SPX 2014 Announces Guests Brandon Graham, Emily Carroll, Drew Friedman and Mimi Pond

Small Press Expo Announces 20th Anniversary Guests Brandon Graham, Emily Carroll, Drew Friedman and Mimi Pond For Immediate Release           Contact: Warren Bernard                                                                                               E-Mail: warren@spxpo.com Bethesda, Maryland; June 19, 2014 – This year is the 20th Anniversary of SPX, which will be held September 13 and 14, 2014 at the North Bethesda Marriott Hotel & Conference Center. For our 20th birthday, we are pleased to announce Brandon Graham, Emily Carroll, Drew Friedman and Mimi Pond, all of whom are appearing at SPX for the first time.      These guests are in addition to the previously announced Jules Feiffer, Lynda Barry and James Sturm. Brandon Graham started out as a graffiti artist in his native Seattle and now is the writer behind the Image comics series Prophet, as well as the creator of his own comic mini-series Multiple Warheads. His other titles are King City, Elevator and Universe So Big. SPX is honored to host this rare East Coast appearance by Mr. Graham, whose work can be seen on his Tumblr blog. Emily Carroll was the recipient of this years Pigskin Peter Award, which is given to the best Canadian experimental or avant-garde artist. Her magical web-comic Out of Skin was awarded the 2014 Cartoonist Studio Prize given by The Slate Book Review and the Center for Cartoon Studies. Her first book, Through the Woods, is being released next month by Margaret K. McElderry Books. Ms. Carroll's web comics can be seen at http://www.emcarroll.com. Both Mr. Graham and Ms. Carroll will be signing their latest works at the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund tables at SPX 2014. Drew Friedman's caricatures and comics have graced the pages of such esteemed publications as The New York Times, Wall Street Journal, The New Yorker, Village Voice and Mad. His Old Jewish Comedians series of books was the subject of an extensive show earlier this year at the prestigious Society of Illustrators. He will be on hand at SPX to sign copies of his next book due out in August from Fantagraphics, Heroes of the Comics: Portraits of the Legends of Comic Books. Mimi Pond is a cartoonist, illustrator, and writer. She has drawn comics for the Los Angeles Times, Seventeen magazine, National Lampoon, and has also written for television, including the first full-length episode of The Simpsons, "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire". She is the author of the cult-classic book The Valley Girl's Guide to Life. Her first graphic novel, Over Easy, was published this past April by Drawn & Qaurterly to critical acclaim and spent one month on the New York Times graphic novel bestseller chart. She lives in Los Angeles with her husband, the painter Wayne White. About SPX Small Press Expo (SPX) is the preeminent showcase for the exhibition of independent comics, graphic novels, and alternative political cartoons. SPX is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit that brings together more than 600 artists and publishers to meet their readers, booksellers, and distributors each year. Graphic novels, mini comics, and alternative comics will all be on display and for sale by their authors and illustrators. SPX also has a two tracks of of panel discussions and interviews with this year's guests that run through both days of the event. The Ignatz Award is a festival prize held every year at SPX, with the winners chosen by attendees at the show. All works nominated for Ignatz Awards are donated to the Small Press Expo Collection at the Library of Congress, which is the first institutional collection in the United States dedicated to the indie comics field. As in previous years, profits from the SPX will go to support the SPX Graphic Novel Gift Program, which funds graphic novel purchases for public and academic libraries, as well as the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund (CBLDF), which protects the First Amendment rights of comic book readers and professionals. For more information on the CBLDF, visit their website at http://www.cbldf.org. Copyright © 2014 Small Press Expo, All rights reserved. You are receiving this e-mail as a result of your being on our long standing press release list. Our mailing address is: Small Press Expo P.O. Box 5204 Bethesda, MD 20824

Jay Lynch short film by John Kinhart

There's Something Weird About Jay Lynch
John Kinhart

Jun 22, 2014

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jU1D04lx6N0&feature=youtu.be

I decided to go to SPX in Bethesda, MD to film and interview Jay Lynch about the backstory to Roxy Funnies. Weirdness ensued.

Filmed and edited by John Kinhart

Lost Art Books to publish Ray Willner book

D.C.-area publisher Lost Arts Books plans to release "The Lost Art of Ray Willner: The Adventures of Robin Hood" in time for the Small Press Expo in September. 

Here's what Joe Procopio of Lost Arts Books says on his Facebook page: "Scanning is finished, and art restoration is about a third of the way complete. Willner was a contemporary and oft-times partner with Reed Crandall, and their styles are remarkably similar. At this point--1956--in their respective careers, one could conceivably argue that Willner was the stronger artist! This Lost Art Book will collect every Robin Hood story drawn by Willner across the seven-issue run of the title in 1956, bringing together for the first time over 160 pages of never-before-reprinted material."

A few more photos...

Becky Cloonan and Shaun Simon at Big Planet Comics Vienna.

Becky Cloonan and Shaun Simon at Big Planet Comics Vienna.

Claire and Mike Rhode wearing t-shirts from Joe Sutliff's Master Jeffrey webcomic which has a Kickstarter campaign now.

And here's pictures from the exhibit of original artwork at Art-Enables by five artists who contributed to the new graphic novel Wild Ocean: Sharks, Whales, Rays and Other Endangered Sea Creatures (Fulcrum Publishing).  Artwork by: Brooke Allen, Matt Dembicki, Andy K, Steve Loya and Steven Russell Black.

Art by Matt Dembicki, that I think I now own.

Steve Loya and his art.

June 25: David Lasky at Big Planet Comics Bethesda

Comic Riffs talks East of West

'EAST OF WEST': Hickman and Dragotta are riding high atop their apocalyptic Western for Image Comics

By David Betancourt
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog June 20 2014
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2014/06/20/east-of-west-hickman-and-dragotta-are-riding-high-atop-their-apocalyptic-western-for-image-comics/

Flugennock's Latest'n'Greatest: #BringBackOurBoys

From: Mike Flugennock
"#BringBackOurBoys"
http://sinkers.org/stage/?p=1507

Here's one for our friends in Israel, just to let them know I'm thinking of them as they search diligently for their precious missing teens.


Israelis Kill Palestinian During House Searches In West Bank, Al Jazeera English, 06.17.14
http://tinyurl.com/oygckav

Israel Teens Search Aims To "Break" Hamas, Al Jazeera English, 06.18.14
http://tinyurl.com/orkhcc2

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

City Paper picks Pixar music

Arts & Entertainment : Picks

Pixar in Concert at Wolf TrapFriday, June 20

By Tim Regan •  Washington City Paper June 20, 2014

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/articles/46005/pixar-in-concert-at-wolf-trap-friday-june-20/

Meet Michael Reilly, who manages ‘The Lion King’s’ puppet kingdom

Meet Michael Reilly, who manages 'The Lion King's' puppet kingdom [in print as Tinker Tailor Puppet Guy: Meet the man who manages 'Lion King's animal kingdom.]

BY KRISTEN PAGE-KIRBY

June 19 2014

 http://www.washingtonpost.com/express/wp/2014/06/19/meet-michael-reilly-who-manages-the-lion-kings-puppet-kingdom/

The Lion King is at the Kennedy Center, 2700 F St. NW; through Aug. 17, $40-$195; 202-467-4600.

Barsotti obit in Wash Post

Charles Barsotti, New Yorker cartoonist known for his simplicity, dies at 80 [in print as Charles Barsotti, 80; Cartoonist of subtle humor].

By Matt Schudel

Washington Post June 19 2014

http://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/comics/charles-barsotti-new-yorker-cartoonist-known-for-his-simplicity-dies-at-80/2014/06/18/7f1f7046-f6fb-11e3-a3a5-42be35962a52_story.html

 

Postcards on Fantom's move

Fantom Comics is letting its Dupont Circle neighbors know that it'll be opening its new store (which it says will be three times bigger than its current Union Station location) on July 23. Here's a postcard picked up at a Dupont Circle eatery.

June 21-22: Tom Arvis at WizardCon Philadelphia

Tom Arvis writes in, "After this show (where I'm an invited guest, thank you very much) I'll be doing the Baltimore ComicCon in Sept."

July 11-12: Disney Fantasia Live in Concert at Wolf Trap

Friday, July 11 & Saturday, July 12
at 8:30 pm at the Filene Center

Ticket Price: $22-$55

Disney Fantasia Live in Concert

National Symphony Orchestra

Emil de Cou, conductor

TICKETS

JUL 11 | 8:30 pm

JUL 12 | 8:30 pm

Experience Disney magic on the big screen when the NSO casts an enchanting musical spell on sorcerer Mickey and other cherished animated characters from Fantasia (1940) and Fantasia 2000

REPERTOIRE

• BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 5 in C minor, Op. 67
  Light battles dark in an abstract masterpiece from Fantasia 2000

• BEETHOVEN: Symphony No. 6 in F major, Op. 68 ("Pastoral")
  Pastoral Art Deco interpretation of mythological Greece

• TCHAIKOVSKY: Nutcracker Suite, Op. 71a 
  Light hearted dance by flora, fauna, fairies, and an unforgettable mushroom

• DEBUSSY "Clair de Lune" from Suite bergamasque  (orch. Stokowski)
  Stunning depiction of two herons flying in the moonlight    

• STRAVINSKY: Firebird Suite (1919)
  A frightening Firebird seeks to destroy the forest home of a Spring Sprite and her companion elk

Intermission

• GERSHWIN: Rhapsody in Blue
  Jazz-inspired urban love paean to Gershwin

• DUKAS:  The Sorcerer's Apprentice
  Mickey Mouse's iconic animated masterpiece

• ELGAR: Pomp and Circumstance
  Donald Duck stars as the patriarch in a retelling of Noah's Ark

• RESPIGHI Pines of Rome
  Mythical animation with flying humpback whales

• RIMSKY-KORSAKOV/FINA: "Flight of the Bumblebee" from The Tale of Tsar Saltan
  A colorful bee's fast and furious orchestral adventure

• PONCHIELLI: "Dance of the Hours" from La Gioconda
  Light-hearted classical dance with ostriches, hippos, elephants, and alligators

• SAINT-SAËNS: Finale from Le carnival des animaux
  A single heroic flamingo, armed with a yo-yo, humorously battles conformity

FEATURED PERFORMERS

• National Symphony Orchestra
• Emil de Cou is the music director of the Pacific Northwest Ballet. This is his 10^th season as the official conductor of the National Symphony Orchestra at Wolf Trap. "He's one of the few conductors trying to open new doors into classical music, either with video…or other new technologies aimed at younger audiences."—The Washington Post

June 20: Pixar in Concert at Wolf Trap

Friday, June 20 at 8:30 pm at the Filene Center

Ticket Price: $30-$58

Pixar in Concert

National Symphony Orchestra

Emil de Cou, conductor

TICKETS

JUN 20 | 8:30 pm

All your favorite animated Pixar films on the big screen including Finding Nemo, Up, Toy Story, and Monsters, Inc., paired with memorable scores played by the National Symphony Orchestra

REPERTOIRE

• Enjoy music from more than a dozen Pixar films, includingRatatouille, A Bug's Life, Finding Nemo, WALL-E, Up, The Incredibles, Brave, Monsters, Inc., Monsters University, and theCars and Toy Story series.
• The music was written by renowned composers Randy Newman, Thomas Newman, Michael Giacchino, and Patrick Doyle. Collectively, this music has won 3 Academy Awards and 10 Grammys.

FEATURED PERFORMERS

• National Symphony Orchestra
• Emil de Cou is the music director of the Pacific Northwest Ballet. This is his 10^th season as the official conductor of the National Symphony Orchestra at Wolf Trap. "He's one of the few conductors trying to open new doors into classical music, either with video…or other new technologies aimed at younger audiences."—The Washington Post

Comic Riffs on the death of Charles Barsotti

RIP, CHARLES BARSOTTI: New Yorker artist was 'master cartoonist, a true original, and a nice guy, to boot.'

By Michael Cavna

Washington Post Comic Riffs blog June 18 2014

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2014/06/18/rip-charles-barsotti-new-yorker-artist-was-master-cartoonist-a-true-original-and-a-nice-guy-to-boot/

Rob Steibel's last Kirby column for TCJ.com

"Trail May Lead to the Ends of Infinity"

BY Robert Steibel Jun 18, 2014
http://www.tcj.com/trail-may-lead-to-the-ends-of-infinity/

A close reading of a Thor issue.

Two Md. retailers up for Eisner retailer award

Beyond Comics in Frederick, Md., (Jonathan Cohen, owner) and Collector’s Corner in Baltimore (Randy Myers, owner) are nominees for the 2015 Eisner Spirit of Comics Retailer Award. Both stores have been nominated in previous years, a testament to their quality.

June 28: Matt Dembicki and Jason Rodriguez at American Library Association in Las Vegas

Two out of three from DC on this panel. And remember, what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas.... even misfiling.

Graphic Novel / Gaming Stage - Teaching with Comics -- Matt Dembicki, Jason Rodriguez, Joel Gill

http://ala14.ala.org/node/15638

When: 

Saturday, June 28, 2014 - 10:00am to 11:00am
Download to my calendar

Location: 

Las Vegas Convention Center

Exhibit Hall - Graphic Novel / Gaming Stage

Description: 

A panel discussion with three graphic illustrators and writers exploring the benefits of teaching with comics. The panelists have published books about history, culture and nature, all of which have been successful teaching and learning tools in the classroom and in libraries.

Meeting Type: 

Other

Sponsors: 

ALA

American Library Association (ALA)

Cost: 

Included with conference registration

Last Updated: 

Tuesday, June 17, 2014 - 11:36am PDT

Attendees: 

113 people interested in attending (View all)

June 28: Paul Pope at Third Eye Comics

Paul Pope (Battling Boy, THB, Batman Year 100) will be signing a new revamped reprint of his book Escapo (Z2) at Third Eye Comics in Annapolis, Md., on June 28 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.

From the Z2 press release: “What’s the scoop on ESCAPO? Like a feverish mash-up of Fellini films, Heavy Metal magazine, and classic Jack Kirby comics, ESCAPO tells the tale of a circus escape artist extraordinaire, who can escape from any situation — even from DEATH himself!”

June 21: Geek Chic Fashion Show at St. Stephen's

Fantom Comics and PollySue's Vintage Shop are hosting a Geek Chic Fashion show Saturday night at St. Stephen & the Incarnation Episcopal Church in D.C. “Think nerdy street style, casual cosplay, steampunk couture, Hogwarts riot grrls, high-fashion superheroes, tiny princess super villains, Carol and Kamala Corps, and more!” according to the Facebook event page.

Tickets are $5 and a percentage of the proceeds will go to Con or Bust, a non-profit that sends fans of color to SFF conventions, according to organizers.

June 20: Zinefest benefit

The D.C. Zinefest folks are hosting a benefit Friday for the Richmond (Va.) Zinefest (both shows feature a good dose of self-published comics, mostly by creators in the area; BTW, the D.C. Zinefest will be held Aug. 9 this year; the Richmond show on Oct. 5). The benefit event on June 20 will show the 1988 film "Psycho-Punk Splatter Comedy" at the Fridge art gallery in D.C., starting at 7 p.m. Admission if $5.

Cavna on sports cartooning

RIP, TONY GWYNN: How a tribute cartoon ended up with the greatest hitter I ever saw.
BY MICHAEL CAVNA
Washington Post Comic Riffs June 16 2014
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2014/06/16/rip-tony-gwynn-how-a-tribute-cartoon-ended-up-with-the-greatest-hitter-i-ever-saw/
 

David Apatoff on Jack Kirby

JACK KIRBY'S FAKE ANATOMY

JUNE 16, 2014

Gail Simone speaking at White House Conference

Bleeding Cool has the story, or at least screenshots of Simone's tweets, at Gail Simone To Speak At The White House About LGBTQ And Disability Issues.

From the less distant past: 2006 Washington Post chat with Richard Thompson

I'm continuing through Cul de Sac tearsheets from the Post Magazine, and ran across notice of a 2006 Washington Post chat with Richard Thompson that I had also forgotten. Who knows what evil lurks in the hearts of men? 

From the distant past: 2005 Washington Post chat with Richard Thompson

I'm going through Cul de Sac tearsheets from the Post Magazine, and ran across notice of a 2005 Washington Post chat with Richard Thompson that I had forgotten. It's still online. Return with us to the thrilling days of yesteryear....

Former DC-area writer Brad Meltzer's new comic out today

Brad says, "My  new book, I AM ROSA PARKS, is out today.  Buy a copy and help build a library of REAL heroes for your kids, nieces, and nephews.  See exclusive art from it here: http://bradmeltzer.com/book/i-am-rosa-parks/"

 

I've enjoyed these children's comics.

Catching up with local photo ops - Chast, Horsey, Pastis and Brown

Roz Chast at Politics and Prose - https://www.flickr.com/photos/42072348@N00/sets/72157644783747828/

David Horsey winning the RFK Journalism Award for cartooning and a special award for Rep. John Lewis and Andrew Aydin's March graphic story - https://www.flickr.com/photos/42072348@N00/sets/72157645186302102/

Stephan Pastis in DC (that's Richard Thompson's Reuben award)- https://www.flickr.com/photos/42072348@N00/sets/72157645143521186/

Box Brown and Paul Aulisio's stop at Big Planet Comics - https://www.flickr.com/search/?w=42072348@N00&q=box%20brown

The voice of Shaggy is silenced

Casey Kasem, king of the top-40 countdown and 'Scooby-Doo' voice-over
artist, dies

BY ADAM BERNSTEIN Washington Post June 16 2014
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/casey-kasem-king-of-the-top-40-countdown-and-scooby-doo-voiceover-artist-dies/2014/06/15/213eed10-2ba6-11e3-b139-029811dbb57f_story.html

Michael Cavna wins another journalism award (or two)

This time it's the Society for Features Journalism 26th Annual Excellence in Features Award.

Division 3

VIDEO STORYTELLING

Third: Michael Cavna and Tom Racine, Washington Post, "March: Congressman John Lewis's Civil-Rights Story"
Judge's comments: The producers make an interesting choice in transforming their video into an animated form to talk about a graphic novel. It might have been neat to show Rep. Lewis transforming from standard video to animation, though, then again, it might have been hokey.

BLOG PORTFOLIO

Division 3

First: Michael Cavna, Washington Post, "Comic Riffs"
Judge's comments: The post defending the worth of graphic novels was epic, with a great multimedia presentation. After that, no one can ever say graphic novels aren't worthy of respect. The post on Mort Walker was engrossing. Top-notch work.