Saturday, May 21, 2016
Friday, May 20, 2016
The Post reviews Preacher
'Preacher' has some thrilling, quirky action — but its spirit soon grows weak
By Hank Stuever
Washington Post May 20 2016
https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/tv/preacher-has-some-thrilling-quirky-action--but-its-spirit-soon-grows-weak/2016/05/19/f891d31e-1bbc-11e6-b6e0-c53b7ef63b45_story.html
The Post reviews ‘The Angry Birds Movie’
The comedy doesn't fly in this animated film inspired by the app [online as 'The Angry Birds Movie': App-inspired animated feature doesn't fly]
Washington Post May 20 2016, Weekend p. 26-7
https://www.washingtonpost.com/goingoutguide/movies/the-angry-birds-movie-app-inspired-animated-feature-doesnt-fly/2016/05/19/fdaa2b1e-1c4b-11e6-8c7b-6931e66333e7_story.html
Gaithersburg Book Festival is tomorrow
The Gaithersburg Book Festival is one of the nation's premier literary events, featuring talks and signings by some of the world's top authors, writing workshops, children's activities and performances, literary exhibitors, book sales, music, food, and fun for everyone!
Starts: 05/21/2016 10:00
Several cartoonists including Gareth Hinds, John Patrick Green, Dave Roman and KAL will be there.
Details are at http://www.gaithersburgbookfestival.org/2016-gbf-schedule/master-schedule/
July 9: Doctor Who Comics Day - Meet Artist Mark Wheatley
Saturday, July 9 at 11 AM - 3 PM
June 9: Ben Hatke at Politics and Prose
Goblin lives a quiet but happy life in a dungeon. He has everything he needs: boots to eat for breakfast, rats to care for as pets, and Skeleton to have as his Very Best Friend. Together, the two buddies do what they love best: namely, counting the bats hanging from the ceiling and telling stories. One day, however, disaster strikes: a band of adventurers storms the dungeon and, as Goblin hides, they steal absolutely everything—including Skeleton. Goblin immediately leaves his comfortable home and embarks upon a rescue mission. But how can he succeed when everyone he meets keeps running away from him? Ages 4 – 8
Online pre-orders for school events may be placed up until 48 hours before the event takes place
Thursday, May 19, 2016
Art imitating life, imitating art, imitating life
The Post on Finding Dory's effect on fish
'Finding Nemo' wasn't so entertaining for real clownfish. Now conservationists worry about 'Finding Dory'.
Download 'Teaching Japanese American Incarceration through Comics'
here is the comic I drew about her while working with the Smithsonian Youth Civic Engagement Program." Evan notes that you can download for free the entire booklet Teaching Japanese American Incarceration through Comics.
Local comics at Transformer exhibit
Wednesday, May 18, 2016
May 21: Artshow15: Comix
Hole in the Sky Studio hold a one-day exhibit May 21 from 5-11 p.m. entitled: ARTSHOW_15: COMIX – A Showcase of Work Steeped in and Inspired by Sequential Art and Visual Storytelling.
Participating local artists include:
Nick Hagelin - http://instagram.com/
Jonathan Ottke - https://www.wpadc.org/
Rose Jaffe - http://www.rosejaffe.com/
JD Deardourff - http://www.deardourff.com/
LA Johnson - http://thelajohnson.com/
Rachel Wallach - https://www.instagram.com/
Dayanita Ramesh - http://
Darius Frank - http://Defcise.com/
Sara Lautman - http://
JT Wilkins (JTW) - http://thinktankrx.com/
Chris Pyrate - http://instagram.com/
Atomic Blowfish - https://www.instagram.com/
Jules Kang - https://www.instagram.com/
Kristy Cunningham - http://
Malaka Gharib - http://
Emily R. Gillis - http://
Ch Pf - http://chpfa.tumblr.com/
G. E. Gallas - http://
bonner sale - http://instagram.com/
Brad Ulreich - http://bradulreich.com/
Robin Ha - http://robin.megaten.net/
Dana Jeri Maier - http://
Gordon Harris - http://dustelves.com/
Andrew Cohen - http://instagram.com/
Andrew Wodzianski - http://www.wodzianski.com/
Robert Allen Burns - https://www.instagram.com/
Seansberg - http://seansberg.com/
Jadah-Lysette Thomas - https://www.instagram.com/
Russell Richard Hite - Www.russellrichardhite.com
Caryn Tayeh - http://
Martin Swift - http://mrtnswft.com/
Yankee Pope - https://www.instagram.com/
Athena Naylor - http://
ARTIFEX JAY - http://
Castle Printshop - http://
Lizzie Parmenter
Lucas Alejandro - http://365cdn.tumblr.com/
K.S.Brenowitz - http://
Danielle Hedquist
Nicki Avena - http://instagram.com/
Charlie Visconage - http://www.visconage.com/
Matt Corrado - http://instagram.com/
KeyHan - http://keyhansolo.com/
The Coaster Doodler - https://www.instagram.com/
Saman Bemel-Benrud - http://trashmoon.com/
All art sales will go 100% to the artists and they'll be chilling at the show so come on out and meet them and buy their work cause that's what's up.
FOOD BY:
Milk Cult
We're asking for $5 donations at the door to help us keep doing awesome things at HITS and we're super appreciative of whatever you can shoot our way.
Doors @ 5pm
GTFO @ 11pm
The math behind Spiderman's punch
Comic Riffs talks to Seth on the Complete Peanuts
All 'Peanuts' comic strips have been collected for the first time. Here's how it happened.
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.