A page from Hondros' Song of Sandy Hook
Wednesday, October 16, 2013
Oct. 17, 19: Hondros at Artisphere
Cartoonist Art Hondros is this week's resident artist at the D.C. Conspiracy's Comics Making Workshop at the Artisphere in Rosslyn, Va. He will be at the Works In Progress Gallery Oct. 17 from about 6:30-9:30 p.m. and on Oct. 19 from 1-4 p.m. Art has had a hot year, having self-published several comics, contributed a comic to the Washington Post Magazine, illustrated the cover to Magic Bullet #6 and most recently started working with former local cartoonist Scott Mills on an online comic about Ivan the Terrible.
Tuesday, October 15, 2013
Local reporting on Syrian cartoonist Akram Raslan
Akram Raslan reported dead.
Dr. Robert Russell
10/07/2013
http://www.cartoonistsrights.org/recent_developments_article.php?id=110
Akram Raslan: Rights group clarifies report that Syrian political cartoonist was executed
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog October 13 2013
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/comic-riffs/post/akram-raslan-rights-group-clarifies-report-that-syrian-political-cartoonist-was-executed/2013/10/13/7f0ed88a-3478-11e3-80c6-7e6dd8d22d8f_blog.html#pagebreak
Dr. Robert Russell
10/07/2013
http://www.cartoonistsrights.org/recent_developments_article.php?id=110
Akram Raslan: Rights group clarifies report that Syrian political cartoonist was executed
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog October 13 2013
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/comic-riffs/post/akram-raslan-rights-group-clarifies-report-that-syrian-political-cartoonist-was-executed/2013/10/13/7f0ed88a-3478-11e3-80c6-7e6dd8d22d8f_blog.html#pagebreak
Mark Burrier's New Exhibition: "Chosen" at Frederick Community College
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Thoughts on Superheroes: A Never Ending Battle part 3 (airing tonight)
Thanks to WETA, I've gotten an advance look at the new 3-part documentary Superheroes: A Never-Ending Battle directed by Michael Kantor who co-wrote it with Laurence Maslon.
Part 3, “A Hero Can Be Anyone” (1978-Present), is largely about how superheroes have moved from being entertainment for children to being popular culture for adults. It opens with highlights from the Avengers movie, noting that it was the third highest grossing movie of all time. The San Diego Comic-Con is visited next, showing plenty of quick interviews with adult cosplayers rather than comic book fans.
The documentary then steps back to the 1970s and the lack of trust in government due to Richard Nixon. In this telling, the release of Superman: The Movie in 1978 inspired people, especially with its tagline "You'll believe a man can fly." Several comic book writers point out that Christopher Reeves' great dual performance as Clark Kent and Superman, and the use of romantic situations were the thing that made the movie work more than the special effects. Superman: The Movie also led to a campaign to compensate and credit Siegel and Shuster for their creation, and Kantor covers this in some detail.
Meanwhile comic book sales continued to drop (and as noted in my second review, the creation of the direct market is not mentioned here either). Marvel pulled one of the early stunts by having Spider-Man get married, although former Marvel Editor-in-Chief Joe Quesada notes that once you've started time passing, when does it end? Should Spider-Man grow old? It's not mentioned in the film, but Quesada believes not, and retconned Spider-Man's marriage out of existence with a literal deal with the devil.
Frank Miller's tour-de force Batman: The Dark Knight Returns (1986) is the next highlight, and is held up as the first adult superhero comic book. Comic book and television writer J. Michael Straczynski called the comic book about an aging Batman "the most seminal work in the field today" and I agree. Mark Waid then notes that 1986 saw another seminal work, Alan Moore and Dave Gibbon's Watchmen. Watchmen took the opposite approach to B:TDKR, and looked at the issues of vigilante justice and fascism inherent in superheroes.
Marvel's new X-Men pre-dated these two comics, but are introduced next. The multicultural and multiracial cast is held up as a model in which anyone could find a character or situation to relate to. Gay comics artist Phil Jiminez explicitly states the comic was "a most amazing metaphor for young gay people." The similar success of Marv Wolfman and George Perez's New Teen Titans is not mentioned at all however.
The film segues into the reworking of Spider-Man by artist Todd McFarlane and the subsequent formation of Image Comics by hotshot young enegade artists. McFarlane's interview segments are among the most entertaining in this segment. The Death of Superman is then examined as another highlight drawing media attention, but also as beginning of the bursting of the collectible bubble as people bought multiple copies as investments.
Kantor argues that the "grim and gritty era was ending" by this point, which I disagree with, and the film says that 9-11 ended that type of comic story which began in Dark Knight Returns fifteen years earlier. Marvel's 9-11 comic book is shown (although DC's is not), and then the Civil War story line is featured. This long and wide story put superheroes led by Captain America and Iron Man on opposite sides of a government-sponsored initiative to keep track of superheroes. DC's Batman movies directed by Christopher Nolan are also cited as a response to America's post-9-11 angst - convincingly I believe.
The film then circles back to fun and 'sexy' movies such as Spider-Man. Zach Snyder states that such movies are keeping superheroes alive when comic books can't, and Grant Morrison claims that videogames will be the future. The film ends optimistically of course - it's about superheroes.
All 3 parts of the documentary air locally on WETA at 8 pm tonight. Previews and outtakes can be seen on Youtube.
Images courtesy of Grand Comics Database.
Part 3, “A Hero Can Be Anyone” (1978-Present), is largely about how superheroes have moved from being entertainment for children to being popular culture for adults. It opens with highlights from the Avengers movie, noting that it was the third highest grossing movie of all time. The San Diego Comic-Con is visited next, showing plenty of quick interviews with adult cosplayers rather than comic book fans.
The documentary then steps back to the 1970s and the lack of trust in government due to Richard Nixon. In this telling, the release of Superman: The Movie in 1978 inspired people, especially with its tagline "You'll believe a man can fly." Several comic book writers point out that Christopher Reeves' great dual performance as Clark Kent and Superman, and the use of romantic situations were the thing that made the movie work more than the special effects. Superman: The Movie also led to a campaign to compensate and credit Siegel and Shuster for their creation, and Kantor covers this in some detail.Meanwhile comic book sales continued to drop (and as noted in my second review, the creation of the direct market is not mentioned here either). Marvel pulled one of the early stunts by having Spider-Man get married, although former Marvel Editor-in-Chief Joe Quesada notes that once you've started time passing, when does it end? Should Spider-Man grow old? It's not mentioned in the film, but Quesada believes not, and retconned Spider-Man's marriage out of existence with a literal deal with the devil.
Frank Miller's tour-de force Batman: The Dark Knight Returns (1986) is the next highlight, and is held up as the first adult superhero comic book. Comic book and television writer J. Michael Straczynski called the comic book about an aging Batman "the most seminal work in the field today" and I agree. Mark Waid then notes that 1986 saw another seminal work, Alan Moore and Dave Gibbon's Watchmen. Watchmen took the opposite approach to B:TDKR, and looked at the issues of vigilante justice and fascism inherent in superheroes.Marvel's new X-Men pre-dated these two comics, but are introduced next. The multicultural and multiracial cast is held up as a model in which anyone could find a character or situation to relate to. Gay comics artist Phil Jiminez explicitly states the comic was "a most amazing metaphor for young gay people." The similar success of Marv Wolfman and George Perez's New Teen Titans is not mentioned at all however.
The film segues into the reworking of Spider-Man by artist Todd McFarlane and the subsequent formation of Image Comics by hotshot young enegade artists. McFarlane's interview segments are among the most entertaining in this segment. The Death of Superman is then examined as another highlight drawing media attention, but also as beginning of the bursting of the collectible bubble as people bought multiple copies as investments.Kantor argues that the "grim and gritty era was ending" by this point, which I disagree with, and the film says that 9-11 ended that type of comic story which began in Dark Knight Returns fifteen years earlier. Marvel's 9-11 comic book is shown (although DC's is not), and then the Civil War story line is featured. This long and wide story put superheroes led by Captain America and Iron Man on opposite sides of a government-sponsored initiative to keep track of superheroes. DC's Batman movies directed by Christopher Nolan are also cited as a response to America's post-9-11 angst - convincingly I believe.
The film then circles back to fun and 'sexy' movies such as Spider-Man. Zach Snyder states that such movies are keeping superheroes alive when comic books can't, and Grant Morrison claims that videogames will be the future. The film ends optimistically of course - it's about superheroes.
All 3 parts of the documentary air locally on WETA at 8 pm tonight. Previews and outtakes can be seen on Youtube.
Images courtesy of Grand Comics Database.
The Post reviews ‘Superheroes: A Never-Ending Battle’ which airs tonight
PBS' 'Superheroes: A Never-Ending Battle' shows comics as uniquely American stories
By Michael Cavna,
Washington Post October 15 2013
http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/pbs-superheroes-a-never-ending-battle-shows-comics-as-uniquely-american-stories/2013/10/14/743a9b44-350c-11e3-be86-6aeaa439845b_story.html
Monday, October 14, 2013
Catherine Labonte's cartoon-influenced glass cats
Mike's flea market finds, continued
Because everyone needs a set of Family Circus buttons from Burger Chef.
I don't even like Family Guy, but I rescued them from the 6 for $1 bin.
These are all brand-new in 2013. Zodiac Starforce webcomic, animator Raul Aguirre Jr, and Halloween Comicfest 2013 buttons. Zodiac Starforce is done by local creators out of Big Planet Vienna.
And here's what I'm happiest to have found. My second Daumier print from the AAFSW book sale at the State Dept.
"C'est pourtant comme ça qu'on se donne des tours de reins!....... "
From Le Charivari August 28, 1868. "This is just the way to catch a strain in the back." See http://www.daumier-register.org/werkview.php?key=3658
Thoughts on Superheroes: A Never Ending Battle part 2
Thanks to WETA, I've gotten an advance look at the new 3-part documentary Superheroes: A Never-Ending Battle directed by Michael Kantor who co-wrote it with Laurence Maslon.
“Great Power, Great Responsibility” covers 1959-1977, two time periods termed by fans as the Silver and Bronze ages. The Silver Age is considered starting when DC reintroduces its Golden Age heroes such as the Flash and Green Lantern in new, science-fiction themed identities. The Bronze Age begins roughly by Jack Kirby's leaving Marvel for DC, and Stan Lee stopping writing in favor of promotion. The merging of the two periods is somewhat uneven.
Fewer key creators appear in this segment, and include Stan Lee, Neal Adams, Denny O'Neil, Len Wein, and Gerry Conway.
Jarringly, Marvel's early 1960s books are discussed before the DC comics that made them possible. Received wisdom is that the Fantastic Four was conceived as a response to DC's success with the Justice League of America. Whether that's true or not, DC certainly reinvented the superhero before Marvel did. Instead the film opens with Marvel, switches back in time to DC and then jumps forward to 1966's camp Batman tv show. Marvel universe co-creators Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko are also given short-shrift.
From there, while noting DC's comic books withering on the vine when the show is cancelled, director Michael Kantor moves on to socially relevant comics such as Marvel's introduction of the African prince the Black Panther. Unfortunately, more credit may be given to introducing characters including Luke Cage, Hero for Hire and the Panther than is deserved. But Bill Foster's commentary, as a black man reading comics, is at this point and is fun to watch, and I'll defer to his viewpoint.
Comics slowly-growing social relevance is tracked via the use of an issue of Spider-Man to warn against drugs, even though the Comic Code Authority wouldn't approve it. DC followed that up with an issue of Green Lantern / Green Arrow by Denny O'Neil and Neal Adams that had Arrow's superhero sidekick Speedy as a heroin addict. The section on GL/GA is among the best in this segment, and includes some old film footage of the creators talking about the series at the time. Another good section is Jim Steranko's take on how he reinvigorated Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. DC's attempt to depower and do something similar with Wonder Woman is held up as a triumph of feminism, but the comic books sold miserably at the time. Her successful television show (1976-1979), and commentary by Linda Carter round this section out.
Kantor then moves achronologically again, and switches to a "backlash" against sunny and optimistic superheroes while the real streets of New York are mean and gritty. The death of Spider-Man's girlfriend Gwen Stacy (1973) and the introduction of the Punisher (1974) are held up as examples. The Punisher gets more cultural significance than he deserves - as the film points out, characters such as Dirty Harry had already been successful in movies. Comic books were just following a trend, as usual. The character didn't really take off until the late 1970s when Frank Miller reworked him in Daredevil, and then he truly boomed during the 1980s grim-and-gritty years. Issues from the same year have Spider-Man driving a Spidey-mobile and fighting a hopping villain called the Kangeroo.
The change from newsstand sales to direct market sales in comic book stores occurred in this time period, and is arguably the most important factor in sustaining superheroes, but I don't believe it was mentioned. Overall this episode probably tries to cover too much time in a period when comic books changed a lot. I still enjoyed the show, especially the creator interviews.
All 3 parts of the documentary air locally on WETA at 8 pm on October 15th.
Images courtesy of Grand Comics Database.
“Great Power, Great Responsibility” covers 1959-1977, two time periods termed by fans as the Silver and Bronze ages. The Silver Age is considered starting when DC reintroduces its Golden Age heroes such as the Flash and Green Lantern in new, science-fiction themed identities. The Bronze Age begins roughly by Jack Kirby's leaving Marvel for DC, and Stan Lee stopping writing in favor of promotion. The merging of the two periods is somewhat uneven.
Fewer key creators appear in this segment, and include Stan Lee, Neal Adams, Denny O'Neil, Len Wein, and Gerry Conway.
Jarringly, Marvel's early 1960s books are discussed before the DC comics that made them possible. Received wisdom is that the Fantastic Four was conceived as a response to DC's success with the Justice League of America. Whether that's true or not, DC certainly reinvented the superhero before Marvel did. Instead the film opens with Marvel, switches back in time to DC and then jumps forward to 1966's camp Batman tv show. Marvel universe co-creators Jack Kirby and Steve Ditko are also given short-shrift.From there, while noting DC's comic books withering on the vine when the show is cancelled, director Michael Kantor moves on to socially relevant comics such as Marvel's introduction of the African prince the Black Panther. Unfortunately, more credit may be given to introducing characters including Luke Cage, Hero for Hire and the Panther than is deserved. But Bill Foster's commentary, as a black man reading comics, is at this point and is fun to watch, and I'll defer to his viewpoint.
Comics slowly-growing social relevance is tracked via the use of an issue of Spider-Man to warn against drugs, even though the Comic Code Authority wouldn't approve it. DC followed that up with an issue of Green Lantern / Green Arrow by Denny O'Neil and Neal Adams that had Arrow's superhero sidekick Speedy as a heroin addict. The section on GL/GA is among the best in this segment, and includes some old film footage of the creators talking about the series at the time. Another good section is Jim Steranko's take on how he reinvigorated Nick Fury, Agent of S.H.I.E.L.D. DC's attempt to depower and do something similar with Wonder Woman is held up as a triumph of feminism, but the comic books sold miserably at the time. Her successful television show (1976-1979), and commentary by Linda Carter round this section out.
Kantor then moves achronologically again, and switches to a "backlash" against sunny and optimistic superheroes while the real streets of New York are mean and gritty. The death of Spider-Man's girlfriend Gwen Stacy (1973) and the introduction of the Punisher (1974) are held up as examples. The Punisher gets more cultural significance than he deserves - as the film points out, characters such as Dirty Harry had already been successful in movies. Comic books were just following a trend, as usual. The character didn't really take off until the late 1970s when Frank Miller reworked him in Daredevil, and then he truly boomed during the 1980s grim-and-gritty years. Issues from the same year have Spider-Man driving a Spidey-mobile and fighting a hopping villain called the Kangeroo.The change from newsstand sales to direct market sales in comic book stores occurred in this time period, and is arguably the most important factor in sustaining superheroes, but I don't believe it was mentioned. Overall this episode probably tries to cover too much time in a period when comic books changed a lot. I still enjoyed the show, especially the creator interviews.
All 3 parts of the documentary air locally on WETA at 8 pm on October 15th.
Images courtesy of Grand Comics Database.
Steve Niles, former local cartoonist, needs financial help
From Mike Mignola's Facebook page:
Steve Niles and his wife Monica lost just about everything they have in a flood last night due to a massive storm in Austin and have no flood insurance. A Paypal account has been set up to help them out. Steve has gone above and beyond raising $ for Hurricane Sandy relief and other tragedies and can really use some help right now. Let's pay it forward to a guy who's always been there for others.
Paypal address is HelpSteveNiles@gmail.com
Steve Niles and his wife Monica lost just about everything they have in a flood last night due to a massive storm in Austin and have no flood insurance. A Paypal account has been set up to help them out. Steve has gone above and beyond raising $ for Hurricane Sandy relief and other tragedies and can really use some help right now. Let's pay it forward to a guy who's always been there for others.
Paypal address is HelpSteveNiles@gmail.com
Sunday, October 13, 2013
Comics in today's Post - Walking Dead returns
'The Walking Dead' Season 4: The long, sad shuffle toward Nowheresville
By Hank Stuever,
Washington Post October 13 2013
http://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/tv/the-walking-dead-season-4-the-long-sad-shuffle-toward-nowheresville/2013/10/10/3879a02e-2f57-11e3-9ccc-2252bdb14df5_story.html
What a Trip: A fairy godmother works her magic [online as: A magical time at Disneyland]
Elizabeth Blosser
Washington Post October 13 2013, p. F2
http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/travel/what-a-trip-a-magical-time-at-disneyland/2013/10/10/6b80501c-2d31-11e3-8ade-a1f23cda135e_story.html
Zeitchik, Steven / Los Angeles Times.
Stealth filming at Disney spurs indie film hype.Washington Post October 13 2013, p. EZ8
Thoughts on Superheroes: A Never-Ending Battle part 1
Thanks to WETA, I've gotten an advance look at the new 3-part documentary Superheroes: A Never-Ending Battle directed by Michael Kantor who co-wrote it with Laurence Maslon.
Part one, Truth, Justice and The American Way covers 1938 through 1958. The film opens with comic book dealer Vincent Zurzolo locking a copy of Action Comics #1 in a vault. Action #1 famously was the first appearance of Superman, and now is generally thought to be worth millions of dollars (I believe issues tend to be traded, and not paid for in cash).
Kantor does a good job showing how Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster started a new genre and jumpstarted an industry with Superman. As with many documentaries, commentators are talking heads in studio settings, but Kantor got a great bunch of cartoonists - Joe Kubert, Jerry Robinson, Carmine Infantino, Neal Adams, former DC publisher Jeanette Kahn, Stan Lee, Joe Simon, Jim Steranko, Ramon Fradon (a rare woman in the early superhero industry, she now appears regularly at the annual Baltimore Comic-Con), Denny O'Neil and others. Poignantly, several of these have passed on within the past few years including Kubert, Robinson, Infantino and Simon. Deceased creators such as Jack Kirby and Bill Gaines are shown in film clips, although Kirby is given short shrift in this episode, presumably because he will feature so largely in the second episode on Marvel Comics.
Most of the commentary is edited down to reflect a standard history of superhero comic books, but highlights emerge such as Fradon's talking about hiding behind her drawing board as ethnic jokes flared, or when Simon talks about drawing a big explosion in a Captain America comic book just to fill up the page faster. Irwin Hasen, who began in comic books, but made it big in the strips with Dondi, says the work "... was like a shirt factory."
The film moves onto Batman, whom Jerry Robinson clearly says Bill Finger co-created with Bob Kane, lingers on Robin and the problem of sidekicks, and then moves on to the largely-forgotten Captain Marvel (aka Shazam). Grant Morrison interestingly points out Marvel's appeal as a non-realistic based character who fought dragons and tossed comets into the sun.
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A brief look at merchandising, still so very central to the success of comic books, focuses on Superman's radio and tv show. Kantor then moves onto World War II, Captain America and the wild success of patriotic heroes. Wonder Woman is lumped in this group, due to her star-spangled outfit and December 1941 publication date. She's also discussed as "the superheroine American had been waiting for" which may be also be on a foundation that's a bit shaky.
The film wraps up with the post-war bust in superheroes, the emergence of crime and horror comics (and briefly-mentioned westerns and romance), and the campaign against comic books spurred by Fredric Wertham and his book The Seduction of the Innocent.
All 3-parts of the documentary air locally on WETA at 8 pm on October 15th.
Part one, Truth, Justice and The American Way covers 1938 through 1958. The film opens with comic book dealer Vincent Zurzolo locking a copy of Action Comics #1 in a vault. Action #1 famously was the first appearance of Superman, and now is generally thought to be worth millions of dollars (I believe issues tend to be traded, and not paid for in cash).
Kantor does a good job showing how Jerry Siegel and Joe Shuster started a new genre and jumpstarted an industry with Superman. As with many documentaries, commentators are talking heads in studio settings, but Kantor got a great bunch of cartoonists - Joe Kubert, Jerry Robinson, Carmine Infantino, Neal Adams, former DC publisher Jeanette Kahn, Stan Lee, Joe Simon, Jim Steranko, Ramon Fradon (a rare woman in the early superhero industry, she now appears regularly at the annual Baltimore Comic-Con), Denny O'Neil and others. Poignantly, several of these have passed on within the past few years including Kubert, Robinson, Infantino and Simon. Deceased creators such as Jack Kirby and Bill Gaines are shown in film clips, although Kirby is given short shrift in this episode, presumably because he will feature so largely in the second episode on Marvel Comics.
Most of the commentary is edited down to reflect a standard history of superhero comic books, but highlights emerge such as Fradon's talking about hiding behind her drawing board as ethnic jokes flared, or when Simon talks about drawing a big explosion in a Captain America comic book just to fill up the page faster. Irwin Hasen, who began in comic books, but made it big in the strips with Dondi, says the work "... was like a shirt factory."
The film moves onto Batman, whom Jerry Robinson clearly says Bill Finger co-created with Bob Kane, lingers on Robin and the problem of sidekicks, and then moves on to the largely-forgotten Captain Marvel (aka Shazam). Grant Morrison interestingly points out Marvel's appeal as a non-realistic based character who fought dragons and tossed comets into the sun.
A brief look at merchandising, still so very central to the success of comic books, focuses on Superman's radio and tv show. Kantor then moves onto World War II, Captain America and the wild success of patriotic heroes. Wonder Woman is lumped in this group, due to her star-spangled outfit and December 1941 publication date. She's also discussed as "the superheroine American had been waiting for" which may be also be on a foundation that's a bit shaky.
The film wraps up with the post-war bust in superheroes, the emergence of crime and horror comics (and briefly-mentioned westerns and romance), and the campaign against comic books spurred by Fredric Wertham and his book The Seduction of the Innocent.
All 3-parts of the documentary air locally on WETA at 8 pm on October 15th.
Oct 22: Kal at Atomic Books in Balitmore
From: Kevin Kallaugher
I wanted to give you notice of an upcoming cartoon event...
Sharp Satire and Baltimore Beer
At Atomic Books of Baltimore http://www.atomicbooks.com/
Oct 22 7PM
Here's the blurb:
Kal (Kevin Kallaugher) will give an illustrated presentation talking about his over 8,000 cartoons he has created for the Baltimore Sun and The Economist.
Plus he'll showcase the work he has created specially for the Raven Brewery's Poe line of beers.
Kal will also be signing copies of his new major retrospective Daggers Drawn: 35 Years of Kal Cartoons in The Economist.
Be sure to come early... Kal Draws a good crowd and a good pint!
And Peabody Heights will be bringing a cask of their new beer, called "The Cask."
Plus he'll showcase the work he has created specially for the Raven Brewery's Poe line of beers.
Kal will also be signing copies of his new major retrospective Daggers Drawn: 35 Years of Kal Cartoons in The Economist.
Be sure to come early... Kal Draws a good crowd and a good pint!
And Peabody Heights will be bringing a cask of their new beer, called "The Cask."
Saturday, October 12, 2013
March cartoonists discuss their book
Guest Bloggers: Andrew Aydin and Nate Powell
October 2013
TeachingBooks.net http://forum.teachingbooks.net/?p=11370
October 2013
TeachingBooks.net http://forum.teachingbooks.net/?p=11370
Got my Kevin Rechin books today
His new children's book The Tumbleweed Came Back arrived today, as did an earlier book Guess Again 1,0001 Rib-Tickliing Riddles from Highlights. Now I just have to see him to get them signed...
My bookshelf of Washington-area cartoonists continues to grow.
Friday, October 11, 2013
The Post's ‘Escape From Tomorrow’ movie review
This is set in a Disney theme park.
'Escape From Tomorrow' movie review
By Michael O'Sullivan,
Washington Post October 11 2013
http://www.washingtonpost.com/goingoutguide/movies/escape-from-tomorrow-movie-review/2013/10/09/96677c00-2d37-11e3-8ade-a1f23cda135e_story.html
'Escape From Tomorrow' movie review
By Michael O'Sullivan,
Washington Post October 11 2013
http://www.washingtonpost.com/goingoutguide/movies/escape-from-tomorrow-movie-review/2013/10/09/96677c00-2d37-11e3-8ade-a1f23cda135e_story.html
Oct. 12: Qrissy workshop at Art Enables
Artist Krissy "Qrissy" Downing (who also dabbles in cartoons and comics) discusses her "self-realized process of stream-of-consciousness surrealism as influenced by her background in improvisational music composition as well as imagination-stretching childhood games." Qrissy will be at Art Enables on Saturday, Oct. 12, 1-4 p.m., to do a workshop on her techique. (Couple this workshop with the Outsider Art Inside the Beltway show premiere and you've got a great afternoon of art appreciation and activities.)|
(YouTube is not making it easy to post Qrissy's video, so please go here to check out.)
(YouTube is not making it easy to post Qrissy's video, so please go here to check out.)
Oct. 11, 12: MacAuley at Artisphere
Christiann MacAuley is the resident artist today (6-8 p.m.)
and tomorrow (from 1-4 p.m.) at the Artisphere (Rosslyn, Va.) for the D.C. Conspiracy's Comics Making Workshop. She plans to post a few pics of her chalk wall drawing in progress
on Twitter. Meanwhile, check out Christiann’s new installment of her web comic
Sticky Comics.
BPC podcast #95
After a few weeks off for things like the Small Press Expo,
Big Planet Comics is back with its podcast. Kevin Panetta, Jared Smith and Nick Liappis talk about horror movies for Halloween and review some mighty fine comics, such as Paul Pope's Battle Boy, Jason's Lost Cat and Geof Darrow's Shaolin Cowboy #1. This podcast is No. 95. Will
there be something special for No. 100?
Art: Paulina Ganucheau
Thursday, October 10, 2013
Egyptian cartoonists article by Washington author
Graphic (Novel) repression in Egypt
By Mimi Kirk Wednesday, October 9, 2013
http://mideast.foreignpolicy.com/posts/2013/10/09/graphic_novel_repression_in_egypt?wp_login_redirect=0
Mimi Kirk is research director for the Middle East Institute in Washington, D.C.
'Complete Cul de Sac'/show with Watterson in 2014
Look for the 656-page Complete Cul de Sac (Andrews McMeel Publishing) in May 2014,
reports Reuben Award-winning cartoonist Richard Thompson on his blog. “Annotated, copyedited, collated, and now covered. The only thing left to
be done is the printing and gluing it or sewing or whatever they do to make it
hold together. And, of course, buying
it,” Thompson writes. Now the second big announcement: Thompson will join
cartoonist Bill Watterson (yes, of Calvin & Hobbs fame) for a two-man
exhibit in 2014 at the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum at
Ohio State University.
Nov 16: "SOUTH PARK" CONVENTION COMES TO VIRGINIA
For 16 seasons "South Park" has made its fans laugh, cry, think, and rage. "Star Trek: OST" didn't have its first convention until 3 years after its demise. After 16 years and counting "Parkies" have earned the right to a festival too!
Parkies rejoice! Park Fest 2013 is happening!
Saturday, November 16th
Crowne Plaza Tysons Corner.
1960 Chain Bridge Road
McLean, VA 22102
(703) 893-2100
Buy your tickets, Like us on Facebook or Follow us on Twitter.
Parkies rejoice! Park Fest 2013 is happening!
Saturday, November 16th
Crowne Plaza Tysons Corner.
1960 Chain Bridge Road
McLean, VA 22102
(703) 893-2100
Buy your tickets, Like us on Facebook or Follow us on Twitter.
Oct. 14: Stephen Bissette in Richmond
Oct. 12: Outsider Art Inside the Beltway
Art Enables, a studio and gallery in D.C. for emerging artists with developmental disabilities, is opening its annual Outsider Art Inside the Beltway exhibit this Saturday, Oct. 12. Immediately below is a sample of the featured art ("Giant Zinzer" by local artist Charles Meissner). I've also included a few pieces created by artists at the studio that are not in the show but are comics related and awesome. (Photos courtesy of Art Enables.)
"Giant Zinzer" by Charles Meissner
"Shutdown"by Nonja Tiller in reaction to the federal government shutdown.
Nonja Tiller's "Broken Computer (The Baby Did It)."
Darnell Curtis' dream is to be invited to San Diego Comic Con.
The front of the studio, with a nice Batgirl drawing there in the window (lower left).
'Frozen' trailers
Here is one of the trailers for Disney’s upcoming
animation feature “Frozen,” out on Thanksgiving. (Click here to see both officials trailers.)
Wednesday, October 09, 2013
Comic Riffs on resignation video from Taiwan-based Next Media Animation
'I QUIT': Viral video's dancing star weighs post-NMA job offers — and still awaits that Kanye call
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog October 8 2013
A short Frank Cho interview
Five Questions with Frank Cho
by Sommer K.
MightyVille 21 September 2013
http://www.mightyville.com/index.php/features/454-five-questions-with-frank-cho
by Sommer K.
MightyVille 21 September 2013
http://www.mightyville.com/index.php/features/454-five-questions-with-frank-cho
The Post on new PBS animation
PBS hopes for a digital hit with 'Peg + Cat'
By Cecilia Kang,
Washington Post 0ctober 8 2013, p. A14
http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/technology/pbs-hopes-for-internet-hit-with-peg--cat/2013/10/07/daf2e150-29e7-11e3-97a3-ff2758228523_story.html
By Cecilia Kang,
Washington Post 0ctober 8 2013, p. A14
http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/technology/pbs-hopes-for-internet-hit-with-peg--cat/2013/10/07/daf2e150-29e7-11e3-97a3-ff2758228523_story.html
Fantom Comics offers fed employees a discount
Fantom Comics is offering 20% off all graphic novels for government employees during the government shutdown. Just present a federal employee ID for the discount. Contractors with federal IDs are also eligible.
The Post reviews Gene Yang and David B.
The Surreal Stuff of Dreams ['Incidents in the Night,' by David B.]
By Douglas Wolk
Washington Post October 9 2013
Visions of Glory, Bloody Realities [BOXERS & SAINTS, Gene Luen Yang]
By Douglas Wolk
Washington Post October 9 2013
Comic Riffs on Green Arrow
GREEN ARROW: Jeff Lemire, David Ramsey shed light on the new synergy between CW hit and the DC comic
By David Betancourt
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog October 9 2013
Sean Hill comics in the works
Local comics artist Sean Hill is illustrating a science fiction/action comic called Vegas Baby. There's a sample page below. The book is created/written by Chris Ward, who has a Kickstarter campaign going to fund the book. Sean also did the pencils and inks for the comic Route 3 (Terminus Media), which is debuting this weekend at New York Comic Con (Booth 574 in Artist Alley). Its creator/writer is Robert Jeffrey II.
Courtesy of Sean Hill and Chris Ward
Courtesy of Sean Hill and Robert Jeffrey II
Meet a Local Cartoonist: A Chat with Essa Neima
Meet a Local Cartoonist: A Chat with Essa Neima
Tuesday, October 08, 2013
Conley's alternative 'Action Comics' No. 1
Artist Steve Conley shares with us this detail of a commissioned drawing of an alternative Superman via an alternative cover to Action Comics No. 1. "Went with a strongman-style costume with vest and toned-down action," Steve said on his Facebook page.
Courtesy of Steve Conley
Afterlife With Archie special variant cover at Big Planet Comics
Big Planet Comics has an Archie exclusive comic book with their logo on the cover.... it's the new book Afterlife with Archie that features a zombie Jughead also on the cover.
I shop at the one at
Big Planet Comics
4849 Cordell Ave.
Bethesda, MD 20814
In time for Halloween: 'Afterlife With Archie'
Archie Comics Gets Horror Makeover in "Afterlife"
NBC4 Washington
In "Afterlife With Archie," a series debuting Wednesday, publisher Archie Comics is launching not just its first horror title, but also its first book carrying a rating for teens and older sold only in comic shops.
NBC4 Washington
In "Afterlife With Archie," a series debuting Wednesday, publisher Archie Comics is launching not just its first horror title, but also its first book carrying a rating for teens and older sold only in comic shops.
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