ComicsDC

Monday, August 31, 2009

PR: Small Press Expo Announces Paul Karasik and Jeff Lemire as Guests for SPX 2009

Small Press Expo Announces Paul Karasik and Jeff Lemire as Guests for SPX 2009

For Immediate Release

Contact: Warren Bernard

Bethesda, Maryland; August 31, 2009 - The Small Press Expo (SPX), the preeminent showcase for the exhibition of independent comics, graphic novels and alternative political cartoons, is pleased to announce Paul Karasik and Jeff Lemire as guests for SPX 2009.

Paul Karasik is a contributor to both The New Yorker and Nickelodeon magazine. He is the former associate editor of the ground breaking RAW Magazine and a former teacher at the Rhode Island School of Design. As a graduate of the School of Visual Design, he studied with Art Spiegelman, Will Eisner and Harvey Kurtzman. He was the co-creator of the graphic novel "City of Glass", in collaboration with David Mazzucchelli. Paul's critically acclaimed "I Shall Destroy All The Civilized Planets" on the works of Fletcher Hanks won the 2008 Eisner Award for the category Best Archival Collection/Project-Comic Books. His latest book is another collection of the works of Fletcher Hanks "You Shall Die By Your Own Evil Creation!" published by Fantagraphics Books.

Jeff Lemire won a Xeric Award in 2005 for his book "Lost Dogs." Between 2007 and 2009 Top Shelf Productions published his Ignatz, Harvey, and Eisner-nominated "Essex County Trilogy" of graphic novels "Tales From the Farm," "Ghost Stories," and "The Country Nurse". They were collected into a single volume and issued earlier this year by Top Shelf as "The Complete Essex County". Jeff has won the 2008 Joe Shuster Award for Outstanding Canadian Comic Book Cartoonist, the 2008 Doug Wright Award for Best Emerging Talent, and the 2008 American Library Association's Alex Award (For Adult Books with Teen Appeal.) This year also saw the release of his original graphic novel "The Nobody" from DC/Vertigo. Jeff is currently writing and drawing the new monthly Vertigo series "Sweet Tooth," which will begin in September.

Paul Karasik and Jeff Lemire are in addition to the previously announced guests Carol Tyler and Josh Neufeld.

SPX will be held Saturday, September 26 from 11AM to 7PM and Sunday, September 27, noon-6PM at The North Bethesda Marriott Convention Center in Bethesda, Maryland. Admission is $10 for a single day and $15 for both days.

For further information on the Ignatz Awards, the nominees or to request an interview, please contact Warren Bernard at warren@spxpo.com.

For more information on the Small Press Expo and the Ignatz Awards, please visit http://www.spxpo.com.

Aug 31: Batman Forever 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 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

Quick Reviews for Comics Due 09-02-09

QUICK REVIEWS FOR COMICS DUE 09-02-09

By John Judy

AGENTS OF ATLAS #10 by Jeff Parker, Gabriel Hardman and Paul Rivoche. Don't you hate it when your ex-girlfriend turns out to be an international super-villain and she's got way cooler stuff than you?

BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #28 by Jane Espenson and Georges Jeanty. A submarineless slayer must strategize success sans sorcery! Recommended!

DARING MYSTERY COMICS 70^th ANNIVERSARY EDITION #1 by David Liss and Jason Armstrong. What's that? You say you want a previously untold solo story of Dick Jones, the Phantom Reporter? Buddy, you won't have to wait another 70 years! Enjoy!

DC LIBRARY: JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA BY GEORGE PEREZ, VOL. 1 HC by Gerry Conway and George Perez. The first of two volumes collecting GP's run on JLA in the eighties. This one gives us #184-186 and #192-194, plus a super rare postcard set by Perez. A must for fans of a certain age.

FINAL CRISIS AFTERMATH: RUN #5 of 6 by Matthew Sturges and Freddie E. Williams II. OK, forget that he helped kill the Martian Manhunter and taped it on his cell phone! I like the Human Flame! The kid's got moxie! Recommended!

GHOST RIDERS: HEAVEN'S ON FIRE #2 of 6 by Jason Aaron and Roland Boschi. "Save the Anti-Christ, save the world!" And it's got skull-faced dudes on burning motorcycles! Finish huffing that last bag of paint and read it!

IMMORTAL WEAPONS #2 of 5 by Cullen Bunn, Duane Swierczynski, Daniel Brereton and Travel Foreman. Everything you ever wanted to know about the Bride of Nine Spiders but were too petrified down to your soul to ask. Recommended.

INCOGNITO #6 by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips. The final issue of Zack Overkill's wacky hijinks. Highly recommended.

IRREDEEMABLE #6 by Mark Waid and Peter Krause. The Plutonian's old team mates are looking real hard for anything that will take old Tony down. So far they got bupkiss…

JUSTICE LEAGUE: CRY FOR JUSTICE #3 of 7 by James Robinson and Mauro Cascioli. At this time I would also like to cry for Freddie Freeman not to be called "Shazam" as his super-hero name. Honestly, it appears the whole Marvel Family is getting a bad case of Hawkman continuity…

MAGOG #1 by Keith Giffen and Howard Porter. The horn-headed, demi-god, ex-Marine, great-grandson of Franklin Roosevelt is off to work on some issues until he has to play a role in nuking Kansas in KINGDOM COME. Guest-starring the Justice Society of America.

MARVEL ZOMBIES RETURN: SPIDER-MAN #1 by Fred Van Lente and Nick Dragotta. For those of you still interested…

MYSTIC COMICS 70^th ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL #1 by David Lapham and Juan Doe. A little number featuring the Golden-Age Vision, who was frankly much more of a bad-ass than the modern-day android version ever thought about being. Gotta look!

NORTHLANDERS #20 by Brian Wood and Davide Gianfelice. The return of Sven the Returned! Sven the Returned is awesome and we have missed him. Recommended.

RED TORNADO #1 of 6 by Kevin van Hook and Jose Luisi. If you like your androids possessed by the spirits of benign air elementals then this is the book for you!

STRANGE TALES #1 of 3 by Tons of Twisted Indy Comics Creators! Imagine what some of your favorite indy creators would do with Marvel's iconic characters if they had no fear of getting sued by Von Doom and Sons, Attorneys at Law! Well, you're gonna get three issues of it starting right here. How does "The Incorrigible Hulk" by Peter Bagge sound to you? Highly recommended.

STUDS TERKEL'S WORKING GN by Harvey Pekar and Various Artists. An adaptation of the late journalist's anthology of first-person accounts of what it was like working various jobs in 1974 America. Recommended.

SWEET TOOTH #1 written and drawn by Jeff Lemire. Sort of like "The Stand" meets "Island of Dr. Moreau." Lemire's been doing a lot lately and it's all interesting. Gotta look.

TORCH #1 of 8 by Mike Carey, Alex Ross and Patrick Berkenkotter. Okay, the good news is it looks like they're bringing the original Human Torch back (again). The disturbing news is they're allowing Alex Ross to do something other than paint it. Also, somehow Toro's not dead anymore either. Maybe in eight issues it'll make sense…

ULTIMATE COMICS SPIDER-MAN #2 by Brian Michael Bendis and David Lafuente. Wow, it's almost like ULTIMATUM never even happened. Maybe there's a lesson there somewhere…

WEDNESDAY COMICS #9 of 12 by Lotsa People. Worth it just for Kamandi and Hawkman alone. Lots to love here!

www.johnjudy.net

Sunday, August 30, 2009

Matt Dembicki interview by DC Comic Books Examiner

Matt's nominated for an Ignatz this year - here's an interview with him -

Matt Dembicki loans sharks a re-introduction
DC Comic Books Examiner Mark Ruffin
August 30, 2009

Animator Mike Judge's live-action movie

Cavna's got a story on animator Mike Judge in today's paper, but had the full interview on his blog yesterday.

The 'Extract' Interview: Filmmaker Mike Judge After 'Office Space'
By Michael Cavna | August 29, 2009;
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog

Here's the story -

It Took a Decade, But the Boss of 'Office Space' Is Back in Business
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, August 30, 2009

- and here's a similar one at the NY Times -

Men at Work: Finding Humor in Missteps
By DENNIS LIM
New York Times August 30, 2009

Cartoons for the Classroom - Berryman's Teddy Bear

The August 30 2009 Cartoons for the Classroom features Washington Star cartoonist Clifford Berryman and the teddy bear he created.

Saturday, August 29, 2009

Review of Harvey Pekar: Conversations I missed

A friend just sent me a link to this, asking if I'd seen it. I hadn't so I'm sharing it with you all (we're south of the Mason-Dixon line, so I use that instead of youz).

Bredehoft, Tom. 2009.
Harvey Pekar Conversations,
VillageGrouchy blog Sunday, November 30, 2008
http://villagegrouchy.blogspot.com/2008/11/harvey-pekar-conversations.html

Dean Haspiel art on HBO

I got a tip! One of my buddy's is doing some art for tv:

Dean Haspiel's art was in the first episode of the upcoming HBO show "Bored to Death" starring Jason Schwartzman, Ted Danson and Zach Galifianakis based on a story by Jonathan Ames.

Haspiel and Ames did The Alcoholic graphic novel together last year.

LEGO Brickfest 2009 continued

Kids - don't buy ice cream from Uncle Joker's trucks. Presumably this came with a specialty Batman set when the movies were released.

Washington Post editorial on Danish Islam Cartoons

Here's a good editorial, opposed to Yale's decision, and written by an Egyptian-born columnist.

Yale's Misguided Retreat
By Mona Eltahawy
Washington Post Saturday, August 29, 2009

Friday, August 28, 2009

LEGO Dilbert

Unlike Calvin and Hobbes, this is a 'mosaic'.

As is this Mickey Mouse in the Sorcerer's Apprentice.

And this Wall-E.

LEGO Brickfest 2009

There's always some comic art-types at Brickfest, which was held last weekend in Tyson's Corner. Here's a favorite of mine.

Thursday, August 27, 2009

New Luna Bros. interview online

I assume they'll be at Baltimore Comic-Con again this year...

The Luna Brothers Sheathe "The Sword", by Josh Wigler, Staff Writer, Wed, August 26th, 2009.

Oct 27: Crumb and Mouly at VCU in Richmond

Genesis: A Conversation with R. Crumb and Françoise Mouly
Sponsored in part by the E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Foundation

Presented in partnership with the Department of Art & Art History, University Museums, Velocity Comics and VCU Libraries Special Collections

“Crumb doesn't posit answers to the human mess; instead he affirms it, in all its craziness, and invites us to laugh at the spectacle.” – The Boston Globe

“Robert Crumb . . . is the one and only genius the 1960s underground produced in visual art, either in America or Europe.” – The Guardian (UK)

Tuesday, October 27, 2009
7:30 pm
Carpenter Theatre, Richmond CenterStage
A Modlin Downtown Event

R. Crumb, regarded as the founding father of underground comics, got his first taste of fame, as well as notoriety, during the 1960s – his “Zap Comix” rapidly attracted the attention of a fan base whose members dwelt well beyond the geographical parameters of San Francisco’s Bay Area. Crumb, whose cartoons are controversial, funny, at times bizarre and always idiosyncratic, today occupies a place of honor in the world of high culture and art. His graphic narrative Genesis, scheduled for release in the fall of 2009, has generated more-than-eager anticipation. For his Richmond engagement, one of only five appearances nation-wide, Crumb will participate in a conversation with Françoise Mouly, art editor for The New Yorker since 1993. She is also the founder, publisher, designer and co-editor along with her husband, cartoonist Art Spiegelman, of the avant-garde comics anthology RAW.

Audience Advisory:
Mature audiences only; contains sexual content.

Public Tickets: $19-$38 with discounts for seniors & children; through Ticketmaster at 1-800-745-3000 or ticketmaster.com. Patrons requesting accessible seating should contact the Modlin Center Box Office at (804) 289-8980. Tickets for this and all Modlin Downtown events go on sale through Ticketmaster on August 24, 2009.

Campus Tickets: $30 employees (limit 4), FREE for students (limit 2); the campus community should contact the Modlin Center Box Office for premium tickets.

Zadzooks reviews comic books

Zadzooks: Comic book reviews, Blackest Night, X-Force/Cable and more: Geronimo rescues Sphinx, By Joseph Szadkowski, Washington Times August 27, 2009.

Politico on Ted Kennedy comic book

This comic is solicited in Diamond's September previews which came out Weds, should you which to buy one.

Ted Kennedy: The comic book, By PATRICK GAVIN, Politico.com 8/27/09.

That darn Post editorial board!

Yale's Cartoon Controversy
Washington Post Thursday, August 27, 2009
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/26/AR2009082603531.html

The Aug. 23 editorial "Self-Muzzled at Yale" criticized Yale University Press for its decision to exclude controversial Danish cartoons of the prophet Muhammad from a forthcoming book. We found this to be a curious opinion given The Post's own decision not to publish the cartoons. This very fact validates Yale Press's decision.

We were two of the many experts in diplomacy, national security and academia asked by Yale Press to assess the likelihood of violence if the cartoons and other images of the prophet Muhammad were published in a book about the cartoon controversy. We advised Yale Press that publishing these images was very likely to result in violence, as there was a clear record of violence following their publication. More than 200 innocent people have been killed, and hundreds more injured, as recently as June 2008.

We who counseled Yale understand the book is a balanced, scholarly work. However, experience shows the book's purpose and tenor would not mitigate the risk of violence. In choosing not to print the cartoons, The Post made that very same judgment.

IBRAHIM GAMBARI

Under-Secretary-General

JOSEPH VERNER REED

Under-Secretary-General
United Nations
New York

The right of free speech guarantees that we may speak the truth without fear of government reprisal. This precious right is not compromised in any way by the Yale University Press deciding not to publish cartoons that would needlessly offend the sensitivities of large numbers of people. Even The Post editorial, which describes some of the cartoons, illustrates that publication of the cartoons was not necessary to make a point -- although inclusion of the offensive material would undoubtedly improve sales.

STAN NAMOVICZ

Takoma Park

PR: Small Press Expo Announces Carol Tyler and Josh Neufield as Guests for SPX 2009

Small Press Expo Announces Carol Tyler and Josh Neufeld as Guests for SPX 2009

For Immediate Release
Contact: Warren Bernard

Phone: 301-537-4615

E-Mail: warren@spxpo.com

Bethesda, Maryland; August 27, 2009 - The Small Press Expo (SPX), the preeminent showcase for the exhibition of independent comics, graphic novels and alternative political cartoons, is pleased to announce Carol Tyler and Josh Neufeld as guests for SPX 2009.

Carol Tyler, one of the original "Wimmen" cartoonists, has contributed to Weirdo, Drawn & Quarterly, Zero Zero, along with the anthologies Wimmens Comix and Twisted Sisters. She will be at SPX to talk about her latest graphic novel, You'll Never Know Book One "A Good and Decent Man", released by Fantagraphics. You'll Never Know has received acclaim from critics and librarians alike for its portrayal of not only her fathers story of his experiences in World War 2, but how those experiences shaped Carol and her family. See more of Carol's work at her web site http://www.bloomerland.com.

Josh Neufeld, author of the Xeric Grant winner A Few Perfect Hours, spent time as a volunteer for the Red Cross in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. This resulted on the online graphic novel A.D. New Orleans After The Deluge, which is now a full color book published by Pantheon that has garnered rave reviews. Josh also created the series The Vagabonds and as well as collaborating with Dean Haspiel on Keyhole. Visit Josh at his website at http://joshcomix.home.mindspring.com/.

Both Josh and Carol will be on discussion panels to talk about their works, in addition to being available for book signings while at SPX.