Tonight 5 pm - Karasik at Politics & Prose

Paul Karasik writes in

Just a head's-up that I will be coming to Politics & Prose on Sunday, October 18th to present "The Fletcher Hanks Experience". My first collection of stories by Maryland homeboy, Fletcher Hanks, netted an Eisner Award, and the second book, "You Shall Die By Your Own Evil Creation!" has been recently released. Together the two volumes comprise the Complete Works of the long forgotten cartoonist whom R. Crumb, himself, called, "a twisted dude"!
--
www.fletcherhanks.com

I've bought both volumes already.

Quick Reviews for Comics Due 10-21-09

QUICK REVIEWS FOR COMICS DUE 10-21-09
By John Judy

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #609 by Marc Guggenheim, Marco Checchetto and Luke Ross.  The post- Clone Saga continues as we scratch our heads and wonder why everyone in the world hasn't figured out that Peter Parker is Spider-Man already.

ANGEL VS. FRANKENSTEIN ONE-SHOT written and drawn by John Byrne.  Should be listed as "Angelus vs. Frankenstein" but what are you going to do?  Read it!  For some reason Byrne is able to recapture his old comics magic when working on this character.  Recommended.

ARCHIE #602 by Michael Uslan and Stan Goldberg.  Archie and Veronica have twins!  Can a tummy-tuck be far behind?  Fun stuff from the land where they're all imaginary stories.

BATMAN: THE UNSEEN #2 of 5 by Doug Moench and Kelley Jones.  Oh, sure "skinless meat-man", go completely invisible! See if it helps.  Batman doesn't need to see your @$$ to kick it!

BLACKEST NIGHT: SUPERMAN #3 of 3 by James Robinson and Eddy Barrows.  In which we learn if a code against killing still applies when one's opponents are already dead.

BRAVE AND BOLD #28 by J. Michael Straczynski and Jesus Saiz.  Barry "The Flash" Allen meets the Blackhawks!  He runs at the speed of light!  They fly planes!  It's spectacle galore!

CHEW #5 by John Layman and Rob Guillory.  The conclusion of the first story-arc of this twisted work of genius.  A cop who gains psychic information from everything he eats.  Read it before Hollywood screws it up as a movie!  Recommended!

DARK AVENGERS #10 by Brian Michael Bendis and Mike Deodato.  You know trouble's a-brewing when all the main characters are on the cover looking up at you with fear and surprise.

EX MACHINA #46 by Brian K. Vaughan and Tony Harris.  Mayor Hundred's newest foe plans on killing everyone on the planet!  And you thought teacher's unions were tough!  Recommended.

HELLBLAZER #260 by Peter Milligan and Simon Bisley.  You would think by now London crime lords would know not to screw with John Constantine.  And you would be wrong…

INCREDIBLE HULK #603 by Greg Pak and Ariel Olivetti.  Hulk and Hulk-Boy duke it out with Wolverine and Wolver-Lad.  Also that back-up feature with the crazy alternate-future She-Hulk in Thundra's costume continues.  If you're looking for characters you want to see die horribly this is the book for you!

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #38 by James Robinson and Mark Bagley.  The new creative team begins this issue and it looks like some of the old guard won't be around much longer.  Gotta look!

MIGHTY AVENGERS #30 by Christos Gage, Dan Slott and Sean Chen. The Mighty, New, Dark, Young and Initiative Avengers all team up to hit someone!

SCALPED VOL. 5: HIGH LONESOME SC by Jason Aaron, R.M. Guera, Davide Furno and Francesco Francavilla.  Collecting issues #25-29, in which Agent Dash Bad Horse descends into the chaos of drug addiction in the wake of his mother's murder.  Best ongoing series being published today.  Highly recommended.

SPIDER-WOMAN #2 by Brian Michael Bendis and Alex Maleev.  The lady in the skintight bodysuit heads to a sleazy city to work for a group called "SWORD."  This does not sound at all porny.

THE STAND: SOUL SURVIVORS #1 of 5 by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and Mike Perkins.  Once again we join the best Stephen King comics adaptation ever, already in progress.  Recommended.

SUGARSHOCK ONE-SHOT by Joss Whedon and Fabio Moon.  A rock band battles in space!  This won an Eisner Award for Best Web Comic and is awesome in all the ways one expects from the guy who gave us Buffy, Angel, Firefly and Dr. Horrible.  Recommended.

THUNDERBOLTS #137 by Rick Remender and Mahmud A. Asrar.  Norman Osborn now has Luke Cage and Iron Fist as his personal assassins!  That guy…!

UNDERGROUND #2 of 5 by Jeff Parker and Steve Lieber.  It's noir suspense set in a cave!  You want edgy?  This is cave-noir edgy!  Recommended.

X-MEN LEGACY #228 by Mike Carey and Daniel Acuna.  Emplate is back and he wants to suck mutant bone marrow!  That guy…!

www.johnjudy.net

Nov 11: Metropolis at JICC

Metropolis to be screened at the Japan Information and Culture Center,  Embassy of Japan.

DC Anime Club in collaboration with Japan Information and Culture Center, Embassy of Japan Present screen Metropolis on
Friday November 13, 2009 6:30 pm at Lafayette Center III (Lower Level) 1155 21st Street, NW Washington, DC 20036 as part of inaugural showing for a new film series based on both Anime (Japanese Animation) and Manga ( Japanese Comics).

Kenichi and his detective uncle, Shunsaku Ban, leave Japan to visit Metropolis, in search of the criminal, Dr. Laughton. However, when they finally find Dr. Laughton, Kenichi and Shunsaku find themselves seperated and plunged into the middle of a larger conspiracy. While Shunsaku searches for his nephew and explanations, Kenichi tries to protect Tima (a mysterious young girl), from Duke Red and his adopted son Rock, both of whom have very different reasons for wanting to find her.
This event is free and open to the public. Reservations are required.

RSVP to jiccrsvpfall09@embjapan.org.

Seating is limited and granted on a first come, first served basis.

For more information please visit the Japanese Information and Culture Center website at

http://www.us.emb-japan.go.jp/jicc/index.htm or visit the DC Anime Club website at http://dcanimeclub.org.


CONTACT: Chris Wanamaker, (202) 262 2083 president@dcanimeclub.org

Another Luna Brothers interview

The End of the Luna's THE SWORD ... Incommminngggg!
By Vaneta Rogers
Newsarama 15 October 2009

Tomorrow - Karasik at Politics and Prose

Paul Karasik writes in

Just a head's-up that I will be coming to Politics & Prose on Sunday, October 18th to present "The Fletcher Hanks Experience". My first collection of stories by Maryland homeboy, Fletcher Hanks, netted an Eisner Award, and the second book, "You Shall Die By Your Own Evil Creation!" has been recently released. Together the two volumes comprise the Complete Works of the long forgotten cartoonist whom R. Crumb, himself, called, "a twisted dude"!
--
www.fletcherhanks.com

I've bought both volumes already.

Scoop features Mark Zaid

ORIGIN ISSUE: Mark Zaid, Scoop October 16 2009, is on why he collects.

Zadzooks on superhero animation

"Zadzooks: Batman and Superman: Public Enemies, X-Men: The Animated Adventures" Joseph Szadkowski, Washington Times October 15, 2009.

OT: Tomi Ungerer in today's NY Times

Tomi Ungerer, a truly great cartoonist is profiled in today's paper so I'll put up a pointer to it - "A Perpetual Outsider With a Museum of His Own," By MICHAEL KIMMELMAN, October 15, 2009.

Comic Riffs' Herblock article also in today's hardcopy Post

A trimmed-down version of Cavna's Comic Riffs' article on Herblock is in today's paper - "Herblock, Through The Eyes Of History," By Michael Cavna, Washington Post Staff Writer, Wednesday, October 14, 2009.

Ian Sattler reminisces about being Big Planet prole

Ian, who used to write a good bit of the Big Planet Orbit newsletter even when he went Hollywood, is now a DC honcho and gave a shout out to the old home store at the Baltimore Comic Con. Another BP alum is Dan Nadel of Picturebox publishing fame.

Weldon on Matt Kindt

A Big-and-Tall Tale: See The Lovely, Haunting Images Of Matt Kindt's '3 Story'
by Glen Weldon
National Public Radio's Monkey See blog October 14, 2009

Comic Story Arc blog features opinion by local comic book reader

My friend John Daniels has restarted his comic book review blog, Comic Story Arc, with looks at Hatter M and Frank Beddor's new novel. Check it out.

DC Comic Books Examiner: Costume cavalcade at Baltimore Comic-con

Costume cavalcade at Baltimore Comic-con Tuesday, October 13, 2009 On Charles St. a Wonder Woman walks next to Tank Girl, her freind pushes a baby carriage away from the Baltimore's Convention Center, that marked the weekend occasion, towards the downtown stores and eateries. The two women set an image for conventioners... 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.

 

Nevin Martell interviewed at CBR

Local author Nevin Martell is interviewed about his new Calvin & Hobbes book - "Talking Comics with Tim: Nevin Martell," by Tim O'Shea, Comic Book Recources October 12, 2009.

Martell's got a nice word about Our Man Thompson too - Richard Thompson's "Cul de Sac" has a great artistic sensibility and top-notch writing -- I describe it in the book as "[looking] like Ralph Steadman and Charles Schulz fighting over a pen to draw "The Yellow Kid" crossed with "FoxTrot," with a dollop of Watterson’s wit thrown in for good measure."

Herblock exhibit covered by Tom Sherwood

NBC TV reporter (and former Wash Post writer iirc) Tom Sherwood also beat me to covering the Herblock exhibit -

He interviews my friends Martha Kennedy and Sara Duke, and you get a good sense of what the exhibit looks like.

ABC has a text story on the exhibit - "Herblock: Cartoonist Who Coined 'McCarthyism' Honored at Library of Congress; Master of Editorial Cartooning: Herbert Block Cartoons on Display," By LINDSEY ELLERSON, Oct. 13, 2009.

As does the sadly-diminished Syndicate World section of Editor and Publisher - "Library of Congress Opens 'Herblock!' Exhibit," By Elaine Williams, E& P Online October 13, 2009.

Comic Riffs on new Herblock exhibit

Michael beat me to the punch with his article -

The 'Herblock!' Show: Cartoonists, Library of Congress Pay Tribute on Legend's 100th Birthday
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog October 13, 2009

Catching up with Weingarten's irregular chats

Since he took the latest Post buyout, Gene Weingarten's been chatting irregularly. He did one on September 29th where he took Zits somewhat to task (in the first poll) for racial insensitivity.

Actually, in his comments later, he says, "Gene Weingarten: I am surprised that I am in such a small minority that finds both versions of the cartoon problematic. To me, both versions are (humorously) equating the suffering of victims of terrible cataclysmic human injustices -- the Holocaust, slavery -- to the suffering of high school students in detention." He's speaking of a reference to Harriet Tubman smuggling a student in the original, versus Oskar Schindler in his modified version. For the record, neither particularly bothered me. The debate between Gene and his readers goes on for a while if one is interested.

I agree with this responder: Baltimore, Md.: "To me, both versions are (humorously) equating the suffering of victims of terrible cataclysmic human injustices -- the Holocaust, slavery -- to the suffering of high school students in detention." Really? Can't believe you, of all people, read it so literally. It's not about detention = slavery and the Holocaust. It's about Stupid Teenage Drama that equates detention with "terrible cataclysmic human injustices."

Gene Weingarten: I accept that is how most people are reading it. I'll go further: I'll accept that I must be oversensitive.

In the second poll, he took some shots at the first Our Town panel. The polls running pretty hard against Our Town, but that's perhaps due to the negative slant the questions have. On the other hand, this was a bad choice to start the feature off with. The idea of a park for handicapped kids is not an intuitive one, as most of us have never seen such a park.

As I continue reading, I find Gene says in response to someone who'd been to the park and liked it "I don't get it. If this is about a place for handicapped children, why are there no handicapped children? If it is filled with rides, why are there no rides shown? If it is a place of extreme bliss, why is no one shown having fun? Why is everyone just... standing around? Why do the words -- bliss, joy, etc. -- seem to counteract the imagery? Does it seem to anyone else as though this seemed a little ... snide and sarcastic? I cannot believe it was meant to be that, but I'm not sure it's delivering whatever it meant to deliver. Why no color, except for in an occasional insignificant place? What purpose do the asterisks serve -- none that seems consistent with any prior use of asterisks that I have seen. Why is "acronym" continuously misused?"

Baltimore Comic Con photos continued - Cosplay

All photographs are by Claire.


Hawkwoman.


The Joker - an excellent version that reminded me of Marshall Rogers' art.


The Ghostbusters posed with a family, and doesn't the one on the right really look like Dan Ackroyd?


Rorschach, Nite Owl and Poison Ivy - a teamup that Alan Moore will never want to see.


Hawkwoman.


Scarlet Witch and the White Queen.


Scarlet Witch, #21 henchman of the Monarch from the Venture Bros cartoon, and the White Queen.

Here's an article about the cosplay contest - "Comic book fans get in character: Baltimore Comic-Con's debut costume contest draws dozens of colorful entrants," By Tricia Bishop, Baltimore Sun October 12, 2009.

I'm sure Bruce Guthrie will have plenty of photographs on his website of the cosplayers (link towards the right - over there).

Another Jeff Kinney interview

"Nothing 'Wimpy' about local author's success," By Heather McCarron, Milford Daily News Oct 12, 2009.

DC Comic Books Examiner: Baltimore Comic-con celebrated 10 year anniversary

Baltimore Comic-con celebrated 10 year anniversary Monday, October 12, 2009 Saturday's Baltimore Marathon and Sunday's Raven's game at M & T Bank Stadium were not the only events that percolated city commerce and contribute an exhuberant crowd this past weekend. The Baltimore Comic-con lit up the downtown area near Inner... 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.