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Tuesday, August 11, 2015
PR: SPX 2015 Announces Special Guests Derf, Jessica Abel and Ted Rall
Sept 18: Dylan Horrocks of New Zealand at Politics & Prose
Friday, September 18, 2015 at 7 p.m.
Politics & Prose Bookstore
5015 Connecticut Ave NW
5015 Connecticut Ave NW
Washington DC 20008
Monday, August 10, 2015
8/15: Ed PIskor at Third Eye Comics
THIS SATURDAY 8/15/15: HIP HOP FAMILY TREE #1 Signing with creator ED PISKOR
We've been long-time fans of Ed Piskor's incredible HIP HOP FAMILY TREE series, which has appeared both on the website BoingBoing and in graphic novel format courtesy of Fantagraphics, so when we heard the series would be getting a monthly release schedule - we knew we had to do something special to celebrate!
On Saturday 8/15/15, we'll be hosting a very special in-store signing with the one and only Ed Piskor, the creator behind HIP HOP FAMILY TREE (as well as other great graphic novels like WIZZYWIG), and we're so pumped about it, that we'll have a special Third Eye exclusive cover of HIP HOP FAMILY TREE #1 by Ed Piskor that pays homage to the early '90s era of hip hop, and features a ton of our own favorite performers from that period!
Sept 18: Pre-SPX Hangout with Brandon Graham & Hang Dai
- Fantom Comics2010 P St NW, Washington, District of Columbia 20036
We know everyone can't wait for SPX 2015 - The Small Press Expo, so we're throwing a big pre-SPX party/signing/hangout at our shop the evening before, and everyone's invited!
Our featured guests will be BRANDON GRAHAM (Island, 8house, Prophet) and the NYC art collective HANG DAI EDITIONS, featuring Dean Haspiel, Christa Cassano, Gregory Benton, and Josh Neufeld. Stay tuned for more featured guest updates!
There'll be booze, snacks, and a generally good time. If you're visiting from out of town for SPX and you're in Bethesda, we're a quick hop and a skip into DC on the Red Line--Fantom is walking distance from the Dupont Circle station. It's gonna be a whale of a party...
Our featured guests will be BRANDON GRAHAM (Island, 8house, Prophet) and the NYC art collective HANG DAI EDITIONS, featuring Dean Haspiel, Christa Cassano, Gregory Benton, and Josh Neufeld. Stay tuned for more featured guest updates!
There'll be booze, snacks, and a generally good time. If you're visiting from out of town for SPX and you're in Bethesda, we're a quick hop and a skip into DC on the Red Line--Fantom is walking distance from the Dupont Circle station. It's gonna be a whale of a party...
Sunday, August 09, 2015
Saturday, August 08, 2015
Pr: Kirby exhibition hype!
(Off topic, but posted for a good friend of mine.)
Hello, this is Charles Hatfield, the author of Hand of Fire: The Comics Art of Jack Kirby. I've got news! I'm curating an exhibition, Comic Book Apocalypse: The Graphic World of Jack Kirby, at my school, California State University, Northridge (here in Los Angeles). This exhibition opens in two weeks, on August 24, and will be up through October 10.
Putting together this show has been the thrill of a lifetime! Comic Book Apocalypse will consist of about 100 pieces of original art by Kirby, alongside dozens of his published comics. I believe this will be the largest gallery exhibition of Kirby art ever held in the US, and it will certainly be the first held at a university and integrated with the work of students and teachers. (All of my classes will be coming to the show and doing work based on it.)
The show focuses on Kirby's art from 1965 on but also includes examples of earlier work from the 1940s and 50s. Featured will be Kirby covers, spreads, panel pages, unpublished drawings, and several of his trademark collages. Two complete stories will be exhibited, as well as examples from many, many others.
The exhibition will be accompanied by a deluxe catalog published by IDW and incorporating twenty essays by artists, storytellers, and scholars. From The Fantastic Four to The New Gods to Kamandi, from the Marvel Universe to Kirby's Fourth World and beyond, this exhibition and catalog will capture Kirby at the peak of his invention and daring.
You are invited to our grand opening reception on Saturday, August 29, from 4 to 7pm! Also, we are holding a gallery talk on Monday, August 31, at 10am, and a panel discussion on Saturday, September 26, at 1pm. All these events are free and open to the public, and will take place in the Gallery, in the midst of all that Kirby! Please feel free to attend any and all of them.
You can read about the show at the CSUN Art Galleries website:
Or at my Kirby blog: https://handoffire.wordpress.com/2015/07/09/kirbyexhibition2015/ [.]
I believe this is going to a major event for comics culture in Los Angeles, and I'm eager to spread the word however I can!
Charles Hatfield
California State University
California State University
Politico's week in editorial cartooning
Matt Wuerker does this every week, but today he tweeted about it.
The nation's cartoonists on the week in politics
Every week political cartoonists throughout the country and across the political spectrum apply their ink-stained skills to capture the foibles, memes, hypocrisies and other head-slapping events in the world of politics. The fruits of these labors are hundreds of cartoons that entertain and enrage readers of all political stripes. Here's an offering of the best of this week's crop, picked fresh off the Toonosphere. Edited by Matt Wuerker.
Friday, August 07, 2015
8/8: Black Mask Studios at Third Eye Comics
Saturday 8/8/15: Black Mask Showcase Signing Feat. We Can Never Go Home writer MATTHEW ROSENBERG & YOUNG TERRORISTS / GODKILLER writer MATT PIZZOLO
at THIRD EYE ANNAPOLIS
Click here for event info on FACEBOOK.
The Post reviews of Shaun the Sheep Movie and Fantastic Four
Review: Feast your eyes on the visual delights of 'Shaun the Sheep Movie'
'Shaun the Sheep' says it best when it says nothing at all [in print as Clay it, don't say it: 'Shaun' has a way without words]
Review: 'Fantastic Four' reboot sets franchise back, in more ways than one
Review: The origin-obsessed 'Fantastic Four' reboot leaves its talented young cast stranded [in print as Doomed from the start]
Review: 'Fantastic Four,' the Reboot (Wanted or Not)
By A. O. SCOTT
A version of this review appears in print on August 7, 2015, on page C5 of the New York edition with the headline: Wanted or Not, a Superheroic Rebooting
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/08/07/movies/review-fantastic-four-the-reboot-wanted-or-not.htmlThursday, August 06, 2015
Robert Osborn-illustrated booklet online
The Navy's BUMED's Office of Medical History has put its 4000th item online at the Medical Heritage Library. It's Vertigo Sense, illustrated by cartoonist Robert Osborn.
Read it at https://archive.org/details/VertigoSenseRobert Osborne's Navy career in Washington
Just ran across this 20-year old article and found it fascinating.
Jumpin' Jehoshaphat! 50 Years of Gramps
By Capt. Rosario Rausa, USNR (Ret)
NAVAL AVIATION NEWS January-February 1993, 2-5
http://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/nhhc/research/histories/naval-aviation/Naval%20Aviation%20News/grampaw-pettibone-collection/features/pdf/Gramps%2050th.pdf
By Capt. Rosario Rausa, USNR (Ret)
NAVAL AVIATION NEWS January-February 1993, 2-5
http://www.history.navy.mil/content/dam/nhhc/research/histories/naval-aviation/Naval%20Aviation%20News/grampaw-pettibone-collection/features/pdf/Gramps%2050th.pdf
Wednesday, August 05, 2015
PR: SPX and Nickelodeon Announce a Call for Submissions at SPX 2015
When I got the notice on this today, I wasn't sure it was supposed to go to the whole world, but the Beat published about it so...
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Comic Riffs talks to cartoonists about Jon Stewart
'Jon Stewart smoked us': How 'The Daily Show' raised the bar for other satirists
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2015/08/04/jon-stewart-smoked-us-how-his-daily-show-raised-the-bar-for-other-satirists/
Tuesday, August 04, 2015
PR: SPX 2015 Announces Special Guests Scott McCloud, Bill Griffith and Kathryn Immonen
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Monday, August 03, 2015
International Ink: Books Received in July
Book publishing has to be competitive with many other forms of entertainment these days, and one way to do that is to send out review copies. These tend to pile up and make me feel guilty so I'm going to try to at least list the new books that we've received and may revisit some with longer reviews. Comments in quotation marks are from the publisher; otherwise the note is mine.
The Princess and the Pony
by Kate Beaton
Scholastic
Beaton is best known for her history-influenced adult webcomic Hark, A Vagrant!, but this is a short children's book. It's a quick entertaining read for an adult, but is definitely aimed at preschool girls. "Princess Pinecone knows exactly what she wants for her birthday this year. A BIG horse. A STRONG horse. A horse fit for a WARRIOR PRINCESS! But when the day arrives, she doesn't quite get the horse of her dreams... From the artist behind the comic phenomenon Hark! A Vagrant, The Princess and the Pony a laugh-out-loud story of brave warriors, big surprises, and falling in love with one unforgettable little pony."
Keep Calm and Do the Snoopy Dance
by Charles M. Schulz
Andrews McMeel
This little book is reminiscent of the Hallmark collections of the 1960s such as Happiness is a Warm Puppy. It includes strips and short quotations about dancing. I enjoyed it, but it's definitely a gift book. "Oh, happy day! Make every day a happy one with this cheerful gift book combining Snoopy's happy dance with joyful quotes on dancing and life. Snoopy is the quintessential cartoon dog smile-bringer. From his bantering with Woodstock to his fantasy life, it's no wonder that he's the most popular Peanuts cartoon character! And he's never more endearing than when he's expressing his ultimate joy of life by doing his happy dance (much to Lucy's dismay!). In the Keep Calm and Carry On tradition of keeping a stiff upper lip, Keep Calm and Do the Snoopy Dance urges you to maintain peace by celebrating the happiness of dance and being grateful for all the joys that there are in life. More than 100 quotes and sayings are included in this charming gift book, highlighted with cartoons showing Snoopy in all his dancing splendor."
WuMo: Something Is Wrong
by Mikael Wulff, Anders Morgenthaler
Andrews McMeel
The first American collection of the Danish comic strip that appears in the Washington Post. I personally find the strip hit or miss, but it definitely suffers in the Post from the small size. These are larger and in color.
Steve McQueen: Full-Throttle Cool
by Dwight Zimmerman
Motorbooks
"Steve McQueen: Full-Throttle Cool presents McQueen's life story in an artistic, graphic-novel format. It covers his entire life, from his earliest years growing up in a suburb of Indianapolis to his death from mesothelioma. Learn all about his stunning movie career, in which he defined the antihero archetype. The cool panache he brought to the screen was perhaps only matched by his adrenaline-pumping racing exploits."
The Truth About Stacey (The Baby-Sitters Club Graphix Series #2)
by Raina Telgemeier
Scholastic
Before becoming a break-out Young Adult graphic novelist, Raina adapted 4 of the popular Baby-Sitters Club stories into graphic novels. Scholastic is reissuing them for a new audience. While I haven't read this yet, Raina's work is always enjoyable.
Sunny Side Up
by Jennifer L. Holm, Matthew Holm
Scholastic
"From the groundbreaking and award-winning sister-brother team behind Babymouse comes a middle-grade, semi-autobiographical graphic novel. Following the lives of kids whose older brother's delinquent behavior has thrown their family into chaos, Sunny Side Up is at once a compelling "problem" story and a love letter to the comic books that help the protagonist make sense of her world. By sister-bother team Jennifer and Matthew Holm. A 200-page, full-color graphic novel in the vein of Raina Telgemeier's Smile." I'm looking forward to reading this; I found their Babymouse series
Slappy's Tales of Horror (Goosebumps Graphix)
by R.L. Stine
Scholastic
"Four Goosebumps Graphix tales by master of horror R. L. Stine are adapted into full-color comics and feature a brand-new Slappy story by bestselling author, Dave Roman. The talented Dave Roman creates the horrifying drawings for "The Night of the Living Dummy," the origin story about that most evil of all ventriloquist dummies, Slappy! In "A Shocker on Shock Street," Jamie Tolagson captures the chilling tale of a brother and sister doing their dream job: testing rides in a movie studio theme park, where the special effects are REALLY special. With his shadowy illustrations, Gabriel Hernandez creates the perfect atmosphere in "The Werewolf of Fever Swamp," a spooky story about a boy and his dog who go sniffing around in a lonely swamp . . . and wish they hadn't. Ted Naifeh is at his creepy best in "Ghost Beach," a scary ghost story about a brother and sister who investigate a local legend and discover a terrible secret about their family." I regularly read anything by Roman and Naifeh.
Space Dumplins
by Craig Thompson
Scholastic
After his adult Orientalist graphic novel Habibi was a big success, I am somewhat surprised to see Thompson turning towards children's comics. I look forward to actually reading this. "For Violet Marlocke, family is the most important thing in the whole galaxy. So when her father goes missing while on a hazardous job, she can't just sit around and do nothing. To get him back, Violet throws caution to the stars and sets out with a group of misfit friends on a quest to find him. But space is vast and dangerous, and she soon discovers that her dad is in big, BIG trouble. With her father's life on the line, nothing is going to stop Violet from trying to rescue him and keep her family together. Visionary graphic novel creator Craig Thompson brings all of his wit, warmth, and humor to create a brilliantly drawn story for all ages. Set in a distant yet familiar future, Space Dumplins weaves themes of family, friendship, and loyalty into a grand space adventure filled with quirky aliens, awesome spaceships, and sharp commentary on our environmentally challenged world."
Freehand Figure Drawing for Illustrators: Mastering the Art of Drawing from Memory
by David H. Ross
Watson-Guptill
"For today's in-demand comic creators, animators, video game artists, concept designers, and more, being able to quickly draw the human figure in a variety of action-packed poses is a requirement. But what do you do if you don't have models or photographic reference readily available? In Freehand Figure Drawing for Illustrators, artist and instructor David H. Ross provides an alternative solution, showing you how to master freehand figure drawing without visual reference by using a modern twist on the classic technique of blocking out the human figure in mannequin form. Step-by-step lessons guide illustrators from basic poses (standing, running, jumping) to extreme motions (throwing punches, high kicking). For on-the-go artists, Freehand Figure Drawing for Illustrators allows you complete freedom to bring your figures to life at any time."
The Art of Comic Book Writing: The Definitive Guide to Outlining, Scripting, and Pitching Your Sequential Art Stories (SCAD Creative Essentials)
by Mark Kneece
Watson-Guptill
"With this latest book in the SCAD Creative Essentials series from the esteemed Savannah College of Art and Design, comics writer and instructor Mark Kneece gives aspiring comic book writers the essential tools they need to write scripts for sequential art with confidence and success. He provides a practical set of guidelines favored by many comic book publishers and uses a unique trial and error approach to show would-be scribes the potential pitfalls they might encounter when seeking a career in comics writing. Supported by examples of scripting from SCAD's students, faculty, and alumni,The Art of Comic Book Writing strips away the mysteries of this popular artform and provides real-world advice and easy-to-follow examples for those looking to write for the comics medium."
The Princess and the Pony
by Kate Beaton
Scholastic
Beaton is best known for her history-influenced adult webcomic Hark, A Vagrant!, but this is a short children's book. It's a quick entertaining read for an adult, but is definitely aimed at preschool girls. "Princess Pinecone knows exactly what she wants for her birthday this year. A BIG horse. A STRONG horse. A horse fit for a WARRIOR PRINCESS! But when the day arrives, she doesn't quite get the horse of her dreams... From the artist behind the comic phenomenon Hark! A Vagrant, The Princess and the Pony a laugh-out-loud story of brave warriors, big surprises, and falling in love with one unforgettable little pony."
Keep Calm and Do the Snoopy Dance
by Charles M. Schulz
Andrews McMeel
This little book is reminiscent of the Hallmark collections of the 1960s such as Happiness is a Warm Puppy. It includes strips and short quotations about dancing. I enjoyed it, but it's definitely a gift book. "Oh, happy day! Make every day a happy one with this cheerful gift book combining Snoopy's happy dance with joyful quotes on dancing and life. Snoopy is the quintessential cartoon dog smile-bringer. From his bantering with Woodstock to his fantasy life, it's no wonder that he's the most popular Peanuts cartoon character! And he's never more endearing than when he's expressing his ultimate joy of life by doing his happy dance (much to Lucy's dismay!). In the Keep Calm and Carry On tradition of keeping a stiff upper lip, Keep Calm and Do the Snoopy Dance urges you to maintain peace by celebrating the happiness of dance and being grateful for all the joys that there are in life. More than 100 quotes and sayings are included in this charming gift book, highlighted with cartoons showing Snoopy in all his dancing splendor."
WuMo: Something Is Wrong
by Mikael Wulff, Anders Morgenthaler
Andrews McMeel
The first American collection of the Danish comic strip that appears in the Washington Post. I personally find the strip hit or miss, but it definitely suffers in the Post from the small size. These are larger and in color.
Steve McQueen: Full-Throttle Cool
by Dwight Zimmerman
Motorbooks
"Steve McQueen: Full-Throttle Cool presents McQueen's life story in an artistic, graphic-novel format. It covers his entire life, from his earliest years growing up in a suburb of Indianapolis to his death from mesothelioma. Learn all about his stunning movie career, in which he defined the antihero archetype. The cool panache he brought to the screen was perhaps only matched by his adrenaline-pumping racing exploits."
The Truth About Stacey (The Baby-Sitters Club Graphix Series #2)
by Raina Telgemeier
Scholastic
Before becoming a break-out Young Adult graphic novelist, Raina adapted 4 of the popular Baby-Sitters Club stories into graphic novels. Scholastic is reissuing them for a new audience. While I haven't read this yet, Raina's work is always enjoyable.
Sunny Side Up
by Jennifer L. Holm, Matthew Holm
Scholastic
"From the groundbreaking and award-winning sister-brother team behind Babymouse comes a middle-grade, semi-autobiographical graphic novel. Following the lives of kids whose older brother's delinquent behavior has thrown their family into chaos, Sunny Side Up is at once a compelling "problem" story and a love letter to the comic books that help the protagonist make sense of her world. By sister-bother team Jennifer and Matthew Holm. A 200-page, full-color graphic novel in the vein of Raina Telgemeier's Smile." I'm looking forward to reading this; I found their Babymouse series
Slappy's Tales of Horror (Goosebumps Graphix)
by R.L. Stine
Scholastic
"Four Goosebumps Graphix tales by master of horror R. L. Stine are adapted into full-color comics and feature a brand-new Slappy story by bestselling author, Dave Roman. The talented Dave Roman creates the horrifying drawings for "The Night of the Living Dummy," the origin story about that most evil of all ventriloquist dummies, Slappy! In "A Shocker on Shock Street," Jamie Tolagson captures the chilling tale of a brother and sister doing their dream job: testing rides in a movie studio theme park, where the special effects are REALLY special. With his shadowy illustrations, Gabriel Hernandez creates the perfect atmosphere in "The Werewolf of Fever Swamp," a spooky story about a boy and his dog who go sniffing around in a lonely swamp . . . and wish they hadn't. Ted Naifeh is at his creepy best in "Ghost Beach," a scary ghost story about a brother and sister who investigate a local legend and discover a terrible secret about their family." I regularly read anything by Roman and Naifeh.
Space Dumplins
by Craig Thompson
Scholastic
After his adult Orientalist graphic novel Habibi was a big success, I am somewhat surprised to see Thompson turning towards children's comics. I look forward to actually reading this. "For Violet Marlocke, family is the most important thing in the whole galaxy. So when her father goes missing while on a hazardous job, she can't just sit around and do nothing. To get him back, Violet throws caution to the stars and sets out with a group of misfit friends on a quest to find him. But space is vast and dangerous, and she soon discovers that her dad is in big, BIG trouble. With her father's life on the line, nothing is going to stop Violet from trying to rescue him and keep her family together. Visionary graphic novel creator Craig Thompson brings all of his wit, warmth, and humor to create a brilliantly drawn story for all ages. Set in a distant yet familiar future, Space Dumplins weaves themes of family, friendship, and loyalty into a grand space adventure filled with quirky aliens, awesome spaceships, and sharp commentary on our environmentally challenged world."
Freehand Figure Drawing for Illustrators: Mastering the Art of Drawing from Memory
by David H. Ross
Watson-Guptill
"For today's in-demand comic creators, animators, video game artists, concept designers, and more, being able to quickly draw the human figure in a variety of action-packed poses is a requirement. But what do you do if you don't have models or photographic reference readily available? In Freehand Figure Drawing for Illustrators, artist and instructor David H. Ross provides an alternative solution, showing you how to master freehand figure drawing without visual reference by using a modern twist on the classic technique of blocking out the human figure in mannequin form. Step-by-step lessons guide illustrators from basic poses (standing, running, jumping) to extreme motions (throwing punches, high kicking). For on-the-go artists, Freehand Figure Drawing for Illustrators allows you complete freedom to bring your figures to life at any time."
The Art of Comic Book Writing: The Definitive Guide to Outlining, Scripting, and Pitching Your Sequential Art Stories (SCAD Creative Essentials)
by Mark Kneece
Watson-Guptill
"With this latest book in the SCAD Creative Essentials series from the esteemed Savannah College of Art and Design, comics writer and instructor Mark Kneece gives aspiring comic book writers the essential tools they need to write scripts for sequential art with confidence and success. He provides a practical set of guidelines favored by many comic book publishers and uses a unique trial and error approach to show would-be scribes the potential pitfalls they might encounter when seeking a career in comics writing. Supported by examples of scripting from SCAD's students, faculty, and alumni,The Art of Comic Book Writing strips away the mysteries of this popular artform and provides real-world advice and easy-to-follow examples for those looking to write for the comics medium."
Sunday, August 02, 2015
Get the paperback free! One D.C. writer's view of the history of comic books
The Evolution of Comics From Batman to Burkas by Jabeen Akhtar
https://lareviewofbooks.org/essay/the-evolution-of-comics-from-batman-to-burkas
Saturday, August 01, 2015
That darn Doonesbury
A cheap shot in the comics [in print as A cheap retread in the comics].
Joseph Parisi, Annandale
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