SPX lottery opens Jan. 24

The lottery for exhibitor tables at the Small Press Expo 2014 opens on Jan. 24. If you’re considering putting your name in the hat, SPX recommend you take a few moments to read its lottery FAQs.

Image: SPX

more cARToons: Feb. 6-27

cARToons hosts its second exhibit in D.C. next month. The show runs from Feb. 6-27 at the University of the District of Columbia (Gallery 42), with an opening reception on Feb. 6 from 6:30-8 p.m. Featured work by Steven Artley, Carolyn Belefski, Matt Dembicki, Teresa Roberts Logan, Michael Auger, Andrew Cohen, David Hagen and Rafer Roberts.

Ladies' Night at Fantom Comics

Fantom Comics at Union Station will host an Intro to Comic Books and Graphic Novels at its next Ladies’ Night, Jan. 26, 6-8:30 p.m.

Comic Book Resources interviews Nate Powell about March

CBR TV: Artist Nate Powell Goes on a "March"

Jonah Weiland

Comic Book Resources January 20 2014
http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=50385

Jason Axtell exhibit in Sterling

Keep Looking: The Works of Jason E Axtell
Art Institute of Northern VA

My first ever solo exhibition is on display now at the Art Institute of Washington-Dulles Gallery. Featuring a variety of work, including figure studies, fan art, and comic art.

On display until February 24th.

Reception: Thursday January 30th at 6pm.

Art Institute of Northern VA
21000 Atlantic Blvd, Sterling, Virginia 20166-2495

Pictures of KAL at Art Soiree this weekend

Courtesy of Steve Artley, who noted, "I mostly hung with Sue Kallaugher and Gretchen Toles, while Kevin worked the crowd — as he does so well."

Thanks for letting us run these, Steve.

Feb 15: Gregory Benton's B+F Tour at Big Planet Bethesda

• Big Planet Comics Bethesda
  
• Saturday, February 15, 2014
• 
  

  4:00pm until 6:00pm

It's with excitement and pleasure that we announce the B+F Tour to promote Gregory Benton's latest creative endeavor. "B+F," Gregory Benton's MoCCA Award of Excellence-winning fable, explores an otherworldly forest with a woman and a dog as they encounter its denizens, both benevolent and malicious. A wordless meditation on goodwill, hostility, and isolation

Scott McCloud on Google Dooldles

The case against the Google Doodle

By Justin Moyer, 

Washington Post January 19 2014

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/from-gandhi-to-mlk-historys-giants-have-become-marketing-tools/2014/01/17/a7f23a24-77cd-11e3-af7f-13bf0e9965f6_story.html

Flugennock's Latest'n'Greatest: "Chris Christie Festival"

Chris Christie Festival
http://sinkers.org/stage/?p=1438

It's not as if there hasn't been a metric shit-ton of important news happening in the past week or so. You've got the Mexican "autodefensas" battling the drug cartels, the Fullerton, California cops who beat and tasered a homeless man to death, Obama's worthless tap-dancing NSA speech -- but probably the biggest story of the week has to be the massive chemical spill in Elk River, West Virginia, which left 300,000 people in nine counties without fresh water.

Of course, you wouldn't know that from watching the Democratic Party noise machine in action at MSNBC, which has spent almost all of its available air time this week on the trumped-up "Bridgegate" scandal in New Jersey involving Governor Chris Christie, who's also considered a major hopeful for the 2016 GOP Presidential nomination. Coincidence? Naaahhhh.

---
Mike Flugennock, flugennock at sinkers dot org
Mike's Political Cartoons: dubya dubya dubya dot sinkers dot org

Jan 18-19: Little Mermaid Jr. on stage in Arlington

The Little Mermaid Jr.

Music by Alan Menken
Lyrics by Howard Ashman and Glenn Slater
Book by Doug Wright
Based on the Hans Christian Andersen Story and the Disney Film produced by Howard Ashman & John Musker and written & directed by John Musker and Ron Clements

http://www.encorestageva.org/on-stage/20132014-season/

January 10-19, 2014
Thomas Jefferson Community Theatre
125 S. Old Glebe Road Arlington, VA 22204

Splash into this classic story of Ariel, the mermaid princess, who wishes to live in the world above rather than the ocean floor. To explore life on land, Ariel disobeys her father, King Triton, and makes a deal with the evil sea witch Ursula. Ransoming her singing voice, she must convince Prince Eric that she is indeed the girl who rescued him or risk losing her voice forever. Sing along to your favorite songs and watch as Ariel, with the help of her friends, tries to break Ursula's curse and win the heart of the Prince. Recommended for ages 4 and up.

Comic Riffs on Bill 'Batman' Finger

Batman's 'secret' co-creator died 40 years ago today. What's it take to get him some credit? *(A.: Author hopes Google can help.)

By Michael Cavna

Washington Post Comic Riffs blog January 18 2014
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/comic-riffs/post/batmans-secret-co-creator-died-40-years-ago-today-whats-it-take-to-get-him-some-credit-a-author-hopes-google-can-help/2014/01/18/15291010-8050-11e3-93c1-0e888170b723_blog.html

That darn Doonesbury

Letter to the Editor

Protecting the vote

W. Scott Butcher, Potomac

Washington Post (January 18 2014)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/protecting-the-vote/2014/01/17/cd4f0422-7d64-11e3-97d3-b9925ce2c57b_story.html

Tom Arvis' Mercenary Pig video

From: THOMAS ARVIS II

Below is a link to a Mercenary Pig YouTube video produced by Gary Beatty to promote my comic, which will be solicited in the February 2014 Previews magazine. A graphic of the video window from YouTube is also attached.

I have been posting preliminary sketches and revised pages to FaceBook to build interest in the book, and will probably be posting something every day or so from now until Preview comes out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jRustur6wtE

Below is also a link to the Aazurn Newsroom page Gary Beatty prepared.

http://aazurn.com/newsroom/mercenary-pig.html


Tom Arvis
Sureshot Comics

Tall Tale Radio and Michael Cavna

Tom Racine

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/tom-racine/2014/01/17/tall-tale-radio-and-michael-cavna

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/tom-racine/2014/01/17/tall-tale-radio-and-michael-cavna.mp3

Michael Cavna, the guru behind "Comic Riffs" on The Washington Post, joins me to talk about the best graphic novels of 2013, the place of graphic novels and comics in school libraries and classrooms, and pretty much any comic book/strip related stuff you want to talk about!  Join us!

SLJ interviewed Andrew Aydin

Interview: Andrew Aydin

By Eva Volin
School Library Journal's Good Comics for Kids blog January 16, 2014
http://blogs.slj.com/goodcomicsforkids/2014/01/16/interview-andrew-ayden/ and
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sFwW4IJEVmU

Comic Riffs on Russ Heath

Legendary artist Russ Heath reacts to 2014 NCS Caniff honor: 'It's very humbling'

By Michael Cavna

Washington Post Comic Riffs blog January 17 2014
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/comic-riffs/post/legendary-artist-russ-heath-reacts-to-2014-ncs-caniff-honor-its-very-humbling/2014/01/17/1bee7314-7f14-11e3-93c1-0e888170b723_blog.html#pagebreak

The Post on superhero-inspired prints

Galleries: At Hillyer Art Space, JD Deardourff's screenprints inspired by superhero comics

(Courtesy JD Deardourff and Hillyer Art Space/ ) - JD Deardourff. \"TimberWolves at Chicago,\" Screen print on paper; on view at Hillyer Art Space.

• 
  

By Mark Jenkins, Friday, January 17,2014

http://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/museums/galleries-at-hillyer-art-space-jd-deardourffs-screenprints-inspired-by-superhero-comics/2014/01/15/43ecf6a4-7c8c-11e3-97d3-b9925ce2c57b_story.html

Dissanayake on Enigma (from last month)

Unsung Masterpieces – Enigma With Peter Milligan, Duncan Fegredo, And Art Young

By David Dissanayake

December 9, 2013
http://www.bleedingcool.com/2013/12/09/unsung-masterpieces-milligan-fegredos-enigma/

Introducing a new Comics Column, Unsung Masterpieces, in its first installment: Milligan & Fegredo's Enigma

Dissanayake interviews Eddie Campbell

Unsung Masterpieces #2: Alec, with Eddie Campbell

By David Dissanayake

January 16, 2014

http://www.bleedingcool.com/2014/01/16/unsung-masterpieces-2-alec-with-eddie-campbell/

Sorel on Herblock at TCJ.com

This interview is 20 years old, but Gary Groth asked Ed Sorel for his opinion about Herblock. The short version is here.

Jan 29: George O'Connor at Politics and Prose

He's making an early appearance for the children with his new book Aphrodite. Details at 

http://www.conventionscene.com/2014/01/15/dc-aphrodite-goddess-love-signing/

PR: This Sunday 6:30PM-8PM: The Third Eye Book Club at Third Eye Annapolis

Third Eye Comics (Annapolis Location) 2027A WEST ST  ANNAPOLIS, MD 21401 Sunday 1/19/14 6:30PM-8PM Click here to RSVP on Facebook. Hello Third Eye Faithful!  We're pretty pumped to be coming up on the first meeting of the Third Eye Book Club!  A place where you can socialize with fellow comic fans, discover new series and creators, and get to interact with some of your favorite comic creators.  We'll be hosting the first meeting of the Third Eye Book Club this Sunday at Third Eye Annapolis, and we'd be totally honored to have you guys join us for this celebratory first time ever event!  For January, we're featuring THE STUFF OF LEGEND, one of our personal favorites, as the Third Eye Book Club spotlight, and between now and Sunday you can get 20% OFF this book when you mention the Book Club at the counter. This modern fantasy masterpiece, which is soon to be a major motion picture, is a graphic novel you have got to read -- no matter what you're normally into -- STUFF OF LEGEND will blow you away.    In terms of the storytelling, the artwork, the craftsmanship of the book itself -- all around, this is an amazing piece of work, and we're really excited to have this opportunity to share it with you guys.   What's it all about? Check it out -- As Allied forces fight the enemy on Europe's war-torn beaches, another battle begins in a child's bedroom in Brooklyn when the nightmarish Boogeyman snatches a boy and takes him to the realm of the Dark.   The child's playthings, led by the toy soldier known as the Colonel, band together to stage a daring rescue.   On their perilous mission they will confront the boy's bitter and forgotten toys, as well as betrayal in their own ranks.   The Stuff of Legend is a haunting and ultimately redemptive tale of loyalty, camaraderie, and perseverance.   In short: imagine Toy Story meets Saving Private Ryan if it was directed by Guillermo del Toro. A sweeping, widescreen fantasy saga with artwork that has a very cool, almost storybook feel to it -- STUFF OF LEGEND is a must for anyone who is a fan of series like FABLES, JOE THE BARBARIAN, MOUSE GUARD, BONE, or THE SANDMAN.   Special Q&A with STUFF OF LEGEND Publisher MIKE DEVITO Joining us during the Book Club will be STUFF OF LEGEND publisher MIKE DEVITO to answer YOUR questions, as well as talk to you guys about Stuff Of Legend, it's future, and the upcoming film!   Why You Should Totally Come!   Aside from the fact that it's a chance to get to have your own copy of STUFF OF LEGEND signed by it's publisher, Mike DeVito, and get the full scoop on the upcoming film -- it's also going to be a great chance to share your love of comics with other Third Eye Faithful.   With your's truly, Third Eye Steve, hosting the session, we're going to be bringing you a chance to sit down, talk comics, and learn about a great series in a new way.   PLUS: we'll have FREE coffee & donuts for you guys! :)   How's It Work? Where is it? When is it?  Will There Be Chairs? Of course there will be. :)   You guys know us at Third Eye, when we do something -- we like to make it 100% awesome, and that's why it's taken us this long to host the Third Eye Book Club. We've put together a great floor layout that opens up 50 chairs in the back of Third Eye Annapolis for you guys.    And, we've also got standing space cleared, in case all 50 chairs get filled up!    We'll also be filming the Book Club for the Third Eye YouTube channel, so be ready: your question for Mike get you a little bit of Third Eye fame. ;)   How can you secure a seat? Click here to RSVP on our Facebook page, and make sure you click "Going."    We will print out the list, and the first 50 names will have a chair secured for them.    Even if you are RSVP'd, try to be here at least 15 minutes before we open doors for the event.    If we do not have all 50 seats filled by 6:30PM when the event starts, the left-over chairs will be up for grabs to anyone who's there. :) Join us next month for February's THIRD EYE BOOK CLUB meeting featuring the critically-acclaimed crime drama SCALPED Click here to RSVP on Facebook Next month, on Sunday February 16th, we'll be featuring one of our biggest favorites, SCALPED, as the Third Eye Book Club spotlight, and we cannot wait to turn many of you guys onto this incredible crime drama by JASON AARON (the extremely talented writer behind everything from Punisher MAX to THOR: GOD OF THUNDER to the upcoming ORIGINAL SIN Summer event series!) Scalped is one of those perfect pairings of writer and artist, bringing together the hard-hitting, character-building storytelling of Jason Aaron with the gritty art of R.M Guera. The end result is an intense crime drama that mixes organized crime with current Native American culture.  In SCALPED, Dashiel "Dash" Bad Horse ran away from a life of abject poverty and utter hopelessness on the Prairie Rose Indian Reservation searching for something better. Now, 15 years later, he's back home armed with nothing but an attitude and one dark secret, to find nothing much has changed on "the Rez" -- short of a glimmering new casino, and a once-proud people overcome by drugs and organized crime. Is here to set things right, or just to get a piece of the action? Scalped ran for a total of 10 volumes, and was published by Vertigo, the folks behind Y: THE LAST MAN, PREACHER, THE SANDMAN, and many other greats.  It's a fantastic book, which delivers the same kind of compelling, complex storytelling as the HBO series THE WIRE, with every character having a story to tell, and the good guys and the bad guys switching places throughout the run.  We can't recommend it enough, and we had to spotlight it. Starting January 23rd, you can get SCALPED for 20% OFF the regular cover price when you mention the Third Eye Book Club at the counter.  And, in addition to the fact that this series is amazing, we're also proud to make our first Free Comic Book Day 2014 Guest Announcement -- as we'll be hosting SCALPED writer JASON AARON at Third Eye as one of our headlining Free Comic Book Day Guests. Aaron has worked on a ton of major books, from the more recent AMAZING X-MEN and THOR: GOD OF THUNDER to older favorites like X-MEN: SCHISM, WOLVERINE AND THE X-MEN, PunisherMAX.  He's also going to be the main writer on the upcoming Marvel summer event, ORIGINAL SIN, and has a new ongoing IMAGE COMICS series releasing the week of Free Comic Book Day called SOUTHERN BASTARDS that looks incredible.  If you've never read any of Aaron's work, Scalped is a great place to start, and now you can discover this super-talented writer, and get a chance to meet him and have your books signed this May! We've got a TON of other big plans for Free Comic Book Day this year, including some other guests, activities, and more -- but we'll be announcing those later for you. :) We just figured, with SCALPED being the book of the month next month -- we had to reveal this one! Click here to RSVP on our FACEBOOK page for the February 2014 Third Eye Book Club.

The Post reviews The Nut Job cartoon

'The Nut Job' movie review: The grouchy squirrel might grow on you

AP - Surly is a grouchy, purple squirrel (voiced by Will Arnett) who meets a charming pug, Precious (Maya Rudolph), in "The Nut Job."

By Stephanie Merry, 

Washington Post January 17 2014

http://www.washingtonpost.com/goingoutguide/movies/the-nut-job-movie-review-the-grouchy-squirrel-might-grow-on-you/2014/01/14/9af7d9f6-7c7c-11e3-95c6-0a7aa80874bc_story.html

TONIGHT: Michael Cavna on Tall Tale Radio

Michael Cavna, the guru behind "Comic Riffs" on The Washington Post, joins me to talk about the best graphic novels of 2013, the place of graphic novels and comics in school libraries and classrooms, and pretty much any comic book/strip related stuff you want to talk about!  Join us!

http://www.blogtalkradio.com/tom-racine/2014/01/17/tall-tale-radio-and-michael-cavna

Jan 16: Big Planet Comics Bethesda hardcover sale at 40%

Deadline extension for Smudge

The Smudge Comics Arts Expo set for March 8 at Artisphere in Arlington, Va., is extending the deadline for exhibitor applications to Friday, Jan. 17. 

Jan 23: Animezing: Garden of Words animation at JICC

Animezing Series Presented by the JICC, Embassy of Japan and the Japan Commerce Association of Washington, DC Garden of Words Thursday, January 23, 6:30 p.m. Our Location: JICC, Embassy of Japan 1150 18th St, NW Suite 100 Washington, DC 20036 Driving directions ©2013 Makoto Shinkai / CoMix Wave Films. All Rights Reserved | Japanese with English subtitles | Not Rated 46 mins | Directed by Makoto Shinkai Takao is an exceptionally mature high school student who dreams of becoming a shoe designer. Skipping school to sketch designs in a rainy garden, he meets a mysterious woman. She offers no name, only a poem as a clue to her identity. Despite the difference in their ages, an unusual friendship develops between them, as the rain and the unanswered questions and needs in their lives draw them to the garden day after day. The season will soon be over, though, with so much left unsaid between them. Will there be time for Takao and the solitary woman to put their feelings into words? Register Now! This event is free and open to the public, but registration is required. Please note that seating is limited and registration does not guarantee guests a seat. Registered guests will be seated on a first come, first served basis. Please contact us at jicc@ws.mofa.go.jp in the event of cancellation. Doors open at 6:00 pm. No admission or re-entry after 7:00 pm.

Jan 29: Malaysian political cartoonist, Zunar is in town

Location: Cullen Room @ Busboys and Poets, 5th & K

date: Wednesday, January 29, 2014
time: 7:30pm - 9pm

Cullen Room @ Busboys and Poets

Dialog with Zunar, the controversial Malaysian political cartoonist

Zunar is Malaysian political cartoonist. He uses his drawing pen as a weapon to fight state corruption and abuse of power.  He was arrested and detained under the Sedition Act, seven of his cartoon books had been banned by the government, his office has been raided twice, the printing factories are constantly raided and vendors are often warned not to sell his books. 

Zunar is the recipient of 2011 "Courage in Editorial Cartooning Award" by the Cartoonist Rights Network International, Washington.

Clich here for full bio http://www.zunar.my/to-fight-through-cartoon/.

The Post reviews Polly and Her Pals

Decades later, Cliff Sterrett's 'Polly' cartoons still tickle the funny bone

By Michael Taube, 

Washington Post January 15 2014

http://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/books/decades-later-cliff-sterretts-polly-cartoons-still-tickle-the-funny-bone/2014/01/14/17e95042-7963-11e3-8963-b4b654bcc9b2_story.html 

Meltzer interview by Truitt

 

Meltzer dives into kids' books with historical gusto; Tomes about Amelia Earhart and Abraham Lincoln kick off series by the best-selling author.

Brian Truitt, USA TODAYJanuary 13, 2014 http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/books/2014/01/13/brad-meltzer-childrens-books/4445229/

Brad used to live around here, and is signing his books at Barnes and  Noble in Tyson's Corner tomorrow. Brian Truitt must live around here somewhere.

Brandon Graham interview by DC's David Dissanayake

Brandon Graham Returns To Prophet With Who's Who, Launches 8House And Develops Diversity Anthology – The Bleeding Cool Interview At Image Expo

By David Dissanayake

Posted on January 13, 2014
http://www.bleedingcool.com/2014/01/13/brandon-graham-returns-to-prophet-with-whos-who-launches-8house-and-develops-diversity-anthology-the-bleeding-cool-interview-at-image-expo/

Jan 14: Kal at Library of Congress

Sara Duke reports, "Kevin Kallaugher talk about his most recent publication, Daggers Drawn, in the Pickford Theater (3rd floor, Madison Building) next Tuesday - January 14, at noon. For those of you who don't already have a copy of Daggers Drawn, the Library of Congress offers them at a discounted price. The Madison Building is located at 101 Independence Avenue, SE. The nearest Metro station is Capitol South. This event is free and open to the public."

Jan 22: Graphic Novel Bookgroup at P&P!

Hey all!

 

Just so you know I'll be hosting the Graphic Novel Bookgroup this month. We're reading PAYING FOR IT by Chester Brown. Sure to be a fun conversation!

 

Hope to see you there at 7:30 on Wednesday 22^nd.

 

Here's the meetup link: http://www.meetup.com/Politics-and-Prose-Graphic-Novel-Bookgroup/events/160437082/

See you soon,

Adam Waterreus

Director of Operations

Politics and Prose Bookstore

5015 Connecticut Avenue NW

Washington DC 20008