Fwd: DC Comic Books Examiner: Bamn creators step into comics ring as champion contenders Part 2

Bamn creators step into comics ring as champion contenders Part 2 Monday, October 5, 2009 "It was two artists who definitely had no business writing." Dave outlines the beginning stages. "At least me, not Jay, he's writing now. And Troy being a writer knew how to use words well and had a knowledge of wrestling with a background... Read more » DC Comic Books Examiner, Mark Ruffin Mark Ruffin, a reader of comics for over twenty years, is a freelance writer who tirelessly generates awareness for the Non-Fraternity Conversation and Write-up on Comic Books. Contact Mark here.

 

Baltimore Comic Con Marathon?

So I was sitting around at work today, chatting over lunch and one of my coworkers mentioned that she was running in the Baltimore Marathon this weekend. To which my response was "Huh?"

Me and RT were planning on going up on Saturday, but this marathon map makes me think that we should postpone until Sunday.

You know, I hate these things in DC because I can't get into the city (oddly enough they never block the Maryland approaches), and now they're following me up the coast. Does anyone more familiar with Baltimore have an idea of how bad the roads will be?

Quick Reviews for Comics Due 10-07-09

QUICK REVIEWS FOR COMICS DUE 10-07-09

By John Judy

 

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #608 by Marc Guggenheim and Luke Ross.  In which we re-visit the glory days of Spidey history known as "The Clone Saga."  Because who doesn't want to be reminded of that?

 

ASTONISHING X-MEN #31 by Warren Ellis and Phil Jimenez.  It's X-Men versus Aliens!  I mean "The Brood."  Yes, that's what I meant.  Never want to confuse the two.  Because they are totally different.  Marvel's lawyers assure me this is true.

 

BATMAN AND ROBIN #5 by Grant Morrison and Philip Tan.  The Red Hood and Scarlet think they're so tough.  Yeah, a lot of fools in Gotham used to think that…

 

BATMAN: THE UNSEEN #1 of 5 by Doug Moench and Kelley Jones.  Nobody does The Bat quite like these guys.  In this one the Dark Knight gets to fight a guy who is turning himself invisible, one layer at a time.  "Educational visuals."  That's what you should tell your parents, kids.  Recommended.

 

BEST AMERICAN COMICS 2009 HC edited by Charles Burns, Jessica Abel and Matt Madden.  The editors read a lot of comics from all over the place.  This is what they like this year.  Chances are you will too.  Recommended.

 

BLACK PANTHER #9 by Jonathan Maberry and Will Conrad.  And now Black Panther is fighting a villain called "Predator."  Oh, Marvel…!

 

BLOOM COUNTY COMPLETE LIBRARY VOL. 1 HC written and drawn by Berkley Breathed.  From the days when Reagan was President and the weird looking penguin was funny.  Or was it the other way around?

 

BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #29 by Jane Espenson and Georges Jeanty.  If you have to fight a demon army without using slayer magic it is a good thing to have guns, missiles and grenades.  I think Sun-Tzu said that…

 

CHRONICLES OF WORMWOOD: LAST BATTLE #1 of 6 by Garth Ennis and Oscar Jimenez.  The anti-Christ and Jesus team up and Pope Jacko takes over Hell.  Soooooo not for kids.  Fun stuff though.

 

CRIMINAL: SINNERS #1 by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips.  Tracy Lawless is back, solving a crime only a guy who's not a cop can solve.  Highly recommended.

 

DAREDEVIL #501 by Andy Diggle and Roberto De La Torre.  Exploring what it means to be half lawyer, half super-hero and half ninja crime lord.  Nevermind the math, just read and enjoy.  Recommended.

 

DOCTOR VOODOO: AVENGER OF THE SUPERNATURAL #1 by Rick Remander and Jefte Palo.  Brother Voodoo is now the Sorcerer Supreme of this universe.  Somebody once suggested this would be a good idea and Marvel Comics published it.  Remember this the next time you're ready to give up on your crazy little dream.

 

DOOM PATROL #3 by Giffen, DeMatteis, Clark and Maguire.  Mento is not a breath mint and Metal Men is not the name of a band.  This is what we learn from comics.

 

EC ARCHIVES: FRONTLINE COMBAT VOL. 1 HC by Various Geniuses.  Collecting the first six issues of this masterful series of war comics from 1950-51.  Still some of the best ever done.  Highly recommended.

 

FINAL CRISIS: AFTERMATH: RUN #6 of 6 by Matthew Sturges and Fredie E. Williams II.  Even though he helped roast the Martian Manhunter like a green marshmallow, I have come to love the Human Flame and hope he will not die forever in this final issue of his mini-series which has read like CRIMINAL if it were written by Mel Brooks.  Recommended.

 

HAUNT #1 by Robert Kirkman and Todd McFarlane.  A man must solve his brother's murder with the help of his ghost!  It's sort of like "Captain Triumph Meets Spawn." Hey, anything by Robert Kirkman gets a look.

 

IRREDEEMABLE #7 by Mark Waid and Peter Krause.  So Tony the super-hero was responsible for the sound plague that killed all those people.  But was that what pushed him over the edge into villainy?  Great stuff by Waid.  Recommended.

 

JUSTICE LEAGUE: CRY FOR JUSTICE #4 of 7 by James Robinson and Mauro Cascioli.  The series is more than half over but we are getting really close to having the entire team in the same place at the same time.  Plus, some of the heroes debate using torture to save lives.  Don't they know torture only works for Batman?  Who knew Dick Cheney was writing comics?

 

KILL AUDIO #1 of 6 by Claudio Sanchez and Sheldon Vella.  An immortal man seeks his purpose in life amidst a "musical landscape."  From the author of AMORY WARS.

 

MASTERPIECE COMICS HC written and drawn by R. Sikoryak.  This one is a true Must-Have if you are a fan of classic literature, classic comics and ingenious mash-ups.  This one lives up to its name.  Highly, highly recommended.

 

PLANETARY #27 by Warren Ellis and John Cassaday.  In April of 1998 the first issue shipped.  Eleven years and change later here it is:  The final issue, three years after #26.  For those of you who wait for the trades, I admire your discipline.  Gotta look.

 

STRANGE TALES #2 of 3 by Various Creators.  Indy creators take on the Marvel heroes and there are no lawsuits because Marvel hired them to do it!  Featuring variant Red and Green Hulk covers so it must be good!  Recommended.

 

SUPERMAN: WORLD OF NEW KRYPTON #8 of 12 by James Robinson, Greg Rucka and Pete Woods.  Supes and the Kryptonians have to face down the Thanagarian Army, all of whom have the power of… Hawkman?  Ummm, how to put this delicately?  "Much as I respect the power of flying and swinging a mace…?"

 

TORCH #2 of 8 by Mike Carey, Alex Ross and Patrick Berkenkotter.  The Mad Thinker tortures Toro, who is no longer dead, in order to learn more about the original Human Torch who is dead.  Mostly.  Watch out for low-flying continuity!

 

WAR HEROES #3 of 6 by Mark Millar and Tony Harris.  If distant memory serves this is a comic about super-powered soldiers in the middle east.  Hard to say.  Issue #2 came out in September of 2008.  I imagine Mark Millar sitting in a bar looking at Kevin Smith, muttering "Damn, that guy's fast…"

 

X-BABIES #1 of 4 by Gregg Schigiel and Jacob Chabot.  Let's say the Devil appeared to you one night and said he'd give you a shot at writing or drawing a book for Marvel featuring non-traditional versions of their iconic characters.  The catch is you'd have to drink yourself into unconsciousness every night for the rest of your life.  At least you can console yourself knowing that two other guys have already taken that deal.

 

X-MEN VERSUS AGENTS OF ATLAS #1 of 2 by Jeff Parker and Ed McGuinness.  For some reason these two groups are engaged in a Big Fight!

 

www.johnjudy.net

Our Town, #2

Ok, I despise the Post Magazine's make-over. You can't tell articles from ads, and much of what is included is pointless, like the Weekend section rehash at the end.

However, I want to like Our Town, the new cartoon reporting feature that started last week, but today's by Mark Giaimo features a burrito stand at... 15th and K - a good block at the most from the Post's front door. Wow, that's exciting.

Seriously. We should care about this?

ICAF 2009 program up online

From: Charles Hatfield

Now up online, reorganized, and greatly expanded: the program for the 14th Annual International Comic Arts Forum, ICAF 2009, to be held Oct. 15-17 at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago:

http://www.internationalcomicartsforum.org/icaf/a.html

Guests will include artists American artists Guy Davis and Sara Varon, UK artist John Miers (winner of the first-ever Digital Artist award for Web & Interactive Design, announced yesterday, http://www.digitalartistawards.com/), Spanish artists Max and Pere Joan, and Italian scholar Marco Pelleteri, winner of this year's John A. Lent Scholarship in Comics Studies.

Plus we'll have the usual diverse mix of scholars from all over -- this year's cohort includes Canadian, Norwegian, Indian, Japanese, German, and Belgian as well as US scholars -- giving refereed papers about the world(s) of comics!

DC Comic Books Examiner: Bamn creators step into comics ring as champion contenders Part 1

Bamn creators step into comics ring as champion contenders Part 1 Sunday, October 4, 2009 Jay Payne, Dave Dean and Troy Jeffrey Allen of Bamn are set up at left most flank of DC Conspiracy's tabled array at Sept.'s Small Press Expo. A miniature wrestling ring with an origami crafted version of their lead comic book character Bamn sets... Read more » DC Comic Books Examiner, Mark Ruffin Mark Ruffin, a reader of comics for over twenty years, is a freelance writer who tirelessly generates awareness for the Non-Fraternity Conversation and Write-up on Comic Books. Contact Mark here.

 

Local Huffington Post writer disses Doonesbury

William Klein asks Who Reads Doonesbury (Anymore)?
Political strategist, writer, humorist in Washington, D.C.
Huffington Post October 3, 2009

Personally I still think it's one of best strips running.

Unpublished Richard's Poor Almanack

Richard did a finger puppet of Dan Brown for last weekend that didn't run, but he put it on his blog. Also he notes that the new Cul de Sac book, collecting its second year, is out.

Family Guy takes a shot at editorial cartooning

Here's Cavna's take on the Family Guy's shot at editorial cartooning. Personally I think this is just a generic shot, and not one at Tom Toles. I'm only putting this up for the historical record, as it were.

PR: 2009 Harvey Awards Dinner and Presentation Ceremony Tickets Available

2009 Harvey Awards Dinner and Presentation Ceremony Tickets Available Now! Baltimore, Maryland - October 2, 2009 - The Harvey Awards dinner and presentation ceremony, featuring emcee Scott Kurtz and the presentation of the 2009 HERO Initiative Humanitarian Award to Neal Adams will be held on Saturday, October 10th at the Marriott Inner Harbor at Camden Yards.   Harvey Awards tickets are on sale now.  Tickets to the event, which includes full cocktail hour (cash bar), full service dinner, awards ceremony, and gift bag are now available for $100.  Tickets are available by calling Cards, Comics & Collectibles in Reisterstown, Maryland at (410) 526-7410.  Major Credit Cards will be accepted for payment.  Dinner tickets must be purchased by Wednesday, October 7th and will not be available at the door.   The Harveys, named after the legendary MAD Magazine founding editor and master storyteller Harvey Kurtzman, recognize outstanding achievements in over 20 categories.  They are the only industry awards both nominated and selected by the full body of comic book professionals.   Guests for dinner and the awards ceremony will enjoy a full Baltimore-style crabcake banquet dinner and a lively show hosted by Scott Kurtz as our Master of Ceremonies.  All 21 Harvey Awards will be announced, as well the presentation of the 2009 HERO Initiative Humanitarian Award, honoring Neal Adams.   In addition to receiving numerous industry awards, including induction into the Harvey Awards' Jack Kirby Hall of Fame, Neal Adams is renowned for his social work within the artistic industry.  His lobbying for creators' rights, including royalties and the return of artwork, resulted in the modern system of art being returned to the artists who created it, along with better benefits, including sales royalties.  His most recent efforts found him collaborating with Joe Kubert and Stan Lee in an effort to force the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum in Poland to return Holocaust survivor Dina Babbitt's wartime artwork created during her Nazi captivity.  Neal created a 6-page comic book, which he pencilled and inked, highlighting the injustice suffered by Dina.  In recognition of his efforts on Dina's behalf, Neal will be receiving the Hero Initiative Humanitarian Award.   "We love the Harveys, and I have been a fan of and admired Neal for many years.  We are excited to join the HERO Initiative and honor Neal Adams", said Marc Nathan, promoter of the Baltimore Comic-Con.   Continuing the guest-pleasing promotion from years past, a gift bag will be available to all dinner guests.  The first 250 attendees will receive a gift bag containing the following:  A Batman or DC Universe Illustrated HC by Neal Adams (DC Comics),  PvP, vol. 1: At Large TP by Scott Kurtz (Image Comics), A Magnus/Solar/Turok Archive HC (Dark Horse Comics), Darkness Accursed TP (Top Cow Productions), G.I. Joe: Rise of Cobra Movie Adaptation (IDW), A Marvel Variant Exclusive Comic (Diamond Comic Distributors),  Phineas and Ferb Chapter Book (Disney Book Group), Mom's Cancer by Brian Fies (Abrams Books), Creator Chronicles Preview DVD (Woodcrest Productions and Eva Ink), A Harvey Keychain (LaserMach), A Toon Tumbler (Popfun Merchandising), & A Surprise from BOOM! Studios.   For those who wish to attend the ceremony only, tickets are available for $15, or free for those with a two-day pass to the convention.  The hall will be opened for those ticket holders at approximately 9:15pm.  Attendees who purchase a ceremony-only ticket are not eligible to receive the gift bag.  The two day convention tickets may be purchased through Ticketmaster, accessible from http://www.baltimorecomiccon.com/tickets.htm.  Ceremony tickets may also be purchased via phone at 410-526-7410.   In addition to the Baltimore Comic-Con, named sponsors of the 2009 Harvey Awards include DC Comics, ComiXology, Image Comics, Dark Horse Comics, Diamond Comics Distrubutors, Geppi's Entertainment Museum, Insight Studios Group, Laughing Ogre Comics, Painted Visions Comics, Cards, & Games, Top Cow Productions, and Top Shelf Productions.  Without these sponsors, the event would not be possible and the Baltimore Comic-Con Staff expresses their gratitude. About The Baltimore Comic-Con The Baltimore Comic-Con is celebrating its 10th year of bringing the comic book industry to the Baltimore and Washington D.C. area. With a guest list unequaled in the industry, the Baltimore Comic-Con will be held Oct 10-11, 2009. For more information, please visit www.baltimorecomiccon.com.   About The Harvey Awards The Harvey Awards are one of the comic book industry's oldest and most respected awards. With a history of over 20 years, the last 4 in conjunction with the Baltimore Comic-Con, the Harveys recognize outstanding achievements in over 20 categories. They are the only industry awards nominated and selected by the full body of comic book professionals. For more information, please visit www.harveyawards.org.

Comics Riff on Tomorrow

Tom Tomorrow that is - Cavna has an interview online at Comic Riffs. The closest that This Modern World runs is in the Baltimore City Paper, I think.

Style Invitational comic strip mashup with Staake

The clever among us should immediately go to the Washington Post's Style Invitational's contest for Week 837: Strip Search, October 3, 2009 to answer the question: Combine two comic strips that appear in The Washington Post or at http://www.washingtonpost.com/comics . This was probably somewhat inspired by all the recent Disney-Marvel mashups, but I like Bob Staake's take on Dilbert - Spider-Man. Feel free to write to me if you have a question about a strip in the print edition.

Baltimore Comic-Con 2009 First Annual Costume Contest, More!

Baltimore Comic-Con 2009 First Annual Costume Contest, More! Baltimore, Maryland - September 30, 2009 - In addition to the all-star line-up of talent scheduled at this year's gala 10th anniversary Baltimore Comic-Con, the show will host it's first-ever costume contest ... with a $1,000 grand prize!   "We wanted to take Sunday up a notch, which is normally the more laid-back day," said Marc Nathan, Baltimore Comic-Con promoter.  "We've been asked for years and years to have a costume contest - so we're kicking it off with a bang!"   The $1,000 grand prize will be awarded to the best over-all costume at the event, including pro and amateur costumes.  Other award categories will win DVD prize packages, comic book packages, and gift certificates to Cards, Comics and Collectibles of Reisterstown, Maryland.  Everyone who enters the contest will win passes to the advance screening of Summit Entertainment's newest film, ASTROBOY, which opens nationwide on Friday, October 23rd.   A panel of celebrity media judges will determine the contest winners, including Baltimore's own Ed Norris, and some world-famous comic book creators!   The contest will start at 3pm on Sunday, October 11th at the Baltimore Convention Center!   Ed Norris Signing Baltimore celebrity and media personality Ed Norris will be signing on Saturday, October 10th from 2pm-4pm!  Stop by the HC Noel booth in Artists Alley, check out his mini-comic, and get autographs while he's at the show!   AWAKENING Halloween Signing Tour Stops in Baltimore Archaia is making the first stop of their AWAKENING Halloween Signing Tour the Baltimore Comic-Con!  Stop by and by a copy or get your copy signed and receive a free print created exclusively for the signing tour.  In addition, attendees who provide Archaia with their e-mail address will receive a special link and login info at 12am on Halloween morning which will grant them exclusive access to the first chapter of AWAKENING volume two, due out next summer.   Art Auction The 2009 Baltimore Comic-Con Art Auction will be held Saturday, October 10th at 6pm in the main convention center lobby, and will feature pieces by artists including Adam Hughes, Frank Cho, Joe Kubert, and many more.  Futher details will be made available in a future press release. Guests The Baltimore Comic-Con guest list for 2009 includes:  Jason Aaron (Wolverine), Neal Adams (Batman), Mike and Laura Allred (Madman), Josh Alves (Arachnid Kid), Dick Ayers (Sgt. Fury and his Howling Commandos), Paul Azaceta (Amazing Spider-Man), Brian Michael Bendis (Avengers), Ryan Bodenheim (Red Mass for Mars), Doug Braithwaite (Wolverine: Origins), Pat Broderick (Vincent Price Presents), Harold Buchholz (Apathy Kat), Buzz (Atomika), Jim Calafiore (Batgirl), Eric Canete (Iron Man:  Enter the Mandarin), Nick Cardy (Aquaman), Jerry Carr (Cryptozoo Crew), Tommy Castillo (Kong:  King of Skull Island), Mike Cavallaro (ACT-I-VATE), Bernard Chang (Wonder Woman), Jo Chen (New Avengers:  The Reunion), Sean Chen (Dark Reign:  Fantastic Four), Jimmy Cheung (New Avengers: Illuminati), Cliff Chiang (Green Arrow & Black Canary), Frank Cho (Ultimates 4), Chris Claremont (X-Men Forever), Steve Conley (Star Trek:  Year Four), Jamie Cosley (Tony Pony),  J.M. DeMatteis (Metal Men), Todd Dezago (Marvel Adventures:  Spider-Man), Michael Dolce (Descendant), Evan Dorkin (Beasts of Burden), Jim Dougan (ACT-I-VATE), Jan Duursema (Star Wars:  Legacy), Sarah Dyer (Superman Adventures), Chondra Echert (Sunday only, KILL AUDIO), Steve Englehart (Avengers), Rich Faber (Roboy Red), Jay Faerber (Noble Causes), Tom Feister (GI Joe:  Origins), Michel Fiffe (ACT-I-VATE), David Finch (Ultimatum), Bob Fingerman (Recess Pieces), Matt Fraction (Uncanny X-Men), Franco (Tiny Titans), Simon Fraser (ACT-I-VATE), John Gallagher (Buzzboy), Bryan J.L. Glass (Mice Templar), Michael Golden (Spider-Man 1602), Jimmy Gownley (Amelia Rules), Sanford Greene (Marvel Adventures Spider-Man), Jenni Gregory (Ka-Blam), Allan Gross (Cryptozoo Crew), Tim Hamilton (ACT-I-VATE), Cully Hamner (Detective Comics), Tony Harris (Ex Machina), Dean Haspiel (ACT-I-VATE), Jennifer Hayden (ACT-I-VATE), Mark Hempel (Absolute Sandman), Greg Horn (Cover Stories:  The Art of Greg Horn), Adam Hughes (Power Girl), Jamal Igle (Supergirl), Kathryn Immonen (Runaways), Stuart Immonen (New Avengers), Joe Infurnari (ACT-I-VATE), Rebekah Isaacs, sponsored by Laughing Ogre Comics (DV8), Chris Ivy (Beast Boy), Georges Jeanty (Buffy the Vampire Slayer), Van Jensen (Pinocchio, Vampire Slayer), J.G. Jones (Final Crisis), Joe Jusko (Kolchak:  Tales of the Night Stalker), Karl Kesel (Marvel Apes), Robert Kirkman (The Walking Dead), Barry Kitson (Amazing Spider-Man), Scott Koblish (Final Crisis:  Legion of Three Worlds), Joe Kubert (Wednesday Comics), Scott Kurtz (PvP), Erik Larsen (Savage Dragon), Greg LaRocque (Peter Parker:  The Spectacular Spider-Man), Jerry "The King" Lawler(Headlocked), Norman Lee (GeNext), Steve Lieber (Underground), Luna Brothers (The Sword), Andy MacDonald (NYC Mech), David Mack (Kabuki), Tom Mandrake (The Outsiders), Mike Manley (Batman:  Brave and the Bold), Larry Marder (Beanworld), Laura Martin (Thor), Ron Marz (Witchblade), Michael McElroy (Ka-Blam), Sean McKeever (Teen Titans), Mark McKenna (BananaTail), Mike McKone (Amazing Spider-Man), Bob McLeod (New Mutants), Carla Speed McNeil (Finder), Pop Mhan (World of Warcraft), Mark Morales (Secret Invasion), Doug Murray (Jungle Girl Season 2), Scott Neely (Scooby-Doo), Jamar Nicholas (Leon, Protector of the Playground), Steve Niles (30 Days of Night), Phil Noto (Batgirl), Kevin Nowlan (The Spirit), Mike Oeming (Mice Templar), Ryan Ottley (Invincible), Jeff Parker (Agents of ATLAS), Dan Parsons (Star Wars:  The Clone Wars), Guest of Honor George Perez (Final Crisis:  Legion of Three Worlds), David Petersen (Mouse Guard), Brandon Peterson (Ultimate Comics Armor Wars), Khoi Pham (Mighty Avengers), Whilce Portacio (Spawn), Eric Powell (The Goon), Buddy Prince (Night), Brian Pulido (Lady Death), Jack Purcell (Gotham Underground), Mike Raicht (Army of Darkness), Tom Raney (Dark Reign:  Hawkeye), Brian Reber (Captain Britain and MI13), Kat Roberts (ACT-I-VATE), Alex Robinson (Too Cool to be Forgotten), James Robinson (Superman), Budd Root (Cavewoman), Don Rosa (Uncle Scrooge), Craig Rousseau (Iron Man & The Armor Wars), Stephane Roux (Amazing Spider-Man), Andy Runton (Owly), Stan Sakai (Usagi Yojimbo), Tim Sale (Heroes), Coheed & Cambria's Claudio Sanchez (Sunday only, KILL AUDIO), Ian Sattler (Final Crisis:  Aftermath), Scott Christian Sava (Dreamland Chronicles), Alex Saviuk (The Phantom Generations), Mr. Sheldon (Sunday Only, KILL AUDIO), Marc Silvestri (Witchblade), Walt Simonson (Thor), Andy Smith (Dean Koontz's Nevermore), John K. Snyder III (Doctor Mid-Nite), Allison Sohn (Star Wars trading card artist), Taki Soma (Rapture), Richard Starkings (Elephentmen), Brian Stelfreeze (Final Crisis Aftermath:  Ink), Karl Story (Batman:  Streets of Gotham), Bobby and Peter Timony (Zuda Comics), Robert Tinnell (EZ Street), Peter Tomasi (Blackest Night:  Batman), Herb Trimpe (Hulk), Billy Tucci (Sgt. Rock:  The Lost Battalion), Ted Tucker (Captain Happy), Jim Valentino (Shadowline Comics), Rob Venditti (The Surrogates), Dexter Vines (Wolverine), Neil Vokes (The Black Forest), Doug Wagner (The Ride), Matt Wagner (Grendel), Mark Waid (The Incredibles), Todd Webb (Nick Magazine), Len Wein (Justice League of America), Mark Whealey (Lone Justice), Renee Witterstaetter (Tex:  The Art of Mark Texeira -- The Artist's Great Escape), Brian Wood (sponsored by Laughing Ogre Comics, Northlanders), Bernie Wrightson (Swamp Thing), Kelly Yates (Amber Atoms), and Thom Zahler (Love & Capes).   Regrettably, Amanda Conner, Al Feldstein, Ron Garney, Michael Lark, Jimmy Palmiotti, Eric Powell, James Robinson, Jim Starlin, Paul Storrie, and Mark Texeira have had to cancel.  We look forward to seeing all of the return in 2010.   Tickets Tickets are available at Cards, Comics & Collectibles of Reistertown, MD, Laughing Ogre Comics in Northern Virginia, or pick them up this Sunday, October 4th, at the Capital Associates Comic Show in Tyson's Corner, VA from the Cards, Comics & Collectibles tables.  You can also buy your ticket in advance via http://www.baltimorecomiccon.com/tickets.htm to avoid the ticket line the day of the show.   Hotels Our previously-announced deadline for discounted hotel rooms has been extended by the participating hotels!  A good number of rooms have been sold already, but there are some still available through this offer, so please take a look at http://www.baltimorecomiccon.com/hotels.htm for details on room availability at hotels around the Baltimore Convention Center.    Harvey Awards Ticket Sales Ticket for the 2009 Harvey Awards and Banquet are now on sale.  Place your order with a credit card by calling 410-526-7410.     We will continue to providing details on guests, the Harvey Awards, industry exclusives, and programming leading up to the show.  The latest developments can always be found at our website, Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, and ComicSpace pages. This year's Baltimore Comic-Con will be held October 10-11, 2009. Convention hours are Saturday 10 AM to 6 PM and Sunday 10 AM to 5 PM. The ceremony and banquet for the Harvey Awards will be held Saturday night, October 10th. As we continue to get ready for this year's show, we would like to remind you to mark your calendar for next year's Baltimore Comic-Con dates: August 28-29, 2010.

Cartoons at Saturday brunch in Arlington

The Express has the story about how to get Bugs Bunny with your waffle.

Looking for Calvin and Hobbes booksignings

Nevin Martell writes in "I'm doing a couple of DC-area events" for his book "Looking for Calvin and Hobbes: The Unconventional Story of Bill Watterson and His Revolutionary Comic Strip"

Oct 29 at 7-9 PM - Bethesda, MD at Big Planet Comics
http://www.bigplanetcomics.com/index.htm

Nov 19 in Baileys Crossroads, VA at Borders
http://www.borders.com/online/store/StoreDetailView_45?schid=GLBC|Baileys+Crossroads+VA|45

Crafty Bastards fest this weekend

The Washington City Paper’s annual Craft Bastard festival is Saturday, Oct 3, 10-5 in Adams Morgan. There’s usually cartoonists there. Rob Ullman will definitely be there, and I’m sure the City Paper’s Ben Classen will also.

Disney film opens at E Street Cinema

According to today’s Express, the documentary Walt and El Grupo opens tomorrow at the E Street Cinema at 555 11^th St. This film looks at Walt Disney’s good will tour of South  America, which resulted in The Three Caballeros and some characters we rarely see that are popular in the rest of the world.

 

Comic Riffs poll on Cul de Sac

I'm falling a bit behind but Michael Cavna asked for reactions to Our Man Thompson's Cul de Sac earlier this week.

Book review: Looking for Calvin and Hobbes

Martell, Nevin. Looking for Calvin and Hobbes: The Unconventional Story of Bill Watterson and His Revolutionary Comic Strip. New York: Continuum, 2009.  $24.95.

ISBN-10: 082642984X, ISBN-13: 978-0826429841

 

Nevin Martell has written a curious book, although one would probably best consider it a biography. Bill Watterson so consistently shunned the media that one is put in mind of the Shakespeare biography industry in which a few facts are churned in an attempt to generate a larger picture of a life. Readers of a certain age may end up recalling Leonard Nimoy's syndicated television show, In Search Of, in which apparently mythical beasts such as the Loch Ness Monster or the yeti were diligently pursued for an hour. A better analogy might be In Search of Lost Time, as, like Proust, Martell seeks both Watterson's youth, and by extension, his own.

 

To his credit, while lacking Watterson's cooperation, Martell avoided writing a book that just looks at his favorite Calvin and Hobbes strips. The book covers Watterson's school life and his earlier attempts at comic strips and editorial cartooning. Martell goes into some detail looking at the influences that Watterson claimed – Charles Schulz, Walt Kelly and George Herriman, relying largely on Watterson's writings in published collections. He covers the main characters, storylines and tropes of Calvin and Hobbes, as well as the history of the strip and Watterson's relationships with the media and his syndicate. Both of these relationships were prickly, as were his relationships with other cartoonists as he rarely participated in social activities nor accepted the awards they voted him.

 

Martell demonstrates how Watterson's eventual pursuit of a Platonic image of a comic strip, in which licensing and commercialism never played a factor, led to his quitting the field. This unrealistic view is gainsaid by the actual history of comics which were merchandised as often as possible from their 19^th century beginnings in both the US and the Great Britain. Universal Press Syndicate and Andrews McMeel representatives are circumspect in their quotes, but one is clearly left with their negative opinion about the staggering amount of money Watterson "left on the table" by refusing to merchandise his strip.

 

Since Watterson would not talk to Martell, the author tried to talk to his family and eventually did speak with the cartoonist's mother. He also met with Watterson's friends such as comics historian Rich West and others from Watterson's childhood. Martell also talked to many other cartoonists about Watterson's influence, whether or not they actually know him, and the book takes on a somewhat scattered voice. Martell ends the book with his trip to Chagrin Falls, OH where he speaks with his mother.

 

In the end, one is left uncertain as to how to consider Watterson. He was at the top of his career, a career the book amply shows how hard he had tried to achieve, and he left it. As a result, he avoided the downturn in quality that many strips have at periods in their lifespans. The reader is then left with the question of whether this is actually a good idea – the comic strip survives as a decade-long achievement – but what is then left unachieved is of course unknown and unknowable. In spite of Watterson's refusal to speak for himself, Martell has written an engaging and informative book while avoiding most of the traps that catch fan writers. The book includes a bibliography and an index. (This reviewer is thanked in the acknowledgements for helping with research).

 

Michael Rhode

Virginia Commonwealth University picks comic book as item 2 million

See "Spider-Man comic VCU Libraries' 2 millionth volume" By the Associated Press, September 28, 2009. It's the Obama Spider-Man appearance, but still this is an odd story. Thanks to Tom Inge and another big donor they've got a decent comic book collection, but it's not something they're really known for.