Examiner goes negative

Today's Examiner printed Eric Allie's "Bending the Curve" syndicated cartoon from Cagle Cartoons, as a negative image, so it's black and
green and purple. It's an odd effect.

Simpsons profile on Express website

This wasn't in the hardcopy paper today - Worst. Retrospective. Ever: Comic Book Guy's Top 7 'Simpsons' Appearances, Written by Express contributor Meg Zamula, August 18 2009.

PR: First Comic Strip Superstar Competition Announced by Amazon and Andews McMeel Universal

This sounds a lot like other contests such as DC's Zuda, but since it's a big chance for someone, I'm posting it even though it's not Washington-related. - Mike

 

Amazon and Andrews McMeel Universal Announce First Comic Strip Superstar Competition

 

Andrews McMeel to run inaugural contest to be hosted by Amazon, seeking out the next great comic strip artist; grand prize winner to receive publishing contract with sponsor Andrews McMeel Publishing

 

SEATTLE – Aug. 18, 2009 – Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN) and Andrews McMeel Universal today announced the launch of the first Comic Strip Superstar, the international competition in search of the next popular comic strip artist. The winner will receive a publishing contract from Andrews McMeel Publishing, a $5,000 advance from Universal Uclick and a monthly stipend for the development of 20 comic strips that will be considered for syndication.

 

"As the nation's premier humor publisher in newspapers, books, mobile phones and online, Andrews McMeel Universal is uniquely suited to bring this comic strip contest to the public," said Hugh T. Andrews, executive vice president of Andrews McMeel Universal. "We are excited by the opportunity this contest provides to continue our mission to seek, recognize and celebrate remarkable creative talent, and to share it with an appreciative and enthusiastic audience through a variety of distribution channels."

 

Beginning today through Sept. 12, 2009, up to 5,000 entries will be accepted for the competition at www.amazon.com/comicstripsuperstar. Each entry should be original, unpublished work consisting of 10 daily comic strips and two Sunday comics, a title and a brief synopsis. From the submissions, Universal Uclick will narrow the entries down to 250 quarterfinalists. The quarterfinalists will then be narrowed down to 50 semifinalists by John Glynn and Lee Salem, seasoned Universal Uclick editors. In the semifinal round, popular comic strip creators Garry Trudeau ("Doonesbury"), Lynn Johnston ("For Better or For Worse"), Scott Hilburn ("The Argyle Sweater") and Mark Tatulli ("Lió" and "Heart of the City") will choose 10 finalists and post feedback for each on Amazon.com. Amazon.com customers will then have the opportunity to view the finalists' submissions and vote for the grand prize winner.

 

"We know Amazon customers are extremely creative and enjoy discovering new talent. This competition gives them the opportunity to discover great new comic strip artists, while having a few laughs along the way," said Jeff Belle, vice president of U.S. Books, Amazon.com.

 

The winner will be announced Nov. 9, 2009, and will receive a prize package from Andrews McMeel Universal which includes a publishing contract with Andrews McMeel Publishing and a newspaper syndication development deal and contract for distribution on GoComics.com desktop and mobile applications from Universal Uclick.

 

For complete terms and conditions on the Comic Strip Superstars competition, please visit www.amazon.com/comicstripsuperstar.

 

###

 

About Andrews McMeel Universal

Both Andrews McMeel Publishing and Universal Uclick are divisions of Andrews McMeel Universal, which was founded in 1970 by Jim Andrews and John McMeel. Andrews McMeel Publishing, LLC is an industry-leading publisher of humor, gift, general trade, cookbooks, and calendars with more than 300 new titles annually. Universal Uclick includes the nation's largest independent newspaper and licensed property syndicate and the leading digital entertainment provider of humor, comics, editorial cartoons, daily games and text features for the desktop, Web, and mobile phones.

 

About Amazon.com

Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ: AMZN), a Fortune 500 company based in Seattle, opened on the World Wide Web in July 1995 and today offers Earth's Biggest Selection. Amazon.com, Inc. seeks to be Earth's most customer-centric company, where customers can find and discover anything they might want to buy online, and endeavors to offer its customers the lowest possible prices. Amazon.com and other sellers offer millions of unique new, refurbished and used items in categories such as books, movies, music & games, digital downloads, electronics & computers, home & garden, toys, kids & baby, grocery, apparel, shoes & jewelry, health & beauty, sports & outdoors, and tools, auto & industrial.

 

Amazon Web Services provides Amazon's developer customers with access to in-the-cloud infrastructure services based on Amazon's own back-end technology platform, which developers can use to enable virtually any type of business.  Examples of the services offered by Amazon Web Services are Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud (Amazon EC2), Amazon Simple Storage Service (Amazon S3), Amazon SimpleDB, Amazon Simple Queue Service (Amazon SQS), Amazon Flexible Payments Service (Amazon FPS), Amazon Mechanical Turk and Amazon CloudFront.

 

Amazon and its affiliates operate websites, including www.amazon.com, www.amazon.co.uk, www.amazon.de, www.amazon.co.jp, www.amazon.fr, www.amazon.ca and www.amazon.cn.

 

As used herein, "Amazon.com," "we," "our" and similar terms include Amazon.com, Inc., and its subsidiaries, unless the context indicates otherwise.

 

I have seen the future of animation

...and it looks a lot like the past. Ponyo rocks! When Miyazaki melds the Little Mermaid with Apocalypse Now, adds a strong shot of Verne's Captain Nemo and liberally seasons with JG Ballard's The Drowned World and shakes well, we get Ponyo.

Weingarten and Shansby seek government employment

Unfortunately the Bureau of Public Dept has canceled the job opening, but should it reopen the duo stand ready as evidenced by Owe, That's a Riot! Red ink is no reason to feel blue, By Gene Weingarten and Eric Shansby, Washington Post Magazine Sunday, August 16, 2009.

Watch Your Head sneaks condom gag in on Post

After having a storyline about Quincy's girlfriend who was pretending to be pregnant to get married, the Watch Your Head strip ended up on August 11th with a condom joke, using terminology that became common during the AIDS crisis. As his friend says, "...You'd think someone like you would always wear a helmet." "I don't like the way headgear feels," replies Quincy.

I can't believe we're protected by the Post's vigilant editors from Dick Cheney innuendos in Tank McNamara, but Cory Thomas is able to sneak such filthy double entendres in.

Aug 17: Batman in Crystal City

Crystal Screen - Superheroes

Join the Crystal City BID for 21 weeks of Superheros! On Monday nights from May 4, 2009-September 21, 2009, Crystal City will be protected by Batman, Spiderman, Superman, and many others. Each night will also have special giveaways, sponsors, and other activities.

Date(s):
May 4, 2009 - September 21, 2009

Location:
18th and Bell Street - Courtyard Across from Crystal City Metro Station & Marriott Hotel

Event Fee:
Free

Hours:
Movies begin at sundown

Description:
Join the Crystal City BID for 21 weeks of Superheros! On Monday nights from May 4, 2009-September 21, 2009, Crystal City will be protected by Batman, Spiderman, Superman, and many others. Each night will also have special giveaways, sponsors, and other activities. Check back here for more information.

CRYSTAL KID BONUS: Since it gets dark later in the summer and movies often start past bedtime, the BID has partnered with Crystal City Sports Pub to rebroadcast each movie at 3:30 PM on the 3rd Floor of CCSP on the Wednesday following the outdoor showing, starting May 6. Bring your kids and a blanket and enjoy the fabulous surround network of TVs.

Festival Rules: Patrons can bring their own picnics as long as they abide by city and festival rules. Low-backed chairs and blankets are allowed, but grills, umbrellas, and pets are prohibited.


Schedule

August 17, 2009 - Batman
August 19, 2009 - Batman - at CCSP
August 24, 2009 - Batman Returns
August 26, 2009 - Batman Returns - at CCSP
August 31, 2009 - Batman Forever
September 2, 2009 - Batman Forever - at CCSP
September 7, 2009 - Batman & Robin
September 9, 2009 - Batman & Robin - at CCSP
September 14, 2009 - Batman Begins
September 16, 2009 - Batman Begins - at CCSP
September 21, 2009 - Batman: The Dark Knight
September 23, 2009 - Batman: The Dark Knight - at CCSP

Is it Live? Or is it Richard Thompson?

Tom Racine recorded one of the panels Our Man Thompson was on at San Diego - and it's on his Tall Tale Radio site (which has lots of other interviews on it). Return with us to the thrilling days of yestermonth as Thompson, Stephan Pastis and Keith Knight ride again!

Glenn Martin, DDS animator featured in Post

See "The Back Story: This Animator Knows the Drill," Washington Post August 16 2009

Astro Boy videogame interview

DC apparently has a Videogame Examiner as well as a Comic Book one - here's a story about the Japanese hero Astro Boy.

Interview: Astro Boy: The Video Game, Cameron Rains, Producer, High Voltage Software
August 13, 2009
DC Video Game Examiner James Fleenor

American Association of University Professors president condemns Yale's cowardice on Danish Islam cartoons

See the Washington, DC-based American Association of University Professors' letter at "Academic Freedom Abridged at Yale Press" August 13, 2009.

Here's what the book's author thinks - "Culture Vulture: Interview with Prof. Jytte Klausen," by Helen Epstein, ArtsFuse blog on Aug 14, 2009.

William Gropper and a Semi- Secret History of Comics

I ran across the above at a flea market recently. Gropper sounded familiar, so I picked it up.

According to William Gropper Papers: An inventory of his papers at Syracuse University, Gropper was a leftist cartoonist, but he apparently had to make a living like everyone else and the library has a clippings file of:

New York American 1934, undated - includes Robert Benchley columns (2 folders)


I assume this drawing is for Benchley's column, but when Benchley's collection My Ten Years in a Quandry, and How They Grew came out, it was illustrated by the great Gluyas Williams. So my guess, and it's just a guess, is that nobody's really seen Gropper's illustrations for Benchley since they were done. In the book, one can find The Rule of 87, doubtless the work of fanatical reformers, is as follows: "One twin birth occurs to approximately 87 single births; one triplet to about 7,569 singles (87 squared); one quadruplet to about 658,503 singles (87 cubed); one quintuplet to about 57 million singles (87 to fourth power); one sextuplet to about five billion singles (87 to fifth power)". that's the rule. That's what we are supposed to abide by, whether we want to or not.

I'm sure modern fertility drugs have completely changed the rule.

This post benefited greatly from the help of Sara Duke of the Library of Congress. A search of the Library of Congress collections brings up 34 pieces by Gropper - to see them, go to http://lcweb2.loc.gov/pp/pphome.html and type in "William Gropper".

Quick Reviews for Comics Due 08-19-09

QUICK REVIEWS FOR COMICS DUE 08-19-09

By John Judy

 

A.D.: NEW ORLEANS AFTER THE DELUGE GN written and drawn by Josh Neufeld.  Taking you back to the glory days of 2005 when Brownie was doing a heck of a job and nearly 2000 citizens of The Big Easy died before a certain Leader of the Free World was moved to joke about how drunk he used to get there in his younger days.  Recommended.

 

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #603 by Fred Van Lente and Barry Kitson.  The Chameleon versus… Mary-Jane?  OK, that's more like it because really, The Chameleon?  I can beat The Chameleon and so can you.

 

ARCHIE #600 by Michael Uslan and Stan Goldberg.  Archie pops the question!  The Riverdale Gang is done with college and now it's time to make a lifetime commitment when you're barely into your twenties?  Reserve your copy now because this will no doubt get lots of media attention from reporters who like to use the words "Biff" and "Pow."

 

BATGIRL #1 by Bryan Q. Miller and Lee Garbett.  Now serving Number Six…  Seriously, this is the sixth Batgirl to grace the mean streets of Gotham.  And you thought Robin was a high turnover gig.

 

BLACKEST NIGHT: SUPERMAN #1 of 3 by James Robinson and Eddy Barrows.  The dead Earth-2 Superman is back and he's got some new jewelry.  Hijinks ensue.

 

DAREDEVIL #500 by Ed Brubaker and Michael Lark.  Kingpin, Lady Bullseye and almost no mention of Norman Osborn! How?  How is this possible?!

 

DARK ENTRIES HC by Ian Rankin and Werther Dell'Edera.  Here's how you make reality TV worth watching: Put John Constantine on it and watch him kick the whole thing upside-down.  Not for kids.  Recommended.

 

DAYS MISSING #1 of 5 by Phil Hester and Frazer Irving.  The story of everyone's first semester of college… No, seriously it's about a guy who can erase certain things from the collective memory of mankind, for our own good.  I nominate "American Idol" and anything attached to the name "Palin."

 

EX MACHINA #44 by Brian K. Vaughan and Tony Harris.  Mayor Hundred descends into the rat-infested sewers of New York.  Is it fund-raising time already?  Recommended.

 

FILTHY RICH HC by Brian Azzarello and Victor Santos.  Spoiled rich heiresses and the washed-up losers who love them.  Not for kids.

 

HELLBLAZER #258 by Peter Milligan and Giuseppe Camuncoli.  Constantine must seduce a 2000 year-old demon, preferably without mentioning her bottle blonde hair, prominent Adam's apple and many appearances on Fox News.

 

MIGHTY AVENGERS #28 by Dan Slott and Khoi Pham.  Lotsa craziness, guest-starring the Young Avengers!  Plus, the coolest scientist in comics, Hank Pym!  In your face, Reed Richards!

 

PUNISHER: FRANK CASTLE MAX  #73 by Victor Gischler and Goran Parlov.  The guy in Frank's trunk just woke up.  That always adds spice to a Punisher book.  Fun stuff.  NOT for kids.

 

RED CIRCLE: THE WEB #1 by J. Michael Straczynski and Roger Robinson.  A callow billionaire is secretly a super-hero!  What will they think of next?

 

THE STAND: AMERICAN NIGHTMARES #5 of 5 by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and Mike Perkins.  The survivors of Captain Trips start coming together, for better or for worse.  Get ready for Volume Three: Sole Survivors.  Recommended.

 

SUPERMAN ANNUAL #14 by James Robinson and Javier Pina.  Celebrating 14 years since the Man of Steel first hit the racks!  Yeah, I remember where I was in 1995 when those crazy kids Siegel and Shuster took the world by storm.  Sure we lost Calvin and Hobbes but we got Superman!  Recommended.

 

WEDNESDAY COMICS #7 of 12 by Lotsa People.  OK, past the half-way mark and no idea how some of these strips are gonna wrap in five weeks.  Winners include: Batman, Kamandi, Deadman, Green Lantern, Adam Strange, and Hawkman.  Honorable Mention to Superman, Supergirl, Metal Men and the Flash for looking great.  The rest… well, they still have five more issues to pull it out.

 

WOLVERINE: WEAPON X #4 by Joltin' Jason Aaron and Rowdy Ron Garney.  Sure the Adamantium Men have him out-numbered and out-gunned, but they'll never have him out-haired!  From the team that made Wolverine stop sucking.  Recommended.

 

X-FACTOR #47 by Peter David and Valentine DeLandro.  Sentinels, time-travel and bi-sexuality.  Individually any of these can complicate a young mutant's life.  But all at once?  Hoo-boy!  Recommended.

 

X-MEN: LEGACY #227 by Mike Carey and Dustin Weaver.  Rogue learns the downside of absorbing the powers and memories of the Greek God of War:  An insatiable need for olives and awkward headgear.  Happy fun times!

 

www.johnjudy.net

Post on surpressed Family Guy cartoon [UPDATED]

This is sort of old news, having circulated around the Internet for weeks, but "'Family Guy' Channels Controversy Onstage," By Emily Yahr, Washington Post Staff Writer. Friday, August 14, 2009.

Oddly enough, a very similar story ran 2 days earlier by their TV reporter - "'Family Guy's' Look at the Lighter Side of Abortion,"
By Lisa de Moraes, Washington Post Wednesday, August 12, 2009.

Today's Tank for Post readers

Here's today's Tank. Presumably Sunday will be back to normal.

2nd Cul de Sac book is immanent

Our Man Thompson got his early copies today. I believe he's working to attend one of the local comics shows as well.

PR: Science Idol - And the winner is...

Recently, we invited you to help choose the winner in Science Idol: Celebrity Edition, a cartoon contest designed to poke fun at the not-so-humorous problem of political interference in science. After almost 10,000 votes were cast, Jesse Springer of Eugene, OR, came out on top. His cartoon will grace the cover of this year's Scientific Integrity Calendar:

Jesse is a graphic designer and part-time editorial cartoonist who recognizes the need for oversight of the Obama administration and Congress. "This is a really tricky time for those who hoped that Obama's election was going to be a start of something new," he said. "We need to point out the commitments that they made and hold the administration accountable to them."

Click to see all 12 contestants and learn more about Jesse.

The Scientific Integrity Calendar
In addition to providing you with a year's worth of laughs, the 2010 Scientific Integrity Calendar is a valuable educational tool, highlighting the need for the Obama administration and Congress to create a thriving federal scientific enterprise.

You can order your 2010 Scientific Integrity Calendar here. It makes a great gift to your scientist and non-scientist friends and family who believe that policy decisions should be guided by the best available science. The calendars are just $10 each, with discounts for UCS members and bulk orders and proceeds support the Union of Concerned Scientists.

I hope you enjoy the cartoons and the calendar!

Sincerely,

Michael Halpern
National Field Organizer
Scientific Integrity Program

P.S. Defending science from political interference will require the persistent and energetic engagement of both scientists and citizens. As a member of the UCS action network, we'll continue to keep you informed about ways you can help support independent science. Scientists, engineers, and health professionals are invited to join our Restoring Scientific Integrity Network.

Miyazaki's Ponyo opens today

I hope to be able to catch it tomorrow night. Here's the Washington Post:

"Disney's Japan Import 'Ponyo' Soars Sky-High Under the Sea," By Dan Kois, The Washington Post August 24, 2009.

...the Wash Times gives it 2 stars... what can one say about a review saying Miyazaki lacks "visual artistry"...

"MOVIE REVIEW: 'Ponyo'; Visual artistry lacking in new anime feature," By Sonny Bunch, Washington Times Friday, August 14, 2009.

Meanwhile the NY Times says "This movie has been designated a Critic's Pick by the film reviewers of The Times." Who you gonna trust?

"Forces of Nature, Including Children [Ponyo]," By MANOHLA DARGIS, August 14, 2009.

2004 Herblock award winner Matt Davies fired

See "Matt Davies, Pulitzer-Winning Cartoonist, Loses Job at 'Journal-News' -- With Many Others," By E&P Staff, August 13, 2009.

Today's Tank for Post readers

Here's today's Tank.