October 1: Nina Paley animation at Women in the Arts

Rick Banning pointed this out - "An Ancient Tale, Newly Animated," By Lavanya Ramanathan, Washington Post Thursday, September 25, 2008; C13. Nina Paley's "Sita Sings the Blues," fresh from the Ottawa Animation Festival will be shown at the National Museum of the Women in the Arts. 1250 New York Ave. NW. 202-783-5000, $5. 8:30 p.m. October 1, 2008.

Paley is better known as a comic strip cartoonist - this is her third and longest (corrected from first) foray into animation. Here's an article with more information on the film - "A Filmmaker’s ‘Blues’ Prompts Traditionalists To See Red," by Eric Kohn, Forward Web date May 29, 2008 appeared in June 6 issue, p.16

We Need Another Hero or 2: Baltimore ComicCon

http://www.expressnightout.com/content/2008/09/if_you_were_a_fan.php

In today's Print and On-Line editions of the Washington Post Express, by former Washingtonian, Scott Rosenberg, who will also be at SPX.

Baltimore Comic-Con Announces Panels for 2008!

Baltimore Comic-Con Announces Panels for 2008!

Baltimore, Maryland - September 24, 2008 - The Baltimore Comic-Con is proud to announce programming for panels at the 2008 show! Panels will occur both Saturday and Sunday upstairs from the main convention floor.

Once again, we have a panel for all tastes. A highlight this year includes the first public face-to-face discussion between Brian Michael Bendis and Robert Kirkman since each voiced dissenting opinions about work-for-hire and the future of comics. Guests who want to learn more about the graphic crafts can join Jose Villarubia and Bernie Wrightson, or see the Web Comics panel. Also, attendees will receive publishing updates from Dark Horse, DC, Kingdom Comics, Marvel, Image, Top Cow, and Visionary Comics Studio, and an exclusive art seminar by Jim Lee for eight hand-selected fans.


Without further ado...the panels!

Saturday, September 27, 2008
11am-12:30pm
DC Nation
Oa room (upstairs, room 307)
Join DC editor Dan Didio as he and special guests, discusses the current DC Universe, as well as hints to the future of the DC Universe.

11:30am-12:30pm
Web Comics
Tarnax IV room (upstairs, room 302-303)
Funny, timely, exciting, biting -- all words that can describe the Web Comic, the most widely-available of the comic art form. Join Scott Kurtz, Danielle Corsetto, Scott Sava, and others as they discuss the ins, outs, ups, downs, and overall variety of this forum.

12:35pm-1:35pm
Marvel Q&A: A Cup of B
Oa room (upstairs, room 307)
Tom Brevoort and Brian Michael Bendis answers questions about the Marvel Universe. You should join them. He loves you.

12:35pm-1:35pm
Silent Devil/Ahmet Zappa
Tarnax IV room (upstairs, room 302-303)
Kingdom Comics, a new division of the Disney film studio, showcases their upcoming projects as they bring back some of Disney Studios classic characters!

1:40pm-2:40pm
Top Cow
Oa room (upstairs, room 307)
Join Filip Sablik as he talks Dragon Prince (did you get your Baltimore Comic Con exclusive yet?) Witchblade, Darkness, and all things Top Cow. Moo.

1:40pm-2:40pm
DC Comics presents -- The Return of Sgt. Rock! With Billy Tucci
Tarnax IV room (upstairs, room 302-303)
DC Comics is proud to present the return of Easy Company with the six issue miniseries, "Sgt. Rock - The Lost Battalion." Join Sgt. Rock writer/artist and Shi creator Billy Tucci and special guest WW2 veterans Grant Hirabayashi, Joe Kelly Kuwayama, and Terry Shima for an intimate story and art preview of salute to the American soldier. Billy and Terry's discussion and photos will also show the incredible lengths the creator has gone to uphold Rock's honorable legacy by interviewing actual veterans, partaking in a massive World War II re-enactment, and visiting the beaches of Normandy!

2:45pm-3:45pm
Kirkman vs. Bendis: The Future of Comics
Oa room (upstairs, room 307)
What began as an open letter on the future of comics has turned into one of the hottest topics to hit the industry in decades. Now, the two main opposing forces in the discussion get together as Robert Kirkman and Brian Michael Bendis come face to face in a no-holds-barred debate! Don't miss out on what promises to be the most talked about panel of the year!

2:45pm-3:45pm
Dark Horse
Tarnax IV room (upstairs, room 302-303)
Join Dark Horse Director of Publicity Jeremy Atkins and Senior Managing Editor Scott Allie for a first hand look at the future of comics. You will be given insight into the next chapter of the breakout hit series, The Umbrella Academy, as well as a look at what the future holds for all of your other favorite series and characters. With exciting announcements and inside info, you won't want to be anywhere else.

3:50pm-5pm
DC Comics Presents: Men of Steel
Oa room (upstairs, room 307)
What is the future of the Superman Family? Join Geoff Johns, James Robinson, Sterling Gates, Jamal Igle, and Superman editor Matt Idelson as they give you a peek at what the next year holds for the Man of Steel and his family.

3:50pm-5pm
Comic Book Restoration and CGC
Tarnax IV room (upstairs, room 302-303)
Should restoration be considered for a comic? What does restoration do to the value of a comic? How will CGC grade a restored comic? These questions and more will be answered by Matt Nelson (Classics Incorporated) and Richard Evans (Bedrock City) as they give you insight into the do's and don'ts of comic book restoration.

Sunday, September 28, 2008
11am-12pm
Jim Lee Art Seminar
The Batcave (upstairs, room 301)
Eight lucky fans will be hand-picked by Jim Lee to attend his one hour art seminar! A contest will determine the lucky participants. During the day Saturday, you will turn in a piece of original art at a designated area. Then, on Sunday at 10:30am, Jim will choose eight artists from the entrants who will follow him to the seminar room for this unique experience.

11am-12pm
Visionary
Earth 53 (upstairs, room 307)
VCS just announced the new Headlocked: The Tryout 3-Issue series, with covers by Ron Wilson, John Hebert and Jerry "The King" Lawler in his first comic work. They also just launched their digital publishing arm on Wowio and have even more news in the wings! Check out this panel with a bunch of VCS professionals to find out what this up-and-coming studio has planned into 2009! This will also include a focus on Visionary's new submissions, and discussion of how to break into comics...the Visionary way.

11:30am-12:30pm
Boom!
The Savage Land (upstairs, room 302-303)
Join Boom! Studios Editor-In-Chief, Mark Waid, as he discusses the INCREDIBLE new projects coming soon from Boom!

12pm-1pm
Image Comics Show
Earth 53 (upstairs, room 307)
The Image Comics Show hits Baltimore as Robert Kirkman (WALKING DEAD, INVINCIBLE), Erik Larsen (SAVAGE DRAGON, IMAGE UNITED), Jimmy Palmiotti (Back to Brooklyn, The Pro), Richard Starkings (ELEPHANTMEN), and more give an exclusive glimpse into the future of Image Comics, featuring the public debut of all-new IMAGE UNITED art, along with many other announcements, surprises, and giveaways!

12:35pm-1:35pm
Spotlight on Wrightson (Villarrubia)
The Savage Land (upstairs, room 302-303)
Jose Villarrubia presents a Spotlight on his good friend, Living Legend, and Baltimore Comic-Con Guest of Honor, Bernie Wrightson!

1pm-2pm
Marvel: Your Universe
Earth 53 (upstairs, room 307)
Will you Embrace Change? Join the Marvel crew and accept your new Skrullian Overlords as you find out all you want to know about Secret Invasion and the rest of the Marvel Universe.

1:40pm-2:40pm
Chaykin/Hughes
The Savage Land (upstairs, room 302-303)
Howard Chaykin and Adam Hughes. Need we say more?

2pm-3pm
For the Love of Comics
Earth 53 (upstairs, room 307)
Dan Didio talks comics! Join Dan in this unique forum to discuss what he likes about comics in general.

2:45pm-4pm
Turner - In Memoriam
The Savage Land (upstairs, room 302-303)
Join Frank Mastromauro as he hosts a tribute to Michael Turner, a truly singular talent and an all around great guy.

Panel topics, descriptions, and creator participants are subject to change.

Crock writer Don Wilder has died

Kevin Rechin, the son of Crock comic strip creator Bill Rechin, says that Crock co-creator Don Wilder passed away this morning. Crock is carried by the Washington Times. Brant Parker, credited by Don Markstein as another creator of the strip, also passed away recently.

The tip is thanks to Richard Thompson.

Pekar book available in this month's Previews

In case you do all your comics shopping at a comics store through Diamond's Previews, here's the ad.

Oddly enough, I ordered nothing beyond my usual pull list out of the December Previews. Given that I spent $250.00 at Big Planet at lunchtime today, this doesn't bode well for the comics industry.

Some nice stuff was out today though - Moomin vol. 3, the 2nd Aya book, Garry Trudeau by Soper, Terry and the Pirates vol. 4, Derf's Trailer Parks, Sub-Mariner Marvel Masterworks... one can see where the money goes.

Neil Gaiman was on Post chat earlier today

Too late to ask questions, but you can read it at "National Book Festival: Novelist and Comics Author Neil Gaiman; Science Fiction, Fantasy, Film and More" Wednesday, September 24, 2008. Gaiman will be down on the Mall for the Library of Congress book festival on Saturday, but his line is usually hundreds of people long.

Weingarten likes F-Minus

In his Tuesday chat, Weingarten was asked about F-Minus:

Providence, R.I.: The best comic strip in the Boston Globe, which I read as a poor shadow of a substitute for my native Post, is Tony Carrillo's "F-Minus." Are you familiar? What do you think, and can you get this brilliant man in the pages of the WaPo?

Gene Weingarten: I like it a LOT. I will see what I can do, which isn't much.

Are YOU Going to Baltimore Comic-Con This Weekend?

I am! I know Mike and family (or at least daughter) are. Chris Shields from cIndy Center is. Joel Pollack from Big Planet Comics will be there on Sunday. Local yokels John K. Snyder III and Pop Mhan will be guests, and Jo Chen will be there (but not as an exhibitor at the show -- just socializing!).

I actually am part of Baltimore Comic-Con's Executive Staff, maintaining their MySpace and ComicSpace webpages, creating and issuing press releases, and a bevy of other random acts of miscellania. I'll probably be wearing a Staff shirt at the show, but it'll have my over-loaded backpack over it, as I intend to attend for my own entertainment. You may see me working before doors open both days as well, so if you do, say "hi." If you don't know if it's me, ask!

I'll have my "Anything Marvel" and "Least Expected" sketchbooks with me in the hopes of filling them up, which you're welcomed to peruse while they're not in use!

I have no gauge who all looks at this blog (maybe Mike does!), so if you're going, post a Comment and let us know! I'll (hopefully) see you there!

Randy

Jeff Kinney, former U of Maryland cartoonist, on YouTube

This has been linked to from all over (Dirk Deppey, Brian Fies), but I'll toss it up here too. The Diary of a Wimpy Kid author, Jeff Kinney, a former U of Maryland cartoonist, is interviewed on YouTube by the Borders bookstore chain. Kinney will be at Baltimore Comic-Con this weekend much to my daughter's interest. Here's the interview and his talk for the kids in the audience.

BTW, Fies' book on his mother's cancer is very good. Buy it.

Post religious blog on Oliphant cartoon

Gabriel Salguero, Pastor and Executive Member, Latino Leadership Circle, takes Oliphant to task in "Stereotyping Palin and Pentecostalism," Newsweek / Washington Post On Faith blog (September 22 2008).

He says, "Certainly, Mr. Oliphant is free to have an opinion concerning "tongue-speaking." I understand the genre of political cartoons, but I just think this is applying an old and unnecessary stereotype. To imply or even hint that good Christians who speak in tongues are naive or not able to lead is truly a leap to judgment. This may not have been Mr. Oliphant's intent but it has been construed in this way by some who have viewed his cartoon post. Certainly, very few would dare argue that the personal prayer practices of other religious groups makes them ill-equipped to lead."

Small Press Expo Announces New Yorker Illustrator and Syndicated Cartoonist Richard Thompson as a Guest for SPX 2008

Oh yeah, and I'll be interviewing him on Sunday I'm told...

Small Press Expo Announces New Yorker Illustrator and Syndicated Cartoonist Richard Thompson as a Guest for SPX 2008

For Immediate Release
Contact: Warren Bernard
Phone: 301-537-4615

Bethesda, Maryland; September 23, 2008 - The Small Press Expo (SPX), the preeminent showcase for the exhibition of independent comic books, graphic novels and alternative political cartoons, is proud to announce New Yorker illustrators Richard Thompson as a guest for SPX 2008.

Richard Thompson is a long time contributor to The New Yorker and a first time guest at Small Press Expo. Richard contributes a weekly political/social strip to The Washington Post called Richards Poor Almanac. Richard is also a contributor to The Atlantic Magazine, National Geographic and U.S. News and World Report and won the National Cartoonists Society's Magazine and Book Illustration Award. He is also a syndicated cartoonist, whose strip Cul De Sac is now in over 100 newspapers. Richard will be signing copies of Cul De Sac: This Exit, the first Cul De Sac collection at SPX.

Richard Thompson is in addition to previously announced guests Joost Swarte, a fellow New Yorker contributor, Ben Katchor, Bryan Lee O’Malley and Hope Larson.

Please stay tuned for additional announcements about SPX 2008.

This year, SPX will be held Saturday, October 4 from 11AM to 7PM and Sunday, October 5 noon-6PM at The North Bethesda Marriott Convention Center in Bethesda, Maryland. Admission is $8 for a single day and $15 for both days.

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 culminates with the presentation of the 12th Annual Ignatz Awards for outstanding achievement in comics and cartooning that will occur Saturday night, October 4. 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 and graphic novel festival. This annual event brings together comic creators, publishers and fans together to celebrate the art of visual storytelling.

Steve Dillon at Beyond Comics in Frederick, MD

In my opinion, if you want to see Dillon, this would be the place to do so, as I'm guessing he'll be busy in Baltimore!

Acclaimed artist Steve Dillon (Preacher, Wolverine, Punisher) will be hosted by a number of ComicsPRO member stores from September 22–October 1, 2008. Dillon’s tour is done in conjunction with The Hero Initiative, and Hero benefit events will be featured at each stop. ComicsPRO is the trade association for comics specialty retailers, and The Hero Initiative is the charitable organization dedicated to helping comic creators in financial need.

The tour coincides with the artist’s visit to the United States for the Baltimore Comic-Con on September 27-28. Store stops include:

...

Thursday, September 25th 6PM-9PM
BEYOND COMICS
5632 Buckeystown Pike
Frederick, MD
http://www.beyondcomics.com/
Event: A pub night in honor of Steve will be held, with donated items offered by Beyond Comics as well.

...

“I’m looking forward to a fun and productive trip, which helps out The Hero Initiative all at the same time.” said Steve Dillon. “A splendid time is guaranteed for all.”

“ComicsPRO is happy to welcome artist Steve Dillon into a number of our member stores, especially for such a good cause as The Hero Initiative,” said Joe Field, ComicsPRO president.
And be on the lookout: ComicsPRO and The Hero Initiative will be hosting another fundraising tour with Jimmy Palmiotti and Darwyn Cooke in the first quarter of 2009. Exact schedule to be announced.

New acquistions of Michigan State's Comic Art Collection

Randy Scott, the librarian at Michigan State University's Comic Art Collection, puts online new catalogue records and new acquisitions for the collection so that a Google* search will find them (as opposed to them being buried in the dark web of the Library's catalogue). He's updated his list with new material from February through September. I find it interesting to stroll through and go "Never heard of that. Hmmm. Got that. Hmmm. Who'd want that? Hmmm...."

In February alone, we find some items of interest. Here's one by a friend of mine that Randy beat me out on when we were visiting Big Planet Comics Vienna:

Un Mode de Transport / Brian Biggs. -- Rodez : Editions de
Rouergue, 2004. -- 32 p. : all col. ill. ; 22 cm. --
(Touzazimute ; no. 18) -- A children's book. -- Call no.:
PN6727.B46M6 2004

and one from the M. Rhode clipping service, now safely filed under "pigs":

"At Least He's Not a Chauvinist"* (Postage Stamp Funnies, Jan.
10, 2008) / Shannon Wheeler. -- Summary: A woman is dating
a pig. -- Clipped from The Onion, A.V. section (Washington,
D.C.) -- Call no.: PN6726 f.B55 "pigs"

Something to make one wonder. I'll have to pull out Rob Weiner's Marvel bibliography to see what this really is:

Break the Chain! -- New York : Marvel Music, 1994- . -- ill. ;
26 cm. -- Vol. 1, no. 1 accompanied by a music cassette. --
LIBRARY HAS: v. 1, no. 1. -- Call no.: PN6728.6.M3B72

A Zapiro collection for those following the current South African controversy:

Take Two Veg and Call Me in the Morning : Cartoons from Mail &
guardian, Sunday times and Independent Newspapers / Zapiro.
-- Auckland Park, South Africa : Jacana Media, 2007. -- 160
p. : chiefly ill. ; 20 x 24 cm. -- Call no.: DT1975.Z37T3
2007

March's listing includes a bunch of comics that the DC Conspiracy donated.

And look what snuck in and was catalogued in September:

"This Hole Would Be More Interesting if it had a Windmill, a
Lava Pit and a Giant Robot with a Baseball Bat"* (Cul de
Sac, Aug. 28, 2008) / Richard Thompson. -- Call no.: PN6726
f.B55 "miniature golf"

and this:

Film & TV Adaptations of Comics / Michael Rhode & Manfred
Vogel. -- 2007 ed. -- Arlington, Va. : through Lulu.com,
2007. -- 149 p. ; 23 cm. -- Contents: Adaptations ; Live
action adapations from animation ; Films and TV shows with
superhero themes but not based on comic books ;
Cartoonist's appearances & work in movies and television ;
Documentaries & promotions ; Sources & bibliography ;
Index. -- Call no.: PN1995.9.C36R47 2007

Boy, I've got to visit there one day. In the meantime, I encourage all my readers to send their unwanted comic books, clipped strips, tearsheets about comics articles and the like to:

Randy Scott
MSU Libraries
East Lansing, MI 48824-1048


*I'm sure any search engine will work as well, but MSU uses Google to search all of its websites.

A couple of postcards

I had a truncated look at some paper ephemera while at the Farmer's Market this weekend and bought two postcards.



The first is by Gene Carr, who did various comic strips, as well as postcards. This one is 4th of July.



The second is Ain't My Flag A Beaut! postcard, a caricature of Old Man Winter or Jack Frost holding an American flag based on Robert Peary's trip to the North Pole in 1909.


Click through either one to see a larger version.

National Book Festival, Library of Congress and Small Press Expo news

Librarian Sara Duke's sent in some schedule information.

National Book Festival, September 27th, on the Mall

Neil Gaiman
Teens & Children Pavilion

11:45-12:15 pm
Book Signing

1-3 pm

For more than 20 years, Neil Gaiman has been a top writer of modern comics and a best-selling novelist. His work has appeared in translation in more than 19 countries, and nearly all of his novels, graphic and otherwise, have been optioned for films. He was the creator-writer of the monthly cult DC Comics series Sandman, which won many awards, including a World Fantasy Award. He is the author of the critically acclaimed American Gods, awarded the Hugo, Nebula, Bram Stoker, SFX and Locus awards, and his novel Stardust was a winner of the American Library Association’s Alex Award as one of 2000’s top 10 adult novels for young adults. His children’s books include the international best-selling novel Coraline (2002), a winner of the Bram Stoker Award and the Hugo Award. His latest novel for young readers is The Graveyard Book (HarperCollins, September 2008). He lives near Minneapolis.

Brad Meltzer
Fiction & Mystery Pavilion

11:10-11:40 am
Book Signing

12:30-1:30 pm

Brad Meltzer earned credit from Columbia Law School for writing his first book, The Tenth Justice (1997), the first in a line of New York Times best-sellers. His books have a total of almost 3 million copies in print and have been translated into more than a dozen languages. His latest thriller is The Book of Lies (Grand Central, September 2008). He is also the author of the critically acclaimed comic book Identity Crisis and the first author to ever reach the No. 1 spot on both the New York Times and the Diamond comic book best-seller lists simultaneously. He lives in Miami.

Small Press Expo overflow:

Oct. 3: Lynda Barry & Tom Tomorrow at Politics & Prose.

Small Press Expo:

Georgia Higley & Sara Duke will be manning a Library of Congress table at SPX. This is your chance to donate a copy of your comic book to the Library! (If you see me, you can give me one to give to Michigan State University's Comic Art Collection too).

Late posting of Baltimore Comic-Con guest PR

There's a few cancellations, so I rescued this from my list of 11,141 unread emails (seriously).

TWO WEEKS UNTIL THE BALTIMORE COMIC-CON! GUEST ANNOUNCEMENTS AND MORE!

Baltimore, Maryland - September 15, 2008 - The countdown has begun! In just under two weeks, the 9th annual Baltimore Comic-Con kicks off, starting Saturday, September 27th! Do you have your tickets yet?

We've spent the past few months telling you about our guests, exclusives, vendors, and exhibitors, and we're not done yet!

Guests
We've announced guests from all walks of the industry already, including stars such as Brian Michael Bendis, Jeff Kinney, Jim Lee, Bernie Wrightson, Tim Sale, Darwyn Cooke, Mike Mignola, Steve Dillon, Guy Davis, and Geoff Johns, just to name a handful.

We regret to announce a few cancellations: David Finch (whose wife is having a baby), Gene Colan (back problems), John Romita Sr. (conflict), and Mike Grell (conflict) are unable to attend this year.

But don't despair! The Baltimore Comic-Con is proud to welcome Mike McKone (Fantastic Four, Green Lantern), C.B.Cebulski (X-Men: Divided We Stand, Avengers Fairy Tales), Dan Slott (Amazing Spider-Man, Avengers: The Initiative), Tom Brevoort (Marvel Comics editor), Walt Simonson (Thor, Fantastic Four), Bernard Chang (Wonder Woman, The Rules of The Game), Sean Chen (Iron Man, Salvation Run), Mike Hawthorne (Salem, American Splendor), Paul Storrie (Worlds of Dungeons & Dragons, Star Trek: Aliens), Nelson Blake II (G.I. Joe, The Ride), Jamal Igle (Superman's Reign, Supergirl), Greg LaRocque (Power Man and Iron Fist, Marvel Team-Up), Afua Richardson (Pilot Season: Genius), Richard Starkings (Elephantmen), Andy MacDonald (NYC Mech), and Allison Sohn (Star Wars trading card artist).

"What an unbelievable group!" beamed show promoter Marc Nathan. "Mike McKone will be over from England for his first trip to our show. It's always great to have Walt, Bernard, Sean, Paul, Mike, Andy, and the Marvel gang in as well. We'll see some more new faces in Nelson, Afua, and Jamal (who had to cancel last year), and Greg and Allison are back too! Where are we going to put them all?!"

Jim Lee, the Baltimore Orioles, and Baltimore Comic-Con Team-Up

Jim Lee, the Baltimore Orioles, and Baltimore Comic-Con Team-Up

Baltimore, Maryland - September 19, 2008 - Comic book super star, Jim Lee, will help kick off the 9th annual Baltimore Comic-Con at Oriole Park at Camden Yards Friday, September 26th. Jim will throw out the first pitch before the Orioles meet the Toronto Blue Jays and then sign autograghs for fans at the ballpark to help awareness for the weekend convention next door.

"We know how well he can draw Batman -- let's see if he can throw a strike," promoter Marc Nathan said.

Fans for the convention can witness this themselves, as the Orioles are offering a discounted group rate for visitors coming into town for the Baltimore Comic-Con. Tickets begin as low at $8 for both Friday and Saturday nights' games.

On Friday night, the game will begin at 7:05pm, so fans who wish to see Jim deliver that first pitch should be in their seats 20 minutes ahead of time, at 6:45pm.

"The Orioles recognize how many people come to our event downtown," continued Marc, "and they wanted to enhance everyone's experience. All you have to do is mention that you are with the Baltimore Comic-Con group, and the discounts will apply. They have also made an easy-to-fill-out form to help chose which kind of seat you prefer."

Please go to Gate "H", the Orioles Main Box Office, to present your completed form. See our website for more details about the event and the show, and for copies of the form - http://www.baltimorecomiccon.com/.

There will be fireworks at the end of Friday's game to celebrate the weekend.

Baltimore Comic-Con Announces 2008 Exclusives!

Baltimore Comic-Con Announces 2008 Exclusives!

Baltimore, Maryland - September 20, 2008 - As we get closer to the show, we are proud to announce this years set of Baltimore Comic-Con show exclusives! Our selection has grown from previous years, and we are sure everybody can find something to love!

The Baltimore Comic-Con, held at the Baltimore Convention Center on September 27-28, 2008, is offering 7 show exclusives this year from Aspen, Marvel, PopFun, Top Cow, and 3 Finger Prints.

"This is beautiful stuff," said show promoter Marc Nathan. "We've just finalized details on a few of these items, and we're really proud to be able to offer them to attendees this year. The Jim Lee Batman Toon Tumbler looks gorgeous, and the exclusive covers are all spectacular."

Show exclusives will be sold at a dedicated booth this year. Items are available while supplies last, and overall quantities and availability will vary by provider.

The details on the exclusives this year are as follows:

* Aspen - Michael Turner variant cover for Fathom #2.
* Marvel
o Frank Cho Secret Invasion #6 variant cover
o Mike Wieringo HERO Initiative: Marvel Apes cover
o John Romita, Jr. U.S. Exclusive Amazing Spider-Man #568 variant cover
* PopFun - Exclusive Batman Toon Tumbler
* Top Cow - David Finch Dragon Prince #1 Baltimore Comic-Con variant cover
* 3 Finger Prints - The 3 Geeks: Can Anyone Stop the Slab Madness?! variant cover

For details on show exclusives, please visit http://www.comicon.com/baltimore/exclusives.htm. Further information on the show, guests, exhibitors, retailers, Artist's Alley, and more can be found on our website or our MySpace page.

Date Correction for 2009!
We had an error in our previously-announced show date for 2009. Next year's 10th anniversary show will be held on October 10-11, 2009. (Re-)Mark your calendars!

QUICK REVIEWS FOR COMICS DUE 09-24-08

QUICK REVIEWS FOR COMICS DUE 09-24-08
By John Judy

ABSOLUTE RONIN HC written and illustrated by pre-psychotic Frank Miller. It’s awesome! The savage six-issue story of a psychokinetic, cyborg samurai, first published in 1983 back when Miller was only 26. What happened? Oh yeah….

ALL-STAR BATMAN AND ROBIN #10-B by Frank Miller and Jim Lee. Well it took ‘em two weeks but they finally got enough soap to wash out Frank Miller’s mouth. What a (redacted)!

AVENGERS INITIATIVE #17 by Dan Slott, Christos Gage and Stefano Caselli. The Skrulls get their big green heinies handed to them by the good ol’ U.S. Avengers!

BACK TO BROOKLYN #1 of 5 by Garth Ennis and Jimmy Palmiotti. How would you kill every crime crew in Brooklyn if you absolutely had to? This is a PUNISHER story so gruesome Marvel wouldn’t publish it. Recommended but not for kids or before meals.

BLACK PANTHER #41 by Jason Aaron and Jefte Palo. The Skrulls have T’Challa right where he wants them. Time to serve it up Wakanda-style!

CAPTAIN AMERICA #42 by Ed Brubaker and Steve Epting. The Red Skull just can’t get good help these days. It’s an on-going problem when the only people who will work for you are drug-addled white supremacists and Scientists who are, technically, well y’know “Mad.” Anyway, the adventures of Bucky America continue to entertain. Recommended.

DAREDEVIL #111 by Ed Brubaker and Clay Mann. In which we meet Lady Bullseye and it’s a lot less horrible than that sounds. Also Matt does something so wrong it’s right. Good stuff.

FANTASTIC FOUR #560 by Mark Millar and Bryan Hitch. Some time-travel business supposedly tied into the “death” of the Invisible Woman. Who even knew she was sick?!

HELLBOY: THE CROOKED MAN #3 of 3 by Mike Mignola and Richard Corben. In which we learn that hillbilly country is about the last place in the world where people are still dumb enough to sell their souls to the Devil. Do they not get “Twilight Zone” reruns up there?

HULK #6 by Jeph Loeb and Ed McGuinness. Red Hulk! Green Hulk! Smash! Man, this thing writes itself!

IMMORTAL IRON FIST: ORSON RANDALL AND THE DEATH QUEEN OF CALIFORNIA #1 by Duane Swiercynski and Guiseppe Camuncoli. Yeah, I dated her… Recommended.

NEW AVENGERS #45 by Brian Michael Bendis and Jim Cheung. In which we learn what happened to the Secret Invasion Skrulls during the House of M. And possibly Heroes Reborn, Operation Galactic Storm and Atlantis Attacks. But not Countdown. IT NEVER HAPPENED!

NORTHLANDERS #10 by Brian Wood and Dean Ormston. A young boy gets to live his dream of watching Vikings destroy his hated hometown. A must for everyone who was ever The Last One Picked for Kickball. No, seriously, this series is a gem and you should give it a read. Highly recommended.

PREVIEWS by Marvel and Diamond Comics. Find what you want for the holidays here!

RUNAWAYS #2 by Terry Moore and Humberto Ramos. Karolina Dean like, gets totally blamed for like, eradicating a whole planet of aliens which she like, totally did not do! Duh, angry space people! I am totally flaming you on MySpace about this!

SOLOMON KANE #1 of 5 by Scott Allie and Mario Guevara. A really well-drawn revival of Robert E. Howard’s other famous pulp creation, a tough as nails 17th century Puritan who mows through evil like a pinch-faced terminator. Definitely worth a look.

SUPERMAN #680 by James Robinson and Renato Guedes. Krypto vs. Atlas! Arf!

THUNDERBOLTS #124 by Christos Gage and Fernando Blanco. The T-Bolts fight the Skrulls for control of Washington D.C. But where do they stand on flag-burning?! Ya remember flag-burning?! Ah the good old days…

ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #126 by Brian Michael Bendis and Stuart Immonen. Ultimate Spidey-Venom fights the Ultimates and tries to eat them. Big, hungry fight.

ULTIMATES 3 #5 of 5 by Jeph Loeb and Joe Madureira. In which we finally learn who killed the Scarlet Witch. Featuring robot duplicates and revolting plot points involving Quicksilver and SW engaging in the West Virginia State Sport. Yuck.

WOLVERINE: ROAR #1 by Duane Swiercynski and Mike Deodato. A stand-alone story about Wolverine and a vicious animal. But I repeat myself…

WOLVERINE ORIGINS #28 by Daniel Way and Mike Deodato. A story which firmly establishes Wolverine as a mass murderer of innocents and Professor X as a guy who looks the other way. Gee, now if only the X-Men can be ret-conned into Satanist pedophiles Mr. Way’s work will be complete.

X-MEN LEGACY #216 by Mike Carey and Phil Briones. Emma Frost psychically violates Professor X’s mind because she’s a twisted, sadistic witch. Pardon me. “Because it’s for his own good.” Pots and kettles all around! Hoo-ha!

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From our friends at The Washington Post:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2008/09/08/DI2008090801900.html