Blackhawk as sickbed reading, circa 1951

Here's a picture from work that one of the assistant archivists brought to my attention today. This poor guy has a gunshot wound of his lower femur (with a Blackhawk comic book on the bed) during the Korean War, 1951.

QUICK REVIEWS FOR COMICS DUE 11-26-08

QUICK REVIEWS FOR COMICS DUE 11-26-08
By John Judy

(This week we are thankful for comics and not being a turkey at a Sarah Palin interview.)

BATMAN #681 by Grant Morrison and Tony Daniel. “Batman R.I.P.” wraps up here, leading into all kinds of stories in which Batman is not allowed to be technically alive and present. Don’t think about this too hard. Just go with it…

BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #19 by Joss Whedon and Karl Moline. Dark Willow, Fray, Time-Travel. Who doesn’t love time-travel stories? Only your evil alternate-future selves, that’s who!

CAPTAIN AMERICA #44 by Ed Brubaker and Luke Ross. Only Brubaker could make Batroc the Leaper versus Bucky a smashing good yarn. It’s miraculous really…

CREEPY ARCHIVES VOL.2 HC by Various Creators, including Archie Goodwin, Alex Toth, Al Williamson and many more! Collecting issues 6-10 of the classic horror mag! Originals are valued at over 500 bucks! Yours here for a lot less. Recommended.

DAREDEVIL #113 by Ed Brubaker and Michael Lark. And did I mention Lady Bullseye? I mean, whatever they’re feeding Brubaker I’ll take a case. This is the same guy who writes CRIMINAL, one of the best comics EVER! Take a gander.

GARTH ENNIS BATTLEFIELDS: NIGHT WITCHES #2 of 3 by Garth and Russ Braun. It’s Krauts versus Commies in this fact-based WWII adventure as things heat up between The Hun and the honeys! Boom!

GLAMOURPUSS #4 by Dave Sim. Gotta be honest, the only way to describe this book is “It’s a Dave Sim project.” Take it or leave it, CEREBUS fans.

HOLY SH*T: THE WORLD’S WEIRDEST COMICS HC by Paul Gravett and Peter Stanbury. Exactly what it sounds like, folks. Gotta look!

HULK #8 by Jeph Loeb, Frank Cho and Art Adams. Wendigos (“Wendigoes?”), Lady Liberators and a couple of Hulks. You want more, write your own HULK comic!

JSA KINGDOM COME SPECIAL: THE KINGDOM #1 by Geoff Johns and Fernando Pasarin. More Gog, but at least it’s Geoff Johns writing it. Plus, Starman finally comes clean about his mission, his insanity and his Commander Riker-looking beard. Okay, two out of three. Gotta look.

MARVEL MASTERWORKS ALL-WINNERS, VOL.3 HC by Various Creators. Collecting issues 9-14, currently valued at over ten grand in near-mint. Cheaper here. Lotsa Golden-Age ruckus guaranteed!

NORTHLANDERS #12 by Brian Wood and Ryan Kelly. The Vikings continue their tour of the Emerald Isle. Hijinks ensue. NOT for kids. Highly recommended.

PREVIEWS by Marvel and Diamond Comics. As if 2009 wasn’t looking good enough already!

SUPERMAN #682 by James Robinson and Renato Guedes. The 100,000 Kryptonian refugees start to figure out the INS can’t really do anything to them. Lou Dobbs goes into hiding.

THOR: MAN OF WAR #1 by Matt Fraction and Patrick Zircher. Thor and his dad have a fight. Hey, they’re both gods! It’s a Big Fight!

UMBRELLA ACADEMY: DALLAS #1 of 6 by Gerard Way and Gabriel Ba. If you liked the first Eisner-winning limited series you’ll love this. Featuring rampaging stone Presidents!

WALKING DEAD #55 by Robert Kirkman and Charles Adlard. Bi-weekly now? Does this mean the zombies are getting faster? Awesome! Not for kids.

WELCOME TO HOXFORD #4 of 4 writ and scribbled by Ben Templesmith. It’s the insane criminals versus the werewolves in their final battle. From the co-creator of FELL and 30 DAYS OF NIGHT, since you ask.

www.johnjudy.net

Rees reminder

David "Get Your War On" Rees at Busboys and Poets in an hour. I'm definitely going, having just spent a grand to replace the washing machine that locked up this morning - I need a break from domesticity.

(However the new one is energy and water efficient).

Update - I went, and it was cool. Quotes, photos and a review of the book to come soon.

Thanksgiving sale at Cards, Comics, & Collectibles

Got a postcard today for a Thanksgiving sale at Cards, Comics, & Collectibles in Reistertown, MD. Friday Nov 28-Sunday Nov 30, 20%-70% off things. Fri - 11-7:30, Sat 11-7, Sun 12-5. Call 410-526-7410 for details.

That darn Toles, continued

Disrespect for the President
Washington Post November 21 2008

The Nov. 18 "Obama ends torture" editorial cartoon by Tom Toles was tasteless and mean-spirited and reflected an angry and biased mind-set.

One may not like President Bush or agree with his agenda, but the U.S. president deserves the respect of all Americans. That includes The Post's editors and cartoonist.

-- Billups E. Lodge

California, Md.

Post obituary for Belgian former cartoonist and caricaturist

"Guy Peellaert; Belgian Painter Of Surreal Art, Album Covers," By Joe Holley and Adam Bernstein, Washington Post Staff Writers, Saturday, November 22, 2008; B04.

Zadzooks and Bennett's best

ZADZOOKS: Black Canary, General Obi-Wan Kenobi on shelves
Joseph Szadkowski
Washington Times Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Bennett's Best for the week of November 9
By Greg Bennett
Zadzooks Blog
POSTED November 17 2008

Advertisements using comics motifs

These would more properly go on my friend The Ephemerist's blog, but I'll stick them up here. A request for advertisements showing comics influences to use in teaching went up on the comix-scholars list recently. I tend to have a lot of clippings files on comics, and this was one that I could help with. Here's what I scanned for the request - a lot of these date from the 1990s because I was much better about getting things filed when I had no children and wasn't writing about comics.


Watson Wyatt superhero motif ad, Washington Flyer magazine, May 1998.


1st National Bank of Maryland's Superchecking ad was obviously influenced by the Superman logo. Washington Post, September 29, 1996.


Paramus Honda ran a series of ads with a continuing comic strip in the Bergen [County, NJ] Record. This one is from November 29, 1996.


Norton Utilities compared themselves to superheroes in this ad from Government Computer News, September 4, 1995.


AOL's cd mailer went for the superhero ad motif.


The "Commander in Chief" tv show ran several gag cartoon ads in both the Washington Post and the New York Times. This one is from the Times, September 14, 2005.


"Superhero Action Figures - They Really Exist" from Inova Hospital for Children, Washington Post, October 26, 1996.


Neal Adams' Continuity Associates Studio undoubtedly did this series of ads for the Mercury Tracer car that ran in magazines in 1996. This one is from Entertainment Weekly, September 6, 1996.




The 1st Tennessee Bank used a superhero comic strip ad, Cookeville Herald-Citizen, September 11, 1994.


Paramount's Kings Dominion amusement park and MTV teamed up in this ad, Washington Post, June 25, 1995.


An ad, probably done inhouse by an amateur cartoonist, for Fitzgerald Auto Malls, Washington Post January 17, 1997.


Perry Ellis ad, New York Times, February 6, 2006. These panels were from a longer storyline.


Perry Ellis ad, New York Times, June 6, 2006.


Perry Ellis ad, New York Times, June 30, 2006.


Balvenie whiskey ad, Washington Post March 28, 2006. These ran longer in the NY Times than the Post, and an earlier series is available on their website. A lot of these were about holidays.


Balvenie whiskey ad, New York Times May 13, 2006.


Balvenie whiskey ad, New York Times October 6, 2006.

Beeler's High School willing to claim him, now that he's a success

See Editorial cartooning: Bexley graduate national honoree, Columbus Dispatch Friday, November 21, 2008

Dave Gibbons on Comic Riffs

Like everyone else who wasn't busy interviewing Art Spiegelman on his book tour, Comic Riffs interviewed Dave Gibbons on his book tour - Betancourt, David. 2008. The Interview: "Watchmen's" Dave Gibbons. Washington Post Comic Riffs blog (November 20).

Unfortunately for all of you, I believe I bought Big Planet's last copy of Watching the Watchmen yesterday.

Local News and Reviews

A couple of local Bolt reviews, a surprise Wall-e review and a look at a Japanese cartoonist are in our local papers today:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/20/AR2008112003758.html
Disney's 'Bolt,' Picking Up Pixar's Trail
By Dan Kois
Special to The Washington Post
Friday, November 21, 2008; C01

http://www.dcexaminer.com/entertainment/Bolt_a_cute_tale_designed_for_younger_audiences_11_21.html
'Bolt' a cute tale designed for younger audiences
By Sally Kline
Washington Examiner Movie Critic 11/21/08


One Lovable 'WALLE,' Four Fantastic DVD Sets
By Jen Chaney
washingtonpost.com Staff Writer
Washington Post Friday, November 21, 2008; WE32

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/20/AR2008112003659.html
Kafka of the Cubicle
Japanese Cartoonist Chronicles the Indignities Endured by Young, Dutiful, Sad Office Drones
By Blaine Harden
Washington Post Foreign Service
Friday, November 21, 2008; A01

Nov 23: David Rees at Busboys and Poets reminder

This Sunday! I'm planning on being there at the moment.

David Rees, creator of the infamous Get Your War On cartoon, will be making people laugh at Busboys and Poets (1025 5th Street, NW (5th and K), Washington DC) on Sunday, November 23, at 6pm.

Here's a recent audio interview -

Champion, Edward. 2008.
David Rees (BSS #248).
Bat Segundo Show (November 4):
http://www.edrants.com/segundo/david-rees/

Richard Thompson on his White House reporting

Richard's got part 1 of his covering a White House ceremony on his blog - it's hilarious.

Bolt review in City Paper

"Bolt and JCVD: Star Stuck: Two films take a smirking glimpse into the limitations of fame," By Tricia Olszewski, Washington City Paper November 19, 2008. If my daughter has any say in the matter, I'll be seeing this one.

Dec 3: Kramer's Ergot 7 tour kicks off in Baltimore

Colin Solan, Senior Editor at www.comicartfans.com and www.comicbookconventions.com wrote in to point out that the extremely large anthology, Kramers Ergot 7 will be signed by some of the cartoonists in Baltimore. Sammy Harkham is the founder and editor of the anthology and I'm sure he'd appreciate people stopping in to buy the large, large book.

Kramers Ergot Book Tour Itinerary

Wednesday, December 3rd
7pm
Atomic Books
3620 Falls Rd
Baltimore, MD.
Sammy Harkham, Kevin Huizenga, John Pham, Ron Rege Jr.

Comic Riffs gets comments on Lee's medal

See "Plaudits Still Pour In for "Spider-Man's" Stan Lee," By Michael Cavna, November 19, 2008 for comments by Marvel writers Matt Fraction and Jeph Loeb. Reggie Hudlin, writer of the Black Panther chimed in yesterday.

Big Planet Comics comics Delayed!

Joel Pollack from Big Planet Comics e-mailed us to say (and our guess is that this will affect other local stores):

Subject: Heads-up - NEW COMICS DELAYED!

There was a hazmat incident at the Laurel UPS center early Tuesday morning, which kept us from receiving our books on Tuesday.

That means, at the very least, we will not have new comics on our racks until 3 PM on Wednesday, and that's a best-case scenario.

If you are a Wednesday regular, please feel free to call us before dropping in.

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

--

BIG PLANET COMICS
4908 Fairmont Ave.
Bethesda, MD 20814
301-654-6856

Also affiliated with:

BIG PLANET COMICS
3145 Dumbarton St. NW
Washington, DC 20007
202-342-1961

BIG PLANET COMICS
426 Maple Ave. East
Vienna, VA 22180
703-242-9412

BIG PLANET COMICS
7315 Baltimore Ave.
College Park, MD 20740
301-699-0498

Stan Lee hits DC for award.

He was here over the weekend - see "Arts, Humanities Medals Awarded; Bush Awardees Include Stan Lee, Olivia de Havilland," By Joel Garreau, Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, November 18, 2008; C02.

Most of us missed him, but not one sharp-eyed lad - "Hey, Isn't That...?" Washington Post (November 18): C3.

And here's the official press release.

For those who'd like something tangible of Stan's, the charity Hero Initiative has copies of the new Stan Lee's Soapbox collection signed by both Lee and John Romita.

Pekar and Bechdel strip on Daily Cross Hatch

Brian Heater's site, Daily Cross Hatch, has a nice piece by Harvey Pekar and Alison Bechdel about a reading tour (probably the one they did in North Carolina). Brian mentioned Harvey Pekar: Conversations, but neglected to note that an interview he did is reprinted in the book. By the way, Bechdel illustrated one of Harvey's strips back in the '80s... Josh Neufeld's got a list.

Dec 8: Swann fellow speaks on Civil War prints

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

101 Independence Avenue SE
Washington DC 20540
Phone: (202) 707-2905
Fax: (202) 707-9199

November 17, 2008

Public contact: Martha Kennedy (202) 707-9115, mkenn@loc.gov

MAZIE HARRIS TO DISCUSS CIVIL WAR ERA CHROMOLITHOGRAPHS BY HENRY LOUIS STEPHENS AT LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, DEC. 8

Swann Foundation grantee Mazie Harris, in a lecture at the Library of Congress, will discuss the Civil War Era chromolithographs by Henry Louis Stephens, the primary illustrator for the satirical New York journal Vanity Fair.

Harris will present the lecture, “A Colorful Union: The Development of Union Patriotism in Henry Louis Stephens’ 1863 Chromolithographs,” at noon on Monday, Dec. 8, in Dining Room A on the sixth floor of the James Madison Building, 101 Independence Ave. S.E., Washington, DC.

In her illustrated talk, Harris will describe her research on the work of Stephens (1824-1882), a caricaturist as well as illustrator. She will draw on examples of his imagery from works held in the Library’s Marian S. Carson Collection and other source material in the Prints and Photographs Division.

The Emancipation Proclamation compelled Stephens to reconsider his previously virulently anti-abolitionist propaganda, according to Harris. In her talk, she will contend that after Abraham Lincoln’s groundbreaking executive orders in 1862 and 1863, Stephens deployed color printing and caricature in an attempt to reformulate views of race relations in the North and mobilize military enlistment.

Harris will analyze Stephens’ visual narratives by considering hand-written directions to the printer that the illustrator scrawled on the margins of each sketch for the series. These technical notes on color, which could be regarded simply as artistic instructions, when carefully examined and assessed, make explicit the particular political ideology of the prints.

Harris is a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of the History of Art and Architecture at Brown University. She completed an M.A. in art history from Boston University, and became interested in the work of Henry Louis Stephens while working as a curatorial assistant in the Agnes Mongan Center for the Study of Prints, Drawings and Photographs in Harvard University’s Fogg Art Museum.

This presentation is part of continuing activities of the Caroline and Erwin Swann Foundation for Caricature and Cartoon to support the study, interpretation, preservation and appreciation of original works of humorous and satiric art by graphic artists from around the world. The foundation is overseen by an advisory board composed of scholars, collectors, cartoonists and Library of Congress staff members.

The foundation strives to award one fellowship annually (with a stipend of up to $15,000) to assist scholarly research and writing projects in the field of caricature and cartoon. For 2008-2009, because of an unusually large number of strong applications, the foundation’s advisory board chose to support five applicants with smaller awards instead of selecting a single recipient of the fellowship.

Applications for the academic year 2009-2010 are due Feb. 13, 2009. For more information about the fellowship, visit www.loc.gov/rr/print/swann/swannhome/ or email swann@loc.gov.

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PR08-216
11/17/08
ISSN: 0731-3527