Feeling the Bern: Grassroots Artists Capture Bernie Sanders
By Matt Wuerker and Brianna Gurciullo
06/02/16
Friday, June 03, 2016
Cul de Sac play premieres tonight in Arlington
Cul de Sac
Play by Amy Thompson
Adapted from the Comic Strip, Cul de Sac by Richard Thompson
Four-year-old Alice Otterloop and her older brother, Petey, learn about friendship and the importance of being yourself in this world premiere play adaptation of Richard Thompson's nationally syndicated Cul De Sac comic strip. When Alice decides to help Petey become more exciting she risks sending Petey further into his shell. With the help other their parents, teachers, and new and old friends the Otterloop children just might be able to learn something from each other. We recommend this production for ages 4 and older.
Performance Dates and Times:
Friday, June 3, 2016 at 7:30pm
Saturday, June 4, 2016 at 11am and 3pm
Sunday, June 5, 2016 at 3pm
Friday, June 10, 2016 at 7:30pm
Saturday, June 11, 2016 at 11am and 3pm
Sunday, June 12, 2016 at 3pm
About the comic strip and artist: "He never wanted to be anything other than a cartoonist," says playwright Amy Thompson in describing her husband Richard Thompson. Richard, a long-time Arlington resident, had created thousands of illustrations and cartoons for dozens of magazines and newspapers before Cul de Sac debuted in The Washington Post Magazine in 2007. Thompson drew on incidents from his own childhood ("there's a lot of him in Petey, the withdrawn artist" says Amy), and the lives of his family, including two daughters, Emma and Charlotte. Everything from Charlotte's unbounded exuberance, to Emma's discovery that a manhole cover made a great stage, to the reluctant introduction of a guinea pig in their home was fodder for Thompson's re-imagined suburban Washington. Thompson's Cul de Sac drew the attention of comic fans worldwide including some very famous fans.
"[The comic strip] is one of those rare visions that shows how surprising the ordinary world really is. Richard Thompson's wonderfully peculiar Otterloop family is closely observed with deep sympathy and rings absolutely true, I'm a huge fan." – Calvin and Hobbes creator Bill Watterson stated Watterson
"If Cul de Sac isn't French for 'wonderfully loopily sincerely life-affirmingly stupendously hilarious' then there is something wrong with the French language." -Children's book author Mo Willems (Knuffle Bunny, Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus!, Elephant & Piggie series)
"Cul de Sac is the funniest strip to appear in decades. Inside Out. It's full of great characters, well-observed truths that most of us have forgotten about, and is so beautifully and funnily drawn that it is an absolute joy to look at even if you can't read. (Of course, if you can't read, then you'd better stop right now.)" -Pixar director and Oscar-winner Pete Docter (Films include Inside Out, Monsters, Inc. and Up.)
Click here for full press release.
Location:
All performances are held at Thomas Jefferson Community Theatre (125 S. Old Glebe Rd., Arlington, VA 22204)
Fwd: Awesome Con - Awesome Con Starts Today! Important Info & Ticketed Event Info!
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Thursday, June 02, 2016
Comic Riffs talks to Tom King
How one man went from the CIA to writing Batman's adventures
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog June 2 2016
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2016/06/02/how-one-man-went-from-the-cia-to-writing-batmans-adventures/
June 9: Ben Hatke at Politics and Prose and Takoma Park
Ben Hatke - Nobody Likes a Goblin
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
5015 Connecticut Ave NW
Washington DC 20008
Ben Hatke - Nobody Likes a Goblin — at Takoma Park Library (MD)
Wednesday, June 01, 2016
Mark Fiore's Herblock Award speech is online now
Mark Fiore's speech is at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ki1nh9vV1Mg
Mark Shield's talk is at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CW-HiglTl2I
Mark Shield's talk is at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CW-HiglTl2I
June 3: Eric Gordon display at Kefa Cafe
Friday kicks off a retrospective of recent comic projects by Eric
Gordon (aka DC Creepers) featuring many of his tabloid-size comics pages from the DC-based comics newspaper, Magic Bullet. The reception on June 3 at Kefa Cafe in Silver Spring, Md., runs from 7:10 p.m. to 9 p.m. The display is up through June 30.
In addition to selling prints of his work on Friday, Eric will be "sketching like a madman the whole time (which should not surprise anyone who knows him) and might even sketch you as a character into the third chapter of a mini comic he is working on," according to the Facebook event page.
In addition to selling prints of his work on Friday, Eric will be "sketching like a madman the whole time (which should not surprise anyone who knows him) and might even sketch you as a character into the third chapter of a mini comic he is working on," according to the Facebook event page.
Courtesy of Eric Gordon
Tuesday, May 31, 2016
Cartoon journalism in National Geographic's June issue
The magazine contains a two-page strip "Looting and Conflict: The Isis Antiquities Pipeline" by Matthew Twombly, looking at how the looting of historical sites is paying for war.
UPDATE: This isn't Twombly's first piece for them. According to his website, he also did "Fearless Rat" and "On Sinister Pond," for November 2014 issue of National Geographic. He's also done several illustrations for them.
Monday, May 30, 2016
Angelo Lopez, RFK editorial cartooning award winner
Here's a few pictures of Angelo Lopez (and his lovely wife Lisa) from the award ceremony this past week. They're not great shots, but the perspective is unique!
Sunday, May 29, 2016
Tom Toles inspires Style Invitational contest this week
Style Invitational Week 1177: The Ballad Box — write an election-themed song parody
Plus 'S'morons' and other winning wordplays on food names
Hey, he could be a Loser! The Post's editorial cartoonist shows a flair for song parody, below. (Tom Toles/The Washington Post)
June 12: Lucy Bellwood at Fantom Comics
Baggywrinkles Ahoy!https://www.facebook.com/events/913351492115519/
 | Sunday, June 12 at 2 PM |
 | Fantom Comics in Washington, District of Columbia Please help us welcome LUCY BELLWOOD to DC for this very special BOOK RELEASE party of BAGGYWRINKLES: A LUBBER'S GUIDE TO LIFE AT SEA!! This all-ages book covers everything we land lubbers need to know about the sailor's life, from the meaning of various nautical tattoos to what exactly a "fathom" covers and all of the essential details Lucy learned while sailing on the LADY WASHINGTON! Join us for a day of sailing and adventure within the pages of this fantastic new graphic novel! |
Fantastic Forum on Awesome Con and new superhero movies
Saturday, May 28, 2016 "Dawn of Justice v Civil War"
By Fantastic Forum May 28 2016
https://www.mixcloud.com/FantasticForum/saturday-may-28-2016/
Ulie and panelists Mike Lunsford, Bryan Lyles and Emily Whitten discuss blockbuster superhero movies Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice and Captain America: Civil War! Featuring a call-in interview with Awesome Con founder/organizer Ben Penrod!
Ann Telnaes wins Silver Reuben award for editorial cartooning
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| Ann Telnaes with her award, courtesy of Barbara Dale |
Ann Telnaes has won the Silver Reuben award from the National Cartoonists Society in the editorial cartooning section. Ann does animated cartoons for the Post's website. This is the second big win for an political cartoon animator, as Mark Fiore just accepted his Herblock Prize this past week. While still doing ink on paper cartoons, Ann won the Pulitzer Prize in 2001, so she's still got it.
The other winners, all a worthy bunch, are detailed at -
2016 Reubens: Michael Ramirez, Anton Emdin are big winners at ‘the Golden Globes of comics’
Washington Post Comic Riffs May 29 2016 https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2016/05/29/2016-reubens-michael-ramirez-anton-emdin-are-big-winners-at-the-golden-globes-of-comics/
That darn Mark Trail
Let's say 'happy trails' to 'Mark Trail'
William Ade, Burke
Washington Post May 28 2016https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/lets-say-happy-trails-to-mark-trail/2016/05/27/1fc79f68-21da-11e6-b944-52f7b1793dae_story.html
Friday, May 27, 2016
The Express on the new X-Men movie
Freak like me: Do you see your own hero on screen? [online as In 'X-Men: Apocalypse,' Mystique shows the importance of representation].
Express May 27 2016, p.25
https://www.washingtonpost.com/express/wp/2016/05/27/in-x-men-apocalypse-mystique-shows-the-importance-of-representation/
The Post reviews the new X-Men movie
Behold, all of the mutants [online as 'X-Men: Apocalypse' delivers a bit too much of a good thing]
Washington Post May 27 2016, Weekend p. 27-8
https://www.washingtonpost.com/goingoutguide/movies/x-men-apocalypse-delivers-a-bit-too-much-of-a-good-thing/2016/05/26/69e9dd1e-1f63-11e6-9c81-4be1c14fb8c8_story.html
June 4: 'Captive of Friendly Cove' signing at Big Planet in Vienna
June 4, noon to 2 p.m., Michael Short,
Rebecca Goldfield and I (Matt Dembicki) will be signing our Eisner-nominated graphic
novel Captive of Friendly Cove at Big Planet Comics in Vienna, Va. We'll bring some original art and some other cool things.
Thursday, May 26, 2016
Flugennock's Latest'n'Greatest: "President Trump"
From DC's anarchist cartoonist -
"President Trump"
http://sinkers.org/stage/?p=1969
So, the last polls I looked at in the If The Election Were Held Today Department had Sanders beating The Donald in the general fairly easily. So, while Hillary may be able to lie, cheat, steal and backstab her way to the nomination, she'll likely be toasted in November. Still, the Hillaroids will doubtless find some twisted, otherworldly reason why it's our fault for not supporting her lying, thieving, imperialist neoliberal ass... because, as we all know, nothing is ever Hillary's fault, right?
Comic Riffs recounts the Herblock Prize award to Mark Fiore
At the Herblock Prize ceremony, not talking about Trump still means talking about Trump
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog (May 25 2016):
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2016/05/25/at-the-herblock-prize-ceremony-not-talking-about-trump-still-means-talking-about-trump/
PR: Richard Thompson Library of books coming this summer
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Picture This Press to launch 'The Richard Thompson Library' in summer 2016
No. 11 -- May 2016
Picture This Press is proud to announce that it will be the publisher of the upcoming Richard Thompson Library. This new series will collect a variety of works produced by the prolific Thompson over the course of his career that have yet to be reprinted since their original publication.
Picture This Press, best known for its award-winning imprint Lost Art Books, intended from its inception to publish works by contemporary artists in a variety of media, and The Richard Thompson Library will be its first foray in this exciting direction.
Continued at https://madmimi.com/s/6fd8d7
Wednesday, May 25, 2016
Q&A with Cuddles and Rage
by Matt Dembicki
Local husband-and-wife duo Liz and Jimmy Reed (aka Cuddles and Rage) have been super busy with new projects. On display now at the National Building Museum is their diorama as part of the “Small Stories: At Home in a Dollhouse” exhibit. On the horizon is their first kids book, Sweet Competition, which is due in November from HarperCollins. Below, the Reeds answer a couple questions that ComicsDC posed to them about their work in diorama, comics and now picture books.
Local husband-and-wife duo Liz and Jimmy Reed (aka Cuddles and Rage) have been super busy with new projects. On display now at the National Building Museum is their diorama as part of the “Small Stories: At Home in a Dollhouse” exhibit. On the horizon is their first kids book, Sweet Competition, which is due in November from HarperCollins. Below, the Reeds answer a couple questions that ComicsDC posed to them about their work in diorama, comics and now picture books.
So, which came first—the diorama or the comic? By that I mean, which medium did you start working in first and how did it lead to the other? Which one is more challenging for you?
We started with drawn comics first in 2010 and incorporated the dioramas eight months later. Everything started off super simple. Our comics were all paper and pencil, and our dioramas were modest polymer clay characters shot with an iPhone on our kitchen counter. The dioramas were originally a one-off thing. Liz was excited to bring a few of our characters to life in 3D form and shared them with our audience. Our miniature creations really took off when Liz sculpted our evil villain, Dr. Taquito, running in the woods with a knife (the old days of Cuddles and Rage were pretty dark). People loved seeing Dr. Taquito as this tangible thing.
The dioramas are definitely harder to create than the comics. A lot of time goes into making them just right. With the comics, we now draw them digitally and post right away. With the dioramas, we draw the concept, sculpt the guys, find the props, setup the scene, shoot everything with a DSLR, and edit in Photoshop. We love the challenge of making them. It really tests your ability to transform objects into something else. A bottle cap can turn into a pie pan and a matchbox can morph into a miniature litter box. There’s always a little magic in every diorama.
How did cute food become a particular focus in your work?
In the early days, we had a handful of reoccurring characters as our main focus – Dr. Taquito, Taco, Nugget, Hippo, and Pippo Nut (a half peanut, half hippo love child), but we didn’t want to limit ourselves to just those guys. If a joke was funny then we’d post it. It just so happened that our most popular jokes were all food based. We think about food a lot and really enjoy experiencing food so looking back it makes total sense. You write what you know, and we know food. This became very apparent when HelloGiggles asked us to create weekly food based dioramas for their site. That’s really when fans started viewing us as “food humor experts.”
Can you outline how you work together? Does one person write and draw, another sculpt, etc.?
We both draw and write. Liz does all the sculpting. Jimmy is actually allergic to the clay. We found that out the hard way! We both keep sketchbooks and are always bouncing ideas off one another. It’s really nice to have a partner who can help you work through a comic so it can grow into something beyond just an inside joke between you and your sketchbook.
Congrats on your upcoming first picture book! How did the idea for the book develop? Did you approach it as you would a comic?
Thank you! Being published is a dream come true. The book deal came about in a really unique way. We came to publishers with a completely different book that was cute but not quite the right fit. With that book we were able to showcase our unique art style and storytelling capabilities, which landed us a deal. Through our comic, they saw we had a million more stories in us and not just that one book. We went back and pitched them five different ideas and landed on the Sweet Competition. Our main characters, the Cherry Twins, stole their hearts with their witty banter and good old-fashion sibling rivalry.
Do you do this work full time? If so, can you briefly explain when you decided to go full time and what were the initial challenges?
Cuddles and Rage was really one of those things where we didn’t want to look back 10 years later and wonder “What if…?” We decided to make the leap into Liz going full time C&R two years ago. At that time, we didn’t have a book deal or steady income through C&R, but we knew it was a now or never situation. We put as much as we could into savings leading up to the career change and cut back on a ton of expenses. Fancy coffees and new clothes were put on hold for a long time. It kind of killed our social life, but we knew it was all for a good cause. Prior to leaving, we’d connected with a literary agent who we later signed with. We basically did what we could to make money (workshops, conventions, commissions) and lived as simple as possible until the book deal came through. Once the book came in, more opportunities opened up and fancy coffees found their way back to us. We’ve been fortunate enough to keep Cuddles and Rage going for the time being. It’s a constant hustle and nothing is a guarantee. If you do leave your day job, always leave on really good terms and stay connected. Those guys will one day be cheering for you when you succeed and will also be there if you need something to fall back on. When you believe in something and always strive to become better at your craft, good things will follow.
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