SPX 2017 Exhibitor Information!

Hello Everyone! Planning for SPX 2017 is already in full effect! We're locking in some amazing special guests, getting all sorts of fun things planned, and generally trying to make the best possible show we can for you. We've learned a TON over the past few years regarding exhibitor registration by hearing from all of you, and as we head into the fourth year of our system we want to make sure you have all the right information you need. If you are interested in exhibiting at SPX this year — and we sincerely hope that you are — here's what you need to know for 2017.   An SPX Exhibitor Registration Primer   As you may know by now, SPX has a two phase registration system that combines invited exhibitors with a lottery that in past years has led to a roughly 50/50 split. The two phases are staggered, which allows us to maximize the number of tables available for the lottery.  This is the second year that the SPX team is evaluating our list of invited exhibitors on an annual basis. This helps us ensure that we can continue to bring in diverse, talented creators that we feel will enrich the SPX experience for everyone.  Every year we'll do out best to ensure that invitees to SPX will include a diverse, vibrant cast of characters — a mix of our long time exhibitors, large and small independent publishers, self-publishing cartoonists, international creators as well as newcomers to comics. Key Dates For Invitations: February 3th - Invited exhibitors will begin receiving notices. March 1st - Last day for invited exhibitors to confirm their table space. For the Lottery: February 10th - The SPX table lottery opens. February 24th - The SPX table lottery closes. SPX Table Lottery winners will be notified shortly after the close of the lottery. Depending on the number of submissions it may take us a few weeks to review the entrants for duplicates or other issues before actually pulling the winning names. We expect this to take roughly about two weeks, so you should hear from us by early March. More Questions, You Have Them   We know many of you will likely have further questions, so here's a few quick notes on the way ahead and our process for 2017 exhibitor registration:  SPX REGISTRATION: Invited Exhibitors  How will I know if I have been invited?   Invited exhibitors will begin receiving notices from SPX on February 3.  Invitees will have until March 1st to confirm their table space, with a few reminders sent in between.  Any invitee tables not claimed by March 1st will roll over to the lottery pool.   How does SPX decide who gets a reserved table?   The SPX executive committee will collectively review the invitation list each year to make this determination.    If I was invited last year does that mean I am guaranteed an invitation this year?   No, not necessarily. It is possible you will receive an invitation again, but four years into the process, we recognize the need to begin shaking up this list. Doing so will allow us to ensure that we can invite people that we think will be a great fit for the show.   If I wasn't invited this year does that mean I'll never be invited again?   Not at all. The invitation list will change annually. There will not be a formal rotation or cooling off process but our goal is ensure that the process is equitable. Not being invited one year does not mean you won't be invited the next.    If I am not on this year's invitee list, can I enter the table lottery?   Absolutely.    SPX REGISTRATION: Lottery Entrants   When will the lottery take place?   The 2017 table lottery registration period will open up starting February 10. You'll have two weeks, until February 24, to enter your information.  SPX will post lottery information widely on Facebook, Twitter and Tumblr as well as our website. You won't be able to miss it.   How do I apply for the lottery?   When lottery registration opens we'll post an online form that collects some basic information. This year we are doing away with the randomized number generation to cut down on confusion; you will receive one confirmation email, and then an email at the end of the lottery. This registration website link will be shared widely on social media later this week. Please note that we will not be picking the randomized lottery winners until after all applciations have been received; this means there is no benefit to applying early or late (except maybe peace of mind). You can only apply for the lottery once, and multiple entries will result in being removed from the lottery pool (unless you email us and tell us you accidentally clicked twice or something, we do have a heart!). You will not be responsible for any payments until after the lottery is complete.   How will I find out if I won a lottery table (or half table)?   We will notify the winners via email in early March. Winners will then have until March 31 to confirm and pay for their table. Any unused tables will be carried over to the wait list. If you are selected, half tables will cost $185 while full tables will cost $375.   Do I really have a shot at a table from the lottery?   Heck yes. We earmark a minimum of 110 tables (out of our total of 270) for the lottery.  When you look at this in terms of exhibitors behind those tables over the last three years we've been filling about half of SPX via the lottery.   Will there be a wait list?   Absolutely. We store the next 75 names after filling our lottery tables and folks get pulled in every year from this wait list.  SPX REGISTRATION: Other Questions    I HATE this system. SPX, why are you so dumb? In order for us to pull this show off each year, we need to balance limited table space against a bunch of ravenous groups that eagerly take all the tables! Big publishers, small publishers, self-publishers, local favorites, international guests, old faces, new hotness — all worthy and all welcome! Our registration process helps us manage overwhelming interest in the show in a manner consistent with our core values. Most comic arts festivals are by invitation only. We knew that wasn't for us.  But a pure lottery wouldn't work either.  Community is what makes SPX. We had to find a balance that honored both — and helps us manage massive demand to exhibit at the show.   Why not just more add more space?   There is quite simply no larger facility anywhere in the Washington, DC area with the crucial combination of hotel and convention space — but the more important issue is that the indie comics industry is growing even faster than SPX, drawing more and more passionate, talented creators to the medium. It would be impossible for us to expand enough to meet demand without raising prices significantly for both exhibitors and attendees alike. Even if we could locate a venue with a similar set-up and more space — and one that wouldn't totally blow our budget — consider that over two days SPX runs only about 14 hours. With 650 to 700 creators exhibiting, assuming an attendee stays on the show floor every single minute and wasted only seconds moving from table to table, that leaves a barely one minute per creator. We want folks who exhibit at SPX to have the best chance possible to make money at our show. For the time being — and we're at the Marriott through 2020 — it simply does not make sense to seek a larger exhibition hall space.   Still have questions?   Hit us up on Tumblr, Twitter or Facebook for a quick reply. We're also happy to chat if you email us at Exhibitors@spxpo.com! We appreciate your care and investment in SPX and we'll never take it for granted. Thanks so much, Sam, Jamie, Michael, Warren, and the rest of the SPX Executive Committee

Highlight's from today's Wash Post

More 'alternative facts' that explain the Trump administration [in print as

More 'alternative facts'].

Facts all come with a point of view.

By Steve Brodner
Washington Post February 5 2017, p. B2.

online at https://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2017/02/03/more-alternative-facts-that-explain-the-trump-administration/

From Bechdel to Chekhov, literary stars inspire this spring's D.C. theater choices [in print as At National, 'Fun Home' confronts family secrets].

By Peter Marks
Washington Post February 5 2017 p. E6

online at https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/theater_dance/from-bechdel-to-chekhov-literary-stars-inspire-this-springs-dc-theater-choices/2017/02/03/ec5602d4-e26b-11e6-a453-19ec4b3d09ba_story.html

Starting with 'she-ro' Wonder Woman, spring's movies look encouraging for exhilarating female roles [in print as All the world's been waiting for her].

By Ann Hornaday
Washington Post February 5 2017 p. E16

online at https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/starting-with-she-ro-wonder-woman-springs-movies-look-encouraging-for-exhilarating-female-roles/2017/02/03/91bed240-e709-11e6-b82f-687d6e6a3e7c_story.html

John Lewis's 'March' becomes nonfiction bestseller in the wake of New York Times list shakeup

By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog February 3 2016
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2017/02/03/john-lewiss-march-becomes-nonfiction-bestseller-in-the-wake-of-new-york-times-list-shakeup/

and for the heck of it, Cathy of 'Cathy' has an editorial in the NY Times:

The Women's March in My Living Room

By CATHY GUISEWITE

A version of this op-ed appears in print on February 5, 2017, on Page SR10 of the New York edition with the headline: The Women's March in My Living Room.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/04/opinion/sunday/the-womens-march-in-my-living-room.html

Alliance Française Washington's Bubble Factory Graphic Novel contest update

In order to help promote our Bubble Factory Graphic Novel contest, we are putting together a collection of personal stories of our team, our judges and last year's winners. Since this year's theme is "Childhood Memories: Les Souvenirs d'Enfance", we thought it would be fun to share our own childhood memories of graphic novels/comic books on the contest website.

 

We will be updating it on a weekly basis (every Thursday) with a new memory. We already have a few memories, feel free to check them out here: http://www.bubblefactorycontest.com/our-memories

We also have prizes for the contest winners… more to arrive soon! : http://www.bubblefactorycontest.com/prizes

Paulina Ganucheau's new book reviewed

Another Castle: Grimoire

Andrew Wheeler, illus. by Paulina Ganucheau. Oni, $15.99 trade paper (152p) ISBN 978-1-62010-311-1
http://www.publishersweekly.com/978-1-62010-311-1?

NPR on Powerless

'Powerless': A Workplace Comedy For The Superhero Era

Glen Weldon

NPR's Monkey See blog February 1, 2017
http://www.npr.org/sections/monkeysee/2017/02/01/512682773/powerless-a-workplace-comedy-for-the-superhero-era

Jason Rodriguez's Little Particle Kickstarter continues

Jason Rodriguez's Little Particle Kickstarter continues with these new stickers. He points out, "The purpose of this Kickstarter is to print a book, sure - but my purpose with this book is science advocacy."As with his Colonial Comics series, Jason's focus on educational and entertaining comics is one I agree with.

He's also noted that someone has backed having an original unique story written for them. I'm finding that curiously tempting.

Feb 11: Juana Medina at Hooray for Books

Saturday, February 11th: We are thrilled to host the book launch for author Juana Medina's latest picture book, ABC Pasta! A is for angel hair acrobat! M is for Macaroni the Magician! This beautiful circus-themed sequel to Juana's counting book, 1 Big Salad, is sure to make learning your ABCs more appetizing than ever! (If you can't make it to this event, you can still get your book signed and personalized by Juana if you place your order by close of business on Wednesday, February 8th.) 11:15 am.

1555 King Street

Alexandria, VA 22314

(703) 548-4092

info@hooray4books.com

www.hooray4books.com

Comics at the International Swimming Hall of Fame

While visiting Ft. Lauderdale, Fla., last month, my family and I stopped by the International Swimming Hall of Fame. It had a surprisingly amount of comics and cartoons related to swimming, from a comic about Benjamin Franklin inventing swim paddles to the "Triple Lindy" storyboard scene in the movie "Back to School." Enjoy the photos!

 

 

 

 

 

ReDistricted: 'Act of God'

"Act of God" by 2016 Eisner and Harvey Award Nominee Rebecca Goldfield and artist Jason Axtell (both locals) is the newest story on ReDistrictedComics.com. It's a story about the 2011 earthquake that damaged the Washington National Cathedral and the stone-mason in charge of fixing the damage.

Comic Riffs talks to Sara Glidden

Artists are using the power of comics to battle Trump's travel ban

By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog January 30 2017
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2017/01/30/artists-are-using-the-power-of-comics-to-battle-trumps-travel-ban/

Brad Meltzer, former local resident, on his books about heroes

A Best-Selling Author's Heroes for Our Time

By JAMES BARRON

A version of this article appears in print on January 30, 2017, on Page A18 of the New York edition with the headline: In the Age of Reality TV, a Best-Selling Author Calls In Real-Life Heroes.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/29/nyregion/a-best-selling-authors-heroes-for-our-time.html

Jason Rodriguez's new Kickstarter

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/JasonRodriguez/the-little-particle-that-could

The Little Particle That Could was originally released as a black & white eBook in 2012. Noel Tuazon supplied the illustrations and Dylan Todd did the cover. Today we're launching The Little Particle That Could KickStarter for a new version of the book, in print for the first time, with color for the first time by Rob Croonenborghs and re-lettered by Jason Hanley.

The Little Particle That Could is about the friendship between two elementary particles - a graviton, which guides the force of gravity, this invisible force that pulls you down to earth, and a photon, which is the source of the electromagnetic radiation we know as light.

Flugennock's Latest'n'Greatest: "Fascism Is Not An Option"

From DC's anarchist cartoonist, Mike Flugennock:

"Fascism Is Not An Option"
http://sinkers.org/stage/?p=2190

A follow-up to the poster in solidarity with the rogue National Park Service Twitter feed, here's one in solidarity with all the guys'n'gals working the new rogue NASA feed.

Big ups from an old "Apollo Kid".

Flugennock's Latest'n'Greatest: "Smokey the Bear, Remix"

From DC's anarchist cartoonist, Mike Flugennock:

"Smokey the Bear, remix"
http://sinkers.org/stage/?p=2184

Here's a quick one -- a remix of a poster I did about 11 years or so ago -- in solidarity with the dissident National Park Service employees running a "rogue" Twitter account on their own time to continue posting environmental information currently under lockdown by the White House.

Ru Xu's News Prints

Webcomics cartoonist Ru Xu has a News Prints new graphic novel out from Scholastic's Graphix imprint.  She was at Fantom Comics on Dupont Circle yesterday and I'm sure they still have signed copies.

The book is the start of a steampunk series about a young girl who pretends to be a boy to sell newspapers on the street after her family is killed in an ongoing war. She falls in with a crazed inventor and then gets involved with high-level hijinks about the conduct of the war, and also has to contend with what journalism and truth really mean.

The art is heavily-manga influenced, and I liked it quite a bit. Ms. Xu told me that one of her influences for this book is Miyazaki and one can certainly see that. She's working on the next book in the series now. Her webcomic, Saint for Rent is here.

Recommended for tweens (and aging men who like Miyazaki)

Second Story Books' great expectations

I walked past Second Story Books on Dupont Circle yesterday and saw this copy of The Art of Cartooning, usually a $10 book at best, for $1200.

  

As you can see, it's signed by several cartoonists, some of whom have passed away such as Ziegler and Fradon. Still, you could almost recreate this today.

 

Instead I spent $4 on Robert Osborn's How to Shoot Quail from the outside selection. It's beat-up but I enjoyed it.

Next to the Cartooning book was an early, perhaps first edition of the Star Wars novelization for $50.

City Paper reviews The Red Turtle

The Red Turtle is Another Studio Ghibli Delight [in print as Life's a Dream].

Michael Dudok de Wit's hand-drawn film is surreal and heartwarming.

Tricia Olszewski

Washington City Paper Jan 27, 2017 p. 24

online at http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/arts/film-tv/blog/20850266/the-red-turtle-reviewed

Jan 28: Joshua Williamson at Third Eye Comics

Comic Riffs calls out the Times, in spite of the Post's shortcomings

Like killing their Book World section...

The New York Times just killed its graphic novel bestseller lists — and authors aren't happy

By Michael Cavna

Washington Post Comic Riffs blog January 27 2017
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2017/01/27/the-new-york-times-just-killed-its-graphic-novel-bestseller-lists-and-authors-arent-happy/

NPR on Riverdale

Pop Culture Happy Hour: 'Riverdale' and Teen Soaps

Linda Holmes

Pop Culture Happy Hour

January 27, 2017
http://www.npr.org/sections/monkeysee/2017/01/27/511682110/pop-culture-happy-hour-riverdale-and-teen-soaps and
https://play.podtrac.com/npr-510282/npr.mc.tritondigital.com/PCHH_PODCAST/media/anon.npr-mp3/npr/pchh/2017/01/20170126_pchh_322.mp3

KJ Apa plays Archie Andrews on the CW's Riverdale.

'Archie Got Hot' Is A Sentence You'll Hear In New, Noir 'Riverdale'

Ari Shapiro All Things Considered January 26, 2017
http://www.npr.org/2017/01/26/511672776/archie-got-hot-is-a-sentence-youll-hear-in-new-noir-riverdale and
https://ondemand.npr.org/anon.npr-mp3/npr/atc/2017/01/20170126_atc_archie_got_hot_is_a_sentence_youll_hear_in_new_noir_riverdale.mp3 and
http://www.npr.org/templates/transcript/transcript.php?storyId=511672776

Jan 29: NewsPrints Book Release Party! at Fantom comics

NewsPrints Book Release Party!

Tomorrow at 2 PM - 4 PM

Fantom Comics

2010 P Street NW, Washington, District of Columbia 20036

Details

In celebration of the release of Ru Xu's graphic novel from Scholastic, NewsPrints, Fantom Comics will be holding a release party! There will be a presentation by the author, a Q&A, and a book signing! Also, feel free to enjoy our newsie themed photo area!

Synopsis for NewsPrints:

"Blue is an orphan who disguises herself as a newsboy. There's a war going on, and girls are expected to help the struggling economy by selling cookies. But Blue loves living and working at the Bugle, the only paper in town that tells the truth. And what's printed in the newspapers now matters more than ever.

But Blue struggles with her secret, and worries that if her friends and adopted family at the Bugle find out that she's a girl, she'll lose everything and everyone she cares about. And when she meets and befriends Crow, a boy who is also not what he seems, together they seek the freedom to be their true selves... and to save each other."

The Post on 'The Red Turtle' cartoon

'The Red Turtle,' from Studio Ghibli, is a lyrical escape into silence and solitude [in print as Cast away with no words... and a rosy reptile].

By Ann Hornaday
Washington Post January 27 2017, p. Weekend 29

online at https://www.washingtonpost.com/goingoutguide/movies/the-red-turtle-from-studio-ghibli-is-a-lyrical-escape-into-silence-and-solitude/2017/01/26/fdd4ff70-e193-11e6-a453-19ec4b3d09ba_story.html

Q&A: 'The Red Turtle' director talks about making his first feature film

By Michael O'Sullivan
Washington Post January 26 2017
https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/qanda-the-red-turtle-director-talks-about-making-his-first-feature-film/2017/01/26/aee3465a-e266-11e6-a547-5fb9411d332c_story.html

Washington Blade contributing editorial cartoonist papers donated

Mike Ritter Collection donated to The Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum

January 24, 2017 / Caitlin McGurk /
https://library.osu.edu/blogs/cartoons/2017/01/24/mike-ritter-collection-donated-to-the-billy-ireland-cartoon-library-museum/

He did cartoons for the Washington Blade and the library would like to hear from you if you knew him or own original art.

Real life continues to get comic book weird

A comic book nerd won a city council seat — and was sworn in holding his Captain America shield

By Cleve R. Wootson Jr.
Washington Post Post Nation blog January 25 2017
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2017/01/25/a-comic-book-nerd-won-a-city-council-seat-and-was-sworn-in-holding-his-captain-america-shield

Another cartoon diary of the Women's March

Drawing the Women's March and the Way Forward

By Ali Fitzgerald

January 24, 2017

http://www.newyorker.com/culture/culture-desk/drawing-the-womens-march-and-the-way-forward

The Post (and NY Times) on Archie's Riverdale tv show

Both liked it.

There's something arch about 'Riverdale' [online as 'Riverdale' isn't about the same old Archie. (For starters, he's having sex with Ms. Grundy.)]

By Hank Stuever
Washington Post January 26 2016 p. C1

online at https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/tv/riverdale-isnt-about-the-same-old-archie-for-starters-hes-having-sex-with-ms-grundy/2017/01/25/9dcfedd6-e1c2-11e6-a547-5fb9411d332c_story.html

In 'Riverdale,' Archie Is Hot and Haunted

By JAMES PONIEWOZIK

A version of this review appears in print on January 26, 2017, on Page C2 of the New York edition with the headline: Sex, Drugs and Archie

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/25/arts/television/review-in-riverdale-archie-is-hot-and-haunted.html

Comic Riffs rounds up editorial cartoonists on Obama

What America's cartoonists will miss — and won't miss — about drawing President Obama

By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog January 20 2017
 https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2017/01/20/what-americas-cartoonists-will-miss-and-wont-miss-about-drawing-president-obama/

More on "March's" new awards

"March: Book Three" Makes History at the YMAs | ALA Midwinter 2017

By Christina Vercelletto and Sarah Bayliss
January 24, 2017
http://www.slj.com/2017/01/industry-news/march-book-three-makes-history-at-the-ymas-ala-midwinter-2017/

Lauren Weinstein also draws the Women's March

Drawing the Women's March on Washington

By Lauren R. Weinstein January 23, 2017
http://www.villagevoice.com/news/drawing-the-womens-march-on-washington-9598796

Lauren Weinstein, an illustrator who draws the Normel Person strip for the Voice, attended the Women's March on Washington with her family this past weekend.

Another diary strip on the Women's March

Half a Million March on Washington

The Women's March drew people from all over the country - and the globe.

by Allyson Shwed

The Nib January 23 2017

https://thenib.com/half-a-million-march-on-washington

A Washington cartoon (presented without comment)

Courtesy of the Library of Congress
http://www.loc.gov/pictures/item/97511830/

• Title: "To begin with, 'I'll paint the town red'" / Hamilton.
• Creator(s): Hamilton, Grant E., artist
• Date Created/Published: 1885 January 31.
• Medium: 1 print (2 pages) : chromolithograph.
• Summary: Cartoon showing "Democracy" portrayed as the devil holding a bucket labeled "Bourbon Principles" and a paintbrush (in which appears a profile caricature of Grover Cleveland), both dripping red paint with which he plans to "paint the town"; he is standing on a wall overlooking a view of Washington, D.C. showing mostly government buildings.
• Reproduction Number: LC-DIG-ppmsca-10482 (digital file from original print) LC-USZC4-5418 (color film copy transparency)
• Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication.
  
• Call Number: Illus. in AP101.J8 1884-1885 Case X [P&P]
• Repository: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA
• Notes:
  • Illus. in: Judge, v. 7, no. 172, 1885 January 31, pp. 8-9.

March marches on

John Lewis' Graphic Memoir Wins 4 American Library Association Awards

Lynn Neary

NPR's The Two-Way blog January 23, 2017
http://www.npr.org/sections/thetwo-way/2017/01/23/511230924/john-lewis-graphic-novel-wins-4-american-library-association-awards