Zadzooks on Indiana Jones and Lord of the Rings

This week's column is mostly about toys, but has a bit about comics at the end - "Gandalf the Grey and Indiana Jones," Joseph Szadkowski, Washington Times Wednesday, January 7, 2009.

Paul Richard on Walt Disney's fine art status

Here's an excellent article - although when these start appearing, you have to worry about the art form having ossified -
"UNDER WALT'S SPELL: Disney Is No Mickey Mouse Figure in the World of Art" By Paul Richard, Special to The Washington Post, Sunday, January 11, 2009; M06. Given the 'fine art' pieces that Richard quotes, which cover a period of 40 years at least, I suppose that argument is already over about Disney.

Maryland animation festival reported a success

See "Annual cartoon fest draws young and old," By Ashley Andyshak, Frederick News-Post Staff January 11, 2009.

That Darn Toles ... continued

More Toles Is the Solution
Washington Post (January 11 2009)

As with many of the world's complex problems, a solution may be so simple that it is overlooked. Take, for example, The Post's declining print circulation. The obvious solution is to simply chain Tom Toles to his desk and force him to produce not one but two editorial cartoons per day, seven days a week. Problem solved. Subscriptions will skyrocket. The Post is giving Toles way too much time off.

-- Dean Harger

Germantown

Dame Darcy exhibit in DC

The Post reported yesterday that Dame Darcy was in town for exhibit opening, and I missed it. The exhibit continues though: Also at the gallery is "Gasoline," featuring works by Dame Darcy, creator of the comic "Meat Cake." The show features work from Darcy's "Gasoline" graphic novel. The shows open tonight with a reception that includes a performance. (After the opening, an after-party is slated for Comet Ping Pong). Free. 7-10 p.m. (Dame Darcy will perform music at 9). The show runs through Feb. 7. Civilian Art Projects, 406 Seventh St. NW. 202-347-0022 or http://www.civilianartprojects.com.

Comics and movies

As longtime readers of this know, I have a running list of movies and tv adapted from comics that I publish as a book annually (theoretically at least, as I'm still doing the index to 2008's edition).

A couple of things to note this morning:

My buddy Bart Beaty's new book got an excellent review. The book is David Cronenberg's A History of Violence, By Bart Beaty, University of Toronto Press, 138 pages, $16.95. The review is "Good director, bon directeur," BY PIERS HANDLING, Toronto Globe and Mail Update January 8, 2009. Handling says, among other things, "Beaty does a superb job dissecting, interpreting and unpacking all the key moments of the film, revealing the tools a filmmaker, working at the height of his powers, brings to his canvas."

And then there's the Watchmen movie - "Studios Try to Settle ‘Watchmen’ Dispute," By MICHAEL CIEPLY, New York Times January 10, 2009. Cieply writes, "Mr. Karasik, joined by lawyers for Warner, had asked a court clerk on Friday if the judge would conduct a hearing in chambers, because they planned to discuss what he called “settlement issues.” The clerk conferred with Judge Feess, then returned to say that the judge would insist on a session open to the public." Hahahahaha! Good for the judge.

Cul de Sac sums up the end of the holidays

Richard's Jan 10th Cul de Sac strip absolutely captures the end of the holidays feeling that I'm having as I face taking down the Christmas tree and outside ornaments today...

Geppi luncheon talk covered.

"Steven Geppi: Hard Work Gets Noticed," Jack McLaughlin, HBL Editor, Harford Business ledger 12/26/08. This was linked to from Scoop which is Diamond's weekly collector's e-newsletter.

Former U of MD cartoonist Jeff Kinney and Wimpy Kid profiled in NYT

Appearing on Sunday, but we've got it for you early - "Jeff Kinney: A Profile of the ‘Wimpy Kid’ Author," By JAN HOFFMAN, New York Times January 11, 2009 and "Hapless Boy Wins Eager Friends," By JAN HOFFMAN, New York Times January 11, 2009. If you get the paper, as I do, you'll have to remember that this is in the Style & Fashion section for some reason.

Fredericksburg, VA letterwriters slap around editorial cartoonist

Here's a couple of letters sent to the Fredericksburg (Virginia) Free Lance-Star about Clay Jones - Your cartoonist is not funny, FLS! and Throwing shoes at a president isn't funny.

'Waltz with Bashir' interview on Washington Times

See "'Waltz' with Ari: Israeli documentarian looks at first Lebanon war," Sonny Bunch, Washington Times Friday, January 9, 2009. The movie opens here on the 16th the article says. Anyone want to go see it?

Weingarten's Chatalogical Humor chat on some comics

Here's some comments on comic strips from Gene Weingarten's January 6th chat that mirror some of the concerns of this blog lately:

2D, color on Sunday: You once called 9 Chickweed Lane "reprehensible." Why? Is it the pseudo-sophistication? The unbearably snotty and phony way the characters speak? The lack of chins?

While we're there, have you followed the latest story, in which Amos and Edda finally have sex? I wonder: Is this the first time a character has lost his or her virginity ("maidenhood" in the strip) in the comics?

And finally, I had to laugh when I saw this,* in which McEldowney whines about the cruel realities of deadline to explain why the loss-of-virginity storyline is on hiatus.

Gene Weingarten: Interestingly enough, we appear to be watching the deflowering of Cory this very week in "Watch Your Head."

Liz, can we link to one or two?

washingtonpost.com: Watch Your Head: Jan. 3 | Jan. 5 | Jan. 6

_______________________

comic,AL: What's your opinion on the "pseudo-affair" plot line in Sally Forth? Although it would be scandalous, and since the strip is called "Sally Forth," unlikely, for Ted to take Aria up on her offer I think it would be a huge improvement to the strip for him to develop a backbone. Otherwise I think Sally will just say "walkies!" and he will follow her home like the good dog that he is.

Gene Weingarten: I am annoyed by possessiveness in marrige, so I am annoyed by this plot line. Having said that, it is an interestingly ambiguous dynamic, and I respect the writers for it: Nothing is "going on," and yet both parties are disturbed. So is, in fact, something "going on"?

To me, the great part of the Sally Forth storyline is Sally's ma constantly intimating that Ted is a woman.


*one of our famed local comic strip artists was also caught short by his syndicate deadlines, but worked through a family vacation to stay on time...

Spider-Man and Obama

As is the case with pretty much every other major news media outlet, The Examiner has a blurb on Obama being in an upcoming issue of The Amazing Spider-Man (p. 10 in the 1/9/08 edition). The story originally ran in USA Today.

Jan 11: Mo Willems at Tysons Barnes & Noble

Thanks to Our Man Thompson for the tip that Mo Willems will be at the Tysons Corner Barnes and Noble store on Sunday, Jan 11th at 2 pm.

Richard Thompson on 2009 at The Beat

See Heidi MacDonald's "The Beat’s Annual Yearend Survey, 2009 Edition: Part 1," The Beat blog (January 5).

Richard's about halfway down. I haven't seen any other Washington-area types yet.

Twizzlers?

Shadow artist obituary

As a kid, I loved the Shadow... the radio show, the pulp (Pyramid was reprinting them with Steranko covers), the DC Comics (Kaluta!)... Edd Cartier, one of the last links to the original pulps, died last week. The best obituary I've seen appeared today in "Edd Cartier, 94, Pulp Illustrator, Dies," By WILLIAM GRIMES, New York Times January 8, 2009.

Warren Craghead exhibit in Charlottesville

Gallery owner Rob Jones sent in the following PR about his Warren Craghead show in Charlottesville:

The Dot and The Line
Drawings by Warren Craghead and Brian Mallman
Migration: A Gallery
Charlottesville, Virginia
www.MigrationGallery.com

This show's opening is past, but it will remain up until the end of January.

Here are a couple of reviews:

http://artpark.typepad.com/artblog/2008/12/drawings-by-warren-craghead-and-brian-mallman.html

http://artpark.typepad.com/artblog/2009/01/the-dot-and-the-line.html (- this link leads to a post with a free downloadable Craghead book - Mike).

Rob Jones
www.artPark.typepad.com
fresh air art blogging

Jan 12: Mo Willems at Politics and Prose

The cartoonist and children's book author will be at Politics and Prose on:

Monday, January 12, 4 p.m.
Mo Willems
NAKED MOLE RAT GETS DRESSED (Hyperion, $16.99)
Emmy, Caldecott Honor, and Theodor Seuss Geisel Medal-winner Mo Willems is back with a new hero: Wilbur, the naked mole rat, who likes to wear clothes. Clothes allow Wilbur to let his imagination run wild, but what will Grandfather naked mole rat do when he discovers Wilbur’s secret? Ages 3 and up

Wondermark and Frisky Dingos in today's papers

The January 8th Onion has another special Wondermark strip by David Malki in it - a strip about the Onion dropping its comics. This one's probably not going online either so get your copy of the Onion now, or send me a pitiful begging note asking me to clip one for you.

Also, in the Express, Stephen Deusner explains what a Frisky Dingo is - a cartoon on Cartoon Network's Adult Swim that made it into a couple of DVDs, but isn't being renewed.

Comic Riffs' Cavna interviews Peters over coffee lawsuit

This is really a stupid lawsuit, and my wife laughed when I told her about it, but Michael Cavna, being a good journalist, interviewed Mike Peters about it (well she laughed at Peters' gag and then kept going): "'Mother Goose & Grimm' vs. Juan Valdez--The Lawsuit," By Michael Cavna, Washington Post Comic Riffs blog (January 8, 2009).