More DC links in Stay Tooned #3

I'm reading this issue backwards, and there's an interview with Roll Call's cartoonist R.J. Matson, and Jim Scancarelli turns out to have lived in Arlington and been taught graphic arts at Wakefield High School. Order a copy at http://www.staytoonedmagazine.com

Reminder: Tuesday's Mardi Gras Parade in Arlington...

...will feature large Richard Thompson figures for the second year in a row. I'll be there, and he might as well. Remember to ask for your free Petey tattoo if you recognize him.

Rob Tornoe on Delonas chimp cartoon

Rob's emailed me that he's got a cartoon and commentary online now.

Blockbuster dumping anime at 1/2 off at some places

There's a few northern Virginia sites here, including Stafford.

Zadzooks on Afro Samurai and Bennett's best

"Zadzooks: Review of Afro Samurai, the video game: Hip-hop hero seeks vengeance," Joseph Szadkowski, Washington Times Thursday, February 19, 2009.

And "Bennett's Best for the week of February 8," By Greg Bennett, Washington Times' Zadzooks Blog February 20 2009 is on Gaiman's Batman and Thor 600.

April 25: CHS Otaku Fest

Press Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For information, contact:
Sophie Song
President of Centennial High School Anime Club
president.chsanime@gmail.com
609.220.1955

CHS OTAKU FEST ANNOUNCES PRICE REDUCTIONS

Ellicott City, MD February 21st, 2009 – CHS Otaku Fest, the new anime convention in Maryland to be held on April 25th, is pleased to announce that is has reduced its registration fee and dealers room fee.

The price is now $10 per person before March 21st and $15 after. At the door price has been reduced from $22 to $17 and the dealer’s room is now $60 per space.

Additionally, the official hours of the convention are now 10:30 am to 7:00 pm.

About The Centennial High Anime club and Otaku Fest: CHS Otaku Fest is brand new anime convention tons of events like the masquerade, AMV contest, live music, panels and much more. Its hosted by the Centennial High School anime club, an entirely high school based club with about 40 active members. Check out our website otaku-fest.webs.com for more information.

CHS Otaku Fest information
Date: Saturday April 25th, 2009
Time: 10:30 am to 7:00 pm
Location: Centennial High School
4300 Centennial Lane
Ellicott City, MD 21042
Registration fee: $10 before March 21st and $15 after. There is a $3 discount to groups of 10 or more ($7 per person before 3/21/09 and $12 after3/21/09). At-the-door registration is $17.
For additional information visit: otaku-fest.webs.com
E-mail: president.chsanime@gmail.com

QUICK REVIEWS FOR COMICS DUE 02-25-09

QUICK REVIEWS FOR COMICS DUE 02-25-09
By John Judy

AVENGERS INITIATIVE #22 by Christos Gage and Humberto Ramos. The New Warriors reunite to kill Ragnarok, the evil Thor Cyber-Clone. Why can’t “Heroes” be this good? Ever?

CAPTAIN AMERICA #47 by Ed Brubaker and Steve Epting. Bucky America’s still in China, still trying to rescue the remains of his old pal, the original Human Torch, who is still dead. Or is he….?

EERIE ARCHIVES, VOL. 1 HC by Many God-Like Talents. If you thought dark Horse was gonna stop the Warren reprint madness with CREEPY ARCHIVES, well, it looks like you were pleasantly mistaken. For fans of horror, sci-fi and fantasy done up as only the best comics creators can do them. Recommended.

FANTASTIC FOUR #564 by Mark Millar and Bryan Hitch. This issue has a Norman Rockwell tribute cover. It’s for their “very special Christmas issue” which we are (ha-ha) seeing in Almost March, so maybe that’s what’s so very-special about it. Also the Rockwell painting they’re tributing is called “Freedom from Want” or “Thanksgiving Dinner” so that makes it even funnier for a “very special Christmas issue.”

GARTH ENNIS BATTLEFIELDS: DEAR BILLY #2 of 3 by Ennis and Peter Snjeberg. So how screwed is that Japanese POW now that Nurse Vengeful is on his case?

GREEN LANTERN #38 by Geoff Johns and Ivan Reis. GL and Sinestro duke it out with the blood-puking Red Lanterns! They’re powered by Rage and need extra iron! Plus, a new Green Lantern Law is revealed! (“Thou shalt not ‘go commando’ in thy skintight uniform?”) Recommended.

HULK #10 by Jeph Loeb and Ed McGuinness. The Defenders reunite to fight four losers calling themselves “The Offenders.” This issue has three different covers, no less. Sadly, none of them feature President Obama.

JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #24 by Geoff Johns and Jerry Ordway. Now that they’re done chasing the stupid gray giant all over Africa and fighting each other, the JSA gets to scrap with Black Adam and Isis for control of the Rock of Eternity. Who will fall and who will get a piece of The Rock? And what about Dark Mary Marvel?

LARRY MARDER’S BEANWORLD BOOK 1: WAHOOLAZUMA! HC written and illustrated by Larry Marder. Collecting the first nine issues of this offbeat humor title that ran from 1985 to 1993. Marder has announced plans to pick up where he left off with new stories for today’s audiences. This one’s been getting praise from sources as diverse as Entertainment Weekly and The Village Voice. For fans of the off-beet.

MARVELS: EYE OF THE CAMERA #4 of 6 by Kurt Busiek and Jay Anacleto. Dying photographer Phil Sheldon continues his chronicles of the Marvel Universe even as everything seems to be going bad. Like Jim Shooter-Era bad…

MIGHTY AVENGERS #22 by Dan Slott and Khoi Pham. It’s Hank Pym’s Avengers versus Evil Possessed Quicksilver! Man, that guy’s always going Evil! Big fight!

MOUSE GUARD WINTER 1152 #5 of 6 written and drawn by David Petersen. The penultimate issue in the latest adventures of warrior mice from the middle ages. Kind of like Robin Hood meets the Rats of NIMH. Neat stuff.

NEW AVENGERS #50 by Brian Michael Bendis and Billy Tan. New Avengers versus Dark Avengers! Duck!

NO HERO #4 of 7 by Warren Ellis and Juan Jose Ryp. The latest bit of ultra-violent, quasi-corporate anti-heroics from that nice Mister Ellis. Not to be read for half an hour after eating.

PREVIEWS by Marvel and Diamond Comics. What you’ll be spending your stimulus check on in three months!

STARMAN OMNIBUS VOL. 2 HC by James Robinson and Many Fine Artists. This one collects issues 17-29 of the adventures of collector nerd turned legacy super-hero Jack Knight, along with a few other goodies. If you like the last few years of JSA adventures you have STARMAN to thank for reinvigorating DC’s entire Golden-Age catalogue. Great stuff. Recommended.

THUNDERBOLTS #129 by Andy Diggle and Roberto De La Torre. Oh no! The Green Goblin’s throwing pumpkin bombs at our new President! He must listen to Hannity and Rush! Loser! Fun stuff.

ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #125 by Brian Michael Bendis and Stuart Immonen. Ultimate Spidey meets Ultimate Hulk just in time for the end of the world.

WONDER WOMAN #29 by Gail Simone and Aaron Lopresti. WW’s still getting it together after the drubbing she received from Genocide, who by the way needs to marry Doomsday and have lots of freakish, chalky-skinned, hero-smacking babies.

www.johnjudy.net

OT: David Lozell Martin appearances in March

My friend the novelist David Lozell Martin will be reading from his new autobiography. I'll be going to the Shirlington one most likely. Maybe both.

Busboys and Poets @ 14th & V
2021 14th St
NW DC 20009
(202) 387-7638

Author Event, David Lozell Martin

When Friday, March 13, 6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Where Langston Room

Description 6:30 PM (Langston Room) - Author David Lozell Martin will discuss and sign his most recent work, "Losing Everything: A Memoir". "Losing Everything" is less about getting lost and more about finding your way home again. In his pursuit of stability, Martin uncovered lessons that might help others who have encountered loss: take pleasure in something as small as an ampersand, keep a list of people you know who have died, meet your own death like a warrior, and be glad you don't own a monkey. Deeply personal yet surprisingly universal, Martin's story is for anyone who has wandered astray. If not a road map, his journey is a guide, providing hard-earned wisdom to illuminate the path home.

Free and Open to the Public.



Busboys @ Shirlington
4251 South Campbell Ave
Arlington, VA 22206
(703) 379-9757

Author Event: David Lozell Martin
When Sunday, March 22, 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Where Shirlington Library/Busboys and Poets

Description Author David Lozell Martin will discuss and sign his most recent work, "Losing Everything: A Memoir". "Losing Everything" is less about getting lost and more about finding your way home again. In his pursuit of stability, Martin uncovered lessons that might help others who have encountered loss: take pleasure in something as small as an ampersand, keep a list of people you know who have died, meet your own death like a warrior, and be glad you don't own a monkey. Deeply personal yet surprisingly universal, Martin's story is for anyone who has wandered astray. If not a road map, his journey is a guide, providing hard-earned wisdom to illuminate the path home. Discussion will take place at Shirlington Library, followed by a book signing at Busboys and Poets.

This event is free and open to the public.

OT: Washington Post essay contest repost

More shameless shilling as I repost this from last month since there's 1 week left in the contest. Ooooh, I'm down to 1% - not good:

I got a letter a month or so ago from someone at Washingtonpost.com inviting bloggers to enter their "What does it mean to be a Washingtonian?" contest. They've posted entries online now for voting and mine is "An Intellectual Playground." I've read about 1/2 the essays so far, and I'm pretty impressed with most of them. A few of us strike the same tone of appreciating the cultural opportunities in the area, but since you're reading my blog, you should vote for me. Thanks.

Pat Bagley wins Herblock award

The Salt Lake Tribune is reporting that their cartoonist, Pat Bagley, has won the Herblock award - see "Tribune political cartoonist wins distinguished Herblock prize
Biting humor » Pat Bagley cited for 'deft and witty' style documenting Utah politics," By Paul Beebe, The Salt Lake Tribune 2/20/2009. I've heard that Ted Koppel will be speaking at the ceremony. The Foundation has a press release buried on their website, and they've increased the award from $10,000 to $15,000 this year. The judges were Jules Feiffer, Garry Trudeau and last year's winner John Sherffius - an excellent panel.

Kal on Delonas chimp cartoon

Kal sent a note saying that he's got a blogpost on the Delonas cartoon.

He's also traveling a bit:

In June I will be the featured international artist at the annual Knokke-Heist cartoon festival in Belgium. The festival, one of the largest of its kind , will feature an exhibition of 50 originals and a lecture/symposium in the summer. The exhibition will be on display at the Belgium seaside resort through September.

I am delighted and honored to announce that I will be at the University of Portland on Thursday, March 5 to deliver the introductory William James Mazzacco Memorial Lecture in Distributive Justice.The lecture takes place at the Buckley Center Auditorium (5000 N Willamette Blvd.) at the University of Portland at 7:30 p.m. The lecture is open to the public.

Katsucon 15 report

"Katsucon 15-The Melancholy of Your Weatherman," By Weatherman 02-20-2009, and he notes that it'll be in the new National Harbor hotel complex in Maryland next year.

Washington City Paper Best of DC 2009 poll

Last year, we were surprise winners (because it wasn't actually a category) of Best (Comic) Arts Blogger, which we appreciated immensely. Well, I did at least. The City Paper's just started its 2009 poll for Best of DC and it's still not a category, but go check it out and vote now.

Comic Riffs cited in AP article on cartoons and race

Michael Cavna's blog got a mention here - "Cartoonists treading lightly when drawing Obama," By JESSE WASHINGTON AP National Writer, Posted: 02/20/2009. If you're not reading Riffs daily, you really should.

History Repeats Itself, in the Secret History of Comics

Warren Bernard writes in with another bit of the Secret History of Comics:

Well, no question that all of us capitalists have taken it on the chin recently. To show how things do not change and for your enjoyment, (Well, OK, as much as one can enjoy seeing their life savings evaporate into thin air), here is a cartoon about the stock market from Puck Magazine in 1884.


'The Wall Street Hellgate' by F. Graetz, Puck, 1884.

Note the electrical/telegraph wires in the crown of the "Siren", as she plays her harp of speculation.

Replace the strings labeled "Western Union", "Erie" and "Pacific" (all railroad companies, the growth stock of the day) with "CDOs", "Mortgage Backed Securities" and "Ethanol" and Voila!! Instant 21st Century political cartoon!!

But my favorite part of the cartoon are the foot pedals on the harp. They are named, appropriately enough, "Puts" and "Calls".

We have not changed much in 125 years and I dunno about you, but I surely feel as if I just crashed on those rocks.

OT: MTV on Watchman movie, 2/21/09

OK, I'm getting caught up in the hype. I've got 3 books from Titan on the movie that I'll try to get reviews up for this weekend too. They're lovely.

Spoilers Premieres Saturday, February 21 at 8:00 p.m. ET/PT

On February 21, at 8:00 p.m. ET, MTV will air the second episode of "Spoilers," a quarterly movie special that will deliver first looks at the year's biggest upcoming flicks, including behind-the-scenes action and exclusive scenes.

Taped in front of a live audience, the second episode will spotlight "Watchmen," and will feature appearances from the entire cast of the eagerly anticipated superhero flick.

Hundreds of die-hard movie fanswill attend MTV News' screening of the film, with the stars walking the blood-red carpet to chat in front of our cameras.

In addition to "Watchmen," the episode will also give viewers exclusive access to scenes from such upcoming blockbusters as "Star Trek," "Land of the Lost," "Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince," "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" and more.

Montgomery on new Swamp Thing collection

My old comic-collecting buddy Robert chimes in on DC's new Swamp Thing collection, which has Alan Moore's first issue reprinted for the first time: DC is finally reprinting Alan Moore's Swamp Thing run in hardcover. So, of course, having waited for this for some time, I bought the first volume. When it arrived, first thing I noticed is that DC printed it on the same paper used in the trade paperbacks. Was I annoyed. I expected a high-quality product and basically got a trade with a hard cover. What the hell is DC thinking?

After I noticed the paper issue, I checked reviews on Amazon and people had the same reaction. They also complained about the cover being sticky - one person claimed they printed it on the wrong type of paper. The cover on my copy is a little sticky but don't know if I'd noticed it w/o having read the reviews.

Weingarten on Prickly City, Doonesbury, Delonas' chimp

From the 2/10 Chatalogical Humor:

Washington, D.C.: Gene - what did you think of last Friday's Prickly City where they call Rush Limbaugh a jerk? It actually made me laugh.

Gene Weingarten: I would like this better if it were funny. I applaud the stance, but I think political cartoonists -- and political standup comics -- have an obligation to be funny.

_______________________

"...I think political cartoonists -- and political standup comics -- have an obligation to be funny." : Unless their name is Trudeau, the Garfield of political "humor."

Gene Weingarten: I was thinking specifically of Garry Trudeau and Doonesbury. He is the perfect example of the political satirist who sees his mission as humor first.


and 2/17's Chatalogical Humor:

Alexandria, VA: Hi,

No, Prickly City wasn't funny, and did you leave the "ly" off your link intentionally, or Freudian slip of a sort?

Gene Weingarten: I always call it Prick City, because of its politics. Been doing that for years.
_________

Richmond, Va.: I have a great Ralph Steadman story for you. At some point he was in town doing a book signing for his illustrated version of "Animal Farm" (it's so amazing). He was giving each signature a unique ink-blot and a fan came up and said "do something really crazy to mine!" So Steadman took out his lighter and set it on fire.

Gene Weingarten: Excellent. I have that Animal Farm book. It is brilliant.

------

UPDATED 2.20.09

Gene Weingarten: I want to begin with an important clarification. In yesterday's update I was asked if I found THIS photograph interesting in light of the sharply debated prior discussion involving posteriors. I responded with laughter. At some point during the day yesterday, the link mysteriously shifted to a different picture, namely THIS one, which was a highly controversial political cartoon from the New York Post. This cartoon was seen by many people as a racist commentary directed at President Obama. This one I would not have laughed at.

But let's talk about it!

It's by Post cartoonist Sean Delonas, a man whose work I have read and loathed for years. Delonas is strident, unfunny, rabidly right-wing and a virulent bigot, portraying gay people in a way so revolting you would think it's parody if you saw it in The Onion. It's not. Here is Sean Delonas, for example, on gay marriage. Here is Sean Delonas on Governor McGreevey. See that oddly raised leg? That is Delonas's signature move to show someone is gay: Gays are prancing lilyhoppers!

So what do we make of the furor over the chimp cartoon? Is it racist? Does Delonas get the benefit of the doubt?

Sure. I'll give it to him. This cartoon is interpretable without racial overtones: The stimulus bill is stupid, he thinks: It might as well have been written by a rabid chimp. The cartoon coincided with the story of the crazed chimp in Connecticut who ripped off a woman's face, and was shot to death by police. Obama wasn't really the author of the stimulus bill, though his was the most public face behind it. Mostly, I think comparing a black person to an ape is so archaic, so Depression-era, and so primitive that even a Neanderthal like Delonas wouldn't do it.

No, what Delonas would and did do is create a totally pathetic cartoon using the unspeakable tragedy of the chimp attack, which left a woman horrifyingly maimed, to make some lame political point about the stimulus package. It's inappropriate, unclever, and makes senseless use of a shockingly violent image. Pure Delonas, pure crap, but not racist.

Express poll on Delonas chimp cartoon

Yesterday the Express asked "Was the New York Post's cartoon using a chimp to criticize the stimulus bill racist?"

http://www.expressnightout.com/pollcenter/index.php?poll_date=2009-02-19

A short sample of the answers is printed in today's paper, and you can click through the online link to read 75 more.

Silver Spring schoolgirl draws comics

See "Autistic pupil turns to comics to express herself," by Timmy Gelles, The Gazette February 19 2009.