OT: Rebecca Sullivan's book recommendations

My friend Rebecca is a Canadian prof based in Calgary so this is way off topic, but in this July 17th audio interview she recommends Jessica Abel's La Perdida. I like Jessica's Artbabe work, but must confess that I haven't read the review copy of this I got. However, I strongly recommend her husband Matt Madden's 99 Ways to Tell a Story - Exercises in Style. Matt tells a short story in ... 99 ways, with different art, or timing, and his book is a useful teaching tool like Eisner or McCloud.

September 29: Gene Luen Yang at National Book Festival

Matthew Dembicki, who will be signing his story in Postcards at Olssen's next week,* also reports that Gene Luen Yang, cartoonist of American Born Chinese will be at the National Book Festival in the Mall in September. This is the Library of Congress event, and usually both mobbed and interesting.

*Tuesday, July 24, 2007 at 07:00 PM at Olsson's Books & Records-Dupont Circle, 1307 19th St. NW, (202) 785-1133

Simpsons' movie drives Express to full-frontal nudity

This image is actually published on page 2 of today's Express. For the story, BBC News has a good rundown.

Simpson's Kwik-e-mart photos

A friend of mine visited the Bladensburg 7-11 that was converted. You can see her pictures here - click on the link will take you to a flickr site - or you can go directly here.

Fashionable clothing using comics - buy designs from local cartoonists

Postcards editor Jason Rodriguez sent a note reporting, "I have a friend in the district that makes his own belts and shirts. He has a workshop in his garage and he's able to knock out 50-100 belts a day, if necessary.

I think it's cool because several of his designs are from comic guys. These three are from Elk's Run's cover artist Datsun Tran:
http://www.jonwye.com/Beetle_Leather_Belt_p/beetle-spears.htm
http://www.jonwye.com/Western_Belt_p/showdown-belt.htm

This one is from Graham Annable:
http://www.jonwye.com/Men_s_freedumb_T_shirt_p/freedumb-m.htm

And some from local graphic designer D. Billy:
http://www.jonwye.com/Snap_Leather_Belt_p/snap-belt.htm
http://www.jonwye.com/Boom_Leather_Belt_p/boom-belt.htm

He's currently working with DC Conspiracy member Scott White on this hybrid mafia/graffiti belts. They look awesome.

Anyway - it's a cool marriage of comic artists and fashion coming from a local guy."

Postcards discussed in Hawaii

Remember Jason and others are signing later this month at Olssens. He talks to the paper in "New strip uses high school as metaphor," By Gary C.W. Chun, Honolulu Star-Bulletin Sunday, July 15, 2007.

Also, the Los Angeles Times has scheduled a review of it this week.

Harry Potter spoilers courtesy of Richard's Poor Alamanack

Everyone should stay away from the Post's Style section today - Richard Thompson reveals what happens in the last Harry Potter book. It's not pretty.

Weingarten on his comic strip and Tom the Dancing Bug

Gene Weingarten*, the Post's main humor writer, is a hardcore comic strip fan and his weekly chat frequently has a comics contest to pick the best strip of the preceeding week. This past week, Chatalogical Humor, as it's known also had two bits on comic strips.

In the first, Mr. W is queried about his plans to do his own comic strip:

Dangenecomic, AL: Welcome back. I know the book's been pressing, but what about the comic you and Dan are doing? When's it coming out? Have you contacted a syndicate? Will Gary, Jeff and Patty be giggling maniacally over your effort(s)?

Gene Weingarten: Dan and I and David Clark, the cartoonist, have finished 12 weeks worth. And as of basically today we are starting to write again. I anticipate you will see it some time after we finish 24 week's worth.

We're trying to make it as unfunny and derivative as possible, because we want to penetrate as many newspaper comics pages as possible.

Ouch. And then a story from this blog, that Comics Reporter picked up, namely the Post dropping Tom the Dancing Bug last week for Cheney-bashing, comes up:

Washington, D.C.: Since The Post did not mention it, most readers are unaware that it did not publish the current "Tom the Dancing Bug." It replaced the strip, which was harshly critical of the Vice President with an old strip. It did link to the strip on the Web site.

While I think that "Tom the Dancing Bug" is generally the the best comic in The Post not written by Richard Thompson, this one is too angry to be good. But as Comics Reporter noted: "...the Post's recent tendency to take a pass on controversial strips for no stated reason and then not tell anyone they're doing so is crappy editorial policy that badly serves the Post's readership..."

Gene Weingarten: I agree about The Post. I want to know when they kill a strip. I also don't understand why they would have the original strip on the website. We are told repeatedly that the fairness standards are the same. So I don't get it.

I believe at this time it is impossible to be unfair to Cheney. I called him "Satan" once. In the high school graduation speech I say he is "the root of all evil."

I mean, really. He makes a decision and a million fish die.

I think this Dancing Bug is quite funny. So over the top it's actually LESS critical that some criticism.

I would have liked the (missing) link to go to me, and not just Tom's blog, but que sera.

*my apologies for initially getting Mr. Weingarten's name wrong; obviously I've got to stop doing these when I'm tired.

Savage Love - Ullman in color

This week's City Paper has Rob Ullman's first illustration in color for the Savage Love column. I'm not sure how I feel about it yet - I've got about a dozen of his b&w originals. Still, it's probably colored on the computer, so I can still buy the line art.

Marlette's Kudzu born in DC

Richard Thompson reminded me that Doug Marlette came up with the idea for the Kudzu strip in the Tabard Inn on N St, NW and there's a small plaque in the room with the fireplace. I took a picture of it last year. The "mortal Doug Marlette" is a bit more poignant now.

Association of American Editorial Cartoonist Cartoonapalooza pictures again

I've added a few more pictures I took at Cartoonapalooza on July 3rd. If you already have seen the earlier ones, these are a few cartoon panels from Ruben Bolling, Mike Peters and Keith Knight including the first panel of the Post-censored Tom the Dancing Bug.

July 24: Jason Rodriguez - Postcards: True Stories That Never Happened

Jason Rodriguez - Postcards: True Stories That Never Happened
Tuesday, July 24, 2007 at 07:00 PM at Olsson's Books & Records-Dupont Circle, 1307 19th St. NW, (202) 785-1133

Jason Rodriguez, acclaimed editor of Elk's Run, collected a remarkable array antique postcards, dispersed them among thirty-three of comics' greatest creators, and asked each to craft a story about the person who sent it. The result is a vividly imagined, gorgeously rendered graphic anthology illustrating tales of romance, adventure, hardship, and mystery. In Postcards, these gifted artists share some of the richest and most inventive work of their careers. Artists from the book who are appearing with Jason Rodriguez include Matt Dembicki, Danielle Corsetto and Robert Tinnell. [tip thanks to both Randy T. and Chris Shields]

I've started reading a proof of this today, and it's good. Tom Beland has an absolutely lovely story in it. More to follow, but this is a great idea for a comic.

Mike Carey interview in Express and at Olssens UPDATED

Comic book writer Mike Carey who did 3 signings in town today, is also interviewed in the Express, the free paper in the yellow bins. Scott Rosenberg did the interview.

I went to the Olssen's signing after work. Mr. Carey was a bit late, having made the crucial mistake to attempt 14th St at Pennsylvania Ave at rush hour. However, he arrived and in his soft British accent, even though it was 12:30 AM according to his watch, read most of a chapter of his new novel, The Devil You Know. This is the first book in a six-book series about an exorcist detective who's trying to figure out why ghosts are suddenly returning to the real world.

He took questions as well - even though I asked four of them, I'm spacing out now. I should have taken notes. Anyway:

Even though it appears that he's doing a lot of work now, some of it's just appearing. Wetworks was written years ago, this new novel he's working on is actually the fourth in the series and two are already out in the UK (and can be bought from Amazon.ca). He's writing 4 comics now, and that's as many as he thinks he can write. He's also doing that 4th novel and a screenplay.

Some time ago he wrote animation in the UK about a fairy Romeo and Juliet, called Meadowlands, iirc. The dark elf nasty Romeo, who was 2 inches tall fell for the fairy Juliet on the other side of the meadow. This has been in animation limbo for quite some time but a UK company is supposedly finishing it.

He's doing 1 comic for Virgin, and apparently it's a big success in India if not in the US or UK. He's working with his former Marvel editor and likes the pay so he's enjoying the work.

Comic book editors differ from book editors in that they guide the story, up to the point of flying all the X-Men writers to an undisclosed location and locking them in a room in January 2006 until they script out the next year or so. Tom Breevort can be the tie-breaker in differences of opinion due to his encyclopedic knowledge of the X-Men. Book editors just make sure your story makes sense.

He was a comic reader from way back and loved the Lee/Kirby Fantastic Four so for him writing comics is not an exercise in de- and reconstruction like it is for Moore, Gaiman or Millar. He likes a good straightforward superhero story.

He originally wanted Psylocke in his X-Men title, but Claremont did too, so Carey got Cable. He warmed to the idea after reading a Cable / Deadpool story arc, and is enjoying writing the depowered pathetic ex-omnipotent character. I haven't read X-Men since before Cable was introduced, so someone can post a comment clearing that up.

He writes women well (according to an audience woman) and credits that to having a fifteen year old daughter, who in Lucifer got to ascent to godhood. And also to liking women. The audience seemed to agree that was a good thing.

Speaking of the audience, in attendance were Karon Flage, director of the Small Press Expo; Jason Rodriguez, editor of Postcards and soon to host an Olssen's signing of his own (the book looks great); Chris Shields, cIndy podcast interviewer of cartoonists; Randy T the DOJ scout who passes me some of these stories; Scott Rosenberg, the Express reporter who started this post; comics journalist and writer Greg McElhatton and Carey's nephew. I had to google Greg to figure out how to spell his last name, so here's an article about him. Apologies to any local luminaries I missed. I enjoyed talking to everyone. If anyone can add more anecdotes, please do so below.

July 20-29: The Hefner Monologues

John Hefner, a long-time Big Planet Comics Bethesda salesguy, is about to open his own one-man show in DC. Visit his site at http://www.myspace.com/hefnermonologues for details.

John considerately provided some blurbs for the show:

The Hefner Monologues's Blurbs
About me:
"How do you make a name for yourself… when someone else already has?" That's the question that John Hefner (estranged cousin of a certain international icon) explores through painfully funny stories about love, loss, nudity, traffic court, and finding an identity in a world where "Hef" is a household name.

Hefnerian (adj.) - pertaining to a situation, event, or story that seems positive and joyous, but has elements of or becomes depressing and melancholic, causing the joyous aspects to be dulled, all interlaced with humor.

Trust me, it'll make more sense when you see the show.

Full bio video of THE JOHN HEFNER STORY forthcoming. Once I master the dread beast known as youtube. Presented as a part of the 2nd Annual Capital Fringe Festival. July 19 - 29, 2007. For more information visit capfringe.org

Who I'd like to meet:
My cousin.

Anime and manga in Montgomery County Libraries

See "Far reach from the Far East: Japan’s anime films draw young readers to county libraries" by David Sabia,Montgomery Gazette Wednesday, July 11, 2007.

Post on Doug Marlette's death

The Post has two articles on Kudzu comic strip and hard-charging editorial cartoonist Doug Marlette's accidental death yesterday.

His formal obituary is "Doug Marlette, 57; Cartoonist, Vocal Defender of Free Speech" By Patricia Sullivan, Washington Post Staff Writer, Wednesday, July 11, 2007; Page B07.

An article that gives a better feel for his work is "The Cartoonist As Tenacious As Kudzu" By Linton Weeks, Washington Post Staff Writer, Wednesday, July 11, 2007; C01.

The Post dropped Kudzu years ago, and I must confess to not missing it much. It had become a one-note strip, like MacNelly's Shoe before his death. But both men were still giants of the editorial cartoon page, and should be missed for their cartoons defending the little guy.

Macauley exhibit at National Building Museum

I stopped in quickly last week and saw this exhibit in the fantastic building near Judiciary Square. Macauley is best known for his architectural books, like Mosque, and this exhibit featured plenty of them. It's fourth section though had cartoons he did for Archeology magazine, and also for the book, Great Moments in Architecture. Macauley has a wry, whimsical style, and his architectural cartoons are fun and clever. Several large, fine quality prints of the cartoons are on display too - they're probably engravings, and really show the quality of his line.

July 12: Mike Carey book and comic signings REPOST

Randy T alerts us to the fact that Mike Carey will be in town signing his new novel, and presumably his comic books as well. He's got a busy day:

WASHINGTON, DC
July 12th

1:00pm – 2:00pm Big Planet Comics, Vienna
4:00pm – 5:30pm Big Monkey Comics
7:00pm Olsson’s, Court House

I'll probably go to the Olsson's which is close to my house.

Ok, I need help here. His website says he's writing Ultimate Fantastic Four and some X-Men title, but didn't he make his name writing for Vertigo? Which trades should I pick up at Big Planet?


UPDATED - suggestions included Neil Gaiman's Neverwhere, Lucifer, My Faith in Frankie (I bought the comics), Ultimate Fantastic Four, the new God Save the Queen w/ John Bolton art, Re-Gifted, his Hellblazer run, the Werewolf by Night story in the Legion of Monsters one-shot and some others. I'm going with My Faith in Frankie - it's a cheap b&w trade, Re-Gifted since I bought it two weeks ago and haven't read it yet, the UFF because Big Planet had one on sale, and the Gaiman adaptation since I liked the novel adapted from the tv show well enough. Also I'll be buying the novel. I'll be at the Olssen's signing.

Badmonkeybrain comics collective in NoVa

Thanks to Randy T for the tip, we can read about it here - "Local comic book artists unite" by Monty Tayloe, Fairfax Times? 07/10/2007.

Politico's Matt Wuerker on AAEC

Matt Wuerker, staff cartoonist of the Politico has a story and video about the AAEC online NOW!