Express on Moana

I've gotta be me: 'Moana' is so over the princess thing

[online as 'Moana' has something insightful to say about the whole 'Disney princess' thing]

By Kristen Page-Kirby
Express November 23 2016, p. 39

online at https://www.washingtonpost.com/express/wp/2016/11/23/moana-has-something-insightful-to-say-about-the-whole-disney-princess-thing/

Panetta's next comic

Tom Spurgeon at Comics Reporter tossed up this story from last spring that we missed about Kevin Panetta's upcoming graphic novel.

Graphic novel 'Bloom' has it all: romance, baking and LGBT visibility

By Aliza Weinberger Feb 08, 2016
http://mashable.com/2016/02/08/bloom-comic/

NY Times on March

John Lewis's National Book Award-Winning Graphic Memoir on the Civil Rights Movement

By JULIAN LUCAS

A version of this review appears in print on November 27, 2016, on page BR13 of the Sunday Book Review with the headline: They Had a Dream.

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/27/books/review/john-lewis-march.html

Comic Culture with Baltimore cartoonist Monica Gallagher

Comic Culture with Monica Gallagher

terence dollard

 Nov 21, 2016

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lC-NxRcipR8

Roller derby, indie comics, and self-doubt are among the topics covered with Monica Gallagher, the artist behind Bonnie N. Collide. Comic Culture is directed and crewed by students at the University of North Carolina at Pembroke. I'm posting the video as producer/host and not as an official University publication.

Jeff Kinney in Catholic Standard

'Wimpy Kid' author Kinney comes home [online as 'Wimpy Kid' author pays tribute to his Catholic roots during visit to Piscataway school]

Mark Zimmermann, Catholic Standard

November 17, 2016

online at http://www.cathstan.org/Content/News/Schools/Article/-Wimpy-Kid-author-pays-tribute-to-his-Catholic-roots-during-visit-to-Piscataway-school/2/21/7408

Meet a Local Cartoonist: A Chat with Lenora Yerkes

by Mike Rhode

I met Lenora Yerkes recently at a local art book festival where she was selling two minicomics.


What type of comic work or cartooning do you do?

I write stories inspired by my life--you might call it personal or observational narrative drawing. 

How do you do it? Traditional pen and ink, computer or a combination?

I'm all analog--pens and paper and nothing fancier than a nice Japanese pen and a kinda busted scanner. 

When (within a decade is fine) and where were you born?

My favorite Dolly Parton song (9 to 5) was a Billboard #1 hit the year I was born--in Los Angeles, CA. 

Why are you in Washington now?  What neighborhood or area do you live in?

This is my tenth year in DC and my seventh in Bloomingdale. I came for graduate school and stayed for love--of this weird place and its weird people.

What is your training and/or education in cartooning? 

Twenty Six Days

In cartooning? None at all. My drawing has always been narrative and it's always told stories. I've drawn comics over the years, along with big narrative drawings and prints, but recently I'm devoting more time to this "comix" format that brings writing and drawing together into more literal narratives. 

Who are your influences?

Lynda Barry, for sure, but also Vanessa Davis and Evan Dorkin and Kathe Kollwitz (OG narrative printmaker!) and the surrealist painters Remedios Varo and Leonora Carrington.

If you could, what in your career would you do-over or change?

I would have worked more. There's always room for more work. 

What work are you best-known for?

This season, I shared a lot of a mini-comic I made called "Hibakusha." An interesting thing happened in sharing that book that I didn't expect--a lot of young people were interested because of the ostensible subject, but a lot of older folks were drawn in by the title, which is a word not that commonly used anymore. Response to that story has been great. 

What work are you most proud of? 

"Twenty Six Days" turned out beautifully and was a bear to compose. The process of writing that one is something I hope to improve on and then bottle. 

What would you like to do or work on in the future?

Longer works! I'm a long-winded, round-about lover of analogies and metaphors, so I work a lot on making complex ideas concise. I'd love to build the patience to compose and draw a longer story. 

What do you do when you're in a rut or have writer's block?

Twenty Six Days page

These days, I go for a swim. My father-in-law tells me we get more ideas when we're in the water. 

What do you think will be the future of your field?

Comics or narrative drawing or cartooning--whatever you call it--can be used to tell any kind of story. We're situated to redefine what people think when they hear these words and move these kinds of drawings into every field. 

What local cons do you attend? The Small Press Expo, Intervention, or others? Any comments about attending them?

I tabled at SPX this year for the first time and was lucky enough to participate in the first ever DC Art Book Fair. It's a huge, diverse community of a lot of artists doing different things. 

What's your favorite thing about DC?

Hibakusha detail

DC is like no where else and every where else, all at once. 

Least favorite?

Rent. 

What monument or museum do like to take visitors to?

Actually, the view from the top of the 13th Street hill is one of my faves right now. 

How about a favorite local restaurant?

Meats & Foods at 247 Florida Ave NW--a beautiful simple store making great food. 

Do you have a website or blog?

The best place to see my work is Instagram @lenorayerkes, but you can also see it at lenorayerkes.tumblr.com. 

 

Tom Toles and Kevin Kallaugher at P&P video online now

Michael E. Mann, Tom Toles, and Kevin Kallaugher at P&P

Juliet Eilperin,

Politics and Prose

 Nov 12, 2016
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFxYCDmU5W8

n this inspired partnership, Mann, Distinguished Professor of Atmospheric Science at Penn State and one of the nation's leading experts on climate change, and Toles, a Pulitzer Prize-winning Washington Post editorial cartoonist, expose the true folly of arguments against global warming. With dynamic, compelling graphics that illuminate the science, the book shows both the irrefutable evidence of human-generated environmental damage and the pretzel logic that skeptics and vested interests use to try to counter the inconvenient facts.

The award-winning and internationally syndicated columnist known as KAL, Kallaugher was hired by The Economist in the late seventies to do caricatures, which he soon elevated to the witty, insightful art of a master editorial cartoonist—skills he later carried over to The Baltimore Sun. This collection, drawn from over thirty years of his Economist work, focuses in turn on the United States, Europe, Economist covers, business and economics, and international topics, showing not just KAL's range, but providing a capsule history of recent decades as well as serving as a primer to political cartooning.

This event is moderated by Juliet Eilperin, The Washington Post's White House bureau chief.

Founded by Carla Cohen and Barbara Meade in 1984, Politics & Prose Bookstore is Washington, D.C.'s premier independent bookstore and cultural hub, a gathering place for people interested in reading and discussing books. Politics & Prose offers superior service, unusual book choices, and a haven for book lovers in the store and online. Visit them on the web at http://www.politics-prose.com/

Produced by Michael A. Kowaleski

Gene Yang's book suggestions include Ben Hatke

A list for kids by a 'genius' graphic novelist [online as Best children's and young adult books of 2016]

By Harrison Smith,
Washington Post November 20 2016, p. E15

online at

https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/kidspost/best-childrens-and-young-adult-books-of-2016/2016/11/17/e07131fe-a10d-11e6-8832-23a007c77bb4_story.html

Local Comic Book Store Day is tomorrow apparently

Here's Third Eye Comics on it.

Beyond Comics is also having sales and variant covers.

Glen Weldon calls for Comics

The Term 'Graphic Novel' Has Had A Good Run. We Don't Need It Anymore

Glen Weldon

NPR Monkey See blog November 17, 2016
http://www.npr.org/sections/monkeysee/2016/11/17/502422829/the-term-graphic-novel-has-had-a-good-run-we-dont-need-it-anymore

Brad Meltzer, formerly local, calls upon Lincoln: “All men are created equal.”

An Author's Plea to Trump: Denounce the Hate or We Stand Against You (Guest Column)

  11/17/2016 by Brad Meltzer
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/trump-denounce-hate-we-stand-you-guest-column-948373

Tonight: Book fair at National Press Club

Includes comics-related friends Tom Toles, Juana Medina, and Glen Weldon.

http://www.press.org/bookfair

39th Annual Book Fair & Authors' Night, in partnership with Politics & Prose

November 18, 2016 5:30 PM

Location: Ballroom

The Capitol region's premiere holiday book event is back for the 39th year! The National Press Club Journalism Institute is once again partnering with landmark local book seller Politics & Prose for a night of pols, pundits and prose.

Authors will be on hand to talk to their fans and sign books at this most exciting literary event. Patrons can browse for books at the Club's headquarters from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tickets are $5 for NPC and Politics & Prose members; $10 public. Tickets can be purchased at the door.

The Book Fair is a fundraiser for The National Press Club Journalism Institute, a 501 (c) (3) charitable organization, which advances journalistic practice by equipping professionals with the skills and competence to innovate, leveraging emerging trends, recognizing leaders and innovators, and mentoring the next generation of journalism and communications professionals.

The Book Fair is partnering with The SEED Foundation, which helps under-served students prepare for college. The young scholars attend one of two public boarding schools in the District and Maryland. The students select books they believe would enrich their education and patrons can buy them at the fair to help develop the Baltimore SEED School library. A group of students from the SEED school attend the event each year, giving them a chance to meet with authors and attendees.

Please note: No outside books or other memorabilia are permitted into the Book Fair. All books must be purchased onsite.

School Library Journal on March's award

"March: Book Three" Takes 2016 National Book Award

By Rocco Staino on November 17, 2016
http://www.slj.com/2016/11/industry-news/march-book-three-takes-2016-national-book-award/

Glen Weldon on superheroes and fascism

Superheroes And The F-Word: Grappling With The Ugly Truth Under The Capes

Glen Weldon

NPR's Monkey See blog November 16, 2016

http://www.npr.org/sections/monkeysee/2016/11/16/502161587/superheroes-and-the-f-word-grappling-with-the-ugly-truth-under-the-capes

The Post's best graphic novels of 2016

Respectable, and unsurprising.

Best graphic novels of 2016

By Michael Cavna The Washington Post November 17 2016
 https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/books/best-graphic-novels-of-2016/2016/11/17/684ef15c-9dde-11e6-9980-50913d68eacb_story.html

Comic Riffs on March 3's latest award

Rep. John Lewis's National Book Award win is a milestone moment for graphic novels

By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs November 17 2016
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2016/11/17/rep-john-lewiss-national-book-award-win-is-a-milestone-moment-for-graphic-novels/

A scene from the "March" trilogy. (courtesy of Top Shelf)

March Book 3 wins a National Book Award

The story is here at Publishers Weekly: http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/awards-and-prizes/article/72050-march-borzutzky-kendi-and-whitehead-win-2016-national-book-awards.html

I've said it before, and I'll say it again. March is Maus for America. The inevitable 1-volume collection will be in schools for decades. And it's especially relevant to read NOW in light of the apparent resurgence in racism in our country.

Chris Danger in today's Express

Chris Danger has illustrated Open Enrollment on healthcare for today's free newspaper The Express. It doesn't appear to be online, but he has three large illos in the center section.

Liz Reed of Cuddles and Rage on Carolyn and Joe Show

Liz Reed

Joe Carabeo and Carolyn Belefski
Carolyn and Joe Show podcast November 15, 2016
https://carolynandjoeshow.wordpress.com/2016/11/15/liz-reed/
http://curls-studio.com/radio/CJS390.mp3

EPISODE 390

It's the sweetest episode of the Carolyn and Joe Show podcast! On this weeks episode, Astray Productions director and writer, Joe Carabeo, and Curls Studio cartoonist and creator, Carolyn Belefski welcome to the podcast, artist, podcaster and one half of the creative team behind the comic "Cuddles and Rage", it Liz Reed! One this episode, the gang talk about Liz's and Jimmy Reed's new book, "Sweet Competition", which is also in sale in books stores everywhere. Not only that, but we talk all things food, favorite candy, Charlie and the Chocolate factory, designing your own house, what is cuddles and rage's creative process, and whats in the the "Too hot for TV" folder, PLUS MORE SWEETNESS!

Nov 22: Can I Kick It? screening Ninja Scroll anime

CAN I KICK IT? takes place the 4th Tuesday of the month and its experience where we screen a classic martial arts movie (including films from the 70's, 80's, contemporary classics and anime) while a soundtrack of Hip-Hop, Funk, Soul and cinema soundbites are mixed live by DJ 2-Tone Jones.  SHAOLIN JAZZ Art and additional visuals are also on display. 

To view an informational video about CAN I KICK IT? click here and to learn more about SHAOLIN JAZZ click here.

Join us on Tuesday, November 22nd at Songbyrd Music House for the next edition of CAN I KICK IT? as we'll be screening the cult anime classic Ninja Scroll.

• Tuesday, November 22nd, 2016
• 6pm-10pm/Film begins at 7pm
• Songbyrd Music House 2477 18th St NW (Adams Morgan)
• Screening Ninja Scroll
• Drink + Food Specials
• Movie Trivia courtesy of SHAOLIN JAZZ 
• RSVP here

For additional info: shaolinjazz.com 

Nov 19: Prince of Cats signing with Ron Wimberly at Fantom Comics

Prince of Cats signing with Ron Wimberly

Saturday at 4 PM - 6 PM Fantom Comics 2010 P Street NW, Washington, District of Columbia 20036

Saturday, November 19 – Prince of Cats signing with Ron Wimberly – "Behold, the enemy of boredom." DC native Ron Wimberly is back in town for the re-release of his modern classic PRINCE OF CATS! Featuring a discussion moderated by Ignorant Bliss podcast host Julian Lytle, a Q&A with the audience, and obv he'll sign your books too.

ReDistrictedComics.Com: 'Gay Is Good'

A new comic on ReDistrictedComics.com focuses on legendary gay rights activist Frank Kameny. Story and art by Bizhan Khodabandeh and James Moffitt.

Art by Bizhan Khodabandeh

MD's Frank Cho interviewed in Italy (it's in English)

Tra Liberty Meadows e la censura: intervista a Frank Cho

9 novembre 2016 di Andrea Fiamma

http://www.fumettologica.it/2016/11/frank-cho-intervista/2/

Cartoonist Robert Bindig in Veterans History Project

The Art of War: Sketches from the front lines [in print as Art of war, the drama and drudgery]

By Michael E. Ruane
Washington Post November 11 2016

online at https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/the-art-of-war-sketches-from-the-front-lines/2016/11/10/7bb8dc1c-a76b-11e6-ba59-a7d93165c6d4_story.html

His work is at http://memory.loc.gov/diglib/vhp-stories/loc.natlib.afc2001001.32475/

That darn Mark Trail

Letters to the Editor

Don't listen to 'Mark Trail' haters

J. Michael Picone, Falls Church

Washington Post November 12 2016

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/dont-listen-to-mark-trail-haters/2016/11/10/41218018-a608-11e6-ba46-53db57f0e351_story.html

The May 23 "Mark Trail" (James Allen/North America Syndicate)

Flugennock's Latest'n'Greatest: "The Democrats' Baggage"

From DC's anarchist cartoonist Mike Flugennock:

"The Democrats' Baggage"
http://sinkers.org/stage/?p=2107

True to classic form, the Democratic Party is desperately looking for somebody to blame -- anybody but itself -- for Tuesday's Presidential catastrophe. Never mind the hopeless load of their own baggage they were schlepping around through the entire campaign -- and this pile ain't gonna fit in any overhead bin, either.

Today: DC Art Book Fair

Saturday, November 12 at 11 AM - 6 PM

Lab 1270

1270 5th Street Northeast, Washington, District of Columbia 20002

Details

The DC Art Book Fair is a first-of-its-kind event in the nation's capital. It's a one-day event designed to spotlight local (and whoever else wants to apply) makers of paper goods, from artistic photo prints to high-end artist publications and everything in between. A curated event, it will take place at Lab 1270 on Saturday, November 12.

Questions? Please email dcartbookfair@gmail.com
More info: http://dcartbookfair.tumblr.com/

This event is organized by the DC Art Book Fair Collective: Malaka Gharib of The Runcible Spoon zine and The Little Filipino Coloring Book, Alison Baitz of On Flora zine, illustrator LA Johnson of The Intentional and illustrator Elizabeth Graeber of A Field Guide For Redheads.

HERE ARE YOUR 2016 TABLERS:

The Runcible Spoon: The Runcible Spoon is a zine about food and fantasy. http://therunciblespoon.info/

Elizabeth Graeber: Elizabeth Graeber is DC's favorite illustrator. http://elizabethgraeber.com/

LA Johnson/The Intentional: LA Johnson is a visual journalist and illustrator in Washington, DC. She works for NPR as a visual producer by day, and works on illustration, comics and The Intentional by night. http://www.thelajohnson.com/

On Flora: The floral photo book you never knew you needed. http://onflora.tumblr.com/

Marcella Kriebel: Marcella Kriebel's collection of food-related art Illustrated Feast celebrates fried eggs to blue crab! Mix + Match to make your own series! http://marcellakriebel.com/

Fantom Comics: Fantom Comics brings a bit of the local comics flavor with zines, shirts, and totes made in partnership with local artists! http://www.fantomcomics.com/

Kate Zaremba: Kate Zaremba is a shape collector and patterns maker. Zaremba's illustrated zines include subjects like collecting shapes & making patterns, bringing pattern to life through stop motion, and a humorous collection of paper cut collage works. http://www.katezarembacompany.com/

Red Table Press: Red Table Press is Mike O'Brien screenprinting, illustrating and making things. http://redtablepress.com/

Chris Scott: Two Ton Rock God is a concentrated burst of illustrated adrenaline that celebrates blackness, robots, and rock music. http://chrisjamesscott.tumblr.com/

Fear: Thoughtful curation, hand-drawn illustrations, and high quality paper from Spencer Joynt. http://joyntnotjoint.com/

Ten09: "Landmarks" is a new series of Risograph books detailing an altered landscape of Northern Virginia while exploring a varied visual language. http://kardambikis.com/; http://jakelahah.com/; http://lillisart.com/; http://ldwyer1024.wixsite.com/dwyer-portfolio

Dumpling Heart: Dumpling Heart by Jade Feng Lee produces comics and stories inspired by fantasy, food, and her family's home culture. http://www.dumplingheart.com/

Project Dispatch: Project Dispatch is an artwork subscription service, with over 20 artist members. We will be selling all 6 volumes of our annual portfolios and curated books, showcasing works that have been included in subscriptions over the years, as well as artist made zines and limited edition trading card packs. http://projectdispatch.bigcartel.com/product/2015-artist-portfolio

Pellinore Press: Pellinore Press produces limited edition comics, artist books, & prints. We print primarily from original woodcuts and handset type. https://www.instagram.com/pellinorepress/

Hair Club: HAIR CLUB works with artists, writers and scholars to publish books where Hair acts as symbol, material, object or form. All books are designed by artist Suzanne Gold. http://suzanne-gold.com/

Girl Comix: Girl Comix is about a funny girl and the weird things that happen to her. She likes to talk about the issues! Things get real and surreal. http://dayanitababuramesh.com/

Becca Kallem: Making its debut: DC ABC! An illustrated book highlighting both local and national Washington DC. I'll also have other illustrated books: animals, Spain, space, and more! http://bit.ly/2cXGGmA

Trinadot: Trinadot is an adventure comic set in a fantastical world populated by talking naturalistic animals and sensuously drawn humans. Prints of painted works and a selection of original pieces will also be available and on display. http://trinadot.com/Trinadot/Trinadot.html

Mica Illustration MFA: Illustrated zines and objects from the hands and hearts of Maryland Institute College of Art's MFA Illustration Practice program. https://www.mica.edu/Programs_of_Study/Graduate_Programs/Illustration_Practice_(MFA).html

Robin Ha: Robin Ha Art and Comics: Robin Ha is the author and Illustrator for Cook Korean!: A Comic Book With Recipes which explains 64 Korean recipes through Comics. Along with her cookbook, you will find her mini comics about food and traveling and also Tarot card adult coloring book inspired by Art Nouveau style. http://robin.megaten.net/

Marmalade Umlaut: three projects, all based in a punk aesthetic of low/hi culture mash-ups and collage against a rhythmic background http://feudfood.blogspot.com/p/marmalade-umlaut.html

Hannah Renae & Marlena Chertock: We are disabled sisters who write and make art. Born with the same skeletal dysplasia, we use our art to reflect on our bone disorder, our chronic pain, and how invisible illnesses affect the body and interactions with others. Marlena explores the rich images in science and medicine, threading genetics and nature into her poetry. Hannah combines bodily and organic imagery to explore pain, the five senses, and consciousness. Her work features wood, plastic, and paper cut into organic shapes. http://hannahrenaephoto.wixsite.com/

In a Sense: Ten poems for people that don't like poetry. Ten poems for people that will say "this isn't poetry." Ten poems on vulnerability, innocence, anger, and of course, love. https://www.instagram.com/hereiyam/

Dandelion Wine Collective: We're a group of determined young illustrators and comic artists, currently finishing our last year at MICA. http://dandelionwinecollective.tumblr.com/

643 Collective: 643 is a Collective of 7 Photographers. We are working on several common projects and are based in different cities: Seoul, Paris, New York, Sao Paulo, Los Angeles, Bucharest. http://643collective.com/City-Project

FourSixSix: A new Zine called "Tag", my children's book and all new prints. http://www.foursixsix.com/

Paul Hostetler: Satire, humor, fantasy, and funky surrealism, at shockingly affordable prices. https://www.facebook.com/phostetlerart/

The Face Zone: The Face Zone is a uniquely imaginative book of illustrated musings on everything from the stigma of liking scrapple to the meaning of life. https://www.facebook.com/TheFaceZone/

Elliott Junkyard: Elliott Junkyard makes comics, zines, and embroidered things. Most of his work is about tea and cats, often at the same time. https://www.instagram.com/elliottjunkyard

Ink Press Productions: We are a collaborative effort devoted to sharing art through our mission, which is to "blur the lines of genre in writing, visual, and performance art through the publication of handmade books, DIY / manual printing, and experimental events." http://www.inkpressproductions.com/papers

Joani Maher: Two zines on making life a little easier. http://www.hayrita.com/projects

Process: Hand bound, photo-based, art zines & prints that explore the creation of alternative process photography, love, and collage. http://www.claireharbage.com/#/process/

Three Fifty: Three Fifty is a group of artists working to create publications that open dialogue and engage with contemporary socio-political issues. Chase Carter - http://chasecarter.nu/ Margarita Kruchinskaya https://mkruchinskaya.carbonmade.com/ Chantal Zakari: http://www.thecorner.net/c/middle.html

Palabra Press/Black Lab: Works by Leda Black—Physical Language Laboratory :: Photo-Based Digital Originals :: the Female Power Project PLUS further experiments toward a science of the particular from the meta-physical makery called Black Lab. http://facebook.com/blacklab

Dana Jeri Maier: A collection of self-published comics and prints from Dana Jeri Maier, cartoonist of The Worried Well. http://www.danajerimaier.com/

Matthew Scott Gualco: My project is to use popularized text to invent new meaning and commentary about popular culture and the art world via books, posters, buttons, and other graphic items. http://www.matthewgualco.com/doom/

The Beat of Blossoms: The Beat of Blossoms is the creative work of Jamila Zahra Felton. Through bookbinding, collage, printmaking, and writing, I explore memory, identity, Blackness, gender, love, power, freedom, and African American history. http://www.thebeatofblossoms.com/work

Flycandy: The DMV's hottest visual artists are giving us a peek into their world in the COOL(ist) Grown-Up Coloring Book Evah! http://instagram.com/FLYCANDYTV

Alexander Atkinson: Canadiana 365cdn.Tumblr.com

Carmen Johns: Cuban-Lebanese-American disco zine queen making funky sculptures of boots and emotional sci-fi stories for all species to enjoy!!!! https://www.instagram.com/carmenvirginiajohns/

TONIGHT Nov 10: Vivek Tiwary at Tysons Corner Mall

The Fifth Beatle: The Brian Epstein Story Expanded Edition

---

Vivek Tiwary

Author Event (Other)
Thursday November 10, 2016 7:00 PM

Please join us for an evening with #1 New York Times bestselling author, a Tony Award-winning Broadway producer Vivek Tiwary. Mr. Tiwary will speak and sign copies of his bestselling graphic novel The Fifth Beatle: The Brian Epstein Story Expanded Edition. Wristbands for this event will be given out at 6pm on our first floor.

     

---

The Fifth Beatle: The Brian Epstein Story Expanded Edition

By Vivek J. Tiwary
Publish Date: 10/25/2016 

Tysons Corner Mall

Tysons Corner Center
7851 L. Tysons Corner Center
McLean, VA 22102
703-506-2937

Store Hours:

Sun 10-9

Mon-Sat 10-10

Meet a Local Cartoonist: A Chat with LA Johnson

From NPR.org

by Mike Rhode
 
L.A. Johnson is one of the organizers of this weekend's DC Art Book Fair. It will take place on Saturday, November 12 (here's its blog.) We caught up to NPR's Johnson before the show to find out more about her work.

What type of comic work or cartooning do you do? -- Comics journalism, nonfiction, and absurdism.

How do you do it? Traditional pen and ink, computer or a combination? -- trad and mod.

When (within a decade is fine) and where were you born? -- Ohio, 1980s.

Why are you in Washington now? What neighborhood or area do you live in? -- Columbia Heights, this has been my home for the last 6 years!

What is your training and/or education in cartooning? -- I've always made comics, then I studied illustration at SCAD in Savannah, Ga.

Who are your influences? -- I love the storytelling from Guy Delisle, the freedom of Carol Tyler and the mind-fuck from Daniel Clowes. I also just got turned on to the Spanish site tiktokcomics.com from Ana Galvan, and the work on there blows me away.

If you could, what in your career would you do-over or change? -- Nothing.

What work are you best-known for? -- Comics and illustration on NPR.org.

What work are you most proud of? -- A story I did about an amazing art teacher, Jimi Herd.

What would you like to do or work on in the future? -- I'm currently working on a comic book about my journey to find my birth mother and how adoption shapes us.

What do you do when you're in a rut or have writer's block? -- I try something completely different -- like pottery or rock climbing.

What do you think will be the future of your field? -- It's going to be amazing. Comics journalism is on the rise, and particularly for the work that I do. I believe it might just be the truest way to tell a radio story on the web. I have a personal goal to get newsrooms to notice and respect this form of storytelling.

What local cons do you attend? The Small Press Expo, Intervention, or others? Any comments about attending them? -- I went to SPX for the first time this year as a reporter and got to interview some amazing cartoonists like Daniel Clowes and Lisa Hanawalt. You can read excerpts on my illustration blog nprillustration.tumblr.com.

What's your favorite thing about DC? -- That the city is enthusiastically moldable. You can come here and do anything you want and you will find support for it. Sometimes it is overwhelming how much there is to do here.

Least favorite? -- That we don't have statehood and people outside think I'm from Colombia when I hand them my ID. Also that people think there is no culture here... Way wrong!

What monument or museum do like to take visitors to? -- I love the Botanical Gardens and the Air and  Space Museum the most... I like seeing weird shit out of place and think it wakes up the imagination. I also love sitting on the back steps of the Lincoln Memorial.

How about a favorite local restaurant? -- My friend Ben's wife just opened a little place you might have heard of... it's called Bad Saint... ;) I don't know if there are any awards out there that they haven't won. Well deserved. I also hold a dear spot in my heart for Comet Ping Pong. That's where I got my start doing show posters here in DC 6 years ago and their pizza and wings are the best in the city. I'll fight you on that.

Do you have a website or blog? -- www.thelajohnson.com and nprillustration.tumblr.com.

Flugennock's Latest'n'Greatest: "Now, Shut Up And Leave Me Alone"

From DC's anarchist cartoonist Mike Flugennock.

"Shut Up And Leave Me Alone"
http://sinkers.org/stage/?p=2097

My post-election morning-after kiss-off.

Because I'm so sick of smarmy editorial cartoons with Miss Liberty voting in them, a version more accurately portraying the current national mood.

Liz Suburbia, former area cartoonist, interviewed

Interview with Liz Suburbia: Punk Rock Ethos on Paper By Natalye Childress

October 6, 2016 

http://razorcake.org/interview-with-liz-suburbia-punk-rock-ethos-on-paper-by-natalye-childress/

Lisa Hanawalt and Spanish cartoonists interviews by LA Johnson

We'll have our standard interview questions done by LA Johnson here on Thursday morning, but meanwhile here's a couple of interviews that she did at SPX which we had missed -

Spanish Fever

by L.A. Johnson

NPR Illustration blog October 5, 2016

http://nprillustration.tumblr.com/post/151387103352/spanish-fever

Interview with Lisa Hanawalt

by L.A. Johnson

NPR Illustration blog September 28, 2016
http://nprillustration.tumblr.com/post/151053903577/interview-with-lisa-hanawalt

Robin Ha and Dayanita Ramesh profiled by DC Art Book Fair

Say Hi To Robin Ha, Cook And Cartoonist

Elizabeth Graeber, Alison Baitz, L.A. Johnson and Malaka Gharib.

DC Art Book Fair blog Nov 7th, 2016

http://dcartbookfair.tumblr.com/post/152860114496/say-hi-to-robin-ha-cook-and-cartoonist

Say Hi To Dayanita And Her 'Oddly Shaped Brown Lady Characters'

Elizabeth Graeber, Alison Baitz, L.A. Johnson and Malaka Gharib.

DC Art Book Fair blog Nov 7th, 2016
http://dcartbookfair.tumblr.com/post/152884722071/say-hi-to-dayanita-and-her-oddly-shaped-brown

Comic Riffs' Doctor Strange fanboy chat

Let's talk about 'Doctor Strange,' from the good to the bad to the beautiful

By Michael Cavna and David Betancourt
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog November 5 2016
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2016/11/05/lets-talk-about-doctor-strange-from-the-good-to-the-bad-to-the-beautiful/

Benedict Cumberbatch stars in "Doctor Strange." (Disney/Marvel 2016)

Darrin Bell wins Berryman Award says Comic Riffs

Darrin Bell wins Berryman Award for cartoons that tackle xenophobia and gun violence

By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs November 4 2016
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2016/11/04/darrin-bell-wins-berryman-award-for-cartoons-that-tackle-xenophobia-and-gun-violence/

Comic Riffs polls editorial cartoonists on today's election

Trump vs. Clinton: Whom would cartoonists prefer to ridicule for the next four years?

By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog November 8 2016
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2016/11/08/trump-vs-clinton-which-one-would-cartoonists-prefer-to-ridicule-for-four-years/

by Matt Wuerker / Politico (courtesy of the cartoonist)

The Post's lovely nostalgia article Superman illo...

that isn't online in Peter Marks' article.

It's by Levi Brown.