I visited Mexico Nov. 30 through Dec. 4 thanks to the U.S. State Department, which invited me as a guest of the Guadalajara International Book Fair (FIL), the largest book fest in Latin American and second largest in the world, bringing some 750,000 visitors over its two weeks. Usually the first thing I do at book fairs is walk around the expo floor to get a feel for the show and gauge the interest in comics. Not surprisingly, Star Wars, Marvel Comics and manga dominated the comics presence. But I was pleasantly surprised to see some fairly high exposure for indie comics, including Peter Kuper's new graphic novel Ruins. There were several local comics shops and distributors at the show, as well as larger publishers and distributors featuring comics. Below are a few photos of those booths.
Sunday, December 13, 2015
Visiting the Guadalajara International Book Fair
I visited Mexico Nov. 30 through Dec. 4 thanks to the U.S. State Department, which invited me as a guest of the Guadalajara International Book Fair (FIL), the largest book fest in Latin American and second largest in the world, bringing some 750,000 visitors over its two weeks. Usually the first thing I do at book fairs is walk around the expo floor to get a feel for the show and gauge the interest in comics. Not surprisingly, Star Wars, Marvel Comics and manga dominated the comics presence. But I was pleasantly surprised to see some fairly high exposure for indie comics, including Peter Kuper's new graphic novel Ruins. There were several local comics shops and distributors at the show, as well as larger publishers and distributors featuring comics. Below are a few photos of those booths.
Friday, December 11, 2015
Flugennock's Latest'n'Greatest: "Speakeasies, Then And Now"
"Speakeasies, Then And Now"
http://sinkers.org/stage/?p=1818
From the latest post at DCMJ.org:
"Even though Initiative 71 legalized cannabis, it cannot be consumed anywhere in DC other than in a private home. This is because, the week after Initiative 71 took effect, the DC Council passed emergency legislation (Act 21-149) that banned marijuana consumption at any bar, nightclub, bingo hall, or private venue in Washington, DC. Without any pressing reason, the Mayor and the DC Council severely restricted our rights as cannabis consuming adults..."
Yeah, that's right, fellow Washingtonians. You can legally drink at an alcohol bar, you can legally smoke cigars at a cigar bar, but if you want to smoke weed communally in a similar setting, you'll have to open a speakeasy -- unless the DC City Council stops doing Congress' dirty work, and Act 21-149 is allowed to expire on January 15 next year.
Library of Congress' Swann Foundation is accepting fellowship applications
The Swann Foundation for Caricature and Cartoon, administered by the Library of Congress is accepting applications for its graduate fellowship, one of the few in the field, for the 2016-2017 academic year. Deadline for applications is February 15, 2016. For criteria, guidelines, and application forms, please see:
http://www.loc.gov/rr/print/swann/swann-fellow.html
Please email swann@loc.gov or call (202) 707-9115 if you have questions.
D.C. Conspiracy meeting/'Magic Bullet' deadlines
Also, the submissions and advertising deadline for the group's semi-annual comics newspaper, Magic Bullet, is Jan. 4.
Flugennock's Latest'n'Greatest: "Freedom Finger" [local politics this time]
As you may recall from this past spring, my longtime comrade and BBF (Best Bud Forever) Adam Eidinger, activist extraordinaire, was jailed for basically being disrespectful to a politician at a Congressional DC Oversight Committee hearing chaired by the pompous and pasty Jason Chaffetz.
Adam's recent trial on this bogus charge ended in a mistrial last week, and a retrial has been scheduled for May 2nd.
Rawlings on Trump, Captain America and Jesus
Thursday, December 10, 2015
Compleating Cul de Sac reviewed
The other December 6th Doonesbury comic strip
Jan 9: Inside Media: Charlie Hebdo: One Year Later
Inside Media: Charlie Hebdo: One Year Later
555 Pennsylvania Ave NW
Washington, DC 20001
USA
Pulitzer Prizing-winning editorial cartoonists Ann Telnaes of The Washington Post and Signe Wilkinson of the Philadelphia Daily News will talk about the role of political cartoonists and will reflect on the one-year anniversary of the Charlie Hebdo massacre and the terrorist attacks in Paris in November 2015.
On Jan, 7, 2015, Charlie Hebdo's headquarters in Paris were attacked by terrorists who had targeted the satirical magazine because of how it had depicted Islam's Prophet Muhammad in past cartoons. The attack killed 12 people, including five cartoonists at the magazine.
Telnaes and Wilkinson will also display some of their award-winning work.
Wednesday, December 09, 2015
Feb 5: Walking Dead tv show talk at Smithsonian Associates
The wildly popular AMC series The Walking Dead follows a small group of survivors as they struggle to stay alive after a zombie apocalypse. The show abounds in bloody good thrills and chills—and plenty of artistry and creativity that goes into putting a believable zombie-infested world on the small screen.
Join us as Scott M. Gimple, executive producer, showrunner, and writer; Greg Nicotero, executive producer, director, and special effects makeup supervisor; Eulyn Womble, costume designer; and Andrew Lincoln, who stars as Rick Grimes, share insights on how they develop and bring The Walking Dead to life.
Learn what goes on behind the scenes—from conjuring up edge-of-your-seat plotlines and complex characters to frighteningly convincing zombies.
Behind the Scenes of The Walking Dead
Evening Program
Fri., Feb. 5 at 7 PM
Member*: $30 l Non-Member: $45
*Not a member? Become a Smithsonian Associates supporter today and start taking advantage of member rates immediately! Learn more>>
Tuesday, December 08, 2015
Third Eye Comics' gift guide
Third Eye 2015 Holiday Gift Guide
December 4, 2015http://www.thirdeyecomics.com/third-eye-2015-holiday-gift-guide/
Fantom Comics' pole-dancing featured online
And Finally… A Wicked + A Divine Pole Dance Show In A Comic Store
Monday, December 07, 2015
Feb 4: Gareth Hinds at Takoma Park
Gareth Hinds - Samurai Rising: The Epic Life of Minamoto Yoshitsune — at Takoma Park Library (MD)
New Christiann MacAuley interview online
Questions with Christiann MacAuley
December 7 2015
https://ello.co/yourdailybread/post/-LHdvsPbQgpGrpLyCDAOyQ
Dec. 12: B’more Into Comics
Local authors drive holiday sales at indie bookstores
Sunday, December 06, 2015
Cavna on the Year in Cartoons and Death in Disney
2015 in Cartoons: After Hebdo, artists sharpened for 'the year of the attack'
By Michael Cavna December 4 2015
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2015/12/04/the-year-in-cartoons-reflecting-on-the-storied-lines-of-2015/
Mouse Trap: Here's why Disney and Pixar kill our parents — and why we ask them to stop.
[in print as Disney's parent trap: Why its films kill them off, December 6, 2015, p. E5]
By Michael Cavna November 30 2015
'Activismo Ilustrado'
I had the good fortune of attending the Guadalajara International Book Fair Nov. 28-Dec. 4 in Mexico. Later this week I'll post some photos and a few comments, but I was lucky enough to land an interview with Mural newspaper about the environment/nature-themed comics that I do.
Saturday, December 05, 2015
Lunsford sisters at Washington Lee high school
They're selling neat prints and cards today. The piece they did for Team Cul de Sac was one of my favorites.
Friday, December 04, 2015
National Public Radio's Monkey See on Good Dinosaurs and Charlie Brown
Pop Culture Happy Hour: 'The Good Dinosaur,' Pixar And Second Thoughts
http://www.npr.org/sections/monkeysee/2015/12/04/458384677/pop-culture-happy-hour-the-good-dinosaur-pixar-and-second-thoughts
'A Charlie Brown Christmas' At 50
National Public Radio's Monkey See blog (November 30, 2015):
http://www.npr.org/sections/monkeysee/2015/11/30/457859235/a-charlie-brown-christmas-at-50
An Apatosaurus named Arlo meets a human boy on his adventures in The Good Dinosaur.
Liz Surburbia's Sacred Heart reviewed by Unshelved
National Archives blog on Terry and the Pirates
David Langbart
National Archives' The Text Message blog November 24, 2015
http://text-message.blogs.archives.gov/2015/11/24/terry-and-the-pirates-security-world-war-ii/
City Paper recommends Queen & Country bought from Big Planet
Thursday, December 03, 2015
Henry B. Mayers World War I cartoons featured on Smithsonian blog
The brief and entertaining history of the Second Army Air Service
by Erin Rushing
Smithsonian Libraries Unbound blog 11 November 2015http://blog.library.si.edu/2015/11/a-history-of-the-second-army-air-service/