Saturday, May 02, 2009
Free Comic Book Day - it's time to hit the streets
The tag below this will take you to our earlier posts about who's signing where. I'll be checking out Fantom Comics in Tenleytown and a couple of the Big Planets.
Friday, May 01, 2009
RFK Journalism Awards reception report
I'm posting this because my wife thinks it's cool.
Last night, the RFK Journalism Awards had a reception for we (us?) judges downtown. Of the cartoon judges, half of us made it - namely Nick Galifianakis and me. The food was excellent and it was a pleasure to talk to Nick and the photo judges (who did their judging the same day we did, but were seemingly more contentious). The part Cathy thinks is cool is that Mrs. Ethel Kennedy was able to stop in and made a point of greeting everyone and shaking their hand and thanking them - which I thought was very nice. To avoid this being a totally content-free post, I will say that she recommended reading The Great Deluge: Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans, and the Mississippi Gulf Coast by Douglas Brinkley which seems like a good idea to me too.
The actual award will be given to Jack Ohman later this month.
Last night, the RFK Journalism Awards had a reception for we (us?) judges downtown. Of the cartoon judges, half of us made it - namely Nick Galifianakis and me. The food was excellent and it was a pleasure to talk to Nick and the photo judges (who did their judging the same day we did, but were seemingly more contentious). The part Cathy thinks is cool is that Mrs. Ethel Kennedy was able to stop in and made a point of greeting everyone and shaking their hand and thanking them - which I thought was very nice. To avoid this being a totally content-free post, I will say that she recommended reading The Great Deluge: Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans, and the Mississippi Gulf Coast by Douglas Brinkley which seems like a good idea to me too.
The actual award will be given to Jack Ohman later this month.
David Coverly and Jef Mallett's visit to Walter Reed Hospital detailed
I never hear about this in the base newspaper - sigh. For Jef (Frazz) Mallett and David (Speed Bump) Coverly's visit to Walter Reed Hospital and Bethesda Naval Hospital, see "From the funny page to just off the frontline: Lansing cartoonist takes trip to sketch for wounded soldiers," by Bill Castanier, Lansing City Pulse (April 29 2009).
Wash Post on Wolverine
See "So Violent, and Yet So Blhttp://www.blogger.com/post-create.g?blogID=34955617oodless," By John Anderson, Special to The Washington Post, Friday, May 1, 2009.
Wolverine's history is so convuluted now that it's impenetrable to reason, as when A.O. Scott in "I, Mutant, Red in Face and Claw," says, "“X-Men Origins: Wolverine” will most likely manage to cash in on the popularity of the earlier episodes, but it is the latest evidence that the superhero movie is suffering from serious imaginative fatigue. A twist at the end that gives poor Wolverine a bad case of amnesia — turning him into a kind of Jason Bourne with sideburns — is a virtual admission that nothing terribly interesting has been learned about the character. He forgets his origins before the movie devoted to their exposition is even over. It won’t take you much longer." He's actually got it backwards by blaming the movie - in the comic books, Wolverine had amnesia which had become necessary as various writers added parasitical bits to a fairly basic origin story that couldn't support them.
Wolverine's history is so convuluted now that it's impenetrable to reason, as when A.O. Scott in "I, Mutant, Red in Face and Claw," says, "“X-Men Origins: Wolverine” will most likely manage to cash in on the popularity of the earlier episodes, but it is the latest evidence that the superhero movie is suffering from serious imaginative fatigue. A twist at the end that gives poor Wolverine a bad case of amnesia — turning him into a kind of Jason Bourne with sideburns — is a virtual admission that nothing terribly interesting has been learned about the character. He forgets his origins before the movie devoted to their exposition is even over. It won’t take you much longer." He's actually got it backwards by blaming the movie - in the comic books, Wolverine had amnesia which had become necessary as various writers added parasitical bits to a fairly basic origin story that couldn't support them.
Jen Sorenson interview on Comic Riffs
See "The Interview: 'Slowpoke' Alt-Cartoonist Jen Sorensen," By Michael Cavna, May 1, 2009. Jen's always good. I buy her new book at SPX every year, even if I already have it because it's not really new. Because she appreciates it.
UPDATE: A version of this apparently runs in Sunday's physical paper - The Back Story: Sister, Can You Spare a Smile?, Washington Post May 3, 2009
UPDATE: A version of this apparently runs in Sunday's physical paper - The Back Story: Sister, Can You Spare a Smile?, Washington Post May 3, 2009
David Hagen's new Zazzle site
David Hagen's Gallery at Zazzle went live yesterday, and you can buy t-shirts by the man who devised the ComicsDC logo spontaneously, out of the goodness of his heart, without knowing me from Adam. Personally I'm getting the Drop Everything and Read shirt. The whole family might be getting it.
Last Chance: Free Bo Nanas Mini-comic for Free Comic Book Day
John Kovaleski writes in to inform us:
Only two more days to get a free copy of the Bo Nanas mini-comic, "TheBlustery Day." It's all in honor of Free Comic Book Day (Saturday. May 2), All you have to do is e-mail me and I'll send you a PDF copy. (There's ateeny bit of assembly required, but I know you can handle it.) So what are you waiting for? Get your copy today! Offer ends tomorrow!
Also, on Free Comic Book Day I'll be at Comix Connection in York, PA, 10:00 to 2:00. I'll have the usual books and fun and FREE signed Bo prints.
As always you can find out too much about me on my blog: http://kovaleski.wordpress.com/
Enjoy Free Comic Book Day - the greatest holiday of them all.
Only two more days to get a free copy of the Bo Nanas mini-comic, "TheBlustery Day." It's all in honor of Free Comic Book Day (Saturday. May 2), All you have to do is e-mail me and I'll send you a PDF copy. (There's ateeny bit of assembly required, but I know you can handle it.) So what are you waiting for? Get your copy today! Offer ends tomorrow!
Also, on Free Comic Book Day I'll be at Comix Connection in York, PA, 10:00 to 2:00. I'll have the usual books and fun and FREE signed Bo prints.
As always you can find out too much about me on my blog: http://kovaleski.wordpress.com/
Enjoy Free Comic Book Day - the greatest holiday of them all.
Thursday, April 30, 2009
Zadzooks on Wolverine comics
See "Zadzooks: Wolverine comic book reviews; X-Men's Wolverine and Logan explored," By Joseph Szadkowski, Washington Times April 30, 2009. I actually bought my first Wolverine comic in perhaps a decade - the faux manga one that Marvel and Del Ray put out this week, just out of curiosity.
And I think I missed at least one Bennett's best:
Scalped and Viking for last week: "Bennett's Best for the week of April 19," By Greg Bennett, April 25, 2009 Zadzooks blog.
Dylan Dog and Paul Pope from two weeks ago: "Bennett's Best for the week of April 12," April 16, 2009 Zadzooks blog.
And I think I missed at least one Bennett's best:
Scalped and Viking for last week: "Bennett's Best for the week of April 19," By Greg Bennett, April 25, 2009 Zadzooks blog.
Dylan Dog and Paul Pope from two weeks ago: "Bennett's Best for the week of April 12," April 16, 2009 Zadzooks blog.
Jim Dougan and Molly Lawless at Fantom Comics
Jim writes in self-deprecatingly,
I'm going to be at Fantom Comics in Tenleytown this Saturday from 12-6ish along with my occasional collaborator but more importantly fabulous cartoonist in her own right, the inimitable Molly Lawless! We're kind of a local opening act of sorts, because the "headliner" is REX MUNDI writer/creator Arvid Nelson!
More details here:
http://www.fantomcomics.com/2009/04/join_fantom_comics_for_free_co.html
And a brief article from the Express that rightfullly focuses on REX MUNDI:
http://www.expressnightout.com/content/2009/04/slim_volumes_big_fantasies_free_comic_bo.php
I'll have a laptop to show SAM & LILAH, copies of CRAZY PAPERS and NO FORMULA and maybe my controversial collaboration with Molly HOW I LOST MY S#?! AT THE APPLE STORE, Molly will have copies of INFANDUM...AD INFINITUM, I'm sure Fantom will have a ton of REX MUNDI, and we'll all have a good time!
I plan on being there. I've already got Jim's books (somewhere in a pile, sigh...) and perhaps Molly's, but I'll buy the Rex Mundi books which Arion Berger in the Express liked quite a bit.
I'm going to be at Fantom Comics in Tenleytown this Saturday from 12-6ish along with my occasional collaborator but more importantly fabulous cartoonist in her own right, the inimitable Molly Lawless! We're kind of a local opening act of sorts, because the "headliner" is REX MUNDI writer/creator Arvid Nelson!
More details here:
http://www.fantomcomics.com/2009/04/join_fantom_comics_for_free_co.html
And a brief article from the Express that rightfullly focuses on REX MUNDI:
http://www.expressnightout.com/content/2009/04/slim_volumes_big_fantasies_free_comic_bo.php
I'll have a laptop to show SAM & LILAH, copies of CRAZY PAPERS and NO FORMULA and maybe my controversial collaboration with Molly HOW I LOST MY S#?! AT THE APPLE STORE, Molly will have copies of INFANDUM...AD INFINITUM, I'm sure Fantom will have a ton of REX MUNDI, and we'll all have a good time!
I plan on being there. I've already got Jim's books (somewhere in a pile, sigh...) and perhaps Molly's, but I'll buy the Rex Mundi books which Arion Berger in the Express liked quite a bit.
Kate Feiffer interview
She was at Politics and Prose today with her father Jules Feiffer, and will be in Old Town Alexandria tomorrow. See "Big Woof: Kate Feiffer's 'Which Puppy?'," by Express contributor Stephen M. Deusner, Express April 30, 2009.
Also as we've noted, they'll be appearing tomorrow:
We’d be thrilled if you would mention that Jules & Kate Feiffer will be appearing at Hooray For Books! 1555 King St., Alexandria, VA on Friday, May 1 at 7 p.m. We’ll have copies of “The Explainers” and “Great Comic Book Heroes” on hand.
Also as we've noted, they'll be appearing tomorrow:
We’d be thrilled if you would mention that Jules & Kate Feiffer will be appearing at Hooray For Books! 1555 King St., Alexandria, VA on Friday, May 1 at 7 p.m. We’ll have copies of “The Explainers” and “Great Comic Book Heroes” on hand.
Weingarten's Chatalogical Humor chat on some comics
Comments on comics from the past two weeks including Chatological Humor: Denim Friendly Since 2001; Talking Susan Boyle (UPDATED 4.24.09) aka Tuesdays With Moron, Gene Weingarten, Washington Post Staff Writer, Tuesday, April 21, 2009; 12:00 PM.
--------------
What were they thinking?: So the comics editors brought back "Judge Parker." Okay, fine, I'm cool with that. I was wondering if Sophie was going to make the cheerleading squad. But to make room, they chose a strip to move to the KidsPost page, and the strip they chose was... "Agnes"? Um, has anyone involved with this decision actually read "Agnes"? It's often incomprehensibly edgy, certainly for the KidsPost demographic.
I have a ten-year-old daughter who likes to read some of the comics, and I can tell you without a doubt which strip most appeals to her: "Baby Blues." It manages to be truly funny but also understandable to kids. If the point of this exercise is to get more kids to look at KidsPost, they should really rethink the choice of strip.
Could you go slap the comics editors around for me, Gene?
Gene Weingarten: I am not allow to slap comics editors.
_______________________
I am not one of your sycophant groupies...: I want you to know how utterly reprehensible it is that your weekly harangue against Hagar the Horrible, Beetle Bailey, Dennis the Menace, Family Circus et al should result in your comic strip being picked up by a syndicate. Many of us cut our teeth and learned how to read from those very strips and what you don't seem to understand is that not every comic has to appeal to the tastes of a 60 year old, old fart like yourself.
So go enjoy your ill gotten fruit but know that some of us recognize the dublicity of it all especially picking on poor little PJ -- I mean heck, he's just a little kid !
Gene Weingarten: I think P.J. is something like 48 years old.
_______________________
[apropos of a previous discussion of what makes a hero]
Krypt, ON: I find it interesting that Superman would not be considered a hero here for doing good since he risks nothing and expends, for him, little effort, but would be because he does it on his own time. Sometimes. When he isn't defrauding a newspaper. Which may be the real reason newspapers are going under.
Gene Weingarten: Whoa, whoa. He is a hero. It's not a question necessarily of what you risk, it's what you sacrifice. He sacrifices privacy. He sacrifices the ability to be a fully realized person. He is definitely a hero.
Rockville, Md.: Gene,
Is there something wrong with me because I was incredibly turned on by seeing Janis topless in yesterday's Arlo and Janis? I'm a happily married 39 year old guy if it makes a difference.
washingtonpost.com: Arlo and Janis, (April 20)
Gene Weingarten: I've said it before. Arlo and Janis is the hottest comic strip maybe ever.
_______________________
Funny Pa, PR: Since you're not allowed to bring this up: the April 17 Lio was genuinely unreadable at the size the Post printed it. The only way to make sense of it was to work backwards: there was a staggering drunk spider, so the spiderweb must have had something intoxicating in it.
At first there didn't seem to be anything in the middle of the web at all. Prolonged close study revealed what I guess was a beer can. Figuring this out was not worth the eyestrain.
Gene Weingarten: This was absolutely true. It's how I had to read it to get the joke. Liz, can you link to this? Online, it will be bigger; but imagine trying to figure it out at an inch high.
and a 'new' contest, although Cavna's been doing this off and on at Comic Riffs, usually with editorial cartoons.
Chatological Humor: Swine Flu Fever; Quiet Cars; Cat Calls (UPDATED 4.30.09), Gene Weingarten, Washington Post Staff Writer, Wednesday, April 29, 2009; 12:00 PM
Several weeks ago, Chatological Humor discontinued its regular Comic Pick of the Week feature, on the theory that it would be unseemly for me to critique comic strips if I were soon to be the author of one. I promised to find a replacement feature, and here it is. It's going to be reader-generated, and the first submission is by Justin Stone.
That's what we're doing. Rewrite dialog balloons for any current comic strip; you can either post your results on a Web site like flickr or Facebook, and send me a link, or you can send it right to me at weingarten(at)washpost.com. Important: You must make your dialogue fit the existing balloons. As Justin discovered, this can be hard. Comic-strip writing is Pinteresque.
Gene Weingarten: Ooh, this just in. Chatological Humor might have had a beneficial, tangible effect in the world.
Last week, a chatter noted, correctly, that "Agnes" was a tone-deaf joice as the comic strip chosen to appear on the KidsPost page. Very, very true: It's excellently cynical, even nihilistic, with big words and complex themes.
Someone apparently listened. I've just heard that it goes back on the comics page, and will be replaced in KidsPost by Frazz. Much better choice. Frazz or Big Nate would have been my choices.
I disagree here, as did some other Comic Riffs commenters. Garfield or Peanuts would have been a better choice. My 11-year-old daughter doesn't read Frazz.
--------------
What were they thinking?: So the comics editors brought back "Judge Parker." Okay, fine, I'm cool with that. I was wondering if Sophie was going to make the cheerleading squad. But to make room, they chose a strip to move to the KidsPost page, and the strip they chose was... "Agnes"? Um, has anyone involved with this decision actually read "Agnes"? It's often incomprehensibly edgy, certainly for the KidsPost demographic.
I have a ten-year-old daughter who likes to read some of the comics, and I can tell you without a doubt which strip most appeals to her: "Baby Blues." It manages to be truly funny but also understandable to kids. If the point of this exercise is to get more kids to look at KidsPost, they should really rethink the choice of strip.
Could you go slap the comics editors around for me, Gene?
Gene Weingarten: I am not allow to slap comics editors.
_______________________
I am not one of your sycophant groupies...: I want you to know how utterly reprehensible it is that your weekly harangue against Hagar the Horrible, Beetle Bailey, Dennis the Menace, Family Circus et al should result in your comic strip being picked up by a syndicate. Many of us cut our teeth and learned how to read from those very strips and what you don't seem to understand is that not every comic has to appeal to the tastes of a 60 year old, old fart like yourself.
So go enjoy your ill gotten fruit but know that some of us recognize the dublicity of it all especially picking on poor little PJ -- I mean heck, he's just a little kid !
Gene Weingarten: I think P.J. is something like 48 years old.
_______________________
[apropos of a previous discussion of what makes a hero]
Krypt, ON: I find it interesting that Superman would not be considered a hero here for doing good since he risks nothing and expends, for him, little effort, but would be because he does it on his own time. Sometimes. When he isn't defrauding a newspaper. Which may be the real reason newspapers are going under.
Gene Weingarten: Whoa, whoa. He is a hero. It's not a question necessarily of what you risk, it's what you sacrifice. He sacrifices privacy. He sacrifices the ability to be a fully realized person. He is definitely a hero.
Rockville, Md.: Gene,
Is there something wrong with me because I was incredibly turned on by seeing Janis topless in yesterday's Arlo and Janis? I'm a happily married 39 year old guy if it makes a difference.
washingtonpost.com: Arlo and Janis, (April 20)
Gene Weingarten: I've said it before. Arlo and Janis is the hottest comic strip maybe ever.
_______________________
Funny Pa, PR: Since you're not allowed to bring this up: the April 17 Lio was genuinely unreadable at the size the Post printed it. The only way to make sense of it was to work backwards: there was a staggering drunk spider, so the spiderweb must have had something intoxicating in it.
At first there didn't seem to be anything in the middle of the web at all. Prolonged close study revealed what I guess was a beer can. Figuring this out was not worth the eyestrain.
Gene Weingarten: This was absolutely true. It's how I had to read it to get the joke. Liz, can you link to this? Online, it will be bigger; but imagine trying to figure it out at an inch high.
and a 'new' contest, although Cavna's been doing this off and on at Comic Riffs, usually with editorial cartoons.
Chatological Humor: Swine Flu Fever; Quiet Cars; Cat Calls (UPDATED 4.30.09), Gene Weingarten, Washington Post Staff Writer, Wednesday, April 29, 2009; 12:00 PM
Several weeks ago, Chatological Humor discontinued its regular Comic Pick of the Week feature, on the theory that it would be unseemly for me to critique comic strips if I were soon to be the author of one. I promised to find a replacement feature, and here it is. It's going to be reader-generated, and the first submission is by Justin Stone.
That's what we're doing. Rewrite dialog balloons for any current comic strip; you can either post your results on a Web site like flickr or Facebook, and send me a link, or you can send it right to me at weingarten(at)washpost.com. Important: You must make your dialogue fit the existing balloons. As Justin discovered, this can be hard. Comic-strip writing is Pinteresque.
Gene Weingarten: Ooh, this just in. Chatological Humor might have had a beneficial, tangible effect in the world.
Last week, a chatter noted, correctly, that "Agnes" was a tone-deaf joice as the comic strip chosen to appear on the KidsPost page. Very, very true: It's excellently cynical, even nihilistic, with big words and complex themes.
Someone apparently listened. I've just heard that it goes back on the comics page, and will be replaced in KidsPost by Frazz. Much better choice. Frazz or Big Nate would have been my choices.
I disagree here, as did some other Comic Riffs commenters. Garfield or Peanuts would have been a better choice. My 11-year-old daughter doesn't read Frazz.
Free Comic Book Day at Big Planet Comics PR
Free Comic Book Day is this Saturday, May 2nd, at Big Planet Comics!
We’ll be open from 11AM-6PM and we’ll have piles of free comics from Marvel, DC, Dark Horse, Image, Oni, Top Shelf, and many more! Some highlights include the first part of Green Lantern’s Blackest Night written by Geoff Johns and a new Avengers comic written by Brian Bendis.
We have special pre-packs for the kids.
Stop by, say hi; we'd love to see you!
--
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
We’ll be open from 11AM-6PM and we’ll have piles of free comics from Marvel, DC, Dark Horse, Image, Oni, Top Shelf, and many more! Some highlights include the first part of Green Lantern’s Blackest Night written by Geoff Johns and a new Avengers comic written by Brian Bendis.
We have special pre-packs for the kids.
Stop by, say hi; we'd love to see you!
--
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
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Free Comic Book Day "not available in any store" freebies
Hogan's Alley, a magazine I infrequently write for, but really like says:
Even in the depths of the Great Recession, the best things in life are free! Mark your calendars for this Saturday, May 2: Free Comic Book Day. Send us an e-mail ON THAT DATE with your mailing address, and we’ll send you a FREE issue of Hogan’s Alley! No obligations, no strings attached; the only thing it will cost you is several hours as you enjoy the issue. (This offer is valid for all U.S. residents, whether you’re a current subscriber or not.) Remember the one condition —we must receive your e-mail request on Free Comic Book Day (May 2), not the day before or the day after. (Before and after that date, any requests for freebies will receive only scorn and derision.) Feel free to pass this offer along to anyone you know who might enjoy Hogan’s Alley! [their email seems to be hoganmag@gmail.com]
TwoMorrows revolutionized fanzine publishing with Jack Kirby Collector and mags with lots and lots of creator interviews. They say:
TwoMorrows Publishing, in its 15th year of celebrating the art and history of comic books and LEGO, is commemorating Free Comic Book Day by again giving away publications online at www.twomorrows.com.
From May 1-3, TwoMorrows will be offering free complete digital issues of their various magazines for download, so customers can sample their publications. This limited time offer includes issues of their current magazine line-up:
ALTER EGO (focusing on Golden and Silver Age comics)
BACK ISSUE! (celebrating comic books of the 1970s, 1980s, and today)
THE JACK KIRBY COLLECTOR (documenting the life and career of the "King" of comics)
DRAW! (the professional "how-to" magazine on comics and cartooning), and
BRICKJOURNAL (the ultimate resource for Lego enthusiasts)
Also featured are past favorites ROUGH STUFF and WRITE NOW!, which are still available as back issues. Digital Editions normally retail for $2.95-$3.95 per download, but are free over the three-day Free Comic Book Day weekend, to encourage more readers to try them out, and consider ordering them at their local comic book shop.
TwoMorrows is also making available free downloads of previous years' FCBD publications: COMICS GO HOLLYWOOD (revealing secrets behind fans' favorite on-screen heroes, and what's involved in taking a character from the comics page to the big screen) and COMICS 101 (featuring how-to and history lessons from top comics professionals).
All these publications are available as free downloadable Digital Editions just by logging in and adding them to the shopping cart, and checking out at www.twomorrows.com.
Publisher John Morrow explained, "With the economy down, every penny counts, and these Digital Editions are an economical way for us to let readers sample our stuff, and see if it piques their interest. If so, I hope they'll add new issues to their local retailer's pull list, and get older issues direct from us if their retailer doesn't stock our publications."
Even in the depths of the Great Recession, the best things in life are free! Mark your calendars for this Saturday, May 2: Free Comic Book Day. Send us an e-mail ON THAT DATE with your mailing address, and we’ll send you a FREE issue of Hogan’s Alley! No obligations, no strings attached; the only thing it will cost you is several hours as you enjoy the issue. (This offer is valid for all U.S. residents, whether you’re a current subscriber or not.) Remember the one condition —we must receive your e-mail request on Free Comic Book Day (May 2), not the day before or the day after. (Before and after that date, any requests for freebies will receive only scorn and derision.) Feel free to pass this offer along to anyone you know who might enjoy Hogan’s Alley! [their email seems to be hoganmag@gmail.com]
TwoMorrows revolutionized fanzine publishing with Jack Kirby Collector and mags with lots and lots of creator interviews. They say:
TwoMorrows Publishing, in its 15th year of celebrating the art and history of comic books and LEGO, is commemorating Free Comic Book Day by again giving away publications online at www.twomorrows.com.
From May 1-3, TwoMorrows will be offering free complete digital issues of their various magazines for download, so customers can sample their publications. This limited time offer includes issues of their current magazine line-up:
ALTER EGO (focusing on Golden and Silver Age comics)
BACK ISSUE! (celebrating comic books of the 1970s, 1980s, and today)
THE JACK KIRBY COLLECTOR (documenting the life and career of the "King" of comics)
DRAW! (the professional "how-to" magazine on comics and cartooning), and
BRICKJOURNAL (the ultimate resource for Lego enthusiasts)
Also featured are past favorites ROUGH STUFF and WRITE NOW!, which are still available as back issues. Digital Editions normally retail for $2.95-$3.95 per download, but are free over the three-day Free Comic Book Day weekend, to encourage more readers to try them out, and consider ordering them at their local comic book shop.
TwoMorrows is also making available free downloads of previous years' FCBD publications: COMICS GO HOLLYWOOD (revealing secrets behind fans' favorite on-screen heroes, and what's involved in taking a character from the comics page to the big screen) and COMICS 101 (featuring how-to and history lessons from top comics professionals).
All these publications are available as free downloadable Digital Editions just by logging in and adding them to the shopping cart, and checking out at www.twomorrows.com.
Publisher John Morrow explained, "With the economy down, every penny counts, and these Digital Editions are an economical way for us to let readers sample our stuff, and see if it piques their interest. If so, I hope they'll add new issues to their local retailer's pull list, and get older issues direct from us if their retailer doesn't stock our publications."
Glen Weldon on the joys of Free Comic Book Day
See "Free Comic Books: Say it Soft and it's Almost Like Praying," by Glen Weldon, National Public Radio's Monkey See blog April 29 2009.
Big Planet Comics Bethesda will have premade packages of kids and adult comics as well as individual issues. They also have a sale table which has some good stuff on it like Love & Rockets collections.
Big Planet Comics Bethesda will have premade packages of kids and adult comics as well as individual issues. They also have a sale table which has some good stuff on it like Love & Rockets collections.
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Glen Weldon on A Drifting Life manga and Shuster porn
See "Books We Like: Memoir Of A Manga Master," by Glen Weldon, NPR.org, April 24, 2009 on A Drifting Life By Yoshihiro Tatsumi; translated by Adrian Tomine.
For Shuster porn info read, "Faster Than a Speeding Bullwhip: Superman Creator's Kinktastic Art," by Glen Weldon, National Public Radio's Monkey See blog (April 15 2009).
And for Craig Yoe's own take, you can listen to him on Fresh Air - "The Sexy 'Secret Identity' Of Superman's Creator," National Public Radio's Fresh Air from WHYY, April 23, 2009.
For Shuster porn info read, "Faster Than a Speeding Bullwhip: Superman Creator's Kinktastic Art," by Glen Weldon, National Public Radio's Monkey See blog (April 15 2009).
And for Craig Yoe's own take, you can listen to him on Fresh Air - "The Sexy 'Secret Identity' Of Superman's Creator," National Public Radio's Fresh Air from WHYY, April 23, 2009.
Free Comic Book Day at Cards, Comics and Collectibles PR
Straight press release here, but two excellent creators.
Free Comic Book Day at Cards, Comics and Collectibles
From the Store that Brings You the Baltimore Comic-Con...
REISTERSTOWN, MD - April 28, 2009 - In honor of 2009's Free Comic Book Day promotion, Cards, Comics and Collectibles of Reisterstown, MD will be celebrating along with the rest of the nation on May 2, 2009. Come and meet artist Frank Cho (Hulk, Mighty Avengers) from 1pm-4pm, and artist Steve Conley (Star Trek) from 11am-7pm!
FCBD Special -- modern back-issues are only one dollar! Oh yeah, and we're also giving away free comics while they last! Our hours for Free Comic Book Day are
11am-7pm.
Come help us celebrate our 25th year!
Free Comic Book Day at Cards, Comics and Collectibles
From the Store that Brings You the Baltimore Comic-Con...
REISTERSTOWN, MD - April 28, 2009 - In honor of 2009's Free Comic Book Day promotion, Cards, Comics and Collectibles of Reisterstown, MD will be celebrating along with the rest of the nation on May 2, 2009. Come and meet artist Frank Cho (Hulk, Mighty Avengers) from 1pm-4pm, and artist Steve Conley (Star Trek) from 11am-7pm!
FCBD Special -- modern back-issues are only one dollar! Oh yeah, and we're also giving away free comics while they last! Our hours for Free Comic Book Day are
11am-7pm.
Come help us celebrate our 25th year!
Comic Riffs on characters crossing between strips
I'd noted this and planned on posting on it, but Michael beat me to it - "Barrel of Laughs: Why Dennis Is Buck-Nekkid In TWO Strips Today," by Michael Cavna, April 28, 2009.
College Cartoonist of the Year awarded last week in DC
See "Winning 'Cartoonist of the Year' is not peanuts," Derek Simons, University News 4/27/09.
The article begins, "University News cartoonist and illustrator Grant Snider walked onto the National Press Club stage Friday evening in Washington, D.C. to accept the Charles M. Schulz award as College Cartoonist of the Year from the Scripps Howard Foundation and a $10,000 check."
The article begins, "University News cartoonist and illustrator Grant Snider walked onto the National Press Club stage Friday evening in Washington, D.C. to accept the Charles M. Schulz award as College Cartoonist of the Year from the Scripps Howard Foundation and a $10,000 check."
Monday, April 27, 2009
Express on Yoe on Shuster on porn
Another one that's late, but you can still buy Craig's book, signed I'd guess at Big Planet and Politics & Prose. See "Super Secret: Craig Yoe Uncovers Joe Shuster's 'Secret Identity'," Written by Express contributor Stephen M. Deusner, April 23 2009.
Shawn Martinbrough had an Art Whino show last week
Due to my lack of email access in Cleveland, I missed posting this in time to be of use to you, but here it is for the historical record (thanks to Bruce Guthrie):
Black and White
The Art of 3 local artists
Tyler Matthew Oyer, Shawn Martinbrough and Anthony Patrick Jones II
Saturday April 25th
6pm-Midnight
Black and White is a show bringing together three very different genres of art and effectively taking a cross section of formal, comic book, and abstract
styles that each present very different approaches to art that formally relies solely on the positive and negative spatial tension between black and white.
Three separate series will be featured; "MEN" by Tyler Matthew Oyer, Black Ink Noir by Shawn Martinbrough, and Black Ink Abstract Series by Anthony Patrick Jones II. Together they will create an exhibition focused on the aesthetic and intrinsically dualistic elements of black and white compositions.
Saturday, April 25th, from 6pm – Midnight
Location:
173 Waterfront St.
National Harbor, MD 20745
The event is FREE and open to the public.
Shawn Martinbrough:
Shawn Martinbrough’s client list includes Coca Cola/POWERade, LucasArts, Playboy, Vibe, Bad Boy Entertainment, Black Enterprise, McGraw-Hill, Penguin Books and Milestone Media. The bulk of his work has been done for DC Comics, Vertigo and Marvel Comics, illustrating books and characters ranging from Batman to the X-Men.How to Draw Noir Comics, an instructional book based on Shawn’s high contrast noir style, was published by Watson Guptill/Random House and currently, he is illustrating Luke Cage Noir for Marvel Comics. Shawn’s work has been covered by USA Today, Architecture Magazine, The Washington Post, The Washington Times, The Washingtonian, National Public Radio, SIRIUS/XM Radio, Black Entertainment Television, Vibe, The Source, AintItCoolNews.com and others.
Tyler Matthew Oyer:
Tyler Matthew Oyer’s MEN series was conceived as an investigation of the displaced male form. This displacement is a result of two specific social trends; the increased attention to the presentation of masculinity, and also the anxieties society has when viewing male beauty. This examination reveals the awkwardness many people experience when utilizing traditionally female nuances to address the increasingly considered male body. For some, the pairing of beauty and man in the same phrase brings a sort of ungrounded discord. The social definition of masculinity has evolved over centuries, often switching roles and exceptions with its female complement. This suite of 8 paintings attempts to present the simplified androgynous form in a manner which strips the man of his social presumptions and showcases a stylistically stamped masculinity which encourages equally the male and female speculation of beauty.
Anthony Patrick Jones II:
Anthony Patrick Jones II is a native Washingtonian that found himself in the world of Art by chance. As a youth, he was a bit of an eccentric to family and friends that accepted his abilities, differences and his pursuit of self-discovery. Not any different from other children that dream of going to the moon while playing in a cardboard box in a room, or an architect, or even a Rock Star. It has translated into a continued journey of self-discovery. Of finding a purpose to why Art chooses an individual to follow through with an idea given unto them. In 1994 while in Frederick, Maryland the Rorschach choose Anthony, to embark on a testimony of works that would not come easy. This venture would prove to be challenging and also a personal crusade into the genre. Anthony became more focused on the scientific aspect of the Rorschach and less on the art form. Anthony and his family of Rorschach have shown themselves in galleries in New York, and Wisconsin. There have been several articles written about Anthony in such publications as the “Badger Harold”, “Madison Times” and the “Wisconsin State Journal”. During the early years, Anthony’s Rorschachs found themselves in the possession of individuals such as Chuck Close, Jan Frank, Carlos Santana, Christian Bale, Betsy Johnson, Simon Le Bon, Fab 5 Freddy, Spike Lee among others. Maintaining the integrity of the Rorschach, in order to create the symmetry effect, is to maintain the principles of ink onto paper followed by a fold of the paper in which the ink composition lays and the psyche does the rest.
# # #
Art Whino,llc
173 Waterfront St.
National Harbor, MD 20745
Office: 301.567.8210
Fax: 574.830.1651
www.ArtWhino.com
Black and White
The Art of 3 local artists
Tyler Matthew Oyer, Shawn Martinbrough and Anthony Patrick Jones II
Saturday April 25th
6pm-Midnight
Black and White is a show bringing together three very different genres of art and effectively taking a cross section of formal, comic book, and abstract
styles that each present very different approaches to art that formally relies solely on the positive and negative spatial tension between black and white.
Three separate series will be featured; "MEN" by Tyler Matthew Oyer, Black Ink Noir by Shawn Martinbrough, and Black Ink Abstract Series by Anthony Patrick Jones II. Together they will create an exhibition focused on the aesthetic and intrinsically dualistic elements of black and white compositions.
Saturday, April 25th, from 6pm – Midnight
Location:
173 Waterfront St.
National Harbor, MD 20745
The event is FREE and open to the public.
Shawn Martinbrough:
Shawn Martinbrough’s client list includes Coca Cola/POWERade, LucasArts, Playboy, Vibe, Bad Boy Entertainment, Black Enterprise, McGraw-Hill, Penguin Books and Milestone Media. The bulk of his work has been done for DC Comics, Vertigo and Marvel Comics, illustrating books and characters ranging from Batman to the X-Men.How to Draw Noir Comics, an instructional book based on Shawn’s high contrast noir style, was published by Watson Guptill/Random House and currently, he is illustrating Luke Cage Noir for Marvel Comics. Shawn’s work has been covered by USA Today, Architecture Magazine, The Washington Post, The Washington Times, The Washingtonian, National Public Radio, SIRIUS/XM Radio, Black Entertainment Television, Vibe, The Source, AintItCoolNews.com and others.
Tyler Matthew Oyer:
Tyler Matthew Oyer’s MEN series was conceived as an investigation of the displaced male form. This displacement is a result of two specific social trends; the increased attention to the presentation of masculinity, and also the anxieties society has when viewing male beauty. This examination reveals the awkwardness many people experience when utilizing traditionally female nuances to address the increasingly considered male body. For some, the pairing of beauty and man in the same phrase brings a sort of ungrounded discord. The social definition of masculinity has evolved over centuries, often switching roles and exceptions with its female complement. This suite of 8 paintings attempts to present the simplified androgynous form in a manner which strips the man of his social presumptions and showcases a stylistically stamped masculinity which encourages equally the male and female speculation of beauty.
Anthony Patrick Jones II:
Anthony Patrick Jones II is a native Washingtonian that found himself in the world of Art by chance. As a youth, he was a bit of an eccentric to family and friends that accepted his abilities, differences and his pursuit of self-discovery. Not any different from other children that dream of going to the moon while playing in a cardboard box in a room, or an architect, or even a Rock Star. It has translated into a continued journey of self-discovery. Of finding a purpose to why Art chooses an individual to follow through with an idea given unto them. In 1994 while in Frederick, Maryland the Rorschach choose Anthony, to embark on a testimony of works that would not come easy. This venture would prove to be challenging and also a personal crusade into the genre. Anthony became more focused on the scientific aspect of the Rorschach and less on the art form. Anthony and his family of Rorschach have shown themselves in galleries in New York, and Wisconsin. There have been several articles written about Anthony in such publications as the “Badger Harold”, “Madison Times” and the “Wisconsin State Journal”. During the early years, Anthony’s Rorschachs found themselves in the possession of individuals such as Chuck Close, Jan Frank, Carlos Santana, Christian Bale, Betsy Johnson, Simon Le Bon, Fab 5 Freddy, Spike Lee among others. Maintaining the integrity of the Rorschach, in order to create the symmetry effect, is to maintain the principles of ink onto paper followed by a fold of the paper in which the ink composition lays and the psyche does the rest.
# # #
Art Whino,llc
173 Waterfront St.
National Harbor, MD 20745
Office: 301.567.8210
Fax: 574.830.1651
www.ArtWhino.com
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