Comic Creators at Shore Leave Sci-Fi Con in B-More

Baltimore hosts the July 11-13, 2008 Shore Leave Sci-Fi Convention at the Marriott's Hunt Valley Inn. While I've never attended myself, they bring in comics and comics-related guests every year.

This year's media guests have all played characters represented in comics: David Hewlett (Stargate: Atlantis & Stargate: SG-1's Dr. Rodney McKay), George Takei (Star Trek's Lt. Hikaru Sulu, Heroes' Kaito Nakamura), Malcolm McDowell (Star Trek: Generations' Dr. Soran, Heroes' Mr. Linderman), Jewel Staite (Firefly's Kaylee Frye, Stargate: Atlantis's Dr. Jennifer Keller), Kate Hewlett (Stargate: Atlantis' Jeanie Miller), Mark Sheppard (Battlestar Galactica's Romo Lampkin, Bionic Woman's Anthony Anthos, Firefly's Badger, 24's Ivan Erwich), and W. Morgan Sheppard (Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country's Klingon Commander, Babylon 5's Soul Hunter, Transformers' Captain Witwicky).

Their writer guest list is pretty long and broad, and includes a number of noteworthy names who have created comics work as well as sci-fi stories and novels, including: T.A. Chafin, Greg Cox, Peter David, Keith DeCandido, Michael Jan Friedman, Bob Greenberger, Jeffrey Lang, Polly Luttrull, David Mack (no, not the Kabuki one, the other one), Marco Palmieri, and Howard Weinstein.

Some of the other guests may also be part of the industry and I just don't know -- see the full list for more details!

Clifford Berryman exhibit press preview remarks

Here's another audio file. I found this again as I wrote my review for the International Journal of Comic Art, so I figured I'd make it available. It features the Archivist of the United States Howard Weinstein and the curators of the exhibit when the exhibit was previewed for the press.

Press preview remarks to the Clifford Berryman exhibit, "Running for Office: Candidates, Campaigns, and the Cartoons of Clifford Berryman" at the National Archives, Washington, DC from February 8 - August 17th, 2008.

Chris Oarr, former Silver Spring resident, on ADV Manga

Chris used to live just outside of DC in Silver Spring, frequented Big Planet Comics and organized SPX. And he left the area to run the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund. Here's a story about what he's up to now - "ADV Manga Is Still in the Picture," By Brigid Alverson -- Publishers Weekly, 6/23/2008.

Heroes Con Feldstein (and Friends) panel recording online

Al Feldstein and Ben Towle

I've uploaded Craig Fischer and Ben Towle's panel to the Internet Archive as an mp3. Click on the link to download it.

NOT THE USUAL GANG OF IDIOTS: EC COMICS PANEL
Part 2: A Chat With Al Feldstein (and Friends)

Ben Towle and Craig Fischer host an in-depth interview with Al Feldstein, EC artist and writer and MAD MAGAZINE editor extraordinaire! Along for the ride is a pair of celebrity funsters - FRED THE CLOWN and FIN FANG FOUR cartoonist Roger Langridge and CUL DE SAC comic stripper Richard Thompson - ready to roast and grill Feldstein about The Lighter Side of Editing America's #1 Humor Magazine!


Craig Fischer, Richard Thompson, Roger Langridge, Al Feldstein.

Comics in the Fairfax County Public Library system

I'm probably going to miss some of the entries they put in here, but I was flipping through the Fairfax County Public Library catalog of free events and other news tonight and noticed that a good number of branches have comics-oriented events. In the "For Teens" blurb, a bullet reads "Find your inner artist -- create comics with graphic artist Matt Dembicki". Matt's featured at quite a few branches actually. Take a look!

Burke Center:
Teens - Monday, July 21, 7:00 - Comics Around the World. See comics from around the world and create your own with graphic artist and author Matt Dembicki. Cosponsored by the Friends of the Kings Park Library. Age 12-18.

Centreville Regional:
School Age - Tuesday, Aug. 12, 2:30 - Artful Doodles! A graphic artist presents drawing basics in this hands-on program. Age 6-12.
Teens - Thursday, July 17, 1:00 - Anime Afternoon. Anime and refreshments. Call for movie title. Cosponsored by the Friends of the Centreville Regional Library. Age 12-18.
Wednesday, July 30, 7:00 - Comics Around the World. See comics from around the world and create your own with graphic artist and author Matt Dembicki. Cosponsored by the Friends of the Kings Park Library. Age 12-18.

Chantilly Regional:
Teens - Monday, June 7, 7:00/Monday, July 7, 7:00/Monday, Aug. 4, 7:00 - Monday Night Manga. Discuss your favorite manga and anime titles with other teens. Age 12-18.
Monday, July 14, 7:00 - Comics Around the World. See comics from around the world and create your own with graphic artist and author Matt Dembicki. Cosponsored by the Friends of the Kings Park Library. Age 12-18.

City of Fairfax Regional:
Teens - Wednesday, July 9, 7:00 - Comics Around the World. See comics from around the world and create your own with graphic artist and author Matt Dembicki. Cosponsored by the Friends of the Kings Park Library. Age 12-18.

George Mason Regional:
Teens - Monday, June 23, 7:00 - Comics Around the World. See comics from around the world and create your own with graphic artist and author Matt Dembicki. Cosponsored by the Friends of the Kings Park Library. Age 12-18.

John Marshall:
Teens - Wednesday, Aug. 6, 6:00 - Anime Night. Come watch anime moview and discuss your favorites. Age 13-18.

Kings Park:
School Age - Thursday, June 26, 10:30 - Artful Doodles! A graphic artist presents drawing basics in this hands-on program. Age 6-12.

Kingstowne:
School Age - Wednesday, July 16, 10:30 - Artful Doodles! A graphic artist presents drawing basics in this hands-on program. Age 6-12.
Teens - Saturday, July 19, 2:30 - Comics Around the World. See comics from around the world and create your own with graphic artist and author Matt Dembicki. Cosponsored by the Friends of the Kings Park Library. Age 12-18.

Lorton:
Teens - Tuesday, July 15, 7:00 - Comics Around the World. See comics from around the world and create your own with graphic artist and author Matt Dembicki. Cosponsored by the Friends of the Kings Park Library. Age 12-18.

Martha Washington:
Teens - Monday, July 7, 7:00 - Comics Around the World. See comics from around the world and create your own with graphic artist and author Matt Dembicki. Cosponsored by the Friends of the Kings Park Library. Age 12-18.

Patrick Henry:
Teens - Saturdays, June 7 & 21, 11:00/Saturdays, July 5 & 19, 11:00/Saturdays, Aug. 2, 16, & 30, 11:00 - Manga Club. Manga, Anime and refreshments. Age 12-18.
Adults - Thursday, June 5, 7:00 - Manga and Japanese Pop Culture. Confused about manga? Why are these Japanese comics so popular in the U.S.? Charles Nguyen will present a rough guide to this literary medium and its import to the American market.

It is worth noting that there are a ton of other interesting programs available. Additionally, in the Teen Summer Reading List, under Fiction, are The Looking Glass Wars by Frank Beddor (though I suspect this is the prose and not the comics/TPB), The Plain Janes by Cecil Castellucci, and American Born Chinese by Gene Yang, and in Non-Fiction, Flight, Volume Four by kazu Kibuishi and Persepolis 2 by Marjane Satrapi.

Today's newspapers roundup

Cartoon Network's Dethklok animation series - "As Seen on TV: Dethklok" by Glenn Dixon, Express June 26, 2008

Wall-E review - "Droid to the World," by Tricia Olszewski, Washington City Paper June 26, 2008.

Zadzooks on the Hulk - "ZADZOOKS: Hulk, foe take rivalry to stores," by Joseph Szadkowski, Washington Times Thursday, June 26, 2008.

New York Times on Disney.com

"In Overhaul, Disney.com Seeks a Path to More Fun," By BROOKS BARNES, New York Times June 25, 2008.

The Walt Disney Company, concerned that its main Web site is too corporate and not fun enough, is moving once again to overhaul Disney.com.

Barnes is rapidly becoming one of my favorite animation writers.

Jim Dougan in new anthology

I still haven't met local cartoonist Jim Dougan, but Joel Pollack of Big Planet Comics told me today that his work will be appearing in No Formula: Stories from The Chemistry Set vol. 1, (Desperado) and you can order it from the June Previews using Jun083849 as your code. So I ordered it. My buddy Dean Haspiel appears to be in it as well.

Ullman and Hellman

Rob Ullman did this cover to the Washington City Paper's June 20th edition. I saw Rob at Heroes Con and bought another three pieces of original art from him.

and Danny Hellman, who's illustrating a column in the Post's Source section on Sunday has a podcast interview by Robin McConnell at Inkstuds (June 19 2008).

Mark Wheatley interview online today

See "Interview: Mark Wheatley and Robert Tinnell on 'EZ Street'," by Rick Marshall, Wed Jun 25, 2008 for information on the Maryland cartoonist's latest work, the webcomic EZ Street.

Rory Root's memorial - guest column part 2

Here's Miron's remarks from the memorial:

Rory was the kind of knowledgeable reader who'd pick up a coverless comic and say, 'Atlas, I knew them well.'

He was a marvel who supported many of the industry's dark horses. His interests, as many speakers will attest, ran the spectrum from AC to DC, Archie to Zap, Little Lulu to the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund. For a celibate guy, he sure enjoyed a lot of sects.

I've known Rory for about 25 years. We first met as employees of Bob Beerbohm's 'Best of Two Worlds' comicbook shop, on Telegraph Avenue, Berkeley, California. He understood the value and need of selling anything and everything. If there were a rainbow flag made from four colors Rory, a real life comic book guy, might have inspired it.

Some will say, 'He never grew up.'

I will say, 'Rory brought his childhood sweetheart forward through life and time. He bravely married his fortunes to the art that dared not speak it's name at a time when society shunned comicbook love. To the surprise of professional critics and cynical skeptics, they survived and prospered.

It was a good, independent life for them both. Like many happy couples they watched their children, named the Store and the Industry, grow, mature and have many successful children of their own. Tonight I see Rory, a loveable racantour, posed imitating a Grant Wood painting: He is Outstanding in his field.

Thank you Rory.

In realizing his dream he provided serious comic relief many.

Friends forever, pals for life.

Yours,
Miron Murcury

Rory Root's memorial - guest column

Our California correspondent Miron Mercury sent this in tonight:

June 21 the first day of summer was as hot as a barb on Q and the longest day in memory. My birthday and Rory Root's memorial shared the same heat drenched day.

Comic Relief, the famous Berkeley, California comicbook shop that Rory and Mike Patchen opened in April 1987, hosted the memorial party.

Hundreds of geeks and freaks, punks and hippies, parents with their children and children who found a home in the warm embrace of a comics store came to pay homage to a fallen brother.

The crowd littered the sidewalk like scree spilled from a mountain hidden in the store. The store floor was packed, resembling a crowded George Perez superhero poster. In attendance were heroes and heroines from many companies, countries and decades.
Ron Turner, still looking like himself, Joe Field, a founder of WonderCon, owner of Flying Colors, creator of Free Comics Day, and representatives of the Berkeley Downtown improvement

Everyone toasted Rory with stories and remembrances. Some people, actually lots of friends, toasted Rory with glasses drank in his memory. Salute. La Chaim. We drink to life.

The event felt like a warm fuzzy Viking's funeral. I do suspect that if Rory were there he'd want a pyre.

Mark and Molly Bode were there. Things are good for them. You know about the (not so) recent cartoon movie deal. Also, he's been working with Puma, the sneaker manufacturer. There's some kind of Bode Lizard 'Hoodie' that's going to be made. The future bodes well ... for us all.

More then a two dozen people spoke on Rory's behalf.

Bob Wayne, representing DC comics, spoke highly of Rory's devotion to comics. He reminded the attentive audience that Rory was always, 'Asking, cajoling and bothering me to get DC to publish graphic novels and keep them in print. He was never slow to pay a compliment and just as quick to call me up over an error our company was making.'

The lovely Sequential Tart reminded every one of Rory's quick and immediate support. She was, like many speakers, grateful to Rory.

My short piece felt twice to long when in front of a watching crowd.

Some speeches went on for hours! Were those people part Ent?

??? Hey??? What's this white cylindrical object in my pocket in an Altoids tin? Ahh, it's labeled ''Rory Root Rocket.'' It must be a memorial thing.

Picture a small group of astro nuts walking two baby blocks to the alley behind the original Comic Relief store. Once in the alley one large rotund guy in a Green Lantern shirt says to a short underground gent wearing a Jack Kirby Silver Surfer, 'Hey, you have a Larry Todd Proto Pipe! :) Well, let me fill that up.'

Then a guy came running into the alley pulling at his shirt buttons. He saw the crowd and exclaimed, 'Sheesh, there's never an empty ally any more!' He seem to be wearing a strange red undershirt with a huge S on it.

The Rory rocket was ignited without NASA's guidance. It sent everyone to the moon.

The memorial was a happy couple of hours. It provided an opportunity for old and new friends to renew their connections and remember rewarding decades now past. The smiles on everyone's face said, I'm glad I knew Rory. Our spirit was boosted by the warmth of friends, pals and comics countrymen.

Yours,
Alee O'Saurous

Matt Dembicki interview about new anthology

Dirk at Journalista pointed out that Arlington's Matt Dembicki's got an interview onlne about his new anthology - see "Trickster' - a Native anthology of tales in graphic novel form," by: Robert Schmidt, Pechanga.net June 25, 2008.

We're all just one big incestous group of Thompson fans

In a column today entitled, "Twelve Mostly Overlooked Comics Published In The Last Twelve Or So Years," Tom Spurgeon listed Richard's Poor Alamanac. The permalink isn't working, but it's his July 25th column. He writes, "The great, emerging star of this decade's newspaper strip scene, Richard Thompson hasn't stopped doing his Richard's Poor Almanac work in favor of spending more time getting Cul De Sac out. This collection of those works from a few years back shows that were he to abandon the Almanac for any reason it would be a total shame. Trenchant and exceedingly wry, this book may frighten if like me you realize that these comics have been around for as long as they have without your being aware of them."

And he hasn't even seen the color ones. You can see some of them on Richard's blog. I've read about 1/2 of Tom's other recommendations.

Meanwhile over in Gene Weingarten's June 24th chat, someone who wasn't me said:

Arlington, Va.: Today as I was reading through the comics, I exclaimed out loud when I saw Cul de Sac. It's about time! I have no idea why it took the Post so long to pick it up, but I'm glad they finally did.

Gene Weingarten: It happened a year too late. This is not just one of the best new strips out there, it is one of the best strips out there. Richard Thompson is a genius.

Big Monkey problems?

I've heard a rumor that they're closing their Fredericksburg store. Anyone heard that? Know anything about the 14th St store?

Zadzooks interviews Rick Remender

Another one from last week courtesy of Wim - Zadzooks interviews Rick Remender at "Creative freedom found in comics, writer asserts," by Joseph Szadkowski, Washington Times Thursday, June 19, 2008.

Keith Knight on Post chat last week

Keith Knight did a Washington Post chat last Friday. I missed this as I was deep in the Charlotte Convention Center when it happened, but Ephemerist blogger Wim Lockefeer let me know about it. Check out Wim's blog too - he finds really cool stuff, and he's in Belgium so a lot of it is new to me.

Cartoonists Rights Network award to Palestinian cartoonist

The Northern Virgina-based organization issued the following press release.

Palestinian cartoonist awarded 2008 Courage Award
Friday, 20 June 2008, 10:27 am
Press Release: Cartoonists Rights Network International

PRESS RELEASE - INTERNATIONAL/PALESTINE

19 June 2008

Palestinian cartoonist awarded CRNI's 2008 Courage in Editorial Cartooning Award

SOURCE: Cartoonists Rights Network International (CRNI), Burke

(CRNI/IFEX) - The following is a CRNI press release:

CRNI announces annual award winner

June 19, 2008, Burke, Virginia - Today, Cartoonists Rights Network International announced the winner of its 2008 Courage in Editorial Cartooning Award: Bahaa Boukhari, a Palestinian. CRNI, the only international organization devoted to defending the human rights of cartoonists imperiled because of their work, will present the award to Boukhari at its annual dinner on June 26. The dinner is to be held at the Hotel Contessa in San Antonio, Texas.

A group of cartoonists deemed the Courage in Editorial Cartooning Award the "Nobel Prize" of the cartooning world several years ago.

Every year, CRNI recognizes a cartoonist who has shown exemplary courage in the face of unrelenting threat, legal action or other pressure as punishment or disincentive for cartoons that were too powerful for some officials, sects, terrorists or demagogues.

Bahaa Boukhari has a long career in political cartooning in the Middle East. Last winter, Gaza authorities arrested him and suspended publication of the newspaper that published a cartoon that ran in November. Boukhari and two colleagues were convicted of insulting the Hamas Parliament on February 3 2008. Although their fines and prison sentences were suspended, an unprecedented series of demonstrations took place in Ramallah on February 27 in defense of Boukhari and the right of Palestinians to express themselves freely without fear of intimidation or reprisal.

CRNI has affiliate organizations in 15 countries throughout the world; it conducts workshops and other training in freedom of expression issues for cartoonists. Its programs include actions to reduce violence with impunity against journalists. CRNI is a member of IFEX and the New York Foundation for the Arts.

Please contact CRNI for more information about Bahaa Boukhari and former awardees who are once again endangered. Algerian Ali Dilem, the most popular cartoonist in North Africa, is facing his third trial since January. In February, Danish security forces thwarted an international plot to kill Kurt Westergaard. Dilem and Westergaard were CRNI honorees in 2006. CRNI has witnessed an alarming rise in reprisals directed at editorial cartoonists due to the power and influence of their work.

For further information on the February 2008 conviction of Boukhari and his colleagues, see: http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/91081

For further information on the Dilem case, see: http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/94526

For further information on the Westergaard case, see: http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/90719

Jimmy Margulies to get award in DC

Jimmy Margulies of the Record, in Northern New Jersey (my Dad's local paper) will be in DC for an award on September 27th. Dave Astor's got the story at "Another Clarion Award for Editorial Cartoonist Jimmy Margulies," E&P June 24, 2008.

Watterson on Cul de Sac

Alan Gardener and Dave Astor noted that Bill Watterson's written an intro to Our Man Thompson's Cul de Sac collection coming out in September. See "Coup for 'Cul de Sac' Book: Reclusive 'Calvin and Hobbes' Creator Writes the Foreword," E&P June 19, 2008.

Richard noted to me that you can read it on Amazon in their look inside the book feature. Personally I'm waiting until I buy a copy. Anti - ci - pa - tion, as they said in Rocky Horror.