Wednesday, May 18, 2016
Ralph Steadman beer label news (sort of)
[All of their beers, including Raging Bitch, have Ralph Steadman artwork for the labels].
Md. Beer Company To Establish Freedom of Speech Organization With Damages From 'Raging Bitch' Lawsuit
WJZ May 18, 2016http://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2016/05/18/raging-bitch-flying-dog-lawsuit/
Late, but... SL Gallant's FCBD Pink Panther
Rating: All Ages
May 21: MariNaomi Signing at Big Planet Comics DC
Saturday at 2 PM
Turning Japanese is an illustrated memoir about MariNaomi's experiences working in illegal hostess bars in San Jose and Tokyo while attempting to connect with a culture that had eluded her since childhood.
This will be a lot of fun and we are excited to see you all there!
MariNaomi's Website: http://marinaomi.com/
Tuesday, May 17, 2016
Cul de Sac play article online
"Art Imitating Life" Coming Alive
- Debra N. Diener Privacy strategies consultant; experienced traveler
- http://www.huffingtonpost.com/debra-n-diener/art-imitating-life-coming_b_9995582.html
The show is coming up soon, and ComicsDC will be talking to the people behind it later this week.
June 15: Glen Weldon on Batman at Hooray for Books
June 12: Nick Sousanis at National Gallery of Art
- Unflattening: Revolutionizing Thought in Comics
June 12 at 2:00
East Building Auditorium
Nick Sousanis, comics artist, educator, and postdoctoral fellow in comics studies, University of Calgary.
Book signing of Unflattening follows.
Former Library of Congress curator Harry Katz on Virtual Memories podcast
Curating America:
Harry Katz in
Virtual Memories #168
by Gil Roth
http://chimeraobscura.com/vm/episode-168-harry-katz
http://traffic.libsyn.com/virtualmemories/Episode_168_-_Harry_Katz.mp3
"What connected Levine and Herblock was the fire in the belly, the outrage against people try to impose their power over the powerless, who try to disenfranchise people, who try to manipulate the laws for personal gain or prestige."
This week's podcast: Harry L. Katz, former head curator of prints and photographs for the Library of Congress, joins the show to talk about his new project on David Levine, his love for Herblock, how his work on the Civil War and baseball differs from Ken Burns' work on same, what it was like to assemble the LoC's archive of 9/11 photography and pictures (and his untold story of 9/11), the process of learning how to see images critically, the tragic story of Arthur Szyk, the terrifying experience of seeing Feiffer's "Munro" cartoon as a little kid, and more! Give it a listen!
Monday, May 16, 2016
Recalling Darwyn Cooke's 2010 appearance at the Smithsonian
Darwyn Cooke has been one of my favorite comic book artists for about a decade and a half. He passed away over the weekend.
I had forgotten that I had written about a talk he gave at the Smithsonian American Art Museum. It doesn't seem to be online at their site anymore, so I'll reproduce it here. Also, you can hear my recording of the talk here, newly online since sadly we won't be able to hear any new thoughts from him.
(I didn't write that lede by the way)
Meet a local cartoonist: A chat with Orion Zangara
What type of comic work or cartooning do you do?
I primarily draw black and white line work. However, I’d love to develop my coloring and lettering skills as well. Also, I’d love to learn how to digitally paint and a bit of graphic design and apply that to comic books.
How do you do it? Traditional pen and ink, computer or a combination?
I draw with both a traditional pen and brush, but I also use a Cintiq tablet. So yes, it’s a combination of the two.
Also, sometimes for my personal work, I like to draw on matting board. Here is an example:
When (within a decade is fine) and where were you born?
I was born in Albuquerque, NM.
Why are you in Washington now? What neighborhood or area do you live in?
Actually I live in Sterling, VA— but, I grew up in Harpers Ferry, WV. My wife is a history teacher at a middle school in our area, so that is one of the reasons why we live here now.
What is your training and/or education in cartooning?
I attended The Kubert School in Dover, NJ which is an accredited 3-year school that specializes in Cartoon-Graphics and Sequential Art . It also happens to be founded by my late grandfather, Joe Kubert. My uncles, Adam and Andy Kubert, are now co-presidents of the school.
Who are your influences?
Oh, so many…Sean Murphy, Travis Charest, Shaun Tan, Richard A. Kirk, Rodrigo Enrique Luff, Nate Simpson, Mike Mignola, Lee Weeks, John Cassaday, John Paul Leon, Greg Ruth, Geof Darrow, Andy Brase, Gabriel Ba/Fabio Moon, Eduardo Risso, Francois Schuiten, Jeff Lemire, Bernie Wrightson, Andy Clarke, Leinil Francis Yu, Simon Coleby, Charles Vess, P. Craig Russel, David Mazzucchelli, Dustin Nquyen, Franklin Booth, Frank Quitely, Nicolas Delort, Riccardo Federici, Rafael Albuquerque, Lucy Hardie, Tran Nquyen, Cary Nord, Kikyz Trece Trece, Gustave Dore, Marcos Mateu-Mestre, Sara Pichelli, Chiara Baustista, and the list goes on and on…
If you could, what in your career would you do-over or change?
Hmm… Well, I am really just in the beginning of my career as a comic-book artist. My first graphic novel, Stone Cold: The Stone Man Mysteries Book One, is coming out in August by the wonderful Lerner Publishing Group. It is written by the New York Times Best-Selling author Jane Yolen and her talented son Adam Stemple. To be quite honest, Jane Yolen has been one of my favorite authors since I was very young, so I am amazed that I get to work with her and her son.
(By the way, here is a link where you can pre-order the book. )
That said, I would probably have submitted my work earlier. As soon as I began actually putting my work online, I began getting paid work.
What work are you best-known for?
I am going to say The Stone Man Mysteries trilogy! :)
What work are you most proud of?
Again The Stone Man Mysteries.
What would you like to do or work on in the future?
I have some secret projects coming up, so I can not answer this question completely. However, I would love to work for more comic book companies and eventually even draw a little bit of superhero genre work . Also, I would love to get into video game and concept work, but I always want to work with comic books in some form.
What do you do when you're in a rut or have writer's block?
I guess this does not really happen…I just constantly draw.
What do you think will be the future of your field?
Like prose books, I think comic books will eventually be nearly all digital. Also, I could see comic books as being more interactive and actually move on the page. I believe this is already beginning, but I think it will be more popular in the future.
Luther Strode pinup |
I need to attend more local cons! I have been to SPX, Awesome Con, and Baltimore Con. They are all amazing!
What's your favorite thing about DC?
D.C. is probably my favorite city in the USA. I love the free museums, the beautiful scenery, the architecture, etc.
Least favorite?
This is quite minor, but I wish the metro expanded a bit more.
What monument or museum do like to take visitors to?
All of them! Actually, my wife and I were just at the D.C. Mall last Monday and went to the National Air and Space Museum and the Hirshhorn. Also, we took a tour at the Capital and had the pleasure of seeing the U.S. Senate.
How about a favorite local restaurant?
I am a big fan of Toki Underground in D.C. Also, I love spicy Korean food, so I recommend Honey Pig in Centreville, VA.
Do you have a website or blog?
Yes! My website is http://www.orionzangara.com
Comic Riffs on the death of Darwyn Cooke
RIP, Darwyn Cooke: How the great cartoonist changed my comics life
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog May 16 2016
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2016/05/16/rip-darwyn-cooke-how-the-great-cartoonist-changed-my-comics-life/
Sunday, May 15, 2016
The Face Zone, live at Artomatic 2016, featuring Martin Graff
Fantastic Forum Episode #58
Fantastic Forum Episode #58
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oyrUMIRxnBA
Billie Rae Bates talks with Museum of Science Fiction's Mandy Sweeney at Awesome Con, Devon Sanders converses with Saga artist Fiona Staples at the NC Comicon, Ulysses E. Campbell is at Toy Fair with Diamond Select's Zach Oat and Sherin Nicole interviews author, lecturer and musical legend, Professor Griff on location at Alliance Comics in Silver Spring, MD!
Saturday, May 14, 2016
Comic Riffs talks to Puerto Rican comic book writer
As Puerto Rican superhero makes debut, her writer brings 'the power of our people' to comics
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog May 11 2016
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2016/05/11/as-puerto-rican-superhero-makes-debut-her-writer-brings-the-power-of-our-people-to-comics/
Comic Riffs on another Captain America
'Sikh Captain America' wears the superhero's costume to fight intolerance — and Trump [in print as 'Sikh Captain America' is out to battle bigotry, May 14, p. C1, 2]
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog May 6 2016
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2016/05/06/sikh-captain-america-wears-the-superheros-costume-to-fight-intolerance-and-trump/
Those darn syndicated cartoonists
Those who draw seem to think alike
Eric Greene, Annapolis
Washington Post May 14 2016
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/those-who-draw-seem-to-think-alike/2016/05/13/c7330014-1148-11e6-a9b5-bf703a5a7191_story.htmlDeadline for 'Magic Bullet' #13
Catching up with animator Marty Baumann
http://www.cinemablend.com/new/You-re-Seeing-Zootopia-Make-Sure-Look-Easter-Eggs-116507.html
The directors begin by noting, "There is signage all over the movie. With crazy amounts of puns. There’s literally hundreds of signs, and the guy who was doing them… he was an uncontrollable pun master. His name is Marty. He’s got a problem! He went bananas. Every sign you see is Marty’s doing. … You will enjoy it."
Marty's work on exhibit a few years ago.
Marty usually has some lovely retro-style material at the Baltimore Comic-Con. I buy one of everything.
Friday, May 13, 2016
NPR's Monkey See on Captain America
May 27: Animezing: When Marnie Was There
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New book from Ryan Holmberg
Katsumata Susumu's Anti-Nuclear Manga
Ryan Holmberg
Research Associate, Sainsbury Institute for the Study of Japanese Arts and Cultures
Hakuho Fellow
Activist Comics on Capitol Hill
Another Tom King interview on Batman
ALL-STAR & BATMAN Writers Reveal 'Super-Sexy' REBIRTH Plans (Plus BATMAN REBIRTH Preview)
Thursday, May 12, 2016
American History Museum's comic book project
Comic book project helps teens discover and share stories of Japanese Americans incarcerated during World War II
National Museum of American History's O Say Can You See blog May 12, 2016
http://americanhistory.si.edu/blog/comic-book-project-helps-teens-discover-and-share-stories-japanese-americans-incarcerated
Comic Riffs talks to Angelo Lopez
'This doesn't seem real': Angelo Lopez of Philippines Today wins 2016 RFK Award for Cartoons
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog May 12 2016
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2016/05/12/this-doesnt-seem-real-angelo-lopez-of-philippines-today-wins-2016-rfk-award-for-cartoons/
Latest'n'Greatest: "The DEA's Schedule is Nixon's Schedule"
"The DEA'S Schedule is Nixon's Schedule"
http://sinkers.org/stage/?p=1942
The DEA schedule of narcotics -- in which cannabis is classifed alongside heroin -- was a product of the Nixon era, when the modern War On Drugs started cranking up. Tricky Dick himself, on a leaked White House tape, was said to have called marijuana "...the drug of choice of Mexicans, hippies and n#gg*rs."
Here's former White House Domestic Affairs Advisor, the notorious John Ehrlichman, with a slightly more nuanced framing of this policy in a 1994 interview:
"The Nixon campaign in 1968, and the Nixon White House after that, had two enemies: the antiwar left and black people. You understand what I'm saying? We knew we couldn't make it illegal to be either against the war or black, but by getting the public to associate the hippies with marijuana and blacks with heroin, and then criminalizing both heavily, we could disrupt those communities. We could arrest their leaders, raid their homes, break up their meetings, and vilify them night after night on the evening news. Did we know we were lying about the drugs? Of course we did."
--John Ehrlichman, Nixon Domestic Affairs Advisor, 1994
The DEA schedule is Nixon's schedule, part of a policy born out of deception and racism. It's time to DEschedule cannabis.
We'll be at the White House on May 20, how about yourself?