John Kovaleski's Shelf Porn includes Harvey Pekar: Conversations

John and I have communicated back and forth a bit after meeting at SPX. We swapped books, and I see Harvey Pekar: Conversations on his signed book shelf at "Send Us Your Shelf Porn!" by Chris Mautner,* September 9, 2009. Chris notes that John has a new book he'll be selling at SPX, and he's usually got some minicomics too - I'll be stopping by his table.

I love looking at pictures of people's libraries, but this is the first time they've looked back. So to speak.


*I also know Chris from the late, lamented Comix@ mailing list.

Baltimore City Paper 8th comics contest out

The current issue of the Baltimore City Paper has the results of its 8th comics contest.

Ullman covers City Paper!

Rob Ullman returns to do an illustration for the Washington City Paper! I've really missed his work - I don't even read Savage Love anymore without Rob's drawing to pull me in.

PR: Jerry Moriarity, R. Sikoryak and Joshua Cotter as Guests for SPX 2009

Small Press Expo Announces Jerry Moriarity, R. Sikoryak and Joshua Cotter  as Guests for SPX 2009

Bethesda, Maryland; September 9, 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 Jerry Moriarity, R. Sikoryak and Joshua Cotter as guests for SPX 2009.

Jerry Moriarity will be making only his second festival appearance ever at this year's SPX. 

 Jerry has exhibited his work at Corridor Gallery, Kamikaze, Printed Matter, at the Visual Arts Museum of the School of Visual Arts, and, most recently, in a 2004 show at the CUE Art Foundation curated by Art Spiegelman. Jerry has worked as a painter, an illustrator, and a cartoonist. Spiegelman and Françoise Mouly first published several episodes of Jerry's "Jack Survives" series of comics pages in issues of RAW Magazine, and published a now deeply out of print "Jack Survives" collection in 1984. This year, Buenaventura Press has published an updated, definitive hardcover collection of "Jack Survives,"  including never before published comics pages and paintings with an introduction by Chris Ware.

R. Sikoryak is a contributor to The New Yorker, Nickelodeon Magazine, Drawn & Quarterly, The Onion, Mad Magazine and LA Weekly in addition to Art Spiegelman's ground breaking Raw. His work has also been featured on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. His long running series of literary masterpieces re-imagined in the style of various famous comic characters and cartoon artists has been collected by Drawn and Quarterly and published as Masterpiece Comics. Masterpiece Comics collects all of the previously released collisions between fine literature and the comics world, in addition to new pieces added to the series.

Joshua Cotter is the creator of the mini-comics Fun and Self Help. He won the Isotope Award for mini-comix in 2004 for Skyscrapers of The Midwest, which was collected into a graphic novel and published by Adhouse Books, with both the mini-comics and full graphic novel garnering rave reviews. Joshua was also nominated for Ignatz, Harvey and Eisner Awards. He is currently doing commercial work and painting while developing his next comics oriented project,  tentatively called Nod Away.

Jerry Moriarity, R. Sikoryak and Joshua Cotter are in addition to the previously announced guests Gahan Wilson, Paul Karasik, Carol Tyler, Josh Neufeld, John Porcellino and Willy Linthout.

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.

MTV's Pekar interview online

Here's a short interview with Harvey. Print it out and tuck it in the back of my book.

EXCLUSIVE: Harvey Pekar Talks Webcomics, Art And His New Series, 'The Pekar Project'
by Rick Marshall
MTV's Splash Page blog 9/8/09

I just read the first 5 strips that are up and liked them all. I hope there will be a collection of these too.

Newspapers on '9'

'9': 1 Part Plot, 1 Part Casting, 7 Parts Wonder
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, September 9, 2009


The Riffs Interview: Tim Burton & Jennifer Connelly Were Deeply Drawn to the Beguiling '9'
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog September 9, 2009

In a Grim, Mysterious World, a Burlap Hero With a Heart of Golden Fuzz

By A. O. SCOTT

New York Times September 9, 2009

OT: Gustave Verbeek's Upside-Down comic reprinted

Here's some PR from Pete Maresca which I'm passing along because they do such good work. I've bought every one of their book so far.

Sunday Press Turns Comics World "Upside-Down" with New Book on Gustave Verbeek

Sunday Press Books announces the latest in its highly-acclaimed series of comic strip reprints. "The Upside-Down World of Gustave Verbeek" offers a complete run of the artist's most famous creation and a sampling of his other work in comics and art.

 

Palo Alto, CA, September 6, 2009 -- A new collection from Sunday Press Books reprints a complete run of Gustave Verbeek's "Upside-Downs of Little Lady Lovekins and Old Man Muffaroo" (1903-1905), digitally restored and presented in their original size and colors. Also featured are a complete run of Verbeek's "Loony Lyrics of Lulu" (1910) and a sampling of his long-running "Terrors of the Tiny Tads" (1906-1914). A compilation of 25 early cartoons and paintings by Verbeek for magazines and illustrated books (1900-1915) fills out this large hard-bound volume. For collectors, there is an insert sheet of 12 "Tiny Tads" postcards, reprinting a 1907 promotional set.

 

Gustave Verbeek, as the book's introduction explains, was a truly international artist: a Japanese citizen of European descent, he trained in Paris, then moved to New York to become one of the most original contributors to the emerging art of the comic strip. His Sunday comic, "The Upside-Downs," is one of the wonders of the comic world. This fantasy story came in two parts: the first is read like a regular comic, then turn the page upside down and the images transform to illustrate the continuing story.

 

Verbeek was born in Japan, son of a Dutch educator and missionary. He studied art in Paris where he did his earliest cartooning as a part of the famed "Chat Noir" theatre group. He then moved to New York, creating cartoons and illustrations for Harper's, Scribner's, Century, Judge, and other magazines. His work in comics and illustration are a curious combination of Japanese, French, and American styles and cultures.

 

Verbeek illustrated numerous children's books in the early 20th century, as well as working in Expressionist painting and monotypes. He created Sunday comic strips in the earliest years of the medium; first for Pulitzer's New York World, then for the New York Herald, where he created his famed "Upside-Downs," and continued to draw comics there for 15 years. His work has influenced, directly or indirectly, Maurice Sendak, Dr. Seuss, Charles Schulz, and many other illustrators and cartoonists.

 

"The Upside-Down World of Gustave Verbeek" includes a foreword by science and mathematics scholar Martin Gardner, who has authored nearly 100 books, including "The Annotated Alice in Wonderland" and numerous volumes on mathematical puzzles. His interests in children's literature and puzzles merge in his admiration of Verbeek's work. The book's introduction is by comics scholar Jeet Heer, with contributions by "nonsense comics" specialist Marco Graziosi, and renowned comic strip historian, Richard Marschall.

 

This is the first complete collection of Verbeek's "Upside Downs" and the only one in the original size and colors since 1904. Editor/Publisher Peter Maresca states, "As with our other Sunday Press collections, we restored the Sunday pages to simulate the look of the comic strips at they appeared 100 years ago."

 

Sunday Press Books is a specialty publisher restoring and reprinting classic American comic strips in their original size and colors. The "The Upside-Down World of Gustave Verbeek" is the sixth book from Sunday Press. The first Sunday Press collection, "Little Nemo in Slumberland, So Many Splendid Sundays" (2005) received rave reviews and testimonials from around the world. Both this book and its sequel, "Little Nemo in Slumberland, Many More Splendid Sundays" received the coveted Will Eisner Award for Excellence in Comics. The first four Sunday Press publications received a total of seven Eisner nominations. Sunday Press collections have been printed in French, Spanish, and Russian editions. Also from Sunday Press in 2009 is L. Frank Baum's, "Queer Visitors from the Marvelous Land of Oz." More information is available at www.sundaypressbooks.com or via email: info@sundaypressbooks.com

 

"The Upside-Down World of Gustave Verbeek"

120 pages, 11 x 16 inches, color, $60

ISBN - 09768885-7-2

EAN - 978-0-9768885-7-4

NY Times continues to be the comics fan's paper

In today's paper - Tom Tomorrow's cover for Pearl Jam - Bad Luck Turns Good: That's Rock 'n' Roll, By BEN SISARIO, September 8, 2009.

In tomorrow's - a story on a Disneyana exhibit - Blowing the Pixie Dust Off Disney’s Archives, By BROOKS BARNES, September 9, 2009

New comics on Thursday!

Don't forget - comics are a day late due to the holiday.

Three comic postcards

I found three comic postcards of interest over the weekend. We saw another postcard from this series last year -


Oysters Rockefeller postcard by Canadian cartoonist Jeff for the Hilton of Canada in the 1960s. Anybody know anything about Jeff? I find it a little weird that I've found two of these cartoons in DC.

We also saw another one from this 1907 4th of July / Independence Day series by Gene Carr-


British cartoonist Tom Browne's "Joys of the Ocean" postcard is new though. I'm not sure what the sailor's words mean.


The British National Archives apparently had an exhibit that included some of these postcards.

Big Monkey Comics to close

This is the announcement on their website. That's two comic stores to close this year (the Fantom Comics store in Tenleytown closed, although the one in Union Station remains open).

GOOD-BYE!
September 07, 2009 11:00 AM

It's the end of an era. Big Monkey Comics is closing our doors at the end of this month. It wasn't Galactus, Lex Luthor, or Dr. Doom that defeated us, but simple dollars and cents. The economy has adversely affected so many people, and we are the latest casualty. Last year alone Virginia last 45% of its comic book shops due to the economic downturn and we are sad to say that we now join their number.

We will no longer be receiving any new comics. We realize that this is a massive inconvenience and apologize profusely for how this may affect your reading schedule.

Everything in the store is now 50% off. Please come and clean us out. Anything that is not sold will have to be unloaded at pennies on the pound. We need to liquidate and we can think of no better way to do it than to pass on savings to you, the customer. We appreciate your business and support and this is our final way of saying thank you.

Starting this weekend, Big Monkey will only be open Friday and Saturday, 12:00 - 8:00 through our last month of business. Since there are no new comics coming in, we hope you will be able to walk out with a bundle of books on the weekend.

You have 3 weeks to pick up your subscriptions. After that we are putting all books on the shelves.

Thank you all again. Your continued patronage and support have meant the world to us. It's always sad when a comic book store closes, and it's sadder when it is ours. I hope you are all able to find a new place to pick up your weekly comics and hope to see you at the sale.

Sept 7: Batman & Robin 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

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

Comics Examiner.com's 2nd DC-area comics club feature

This one's in Frederick, MD - "Comics 101: What comic book meetups are in the DC area? Part 2," DC Comic Books Examiner Mark Ruffin, September 6, 2009.

Zadzooks likes new Batman videogame

See "Zadzooks: Batman: Arkham Asylum review," Joseph Szadkowski, Washington Times September 5, 2009 in which he concludes "Batman: Arkham Asylum is the best licensed comic-book video game ever made. Read that and weep, my friends, as it will take a lot for me ever to write that again."

Post on Scooby-Doo's 40th, NY Times on comics

Hank Steuver thinks the 40th anniversary of Scooby-Doo doesn't deserve a press release - "Enough Already! All '69 Anniversaries Should Be 86ed," By Hank Stuever, Washington Post Staff Writer, Sunday, September 6, 2009, and honestly, it's hard to disagree with him.

Also in the Style & Arts section is a caricature of Jay Leno by Hanoch Piven.

The NY Times, having apparently decided that comic art is just another form of culture had a bunch of articles today besides Ms. Gerberg's marriage.

Two articles on animation -

A Tribute to the Man, Beyond Just the Mouse, By CAROL KINO, September 6, 2009 on the Walt Disney Family Museum -

- and an interview on 9 - "Scrap-Heap Heroes for a Digital Age," By MEKADO MURPHY, September 6, 2009 -

- one on the Berndt Toast Gang, a group of Long Island gag cartoonists that didn't make it into the Washington print edition - "Pen Strokes and Gag Lines, a Stimulus Package for All," By JAMES KINDALL, New York Times September 6, 2009-

- one on a musician comic book writer whose new comic is Fall Out Toy Works- "A Night Out With | Pete Wentz; Song-and-Spoof Man," By TRICIA ROMANO -

- and Jason Lutes illustrated Paul Krugman's article on economics in the Magazine.

Mort Gerberg's daughter marries

The daughter of cartoonist Mort Gerberg, of the New Yorker, Huffington Post, and several recent anthologies, married this weekend. We mention this here because Ms. Gerberg works in Arlington, VA. We wish her the best in her new life.

For more details, see Lilia Gerberg and Matthew McCaffree, New York Times September 6, 2009.

Newport's Batman 2 at Renwick featured in Examiner

Today's Examiner's got a few comics things -

The Eye: Mark Newport's 'Batman 2'
By: Chris Klimek
Washington Examiner September 6, 2009): 31

and an AP story on Marvel's Tim Gunn fashion comic, a cover caricature by Nate Beeler, and a page of political cartoons including Dry Bones from Israel and a reprise of Beeler's Marvel-Disney cartoon from earlier this week.

Quick Reviews for Comics Due THURSDAY (not Wednesday) 09-10-09

QUICK REVIEWS FOR COMICS DUE THURSDAY (not Wednesday) 09-10-09

By John Judy

 

ADVENTURE COMICS #2 by Geoff Johns, Michael Shoemaker, Francis Manapul and Clayton Henry.  Superboy and Wonder Girl have "the talk."  So do Lightning Lad and his evil brother Lightning Lord, after a fashion.  Hijinks ensue.

 

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #604 by Fred Van Lente and Barry Kitson.  In which we learn how wrapping yourself in web fluid can keep you alive and breathing for days in a vat of flesh and bone disintegrating acid while the Chameleon assumes your identity.  Also the Black Cat maybe shows up and acts all flirty.

 

DARK AVENGERS / UNCANNY X-MEN: EXODUS #1 by Matt Fraction and Mike Deodato. Big fight containing nuggets of plot and character.  Because you demanded it or something!

 

DARK REIGN: THE LIST AVENGERS ONE-SHOT by Brian Michael Bendis and Marko Djurdjevic.  "Clint Barton fans… you are not going to want to miss this one!"

 

DOOM PATROL #2 by Keith Giffen, J.M. DeMatteis, Matthew Clark and Kevin Maguire.  The DP fight a black hole and the Metal Men go into space.  That's right: Space!

 

KICK-ASS #7 by Mark Millar and John Romita Jr.  Four months after the last issue came out we finally learn what hideous fate awaits Big Daddy, Hit-Girl and that dirty traitor Red Mist.  You do remember Big Daddy, Hit-Girl and that dirty traitor Red Mist, don't you?  Come on, it's only been four months!  Quality takes time and so does KICK-ASS!  Stop whispering how the last time an issue of KICK-ASS came out Michael Jackson still had two months to live!  Just stop it, I say!

 

MARVELS PROJECT #2 of 8 by Ed Brubaker and Steve Epting.  The best thing to happen to Marvel/Timely's golden age since THE TWELVE.  See how it all came to be with a little retroactive continuity polish.  Highly recommended.

 

PUNISHER FRANK: CASTLE MAX #74 by Vic Gischler and Goran Parlov.  It's a sign of just how low Frank has fallen when his survival depends on the punk he had doped up and stuffed in his trunk.  Featuring hulking hillbilly swamp cannibals.  Recommended.

 

SECRET SIX #13 by Gail Simone and Nicola Scott.  After last issue's brutal take-down of Wonder Woman you probably didn't think the Six could get darker.  Guess again.  The closest the DCU has to an old-school EC crime/horror comic.  Recommended.

 

STITCHES HC written and drawn by David Small.  The autobiographical story of how a young boy woke from a "harmless operation" to discover a major and unpleasant surprise.  No capes, but lots of action.  Highly recommended.

 

SUPERMAN: WORLD OF NEW KRYPTON #7 of 12 by James Robinson, Greg Rucka and Pete Woods. What alien race would be dumb enough to declare war on a planet full of super-powered Kryptonians?  Other than humans?  The answer may surprise you.  Or not.  Either way this thing is playing out much stronger than expected.  Recommended.

 

THUNDERBOLTS #135 by Andy Diggle and Miguel Angel Sepulveda.  The T-Bolts were backstabbing, corrupt and psychotic before DARK REIGN made it cool.  Let's see who ends up with the most steel between their ribs, shall we?  Recommended.

 

ULTIMATE COMICS AVENGERS #2 by Mark Millar and Carlos Pacheco.  So Ultimate Red Skull is Ultimate Captain America's son and Ultimate Tony Stark now has an "older, richer, smarter brother" who we somehow never saw in his own series.  Oh, Millar…!

 

UNWRITTEN #5 by Mike Carey and Peter Gross.  A little stand-alone tale of Rudyard Kipling and how he fits in with Tommy Taylor's rapidly collapsing ficto-verse.  Highly recommended.

 

WEDNESDAY COMICS #10 of 12 by Various Creators.  Lots going on as the end draws nigh but seeing Superman and Hawkman getting ready to stomp alien monsters and dinosaurs respectively promises great fun still to be had.  Recommended.

 

www.johnjudy.net

Tamaki in Style

Jillian Tamaki, one of the cousins behind Skim, illustrated the Post's Style section story on swine flu. It's an abstract watercolor, which I don't think is her typical style.

Tom Toles back when he was a Buffalonian

Here's some 1973 art by Toles - scott edelman, "Tom Toles and the Cosmos," Failing Better blog 03 September 2009.