Bruce Guthrie just sent this in -
The WP's replacement for Herblock is in a band called Suspicious Package.
They're playing at DC IV at 9th and U on Monday night. The performance of mostly rock covers starts at 8:30 but they're having a grin and greet at 7:30.
Tuesday, December 02, 2008
Today's Thompson acquisitions
Two new acquisitions to my Richard Thompson library arrived today - BrainJuice: American History, Fresh Squeezed! by Carol Diggory Shields and Richard Thompson and BrainJuice: Science, Fresh Squeezed! by Carol Diggory Shields and Richard Thompson. I commend them to you.
Bob Staake, the Post's Style Invitational cartoonist
Here's a nice, if short, interview with Bob Staake, the Post's Style Invitational cartoonist. Staake's moving into children's books as well as New Yorker covers, but he's got some interesting how-to books out as well, iirc.
See "G FORCE | BOB STAAKE: He's got it covered," Boston Globe November 27, 2008.
See "G FORCE | BOB STAAKE: He's got it covered," Boston Globe November 27, 2008.
Universal Press Syndicate starts a blog, emails me about it eventually
Got this today from Kathie Kerr who does PR for Universal (the blog started in early November so we have to play catch-up) presumably due to my continued mentioning of their client, Our Man Thompson:
Inside the doors of Universal Press Syndicate are a lot of smart people, but they’re busy, so the rest of us have started a blog on the inside workings of a syndicate. While that might sound as exciting as a digestive disorder, the blog may be of some actual value to cartoonists looking for tips on how to become syndicated and for die-hard comic fans who want behind-the-scene glimpses of today’s comics. Go to http://gocomics.typepad.com/editors/ and the next sound you hear will be that of an UPS editor giving you the uncensored truth about comics and the syndicate, while giving thanks for his/her job.
I like the idea of this, as let's face it, Comics Syndicates are strange and mysterious places - they're called Syndicates after all. Has anything light and open ever been called a Syndicate? No.
One complaint - the posts don't identify who they're by so you have no idea whose brother is buying Johnny Ryan Garfield art. [update: Alan at the Daily Cartoonist says it's all by comics editor John Glynn].
Update 2: KK, I was just kidding about the late notice!!! Come back!
Inside the doors of Universal Press Syndicate are a lot of smart people, but they’re busy, so the rest of us have started a blog on the inside workings of a syndicate. While that might sound as exciting as a digestive disorder, the blog may be of some actual value to cartoonists looking for tips on how to become syndicated and for die-hard comic fans who want behind-the-scene glimpses of today’s comics. Go to http://gocomics.typepad.com/editors/ and the next sound you hear will be that of an UPS editor giving you the uncensored truth about comics and the syndicate, while giving thanks for his/her job.
I like the idea of this, as let's face it, Comics Syndicates are strange and mysterious places - they're called Syndicates after all. Has anything light and open ever been called a Syndicate? No.
One complaint - the posts don't identify who they're by so you have no idea whose brother is buying Johnny Ryan Garfield art. [update: Alan at the Daily Cartoonist says it's all by comics editor John Glynn].
Update 2: KK, I was just kidding about the late notice!!! Come back!
Dec 7: Comic book show in Tysons
Tysons Corner Monthly Comic Show
Sun, Dec 7, 2008 at the Dunn Loring Volunteer Fire Department.
Show opens to the public 10am to 3pm
Special Guest – Jo Chen
Cover artist for Runaways, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Serenity: Better Days, and many other titles.
She is appearing on behalf of www.HeroInitiative.org.
For more information visit CapiCons Comic & Pop Culture Show website http://www.CapiCons.com
Monday, December 01, 2008
Quick links to reviews
My friend Chris Mautner on my friend Bart Beaty:
From the vault: Unpopular Culture
Panels and Pixels blog Sunday, November 30, 2008, regarding “Unpopular Culture: Transforming the European Comic Book in the 1990s” by Bart Beaty University of Toronto Press 320 pages, $29.95.
And somebody I don't know on Our Man Thompson:
Graphic Novel Fridays: Cul De Sac
by Alex Carr
Amazon's Omivoracious blog November 28, 2008
From the vault: Unpopular Culture
Panels and Pixels blog Sunday, November 30, 2008, regarding “Unpopular Culture: Transforming the European Comic Book in the 1990s” by Bart Beaty University of Toronto Press 320 pages, $29.95.
And somebody I don't know on Our Man Thompson:
Graphic Novel Fridays: Cul De Sac
by Alex Carr
Amazon's Omivoracious blog November 28, 2008
Dec 12: The Girl That Lept through Time anime
DC Anime Club and Japan Information and Culture Center, Embassy of Japan Present:
The Girl That Lept through Time
The DC Anime Club and the Japan Information and Culture Center (JICC), Embassy of Japan Present The Girl That Lept through Time on Friday December 12, 2008 at 6:30pm as part of the Anime/Live Action Series based upon Manga (Japanese Comics).
When 17-year-old Makoto Konno gains the ability to, quite literally, "leap" backwards through time, she immediately sets about improving her grades and preventing personal mishaps. However, she soon realizes that changing the past isn't as simple as it seems, and eventually, will have to rely on her new powers to shape the future of herself and her friends.
The screening will be held at the Japanese Information and Culture Center, Embassy of Japan located at Lafayette Center III 1155 21st Street, NW Washington, DC 20036-3308.
Seating for the screening of The Girl That Lept through Time is limited and attendees are encouraged to rsvp by sending an e-mail to jiccrsvpwinter08@embjapan.org.
This program is free and open to the public. For more information please visit the Japanese Information and Culture Center website at http://www.us.embjapan.go.jp/jicc/ or visit the DC Anime Club website at http://dcanimeclub.org.
The Girl That Lept through Time
The DC Anime Club and the Japan Information and Culture Center (JICC), Embassy of Japan Present The Girl That Lept through Time on Friday December 12, 2008 at 6:30pm as part of the Anime/Live Action Series based upon Manga (Japanese Comics).
When 17-year-old Makoto Konno gains the ability to, quite literally, "leap" backwards through time, she immediately sets about improving her grades and preventing personal mishaps. However, she soon realizes that changing the past isn't as simple as it seems, and eventually, will have to rely on her new powers to shape the future of herself and her friends.
The screening will be held at the Japanese Information and Culture Center, Embassy of Japan located at Lafayette Center III 1155 21st Street, NW Washington, DC 20036-3308.
Seating for the screening of The Girl That Lept through Time is limited and attendees are encouraged to rsvp by sending an e-mail to jiccrsvpwinter08@embjapan.org.
This program is free and open to the public. For more information please visit the Japanese Information and Culture Center website at http://www.us.embjapan.go.jp/jicc/ or visit the DC Anime Club website at http://dcanimeclub.org.
Harvey Pekar book review!
And it's even by someone I don't know!
Harvey Pekar Conversations, Tom Bredehoft, Village Grouchy blog, Sunday, November 30, 2008.
Marc C Rogers (whom I do know) is reviewing it for the next issue of the International Journal of Comic Art. Speaking of which, I got the current Fall 2008 issue, 10:2, which clocks in at 872 pages! Something that massive needs its own post.
Harvey Pekar Conversations, Tom Bredehoft, Village Grouchy blog, Sunday, November 30, 2008.
Marc C Rogers (whom I do know) is reviewing it for the next issue of the International Journal of Comic Art. Speaking of which, I got the current Fall 2008 issue, 10:2, which clocks in at 872 pages! Something that massive needs its own post.
Dec 4: Illustrator exhibit opens in Rockville
Casey Shaw of USA Weekend reminded me that this exhibit is opening:
-VisArts at Rockville Exhibition: "TURNING THE PAGE: the fine art behind illustrations" and "THE ART OF THE BOOK" December 4, 2008-February 21, 2009
OPENING RECEPTION: Thursday, December 4, 6:30-8:30pm
115 Gibbs Street #300
Rockville, Maryland 20850
http://www.visartscenter.org/exhibitions.html
I'm not sure if the opening is open to the public, so check first. This is a really nice space and I'm sure the exhibit will be good.
-VisArts at Rockville Exhibition: "TURNING THE PAGE: the fine art behind illustrations" and "THE ART OF THE BOOK" December 4, 2008-February 21, 2009
OPENING RECEPTION: Thursday, December 4, 6:30-8:30pm
115 Gibbs Street #300
Rockville, Maryland 20850
http://www.visartscenter.org/exhibitions.html
I'm not sure if the opening is open to the public, so check first. This is a really nice space and I'm sure the exhibit will be good.
ComicsDC logo - 2nd shot
Ok, here's the second attempt.
The photo is one from the 1890s from the National Museum of Health & Medicine - see their flickr site for the full-size image which shows the unpaved road out front of the Capitol.
The photo is one from the 1890s from the National Museum of Health & Medicine - see their flickr site for the full-size image which shows the unpaved road out front of the Capitol.
Bash #5 is out; website has new comic calendar
Jonathan Hampton, Managing Editor of BASH Magazine wrote in today to say, "I'm writing to let you know that BASH #5 is out and about in the D.C. area. Likewise, our BASH Comic Calendar for December has been posted. The calendar is our online distribution mechanism for our print comics and web-only features. We're at work getting additional content for the calendar. Enjoy!"I'll be scoring my copy tomorrow as well as the ones I pick up for comics libraries around the country.
Sunday, November 30, 2008
Ot: John Kovaleski in Gettysburg
Got this email a few minutes ago, as I'd bought his book and minis at SPX:
Christmas is coming (perhaps you've heard - it's in all the papers) and that means
shopping shopping shopping. So, with that in mind, I'm doing a booking signing at Gallery 30 (30 York St, Gettysburg PA) on Friday, December 5, 5:30-8:00. I'll be signing my new book APPEELING: The Best of Bo Nanas and my not-so-new book Bo Nanas: Monkey Meets World.
At the same time, in the same place, my wife, Jocelyn Swigger, will be having a release shindig for her new CD, "Piano Recital."
I know it's pretty unlikely that you'll all be in southern central Pennsylvania this Friday. So if you feel the need to gift-up, you can find my books here: http://www.kovaleski.com/shop.htm
And my wife's CD here:
http://www.amazon.com/Piano-Recital-Jocelyn-Swigger/dp/B001F0TR8A/ref=sr_1_1/178-5369906-5073922?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1227139109&sr=1-1
And for more info than you'd ever need/want about me, please visit my blog. I post about 4 times a week about my cartooning life for your time-wasting pleasure.
http://kovaleski.wordpress.com/
ComicsDC logo - first shot
I'm obviously not an artist, but I kind of like this one, and Our Man Thompson approved of it. I'm sticking it on a Zazzle mug now. It's also on a magnet so you can stick it on your computer and remember to check this site (if it wipes your hard drive, I don't want to hear about it. You should know better than to put magnets around computers).
Comic advertisements - a few old snapshots
Here's some more advertisements using comics motifs.
Dick Tracy advertisement for Franklin Bookman standup - Crown Books March 1998.
Spider-Man advertisement - Hardees May 1999 (in Kentucky, I think).
Thing from Fantastic Four - Dodge Caravan advertisement - NJ Turnpike September 1999.
Spider-Man - Got Milk Metrobus advertisement, August 1999, Washington, DC.
Disneyland ashtray.
Dick Tracy advertisement for Franklin Bookman standup - Crown Books March 1998.
Spider-Man advertisement - Hardees May 1999 (in Kentucky, I think).
Thing from Fantastic Four - Dodge Caravan advertisement - NJ Turnpike September 1999.
Spider-Man - Got Milk Metrobus advertisement, August 1999, Washington, DC.
Disneyland ashtray.
This week's Zadzooks
ZADZOOKS: Video game review, Gears of War 2: Fenix's foe tougher, Joseph Szadkowski, Washington Times Thursday, November 27, 2008. Meanwhile in Bennett's Best, Greg recommends Fables and Twisted Toyfare Theater. I must confess to enjoying Wizard's fotonovella abuse of toys.
Help me have a happy holiday; OR ComicsDC goes commercial
Just kidding with that title (right now!), but I'm playing around with Zazzle's line of products prefatory to really nagging cartoonists I know to start making some neat stuff I can buy. Bill Griffith of Zippy sells stamps and cards there for example and I just ordered a complete set of both of them.
In the meantime, here's a mug* featuring the original photograph (as seen above) for my book Film & TV Adaptations of Comics - 2007 edition. I'm working on the 2008 edition of the book now - and a new Punisher movie opens next week. Oh boy!
*My photographs of flowers on mugs and cards are also available for your mothers.
QUICK REVIEWS OF COMICS DUE THURSDAY (Not Wednesday) 12-04-08
QUICK REVIEWS OF COMICS DUE THURSDAY (Not Wednesday) 12-04-08
By John Judy
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #579 by Mark Waid and Marcos Martin. Our hero is trapped underground with the father of his worst enemy. What to do? What to do? Good comics!
ASTOUNDING WOLF-MAN #10 by Robert Kirkman and Jason Howard. The Secret Origin of Zechariah, the world’s most bi-polar vampire.
BATMAN #682 by Grant Morrison and Lee Garbett. Well, now that Batman is “dead” at the hands of his dad or “Mr. Hurt” or The Devil or whoever, we are to be treated to a retrospective of his life by Alfred the faithful butler on his deathbed. More fun from Grant Morrison’s collection of soggy cocktail napkins, strung together with pictures! WARNING! MAY CONTAIN COHERENT NARRATIVE! (kidding!)
THE BOYS #25 by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson. Wee Hughie a.k.a. “Bagpipe” meets the G-Men and their founder. Meanwhile his team-mates are up to their own shenanigans. Ennis-style action and debauchery! Not for kids. Recommended otherwise.
CRIMINAL 2 #7 by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips. This latest arc comes to a conclusion as Jacob the beat-up forger/cartoonist must figure out how to double-cross his double-crossers. Highly Recommended!
ESSENTIAL DYKES TO WATCH OUT FOR HC written and drawn by Alison Bechdel. The best strips from the past eleven volumes of DTWOF, plus sixty new ones not previously collected. Twenty-five years worth of funny, opinionated, challenging stuff. Recommended, especially for Mormons.
HAUNTED TANK #1 of 5 by Frank Marraffino and Henry Flint. The classic DC war comic about the ghost of a Confederate General who makes himself available to aid his tank-driving descendents gets a great twist here. The General’s latest descendent is a black man serving in Iraq. I already love this comic. Recommended!
HELLBOY: THE WILD HUNT #1 of 8 by Mike Mignola and Duncan Fegredo. HB’s fightin’ giants! But of course nothing’s ever that simple in his world. The follow-up to last year’s DARKNESS CALLS.
IMMORTAL IRON FIST #20 by Duane Swierczynski and Travel Foreman. Danny Rand faces down his latest and most deadly nemesis, the weird demon critter who’s been killing Iron Fists for centuries. I’m betting on the guy with his name on the comic.
JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #21 by Geoff Johns, Alex Ross and Dale Eaglesham. Anytime a God says “Worship me!” you know you’re in trouble. Next thing you know you’ve got guys in bad suits and worse haircuts asking for money. Good thing the JSA is here to put a stop to all that. The penultimate chapter of “One World, Under Gog.”
MARVELS: EYE OF THE CAMERA #1 of 6 by Kurt Busiek and Jay Anacieto. A sequel to the ground-breaking 1994 series MARVELS, in which we learn again what it’s like to be an everyman in a world of supermen. Nobody writes such stories better than Kurt Busiek. Recommended.
NEW AVENGERS #47 by Brian Michael Bendis and Billy Tan. An issue focusing on the consequences of the Skrull invasion, specifically as they affect Luke Cage. Look for green people getting punched in the brain.
PUNISHER MAX: X-MAS SPECIAL #1 by Jason Aaron and Roland Boschi. A little something for all of us who were beginning to doubt Santa Claus: A Punisher story by Jason frickin’ Aaron! The author of SCALPED! You probably want to draw the blinds and turn off your phones for this one. Not for kids. Highly recommended!
SANDMAN: DREAM HUNTERS #2 of 4 by Neil Gaiman and P. Craig Russell. A beautiful adaptation of an earlier Sandman novella. Highly recommended.
SECRET INVASION #8 of 8 by Brian Michael Bendis and Leinil Francis Yu. The final chapter. Radical stuff occurs. “He loves you!”
SHE-HULK: COSMIC COLLISION #1 by Peter David and Mahmud S Asrar. For all you Shulk Completists out there! It’s okay! Come out into the light! Featuring powerful chicks in tight clothes!
SOLOMON KANE #3 of 5 by Scott Allie and Mario Guevara. Intrigues abound as Robert E. Howard’s puritan Punisher is drawn deeper into a mystery that can only be resolved with steel and powder. Very solid stuff. Recommended.
WOLVERINE: MANIFEST DESTINY #2 of 4 by Jason Aaron and Stephen Segovia. Wolvie gets his butt kicked all over Chinatown by a girl. It’s swell. Jason Aaron strikes again!
X-MEN: NOIR #1 of 4 by Fred Van Lente and Dennis Calero. What if the X-Men had been created and written by pulp crime novelists back in 1930-something? Imagine Mickey Spillane writing Wolverine! Highly recommended and hopefully the gateway through which X-maniacs will find their way to SCALPED and CRIMINAL. Recommended.
www.johnjudy.net
By John Judy
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #579 by Mark Waid and Marcos Martin. Our hero is trapped underground with the father of his worst enemy. What to do? What to do? Good comics!
ASTOUNDING WOLF-MAN #10 by Robert Kirkman and Jason Howard. The Secret Origin of Zechariah, the world’s most bi-polar vampire.
BATMAN #682 by Grant Morrison and Lee Garbett. Well, now that Batman is “dead” at the hands of his dad or “Mr. Hurt” or The Devil or whoever, we are to be treated to a retrospective of his life by Alfred the faithful butler on his deathbed. More fun from Grant Morrison’s collection of soggy cocktail napkins, strung together with pictures! WARNING! MAY CONTAIN COHERENT NARRATIVE! (kidding!)
THE BOYS #25 by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson. Wee Hughie a.k.a. “Bagpipe” meets the G-Men and their founder. Meanwhile his team-mates are up to their own shenanigans. Ennis-style action and debauchery! Not for kids. Recommended otherwise.
CRIMINAL 2 #7 by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips. This latest arc comes to a conclusion as Jacob the beat-up forger/cartoonist must figure out how to double-cross his double-crossers. Highly Recommended!
ESSENTIAL DYKES TO WATCH OUT FOR HC written and drawn by Alison Bechdel. The best strips from the past eleven volumes of DTWOF, plus sixty new ones not previously collected. Twenty-five years worth of funny, opinionated, challenging stuff. Recommended, especially for Mormons.
HAUNTED TANK #1 of 5 by Frank Marraffino and Henry Flint. The classic DC war comic about the ghost of a Confederate General who makes himself available to aid his tank-driving descendents gets a great twist here. The General’s latest descendent is a black man serving in Iraq. I already love this comic. Recommended!
HELLBOY: THE WILD HUNT #1 of 8 by Mike Mignola and Duncan Fegredo. HB’s fightin’ giants! But of course nothing’s ever that simple in his world. The follow-up to last year’s DARKNESS CALLS.
IMMORTAL IRON FIST #20 by Duane Swierczynski and Travel Foreman. Danny Rand faces down his latest and most deadly nemesis, the weird demon critter who’s been killing Iron Fists for centuries. I’m betting on the guy with his name on the comic.
JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #21 by Geoff Johns, Alex Ross and Dale Eaglesham. Anytime a God says “Worship me!” you know you’re in trouble. Next thing you know you’ve got guys in bad suits and worse haircuts asking for money. Good thing the JSA is here to put a stop to all that. The penultimate chapter of “One World, Under Gog.”
MARVELS: EYE OF THE CAMERA #1 of 6 by Kurt Busiek and Jay Anacieto. A sequel to the ground-breaking 1994 series MARVELS, in which we learn again what it’s like to be an everyman in a world of supermen. Nobody writes such stories better than Kurt Busiek. Recommended.
NEW AVENGERS #47 by Brian Michael Bendis and Billy Tan. An issue focusing on the consequences of the Skrull invasion, specifically as they affect Luke Cage. Look for green people getting punched in the brain.
PUNISHER MAX: X-MAS SPECIAL #1 by Jason Aaron and Roland Boschi. A little something for all of us who were beginning to doubt Santa Claus: A Punisher story by Jason frickin’ Aaron! The author of SCALPED! You probably want to draw the blinds and turn off your phones for this one. Not for kids. Highly recommended!
SANDMAN: DREAM HUNTERS #2 of 4 by Neil Gaiman and P. Craig Russell. A beautiful adaptation of an earlier Sandman novella. Highly recommended.
SECRET INVASION #8 of 8 by Brian Michael Bendis and Leinil Francis Yu. The final chapter. Radical stuff occurs. “He loves you!”
SHE-HULK: COSMIC COLLISION #1 by Peter David and Mahmud S Asrar. For all you Shulk Completists out there! It’s okay! Come out into the light! Featuring powerful chicks in tight clothes!
SOLOMON KANE #3 of 5 by Scott Allie and Mario Guevara. Intrigues abound as Robert E. Howard’s puritan Punisher is drawn deeper into a mystery that can only be resolved with steel and powder. Very solid stuff. Recommended.
WOLVERINE: MANIFEST DESTINY #2 of 4 by Jason Aaron and Stephen Segovia. Wolvie gets his butt kicked all over Chinatown by a girl. It’s swell. Jason Aaron strikes again!
X-MEN: NOIR #1 of 4 by Fred Van Lente and Dennis Calero. What if the X-Men had been created and written by pulp crime novelists back in 1930-something? Imagine Mickey Spillane writing Wolverine! Highly recommended and hopefully the gateway through which X-maniacs will find their way to SCALPED and CRIMINAL. Recommended.
www.johnjudy.net
Saturday, November 29, 2008
My Thompson collection grows
Holy Tango of Literature by Francis Heaney (Author) and Richard Thompson (Illustrator) arrived in the mail today. Richard did caricatures of authors such as Emily Dickinson and Robert Frost for the 2004 book. The Library of Congress Cataloguing-in-Publication data doesn't list Richard, caricature or cartooning so many of us may have missed this.
That darn Toles, continued
Bush Forfeited Respect
Washington Post November 29 2008
Regarding the Nov. 22 Free for All letter objecting to Tom Toles's Nov. 18 cartoon:
I thought Toles's depiction of the torturer in chief departing the White House was spot on.
I have heard before the argument that the president deserves respect, but may I remind the letter writer that it's the office of the presidency as defined in our Constitution, not the individual, that deserves deference.
When an individual disgraces that office, as George W. Bush has surely done, that individual is no longer worthy of respect. He's lucky he hasn't been subjected to the Dick Cheney-Alberto Gonzales-style justice that has besmirched our nation.
-- Cathy Clary
Afton
Washington Post November 29 2008
Regarding the Nov. 22 Free for All letter objecting to Tom Toles's Nov. 18 cartoon:
I thought Toles's depiction of the torturer in chief departing the White House was spot on.
I have heard before the argument that the president deserves respect, but may I remind the letter writer that it's the office of the presidency as defined in our Constitution, not the individual, that deserves deference.
When an individual disgraces that office, as George W. Bush has surely done, that individual is no longer worthy of respect. He's lucky he hasn't been subjected to the Dick Cheney-Alberto Gonzales-style justice that has besmirched our nation.
-- Cathy Clary
Afton
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