QUICK REVIEWS FOR COMICS DUE 04-08-09
By John Judy
ALL-NEW SAVAGE SHE-HULK #1 of 4 by Fred Van Lente and Peter Vale. Okay, she’s got grey skin and Thundra’s old clothes and she’s from another dimension. On the surface this would appear to be a huge glowing Gamma Bomb of screwed up continuity, but it’s written by Fred Van Lente and it’s only four issues. Gotta look.
CAPTAIN BRITAIN AND MI13 #12 by Paul Cornell and Leonard Kirk. Super-Limeys fight Dracula! Nuff said!
DARK REIGN: HAWKEYE #1 of 5 by Andy Diggle and Tom Raney. Yes, HAWKEYE mini-series are traditionally forgettable filler on our nation’s proud comic racks but this one’s by Andy Diggle and it’s actually about the Evil, Homicidal, Psychotic Fake-Hawkeye, a.k.a. Bullseye so it should provide gruesome amusement to beat the band.
GREEN LANTERN #39 by Geoff Johns and Philip Tan. GL meets the villainous Agent Orange whose power is fueled by greed. But isn’t greed good? GL’s not going commie, is he?
HARVEY COMICS CLASSICS, VOL. 5: THE HARVEY GIRLS SC edited by Leslie Cabarga. The best adventures of Little Audrey, Little Dot and Little Lotta from the years 1952-1962. All-ages fun providing keen insight into the society that screwed up your mothers and grandmothers.
IGNITION CITY #1 of 5 by Warren Ellis and Gianluca Pagliarani. “Where did the space heroes go to die?” The answer’s in this retro sci-fi noir series set in 1956 where the rockets are cool and the laser pistols are hot. Published by Avatar Press so you know you’re not paying for pesky frills like publicity and updated websites.
MARVEL ZOMBIES 4 #1 of 4 by Fred Van Lente and Kev Walker. This never gets old! Not for kids.
NORTHLANDERS #16 by Brian Wood and Ryan Kelly. The final chapter of “The Cross and the Hammer” in which we discover whatever became of little Brigid. Recommended.
PUNISHER: FRANK CASTLE MAX #69 by Duane Swierczynski and Michel Lacombe. Frank’s still dying and the bad guys are still trying to hurry things along.
SECRET IDENTITY: FETISH ART OF SUPERMAN’S CO-CREATOR JOE SHUSTER HC by Craig Coe. Exactly what it sounds like. Not for kids but highly recommended anyway.
SECRET SIX #8 by Gail Simone and Carlos Rodriguez. So what do you do to unwind when you’re a loose-knit band of renegade spandex baddies being hunted by heroes and villains alike? Does the word “inappropriate’ even mean anything at that point?
SUPERMAN: WORLD OF NEW KRYPTON #2 of 12 by James Robinson, Greg Rucka and Pete Woods. Superman and Zod fail to bond. Go figure.
TIMESTORM 2009/2099 #1 of 4 by Brian Reed and Eric Battle. You know what would make those old 2099 heroes really awesome? A re-boot! Hey, it worked for the New Universe. A little. When Warren Ellis took a shot at it. A few years ago… For all you 2099 completists out there.
ULTIMATE WOLVERINE VS HULK #4 of 6 by Damon Lindelof and Leinil Francis Yu. After three-years the big pay-off is… Ultimate She-Hulk! Now sure, this She-Hulk may be Ultimate, but is she All-New and/or Savage?
WOLVERINE: WEAPON X #1 by Jason Aaron and Ron Garney. The comic so awesome it needed five separate covers, not counting whatever they whip out for second and third print-runs! Seriously, this one re-unites the WOLVERINE Dream Team of Aaron and Garney, the last guys to regularly deliver Wolverine stories that did not uck-say uge-hay. Recommended.
www.johnjudy.net
Sunday, April 05, 2009
Saturday, April 04, 2009
Zadzooks reviews comic books!
It's been a while, but Zadzooks reviews actual comic books this week!
See "Zadzooks: Reviews of Marvel Apes and New Brighton Archaeological Society," Joseph Szadkowski, Washington Times Thursday, April 2, 2009.
Zadzooks also reviews Monsters vs Aliens videogame .
Captain America and Morrison's Sea Guy are "Bennett's Best for the week of March 29," By Greg Bennett, Zadzooks Blog April 02 2009.
See "Zadzooks: Reviews of Marvel Apes and New Brighton Archaeological Society," Joseph Szadkowski, Washington Times Thursday, April 2, 2009.
Zadzooks also reviews Monsters vs Aliens videogame .
Captain America and Morrison's Sea Guy are "Bennett's Best for the week of March 29," By Greg Bennett, Zadzooks Blog April 02 2009.
Faithkiller theater show with superheroes
See "A Postmodern Multimedia Experience," By Chris Klimek, Washington Post Friday, April 3, 2009; WE49.
The play is described by the Post as "The story concerns the creator of a fictional 1940s radio series, also called "The Faithkiller," chronicling the two-fisted adventures of the titular superhero who battled the Nazis with his Brain Drain Gun, from which a single, humanizing blast could cure even the staunchest brownshirt of his taste for fascism and genocide. We also see a present-day TV update, wherein the Faithkiller wages a guerrilla campaign against the fundamentalist theocracy that is the U.S. government of the near future."
The play is described by the Post as "The story concerns the creator of a fictional 1940s radio series, also called "The Faithkiller," chronicling the two-fisted adventures of the titular superhero who battled the Nazis with his Brain Drain Gun, from which a single, humanizing blast could cure even the staunchest brownshirt of his taste for fascism and genocide. We also see a present-day TV update, wherein the Faithkiller wages a guerrilla campaign against the fundamentalist theocracy that is the U.S. government of the near future."
Cartoon postcard in new Medical Museum collection
Postcard sent by Luther B. Otken, a World War 1 surgeon in the American Expeditionary Forces, stationed in France. This collection of WW1 correspondence was donated to the National Museum of Health & Medicine last month.
Friday, April 03, 2009
Kal in NYC on April 7th
Kal writes in:
I will be giving a public lecture at Columbia University on Tuesday evening April 7 at 7:30PM titled ”Drawing from Politics: Cartoons and Satire in the new digital age”. The event is free and open to the all.
The event will be at the Davis Auditorium - 412 Shapiro Center (new science building). To get to this building you enter the Columbia gates at 116th street and Broadway and proceed to the north of campus, the building is located on campus between 120th and 119th street, between Broadway and Amsterdam. Once you enter the building, the auditorium is to the right of the entrance.
He's always a lot of fun in his talks.
I will be giving a public lecture at Columbia University on Tuesday evening April 7 at 7:30PM titled ”Drawing from Politics: Cartoons and Satire in the new digital age”. The event is free and open to the all.
The event will be at the Davis Auditorium - 412 Shapiro Center (new science building). To get to this building you enter the Columbia gates at 116th street and Broadway and proceed to the north of campus, the building is located on campus between 120th and 119th street, between Broadway and Amsterdam. Once you enter the building, the auditorium is to the right of the entrance.
He's always a lot of fun in his talks.
Is The Onion peeling?
I've noticed that a bunch of Onion boxes were removed and it's not been distributed at Big Planet Comics for the past two weeks. Is the Onion's DC edition struggling?
Cavna twitters Thompson (no, not that one)
Boy, that headline sounds dirty. See "The Twitter Interview: Political Cartoonist Mike Thompson," By Michael Cavna, April 3, 2009 to get those images out of your head.
Craig Yoe and Joe Shuster at Big Planet
Craig will be signing his new book on Superman artist Joe Shuster's... alternative comics drawings ... at Big Planet Comics on Saturday, April 25th.
Thursday, April 02, 2009
Cagle and Cavna; Weingarten on comic strips
Off to the Herblock award, but check out "The Twitter Interview: Cartoonist Daryl Cagle," By Michael Cavna, April 2, 2009.
Gene Weingarten has a longish discussion of comic strips so I won't quote all of it - "Chatological Humor: Comics Section Shrinkage, Erogenous Zones (UPDATED 4.2.09)", Washington Post.com (March 31 2009).
Finally, there's a play with a superhero theme in town -
"A Crusade Against Religion: In 'The Faithkiller,' an atheistic superhero gets mixed reactions," by Express contributor Erin Trompeter, April 2, 2009.
Gene Weingarten has a longish discussion of comic strips so I won't quote all of it - "Chatological Humor: Comics Section Shrinkage, Erogenous Zones (UPDATED 4.2.09)", Washington Post.com (March 31 2009).
Finally, there's a play with a superhero theme in town -
"A Crusade Against Religion: In 'The Faithkiller,' an atheistic superhero gets mixed reactions," by Express contributor Erin Trompeter, April 2, 2009.
Wednesday, April 01, 2009
British fascination with faces on transportation leads to autism cartoon dvd
This has been all over the place, but the Post picked it up so here you go - the country that gave us Thomas the Tank Engine and whatever those airplanes with faces on PBS were called is carrying anthropomorphism into new realms - "British DVD Takes Aim At Autism: Cartoons Focus on Facial Expressions," Rachel Saslow, Washington Post Tuesday, March 31, 2009; HE04.
Batcave Companion interview with Kronenberg
Their publisher has a podcast interview with the two authors - "TwoMorrows Tune-In #19: Michael Eury and Michael Kronenberg (The Batcave Companion)," April 1 2009. The direct link is http://twomorrows.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/19_rt_me_mk_090401.mp3
Cavna talks to Bell, Kurtz and other social networking cartoonists
Two are online at the Comic Riffs blog - "'Candorville' Cartoonist Finds His [Short-Form] Muse," By Michael Cavna, March 31, 2009 and "The Twitter Interview: 'PvP' Creator Scott Kurtz," By Michael Cavna, April 1, 2009. Cavna writes in that he would also like you to see "The Interview: Animator Bryan Brinkman," Michael Cavna, March 23, 2009, even though I had already linked to this as long ago as March 23rd.
In the physical post was "Cartooning's Webcrawler: The Micro-Blogs of Twitter," By Michael Cavna, Washington Post Staff Writer, Wednesday, April 1, 2009; C12. A similar article appeared on PBS's website - "Newspaper Cartoonists Engage Audiences (Including Haters) Online," by Mike Rosen-Molina, PBS Mediashift March 30, 2009.
In the physical post was "Cartooning's Webcrawler: The Micro-Blogs of Twitter," By Michael Cavna, Washington Post Staff Writer, Wednesday, April 1, 2009; C12. A similar article appeared on PBS's website - "Newspaper Cartoonists Engage Audiences (Including Haters) Online," by Mike Rosen-Molina, PBS Mediashift March 30, 2009.
Kal Theme Park
Kevin "Kal" Kallaugher says:
Today April 1, The Economist reports about a new theme park being built in Europe.(Also reported this morning on NPR) You can read the entire article here:
http://www.economist.com/world/britain/displayStory.cfm?story_id=13395767&source=features_box4
Today April 1, The Economist reports about a new theme park being built in Europe.(Also reported this morning on NPR) You can read the entire article here:
http://www.economist.com/world/britain/displayStory.cfm?story_id=13395767&source=features_box4
April 2: Art Spiegelman at George Washington U
Art Spiegleman on April 2 will be at GWU's Jack Morton Auditorium at 7 PM.
I'll be at the Herblock award so I'll have to miss this, but he's always an entertaining speaker.
Thanks to Phil T. for the tip.
I'll be at the Herblock award so I'll have to miss this, but he's always an entertaining speaker.
Thanks to Phil T. for the tip.
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Wildly OT, but amusing: Hustler cartoonist's blog
Dan Collins just wrote in, "I recently started my own cartoon blog. I've been a full time professional cartoonist since 1976."
Dan's work certainly fits into the Secret History of Comics - as he notes on his site, "Those cartoons have no doubt shown up in the inboxes of most of you at one time or another. Just look for the 'collins' at the bottom. If only I had a nickel every time they did."
I'm sure I've seen Dan's work that way too, but his blog is darned funny.
Dan's work certainly fits into the Secret History of Comics - as he notes on his site, "Those cartoons have no doubt shown up in the inboxes of most of you at one time or another. Just look for the 'collins' at the bottom. If only I had a nickel every time they did."
I'm sure I've seen Dan's work that way too, but his blog is darned funny.
Express reviews Complete Peanuts 11
See "This One Goes to 11: 'The Complete Peanuts 1971-1972'," by Express contributor Ewa Beaujon, Express (March 30 2009). I think this was online only. Anyone know?
OT: Donna Barstow, editorial cartoonist
Donna found me while looking for Dave Astor (sorry Dave!) and sent the following PR in, but she also noted "there are only 2 other women in [UCLICK's editorial group (over 60), and it's quite a switch to go from magazine gag cartoons to editorials (although I'm still doing mag cartoons mostly)! I'm hugely enjoying the challenge, but haven't gotten much feedback yet." So check her out on Slate (which actually offers you the opportunity to "Buy Donna Barstow for your Web, wireless or print publication." Is this the next step in cartooning?
She's also got a new New Yorker blog, "Why I did It".
Editorial Cartoonist Donna Barstow Brings Fresh, Original Voice to UCLICK® Website GoComics.com
Kansas City, MO (February 24, 2009) - Editorial cartoonist and acclaimed blogger Donna Barstow is bringing her signature style to GoComics.com, the popular Uclick comic strip and editorial cartoon portal that is home to some of the nation’s most renowned cartoonists.
Barstow’s new feature will update two to three times per week, putting on full display the unique commentary that has made her cartoons a hit on the pages of widely-read newspapers and periodicals such as Parade, The New Yorker, Harvard Business Review, the Los Angeles Times, and Glamour, among others. She has 2 books in print of cartoons for women, and her cartoon on food has run for several years in mainstream and alternative papers, including Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Philadelphia Inquirer, Salt Lake Tribune, Albany Times Union, Pasadena Weekly, and more.
Barstow approaches her job as an editorial cartoonist in a way that differs from the political myopia that sometimes dominates the field.
“I try to see more of the positive in the news,” said Barstow. “It’s important to have a point of view, but does it have to be fatalistic? I try and bring light to a subject even though I might loathe it.”
While the focus of Barstow’s feature will usually fall on politics, the cartoonist expects a large dose of pop culture to work its way into the mix as well, all filtered through the lens of her own perspective.
“Living in Hollywood, I can’t help but be influenced by entertainment, and yes, sadly, the drama of it all,” said Barstow. “I’m originally from the East Coast, so I definitely see the conflict and layers in East vs. West coast culture! It’s a challenge I enjoy, letting my opinions be known.”
Barstow joins a star-studded lineup of editorial cartoonists on GoComics.com. The site features 27 Pulitzer Prize winners, including Pat Oliphant, Mike Luckovich, Matt Davies, David Horsey, Mike Ramirez and more.
“Donna paints the world in shades most of us don’t even consider,” said Douglas Edwards, Uclick CEO. “She brings an original point of view and an instantly recognizable cartooning style to her work, not to mention her brilliant wit. She’s a great fit for the GoComics community.”
Check out Donna Barstow’s cartoons at GoComics.com/DonnaBarstow.
GoComics.com is owned and operated by digital entertainment provider Uclick, America's #1 provider of comics on the web and on mobile phones.
About UCLICK:
UCLICK® is the leading digital entertainment provider of humor, comic strips, manga, graphic novels, editorial cartoons, and other content for desktop, web and mobile phones. Uclick is also the leading creator and distributor of crosswords, and other word and number puzzles. Partners featuring Uclick content include the leading consumer portals Yahoo!, MSNBC.com, New York Times, Slate.com, washingtonpost.com, CNN, USA Today, and AOL. Uclick features include the top brand franchises Garfield, Doonesbury, Calvin and Hobbes, Paul Frank, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, TOKYOPOP, USA Today, Pat Sajak, Wyland, and many more. Uclick creative content and services are available through the GoComics.com website, U.S. mobile phone operators, the iTunes App Store, and other distributors worldwide. UCLICK, LLC is a division of Andrews McMeel Universal, the leading newspaper syndicate and publisher of humor books and calendars in North America.
For more information on Uclick, visit www.uclick.com.
She's also got a new New Yorker blog, "Why I did It".
Editorial Cartoonist Donna Barstow Brings Fresh, Original Voice to UCLICK® Website GoComics.com
Kansas City, MO (February 24, 2009) - Editorial cartoonist and acclaimed blogger Donna Barstow is bringing her signature style to GoComics.com, the popular Uclick comic strip and editorial cartoon portal that is home to some of the nation’s most renowned cartoonists.
Barstow’s new feature will update two to three times per week, putting on full display the unique commentary that has made her cartoons a hit on the pages of widely-read newspapers and periodicals such as Parade, The New Yorker, Harvard Business Review, the Los Angeles Times, and Glamour, among others. She has 2 books in print of cartoons for women, and her cartoon on food has run for several years in mainstream and alternative papers, including Minneapolis Star-Tribune, Philadelphia Inquirer, Salt Lake Tribune, Albany Times Union, Pasadena Weekly, and more.
Barstow approaches her job as an editorial cartoonist in a way that differs from the political myopia that sometimes dominates the field.
“I try to see more of the positive in the news,” said Barstow. “It’s important to have a point of view, but does it have to be fatalistic? I try and bring light to a subject even though I might loathe it.”
While the focus of Barstow’s feature will usually fall on politics, the cartoonist expects a large dose of pop culture to work its way into the mix as well, all filtered through the lens of her own perspective.
“Living in Hollywood, I can’t help but be influenced by entertainment, and yes, sadly, the drama of it all,” said Barstow. “I’m originally from the East Coast, so I definitely see the conflict and layers in East vs. West coast culture! It’s a challenge I enjoy, letting my opinions be known.”
Barstow joins a star-studded lineup of editorial cartoonists on GoComics.com. The site features 27 Pulitzer Prize winners, including Pat Oliphant, Mike Luckovich, Matt Davies, David Horsey, Mike Ramirez and more.
“Donna paints the world in shades most of us don’t even consider,” said Douglas Edwards, Uclick CEO. “She brings an original point of view and an instantly recognizable cartooning style to her work, not to mention her brilliant wit. She’s a great fit for the GoComics community.”
Check out Donna Barstow’s cartoons at GoComics.com/DonnaBarstow.
GoComics.com is owned and operated by digital entertainment provider Uclick, America's #1 provider of comics on the web and on mobile phones.
About UCLICK:
UCLICK® is the leading digital entertainment provider of humor, comic strips, manga, graphic novels, editorial cartoons, and other content for desktop, web and mobile phones. Uclick is also the leading creator and distributor of crosswords, and other word and number puzzles. Partners featuring Uclick content include the leading consumer portals Yahoo!, MSNBC.com, New York Times, Slate.com, washingtonpost.com, CNN, USA Today, and AOL. Uclick features include the top brand franchises Garfield, Doonesbury, Calvin and Hobbes, Paul Frank, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, TOKYOPOP, USA Today, Pat Sajak, Wyland, and many more. Uclick creative content and services are available through the GoComics.com website, U.S. mobile phone operators, the iTunes App Store, and other distributors worldwide. UCLICK, LLC is a division of Andrews McMeel Universal, the leading newspaper syndicate and publisher of humor books and calendars in North America.
For more information on Uclick, visit www.uclick.com.
Monday, March 30, 2009
OT: Cartooning in Africa book now available
I saw John Lent yesterday and got a copy of his new book, Cartooning in Africa. It's an edited volume of essays on Africa as a whole, Angola, Algeria, Cameroon, Egypt, Kenya, Mozambique, Nigeria, Southern Africa, South Africa, Tunisia and Tanzania. Here's the description lifted from Amazon's site:
Product Description
This volume documents from historical and contemporary perspectives, the situations, trends and issues of cartooning in a number of African countries, and profiles the individuals, forms and phenomena that stand out. All types of cartooning are covered, including comic books, comic strips, gag and political cartoons, and humour magazines.
Product Details
* Paperback: 383 pages
* Publisher: Hampton Press (October 2008)
* Language: English
* ISBN-10: 1572735546
* ISBN-13: 978-1572735545
Product Description
This volume documents from historical and contemporary perspectives, the situations, trends and issues of cartooning in a number of African countries, and profiles the individuals, forms and phenomena that stand out. All types of cartooning are covered, including comic books, comic strips, gag and political cartoons, and humour magazines.
Product Details
* Paperback: 383 pages
* Publisher: Hampton Press (October 2008)
* Language: English
* ISBN-10: 1572735546
* ISBN-13: 978-1572735545
Malaria Moe cartoons on Flickr
My colleague at the Medical Museum put up a bunch of scans of World War 2 Malaria Moe propaganda cartoons on Flickr today. The artist, Frank Mack, later went on to work for Ripley's Believe It Or Not.
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