Comics Research Bibliography citations update, 9/23/2025

"I can't do that, Dave": How artificial stupidity almost killed Kibbles 'n' Bits [comics journalism]

Heidi MacDonald on 09/23/2025 https://www.comicsbeat.com/i-cant-do-that-dave-how-artificial-stupidity-almost-killed-kibbles-n-bits/

 

EXCLUSIVE: IDW JOINS NEON ICHIBAN LINEUP AS DIGITAL SPACE CONTINUES ITS RESURGENCE

Rob Salkowitz on September 22, 2025   https://icv2.com/articles/columns/view/60602/exclusive-idw-joins-neon-ichiban-lineup-digital-space-continues-its-resurgence

 

'Afraid for my life': Pender County Commissioner says he feels threatened by political cartoon in county paper

By Delaney Tarpley

WECT Sep. 17, 2025

https://www.wect.com/2025/09/18/afraid-my-life-pender-county-commissioner-says-he-feels-threatened-by-political-cartoon-county-paper/

 

One of the world's best cartoonists is set to appear at The Word [David Haldane]

By Ryan Smith

Shields Gazette 17th Sep 2025

https://www.shieldsgazette.com/news/one-of-the-worlds-best-cartoonists-is-set-to-appear-at-the-word-5321192

 

Cartoonist David Haldane on Blyth library, Private Eye and the North

  Lyndsey Skinner | May 23, 2024

https://www.northernsoul.me.uk/interview-david-haldane/

 

Reviews: Spent: A Comic Novel [Bechdel]

Tate McFadden | September 23, 2025  https://www.tcj.com/reviews/spent-a-comic-novel/

 

Interview: John Claude Bemis on RODEO HAWKINS AND THE DAUGHTERS OF MAYHEM

Javier Perez on 09/23/2025 https://www.comicsbeat.com/interview-john-claude-bemis-on-rodeo-hawkins-and-the-daughters-of-mayhem/

 

The Beat Digest 09/23/25: THUNDER CHILD rises in WAR OF THE WORLDS sidequel

Christopher Chiu-Tabet on 09/23/2025 https://www.comicsbeat.com/digest-092325/

Brian K. Vaughan discusses sex, gun crime & supernatural romance in the unique world of SPECTATORS
 Forbidden Planet TV   Sep 17, 2025 Conversations with Andrew Sumner
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kx6hIZGxxqM

Image Comics announces 27-day comics shop exclusivity window
Heidi MacDonald on 09/23/2025 https://www.comicsbeat.com/image-comics-announces-27-day-comics-shop-exclusivity-window/

The Comic Watchers- Episode 281: Jim Zub And The Journey With Conan The Barbarian
Comic Watch
  Sep 18, 2025
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WPmWC9s9lgU

Prowling the Streets of Cat Francisco with 'Gabby's Dollhouse: The Movie's Director & Head of Character Animation
Ramin Zahed
September 22, 2025
https://www.animationmagazine.net/2025/09/prowling-the-streets-of-cat-francisco-with-gabbys-dollhouse-the-movies-director-head-of-character-animation/
This article was written for the
September-October '25 issue of Animation Magazine (No. 352).

'Bob's Burgers' Creator Loren Bouchard Talks About His Big-Hearted Show's 300th Episode and 16th Season
 Ramin Zahed
September 22, 2025
 https://www.animationmagazine.net/2025/09/bobs-burgers-creator-loren-bouchard-talks-about-his-big-hearted-shows-300th-episode/

J Alex Morrissey
TRADECRAFT Sep 23, 2025
 EPISODE 245 MIKE OEMING, Comic Book Artist and Writer
 https://jalexmorrissey.substack.com/p/episode-245-mike-oeming

Graphic Novel Reviews: Enchanted Lion Books
  Liz Brown
International Journal of Comic Art blog September 23, 2025 https://ijoca.blogspot.com/2025/09/graphic-novel-reviews-enchanted-lion.html

Book Review: Chinese Animation. Volume 1: Religion, Philosophy and Aesthetics
reviewed by John A. Lent, editor and publisher, International Journal of Comic Art
International Journal of Comic Art blog September 23, 2025
https://ijoca.blogspot.com/2025/09/book-review-chinese-animation-volume-1.html

Thomas Paul Thesen. Chinese Animation. Volume 1:  Religion, Philosophy and Aesthetics. Ahrensburg:  Thesensches Offizin, tredition GmbH, 2025.

Burns, Feazell, Murakami, and Plant given the nod at CXC 2025
Dean Simons on 09/23/2025 https://www.comicsbeat.com/burns-feazell-murakami-and-plant-given-the-nod-at-cxc-2025/

Review: A 'Kavalier & Clay' Opera Doesn't Meet Its Moment
The Metropolitan Opera opened its season with a superficial adaptation of Michael Chabon's novel "The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay."
By Joshua Barone
A version of this article appears in print on Sept. 23, 2025, Section C, Page 1 of the New York edition with the headline: A Weighty Opening
https://www.nytimes.com/2025/09/22/arts/music/kavalier-clay-met-opera-review.html

Dave Richards Writes Awesome Stuff  Sep 23, 2025
 Green Archer Comics Kickstarts the Adventures of a Forgotten Pulp Hero
https://www.patreon.com/posts/green-archer-of-139558518

Afl. 90 - Hoe geld op de juiste plekken kan zorgen voor grote transities [Dutch cartoonist Betje at 59:00]
Maartje Bregman en Tessel Zandstra
Happy Times Radio (September 16 2025): https://open.spotify.com/episode/6XxByxsHC0nRDeFAXM7yP1

Superfan Podcast  Sep 23, 2025
Tripwire's Joel Meadows! [comics journalism]
https://spfanpodcast.substack.com/p/tripwires-joel-meadows

Mo Willems on How He's Forced Millions of Adults to Get Silly
The author of Don't Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! reveals his tricks for breaking down even the most serious parents.
By Dan Kois
Sept 22, 2025 https://slate.com/culture/2025/09/mo-willems-dont-let-the-pigeon-kids-books.html

Local Comic Shop Day: From Hype to Impact
  Atom! Freeman and Brian Garside
Prana: Direct Market Solutions Sept 23 2025
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4DwxAHt_O0

Words, Images, & Worlds with Ray Fawkes [The Phantom comic book]
Jason DeHart
 Sep 22, 2025
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7b7tW9ZbJIk

Words, Images, & Worlds: Racer X Edition with Mark Russell
Jason DeHart
 Sep 23, 2025
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_C4-x2cfrfs

Words, Images, & Worlds with Liniers & Angelica Del Campo
Jason DeHart
  Sep 14, 2025
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EMzPYbXgZ4g

Words, Images, & Worlds with Ralph Macchio
Jason DeHart
 Sep 20, 2025
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3dx7rL2I7IQ

The Comic Obsessive Episode 40: The One with The Uncanny Omar [fandom, comics collecting]
Jason DeHart and Adam Pyles
  Sep 11, 2025
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quCVKZhfOMc

Ryland Grant – Making Evel Knievel Comics & Indie Films
  Sep 23, 2025 Word Balloon Comics Podcast
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-WiU9hOZqU

Evel Knievel Comics From Ryland Grant
wordballoon Sept 23 2025
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MfweLmoLjag

Greg Pak Rolls The Dice on Dungeons and Dragons
Wordballoon  Sep 19, 2025
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwjVnxSRLU0

Planet Hulk Revisited: Greg Pak on Legacies and New Frontiers
Sep 23, 2025 Word Balloon Comics Podcast
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZZv7SokFUnE

A CONAN MILESTONE With Jim Zub
Wordballoon   Sep 15, 2025
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qQKmz393FBQ

Mark Russell Talks Racer X Wonder Woman and more
Wordballoon   Sep 9, 2025
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5xMYM_0oBd4

Jimmy Palmiotti & Amanda Conner: Punisher's Return and more
John Siuntres
word balloon   Sep 11, 2025
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5iWEMGKTlRc

Make a Boring Comic with Nick Bertozzi - SAW Free Friday Night Comics Workshop
Sequential Artists Workshop
Sep 19, 2025
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O09lurUCq7g

Comic Art Collector Ted VanLiew from Superworld Comics
Bill Cox
CAF+ Sept 23 2025
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YZuDA7sSrkg

Comic Art Flip with OA Collector Alex Johnson
CAF+  Sep 18, 2025  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmV7BlFBNdQ

Original Comic Art For Sale from Anthony Snyder
 CAF+  Sep 17, 2025
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1FVEvJOZe4

Comic Art Collector Tom Perreira - Human Torch Collector
CAF+  Sep 16, 2025
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XF7-dyDpNhM

A Page I love with Comic Artist Paul Pope
Kevin Sharp
CAF+  Sep 14, 2025
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aBcIXPqbpF4

Ask The Cartoonists! | Pencil To Pencil 9/10/25
Jamar Nicholas, Mike Manley And Steve Conley
Pencil to Pencil Sep 10, 2025
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WW6_f6DOxzo

Shop Talk | Pencil To Pencil 9/17/25
Jamar Nicholas, Steve Conley And Mike Manley
Pencil to Pencil Sep 17, 2025
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z8johbaM8rs

COFFEE BREAK W/ JN 9/18/25
Jamar Nicholas,
Pencil to Pencil   Sep 18, 2025
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MjSP_9tQJUQ

Pop Culture SquadCast - Live: Episode #110 With Special Guest Zack Quaintance
  Sep 16, 2025 Pop Culture SquadCast - Live
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MRL8s754_oY

Pop Culture SquadCast - Live: Episode #109 With Special Guest Tyler Mane [The Last Spartan: Red Tape]
  Sep 11, 2025 Pop Culture SquadCast - Live
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2myBLkEbYaM

Pop Culture SquadCast - Live: Episode #108 With Special Guest Matt Bors
  Sep 9, 2025 Pop Culture SquadCast - Live
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ftWFKcq5Oik

Episode 64: Writer Steven Grant talks about Marvel, the Hardy Boys, and things in between
Dennis Mallonee
The Heroic Voice  Sep 14, 2025
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KPORh-FjMu0

SPX 2025 Ignatz [Awards]
Small Press Expo Sep 13, 2025
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjW7Tsdbp5E

Space Comics with Sarah Maloney - SAW Free Friday Night Comics Workshop
Sequential Artists Workshop
Sep 12, 2025
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GcxqwTH1MQU

Off Panel #518: Bankers Hours' with John Allison
SKTCHD
 Sep 22, 2025 Off Panel
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2XpO17n9M3E

Off Panel #494: Corpse Crew with James Tynion IV and Michael Walsh
SKTCHD
 Sep 10, 2025 Off Panel
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PP4NJZeM8rY

Off Panel #497: Chekhov's Tree Robot with Sophie Campbell
SKTCHD
 Sep 10, 2025 Off Panel
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJ80Pl2UvWA

#242: Rebekah McKendry and David Ian McKendry - Barstow Writers
Justin Soderberg  Sep 10, 2025 Capes and Tights Podcast
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ErYXPp2YAIk

VITO x DINO: Episode 36 - The Perfect Square [SPX]
Vito Delsante and Dean Haspiel
  Sep 22, 2025 VITO X DINO
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9RSE7gl19k

Dean gives his SPX report on VITO X DINO

VITO x DINO: Episode 36 - The Perfect Square

Vito Delsante and Dean Haspiel

  Sep 22, 2025 VITO X DINO

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o9RSE7gl19k

"Not taking a risk is a risk. That's how I see it." This week, Dean and Vito discuss the idea of the "comfort movie," Dean gives his SPX report, they choose their favorite Robert Redford (RIP) movie and briefly talk about free speech/censorship before going into another round of Creator VERSUS!

His SPX chat starts at 11:30

SPX 2025 Ignatz

SmallPressExpo

Sep 13, 2025

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LjW7Tsdbp5E

Nov 1: D.C. Zinefest

D.C. Zinefest

Saturday, November 01
11:00am - 4:00pm

https://dclibrary.libnet.info/event/14691669

Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library - Central Library

Event Space

DC Zinefest is a one-day independent event designed to provide a space for zine-makers, self-published artists, and writers to share their work with each other and the Washington, D.C., community.

Saturday, November 1st from 11am–4pm, DC Zinefest will once again be hosting its fest on the fifth and fourth floor of the beautiful MLK Jr. Library.

DC Punk Archive will host an open house showcasing the zine collection 1-3pm in The People's Archive on the 4th floor, along with a full schedule of workshops

11-4 pm Zinefest open on the MLK Library, Floor 511:30-1:00 and 2:00- 3:30 Workshops in Floor 4  conference center
2-4 pm People's Archive Zine Open House (Floor 4, The People's Archive)

+ Plus a great schedule of informal talks and performance art on the first floor in collaboration with Transformer and the fall exhibition D.I.Y. in the District: Celebrating D.C.'s Artist-Run Spaces, 12-5 p.m.

Follow DC Zinefest on Instagram or our email listserv for the latest updates on DCZF '25.

Learn more about DC Zinefest 

AGE GROUP: | Adults | 13 - 19 Years Old (Teens) |

EVENT TYPE: | Special Collections | Exhibit | Arts & Crafts |

Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library - Central Library

Phone: (202) 727-0321

---

Hours

901 G Street Northwest
, DC, 20001

Green Archer Comics interview

Dave Richards Writes Awesome Stuff  Sep 23, 2025 

 Green Archer Comics Kickstarts the Adventures of a Forgotten Pulp Hero
https://www.patreon.com/posts/green-archer-of-139558518

The Rant Heard 'Round the World by Daniel Boris

 

Comics Research Bibliography citations update, 9/22/2025

Working Cartoons: Ted Key's Hazel and Domestic Labor Across Media

Daniel Worden

The Journal of Modern Periodical Studies 16 (1), 73-92, 2025

https://doi.org/10.5325/jmodeperistud.16.1.0073

https://scholarlypublishingcollective.org/psup/jmps/article-abstract/16/1/73/402284/Working-Cartoons-Ted-Key-s-Hazel-and-Domestic

 

MARVEL TO INCLUDE SIGNED ORIGINALS IN 'TRUE BELIEVER BLIND BAGS' For 'Ultimate Endgame' #1

Brigid Alverson on September 19, 2025 

https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/60591/marvel-include-signed-originals-true-believer-blind-bags

 

PW Comics World: More To Come

More to Come 697: SPX 2025 Interviews [Tom Devlin of Drawn & Quarterly, and Lee Lai]

Meg Lemke

on 09/19/2025

https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/podcasts/index.html?channel=2&podcast=1393

 

Bud Plant is calling it a day: A conversation with the comics retail pioneer

Zach Rabiroff | September 22, 2025 https://www.tcj.com/bud-plant-is-calling-it-a-day-a-conversation-with-the-comics-retail-pioneer/

 

Hey Kids! Free Comics!

D. D. Degg

 September 21, 2025 

https://www.dailycartoonist.com/index.php/2025/09/21/hey-kids-free-comics/

 

Joe Casey Writes   Sep 22, 2025

  I'VE BEEN AROUND 003: My Image Comics life (so far)

https://thejoecasey.substack.com/p/ive-been-around-003

 

'The Late Show' Hits Back at Jimmy Kimmel Suspension with Animated "Be Our Guest" Riff; Protestors March at Disney; Disney+ Subscribers Cancel in Droves

By Animation Magazine

September 19, 2025

https://www.animationmagazine.net/2025/09/the-late-show-hits-back-at-jimmy-kimmel-suspension-with-animated-be-our-guest-riff/

 

'Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle' Is the Top Japanese Movie of All Time, Scores No. 1 for Second Week in NorAm

By Animation Magazine

September 21, 2025

https://www.animationmagazine.net/2025/09/demon-slayer-infinity-castle-is-the-top-japanese-movie-of-all-time-scores-no-1-in-noram/

 

Book Review: Analyzing the Marvel Universe. Critical Essays on the Comics and Film Adaptations

reviewed by Cecilia Garrison, Teaching/Research Assistant, California Institute of Integral Studies

International Journal of Comic Art blog September 22, 2025

https://ijoca.blogspot.com/2025/09/book-review-analyzing-marvel-universe.html

 

Douglas Brode, ed. Analyzing the Marvel Universe. Critical Essays on the Comics and Film Adaptations. Jefferson, NC:  McFarland, 2024.

Graphic Novel Review: Should We Buy a Gun?
 Reviewed by Cord A. Scott, UMGC-Okinawa
International Journal of Comic Art blog September 22, 2025
https://ijoca.blogspot.com/2025/09/graphic-novel-review-should-we-buy-gun.html

Dave Cowen and Gabriel Wexler. Should We Buy a Gun? Los Angeles:  SerioComics, 2025.

Kreneck, Kevin. 2025. Dangerous Days and Really Long Nights: Forty Years of National And World Events Through The Lens Of Political Cartooning. Tribune Content Agency. Online at https://tribuneagency.wpenginepowered.com/files/2025/6079-promo-op-art/Kevin-Kreneck-Dangerous-Days-80pp.pdf

Moran, Tom. 1974. R. Cobb Interview. Venice SideShow (September). Online at https://monstermagazineworld.blogspot.com/2025/09/venice-sideshow.html

Crunchyroll CEO on the Blockbuster Implications of 'Demon Slayer: Infinity Castle': "It's Now Undeniable How Big Anime Has Become"
Crunchyroll chief Rahul Purini discusses how much bigger the $555 million hit might grow, plans for the next two films in the trilogy and why anime is now a core Sony growth engine.
Patrick Brzeski
September 22, 2025
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/crunchyroll-ceo-demon-slayer-infinity-castle-anime-success-1236377193/

The Chairman in Profile: Gay Talese and Edward Sorel, the writer and illustrator of "Frank Sinatra Has a Cold," on the origins, aftermath, and eventual sanctification of the greatest profile in magazine history
Mark Rozzo
Photographs by Jonathan Becker
Air Mail September 20, 2025  https://airmail.news/issues/2025-9-20/the-chairman-in-profile

Ed Sorel's big sale to the National Portrait Gallery

In this interesting interview with Gay Talese and Edward Sorel, the cover that made Sorel's name is revealed to have been purchased by the NPG, probably when they had their big, excellent exhibit on him over a decade ago.

G.T.: Ed, do you remember what they paid you for that?

E.S.: I doubt whether it was much more than $500.

G.T.: And they own it, don't they?

E.S.: No. I had to fight to get it back.

G.T.: You and Taylor Swift!

E.S.: Now it's in the National Portrait Gallery. They paid me $15,000 for it.

G.T.: Wow. Really?

E.S.: Yeah.

G.T.: Trump is going to change that, you know.

E.S.: Too late. I got my $15,000!

Read the whole piece at 

The Chairman in Profile: Gay Talese and Edward Sorel, the writer and illustrator of "Frank Sinatra Has a Cold," on the origins, aftermath, and eventual sanctification of the greatest profile in magazine history

Mark Rozzo

Photographs by Jonathan Becker

Air Mail September 20, 2025  https://airmail.news/issues/2025-9-20/the-chairman-in-profile

Future Injunction by Daniel Boris

 

PW Comics World: More To Come

More to Come 697: SPX 2025 Interviews [Tom Devlin of Drawn & Quarterly, and Lee Lai]

Meg Lemke

on 09/19/2025

https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/podcasts/index.html?channel=2&podcast=1393

Embed/Download

Meg Lemke interviews Tom Devlin, Editorial director and co-owner of Drawn & Quarterly, and Lee Lai, the creator of the graphic novels 'Cannon' and 'Stone Fruit' about her works live at SPX.

Comics Research Bibliography citations update, 9/20-21/2025

Graphic Novel Review: Remember Us to Life. A Graphic Memoir
reviewed by Ishita Sehgal, IU Bloomington
 International Journal of Comic Art blog September 20, 2025
https://ijoca.blogspot.com/2025/09/graphic-novel-review-remember-us-to.html

Joanna Rubin Dranger. Remember Us to Life. A Graphic Memoir. Berkeley, CA:  Ten Speed Press, 2025. 432 pp. US $40.00 (Hardcover). ISBN:  978-0-5938-3690-3. https://www.penguinrandomhouse.com/books/769055/remember-us-to-life-by-joanna-rubin-dranger/

Stephens, Elizabeth. 2025. All Superheroes Need PR [novel]. Seattle: Montlake

Kelly Thompson Discusses Bringing Jeff The Land Shark and Krypto Together
Capes & Lunatics Podcast  Ep #37 (LGY #392):
 Sep 17, 2025
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Li1oSdwgjW4

Anna Haifisch: The artist imagines her character, The Artist, on a visit to MoMA.
Anna Haifisch
Dec 4, 2019 https://www.moma.org/magazine/articles/205

Ben Passmore's This Is Tough: The comic artist gets into what we talk about when we talk about art.
Ben Passmore
Jan 12, 2021
https://www.moma.org/magazine/articles/488

Erin Williams's Love Sick: An artist researches one form of illness in the time of another.
Erin Williams
Apr 13, 2020 https://www.moma.org/magazine/articles/278

Chris Ware's "I Guess We're Here": The artist brings a short subway ride to life in an illustrated story.
Chris Ware
Aug 14, 2019
https://www.moma.org/magazine/articles/135

Mohammed Fayaz: The artist captures a day of style and music at MoMA PS1's Warm Up.
Mohammed Fayaz
Aug 8, 2019
https://www.moma.org/magazine/articles/133

Joana Avillez: Illustrator Joana Avillez documents her visions of life at the Museum.
Joana Avillez
Feb 14, 2019
https://www.moma.org/magazine/articles/35

Ellen Lindner's Teen Art Adventures ('90s Edition): The artist takes us on a romance-comic trip to 1990s New York City.
Ellen Lindner
Mar 16, 2022 https://www.moma.org/magazine/articles/710

Long delayed report from the National Book Festival
Bruce Guthrie
ComicsDC blog September 21, 2025
https://comicsdc.blogspot.com/2025/09/long-delayed-report-from-national-book.html

 J Alex Morrissey from TRADECRAFT  Sep 16, 2025
EPISODE 244 NICK FILARDI: Comic Book Colorist
https://jalexmorrissey.substack.com/p/episode-244-nick-filardi

After 25 years, cartoonist Jeff Lemire is just getting started
He discussed his memoir, 10,000 Ink Stains, on Bookends with Mattea Roach
CBC Books Sep 17, 2025
https://www.cbc.ca/books/bookends/after-25-years-cartoonist-jeff-lemire-is-just-getting-started-1.7635319

Bookends with Mattea Roach
Why this comics legend is just getting started
Sep. 16, 2025
https://www.cbc.ca/listen/live-radio/1-77-bookends-with-mattea-roach/clip/16169854-why-comics-legend-getting-started

Snackable Manga: Quick Reads That Hit the Spot | Mondo Manga
by Brigid Alverson
Sep 16, 2025  https://www.slj.com/story/snackable-manga-quick-reads-that-hit-the-spot-mondo-manga

Revisitor: On the World's Most Perfect Comic, Kate Beaton's "Nemesis"
David Harper
December 2, 2019
https://sktchd.com/review/revisitor-on-the-worlds-most-perfect-comic-kate-beatons-nemesis/


Off Panel #517: Hmmm with Ngozi Ukazu
David Harper
September 15, 2025
https://sktchd.com/podcast/off-panel-517-hmmm-with-ngozi-ukazu/
https://traffic.libsyn.com/sktchd/Ngozi_Ukazu_2025.mp3

League of Comic Geeks Has Found the Answers
On the omnipresent website/app, and how it's quietly become one of - if not the - biggest comics communities online.
David Harper
September 17, 2025
 https://sktchd.com/longform/league-of-comic-geeks-feature/

Respectfully, Oasis Sucks
By Leslie Stein
September 18, 2025
https://www.newyorker.com/humor/shouts-murmurs/respectfully-oasis-sucks

Blindbagonomics And Comics 101 – More Than Just Another Labubu; how blindbags are changing the direct market for comic books
20 Sep 2025 by Rich Johnston
https://bleedingcool.com/comics/blindbagonomics-and-comics-101-more-than-just-another-labubu/

Comic Book Stores Still Handing Out Gotham Sampler For Batman Day
Comic book stores are still handing out the Gotham Sampler for Batman Day today, despite DC Comics asking them not to
 20 Sep 2025
by Rich Johnston
 https://bleedingcool.com/comics/comic-book-stores-still-handing-out-gotham-sampler-for-batman-day/

Diamond Comic Distributors Changes Name To DCD II And Changes Its Bank
20 Sep 2025
by Rich Johnston
https://bleedingcool.com/comics/diamond-comic-distributors-changes-name-to-dcd-ii-and-changes-its-bank/

Courts Order Sparkle Pop To Cease Sales Of Diamond's Consigned Comics
Sparkle Pop/Ad Populum has been ordered by the bankruptcy courts to cease selling the Diamond Comics consigned stock
 19 Sep 2025  
by Rich Johnston
 https://bleedingcool.com/comics/courts-order-sparkle-pop-to-cease-sales-of-diamonds-consigned-comics/

SOLRAD Presents: Lily O'Donnell Interviews KRYSTINE KRYTTRE
SOLRAD August 19, 2025
https://solrad.co/solrad-presents-lily-odonnell-interviews-krystine-kryttre

I am once again begging academics to remember that comics have pictures
Anna Peppard
https://comicsxf.com/2024/09/16/begging-academics-to-remember-comics-have-pictures/

An AI Stan Lee Hologram Will Speak With Fans at L.A. Comic Con
A likeness of the late Marvel legend will pose for photos and engage in short conversations — for a price.
Aaron Couch
September 19, 2025
https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/stan-lee-ai-hologram-l-a-comic-con-1236375354/  

Cordero, Rosy
 Pamela Anderson, Sons Brandon & Dylan Launch Production Company; 'Barb Wire' Series In Works As First Project
Deadline Sept 19 2025
https://deadline.com/2025/09/pamela-anderson-barb-wire-tv-series-production-company-1236549860/

The Cartoonist Liana Finck Picks Three Favorite Children's Books
Ursula Sommer
The New Yorker Radio Hour September 19, 2025
 https://www.wnycstudios.org/podcasts/tnyradiohour/articles/the-cartoonist-liana-finck-picks-three-favorite-childrens-books

Can David Harper Survive on Comics Journalism?
Comic Book Couples Counseling Podcast
Brad & Lisa Gullickson
9/17/2025
https://www.comicbookcouplescounseling.com/podcast/episode/1b0d214d/can-david-harper-survive-on-comics-journalism
https://allmediacloud.wixsite.com/_api/podcasts/proxy/David_Harper_SKTCHD_Off_Panel_Comic_Book_Couples_Counseling_-_MAIN_FEED_FINAL8m9dx.mp3

Zach Cregger's Saving His DC Film 'Henchman' For the Right Time
Between his other projects and DC's current Batman slate, Zach Cregger is fine waiting to make 'Henchman' happen.
By Justin Carter
io9 September 21, 2025
https://gizmodo.com/zach-creggers-saving-his-dc-film-henchman-for-the-right-time-2000661942

Catching Up with Jerry Dowling, Sports Cartoonist
 D. D. Degg  
September 20, 2025
https://www.dailycartoonist.com/index.php/2025/09/20/catching-up-with-jerry-dowling-sports-cartoonist/

Why this Cincinnati cartoonist received backlash from Marge Schott, Mike Brown and Elvis [Jerry Dowling]
 Jeff Suess
Cincinnati Enquirer Sept. 16, 2025, https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2025/09/16/this-cartoonist-created-big-red-machine-image-was-called-out-elvis/85849936007/

How cartoonist L.D. Warren became a Cincinnati staple, received praise from Nixon
 Jeff Suess
Cincinnati Enquirer September 14 2024
https://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/2024/09/14/cartoonist-l-d-warren-became-legend-received-praise-nixon/74988107007/

Tim Eagan – RIP
D. D. Degg  
September 21, 2025  
https://www.dailycartoonist.com/index.php/2025/09/21/tim-eagan-rip/

Tim Eagan's near-death experience inspires his new graphic novel
  by Wallace Baine
Lookout Santa Cruz March 24, 2022
https://lookout.co/illustrator-graphic-novels-tim-eagans-near-death-experience-inspires-his-new-graphic-novel/story

Timothy Charles Eagan, May 31st, 1944 - August 25th, 2025 [obituary]
Benito & Azzaro Pacific Gardens Chapel
https://www.altogetherfuneral.com/obituaries/d-20741487/santa-cruz-california/timothy-charles-eagan/august-2025

Long delayed report from the National Book Festival

by Bruce Guthrie 

 

A bit delayed but here are some of my pictures and thoughts from the National Book Festival which was held on September 6 at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center.

During the 2024 event, I photographed way too many sessions (50?) -- taking pictures for at most 5 minutes and then moving on to the next one.  (If you're ADHD, this is a perfect hobby!) but that didn't work out this time because I lost a lot of time traipsing off to the first floor sessions in the north building.  The trip from the ballrooms to those rooms involved walking the equivalent of three blocks and taking multiple escalators.  The signing lines and bookstore had been moved to the basement this time -- another 10-minute trip so I only made it there only once.

Unlike in 2024, I actually sat through two complete sessions -- “Insectopolis”: Interactive Coloring Workshop with Peter Kuper and, my very last session, Rick Atkinson on the Latest in His American Revolution Trilogy.  I have to admit I was so exhausted by the last one (15,000 steps with some heavy equipment) that I fell asleep during it.

Peter Kuper's talk (despite the billing, I can't say it was a workshop although they provided drawing sheets that folks could color if they wanted to) was fun.  He talked about working on his Insectopolis book at The New York Public Library as one of fifteen Dorothy and Lewis B.  Cullman Center Fellows.  Part of the idea of the fellowship is to put you in close physical contact with library experts but his fellowship started in 2020 just as COVID-19 was hitting.  So he spent much of his time totally alone in the building.  He said there was an advantage in that because he had time to appreciate the architecture of the building and heavily incorporated that into his work, as you can see by the cover of the book.  

He said he was always fascinated by bugs so this was a major love of his.  He talked about his career.  The interviewer, Debra Alfarone, was enthusiastic although her question about how he created the Spy vs. Spy series for MAD Magazine was a little embarrassing.  (Peter said he was 3 years old when Antonio Prohías created the comic in 1961.)

Kuper and Guthrie

 

Mariko Tamaki had an earlier session in the same room which was closer to a workshop, involving the audience more.

Of the more standard author sessions, I enjoyed the "J vs. K" session with Kwame Alexander and Jerry Craft.  Their friendship was obvious and their repartee and jibes at each other were great.  The audience for their book was very enthusiastic and it was clear that they knew and loved these authors.  

Partway through their talk, Kwame talked about all of the side ventures he had set up and stared briefly at Jerry before asking if he was wearing one of Kwame's branded eyeglass frames.  Yep.  They have quotemarks in the corners.

Megan Halsband, Craft, and Alexander

Jerry Craft

I saw Raúl the Third at two talks that I visited.  He happily posed for photos which I appreciated.  He was the moderator for discussion between Leigh Bardugo and John Picacio about their new picture book "The Invisible Parade" .  John has done some amazing artwork, specializing in science fiction, fantasy and horror.  He's got lots of awards --  Spectrum Award, International Horror Guild Award for Best Artist, Artist Guest of Honor at the 2003 ArmadilloCon, World Fantasy Award for Best Artist, two Chesley Awards, the Locus Award, the Hugo Award, and SDCC's Inkpot Award.  Frankly, a slide show of his work would have been appreciated.

 

Raul the Third

 

Actress Geena Davis was there promoting her new picture book "The Girl Who Was Too Big for the Page".  She said she had been considered too tall in school and attended a school where kids were arranged by, of all things, height. Her interviewer was Mac Barnett, the LOC's National Ambassador for Young People's Literature.  I loved how he actually took notes when his subjects were speaking.  He moved around the festival all day as did the introducer of the event -- Robert Newlen, Acting Librarian of Congress.

The "big name" of the event was Supreme Court justice Amy Comey Barrett who Trump considered a worthy replacement to Ruth Bader Ginsburg.  (Similarities are that she has three names and is female.  She calls herself an "originalist" because obviously the signers of the Constitution really wanted a dictator to rule the country.)  She was interviewed by David Rubenstein -- another figure who, as co-chair of the NBF, was all over the place that day -- who worked for Jimmy Carter before founding The Carlyle Group which earned him billions before Elon Musk made that just be chump change.

You know that Rubenstein would have loved to ask her biting questions but he was the perfect gentleman.  (Someone mentioned that his later interview Unleashing the Bomb: An Oral History, with Garrett M. Graff, which I didn't visit, included a mention of Nobel prizes for some of the participants including David asking if these folks had actively pursued getting the prize.)  Unlike Barnett, Rubenstein never seems to need notes but his questions are well structured and direct.  

Unlike with other sessions, we were only allowed to photograph for the first two minutes of her session.  Given that I don't have any respect for her, I was fine with that so I left on time.  As I went out, I passed someone coming in wearing a Handmaid's Tale outfit.  We quietly high-fived.  I had accidentally left my bag at my seat -- I wondered why I was in less pain than I had been earlier in the morning -- and when I returned to collect the bag, the woman was being held outside of the room.  Obviously she had been tossed out.

I enjoyed seeing Colleen Shogan, the Archivist of the United States who was fired since she didn't believe in stealing government documents, moderating one of the panels. 

I didn't spend long in most of the panels but I was in the talk "The Missing: Liz Moore and Chris Whitaker in Conversation About Their Blockbuster Novels" when Chris, who I was unfamiliar with, described how he got into writing.  He said he had never planned on becoming a writer but when he was 19, someone tried to mug him to steal his smartphone.  He figured the guy was smaller than him and resisted.  The guy pulled out a knife and started stabbing him. He mentioned the blade had gone completely through his abdomen at one point.  He survived but had PTSD.  As a rehab project, he was told to start writing and... voila!  That was fascinating as hell!

There were a number of things I disliked about the festival this time.  Moving the signing lines and the Politics and Prose bookstore in the basement vs the main hall (Hall D) meant that Hall D had a lot of empty space.  

One thing I really liked was that, since this was the 25th Festival, they had a display with all of the posters from the previous festivals.  It turns out that year 2 was the only one with a horizontal poster.  The first couple had a logo with the word "Book" in huge letters.  If you remember, some years ago they changed the LOC logo to repeat the word "Library" in bold large letters -- "LIBRARY Library of Congress".  They said they did this to remind people that it's an approachable library.  After they did that, I joked that the logo for the NBF would be "National Book BOOK Festival".  It was bizarre seeing that the first NBF ones used were pretty close to that.

The original posters were drawn by artists. Roz Chast, for example, did the one for 2017.  Posters starting in 2019 seem to be mostly graphic designers.  Personally, I liked the earlier ones better.

The original National Book Festival was one of the projects of Laura Bush and "Hosted by First Lady Laura Bush" appears on the posters from 2001-2008.  Barack and/or Michelle Obama are mentioned on the posters for 2010-2015.  Target was the primary sponsor shown on the first poster but disappeared by 2014, at which point it's usually the Washington Post and Wells Fargo.  The 2010 poster is the first to say that David M. Rubenstein is co-chair.  The festival was a one-day event from 2001-2010.  It was a two-day event from 2011-2013.  In 2014, it went back to being a one-day event when it was moved to the DC convention center.  People still bitch about the location change but, personally, I really appreciate bathrooms, air conditioning, and no mud.

In addition to the pictures interspersed above, there are lots more on my website.  Try this link:

http://www.bguthriephotos.com/graphlib.nsf/all/?SearchView&Query=%22dc_nbf_2025%22

--

Bruce Guthrie
Photo obsessive
http://www.bguthriephotos.com

Cartoon protest in Arlington VA

The Moomins say No Camps No Cages in Arlington VA at Glebe and Fairfax.

Last month there was a Jack Ohman cartoon there.

This is the Ballston neighborhood.