Catching up with SPX 2021 - Guests and Ignatz Awards

Small Press Expo Announces Tillie Walden, Shira Spector, Hartley Lin, Simon Hanselmann and Keiler Roberts as Special Guests for SPX 2021   Bethesda, Maryland - August 19, 2021   Media Release - Small Press Expo is proud to announce the first group of Special Guests for SPX 2021. The virtual festival takes place on Saturday September 18 with live and pre-recorded programming about the amazing world of independent and small press comics, as well as a livestream of the annual Ignatz Awards. Additional Special Guests will be announced over the next few weeks. See the Special Guest page on the SPX 2021 web site for more information.   SPX 2021 is honored to have the following creators as Special Guests to this year's show:

Visit the SPX 2021 Website for More Info

Tillie Walden Alone In Space compiles award-winning cartoonist Tillie Walden's short comics into a comprehensive collection of the early work which shot her to fame on both sides of the Atlantic. We start with Tillie's first published comic The End of Summer, as well as I Love This Part, Tillie's bittersweet breakout story of small-town teen romance, and A City Inside, a study of growth and adulthood through a surreal and poetic recounting of one woman's life. Finally we share never-before collected early sketches, webcomics, and short stories from magazines, such as What It's Like To Be Gay In An All-Girls Middle School. If Tillie Walden is the future of comics, then the future starts here.

Shira Spector Shira Spector literally paints a vivid portrait of the most eventful 10 years of her life, encompassing her tenacious struggle to get pregnant, the emotional turmoil of her father's cancer diagnosis and eventual death, and her recollections of past relationships with her parents and her partner. Set in a kaleidoscope of Montreal and Toronto, Red Rock Baby Candy from Fantagraphics unfolds as one of the most formally inventive comics in the history of the medium.The drawing is visceral, symbolic, and naturalistic and is the most formally revolutionary visual storytelling since Emil Ferris's My Favorite Thing is Monsters. Photo courtesy- Zoë Gemelli

Hartley Lin After insomniac law clerk Frances Scarland is recruited by her firm's most notorious senior partner, she seems poised for serious advancement—whether she wants it or not. But when her impulsive best friend Vickie decides to move to the opposite coast for an acting role, Frances' confusing existence starts to implode. Young Frances from Adhouse Books is an intimate study of work chaos and close friendships over time. "Hartley Lin builds out a young woman's life in illuminating detail and agonizing nuance… the draftsmanship is sumptuous and the storytelling is top-notch, making for a narrative meal that leaves one satisfied and enriched." —Vulture

Simon Hanselmann In March 2020, as the planet began to enter lockdown, acclaimed cartoonist Simon Hanselmann decided that what the world needed most was free, easily accessible entertainment, so he set out to make the greatest webcomic ever created! The result is also certain to be one of the most acclaimed and eagerly anticipated graphic novels of 2021, Crisis Zone from Fantagraphics. As the Covid-19 pandemic continued to escalate far beyond any reasonable expectations, Crisis Zone escalated right alongside, in real time, with daily posts on Instagram. Over the course of 2020, Crisis Zone has amassed unprecedented amounts of new fans to the Megg and Mogg universe and is presented here, unabridged and uncensored, with a slew of added pages and scenes deleted from the webcomic, as well as an extensive "Director's Commentary" from Hanselmann himself.

Keiler Roberts My Begging Chart is Keiler Roberts's breakout graphic novel from Drawn & Quarterly is heralded by The Chicago Reader, Chicago Tribune, Publishers Weekly, and more. In it, Roberts mines the passing moments of family life to deliver an affecting and funny account of what it means to simultaneously exist as a mother, daughter, wife, and artist. Drawn in an unassuming yet charming staccato that mimics the awkward rhythm of life, no one's foibles are left unspared, most often the author's own.

Small Press Expo Announces Joel Christian Gill, Ashley Robin Franklin, Walter Scott and Matt Madden as Special Guests for SPX 2021   Bethesda, Maryland - August 27, 2021   Media Release - Small Press Expo is proud to announce the second group of Special Guests for SPX 2021. The virtual festival takes place on Saturday September 18 with live and pre-recorded programming about the amazing world of independent and small press comics, as well as a livestream of the annual Ignatz Awards. Additional Special Guests will be announced over the next few weeks. See the Special Guest page on the SPX 2021 web site for more information.   SPX 2021 is honored to have the following creators as Special Guests to this year's show: Visit the SPX 2021 Website for More Info Joel Christian Gill For the third book in the bestselling Tales of the Talented Tenth series, Joel Christian Gill brings Robert Smalls to life by telling the true story of the enslaved African who pulled off one of the most daring and largest heists of the Civil War. Come along for the adventure as Robert earns a job working for the C.S.S. Planter, escapes to freedom, goes on to become a first-generation Black politician, and makes history by writing and leading the passage of legislation that led to the United States' first free and compulsory public school system. Tales of the Talented Tenth is a historical comic series that focuses on the adventures of amazing African Americans in action. Ashley Robin Franklin Fusing sexual intimacy with cosmic dread, Ashley Robin Franklin's latest work, a queer horror tale One Millions Tiny Fires from Silver Sprocket follows Briana and Cassie, a couple in an isolated Texas farmhouse, whose rural fantasy has soured into a tense nightmare. After discovering an unknown object that had crash landed from the sky, Briana begins to suspect that something uncanny is happening to her partner. Walter Scott Wendy is an aspiring contemporary artist whose adventures have taken her to galleries, art openings, and parties in Los Angeles, Tokyo, and Toronto. In Wendy, Master of Art from Drawn & Quarterly, Walter Scott's sly wit and social commentary zero in on MFA culture as our hero decides to hunker down and complete a master of fine arts at the University of Hell in small-town Ontario. At its heart, this is a book about the give and take of community—about someone learning how to navigate empathy and boundaries, and to respect herself. It is deeply funny and endlessly relatable as it shows Wendy growing up from Millennial art party girl to successful artist, friend, teacher—and Master of Art. Matt Madden Matt Madden's most recent book, Ex Libris from Uncivilized Books, revolves around a character trapped in a room with nothing but a futon and a bookcase full of comics. As they peruse covers, read stories and fragments of stories, they begin to suspect that the comics contain hidden messages and… a threat. Fiction and reality blur; sanity and madness become increasingly intertwined as the reader becomes convinced the key to their predicament hides between the panels of the strange books. With a dizzying array of inventive visual and narrative styles, Ex Libris continues the line of exploration and play that Madden initiated with 99 Ways to Tell a Story: Exercises in Style. Ex Libris is a tribute to the meta-fictional tradition of writers like Jorge Luis Borges, Julio Cortázar, Vladimir Nabokov, and Italo Calvino. 2021 Ignatz Awards Nominees 2021 Ignatz Awards logo by Theo Stultz For Immediate Release Contact: Dan Stafford Email: dan@smallpressexpo.com Bethesda, Maryland – The Small Press Expo (SPX), the preeminent showcase for the exhibition of independent comics, graphic novels and alternative political cartoons, is pleased to announce the 2021 nominees for the annual presentation of the Ignatz Awards, a celebration of outstanding achievement in comics and cartooning. Presented virtually, SPX 2021 will feature a full slate of programming along with a livestream of the Ignatz Awards ceremony. Once again the Ignatz jurors have selected an amazing slate of nominees that reflect the diverse voices comprising the SPX community. On behalf of the Executive Committee, we want to thank the jurors for all of their hard work, and to congratulate all of the creators for giving comics readers these incredible works during such trying times. Good luck to everyone!!!! - Warren Bernard Executive Director The Ignatz Awards are a juried festival prize, the first of such in the United States comic book industry. Traditionally, the winners are determined by attendees of the in-person event. This year, as was the case in 2020, voting is open to all who register to receive a ballot. Ignatz Awards nominees are determined by a panel of comics professionals. The 2021 Ignatz jurors are Sunmi, Nguyên Khôi Nguyễn, and Daniel Elkin. The Ignatz Awards ceremony will be live-streamed via the SPX Youtube channel at 8PM on September 18. Additional Information about the nominees can be found at www.smallpressexpo.com. BALLOT & VOTING INFORMATION Ballots will be emailed on Thursday, September 2 to everyone on SPX's email lists. Voting begins Thursday, September 2 and ends on Sunday, September 12 at 11:59 PM (EDT). Please check your spam folder if you do not see your ballot. If you requested a ballot in 2020 or are already subscribed to SPX emails, you do not need to sign up again. If you need a ballot, Request one here. New sign-ups will receive a ballot via email within 48-72 hours. 2021 IGNATZ NOMINEES Outstanding Artist Ashanti Fortson - Leaf Lace (Hiveworks) Lee Lai - Stone Fruit (Fantagraphics) Arantza Peña Popo - Lavender Scare (self-published) Damien Roudeau - Crude (Graphic Mundi) Karl Stevens - Penny (Chronicle) Outstanding Anthology A Queer Prisoner's Anthology IV - ed. by Casper Cendre (ABO) Bystander (Kadak Collective) Confined Before Covid: A Pandemic Anthology by LGBTQ Prisoners (ABO) First Wave: Comics from the Early Months of China's Outbreak - ed. by Xinmei Liu (Paradise Systems) Glaeolia 2 (Glacier Bay Books) Outstanding Collection Sami Alwani - The Pleasure of the Text (Conundrum Press) Ancco - Nineteen (Drawn & Quarterly) Abby Howard - The Crossroads at Midnight (Iron Circus Comics) Tess Scilipoti - Do You Think I Look Like a Girl? (self-published) Kuniko Tsurita - The Sky is Blue with a Single Cloud (Drawn & Quarterly) Outstanding Comic EA Bethea - Francis Bacon (Domino Books) Ashanti Fortson - Leaf Lace (Hiveworks) Maddi Gonzalez - Rhapsodie (Fantagraphics) Adam Szym - A Cordial Invitation (Fantagraphics) Dominique Duong – The Dog & The Cat (self-published) Outstanding Graphic Novel Alex Graham - Dog Biscuits (self-published) Jim Terry - Come Home, Indio (Street Noise Books) Lee Lai - Stone Fruit (Fantagraphics) Sloane Leong - A Map to the Sun (First Second) Nico Harriman - Mr. H: Portrait of a High School Art Teacher (self-published) Outstanding Minicomic Brendan Leach - Slum Clearance Symphony (Czap Books) Casey Nowak - Bodyseed (Diskette Press) Arantza Peña Popo - Lavender Scare (self-published) Whit Taylor - Montana Diary (Silver Sprocket) Leda Zawacki - The Drain Pipe (self-published) Outstanding Online Comic Michael DeForge - Birds of Maine Ashanti Fortson - Leaf Lace (Hiveworks) Shing Yin Khor - I Do Not Want to Write Today Susannah Lohr - Shadows Become You Alec Robbins - Mr. Boop Outstanding Series Ex.Mag (Peow Studios) Malarkey - November Garcia (Birdcage Bottom Books) Ley Lines - ed. by Kevin Czapiewski (Czap Books) Tongues - Anders Nilsen (self-published) A Queer Prisoner's Anthology IV - ed. by Casper Cendre (ABO) Outstanding Story Raquelle Jac - Misguided Love from Now #9 (Fantagraphics) Ancco - Nineteen (Drawn & Quarterly) Yeong-shin Ma - Moms (Drawn & Quarterly) Freddy Carrasco - Personal Companion from Ex.Mag #1 (Peow Studios) Stan Stanley - The Hazards of Love (Simon & Schuster) Promising New Talent Royal Dunlap Nico Harriman Zoe Maeve Pa-Luis Tess Scilipoti Congratulations to all our nominees! Key Dates for the 2021 Ignatz Awards September 2 - Initial ballots emailed and voting begins September 12 • 11:59 PM (EDT) - Voting for the 2021 Ignatz Awards ends September 18 • 8:00 PM (EDT) - Online presentation of Ignatz Award winners The Ignatz Awards ceremony will be live-streamed on the SPX Youtube channel. Further details on presenters will be given at a later date.  

Time Lapse: TODD MCFARLANE Signs 1600+ Copies of KING SPAWN

Johnny Rose and Josh Geppi

Aug 25, 2021

PREVIEWSworld

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=96Nzchn6V7A

On August 12, 2021, fan-favorite creator Todd McFarlane visited the Diamond Comics Distributors office in Timonium, MD to signs over 1600 copies of KING SPAWN #1 for comic shop retailers. Here's a look at Todd's day at the office. KING SPAWN #1 hits comic shops August 25th: https://previewsworld.com/Catalog/JUN... Edited by Johnny Rose Produced by Josh Geppi

Washington City Paper scans begin life online

The DC public library has just announced it, while also looking for help to index it. For the first issue of February 20, 1981, there are two comics that I'm unfamiliar with - 'On the Corner' and 'G Street' both of which seem homegrown and lasted at least into the Sept issue I looked at. By the time I was reading it in 1983 at GWU, I seem to recall the standard alternative cartoonists of the time being in the back pages. FWIW, these are scanned from microfilm, and are thus darker than they should be, and also appear to be hosted by the Internet Archive on the back end.

Celebrate the 40th Anniversary of the Washington City Paper by helping us describe our new digital collection, and make more issues available online. The first year of the paper is available now in Dig DC.

Learn to create descriptions, called metadata, at this hands-on virtual event. No prior knowledge of metadata or the City Paper is required to participate. All skills levels are welcome.

This event will be completely virtual and registration is required. 

2 comics events at Library of Congress National Book Festival

The 2021 Library of Congress National Book Festival is Sept. 17-26, with live author conversations every day. On Sept. 17 at 10 a.m. ET, 35 video-on-demand programs will become available to watch anytime. This year's Festival also features interactive presentations with Library of Congress experts, a national television special and related events on PBS, NPR podcasts, and author interviews on Washington Post Live. Check out Festival Near You to discover related events from local organizations.

https://www.loc.gov/events/2021-national-book-festival/schedule/

With Great Responsibility: The Spider-Man Origin Story in Art and Comic Books Thursday
September 23, 2021
3:00 pm - 4:00 pm EDT
Add to calendar 

Let's share a virtual moment with the Spider-Man origin story — which includes Stan Lee's story and Steve Ditko's art — from "Amazing Fantasy" #15 (1962). Look at selected images from the drawings and hear experts' insights into the collaboration that led to the development of the teen superhero.

More information at zoomgov.com External.

Genre: Your Library of Congress

Event | lectures and symposia

Live Q&A with Trung Le Nguyen Saturday
September 25, 2021
2:00 pm - 2:30 pm EDT
Add to calendar 

Trung Le Nguyen, author of "The Magic Fish" (Random House), answers your questions. Don't forget to check out Trung Le Nguyen's video where he discusses his book.

More information at loc.gov.

Genre: Teens

Flugennock's Latest'n'Greatest: "Stealing Our Souls"

From DC's anarchist cartoonist, Mike Flugennock -

"Stealing Our Souls"
http://sinkers.org/stage/?p=3301

There's a new strain of Covidiot virus going around among healthcare 
workers — proof that Stupid can strike any of us, though if you 
consider how long it takes to become a doctor vs. how long it takes to 
become a nurse, it all makes sense.

There have been a couple of outbreaks of the new Stupid Variant in the 
past week, in the Shenandoah Valley of Virginia, and in New York. A 
close read of the thread in which Max Blumenthal tweets the NYT 
article tells me, personally, that Blumenthal is about to dive down 
the anti-vax rabbit hole if he hasn't already. He seems to imply at 
one point that PhD's were among the most reluctant to take the 
vaccine, which proves nothing except that having a PhD doesn't make 
you immune to the Stupid Variant — nor does not being a Trumpster.

But, back to the outbreaks of Covidiot Virus. You know how back in the 
1970s and '80s you'd read every so often about some National 
Geographic documentary crew going deep into the Amazon jungle or 
someplace and encountering some tribe that's lived in isolation for a 
thousand years, and they see the cameras and video images of 
themselves for the first time and freak out because they think the 
cameras are stealing their souls? Well, how different is that from 
these doorknobs who think that Bill Gates is putting microchips in 
vaccines, or that taking cow dewormer and shitting out your stomach 
lining will cure Covid-19?

9 x 17 inch medium-res color .jpg image, 1.2mb

Also includes the "Infected Mix"


----------

"A Hospital Finds an Unlikely Group Opposing Vaccination: Its 
Workers", Kimiko de Freytas-Tamura in the New York Times, 08.24.2021
https://www.nytimes.com/2021/08/22/nyregion/staten-island-covid-vaccine-workers.html

"The stereotype of The Unvaccinated as MAGA neanderthals is falling 
apart almost as fast as the Pfizer efficacy rate" — Max Blumenthal 
@MaxBlumenthal on Twitter, 08.24.2021
https://twitter.com/maxblumenthal/status/1430355070235860997

"A July 2021 Carnegie Mellon study revealed 'the most educated group' 
consisting of PhD's to be the most strongly and consistently reluctant 
to take emergency use Covid vaccines..." — Max Blumenthal 
@MaxBlumenthal on Twitter, 08.24.2021
https://twitter.com/MaxBlumenthal/status/1430375565387878401




Mike Flugennock, Political Cartoons: http://www.sinkers.org/stage
and follow me on Mastodon at https://mastodon.social/@flugennock

8/28: Fantom Comics online bookclubs

>>>Saturday, August 28th @ 4pm

>>>BLACK EXCELLENCE BOOK CLUB

Black Excellence Book Club presents, "Genius, Volume 1: Siege"

Join the Pop Culture Uncovered podcast and Fantom Comics for a discussion of, "Genius, Volume 1: Siege", written by Marc Bernardin and Adam Freeman, with art by Afua Richardson.

From the book jacket: "Winner of Top Cow's 2008 PILOT SEASON...GENIUS stands out in a world of science fiction and superheroes. Full of stark verisimilitude, painfully dark humor, and disturbing cultural relevance, this book will earn its place in any comic fan's collection - however conventional or unconventional the taste."

Facebook event link: https://fb.me/e/2FBhKFRUx

Get your copy now so you can join the discussion: https://stores.comichub.com/fantom_comics/products/genius-trade-paperback-volume-1.00


>>>Saturday, August 28th @ 6pm

>>>MANGA BOOK CLUB

Fantom Comics Manga Book Club presents, "My Little Monster, Volume 1"

Following the Black Excellence Book Club, jump on Zoom for the very popular Fantom Comics Manga Book Club, with this month's featured manga, "My Little Monster, Volume 1," by Robico.

From the publisher: "Mizutani is a self-absorbed overachiever, concerned only with maintaining the highest grades in school. Haru is an impulsive short tempered brute, who scares everyone with his explosive bursts of violence. Haru gets suspended on the first day of school when he encounters some bullies harassing a student and dispatches the bullies with great bloody violence. Mizutani is tasked with delivering school materials to Haru who interprets this as an act of friendship and latches on to Mizutani, much to her dismay. And so begins a strange and potentially combustible relationship!"

Zoom event registration link: https://bit.ly/monster0828

We got the book back in stock!

Get your copy now so you can join the discussion: https://stores.comichub.com/fantom_comics/products/my-little-monster-graphic-novel-volume-1.00

John K. Snyder III Discusses Peacemaker’s Debut after Suicide Squad movie

John K. Snyder III Discusses Peacemaker's Debut

Scoop August 27 2021

https://scoop.previewsworld.com/Home/4/1/73/1017?ArticleID=254252

NPR on non-Western comics

For These Comic Artists, Heritage And Folklore Are Superpowers 

Zack Quaintance

August 27, 2021

https://www.npr.org/2021/08/27/1031382980/for-these-comic-artists-heritage-and-folklore-are-superpowers

NPR reviews a Chinese cartoonist collected by Canadian publisher D&Q

Take A Magical Mystery Tour With This Chinese Comic Artist [ Zuo Ma's Night Bus]

THÚY ĐINH

August 26, 2021

https://www.npr.org/2021/08/26/1031090182/zuo-ma-comic-artist-night-bus-review

Al Goodwyn's cartoons for 8/26/21

EDITORIAL CARTOONS http://xp4zn.mjt.lu/nl2/xp4zn/58j37.html

http://xp4zn.mjt.lu/nl2/xp4zn/58j37.html

Australia’s PM becomes the only politician ever to suggest 'The Croods' as a policy prescription

Australia's prime minister compares coronavirus exit strategy to 'The Croods' movie [in print as Invoking 'The Croods,' leader urges Australians to 'go out and live again']

'We can't stay in the cave,' Scott Morrison said, comparing the events in a DreamWorks movie to lockdowns

Adela Suliman

Washington Post August 25, 2021

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2021/08/24/scott-morrison-the-croods-australia-covid/

This week's comic in The Lily

Our culture fetishizes youth. I want to celebrate my successes at any age.

I'm letting go of the 'life timeline' society has created for me

https://www.thelily.com/our-culture-fetishizes-youth-i-want-to-celebrate-my-successes-at-any-age/

(Pepita Sándwich for The Washington Post) (Pepita Sándwich for The Washington Post)

Pepita Sándwich

August 22, 2021

Free Comic Book Day comics arriving in 2 research libraries

With help and gratitude from Big Planet Comics (Bethesda), Fantom Comics, and Victory Comics, I was able to put together 2 almost complete sets for the Library of Congress and Michigan State University (as well as for myself, natch, because I am a true collector). I delivered the LoC's set yesterday, and am almost ready to mail the other set to MSU.  Both sets are light on five comics - in case there's any other donors out there. And I do have extras if there are any other research libraries looking for issues.

Missing are:

APR210042

10 TON PRESS

FCBD 2021 10 TON OF FUN SAMPLER

AUG 14, 2021

APR210030

MAD CAVE STUDIOS

FCBD 2021 BOUNTIFUL GARDEN #1

AUG 14, 2021

APR210033

NEW ENGLAND COMICS

FCBD 2021 THE TICK

AUG 14, 2021

APR210020

DEVILS DUE

FCBD 2021 TRAILER PARK BOYS

AUG 14, 2021

 

 

APR210038

SCOUT COMICS

FCBD 2021 WHITE ASH SEASON 2 #0

AUG 14, 2021

 

 

Awesome Con in Bruce Guthrie's photos

They're all here - http://www.bguthriephotos.com/graphlib.nsf/Merge?OpenAgent&merge=DC_Awesome_2021

Like everyone, the Walking Dead have Metro issues

Here's What A Post-Apocalyptic Metro System Looks Like, According To 'The Walking Dead'

Jordan Pascale

DCist Aug 23, 2021

https://dcist.com/story/21/08/23/walking-dead-season-11-premiere-metro-wmata-negan/

The Post already reviews Shang-Chi ... 2 weeks before opening

Marvel's 'Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings' breaks new ground, and has fun doing so

Michael O'Sullivan

Washington Post August 23 2021

https://www.washingtonpost.com/goingoutguide/movies/shang-chi-and-the-legend-of-the-ten-rings-movie-review/2021/08/20/6083ca02-00f7-11ec-a664-4f6de3e17ff0_story.html

For some reason, the Post reviewed Paw Patrol.

'Paw Patrol: The Movie': More like 'Aww Patrol.' [in print as Making the leap from TV to movies is awfully cut and cuddly].

By Kristen Page Kirby

Washington Post August 20, 2021  p. Weekend 20

online at https://www.washingtonpost.com/goingoutguide/movies/paw-patrol-the-movie-review/2021/08/17/cc97b78a-fad0-11eb-943a-c5cf30d50e6a_story.html

That darn Lisa Benson

A dangerous straw man [Lisa Benson; letter]

Ellen Bass, Washington

Washington Post August 21 2021, p.A17

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2021/08/20/readers-critique-post-haunting-photograph-afghanistan-that-spoke-volumes/