June 7: Capital Associates comic book convention

Free admission at the Dunn Loring fire dept. on June 7th from 10 am-3 pm. See www.capicons.com for details.

Onion's Up director interview and review

Up B+, by Tasha Robinson, Onion May 28, 2009 for the movie review, and for the interview which is much expanded from the paper version, "Pete Docter," by Tasha Robinson, Onion May 28, 2009.

QUICK REVIEWS FOR COMICS DUE WEDNESDAY 06-03-09

QUICK REVIEWS FOR COMICS DUE WEDNESDAY 06-03-09
By John Judy

32 STORIES: THE COMPLETE OPTIC NERVE DEFINITIVE EDITION HC written and drawn by Adrian Tomine. A sweet collection for fans of Tomine and his comics, mini- and other. A handsome addition to any bookshelf. Recommended.

AGENTS OF ATLAS #6 by Jeff Parker and Gabriel Hardman. At last, it’s family reunion time for Namora and her cousin, the Sub-Mariner. Aquatic awkwardness galore! Recommended!

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #596 by Joe Kelly and Paulo Siqueira. Spidey breaks and enters, mostly the former. Big Fight!

ASTRO CITY THE DARK AGE BOOK THREE #2 of 4 by Kurt Busiek and Brent Anderson. The saga of the Williams brothers and their search for their parents’ killer gets wilder as only a game of super-cops and robbers can. Recommended.

BATMAN AND ROBIN #1 by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely. Don’t worry, it’s not the perennially late-shipping ALL-STAR version by Jim Lee and the guy who killed The Spirit for a generation. This is the dream-team that gave us ALL-STAR SUPERMAN among other things. It’s the new Dynamic Duo and their flying batmobile! Gotta look!

BLACK PANTHER #5 by Reginald Hudlin and Ken Lashley. Morlun the Devourer of Totems just chowed down on the Man-Ape (don’t ask) and now he’s ready for dessert. Time for the new BP to teach him when to say “when!”

THE BOYS #31 by Garth Ennis and Carlos Ezquerra. The supes finally decide to go after the Boys instead of waiting for the knock on their door. First up: The Female. Not for kids.

BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER: TALES OF THE VAMPIRES ONE-SHOT by Becky Cloonan and Vasilis Lolos. A story of a small-town boy looking for a way out on the Fang Express.

CAPTAIN BRITAIN AND MI13 ANNUAL #1 by Paul Cornell and Michael Collins. The long-lost Meggan is looking to get out of Hell. I suggest hiring a baby-sitter.

DARK AVENGERS #5 by Brian Michael Bendis and Mike Deodato. Norman Osborne’s got trouble as the public is reminded of his past as the murderous Green Goblin. Stupid public! Don’t they know we’re looking forward, not back?!

FINAL CRISIS AFTERMATH: RUN #2 of 6 by Matthew Sturges and Freddie E. Williams II. Okay, so far the FCA titles have been an extremely mixed bag in terms of quality. This one about a jerk who helped kill the Martian Manhunter trying to get out of Dodge is among the best. A great ride for those of us who like dark humor and well conceived anti-heroes. Recommended.

MIGHTY AVENGERS #25 by Dan Slott and Khoi Pham. Hank Pym decides to break into the Baxter Building. Because he’s Hank Pym! Recommended.

PUNISHER MAX: NAKED KILL #1 by Jonathan Mayberry and Laurence Campbell. Frank Castle has to take down a snuff film ring armed only with office and cleaning supplies. This could be the most awesome thing ever associated with Staples! Recommended!

SCALPED #29 by Jason Aaron and R.M. Guera. C’mon people, this is one of the best comics being published today. It must not be outsold by SEAGUY. Let’s all stop waiting for the trades and do our part. This is the conclusion to “High Lonesome” where cracked out undercover G-man Dash Bad Horse has to rob the casino. This is the one to buy for you and both your pals.

SECRET SIX #10 by Gail Simone and Nicola Scott. “The most brutal Secret Six story yet!” Well, after the whole Rag Doll family saga that’s a pretty high bar to clear. Gotta look! Recommended.

SUPERMAN: WORLD OF NEW KRYPTON #4 of 12 by James Robinson, Greg Rucka and Pete Woods. New K gets a visit from the Green Lantern Corps in the form of Hal Jordan, John Stewart and Sodam (swear to god) Yat. Hijinks ensue.

ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #133 by Brian Michael Bendis and Stuart Immonen. The final issue? Well, it’s been a respectable run by a writer who reintroduced Marvel to the idea of making deadlines. Kudos to Mr. Bendis and the whole sick crew!

ULTIMATUM #4 of 5 by Jeph Loeb and David Finch. Almost over…. Just a few more characters to “kill….”

WOLVERINE REVOLVER ONE-SHOT by Victor Gischler and Das Pastoras. In which Logan is apparently fighting DC’s Man-Bat with claws that are now as long as his arms.

YOU’LL NEVER KNOW VOL. 1: A GOOD AND DECENT MAN HC written and illustrated by C. Tyler. The first graphic novel by artist and short story author Tyler concerning her quest to understand her World War Two veteran father. This one is getting high praise from creators like R. Crumb and Jim Woodring. Recommended.

www.johnjudy.net

Hagen at Artomatic

David Hagen reports that he's sold 3 paintings before the 2nd day of the show even ends. I've got mine. Better buy yours now!


Supes, David Hagen, 2009

Amusingly, I was wearing my ComicsDC t-shirt (buy yours now) last week at Vienna's Viva Vienna street fair and a lady at a booth called out to me, "Hey, are you David Hagen?" Sadly, I wasn't but she does anime voiceovers and her husband is working on a comic so they'll appear here at some point hopefully.

'The Photographer' reviewed in Sunday's Post by Wolk

See "Memories of a Long War," By Douglas Wolk, Washington Post, Sunday, May 31, 2009 for his review of THE PHOTOGRAPHER, By Emmanuel Guibert, Didier Lefèvre and Frédéric Lemercier, translated from the French by Alexis Siegel, First Second, 267 pp. $29.95.

I've got the book, but haven't read it yet. It's been getting very good reviews.

Where's Richard's Poor Alamanack?

A one-liner in today's Post says it will return. My guess is that Richard's swamped with his Cul de Sac strip and is trying to get ahead on that.

Geppi's Museum launching major Carl Barks exhibit

See "GEM Launches Carl Barks Retrospective" for details of the exhibit which will run from July 17 until September 8, 2009, and focuses on Barks' post-retirement paintings.

Zadzooks on Wolverine videogame

See "Zadzooks: X-Men Origins: Wolverine Uncaged Edition review," By Joseph Szadkowski, Washington Times Thursday, May 28, 2009.

Pixar's Up - two reviews and two interviews

http://movies.nytimes.com/2009/05/29/movies/29up.html

New York Times May 29, 2009

MOVIE REVIEW | 'UP'

The House That Soared

By MANOHLA DARGIS

 

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/28/AR2009052803803.html?hpid=topnews

Pixar Perfect: 'Up' Provides Quite a Lift

By Ann Hornaday

Washington Post Staff Writer

Friday, May 29, 2009

 

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/28/AR2009052801064.html?hpid=topnews

'Up' Director Finds Escape in Reality

By Michael O'Sullivan

Washington Post Staff Writer

Friday, May 29, 2009

 

 

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/comic-riffs/2009/05/the_interview_up_animator_bob.html

The Interview: 'UP' Animator Bob Peterson of Pixar

By Michael Cavna

Comic Riffs blog May 29, 2009

Washington City Paper reviews Pixar's Up

Up and Moscow, Belgium: Spouse and Home
By Tricia Olszewski
Washington City Paper May 29, 2009
http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/display.php?id=37272

Aspiring Comics Artists Alive and Well in the DC Metro

Riding home on the Orange Line tonight, I spotted (before I even got on the train) a gentleman in a Big Planet Comics t-shirt sitting in a window seat. I made my way toward him, figuring I'd strike up a conversation, but another guy sat down in the empty seat before I could get there, and the rest of the seats were full, so I stood for the ride home, trying to crank through the final pages of David Baldacci's "The Winner" (which I finished tonight -- yet another good read by Baldacci -- I have yet to find something of his I don't enjoy, for you prose fans in the audience!). I noticed that the guy I spotted had a sketchpad and was actively working on some comics work! It took me a while to adjust to reading on the train, so I'm guessing he's had some practice if he's able to do linework with all of that jostling! Honestly, I couldn't see what he was drawing, if it was comic-y or cartoon-y, if it was roughs or a serious attempt at art, or the relative quality, but while I've bumped into people reading comics or graphic novels in the past, it's definitely the first time I've seen an artist at work on the DC Metro.

The man that took the seat next to him stared the whole time he drew (so now I know what I look like at comic shows). It was pretty amusing. I was hoping that the starer would leave the train, vacating the seat and giving me an opportunity to chat before the artist and obvious comic fan left, but the artist got off at Ballston and I took his seat next to the starer instead. :-P

Still, it's heartening to have seen someone obviously interested in comics on the train putting pencil to paper! If you're a reader, Mr. Artist, drop us a comment!

RFK Journalism Awards and Ohman's cartoon win

The 2009 Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Awards were given out tonight, and as a judge, I was invited to attend. The others on the cartoon team were Sara Duke, Curator; Warren Bernard, Cartoon Historian and Nick Galifianakis, Cartoonist. The awards were in George Washington University's Jack Morton auditorium where Crossfire used to be filmed.

Jack Ohman of the Oregonian won the cartoon award. The letter we submitted to the RFK Center read:

We are pleased to award the Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award for cartoons to Jack Ohman of the Oregonian.

Two major themes emerged from this year’s cartoon entries – racism and the status of African-Americans in the wake of Barak Obama’s presidential campaign, and the plight of the 'average American' as a result of the devastating economic downturn.

Other frequent themes included torture and a lack of both human and legal rights for detainees in American custody, hunger, the rights of women, gay marriage, gun and urban violence, Cuban freedom and immigration reform.

Ohman's entries focused on several of these topics, but three cartoons in his submission were particularly noteworthy. Ohman left his drawing board to visit the Oregon Employment Department, the Portland Rescue Mission, and Loaves and Fishes, an institution that provides meals for senior citizens. He sat with those most vulnerable among us and then commented on their plight in perceptive cartoons that reflected not only the problems of his community, but his own compassionate sensibilities as well.

Ohman, by actually venturing out and practicing graphic journalism on behalf of the downtrodden, showed his sensitivity in dealing with issues of poverty. With this, he differentiated himself from his talented peers and the excellent work they submitted this year.

Jack Ohman's work exemplifies the goals of the Robert F. Kennedy Center for Justice and Human Rights. It is an honor to offer him this award.

These are typical cartoons of his for the year, very similar to many others submitted by other candidates - technically excellent, with solid clever ideas and good cartooning:




These are the three cartoons that made Ohman's work stand out and won him the award:





Also in attendance at the awards were cartoonists Joel Pett and Matt Wuerker. It was a pleasure to meet Joel and Jack and talk about cartooning.

June 12: David Macaulay at National Museum of Health and Medicine

When: Friday, June 12, 2009 (1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.)

Saturday, June 13, 2009 (10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.) & (1:00 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.)

Where: National Museum of Health and Medicine

What: Join David Macaulay for a discussion about his new book, "The Way We Work," as he illuminates the most important machine of all -- the human body. Your body is made up of various complex systems, and Macaulay is a master at making the complex understandable. He shows how the parts of the body work together, from the mechanics of a hand, to the process by which the heart pumps blood, to the chemical exchanges necessary to sustain life. A book signing will follow the discussion.

This event is being held in conjunction with NMHM's temporary exhibition, "David Macaulay Presents: The Way We Work, Getting to Know the Amazing Human Body," which features the famous author's original artwork for the book.

Bring your kids along! This event, as well as the exhibit, is great for teaching children about the human body.

Cost: FREE!

Parking is available. Photo ID required.

Information: nmhminfo@afip.osd.mil or (202) 782-2200

www.nmhm.washingtondc.museum

David Macaulay bio:

Born on December 2, 1946, Macaulay was eleven when his family moved from England to the United States. An early fascination with simple technology and a love of model-making and drawing ultimately led him to study architecture at the Rhode Island School of Design. He received his degree in 1969 after spending his fifth year with RISD's European Honors Program in Rome. Macaulay is probably best known for a very thick book called "The Way Things Work" (1988), an exhaustively researched compendium of the intricate workings involved in almost anything that functions. It was followed by "Black and White," winner of the 1991 Caldecott Medal. Over the next decade, Macaulay published eight additional books, and in 2003 he began a volume about the workings of the human body—the results of which comprise this exhibition. In 2006, Macaulay was named a MacArthur fellow.

Mike Judge interview in Comic Riffs part 2 appeared today

The Interview: Animator/Filmmaker MIKE JUDGE (Pt. 2), By Michael Cavna, May 28, 2009.

'X-Men Origins: Wolverine' videogame reviewed in Express

A Film Game With Bite: 'X-Men Origins: Wolverine'
 By Micah Pearson

Express May 28, 2009
http://www.expressnightout.com/content/2009/05/a_film_game_with_bite_xmen_origins_wolve.php

Comic Art Indigene going, Artomatic coming

The National Museum of the American Indian's Comic Art Indigene exhibit is closing on Sunday, so see it now. It showcases Indian cartoonists working in a variety of comic art media. Artomatic, the large local arts festival, opens on Friday at 55 M St, SE and runs through July 5. See http://artomatic.org for more information. David Hagen will be exhibiting at the show.

Up director interviewed in Express

This is in the hard copy and online -

Up, Up and Away: Director Peter Docter

Written by Express' Nathan Martin
May 28 2009
http://www.expressnightout.com/content/2009/05/up_up_and_away_director_peter_docter.php

Fantom Comics' message about closing Tenleytown store

Dear Tenleytown Fantom Comics Customers,

As many of you know, the Fantom Comics Tenleytown location is closing its doors for good this coming Sunday, May 31st. (Please note that this week’s new comics will arrive at Tenleytown tomorrow per usual.

Tenleytown isn’t closing for bad reasons, but for good ones. As anyone who has been in the store during rainy days knows, the ceiling leaks like a sieve, and the space is awkward and somewhat off the beaten track. The Fantom crew has grown quite fond of our odd little first store and will always remember it fondly, but we’re growing up and our goal is to lease a larger, better space.

Unfortunately, negotiations are dragging on for said space and rather than compromise with a less than ideal location management has decided to wait it out until the perfect spot comes along. As valued customrs and friends we are offering you a couple of options:

Option 1: Union Station. Transfer your subscriptions to our Union Station store. We’ll have you up and running over there by next Wednesday.

Option 2: Home Delivery. Fantom Comics has wanted to experiment with home delivery for quite some time, but we’ve never gotten around to it. Until now! This struck us as the perfect time to introduce our comic book store at your front door program. Here’s how it works:

*
Call the Fantom Comics phone number (unchanged at 202-362-5051), or email us at subscriptions@fantomcomics.com at any point in the week and give us your name and address and we’ll send someone there right away (assuming it’s during delivery hours) or at a future open slot of your choosing.
*
Deliveries will take place every Wednesday (11am-7pm) and Saturday (noon-6pm).
*
We will deliver to any home or office within the following zip codes: 20007, 20008, 20015, 20016, 20815 and 20816.
*
Subscribers have no minimum purchase requirements. For non-subscribers the minimum is $15.
*
We will still accept credit cards.
*
There is no service charge and our people will not be allowed to accept gratuity. Comic book store at your front door will cost you nothing extra!
*
We will bring along your subscribed books, already sorted, as well as the entire stock of new books for the week, which you can browse and purchase to your heart’s content. We can also do special requests on older material, but we need a week’s heads-up on that.

If you are a current subscriber, please confirm with us by Sunday, May 31st at subscriptions@fantomcomics.com as to how you’d like us to deal with your subscription. If you're not a subscriber, here's a good chance to try it out!

And of course, if neither of these options appeals to you, please keep up with our website and/or email list so you’ll find out where the next Fantom Comics NW DC is setting up shop as soon as we do.

Thanks for 4 great years, Tenleytown. There’ll be many more locations, but you’ll always be our first!

Yours,

Management

Post and others on Goode Family and Mike Judge

The Post reviewed the Goode Family in the paper, but doesn't seem to have put it online, because, you know, someone would buy the paper to see what they think about a cartoon. Well, that's me and I already bought the paper.

There is an interview with Mike Judge - "'King of the Hill' Segues To the ABC of Animation," By Michael Cavna, Washington Post Staff Writer, Wednesday, May 27, 2009.

The NY Times put their review online - "TV Review | 'The Goode Family' - A Clan So Virtuous Even Its Dog Is Vegan," By GINIA BELLAFANTE, May 27, 2009 as did Salon (of course) - "Mike Judge's pain-in-the-ass cartoon liberals: New animated series "The Goode Family" charts the pitfalls of the p.c., eco-friendly lifestyle," By Heather Havrilesky, Salon May 27, 2009 as is "'The Goode Family': Mike Judge's Disappointing New Comedy," by Linda Holmes, National Public Radio's Monkey See blog (May 27 2009).

June 29: Richard Thompson rocks Arlington's Central Library

Author Event: Cartoonist Richard Thompson
Mon Jun 29, 7pm
Arlington Central Library Auditorium
Hear from the man behind the syndicated daily comic strip "Cul de Sac," and who's unique style and humor have graced the various parts of the Washington Post ("Richard's Poor Almanack"), National Geographic, The Atlantic and the New Yorker--Arlington's own Richard Thompson. No, not the musician by the same name. The cartoonist Richard Thompson.