Comics Alternatives handicaps the Eisners (and asks my opinion)

Commentary: Reactions to the 2015 Eisner Award Nominations

June 9, 2015
http://comicsalternative.com/commentary-eisners2015/

I'd like to thank Derek Royal and Any Kunka for actually asking for my opinion.

UPDATE: I did pretty good on predicting. 7 right and 2 wrong.

Right: Best Continuing Series = Saga; Best for Kids (8-12) = El Deafo by Cece Bell; Best for Teens = Lumberjanes; Best Humor = Compleate Cul de Sac by Richard Thompson; Best Graphic Album = This One Summer by the Tamaki cousins; Best Archival Project = Taschen's Little Nemo; Best Cover Artist = Darwyn Cooke.

Wrong: Lovern Kindzierski for Best Colorist and Comic Book Resources for Best Journalism.

Comic Riffs talks to Stephanie McMillan

Kickstarter of the Day: Stephanie McMillan affirms your anti-capitalism (plus: goats!)

By Michael Cavna June 9 2015
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2015/06/09/kickstarter-of-the-day-stephanie-mcmillan-affirms-your-anti-capitalism-plus-goats/

PR: Artist Peter de Sève Creates 2015 Library of Congress National Book Festival Poster

---

NEWS from the LIBRARY of CONGRESS

June 9, 2015

Public contact: Center for the Book (202) 707-5221; cfbook@loc.gov

Artist Peter de Sève Creates 2015 Library of Congress
National Book Festival Poster

More Than 150 Authors to Participate Sept. 5

Peter de Sève, an illustrator and character designer for feature films, is the artist for the 2015 Library of Congress National Book Festival poster. De Sève is perhaps best known for his many cover illustrations for The New Yorker magazine, but he has also designed characters for such popular animated films as "The Prince of Egypt," "Mulan," "Ice Age" and "Finding Nemo." In 2000, de Sève received the National Cartoonists Society Magazine Illustration Award. His book festival poster features a young girl intensely absorbed by her book while assuming several contorted positions on an overstuffed chair.

"The poster is absolutely inspired by my two daughters, Paulina, 14 years old, and Fia, 9 years old," said de Sève. "They are both voracious readers and, frankly, my heart swells every time I see one of them curled up with a book, which is basically always.  More specifically, the girl on the poster is Fia, whom I have found reading in almost every position you see on the poster. For her, reading is practically an Olympic sport."

De Sève will appear at the festival and will discuss and sign his book "A Sketchy Past: The Art of Peter de Sève." The festival will be held Saturday, Sept. 5, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center in Washington, D.C.

The poster can be seen and downloaded at the National Book Festival website at www.loc.gov/bookfest/. Also today on the website, the Library is kicking off a new National Book Festival blog, which will feature author interviews, schedule updates and other festival news.

This year's festival will be bigger than ever, with more than 150 authors, poets and illustrators participating. Ten authors will launch their books at the festival, and a new International pavilion will feature a session with three contributors to the "Norton Anthology of World Religions." Another session, "Reading Latin America," will celebrate the excellence of Latin American literature and culture.

The National Book Festival (www.loc/gov/bookfest) is funded by private donors and corporate sponsors who share the Library's commitment to reading and literacy. Since 2010, National Book Festival Board Co-Chairman David M. Rubenstein has been the festival's lead benefactor and has pledged funding for the festival for five more years. Charter Sponsors include AARP, the Institute of Museum and Library Services, The Washington Post and Wells Fargo; Patron sponsor, the National Endowment for the Arts; the Contributor-level sponsors are Jacqueline B. Mars, National Geographic, Scholastic Inc. and WAMU 88.5 FM; and, in the Friends category, C-SPAN2's Book TV, Georgetown University's Department of Spanish and Portuguese, the Harper Lee Prize for Legal Fiction, The Hay-Adams, Susan C. Lehrman, the Mathematical Sciences Research Institute with support from board chair Roger A. Strauch, Mensa Education & Research Foundation, the Mexican Cultural Institute, the National Endowment for the Humanities, the Embassy of Peru, and Small Press Expo. The Junior League of Washington will also return as the Library's primary partner for volunteer support, a role the organization has played since 2003. Those interested in supporting the National Book Festival can contact the Library at devofc@loc.gov.

Founded in 1800, the Library of Congress is the nation's oldest federal cultural institution and the largest library in the world. The Library seeks to spark imagination and creativity and to further human understanding and wisdom by providing access to knowledge through its magnificent collections, programs, publications and exhibitions.

The Library's Center for the Book, established by Congress in 1977 to "stimulate public interest in books and reading," is a national force for reading and literacy promotion. A public-private partnership, it sponsors educational programs that reach readers of all ages through its affiliated state centers, collaborations with nonprofit reading promotion partners and through the Young Readers Center and the Poetry and Literature Center at the Library of Congress. For more information, visit read.gov.

# # #

PR 15-100
6/9/15
ISSN 0731-3527

Follow us on Twitter twitter.com/librarycongress | Blogs blogs.loc.gov | News loc.gov/today

Library of Congress | 101 Independence Ave SE | Washington DC 20540-1610 USA  | 202.707.2905

 

Kickstarter: 'First Law of Mad Science' Vol. 1

Local comic book writers Oliver Mertz and Mike Isenberg are running a Kickstarter campaign to fund a collection of their comic First Law of Mad Science: Work Until Your Family is Sad. There's 14 days left in the campaign. Personally, I enjoy this series. Consider contributing. Support your local small press.
Watch their Kickstarter video.

July 25: 5th Annual DC Zinefest

The annual DC Zinefest will be held July 25 from 11-5 p.m. at St. Stephen's Church (1525 Newton St. NW, Washington, DC). The organizers say they will soon announce exhibitors.

My 2015 Reubens Talk by Mark Anderson

My 2015 Reubens Talk

by Mark Anderson
June 5th, 2015
https://www.andertoons.com/cartoon-blog/2015/06/my-2015-reubens-talk.html

A few weeks back I had the honor of speaking at the 2015 NCS Reuben Awards in Washington, DC. It went really well and was well-received, so I thought I'd share it here in case you missed it or weren't able to attend.

New article on Carolyn Belefski

Curl Power

Photo courtesy of Joe Carabeo.

How one Fairfax artist preserves her inner child with comic strips and cartoons.

–Tim Regan

(June 2015)

http://www.northernvirginiamag.com/family/family-features/2015/06/05/curl-power/

Comic Riffs on Kenosha Cartooning Festival fundraising

Crowd-funder of the day: Kenosha festival brings comics to the next generation

By Michael Cavna June 8 2015

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2015/06/08/crowd-funder-of-the-week-kenosha-festival-brings-comics-to-the-next-generation/

Comic Riffs on Fun Home play awards

Tony Awards: Alison Bechdel revels in 'Fun Home's' hard-won rise to stage greatness

By Michael Cavna June 8 2015

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2015/06/08/tony-awards-alison-bechdel-revels-in-fun-homes-hard-won-rise-to-stage-greatness/

That Darn Toles

Mixed reviews on a political cartoon [in print as Mixed reviews]

Washington Post June 6 2015, p. A11
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/mixed-reviews-on-a-political-cartoon/2015/06/04/23897118-0948-11e5-951e-8e15090d64ae_story.html

Those darn Sunday comics

Letters to the Editor: Comics that deserve more ink

Harry St. Ours, Boyds

Washington Post June 6 2015
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/comics-that-deserve-more-ink/2015/06/04/9c7abad2-0632-11e5-93f4-f24d4af7f97d_story.html

Damian Wampler's Sevara comic available online

Sevara issue #0 is now available on ComiXology!

I'm happy to say that Broken Icon Comics released Sevara issue #0 on Wednesday. And it's only $.99 cents. ComiXology is Amazon's comic book reading app. If you want to check out the art or purchase Sevara to read on your iPad, tablet, phone, or desktop, follow this link: http://bit.ly/1FQ387k  
 

June 6: Broken World launch at Third Eye comics

Saturday 6/6/15: BROKEN WORLD #1 Release Signing with FRANK J. BARBIERE (FIVE GHOSTS, AVENGERS WORLD) & CHRIS PETERSON (MAYDAY)

 

at THIRD EYE ANNAPOLIS 

Click  here for event info on FACEBOOK.

June 13: Kurtis Wiebe at The Comic Shop

Writer Kurtis J. Wiebe (Rat Queens, Peter Panzerfaust) and colorist Tamra Bonvillian (Wayward, Fantastic Four) appear The Comic Shop on Saturday, June 13, 2015 to sign PISCES!

RSVP on Facebook!

The Comic Shop
11956L Fair Oaks Mall, Fairfax, VA 22033
(703) 273-4695

Ruffin interviews Aydin on March

Graphic Novel 'March': Co-author Aydin on Book 2, confirms Book 3 in development

Mark Ruffin

June 4, 2015
http://www.examiner.com/article/graphic-novel-march-co-author-aydin-on-book-2-confirms-book-3-development

June 5: Dork Diaries author visit to Hooray for Books

This Friday, 6/5, will be DORKILICIOUS! Author Rachel Renee Russell is coming to our store THIS FRIDAY, June 5th, at 7 pm! She and her daughters, who co-write and illustrate the #1 New York Times bestselling Dork Diaries series, will present and sign Dork Diaries #9: Tales From a Not-So-Dorky Drama Queen. Don't miss a super-fun presentation that includes games, goodies, and dorktastic art! 7 pm. In Dork Diaries #9, Nikki's diary is up to the month of April, and springtime is sure to bring more wacky adventures with her friends Chloe, Zoey, and Brandon!  And remember to... SAVE THE DATE Our seventh birthday/grand expansion celebration will be on Saturday, June 20th! Details to come... See you there, book lovers!         Quick Links  Our Website | Products | Services | About Us   1555 King Street Alexandria, VA 22314 (703) 548-4092 info@hooray4books.com www.hooray4books.com

Reply All Lite followup

I checked in with Amy Lago of the Washington Post Writers Group syndicate about Reply All Lite, after asking creator Donna Lewis about it the other day.

She says, "Lite has more of an online presence at this point.  The only place it's running in print is the Washington Post.  Panels are notoriously harder to sell (because papers tend to run fewer), so that's no surprise.  Our thought at the Writers Group was that Donna was creating them anyway, so why not try to syndicate them?  And judging by their popularity online, it was the right move.  I'm just not sure printed papers will catch on, though I'm thrilled the Post likes them."

Amy also says "I can't think of anyone else who's done two different versions of the same strip at the same time either," but D Heine has suggested Joe Martin's Mr. Boffo.

June 7: March vol. 2 at Politics & Prose

John Lewis and Andrew Aydin - March: Book Two

Sunday, June 7, 2015 at 12 p.m.

In the eagerly-awaited second volume of his civil rights trilogy, Congressman John Lewis again collaborates with writer Andrew Aydin and artist Nate Powell to put historic events into the immediate context of a graphic memoir. Recounting his personal and political coming-of-age in the segregated South, Lewis picks up the story after the heady days of the Nashville sit-ins, recounting the more dangerous challenges he faced with the Freedom Riders as the group's nonviolent actions were met with beatings and imprisonment.  Courage triumphed over brutality, and the book ends as the twenty-three-year-old Lewis is elected to lead the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee and prepares for the 1963 March on Washington.

#upcomingevent

June 4 - July 3: July Essa Neima's (Touch me not) Wounds of Palmyra

Essa Neima invited you to his event   (Touch me not) Wounds of Palmyra. Thursday, June 4 at 6:00pm Bistro Bohem in Washington, District of Columbia   Join     Maybe     Decline   (TOUCH ME NOT) is showing at BISTRO BOHEM starting June 4, 2015, 6:00PM Steven George Artley and 7 others are also in the guest list.             Pending Invites (4) Block invites from Essa?                 Essa Neima, Iranian animator and artist, has a reprise of his painting show opening tomorrow in DC.   (Touch me not) Wounds of Palmyra. Thursday, June 4 at 6:00pm - July 3 Bistro Bohem 600 Florida Ave NW, Washington, District of Columbia 20001

The Post on Disney's new high-tech toys

Disney's high-tech wearable "Playmation" toys could lead to the best game of dress-up ever [in print as With Playmation toys, Disney unveils a new kind of play for kids]

By Hayley Tsukayama
Washington Post June 3 2015, p. A18
 

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-switch/wp/2015/06/02/disneys-high-tech-wearable-playmation-toys-could-lead-to-the-best-game-of-dress-up-ever/

ATMTC's World Premiere of Garfield: The Musical with Cattitude by Jim Davis, Michael J. Bobbitt, and John L. Cornelius, II

 

Their Big Nate adaption was excellent - Mike

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE                                                       

May 21 2015

 

ADVENTURE THEATRE MTC ANNOUNCES THE WORLD PREMIERE OF GARFIELD: THE MUSICAL WITH CATTITUDE

BOOK BY JIM DAVIS, MICHAEL J. BOBBITT AND JOHN L. CORNELIUS, II

GLEN ECHO, MD – Adventure Theatre MTC hates Mondays all summer long with its world premiere production of Garfield: The Musical with Cattitude based on the characters created by Jim Davis. The musical was written by Jim Davis and Michael J. Bobbitt with music by John L. Cornelius, II (Mirandy and Brother Wind, Three Little Birds). Directed by Nick Olcott (Three Little Birds) and announcing Evan Casey as everyone's favorite feline, this production runs June 19-August 23, 2015 and is recommended for lasagna-lovers of all ages.

 

Garfield, a chubby and sarcastic tabby cat fantasizes about having the most amazing birthday in the history of birthdays. He deserves it for being the best cat ever! But, it seems that all his friends – Arlene, Odie, Jon and even his nemesis, Nermal, have forgotten. Feeling rejected, Garfield ventures out to find adventure, but quickly learns that "home is where the heart… and the food is."

 

"When Michael first approached me about a new show, I turned him down… twice," says Jim Davis, creator of Garfield. "I'm certainly glad that the third time is the charm. I always enjoy seeing how Garfield has become a part of people's lives, and with each new generation, a new kind of relationship with Garfield forms. We have welcomed working with ATMTC into the history of Garfield, and cannot wait to see this finished production in their intimate space."

 

"I've loved working with Jim Davis and Paws Inc. on this production," says Michael J. Bobbitt, Producing Artistic Director of ATMTC and co-writer of Garfield: The Musical with Cattitude. "Garfield has been around for over 37 years and it's amazing to be able to bring a character that grandparents, parents, and kids all love to Adventure Theatre MTC's stage."

 

Tickets to Garfield: The Musical with Cattitude are $19.50 each, with group and field trip rates available, and can be purchased through the box office by calling 301-634-2270 or online at www.adventuretheatre-mtc.org. Children under the age of one are free. 

 

All performances will take place at Adventure Theatre MTC, 7300 MacArthur Blvd., Glen Echo, MD, 20812 in the historic Glen Echo Park.

"GARFIELD: THE MUSICAL WITH CATTITUDE" FACT SHEET
June 19 – August 23, 2015

Based on the characters created by Jim Davis

Book by Jim Davis and Michael J. Bobbitt

Music and Lyrics by John L. Cornelius, II

Directed by Nick Olcott

Starring Evan Casey

Recommended for All Ages

 

CAST (IN ALPHABETICAL ORDER)

Garfield................................................................................................ Evan Casey

Jon........................................................................................................ Joshua Dick

Odie...................................................................................................... John Sygar

Arlene................................................................................................... Emily Zickler

Nermal................................................................................................. Isabella Brody and Eli Schullman

Garfield U/S......................................................................................... Joshua Dick

Jon U/S................................................................................................. Michael Windsor

Odie U/S………………………………………………………………Sean McComas

Arlene U/S…………………………………………………………….

 

PRODUCTION CREW

Director................................................................................................. Nick Olcott

Playwright/Choreographer............................................................... Michael J Bobbitt

Composer............................................................................................ John L. Cornelius, II

Music Director..................................................................................... William Yanesh

Asst. Director....................................................................................... Tyler Herman

Costume Designer............................................................................. Kendra Rai

Set Designer....................................................................................... Luciana Stecconi

Lighting Designer............................................................................... Dan Covey

Sound Designer................................................................................. Neil McFadden

Props Designer................................................................................... Dre Moore

Stage Manager................................................................................... Donna Stout

Asst. Stage Manager......................................................................... Brittany Truske

Scenic Charge.................................................................................... Karen Deans

 

IMPORTANT DATES

Production Run Dates – June 19 – August 23, 2015

Pajama Party– June 19, 2015

Press Opening – June 20, 2015 at 11:00 am

Sensory/Autism Friendly Performance- August 15, 2015 at 2pm

American Sign Language Performance – July 11, 2015 at 2pm

 

Sundays

June 21...................................................................................................................................................... 11am & 2pm

June 28...................................................................................................................................................... 11am, 2pm, & 4:30pm

July 5, 12, 19, 26...................................................................................................................................... 11am, 2pm, & 4:30pm

August 2, 9, 16, 23................................................................................................................................... 11am, 2pm, & 4:30pm

 

Mondays

June 29...................................................................................................................................................... 10:30am

July 6, 13, 20, 27...................................................................................................................................... 10:30am

August 3, 10, 17........................................................................................................................................ 10:30am

 

Fridays

June 19...................................................................................................................................................... 7pm

July 10........................................................................................................................................................ 7pm

August 7..................................................................................................................................................... 7pm

 

Saturdays

June 20...................................................................................................................................................... 11am & 2pm

June 27...................................................................................................................................................... 11am, 2pm, & 4:30pm

July 4, 11, 28, 25...................................................................................................................................... 11am, 2pm, & 4:30pm

August 1, 8, 15, 22................................................................................................................................... 11am, 2pm, & 4:30pm

 

Donna Lewis' Reply All vs Reply All Lite (updated 2x)

by Mike Rhode

This week, the Post switched from Donna Lewis' Reply All comic strip to her Reply All Lite comic panel.

I asked Donna if the panel was a modification of the strip, or all new, and she told me, "All new.  Never the same punchline as the strip. It began syndication March 20th, 2013 – after a year on the Internet."

"After I had been doing Reply All comic strip for a while, I began having lots of material I couldn't use at the time. Also, I needed a lot of practice learning to draw so I was drawing a lot of one off bits. At some point, I began posting the single panels for practice and to use material I liked and to build my Facebook audience. We realized in pretty short order that single panels get shared much more than strips, probably because there's no click or major investment of time required for a single panel. I was able to use the single panels to build my Facebook audience and, ultimately, the Lites were a whole lot of fun." 

I wonder if you're the only person to do the "same" strip as 2 different offerings. Some cartoonists like Wiley draw them so that the strip can be cut into a panel, but I've never heard of anyone doing it like you are.

"I just have a lot of material. I usually do 14 Lites a week. And, quite frankly, some punchlines are far funnier by themselves. Four panels are really much different (for me) than one panel. No set up puts all the pressure on the punchline. They're really fun to write."

I checked in with Amy Lago of the Washington Post Writers Group syndicate about Reply All Lite.

She says, "Lite has more of an online presence at this point.  The only place it’s running in print is the Washington Post.  Panels are notoriously harder to sell (because papers tend to run fewer), so that’s no surprise.  Our thought at the Writers Group was that Donna was creating them anyway, so why not try to syndicate them?  And judging by their popularity online, it was the right move.  I’m just not sure printed papers will catch on, though I’m thrilled the Post likes them."

Amy also says "I can’t think of anyone else who’s done two different versions of the same strip at the same time either," but D Heine has suggested Joe Martin's Mr. Boffo.

updated June 4, 2015

DCist on Awesome Con

Photos: In Its Third Year, Awesome Con Finds Its Groove

Words and Photos By DCist Contributor Keith Mathias

June 1 2015

http://dcist.com/2015/06/awesome_con_2015_cool_pics_click.php#photo-1

 

Tom King's Omega Men

'Omega Men' a bit of risky space business

Brian Truitt, USA TODAY  June 1, 2015

http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/2015/06/01/the-omega-men-exclusive-preview/28331149/

Studio Ghibli Festival

The Studio Ghibli Festival runs June 18-Aug. 27 at the Angelika Film Center at Mosiaic in Fairfax, Va. A slew of classic anime will be shown, including films by Isao Takahata, Goro Miyazaki and Hayao Miyazaki.

2013 SPX Panel - Funding Comics Projects

 

SmallPressExpo

May 27, 2015
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8jpYLteRE4

The rise of crowdfunding platforms such as Kickstarter has created new opportunities for funding comics projects while raising many questions about the issues surrounding network-based fundraising. Additionally, comics artists are increasingly seeking other sources of funding, from sponsorships to grants, to support their projects. Isaac Cates discusses these issues and more with T. Edward Bak, Box Brown, Marnie Galloway, and Spike C. Trotman.

The Post changes 3 comic strips

Loose Parts by Dave Blazek started in today's Washington Post (June 1), bumping Donna Lewis' Reply All strip to her single panel Reply All Lite, which in turn pushed the panel Close to Home by John McPherson completely out of the paper.

NY Times editorial opposing Metro's Muhammad cartoon ad decision

Don't Censor My Commute

By BETSY McCAUGHEY

A version of this op-ed appears in print on June 1, 2015, on page A19 of the New York edition with the headline: Don't Censor My Commute.

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/01/opinion/dont-censor-my-commute.html

Comic Riffs on the Montgomery Sentinel's plagiarism

Cartoon plagiarism and the case of the unknown Maryland cartoonist

By Michael Cavna June 1 2015
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2015/06/01/cartoon-plagiarism-and-the-case-of-the-unknown-maryland-cartoonist/

June 20: Zine swap at Fantom Comics

Fantom Comics in Dupont Circle is collaborating with the DC Zine Fest orgnaizers to run a zine swap June 20 from 1-4 p.m. From the Facebook event page: "Zinesters and scenesters unite to swap your zines/indie comics for other zines/indie comics! There'll be lemonade, local artists/creators, and a whole smorgasbord of comix to swap, so stop on by and bring your friends!"

June 20: Enoch Pratt Free Library Comic Con

The Enoch Pratt Free Library-Southeast Anchor Branch in Baltimore will host a free, one-day comic con June 20 from 10:30 to 4 p.m. Scheduled to attend: New York Times-bestselling author John Sazaklis, artist and writer for Archie Comics Dan Parent, artist Jerry Gaylord (Fanboys Vs. Zombies), artist Penelope Gaylord (Adventure Time), Art Way Alliance, Third Eye Comics, Collector's Corner and Geppi's Entertainment. See more details.