or microwave ovens when I grew up, (Oh, the horror of it all!) so if you wanted to make a concoction, you had to build it from scratch or the ground up. You had to think up an idea, let it brew, run around the house finding the parts and throw in some elbow grease to get the job done. Some of the creations scared my mother so out in the trash they went. That also explained the funny looks we got from the garbage collectors on trash day. We had to create our own entertainment and we did that by using our imaginations. We didn’t wait to be entertained, we made our own.

Why are you in Washington now? What neighborhood or area do you live in?

I moved from Los Angeles to D.C. for a new adventure. I live my life by adventures. I have lived in a number of different places and look forward to living in a few more. There are just too many good places to live in the world. I also wouldn’t mind trying out a few planets in other universes as well. I am just waiting for them to build that spaceship that will get me there at the speed of light. It would be very cool If they found a “Stargate” on this planet so that we could travel to other worlds.

What is your training and/or education in cartooning?

The funny thing is that I graduated from the University of Maryland in Advertising Design, but my college paper was on writing and illustrating children’s books. I only lasted 8 years in Advertising Design and then I switched to Children’s Book illustration and I have been on quite a fairy tale journey since I switched. Four years ago, I noticed that kids weren’t using their imagination so that’s when I created my drawing books. I realized and experienced that if kids don’t use their imaginations they have trouble making good choices and I want them to pick a good nursing home for me.

What makes all this so funny is that I needed that training as a graphic designer, so that I could start my own publishing company, years later, to publish my drawing books. That early career taught how to promoted and market my books and as well as give me the knowledge of printing and publishing them. You always get what you need in life if you just allow yourself to be open-minded about what comes down the road. Sometimes I get things and I scratch my head wondering why I got this at this time, and sure enough some time later or another I will need what I got. It can happen in a few weeks or even take years to see that I got what I needed.

Who are your influences?

I take in everything and then discard the stuff that doesn’t work for my art. I never know when I will get a great idea for my work from some of the things I see and experience.

I always make sure that I have lots of adventures and experiences in my life and all of that goes into my art. It makes my art have layers to it. You can always look at my art and know where I have been lately or what things have had a great influence on me.

Once a famous artist told me that to order to create 3-D art (art with lots of depth to it) you must live a 3-D life, which means fill your life with lots of experiences. The more experiences you have the better your art will be.

If you could, what in your career would you do-over or change?

I wouldn’t change a thing. Everything I have done or experienced in my career and life has lead me to something else great and to a very magical life. Has it all been a wonderful fairy tale? Very much so, yes! For everyone knows, you can’t have good without the evil and visa versa. So just when it looks like the villain will win, happily ever after comes along.

What work are you best-known for?

I have always wanted to put something good into the world, make it a little more colorful, silly, ridiculous, quirky, whimsical, waggish, absurd then when I found it. So far so good with my drawing books. I do want to be best known for doing that and I am working towards that goal. I am not the type of artist who measures where they are at any given time. I just keep moving forward to see what I can do. People will walk towards my booth at comic cons with a stern look on their faces and as soon as they see my art a big smile pops up on their face. That makes me happy.

What work are you most proud of?

I am proud that I can still laugh at my work when I do something totally outrageous and other people get it. I am proud that I have the mind of a five year old and never plan to grow up, so that I can keep creating magical art and books.

What would you like to do or work on in the future?

I believe that creating these drawing books has opened the door to what I can create in the future. I have only begun to see what I can create. (Cue the mad scientist laugh in the background. “It’s alive.”) I try to push myself to get new perspectives all the time to see what I can come up with in my art and books. They say we only use 10% of our brain, but I plan to use 110% if I can figure out how to do it. No telling what I can create if given the chance. The brain weighs 3.5 pounds, the skull another 3.5 pounds and I am going to put it to work. No dead weight on my shoulders.

What do you do when you're in a rut or have writer's block?

I play and act silly. I create art that I throw away, because it doesn’t make sense. I also build something that has nothing to do with what I am working on at the time. For example, I got this idea last winter for a musical instrument and the idea drove me crazy until I started building it. I am still working on it and will be for a while because the idea is very complicated with moving parts and such. This musical contraption gives me a new perspective on creating. No idea what I will do with it when I am done, but it will make a great conversation piece.

What do you think will be the future of your field?

My crystal ball won’t tell me the answer to that, but I keep producing my books and art because I think they are very much needed in the world. Besides, doing my work keeps me out of trouble. I would be out tipping cows otherwise.

What local cons do you attend ? The Small Press Expo, Intervention, or others? Any comments about attending them?

I exhibit at Comic Cons all over the country. Every year, I apply for Comic Con International in San Diego. I have been in that Con for two years. That’s a fun Comic Con, even though it’s more Pop Cultural. I also do Baltimore Comic Con and next year, because it moved to Los Angeles, I am exhibiting at Wonder Con. Each Comic Con has it’s own favor to it. Some cons are more traditional; like Baltimore, MegaCon, Allentown, Then there are some that are more pop cultural like Comic Con International, Garden State, and Steel City Con. There is one thing they all have in common; comic book artists are some of the best people you can ever meet. I have made some really good friends along the way.

What's your favorite thing about DC?

The Art Cultural Places and Museums are my favorite things. I loved the Spy Museum and if I ever need to change careers and I can’t rule England, I found out that I would make a great spy. Talk about a great adventure. Where do I sign up?

Least favorite?

Traffic, but lucky for me I only have to commute to my studio in my house. A few foot steps away.

What monument or museum do like to take visitors to?

The Museums on the Mall. Most people want to go to the Air and Space Museum when they visit.

How about a favorite local restaurant?

Too many good ones to have a favorite.

Do you have a website or blog?

www.happilyeverart.com
http://www.facebook.com/happilyeverart

Meet a Local Cartoonist: Michael Munshaw

I met Michael Munshaw a few months back at one of the Capicon comic shows. He was kind enough to answer my standard interview questions...

Mike Rhode: What type of comic work or cartooning do you do?

Michael Munshaw: Right now I am doing a lot of commission work, including some sketch cards. I am also starting a new book with writer Chris McCay, called Clan Wars. This will get me back to doing full page pencils and inks again. I have also been doing sketch cards for 5finity and some character designs for a role playing game by Melior Via.

How do you do it? Traditional pen and ink, computer or a combination?

It all depends on what is needed. I always start out in pencil and paper. I will use traditional inking tools when inks are needed. If one of my commission pieces is to be colored, I will use Prismacolor or Copic markers. Which of course I use on my sketch cards also. I will scan in and color some pieces in Photoshop. I did a book for Visionary Comics, The Offspring, and that was all colored in Photoshop.

When (within a decade is fine) and where were you born?

1964 in Omaha, NE.

Why are you in Washington now? What neighborhood or area do you live in?

I have been living in St. Mary’s County in Southern Maryland for over 11 years now. I originally moved here for a job at a local Printing Company. I have been working full-time in DC for almost 3 years now.

What is your training and/or education in cartooning?

I have a BA in Graphic Design, with a minor in Illustration.

Who are your influences?

There are way too many to list them all. At the top would be Neal Adams, Adam Hughes, John Byrne, Joe Rubinstein, and Ed Benes.

If you could, what in your career would you do-over or change?

There are days that I wonder what would have happened if I went to NYC right out of college and tried to make it full-time in the comic book business. Would I have succeeded or been a complete failure? We will never know.

What work are you best-known for?

I guess my sketch card work. I get a lot of inquiries on doing commissioned cards, and have some regular buyers on my ebay account.

What work are you most proud of?

The comic book I inked and colored for Visionary Comics, The Offspring. My first published comic book!

What would you like to do or work on in the future?

I wish I could tell you. I would love to one day be the artist on Superman, but that will probably never happen. So I am just content to plug away here on projects that interest me and can help me better my skills as an artist.

What do you do when you're in a rut or have writer's block?

I usually run to my bookshelf and grab one of my George Bridgman anatomy books. I will then do some quick body part sketches in my sketch book and that will usually get me going.

What do you think will be the future of your field?


I really think comics have a future. I think it will be a combination of print and digital distribution. But people are still going to want to read and see stories. The combination of words and pictures will always be a part of our culture.

What's your favorite thing about DC?

Walking around the Mall and just taking it all in. I think too often we take for granted what a wonderful city we live and work in. There’s nothing like walking around the monuments on a clear, sunny day.

Least favorite?

The commute!

What monument or museum do you take most out-of-town guests to?

I will hit the obvious ones. The Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, The Capital, the Library of Congress, etc.

Do you have a website or blog?

My website is www.artofm2.com and I have a deviant art website at http://mmunshaw.deviantart.com.

Local cartoonist interviews

I'm very far behind with publishing a group of interviews that I did with local cartoonists going back to last fall's Intervention con. Rather than continue to let them hang, waiting for me to format them for the City Paper's website, I'm going to try to put one a day up here for the next week until they're all finished.

I apologize to everyone who's been waiting to see their words appear - the real world of work intervened sharply during this time period as I switched jobs for the first time in 22 years.

Big Planet Comics Orbit Newsletter - April 19, 2012

April 19, 2012

Bethesda has moved! Well, there were about 300 boxes of comics plus all the shelves and assorted fun, but thanks to the generous help of our volunteers and the help of our non-volunteer employees, we have moved the Bethesda store 3 blocks to our new address! Stop in and let us know what you think, we're pretty happy with the new store! Big Planet Comics Bethesda 4849 Cordell Avenue Bethesda, MD 20814 The signing by Justin Jordan and Tradd Moore went really well, thanks to everyone who came in, they had a great time! We still have a very few copies of the limited signed and numbered print they did at our Vienna store, so stop by there quick and grab one if you want it! Call in to the Big Planet Comics Podcast phone number with your questions or comments! Call 1-703-539-CAST! (1-703-539-2278) Feel free to forward on our newsletter, and please send us any comments or mailing list requests to vienna@bigplanetcomics.com Thanks! - the Big Planet Comics kids NEW May 26 - Jerry Gaylord Signing Jerry Gaylord, artist of the new Boom Entertainment comic Fanboys vs. Zombies, will be appearing at our College Park store on Saturday, May 26. Fanboys vs. Zombies is written by Sam Humphries and tells the tale of a group of estranged friends who reunite at San Diego Comicon just as a zombie apocalypse begins! Can fan knowledge help you survive zombies longer? Big Planet Comics of College Park 7315 Baltimore Ave. College Park, MD 20740 301-699-0498 bigplanetcollegepark@yahoo.com UPCOMING May 5 - Free Comic Book Day & Jeremy Whitley & Jorge Aguirre Signing Free Comic Book Day is just a few weeks away! Bring your friends, we have a lot of great comics to give away this year! To see the complete list, go to freecomicbookday.com! In addition, we are proud to present 2 great comic book writers, who have just published some great all-ages fantasy adventure comics! Jeremy Whitley writes Princeless, and Jorge Aguirre writes Giants Beware! They will be appearing at our Vienna and College Park stores. 11 am-1 pm Big Planet Comics of Vienna 426 Maple Ave. East Vienna, VA 22180 703-242-9412 vienna@bigplanetcomics.com 3 pm-5 pm Big Planet Comics of College Park 7315 Baltimore Ave. College Park, MD 20740 301-699-0498 bigplanetcollegepark@yahoo.com ___________________ The Survivalist SC by Box Brown A conservative paranoid comic book artist is holed up in his bunker when a meteor strikes the Earth. Can he re-establish a connection with humanity after this disaster when he meets a survivor in the ruins? An amazing short story with great characters! Box Brown won a ton of Ignatz Awards last year, now you can see why! Reset #1 (of 4) by Peter Bagge A washed up movie star gets recruited into a strange new program that uses a machine to replay your early life, allowing you make new choices. But are the scientists manipulating his life to force him to be in the program? And just how does the program know so much about his early life? A compelling new thriller! Harvey Pekar's Cleveland HC by Harvey Pekar and Joseph Remnant Harvey Pekar tells the history of Cleveland, intertwined with his own life story, giving a look at the evolution of the city and his experiences in it. Great art by Remnant shows off the changing look of the city. Batman #8 by Scott Snyder and Greg Capullo The Night of Owls crossover begins as the Talon's stalk Bruce Wayne! Cinderella: Fables Are Forever SC by Chris Roberson, Bill Willingham, Shawn McManus Cinderella's old spy nemesis shows up again... or does she? The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo Special #1 by Denise Mina, Leonardo Manco, Andrea Mutti A free sample of the upcoming graphic adapation of the book! Hellcyon SC by Lucas Marangon The scifi series is finally completed! Battlesuits in a scifi rebellion. John Carter: Gods of Mars #2 by Sam Humphries and Ramon Perez John Carter must escape the Valley of the Dead! Krazy & Ignatz 1922-1924: At Last My Drim of Life Has Come True SC by George Herriman The final book in the epic reprint of all of Krazy Kat! The Shadow #1 by Garth Ennis and Aaron Campbell As war spreads across the globe under the German and Japanese Empires, one man with strange powers from the mysterious East continues his battle against the forces of evil - The Shadow! Pulp's classic hero returns in a great new adventure by Garth Ennis right before the outbreak of World War 2. Full of intrigue and two-fisted action and gunplay! Avengers vs. X-Men #2 by Jason Aaron and John Romita Jr. Every two weeks! The battle truly begins! Every member of the Avengers shows up in a Helicarrier to confront the X-Men! Perhaps that will cheese off Cyclops! When he orders Hope off the battlefield, will she obey? And some of the head to head battles begin! Who's throwing Colossus at the Helicarrier? Resident Alien #0 (of 3) by Peter Hogan and Steve Parkhouse An alien hides out on Earth in a small town, using his mental powers to conceal his identity! But when the town doctor is mysteriously murdered, he is asked by the police to help investigate. He is slowly drawn back into society, while risking the truth of what he really is. A strange and interesting start! Manhattan Projects #2 by Jonathan Hickman and Nick Pitarra The American super scientists try to recruit the Nazis! The Shark King HC by R. Kikuo Johnson A Hawaiian myth of Nanaue, half boy, half shark, and son of the Shark God! (all ages) Six Guns SC by Andy Diggle and Davide Gianfelice All-out action as classic gunslingers are given a modern action movie makeover! Wolverine and the X-Men vol 1 HC by Jason Aaron and Chris Bachalo Wolverine restarts Xavier's school and the Hellfire Club attacks! And Bamfs! So good! Big Planet Comics Podcast #41 Kevin interviews Justin Jordan and Tradd Moore, then with Nick and Jared reviews some great comics! Download now or subscribe on iTunes! PODCAST REVIEWS: Harvey Pekar's Cleveland HC by Harvey Pekar and Joseph Remnant Flex Mentallo: Man of Muscle Mystery HC by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely Lou! 1: Secret Diary SC by Julien Neel The Lovecraft Anthology 1 SC by Ian Edginton, D'Israeli, Dan Lockwood, Shane Ivan Oakley, Rob Davis, I.N.J. Culbard, David Hine, Mark Stafford, Leah Moore, John Reppion, Leigh Gallagher, David Hartman, Alice Duke Pandemonium SC by Christophe Bec and Stefano Raffaele Reset #1 by Peter Bagge Resident Alien #0 by Peter Hogan and Steve Parkhouse The Shadow #1 by Garth Ennis and Aaron Campbell The Shark King HC by R. Kikuo Johnson The Survivalist SC by Box Brown Send us questions to podcast@bigplanetcomics.com or call us at 1-703-539-CAST! (1-703-539-2278) 5/5 - Free Comic Book Day All stores! freecomicbookday.com 5/5 - Jeremy Whitley Signing Princeless 11am-1pm 426 Maple Ave. East Vienna, VA 22180 703-242-9412 vienna@bigplanetcomics.com Signing Princeless 3pm-5pm 7315 Baltimore Ave. College Park, MD 20740 301-699-0498 bigplanetcollegepark@yahoo.com 5/5 - Jorge Aguirre Signing Giants Beware! 11am-1pm 426 Maple Ave. East Vienna, VA 22180 703-242-9412 vienna@bigplanetcomics.com Signing Giants Beware! 3pm-5pm 7315 Baltimore Ave. College Park, MD 20740 301-699-0498 bigplanetcollegepark@yahoo.com 5/26 - Jerry Gaylord Signing Fanboys vs. Zombies 7315 Baltimore Ave. College Park, MD 20740 301-699-0498 bigplanetcollegepark@yahoo.com 7/4 - 20% off Sale All stores! 7/28 - Matt Dembicki Signing Xoc 11am-1pm 7315 Baltimore Ave. College Park, MD 20740 301-699-0498 bigplanetcollegepark@yahoo.com Signing Xoc 3pm-5pm 426 Maple Ave. East Vienna, VA 22180 703-242-9412 vienna@bigplanetcomics.com New Next Week 4/25 (Let us know if you want any of these!) Abe Sapien vol 2: The Devil Does Not Jest SC Activity #5 All Star Western #8 American Vampire #26 Angel & Faith #9 Aquaman #8 Archie #632 Archie & Friends Double Digest #15 Army of Darkness #3 Art Of Amanda Conner HC Astonishing X-Men #49 Avengers DK Readers Avengers Assemble SC Avengers DK Readers Worlds Mightiest Super Hero SC Avengers Roll Call AVX Vs #1 (Of 6) Bart Simpson Comics #70 Batman Beyond Unlimited #2 2nd Ptg Batman Knightfall Vol 1 New Edition SC Batman The Dark Knight #4 2nd Ptg Batman The Dark Knight #8 Battle Scars #6 (Of 6) Black Orchid Deluxe Edition HC Blackhawks #8 Bloodstrike #27 BPRD Hell On Earth Pickens County Horror #2 Captain America #10 Captain America And Hawkeye #629 Chew Vol 5 Major League Chew SC Classics Illustrated: Oliver Twist SC Connie: Menace of Mo Tung SC Crossed Badlands #4 Cruisin' With Hound Life & Times Toote GN Daken Dark Wolverine Big Break SC Danger Girl Revolver #4 (Of 4) Daredevil #11 Omega Daredevil Marvel Masterworks Vol 3 SC Dark Tower Gunslinger Way Station #5 (Of 5) Dark Tower: Battle of Jericho Hill SC Darkhawk Classic Vol 1 SC Darkness #102 Exile Planet Of The Apes #2 (Of 4) FF #17 Flash #8 Folly Consequences Of Indiscretion GN Frazetta Funny Stuff HC Fury of Firestorm the Nuclear Men #8 Game of Thrones #7 Gears of War #23 Gears of War vol 2 SC Goon #39 Gotham Central vol 4 Corrigan SC Green Hornet #24 Green Lantern New Guardians #8 Grimm Fairy Tales #72 Hellraiser #13 I, Vampire #8 I'm Not a Plastic Bag HC Incredible Hulk Pardoned SC Jennifer Blood #12 Jerusalem: Chronicles From the Holy City HC Jugheads Double Digest #180 Justice League Dark #8 King Conan Phoenix on the Sword #4 (Of 4) Kirby Genesis #7 Lil Depressed Boy #10 Mad Magazine #515 Marvel Previews May 2012 Marvel Universe Ultimate Spider-Man #1 Mass Effect Homeworlds #1 Mass Effect Vol 3 Invasion SC Merciless Rise of Ming #1 Mighty Thor #13 Moon Knight #12 New Avengers #25 AVX New Deadwardians #2 (Of 8) Ninjettes #3 Play Ball HC Popeye #1 (Of 4) Popeye Vol 6 Me Lil Swee Pea HC Previews #284 May 2012 Pterodactyl Hunters in the Gilded City Rebel Blood #2 (Of 4) Rich Johnston's Captain American Idol #1 Rich Johnston's Scienthorlogy #1 Richie Rich Gems #47 Roger Langridge's Snarked #7 Savage Hawkman #8 Scarlet Spider #3 2nd Ptg Secret Avengers #21.1 2nd Ptg Secret Avengers #22 2nd Ptg Secret Avengers #23 2nd Ptg Secret Avengers #26 AVX Secret History #18 Secret History #19 Showcase Presents The Spectre vol 1 SC The Sixth Gun vol 3 SC Snake Eyes #12 Sonic Super Special Magazine #3 Sonic the Hedgehog Select vol 5 SC Spaceman #6 (Of 9) Spider-Man Flying Blind HC Star Wars: Blood Ties: Boba Fett Is Dead #1 Star Wars: Crimson Empire III Empire Lost #6 Star Wars: Dark Times Out O/T Wilderness #5 Star Wars: Invasion vol 3 Revelations SC Stephen King Joe Hill Road Rage #3 (Of 4) Stormwatch vol 1 HC Supercrooks #2 (Of 4) Superman #8 Superman: Secrets of the Fortress of Solitude SC Teen Titans #8 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Archie 100 Page Spectacular Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles #9 Thief of Thieves #3 Transformers Robots In Disguise #4 The Twelve #12 (Of 12) Ultimate Comics Ultimates #9 Ultimate Comics X: Origins SC Uncanny X-Men #11 AVX Uncanny X-Men #9 Uncharted #6 (Of 6) Voodoo #8 Warlord of Mars #17 Winter Soldier #1 2nd Ptg Winter Soldier #2 2nd Ptg Winter Soldier #3 2nd Ptg Wolverine #305 Wolverine Wolverine's Revenge SC X-Men Legacy #265

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Steve Styles art in local fanzine

Cartoonist Scott Gilbert sent in the following note -

Here's a sci-fi/science personal fanzine from Michael Dobson, a writer in Bethesda, with lots of art by excellent cartoonist Steve Stiles (Heavy Metal, Cadillacs & Dinosaurs). Stiles put the link up on Facebook.

Team Cul de Sac auction press release

You can see 7 of the auction items at Heritage's website.

Steve Conley's Bloop webcomic continues

Steve's got another page up in his Bloop comic.

Wuerker on Ali Farzat as Times 100 Influential People

Ali Ferzat, Cartoonist

By Matt Wuerker Wednesday, Apr. 18, 2012

http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,2111975_2111976_2111941,00.html