Tuesday, August 26, 2014

"Poe and The Crow: An Evening with James O'Barr"-- Richmond, Sept. 11th

"Poe and The Crow: An Evening with James O'Barr" -- Richmond, Sept. 11th




Richmond, VA-- Separated by 100 years of time and place, you might not at first see any connection between James O'Barr and Edgar Allan Poe...but it's there.  Even if you distill it down to just the fact that one created "The Raven," the other created "The Crow." Both iconic works using these avian symbols as metaphors for something far more deeper, darker and richer than one realizes until the stories take flight, transcending the mediums of their own times with creations that indeed took on a life of their own.

For one night in Richmond, Virginia,  these two creators-- will converge-- Poe in spirit, and Mr. O'Barr in the flesh-- with "Poe and The Crow: An Evening with James O'Barr," beginning at 6:30 in the evening with a signing and Q and A, and ending with a screening of "The Crow" starring Brandon Lee-- An appropriate look back, with a new Crow movie currently in pre-produciton.

O'Barr's visit to the Poe Museum coincides nicely with the facilities current exhibition, "The Living Poe," which deals with Poe in popular culture. In recent months, they have had a series of speakers on the topic of Poe's continuing influence on today's arts and culture, and his influence on the modern horror genre. In October, they'll host Vincent Price's daughter Victoria Price, who will share her experiences with her father and his love of Poe. And while O'Barr and Mr. Poe are vastly different in their approaches and influences, this evening continues an homage from other creators, be they writers, actors or authors, who strive in the creative process and respect the works of Edgar Allan Poe.

In addition to creating one of the best selling graphic novels of all time, James O'Barr is also the writer of several current hit series, including "Curare," "Skinning the Wolves" and "Pestilence." While also serving as a consultant on the upcoming Crow movie.  His recent artbook "James O'Barr Uncoffined" has already sold out, and new book is in the works. During the evening at the museum, James will be signing prints, available at the venue, and talking before the screening of "The Crow."

While there, attendees are also encouraged to look over the Poe Museums vast collection of rare artifacts and manuscripts relating to Poe, all housed in a historic building with direct connections to the writer. 

For more information on Mr. O'Barr, contact evaink@aol.com
For more information on the Poe Museum, this event and others go to: poemuseum.org.

(A fan homage, interfacing the image from "The Crow" movie poster, with the likeness of Mr. Poe.)

Monday, August 25, 2014

Filling up on Feiffer's 'Kill My Mother'

Book critic and Georgetown University professor Maureen Corrigan reviews Jules Feiffer’s first graphic novel (at age 85), saying it's "a mulligan stew of murder and desire"—and that’s a good thing.

FYI, here’s a preview of the book from the New Yorker.

And here’s an NPR interview with Feiffer by Linda Wertheimer.

Small Press Expo Sponsors Gene Luen Yang, Liza Donnelly and Bryan Lee O’Malley at the National Book Festival



For Immediate Release Contact: Warren Bernard
Email: warren@spxpo.com
 
Small Press Expo Sponsors Gene Luen Yang, Liza Donnelly and Bryan Lee O'Malley at the National Book Festival

Bethesda, Maryland; August 25, 2014 
Media Release ­— For the second year in a row, the Small Press Expo (SPX) is proud to announce it is a sponsor of the National Book Festival, presented by the Library of Congress. As a part of this sponsorship, SPX is bringing Gene Luen Yang, Liza Donnelly and Bryan Lee O'Malley to the National Book Festival.
 
The primary goal of this sponsorship is to bring creators from the indie comics community to the National Book Festival to provide greater exposure for them and their works to the diverse audience that attends this prestigious festival. As a partner with the Library's Center for the Book, Small Press Expo looks forward to help promoting their various literacy initiatives and events. More information about the National Book Festival can be found at

Gene Luen Yang is a writer of both graphic novels and comics. His book, "American Born Chinese," was the first graphic novel to be nominated for a National Book Award and the first to win the American Library Association's Printz Award; it also won an Eisner Award in 2007. "Boxers & Saints", a two-volume project set during the Boxer Rebellion, was a National Book Award finalist, noted on Booklist's Top 10 Religious Books for Youth, awarded Library Journal's Best Book of the Year and the Los Angeles Times Book Prize. His latest work, The Shadow Hero, "explores the immigrant experience through the genre of superheroes."

Gene was selected to be the first graphic novelist to be one of four authors to give a presentation at the gala event for the National Book Festival, whose attendees include National Book Festival authors, members of Congress, the Librarian of Congress Dr.James Billington, as well as other Library of Congress senior staff.

Author and cartoonist Liza Donnelly is best known for her cartoons in The New Yorker, but her work has been featured in several notable publications, such as The New York Times, The Harvard Business Review and The Nation, Forbes.com and Women's Enews. In her newest book, "Women on Men," a collection of cartoons and writing, she uses wit and sly humor to depict the changing relations of women and men in these modern times.

Award-winning cartoonist, writer and artist Bryan Lee O'Malley is best known for his best-selling, six-book Scott Pilgrim series which was adapted into the major motion picture "Scott Pilgrim vs. the World" in 2010. O'Malley has received many accolades including the Doug Wright, Harvey, Joe Shuster and Eisner awards. In his latest graphic novel, "Seconds," O'Malley tells the story of Katie and her magical mushrooms, a tale of existential angst, everyday obstacles, young love and ancient spirits.
 

The National Book Festival takes place Saturday, August 30, at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Washington, D.C.

Gene Luen Yang will be at the Teen pavilion, signing books from 3:30- 4:30PM and presenting from 4:40-5:10PM.

Bryan Lee O'Malley will be presenting at the Graphic Novel, Science Fiction and Fantasy pavilion from 6:45-7:20 PM and signing books from 8:00-9:00PM.

Liza Donnelly will be presenting at the Graphic Novel, Science Fiction and Fantasy pavilion from 8:15-8:50 PM and signing books from 9:00-10:00PM.
 
 
SPX also supports the Small Press Expo Collection at the Library of Congress, which preserves the history of both the artistic output of the creators who come to SPX, as well as the art that SPX itself generates as part of its yearly festival. It the first program of its type by a major institution in the United States to preserve the works of the indie comics community.

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 nonprofit 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. The expo includes a series of panel discussions and interviews with this year's guests.

The Ignatz Award is a festival prize held every year at SPX recognizing outstanding achievement in comics and cartooning, with the winners chosen by attendees at the show.

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. For more information on the Small Press Expo, please visit http://www.spxpo.com.
 
Tumblr
Tumblr
Twitter
Twitter
Facebook
Facebook
YouTube
YouTube
Website
Website


The Post on Chinese animation “Princess Fragrant”

Chinese animators hope cartoon princess can help ease ethnic tensions in Xinjiang.

By William Wan and Xu Yangjingjing Washington Post August 25 2014
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/chinese-producers-hope-cartoon-can-help-ease-ethnic-tensions-in-restive-xinjiang/2014/08/25/63f1753e-2c5d-11e4-9b98-848790384093_story.html

104 episodes of “Princess Fragrant” await America!

Arnold Roth cover on Frank de Vol record Album


Today's new acquisition.

Save our Schmuck benefit campaign

Seth Kushner benefit 'Save Our Schmuck' to help ill Brooklyn photographer/writer

By SCOTT A. ROSENBERG August 24, 2014

http://www.amny.com/entertainment/seth-kushner-benefit-save-our-schmuck-to-help-ill-brooklyn-photographer-writer-1.9138724

Scott used to write for the Express, on comics, and Dean's a good friend to us.

Friday, August 22, 2014

9/12/-15: 3 Comics events at Politics and Prose

Sep 12 2014 7:00 pm

Feiffer has brought a distinctive art and wit to cartoons, plays, and children's books. Now he applies his inimitable style to the graphic novel. His story draws on his early life in California and on noir films and detective novels, and follows five women from the Depression years through World War II as they untangle deceptions, identities, and murder to get at the truth. (Liveright)

$27.95
ISBN-13: 9780871403148
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Liveright Publishing Corporation, 8/2014

Third Annual Graphic Novel Panel: Finding Your Audience—Perspectives from the Artists

Sep 14 2014 5:00 pm
With plenty for the eye and mind of readers of all ages, the graphic novel is one of the most exciting genres around. Our third annual discussion of recent trends in graphic work focuses on books that have crossover appeal between adult and young adult audiences. This year's discussion features innovative editors and artists, including moderator Mark Siegel, editorial director for First Second and author/illustrator of the fantastic, yet realistic, Sailor Twain (First Second); Farel Dalrymple, wielder of all manner of strangeness in The Wrenchies (First Second); Gareth Hinds, whose thought-provoking graphic retelling of Romeo and Juliet (Candlewick) follows his highly regarded Beowulf and The Odyssey; and Jim Rugg, whose Street Angel (Adhouse Books) uses artwork evocative of golden age comics to provide a cleverly satirical alternative to the traditional superhero narrative.
         
        

Sep 15 2014 7:30 pm
Davis has earned a devoted following with her comics and illustrations, as well as her two graphic novels for children. Her first collection of literary graphic stories is truly an event. Showcasing Davis's extraordinary range, the volume features work in full color as well as pen-and-ink, the images always complementing the narratives, which explore a full spectrum of emotions. (Fantagraphics)

How to Be Happy (Hardcover)

$24.99
ISBN-13: 9781606997406
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Fantagraphics Books, 8/2014

9/15: Telgemeier and Roman at One More Page bookstore

Raina Telgemeier and Dave Roman
Mon, September 15, 4:30pm – 5:30pm

Always a good time.

Thursday, August 21, 2014

Washingtonian blog recommends Simpsons episodes

11 Episodes of "The Simpsons" That Washingtonians Should Watch During FXX's Marathon
The best takes on politics, elections, and media in the show's 25-year run. By Benjamin Freed

August 20, 2014
http://www.washingtonian.com/blogs/afterhours/television/11-episodes-of-the-simpsons-that--washingtonians-should-watc-during-fxxs-marathonh.php

Lynda Barry, Raina Telgemeier and Charles Burns Lead Authors Debuting Books at Small Press Expo 2014



Lynda Barry, Raina Telgemeier and Charles Burns Lead Authors Debuting Books at Small Press Expo 2014

For Immediate Release           Contact: Warren Bernard


                                                 E-Mail: warren@spxpo.com

Bethesda, Maryland; August 21, 2014 – This year marks the 20th Anniversary of SPX, which will be held September 13 and 14, 2014 at the North Bethesda Marriott Hotel & Conference Center. SPX is honored that over 150 different graphic novels and comics will be making their publishing debut at this years show to start off the Fall book buying season. A complete list of debuts, including cover images and publishing information, can be found on the SPX web site.

Here are some highlights of the new releases and their creators that will be at SPX 2014:

Syllabus: Notes From An Accidental Professor is the latest from Lynda Barry and Drawn and Quarterly that reveals how Ms. Barry teaches the world of writing and comics in her own creative and humorous way.

Raina Telgemeier follows up the her best selling books Smile and Drama with the autobiographical Sisters from Scholastic/Graphix, explaining the long and complex relationship she has with her younger sibling.

Charles Burns Sugar Skull from Pantheon completes the nightmarish dream world trilogy that began with X'ed Out and continued in The Hive.

Ben Hatke's heroine Zita returns in returns in Legends of  Zita the Space Girl  from First Second.

Through The Woods is Emily Carroll's first print book that collects her award winning web comics.

Roman Muradov's (In A Sense) Lost and Found, published by Nobrow, is the first full length graphic novel from this Society of Illustrators Gold Medal winner.

Drew Friedman turns his caricaturing genius to the great comic book creators in the Fantagraphics release, Heroes of the Comics: Portraits of the Legends of Comic Books.

Michael DeForge debuts Lose #6, the latest installment of his award winning comic from Koyama Press.

Invincible Days is a collection of short stories by Patrick Atangan released by NBM.

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.



Sept 15: March graphic novel presentation at Ohio State

MARCH: An Evening with Congressman John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, and Nate Powell
Monday, September 15 at 7:00pm
Columbus, Ohio 43210

Intervention Con starts tomorrow in Rockville

Intervention 5

A 3 DAY FESTIVAL of independently produced creative awesome in the Internet age.

August 22-24, 2014

Hilton Washington DC/Rockville
1750 Rockville Pike, Rockville, Maryland 20852

From Friday 12pm to Sunday 4pm

Cartoonists include:

Pete Abrams - Sluggy Freelance

Jonathan Rosenberg - Scenes From a Multiverse / Goats

Thom and Kambrea Pratt - Shadowbinders

Joe Wos - Cartoonist / ToonSeum

Christian Beranek - Validation Comic

Steve Napierski - Dueling Analogs

Chris Impink & Barb Fischer - Sledge Bunny

Liz Staley - Adrastus / Mastering Manga Studio 5

Rob Balder - Erfworld / Partially Clips

Michael Terracciano & Garth Graham - Star Power

Chris Flick - Capes -N- Babes

Tony DiGerolamo - Super Frat

T. Campbell and Phil Kahn - Guilded Age

Wednesday, August 20, 2014

Local signings this Sat., Aug. 23

Coleman Engle and Jeremy Sorese celebrate their new series Steven Universe during a signing at Big Planet Comics from noon to 2 p.m. at the Vienna, Va., store and 3-5 p.m. at the D.C. store.

Michael Cowgill and Matt Dembicki will be doing a signing,talk and displaying some original art from 5-7 p.m. at Telegraph in Charlottesville, Va.

Atomic Books in Baltimore hosts a release party for Baltimore Time Travel 2 comics anthology from 7-9 p.m.

Cohen's birds at 'Cheap Thrills'

Local cartoonist Andrew Cohen has two bird drawings in the Cheap Thrills show at the Anacostia Arts Center. Opening reception is Monday, Aug. 25, 6-9 pm.

Ben Hatke illustrates G.K. Chesterton

Details are here - The Ball and the Cross (or: GKC and Me) but Ben doesn't note that he's illustrated two previous books for this publisher (which I hadn't known about, and just ordered).

Comic Riffs talks to Candorville on Robin Williams

ROBIN WILLIAMS TRIBUTE: All this week, 'Candorville's' Darrin Bell movingly reflects on what the legend meant to us

By Michael Cavna Washington Post Comic Riffs blog August 20 2014
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2014/08/20/robin-williams-tribute-all-this-week-candorvilles-darrin-bell-movingly-reflects-on-what-the-legend-meant-to-us/

That darn Tom Toles

Small Press Expo Announces Alt-Weekly Cartoonists Keith Knight, Shannon Wheeler and Derf As Guests


Small Press Expo Announces Alt-Weekly Guests Keith Knight, Shannon Wheeler and Derf

 

For Immediate Release           Contact: Warren Bernard

                                            

                                                 E-Mail: warren@spxpo.com


Bethesda, Maryland; August 20, 2014 – This year marks 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 Keith Knight, Shannon Wheeler and Derf as special guests to join us in our celebration of the cartoonists of the alt-weekly world.

Keith, Shannon and Derf join the previously announced alt-weekly guests Jules Feiffer, Lynda Barry, James Sturm, Charles Burns, Jen Sorensen, Tom Tomorrow, and Ben Katchor, as well as SPX first-timers Brandon Graham, Emily Carroll, Drew Friedman and Mimi Pond.

Keith Knight is the creator behind the long running alt-weekly comics Th(ink) and The K Chronicles, the latter of which won the esteemed Harvey Kurtzman Award as well as multiple Glyph Awards. His syndicated strip, The Knight Life, runs in such esteemed newspapers as the Washington Post. Keith's will debut his latest book, which is a collection of Knight Life strips titled Knight Takes Queen. He is currently working on a graphic novel about his days as a Michael Jackson impersonator.

Shannon Wheeler has posted comics online since 1995, amongst them the alt-weekly favorite, Too Much Coffee Man that he began drawing in 1990. He is a contributor to The New Yorker, leading Shannon to publish I Thought You Would Be Funnier, a collection of cartoons rejected by that magazine. His latest book, God Is Disappointed In You, is a collaboration with Mark Russell that is a humorous attempt to retell the Bible in modern terms that has just released an audiobook version read by Dr. Venture/James Urbaniak.

Derf is the author behind the autobiographical graphic novel best seller My Friend Dahmer. His alt-weekly series The City recently completed its over 20 year run. Derf will be at SPX to debut his latest compilation, True Stories Volume One. Derf has been nomi9nated for numerous Eisner and Kurtzman Awards, as well as being the recipient of the prestigious Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Awards.

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.

 


Tuesday, August 19, 2014

Flugennock's Latest'n'Greatest: "From Gaza To Missouri!"

"From Gaza To Missouri!"
http://sinkers.org/stage/?p=1552

Nothing bugs me more these days than listening to posh-living white Liberals whining about the "rioting" in Ferguson, Missouri.

Affluent, NPR check-mailing White Liberal Americans have never had to deal with being denied economic opportunities, decent housing opportunities, or educational opportunities, nor have they had to endure the threat of brutality and murder at the hands of police every day of their lives.

So, just shut the hell up, white Liberal America. You can call it anything you want, but don't call it "rioting". I prefer to call it "uprising", or perhaps "intifada".

11x17 medium-res color .jpg image, 1.2mb

"A Few Imbecile Comments On Ferguson", Stop Me Before I Vote Again 08.15.14
http://tinyurl.com/k3lhg4p

"Protesters Say Ferguson Feels Like Gaza; Palestinians Tweet Back Advice", Huffington Post 08.14.14
http://tinyurl.com/pq5qymy

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

KAL in Bermuda

Celebrated US cartoonist draws inspiration from Island sojourn

 Aug 15, 2014
http://www.royalgazette.com/article/20140815/NEWS/140819811

Thompson, Aydin in 2014 'Best American Comics'

The forthcoming Best American Comics 2014 edited by Scott McCloud will include excerpts from the works of two D.C.-area creators: Richard Thompson's "Cul de Sac," September 17-23, 2012 from Cul de Sac (Universal Press Syndicate), and Andrew Aydin, who co-wrote March: Book One (Top Shelf Publications) with Rep. John Lewis (D-Ga.).


Monday, August 18, 2014

Nick Galifianakis accepts the ALS challenge and nominates 3 others...


>

Posted at Nick's request.

Ryan Holmberg's latest at TCJ.com

Manga vs. Art History: Hayashi Seiichi at SISJAC

BY Ryan Holmberg Aug 18, 2014
http://www.tcj.com/manga-vs-art-history-hayashi-seiichi-at-sisjac/

Cartoonists Rights Network International awards announced

By Michael Cavna Washington Post Comic Riffs blog August 18 2014