Saturday, September 01, 2007
Sentences: The Life of M.F. Grimm review in Post
In the Washington Post, September 2, 2007, an A- is given by Evan Narcisse to the new graphic novel Sentences: The Life of M.F. Grimm, By Percy Carey and Ronald Wimberly, Vertigo/DC Comics, $19.99.
Letter says Toles lacks basic decency
Cartoonist Most Foul
Washington Post (September 1, 2007)
Tom Toles's toilet stall cartoon in the Aug. 29 Post, playing off Idaho Sen. Larry Craig's troubles, should have been flushed before publication out of deference to the basic decency of your readers. Censorship, no. Editorial discretion, yes.
-- Ernest C. Raskauskas Sr.
Potomac
Seems a bit overstated to me - I can imagine far worse.
Post cartoon contest results
The Post's Style Invitational contest last week "supplied several "captions" and asked you to describe the cartoons they would accompany: The Empress posted this contest, at the Czar's suggestion, with some trepidation, concerned that dozens of descriptions of undrawn cartoons would just be too tedious. She concedes that her fears were unfounded, and therefore owes the Czar the heart cut out of her chest. Invitational Cartoonist Bob Staake chose this week's top four winners from the entries below, and will personally deface each winning sketch with his signature as a prize."
You can see the other cartoons and suggested captions through the link.
Meanwhile, Richard Thompson and 'Richard's Poor Almanack' continue to "be on vacation."
Friday, August 31, 2007
new caricatures in DC restaurant
In their Yeas & Nays column, Jeff Dufour and Patrick Gavin wrote "The Palm unveils its new caricatures," Washington Examiner August 31, 2007.
September 8-9 Baltimore Comic -con
Only a week away! Get the details at their website, but here's their guestlist:
SERGIO ARAGONES | Dick Ayers | Kyle Baker | David Michael Beck | Tom Brevoort | Michael Broussard | Kurt Busiek | Jim Calafiore | Jerry Carr | Tommy Castillo | C.B. Cebulski | Bernard Chang | Howard Chaykin | Sean Chen | Mark Chiarello | FRANK CHO | Steve Conley | Amanda Conner | Todd Dezago | Dan DiDio | Tommy Lee Edwards | Rich Faber | Al Feldstein | DAVID FINCH | John Gallagher | Ron Garney | MICHAEL GOLDEN| Jimmy Gownley | Randy Green | Cully Hamner | Dean Haspiel | Tariq Hasson | Marc Hempel | Rich Henn | Adam Hughes | Chris Ivy| James Jean | Georges Jeanty | J.G. Jones | Joe Jusko | Ken Kelly | Leonard Kirk | Barry Kitson | Rich Koslowski | Adam Kubert | Andy Kubert | JOE KUBERT | Scott Kurtz | Greg LaRocque | Eric Larson | JIM LEE (Sunday only) | Norman Lee | John Paul Leon | John Lucas | Ron Marz | Sean McKeever | Mark McKenna | Bob McLeod | Pop Mhan | MIKE MIGNOLA | Jeffrey Moy | Mark Morales | Doug Murray | Scott Neely | Steve Niles | Phil Noto | Mike Oeming | Jimmy Palmiotti | Andrew Pepoy | David Petersen | Brandon Peterson | Keith Pollard | Paul Pope | Eric Powell | Tom Raney | Kenneth Rocafort | JOHN ROMITA JR. | JOHN ROMITA SR. | Don Rosa | Craig Rousseau | Stephane Roux | Andy Runton | Scott Sava | Alex Saviuk | JIM SHOOTER | Louise Simonson | Walter Simonson | Andy Smith | John K Snyder III| Chris Sprouse | Jim Starlin | Brian Stelfreeze | Paul D. Storrie | Karl Story | Mark Texeira | Herb Trimpe | Dean Trippe| Tim Truman | Billy Tucci | Tim Vigil | Dexter Vines | Neil Vokes | Mark Waid | Mark Wheatley | Ron Wilson | Kelly Yates | and many many more!!!
A poster commemorating Mike Wieringo who recently died suddenly will also be available. The poster features local DC creator John Gallagher's Buzzboy.
This one's always good. I'll be there on Saturday most likely.
SERGIO ARAGONES | Dick Ayers | Kyle Baker | David Michael Beck | Tom Brevoort | Michael Broussard | Kurt Busiek | Jim Calafiore | Jerry Carr | Tommy Castillo | C.B. Cebulski | Bernard Chang | Howard Chaykin | Sean Chen | Mark Chiarello | FRANK CHO | Steve Conley | Amanda Conner | Todd Dezago | Dan DiDio | Tommy Lee Edwards | Rich Faber | Al Feldstein | DAVID FINCH | John Gallagher | Ron Garney | MICHAEL GOLDEN| Jimmy Gownley | Randy Green | Cully Hamner | Dean Haspiel | Tariq Hasson | Marc Hempel | Rich Henn | Adam Hughes | Chris Ivy| James Jean | Georges Jeanty | J.G. Jones | Joe Jusko | Ken Kelly | Leonard Kirk | Barry Kitson | Rich Koslowski | Adam Kubert | Andy Kubert | JOE KUBERT | Scott Kurtz | Greg LaRocque | Eric Larson | JIM LEE (Sunday only) | Norman Lee | John Paul Leon | John Lucas | Ron Marz | Sean McKeever | Mark McKenna | Bob McLeod | Pop Mhan | MIKE MIGNOLA | Jeffrey Moy | Mark Morales | Doug Murray | Scott Neely | Steve Niles | Phil Noto | Mike Oeming | Jimmy Palmiotti | Andrew Pepoy | David Petersen | Brandon Peterson | Keith Pollard | Paul Pope | Eric Powell | Tom Raney | Kenneth Rocafort | JOHN ROMITA JR. | JOHN ROMITA SR. | Don Rosa | Craig Rousseau | Stephane Roux | Andy Runton | Scott Sava | Alex Saviuk | JIM SHOOTER | Louise Simonson | Walter Simonson | Andy Smith | John K Snyder III| Chris Sprouse | Jim Starlin | Brian Stelfreeze | Paul D. Storrie | Karl Story | Mark Texeira | Herb Trimpe | Dean Trippe| Tim Truman | Billy Tucci | Tim Vigil | Dexter Vines | Neil Vokes | Mark Waid | Mark Wheatley | Ron Wilson | Kelly Yates | and many many more!!!
A poster commemorating Mike Wieringo who recently died suddenly will also be available. The poster features local DC creator John Gallagher's Buzzboy.
This one's always good. I'll be there on Saturday most likely.
Zippy comic strip at Bob and Edith's diner available on a t-shirt
Zippy was at Weenie Beenie in Shirlington earlier this week, but a while back he was at Bob and Edith's Diner on Columbia Pike and you can buy a t-shirt with the strip. Thanks to Rebecca Krafft of the Alcova Heights listserve for the tip.
Weingarten on Post punting Opus
In his August 28th chat, Gene Weingarten said:
I agree with the vast majority of you that the snuffing of Opus was a mistake, the sort of knee-jerk oversensitivity that is becoming too common. Sadly, what you see is only half the offense -- The Post and many other papers also yanked NEXT week's strip, in what I believe to be a similar overreaction. Breathed showed me next week's, which is even better than this week's. We'll talk more about this later
Berkeley Breathed himself seems to have chimed in:
Santa Barbara, Wa: What's new in the comics world, Gene? Nothing ever happens on this side of the country.
Berkeley B.
Gene Weingarten: Same old same old, Berkeley. Sad to say.
Interesting poll results, eh?
and then Weingarten returned to the topic of his poll which is excerpted below as well:
Gene Weingarten: As I read it, not only to nine out of ten people believe the Post was wrong to pull your strip, but only eight percent of the readers believe you are a pornographer.
------------------
Many newspapers, including The Washington Post, refused to run this Opus on Sunday for reasons of taste and sensitivity. Was this the right decision?
Frequency Analysis
Answer Count Percent
1. Yes. 247 8.00%
2. No. 2839 92.00%
Total 3086 100%
At which group do you feel the satire is mostly directed?
Frequency Analysis
Answer Count Percent
1. Americans 2387 77.32%
2. Radical Islamists 496 16.07%
3. All Muslims 204 6.61%
Total 3087 100%
Was the sexual innuendo excessive, and/or in bad taste, for the comics pages?
Frequency Analysis
Answer Count Percent
1. Yes 229 7.38%
2. No 2874 92.62%
Total 3103 100%
-------------------------
and then Weingarten wraps it all up:
Gene Weingarten: Okay, the Opus poll.
This strip is mocking a whole bunch of stuff. It is mocking the fact that American culture is trashy, and Americans are fad-obsessed. It is mocking American men's desire to control their women. And sure, it is mocking the enforced submissiveness of Islamic women.
So what? Breathed (and Trudeau, and Darrin Bell, etc.) make much more barbed fun of Christian extremism. This is satire, and it's gentle satire, and the only excuse to pull it is the rather patronizing attitude that if you so much as whisper anything mildly satiric about Islamic society, "those people" will go nuts.
Islam is big news. It's fair game, so long as you are fair and not promiscuously cruel or hateful. This was neither.
Oh, and the sexual argument is totally bogus. That's mild innuendo. I mean, Trudeau, whom no one has ever accused of being lewd, had a Sunday devoted entirely to the healthful benefits of masturbation.
I just disagree strongly with the decision to pull this strip. As you do.
Next week's Opus is better than this week's; it's a parable, and it ends with a hilarious visual gag, and it's also mostly critical of America and gently mocking of Islamic customs, and you also won't see it in The Post. We'll look at it next week.
I agree with the vast majority of you that the snuffing of Opus was a mistake, the sort of knee-jerk oversensitivity that is becoming too common. Sadly, what you see is only half the offense -- The Post and many other papers also yanked NEXT week's strip, in what I believe to be a similar overreaction. Breathed showed me next week's, which is even better than this week's. We'll talk more about this later
Berkeley Breathed himself seems to have chimed in:
Santa Barbara, Wa: What's new in the comics world, Gene? Nothing ever happens on this side of the country.
Berkeley B.
Gene Weingarten: Same old same old, Berkeley. Sad to say.
Interesting poll results, eh?
and then Weingarten returned to the topic of his poll which is excerpted below as well:
Gene Weingarten: As I read it, not only to nine out of ten people believe the Post was wrong to pull your strip, but only eight percent of the readers believe you are a pornographer.
------------------
Many newspapers, including The Washington Post, refused to run this Opus on Sunday for reasons of taste and sensitivity. Was this the right decision?
Frequency Analysis
Answer Count Percent
1. Yes. 247 8.00%
2. No. 2839 92.00%
Total 3086 100%
At which group do you feel the satire is mostly directed?
Frequency Analysis
Answer Count Percent
1. Americans 2387 77.32%
2. Radical Islamists 496 16.07%
3. All Muslims 204 6.61%
Total 3087 100%
Was the sexual innuendo excessive, and/or in bad taste, for the comics pages?
Frequency Analysis
Answer Count Percent
1. Yes 229 7.38%
2. No 2874 92.62%
Total 3103 100%
-------------------------
and then Weingarten wraps it all up:
Gene Weingarten: Okay, the Opus poll.
This strip is mocking a whole bunch of stuff. It is mocking the fact that American culture is trashy, and Americans are fad-obsessed. It is mocking American men's desire to control their women. And sure, it is mocking the enforced submissiveness of Islamic women.
So what? Breathed (and Trudeau, and Darrin Bell, etc.) make much more barbed fun of Christian extremism. This is satire, and it's gentle satire, and the only excuse to pull it is the rather patronizing attitude that if you so much as whisper anything mildly satiric about Islamic society, "those people" will go nuts.
Islam is big news. It's fair game, so long as you are fair and not promiscuously cruel or hateful. This was neither.
Oh, and the sexual argument is totally bogus. That's mild innuendo. I mean, Trudeau, whom no one has ever accused of being lewd, had a Sunday devoted entirely to the healthful benefits of masturbation.
I just disagree strongly with the decision to pull this strip. As you do.
Next week's Opus is better than this week's; it's a parable, and it ends with a hilarious visual gag, and it's also mostly critical of America and gently mocking of Islamic customs, and you also won't see it in The Post. We'll look at it next week.
Thursday, August 30, 2007
National Portrait Gallery's PROFILE reviews Disney book
See "Book Review - Walt Disney: The Triumph of the American Imagination by Neal Gabler,Alfred A. Knopf, New York, 2006, 851 pp., by Amy Henderson and click on the pdf link to the whole journal. I saw Gabler speak at Politics and Prose, and enjoyed the talk immensely. Bought the book, haven't read it yet.
Miguel Covarrubias portraits on display this fall.
The great Mexican caricaturist has material - "portraits of and by" - borrowed from the National Portrait Gallery in the exhibit "Mexican Treasures of the Smithsonian" in the underground Ripley Center from September 4 - November 11.
Last year's exhibit of his work was well worth seeing. Here's the review I wrote for the International Journal of Comic Art 8:2:
Miguel Covarrubias: Mexican Genius in the United States. Washington, DC: Cultural Institute of Mexico, May 3-July 7, 2006.
Covarrubias, while little remembered today, was a giant in magazine illustration and caricature from the 1920s though the 1940s. According to the promotional material for the exhibit, he illustrated for Vanity Fair, Vogue, The New Yorker, Fortune, Life and Time while also illustrating over twenty books. Surprisingly, he also did pioneering cultural anthropology research when he visited Bali with his wife in the 1930s.
This exhibit also consists of two smaller shows. On the ground level of the building, an aging mansion, sketches and studies from the Universidad de las Américas were displayed in a set of unadorned side galleries off the lobby. The fifty-two sketches appeared to be studies for more complete work. They were mostly on cheap newsprint paper, and the identity of the subject was frequently lost except for the famous like Marlene Dietrich, D.H. Lawrence, Joe Louis, Walt Disney, and Benny Goodman. The sketches showed Covarrubias working with a quick, forceful stroke, and "Unknown Character" in the first room demonstrated that Edward Sorel must have been familiar with his work. In the final room of the galleries, two or three films were supposed to be showing, but none were. The press release listed two films by José G. BenÃtez Wall, A Mexican in New York (1997) and Miguel Covarrubias 1904-1957 (1996) and the wall text listed a third, A Master Artist's Trade (1997).
Returning to the lobby, the visitor (of which I was the only one) could examine exhibit cases with published versions of some of his book and magazine work. Books he illustrated included non-fiction and non-cartoon works such as The Aztecs: People of the Sun. He wrote and illustrated Mexico South: The Isthmus of Tehuantepec (Knopf 1967) and drew striking maps and Olmec heads for it. In Fine Art Color Prints (Chicago: Peoples Book Club, 1945), Covarrubias contributed a very well done and very complex "Map of America" showing the distribution of natural resources. The exhibit cases also included Vanity Fair from June 1933 showing one of his series of Impossible Interviews -- "#18 Herr Adolf Hitler and Huey S. 'Hooey' Long versus Josef Stalin and Benito Mussolini." These Impossible Interviews were a major component of the second part of the exhibit, which was up four flights of red, fraying but thickly carpeted stairs, lined by mural scenes painted by Cueva del Rio from 1934-1941.
The fourth floor held the exhibit Miguel Covarrubias: Caricaturista, curated in 2004 by Kathryne B. Tovo for Humanities Texas with the University of Texas' Ransom Humanities Research Center. It was not readily apparent if the original show consisted of all reproductions, but the traveling version did. Given the quality of Covarrubias' artwork, the use of reproductions was a considerable disappointment, especially since the Ransom Center appears to have had access to the original works. In spite of that, this exhibit was a good representation of the breadth of his career, and was very well-labeled with biographical information on his subjects including scientists and explorers like William Beebe and Richard E. Byrd.
The label for the Impossible Interview in Vanity Fair of December 1931 succinctly explained the series rationale:
This regular feature paired two people who could not meet in real life in an imaginary conversation. Featuring such ill-matched celebrity pairs as a birth control advocate with the mother of quintuplets, a speakeasy hostess with the president of the Women's Christian Temperance Union, or a sultry Marlene Dietrich with moralist Senator Smith Brookhart, each interview offered rich potential for comic conversation and visual contrasts -- with the less respectable figure often achieving a slight edge.
Sorel's debt to Covarrubias can again be seen in his recent similar series for the Atlantic Monthly collected as First Encounters: A Book of Memorable Meetings (Knopf, 1994). The time is overdue for a collection of these original Interviews.
These rooms were filled interesting illustrations. Two especially worth noting were a skillful parody of Rockwell Kent that Covarrubias did in Kent's style in 1932, and an illustration of Walt Disney in Noah's Ark with all of his characters, done for Vogue in 1937. The Disney caricature was the finished version of the sketch seen on the first floor, and the failure to display the two side-by-side highlighted a disappointment of this exhibit. Overall, the show should have been better, but for those with little knowledge of Covarrubias' long and varied career, it was an adequate introduction to his work.
Sept 5: Peter Bagge in DC at invitation-only event
Heidi MacDonald posted an email from Peter Bagge on the Beat. The relevant part to us is:
On the following Wednesday, Sept. 5, REASON Magazine will be hosting a meet ‘n’ greet in my honor at their Washington DC offices. Blush! It’s invitation only, however, so if you’re in the DC area and are interested in attending please contact me here or at: peterbagge@earthlink.net about the details. Drinks and light snacks will be served, I’m told. Can’t beat that!
Thanks to Randy T for the tip.
On the following Wednesday, Sept. 5, REASON Magazine will be hosting a meet ‘n’ greet in my honor at their Washington DC offices. Blush! It’s invitation only, however, so if you’re in the DC area and are interested in attending please contact me here or at: peterbagge@earthlink.net about the details. Drinks and light snacks will be served, I’m told. Can’t beat that!
Thanks to Randy T for the tip.
Wednesday, August 29, 2007
Mark Wheatley's new webcomic project
Mark just sent me the following press release and pictures -
The Mighty Motor Sapiens Roar To Life
New Characters Introduced on Rowdy.com
Rowdy.com has partnered with Insight Studios Group to offer The Mighty Motor Sapiens, a new online daily comic strip that combines high speed action, fast cars, humor and the entire planet being taken over by lizard people.
With new installments appearing every weekday beginning September 3, 2007, the story begins 18 months after the world has been taken over by a race of the Morisoni, lizard people from the center of the Earth. Despite the odd change in circumstances, life has continued and things seem disturbingly okay. Sure, they took out Washington, Moscow, Beijing, and Paris, but on the other hand they took out Washington, Moscow, Beijing, and Paris. And for some reason they wiped out everyone's credit histories, too.
Now the Morisoni control the world and their military bases are everywhere. The Lizards live among us, but this new arrangement seems to be working. Four teenagers, Cam Corman, Hannah Barbario, Gigs Brewster and Maddie Brewster, haven't seen much of an impact from the changes. Yet.
Springing from the minds of writer-artist Daniel Krall (Oni's One Plus One), writer-artist Mark Wheatley (Frankenstein Mobster), and writer Robert Tinnell (Feast of the Seven Fishes), The Mighty Motor Sapiens was created as an exclusive feature for the ROWDY.com web community. The strip will be written and drawn by Krall with additional material by Wheatley and Tinnell. All three creators are veterans of both print and online comics. They are joined by inker Craig Taillerfer (The Chelation Kid), with colors provided by Krall's studio and lettering by Matthew Plog. The strip is produced by Insight Studios.
About Rowdy.com
At the forefront of the new media revolution, Rowdy combines podcasting with social networking and the internet to create a unique new place for NASCAR fans to congregate. The Rowdy podcast is a daily racing radio show devoted strictly to NASCAR racing. For 30 minutes a day, 6 days a week, fans listen in on their MP3 players, computers, or cell phones as hosts Reginald "Buck" Fever and Leonard "Bass" Masters deliver the latest news on America's most popular motorsport. Joining Buck and Bass to deliver expert commentary and analysis are award winning broadcaster Mark Garrow, former Cup driver Rick Mast, championship-winning crew chief Barry Dodson, and veteran print reporters David Poole of the Charlotte Observer, and Steve Waid of NASCAR Scene.
About Insight Studios Group
Producing numerous award-winning comic books, on-line and newspaper comic strips, graphic novels, portfolios and other publications, Insight Studios Group is profiled in a lavish art book titled IS Art - The Art of Insight Studios. This exceptional collection of artists, writers, film makers and media-masters is responsible for many books, comics and films that include Sightcadelic, Hammer of the Gods, Titanic Tales,
Jimgrim and the Devil at Ludd, Frank Cho Illustrator, Gray Morrow Visionary, Al Williamson Adventures, Frankenstein Mobster, Miles the Monster, MARS, Tug & Buster, Gregory, Marc Hempel's Naked Brain, Breathtaker, Feast of the Seven Fishes and many more. Their website, www.SunnyFundays.com, features additional daily strips such as The Chelation Kid, America Jr., Doctor Cyborg, Cryptozoo Crew, and others.
For more information contact:
Mark Wheatley
Insight Studios
insight@insightstudiosgroup.com
410 871 1235
- he also sent me the theme song, but I have no idea how to link it here.
The Mighty Motor Sapiens Roar To Life
New Characters Introduced on Rowdy.com
Rowdy.com has partnered with Insight Studios Group to offer The Mighty Motor Sapiens, a new online daily comic strip that combines high speed action, fast cars, humor and the entire planet being taken over by lizard people.
With new installments appearing every weekday beginning September 3, 2007, the story begins 18 months after the world has been taken over by a race of the Morisoni, lizard people from the center of the Earth. Despite the odd change in circumstances, life has continued and things seem disturbingly okay. Sure, they took out Washington, Moscow, Beijing, and Paris, but on the other hand they took out Washington, Moscow, Beijing, and Paris. And for some reason they wiped out everyone's credit histories, too.
Now the Morisoni control the world and their military bases are everywhere. The Lizards live among us, but this new arrangement seems to be working. Four teenagers, Cam Corman, Hannah Barbario, Gigs Brewster and Maddie Brewster, haven't seen much of an impact from the changes. Yet.
Springing from the minds of writer-artist Daniel Krall (Oni's One Plus One), writer-artist Mark Wheatley (Frankenstein Mobster), and writer Robert Tinnell (Feast of the Seven Fishes), The Mighty Motor Sapiens was created as an exclusive feature for the ROWDY.com web community. The strip will be written and drawn by Krall with additional material by Wheatley and Tinnell. All three creators are veterans of both print and online comics. They are joined by inker Craig Taillerfer (The Chelation Kid), with colors provided by Krall's studio and lettering by Matthew Plog. The strip is produced by Insight Studios.
About Rowdy.com
At the forefront of the new media revolution, Rowdy combines podcasting with social networking and the internet to create a unique new place for NASCAR fans to congregate. The Rowdy podcast is a daily racing radio show devoted strictly to NASCAR racing. For 30 minutes a day, 6 days a week, fans listen in on their MP3 players, computers, or cell phones as hosts Reginald "Buck" Fever and Leonard "Bass" Masters deliver the latest news on America's most popular motorsport. Joining Buck and Bass to deliver expert commentary and analysis are award winning broadcaster Mark Garrow, former Cup driver Rick Mast, championship-winning crew chief Barry Dodson, and veteran print reporters David Poole of the Charlotte Observer, and Steve Waid of NASCAR Scene.
About Insight Studios Group
Producing numerous award-winning comic books, on-line and newspaper comic strips, graphic novels, portfolios and other publications, Insight Studios Group is profiled in a lavish art book titled IS Art - The Art of Insight Studios. This exceptional collection of artists, writers, film makers and media-masters is responsible for many books, comics and films that include Sightcadelic, Hammer of the Gods, Titanic Tales,
Jimgrim and the Devil at Ludd, Frank Cho Illustrator, Gray Morrow Visionary, Al Williamson Adventures, Frankenstein Mobster, Miles the Monster, MARS, Tug & Buster, Gregory, Marc Hempel's Naked Brain, Breathtaker, Feast of the Seven Fishes and many more. Their website, www.SunnyFundays.com, features additional daily strips such as The Chelation Kid, America Jr., Doctor Cyborg, Cryptozoo Crew, and others.
For more information contact:
Mark Wheatley
Insight Studios
insight@insightstudiosgroup.com
410 871 1235
- he also sent me the theme song, but I have no idea how to link it here.
Bashing of Post over Opus censorship continues
Here's an interesting one - one could reasonably expect CNS to stand for Catholic News Service instead of the actual Cybercast News Service. See "Papers Criticized for Pulling Cartoon on Radical Islam," by Melanie Hunter, CNSNews.com Senior Editor, August 28, 2007.
Aha! Apparently it is Catholic - see Dave Astor's story.
Aha! Apparently it is Catholic - see Dave Astor's story.
Tuesday, August 28, 2007
Small Press Expo Adds Matt Wagner, Jeff Smith and Kim Deitch As Guests for SPX 2007
Big year at SPX! Lots of great names will be there.
Small Press Expo Adds Matt Wagner, Jeff Smith and Kim Deitch As Guests for SPX 2007
For Immediate Release
Contact: Warren Bernard
E-Mail: webernard@spxpo.com
Bethesda, Maryland; August 29, 2007 - The Small Press Expo (SPX), the preeminent showcase for the exhibition of independent comic books, graphic novels and alternative political cartoons, is proud to add Matt Wagner, Jeff Smith and Kim Deitch to the roster of guests for SPX 2007. This years SPX will be held October 12 and October 13 at The North Bethesda Marriott Convention Center in Bethesda, Maryland.
Matt Wagner is one of the pioneers of indie comics with his original creation of “Grendel”, which celebrates its 25th Anniversary this year. Matt also created, wrote and drew “Mage”, and has worked on a number of projects for both DC and Vertigo. His next installment of the Grendel saga, “Behold The Devil” is due to be released this November from Dark Horse.
Jeff Smith, is the creator of the celebrated epic “Bone”, which has over a half million copies in print and is now available in Italian, Spanish, German and many other foreign languages. Jeff recently completed his critically acclaimed reworking of the Golden Age hero Captain Marvel, “Shazaam! The Monster Society of Evil” for DC Comics. He has recently been named by Fantagraphics as the art designer in charge of the upcoming reprints of Walt Kelly’s classic, “Pogo”.
Kim Deitch will be at SPX to promote his well received latest graphic novel, “Alias The Cat” from Pantheon Books. Kim is one of the original “underground” cartoonists who redefined comics in the 1960’s and has also worked in the field of animation.
These creators are in addition to Bill Griffith, Gilbert Hernandez and Rutu Modan who were previously announced as guests at this years SPX.
Additional guests will be added over the next few weeks, please stay tuned for those announcements.
For further information on the artists or to request an interview, please contact Warren Bernard at webernard@spxpo.com.
SPX, a non-profit organization, brings together more than 300 artists and publishers to meet their readers, booksellers and distributors each year. Graphic novels, political cartoon books and alternative comics will all be on display and for sale by their authors and illustrators. A series of panel discussions will also be held of interest to readers, academicians and creators of graphic novels and political cartoons.
SPX will be open to the public from 2 pm - 8 pm, Friday, October 12 and 10am - 7 pm Saturday, October 13. Admission is $8 for a single day and $15 for both days.
SPX culminates with the presentation of the 11th Annual Ignatz Awards for outstanding achievement in comics and cartooning. The Ignatz is the first Festival Prize in the US comic book industry, with winners chosen by balloting during the SPX.
As in previous years, all profits from the SPX will go to support the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund (CBLDF), protecting the First Amendment rights of comic book readers and professionals. For more information on the CBLDF, go to their website at
http://www.cbldf.org/.
Founded in 1994, SPX is North America's premier alternative comic-book festival. This annual event brings together comic creators, publishers and more than 2000 fans together to celebrate the art of storytelling.
Small Press Expo Adds Matt Wagner, Jeff Smith and Kim Deitch As Guests for SPX 2007
For Immediate Release
Contact: Warren Bernard
E-Mail: webernard@spxpo.com
Bethesda, Maryland; August 29, 2007 - The Small Press Expo (SPX), the preeminent showcase for the exhibition of independent comic books, graphic novels and alternative political cartoons, is proud to add Matt Wagner, Jeff Smith and Kim Deitch to the roster of guests for SPX 2007. This years SPX will be held October 12 and October 13 at The North Bethesda Marriott Convention Center in Bethesda, Maryland.
Matt Wagner is one of the pioneers of indie comics with his original creation of “Grendel”, which celebrates its 25th Anniversary this year. Matt also created, wrote and drew “Mage”, and has worked on a number of projects for both DC and Vertigo. His next installment of the Grendel saga, “Behold The Devil” is due to be released this November from Dark Horse.
Jeff Smith, is the creator of the celebrated epic “Bone”, which has over a half million copies in print and is now available in Italian, Spanish, German and many other foreign languages. Jeff recently completed his critically acclaimed reworking of the Golden Age hero Captain Marvel, “Shazaam! The Monster Society of Evil” for DC Comics. He has recently been named by Fantagraphics as the art designer in charge of the upcoming reprints of Walt Kelly’s classic, “Pogo”.
Kim Deitch will be at SPX to promote his well received latest graphic novel, “Alias The Cat” from Pantheon Books. Kim is one of the original “underground” cartoonists who redefined comics in the 1960’s and has also worked in the field of animation.
These creators are in addition to Bill Griffith, Gilbert Hernandez and Rutu Modan who were previously announced as guests at this years SPX.
Additional guests will be added over the next few weeks, please stay tuned for those announcements.
For further information on the artists or to request an interview, please contact Warren Bernard at webernard@spxpo.com.
SPX, a non-profit organization, brings together more than 300 artists and publishers to meet their readers, booksellers and distributors each year. Graphic novels, political cartoon books and alternative comics will all be on display and for sale by their authors and illustrators. A series of panel discussions will also be held of interest to readers, academicians and creators of graphic novels and political cartoons.
SPX will be open to the public from 2 pm - 8 pm, Friday, October 12 and 10am - 7 pm Saturday, October 13. Admission is $8 for a single day and $15 for both days.
SPX culminates with the presentation of the 11th Annual Ignatz Awards for outstanding achievement in comics and cartooning. The Ignatz is the first Festival Prize in the US comic book industry, with winners chosen by balloting during the SPX.
As in previous years, all profits from the SPX will go to support the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund (CBLDF), protecting the First Amendment rights of comic book readers and professionals. For more information on the CBLDF, go to their website at
http://www.cbldf.org/.
Founded in 1994, SPX is North America's premier alternative comic-book festival. This annual event brings together comic creators, publishers and more than 2000 fans together to celebrate the art of storytelling.
Sept 22: Mama Mirabelle Festival
National Geographic Kids Entertainment's new preschool cartoon, Mama Mirabelle's Home Movies, which will be seen on PBS Kids in the fall, will be shown at a film screening at National Geographic.
11 AM, $7 ticket.
11 AM, $7 ticket.
September - Anime on the big screen
The DC Anime Club's president forwarded this press release, so presumably the four movies can be seen in the area.
For Immediate Release
Contact: Michelle Portillo (303) 792-8651 michelle.portillo@ncm.com
“ANIME BENTO” FESTIVAL SERVES UP FOUR NIGHTS OF THE FRESHEST ANIME TITLES ON
THE BIG SCREEN
NCM Fathom Responds to Anime Movie Demand by
Hosting the Hottest Manga and FUNimation Entertainment
Anime Titles in more than 250 Movie Theatres Nationwide
Centennial, Colo. – August 21, 2007 – NCM FATHOM, the entertainment division of National CineMedia, takes an unprecedented move in alternative theatre entertainment by announcing a special, four-day anime festival – “Anime Bento, 4 Nights, 4 Servings – The Hottest Anime Movies on the Big Screen” – with FUNimation Entertainment and Manga movies never before seen on the big screen with exclusive bonus features each night.
“Anime Bento, 4 Nights, 4 Servings – The Hottest Anime Movies on the Big Screen” is the first of what is planned to be an annual NCM FATHOM Anime Event. Debuting in more than 250 select AMC, Regal Entertainment Group and Georgia Theatre Company movie theatres nationwide beginning on Sept. 19th at 7:30 p.m. local time, the complete “Anime Bento” schedule will serve up one exciting title each night as follows:
- “Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles” – Wednesday, Sept. 19th
- “Full Metal Alchemist – The Movie – Conqueror of Shambala” –Thursday, Sept. 20th
- “Lupin the III: The Castle of Cagliostro ” – Wednesday, Sept. 26th
- “Karas – The Prophecy” – Thursday, Sept. 27th
Tickets for “Anime Bento” can be purchased for $10.00 at www.FathomEvents.com or at participating theatre box offices. For a complete list of theatre locations, please visit the website (theatres are subject to change).
“We’ve had incredible success with the anime category in the recent past and NCM FATHOM is excited to debut the first annual anime festival in theatres with the hottest anime titles provided by the top anime studios in the industry – FUNimation Entertainment and Manga,” said Dan Diamond, vice president of NCM FATHOM. “The anime phenomenon has captivated teens and adults alike, and this special event is designed as a way for fans to meet and revel in their love for anime while experiencing it in a way they’ve never experienced it before – on the big screen.”
About the Titles
“Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles”
Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles is the latest exciting chapter of the Robotech saga. A heroic cast of returning characters, led by Scott Bernard and Vince Grant, fight to end a decades-long struggle against an enigmatic alien race known as the Invid. However, the mysterious disappearance of the legendary Admiral Hunter will unfold in a treacherous mystery that could tear apart our young heroes and threaten their very survival!
“Full Metal Alchemist – The Movie – Conqueror of Shambala”
It is 1923 in Munich . Two years have passed since Edward Elric’s sacrifice ripped him out of his world and into ours, separating him from his younger brother, Alphonse. In that time, Ed’s continued research into rocketry has allied him with Alphonse Heiderich, a fellow researcher who oddly resembles Ed’s brother. Progress has been slow, however, and Ed has become discouraged. But when he saves a quiet Gypsy girl with the power to read minds, Ed is quickly pulled into a plot by the Thule Society and the burgeoning Nazi Party that could drag both worlds into a terrible war. Back in his own world, Al has been unlocking new secrets of alchemy and gaining incredible powers, all in the hopes of finding Ed.
Battling the occult, ideological extremists, and monstrous Homunculi lurking in the shadows, can the brothers find a way to reunite without causing chaos and bloodshed? What will happen when the world of alchemy and the world of modern science collide?
“Lupin the III: The Castle of Cagliostro ”
When master thief Lupin III, a.k.a. "The Wolf," inadvertently steals a fortune in counterfeit bills from a casino, he is quick to realize the high-quality printing plates that made them are worth even more. Tracing the source of the money to the small European country of Cagliostro, Lupin and his team of colorful outlaws cross swords with the local count over his forthcoming marriage to the last princess of the Cagliostro family. It’s a fast-paced adventure as Lupin must battle fearsome ninjas, rescue a damsel in distress and uncover the key to the lost Cagliostro fortune. This is the first feature film written and directed by Academy Award™ winning anime pioneer and visionary Hayao Miyazaki.
“Karas – The Prophecy”
MIKURA IS ON THE RISE AGAIN... Tokyo - a city populated by both humans and by ghostly beings. They exist in both dimensions, seen and unseen: spirits, apparitions, demons. The balance between these two dimensions has long been upheld by the city's guardian raven Karas and his masters. But that balance has been thrown into disarray as Eko, a former Karas, has attempted to seize power and bring order to the streets through force. The entity Yurine, who represents the will of the people, stands in his way with her newly risen Karas. Now an ageless battle stretching across both dimensions and killing humans and spirits alike is in progress between the two sides and their armies. Karas is humanity’s last hope.
For Immediate Release
Contact: Michelle Portillo (303) 792-8651 michelle.portillo@ncm.com
“ANIME BENTO” FESTIVAL SERVES UP FOUR NIGHTS OF THE FRESHEST ANIME TITLES ON
THE BIG SCREEN
NCM Fathom Responds to Anime Movie Demand by
Hosting the Hottest Manga and FUNimation Entertainment
Anime Titles in more than 250 Movie Theatres Nationwide
Centennial, Colo. – August 21, 2007 – NCM FATHOM, the entertainment division of National CineMedia, takes an unprecedented move in alternative theatre entertainment by announcing a special, four-day anime festival – “Anime Bento, 4 Nights, 4 Servings – The Hottest Anime Movies on the Big Screen” – with FUNimation Entertainment and Manga movies never before seen on the big screen with exclusive bonus features each night.
“Anime Bento, 4 Nights, 4 Servings – The Hottest Anime Movies on the Big Screen” is the first of what is planned to be an annual NCM FATHOM Anime Event. Debuting in more than 250 select AMC, Regal Entertainment Group and Georgia Theatre Company movie theatres nationwide beginning on Sept. 19th at 7:30 p.m. local time, the complete “Anime Bento” schedule will serve up one exciting title each night as follows:
- “Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles” – Wednesday, Sept. 19th
- “Full Metal Alchemist – The Movie – Conqueror of Shambala” –Thursday, Sept. 20th
- “Lupin the III: The Castle of Cagliostro ” – Wednesday, Sept. 26th
- “Karas – The Prophecy” – Thursday, Sept. 27th
Tickets for “Anime Bento” can be purchased for $10.00 at www.FathomEvents.com or at participating theatre box offices. For a complete list of theatre locations, please visit the website (theatres are subject to change).
“We’ve had incredible success with the anime category in the recent past and NCM FATHOM is excited to debut the first annual anime festival in theatres with the hottest anime titles provided by the top anime studios in the industry – FUNimation Entertainment and Manga,” said Dan Diamond, vice president of NCM FATHOM. “The anime phenomenon has captivated teens and adults alike, and this special event is designed as a way for fans to meet and revel in their love for anime while experiencing it in a way they’ve never experienced it before – on the big screen.”
About the Titles
“Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles”
Robotech: The Shadow Chronicles is the latest exciting chapter of the Robotech saga. A heroic cast of returning characters, led by Scott Bernard and Vince Grant, fight to end a decades-long struggle against an enigmatic alien race known as the Invid. However, the mysterious disappearance of the legendary Admiral Hunter will unfold in a treacherous mystery that could tear apart our young heroes and threaten their very survival!
“Full Metal Alchemist – The Movie – Conqueror of Shambala”
It is 1923 in Munich . Two years have passed since Edward Elric’s sacrifice ripped him out of his world and into ours, separating him from his younger brother, Alphonse. In that time, Ed’s continued research into rocketry has allied him with Alphonse Heiderich, a fellow researcher who oddly resembles Ed’s brother. Progress has been slow, however, and Ed has become discouraged. But when he saves a quiet Gypsy girl with the power to read minds, Ed is quickly pulled into a plot by the Thule Society and the burgeoning Nazi Party that could drag both worlds into a terrible war. Back in his own world, Al has been unlocking new secrets of alchemy and gaining incredible powers, all in the hopes of finding Ed.
Battling the occult, ideological extremists, and monstrous Homunculi lurking in the shadows, can the brothers find a way to reunite without causing chaos and bloodshed? What will happen when the world of alchemy and the world of modern science collide?
“Lupin the III: The Castle of Cagliostro ”
When master thief Lupin III, a.k.a. "The Wolf," inadvertently steals a fortune in counterfeit bills from a casino, he is quick to realize the high-quality printing plates that made them are worth even more. Tracing the source of the money to the small European country of Cagliostro, Lupin and his team of colorful outlaws cross swords with the local count over his forthcoming marriage to the last princess of the Cagliostro family. It’s a fast-paced adventure as Lupin must battle fearsome ninjas, rescue a damsel in distress and uncover the key to the lost Cagliostro fortune. This is the first feature film written and directed by Academy Award™ winning anime pioneer and visionary Hayao Miyazaki.
“Karas – The Prophecy”
MIKURA IS ON THE RISE AGAIN... Tokyo - a city populated by both humans and by ghostly beings. They exist in both dimensions, seen and unseen: spirits, apparitions, demons. The balance between these two dimensions has long been upheld by the city's guardian raven Karas and his masters. But that balance has been thrown into disarray as Eko, a former Karas, has attempted to seize power and bring order to the streets through force. The entity Yurine, who represents the will of the people, stands in his way with her newly risen Karas. Now an ageless battle stretching across both dimensions and killing humans and spirits alike is in progress between the two sides and their armies. Karas is humanity’s last hope.
Monday, August 27, 2007
Fox News, late to game, slaps around Post over Opus
We had the story days ago of course, but Fox News is just getting to it today - "Washington Post, Other Newspapers Won't Run 'Opus' Cartoon Mocking Radical Islam," Fox News.com Monday, August 27, 2007, by Catherine Donaldson-Evans.
Zippy returns to Arlington!
And visits the Weenie Beenie, in Shirlington, just off 395. Thanks to Vince Miller for the tip. Somewhere in an earlier post, I linked to a lot of his DC area appearances.
Sept. 24: David Wallis appearance for Killed Cartoons in Fairfax
David Wallis just wrote in to mention this appearance. I enjoyed the book quite a bit.
FALL FOR THE BOOK
GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY
FAIRFAX, VIRGINIA
Sept. 24, 12:00 pm David Wallis Gold Room, Johnson Center
Davis Wallis discusses "Killed: Great Journalism Too Hot to Print and Killed Cartoons: Casualties from the War on Free Expression."
The six-day Fall for the Book Festival celebrates literature, learning and all types of books and storytelling - from literary fiction to mystery and thrillers to folk tales, from poetry and plays to children's books, and across a diverse range of nonfiction: history, memoir, politics and more. All events are free and open to the public.
FALL FOR THE BOOK
GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY
FAIRFAX, VIRGINIA
Sept. 24, 12:00 pm David Wallis Gold Room, Johnson Center
Davis Wallis discusses "Killed: Great Journalism Too Hot to Print and Killed Cartoons: Casualties from the War on Free Expression."
The six-day Fall for the Book Festival celebrates literature, learning and all types of books and storytelling - from literary fiction to mystery and thrillers to folk tales, from poetry and plays to children's books, and across a diverse range of nonfiction: history, memoir, politics and more. All events are free and open to the public.
John Porcellino interview on Express' website
"Practice Makes Imperfect: 'King-Cat Classix'", posted by Christopher Porter on August 27, 2007 - it's not in the physical paper and is about John Porcellino.
Sunday, August 26, 2007
Comics have conquered the world
The NY Times regularly runs articles on cartoons or comic art these days. Today's Times has an editorial praising Jack Kirby. Unfortunately, it may mean, like opera, that comics are essentially dead.
See "Editorial Observer - Jack Kirby, a Comic Book Genius, Is Finally Remembered" by BRENT STAPLES, New York Times August 26, 2007.
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