Ira Schnapp, the genius that most inspired Joel Pollack's interests in comics

Big Planet Comics founder and owner Joel Pollack sent me a note which he said I could reprint here:

Just found on Wikipedia, an article on Ira Schnapp, the genius that most inspired my interests in comics. Ira was a friend of my Aunt Kitty Goldberg, and hosted me to two long visits to DC Comics offices when I was 15.

Ira's career before comics was amazing. His comic work was unsung, but he helped define the look of DC Comics covers from 1938-68. To what should be DC's great shame, Ira was left out of "The 50 That Made DC Great" commemorative publication.

The ultimate Ira Schnapp article.

The Wikipedia article is interesting, but also of note is the kindness shown to a 15-year-old who ended up making comics his career. I've had a few people do the same for me - my Mom and Dad bought comics we read to death; Mike Violante who married my cousin and shared his collection of Silver-Age DC and Marvel with me; Frank Grembowiec the owner of Collectors Comic Shop formerly in the Bergen Mall in Paramus NJ who sold me comics in my teens, Joel who picked that role up, John Lent who asked me out of the blue to be a part of the International Journal of Comic Art... there's a lot of people I could list and you just never know how things will work out.

OT: Stan Lee's Soapbox raising money for cartoonist's charity

Hero Initiative is receiving money from reprints of Stan Lee's Soapbox columns from Marvel Comics in the 1970s. Here's a video message from Stan - and a review of the book - "Comics: Stan's Soapbox: The Collection," By Chris Landers, Baltimore City Paper November 10 2008. I've already ordered mine from Previews. Nostalgia and charity - two great tastes that taste great together!

Nov 12: Billy Tucci and WWII veterans in Reistertown

Billy Tucci and WWII veterans are signing Sgt Rock comics tomorrow in Reisterstown at:

Cards, Comics & Collectibles
100 Chartley Drive
Reisterstown, Maryland 21136
(410) 526-7410
Special Guests: 442nd RCT veterans Kelly Kuwayama and Terry Shima, and Merrill's Marauders' Grant Hirabayashi

I'm not sure of the time, but give them a call. More information on Sgt Rock's mixing with real-life units is at Tour of Duty 11 - Some Will Say "It's Just A Comic Book" By Billy Tucci, Newsarama 2008-11-03.

Brian Wood interview

This one's online only. See "'Local' Matters: Brian Wood," by Express contributor Scott A. Rosenberg, November 10, 2008

Deepak Chopra appearance

11/12/08, 7:30 P.M. - Deepak Chopra, a teacher of Eastern philosophy and spirituality, discusses and signs his new book, Jesus: A Story of Enlightenment, at the National Cathedral, Wisconsin & Massachusetts Ave. NW. Tickets are $22, $16 for students and seniors; call 877-537-2228 or visit http://www.cathedral.org.
Deepak Chopra has written Buddha - A Story of Enlightenment and Beyond for Shakti (Virgin Comics).

Animator Seth McFarlane interview in Express

Today's Express has an Associated Press interview with animator Seth McFarlane who created Family Guy and American Dad and has just been signed to a $100 million production deal.

KAL at Duke this week

Charm City's editorial cartoonist Kal sent in this note:

From November 10-14, Editorial Cartoonist for The Economist Kevin "KAL" Kallaugher will be an Artist-in-Residence at Duke University's Sanford Institute for Public Policy. During his time on campus, he will be creating a clay sculpture to commemorate the 2008 Presidential campaign.

The Sanford Institute will also be holding a forum titled “Laughing at Power: Satire in American Politics” on Tuesday November 11. It will feature Kal and North Carolina cartoonist Dwane Powell as well two staff members of the “Daily Show” with Jon Stewart. The forum is Free and open to the public.

For more information visit the Sanford Institute's website: http://www.pubpol.duke.edu/news/features/panel_nr102208.php

Irwin Caplan 1951 gag cartoon

This has nothing to do with ComicsDC, but I saw this Irwin Caplan gag cartoon on the back of a clipping from the International Herald Tribune, March 18, 1951 so I tossed it on the scanner. Enjoy.

Comics in the World photographs - National Museum of Natural History

The new Oceans exhibit in the National Museum of Natural History in Washington has some cartoons scattered through it. According to one of the exhibit designers, Jill Johnson (in a comment below), they're "by local artist Jim Haynes, Graphics Plus, Silver Spring, MD." The exhibit is very good, and big, so there's probably more than these three that I caught:

Art Spiegelman at Politics and Prose

Spiegelman gave his usual entertaining performance at a booksigning for Breakdowns last week. The crowd was standing room only, but I was near the front due to Rick B's vigilant saving of a seat. After noting that he didn't have to worry about the government trying to kill him or any of his usual fears, Spiegelman ran through a powerpoint that covered the high points of the Breakdowns book, touched on his children's book for his wife's imprint and then took questions. You can buy a recording of the talk from Politics and Prose.

Bruce Guthrie took his usual load of shots, but here's three that I got:

November: Thurber play

A Thurber Carnival is appearing on Fridays and Saturdays this month at The Kellar Theater in Manassas. Written by a cartoonist who spent time in the area as a child, the show also features Amy "Mrs. Cul de Sac" Thompson. Amy made some of the props based on Thurber's artwork, which sounds cool to me.

Today's finger puppet - Obama!

Our Man Thompson finally draws a finger puppet that I want to make - Obama!

QUICK REVIEWS FOR COMICS DUE 11-12-08

QUICK REVIEWS FOR COMICS DUE 11-12-08
By John Judy

ACTION COMICS # 871 by Geoff Johns and Pete Woods. In which we learn if you didn’t escape Krypton before it exploded it’s only because you didn’t try.

BATMAN: CACOPHONY #1 of 3 by Kevin Smith and Walt J. Flanagan. Don’t worry, the working title of this comic was not “Bruce and Selina Make a Porno.” Unfortunately the Big Bad’s name is “Onomatopoeia” and I am not making that up. To save you a trip to Wikipedia I’ll tell you that the word is Greek in origin and refers to the making of words that sound like their meanings. Words like buzz, bop, thump and whatever sound Kevin Smith’s head makes when you smash it repeatedly into a concrete floor for trying too damn hard to be clever. Oh yeah, “Onomatopoeia” in this case is the name of a “mysterious masked killer” bent on vexing the Gotham Goliath. No doubt by making him say his name three times fast. Oy…

BLACK TERROR #1 by Alex Ross, Jim Krueger and Mike Lilly. No, it’s not about what red state voters are experiencing this week. It’s a series spun off from PROJECT SUPERPOWERS that will no doubt appeal to both of the people still reading PROJECT SUPERPOWERS. I liked the Alan Moore TERRA OBSCURA version better on account of Moore being able to write. Hey, these Golden-Age revamps are public domain so write your own if you like!

CAPTAIN BRITAIN AND MI 13 #7 by Paul Cornel and Leonard Kirk. The Mindless Ones are on the attack! Guess they’re still not over last Tuesday. J

JLA/AVENGERS SC by Kurt Busiek and George Perez. Finally one of the biggest of Big Fights is collected in affordable, bookshelf-friendly, trade paperback form. From the days when Big Event comics didn’t suck and/or take all year to come out. Recommended for all ages.

JSA KINGDOM COME SPECIAL: SUPERMAN #1 written and illustrated by Alex Ross. This is the first comic ever done by Alex Ross flying solo. That automatically gets it a “Gotta Look.” Here’s hoping it’s more KINGDOM COME and less EARTH X or PROJECT SUPERPOWERS. Fingers crossed.

THE STAND: CAPTAIN TRIPS #3 of 5 by Stephen King, Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and Mike Perkins. The best Stephen King adaptation ever continues as we see the super-flu begin its extermination of the world population. No more long lines at the polls! Recommended.

THUNDERBOLTS, VOL.2: CAGED ANGELS SC by Warren Ellis and Mike Deodato. That nice Mister Ellis shows us what happens when one attempts the psychic domination of people who self-mutilate, eat people and throw exploding pumpkins at Spider-Man. Most entertaining! Not for kids.

WALKING DEAD #54 by Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard. New friends, old friends and lotsa zombie-killin’! It’s good to vent now and then. Recommended. Not for kids.

WOLVERINE #69 by Mark Millar and Steve McNiven. Okay, much as I hated the movie “Wanted” and don’t want Millar on the next Superman flick, he is delivering a solid, intriguing alternate-future Wolverine story here. But the pay-off better not be that he saw a puppy die and swore off claw-popping forever. Fair warning has been given. Recommended.

X-MEN: MAGNETO TESTAMENT #3 of 5 by Greg Pak and Carmine Di Giandomenico. The Nazis invade Poland and young Magneto still hasn’t powered up. A dark story that doesn’t flinch from the history in which it’s based. Probably too intense for young kids. Good for teens and up. Recommended.

www.johnjudy.net

Local Reviews of Madagascar 2

Local reviews of the new animated movie -

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2008/11/06/ST2008110601327.html
'Escape 2 Africa': The Hip Are Best When Shaking It [Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa]
By Ann Hornaday
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, November 7, 2008; C01

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/06/AR2008110601106.html
Who's That Voice? [Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa]
By Ellen McCarthy
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, November 7, 2008; WE26

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/06/AR2008110601103.html
Animation: Not Just A Push of a Button [Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa]
By Ellen McCarthy
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, November 7, 2008; WE27

'Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa' has some humor for everybody
By Sally Kline
Washington Examiner (November 7): 21
http://www.dcexaminer.com/entertainment/Madagascar_Escape_2_Africa_has_some_humor_for_everybody.html

Germain, David / Associated Press. 2008.
Youthful Appeal: 'Madagascar 2' is yet another manic mess aimed at the children.
[Washington Post] Express (November 7): 19

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2008/nov/07/madagascar-2-knows-how-to-move-it/
Washington Times Friday, November 7, 2008
MOVIES: 'Madagascar 2' knows how to move it
Kelly Jane Torrance

http://movies.nytimes.com/2008/11/07/movies/07mada.html?partner=permalink&exprod=permalink
New York Times November 7, 2008
Duck! The Penguins Are Flying the Plane [Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa].
By MANOHLA DARGIS

OT: My friend, the Food Fluffer

See how food styling really works, and quickly discover you wouldn't want to actually eat that dish in "How to Build a Dish Like a Food Stylist; Step One: Be very, very picky," by Jule Banville, Washington City Paper November 5, 2008. It features my friend Lisa Cherkasky.

Art Spiegelman! (updated!)

'Toonsmith Art Spiegelman Gets Graphic About His Life, Career and the Processes of a Comics Universe
By Bob Thompson
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, November 6, 2008; Page C01
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/05/AR2008110504443.html

Secret Identity: Art Spiegelman's Life Work
Written by Scott A. Rosenberg for Express
Posted By Express at 12:08 AM on November 6, 2008
http://www.expressnightout.com/content/2008/11/secret_identity_art_spiegelman_and_his_l.php


Athitakis wrote in to point out:

another interview -
Art Spiegelman Is Not Arrogant
Posted by Mark Athitakis
Washington City Paper City Desk blog Nov. 6, 2008, at 10:56 am
http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/2008/11/06/art-spiegelman-is-not-arrogant/

and a review of Breakdowns -

Art Spiegelman
Friday, Nov. 7, at Politics and Prose
By Mark Athitakis
Washington City Paper November 6, 2008
http://washingtoncitypaper.com/display.php?id=36439

Michigan State's comic librarian

My buddy Randy Scott is featured in "Fortress of comic-tude: Almost 40 years of collecting has left MSU with the world's largest library comic book collection," By Sarah Harbison, MSU's The State News November 4, 2008. There's also a video showing some of the collection. I regularly send MSU material and encourage you all to do so as well. Icelandic comics! Polish Tom & Jerry! (actually I think that one IS from me).

Seth in today's New York Times

Good luck finding a hard copy, but Canadian cartoonist Seth illustrated five poems about the Presidential election for the New York Times' editorial page. Fortunately they actually put them on the web this time - and a one, and a two, and a three, and a four, and a five.

Yesterday, Sarah Wheaton had an article on a Treasure Chest comic featuring a black president. The story's been kicking around a while - Catholic University even put out a press release linked to here earlier about owning the issue. See "Foreshadowing a Political First," By Sarah Wheaton, New York Times November 4, 2008.

That darn Toles, continued

Spurgeon called him "the Best Editorial Cartoonist in North America" and linked to today's cartoon, which I liked immensely as well.

November Bash paper hits the streets

I picked mine up yesterday. This is issue #4.