Thursday, December 03, 2009
Dog Sees God, not a (wink, wink) Peanuts play in Alexandria
DOG SEES GOD
Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead
November 27 – December, 19, 2009
Directed by: William D. Parker
Produced by: Jennifer Lyman
When CB's dog dies, CB begins to question the existence of an afterlife. A chance meeting sets in motion a friendship that will push teen angst to the very limits. Drugs, suicide, eating disorders, teen violence, and sexual identity collide and careen toward an ending that's both haunting and hopeful.
NOTE:
Please note this is a 10:30PM performance. This show contains references to drug use, sex, and other sensitive topics. It is not recommended for children.
Wednesday, December 02, 2009
Washington Times laying off 40% of staff - and 100% of comics?
This has not been a good year for comic strips and editorial cartoons in the nation's capital. Perhaps I'll do a year-in-review post like everyone else does in December.
More SHOCs - Batmania and Japanese anime in 1966
One of the big stories was apparently the Batman tv show - this illustrated an article on Batmania:
Things don't appear to have changed much in 40 years, do they? It's by Thurston, who also did one of the Odd 'Change comics in yesterday's post.
I'm guessing that DC wasn't paid for this use...
And this wire photo of a Japanese anime character surprised me. I had to go Wikipedia to find out this was Obake no Qtarō (or Oba-Q as in the caption here). From February 28, 1966.
Tuesday, December 01, 2009
Nice new Pekar interview online
Xavier Xerexes, of Arlington, comic creator interviewer
Wired's Geek Dad blog on Looking for Calvin and Hobbes
SHOC: Odd 'Change comic panel
Odd 'Change is a very small panel that appeared in the middle of the stock tables. Here's three examples:
May 6, 1966
March 25, 1966
March 3, 1966
I haven't been able to find any information on this panel, with an admittedly quick search of OSU and MSU's databases. It's not in Allan Holtz's excellent resource The Stripper's Guide either, although this post points out that the Free Press did do its own comic strips. The original clippings are being sent to MSU's Comic Art Collection. Join us again for another entry in... The Secret History of Comics!
Comics Research Bibliography updated!
Dec 5: Book illustrator at Medical Museum
The Art and Science of "OUTBREAK: Plagues that Changed History" with the artist Bryn Barnard
When:
Saturday, December 5, 2009, 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. (Feel free to drop in; no reservations required.)
What:
Bryn Barnard, author and artist of "OUTBREAK: Plagues that Changed History," (on exhibit through Jan 22, 2010 at NMHM) will host three exciting programs on Saturday, December 5, 2009, including an illustration workshop and a special session aimed at younger audiences. Free, open to the public, no reservations required.
See the schedule online at http://nmhm.washingtondc.museum/events/event_2ed.html for more details. Questions? Call (202) 782-2673 or email nmhminfo@afip.osd.mil.
Where:
National Museum of Health and Medicine, on the campus at Walter Reed Army Medical Center
6900 Georgia Avenue, NW, Building 54, Washington, D.C. 20307 (Enter at Elder St., NW)
Adults must present photo identification to gain entry to Walter Reed.
Contact:
(202) 782-2673 or email nmhminfo@afip.osd.mil
Friends of ComicsDC badge #2
I had so much fun making the first 'official' badge that I thought I'd do another. I finally found the image file that MJ of National Free Press sent in, so we've got a second button available on Zazzle.
Washington Times cuts comics?
What can one do, but shake one's head and then refuse to buy the paper...
Dec. 6: CapiCons Comic & Pop Culture Show - FREE Customer Admission
- Our Guest Artist/Creator and President of Heritage Comics HSQ, Andre Campbell!
http://www.heritagecomicshsq.com
- 21st Century Sandshark Studios Presents Tim Dzon--Artist/Inker ("West Coast Avengers," "GI Joe", etc.)
- Chris Flick, writer/artist and creator of the webcomics "Capes-N-Babes", and "CMX Suite"
http://www.capesnbabes.com/
http://www.communitymx.com/flicks/index.cfm
*****
Sun, Dec. 6 - CapiCons Comic & Pop Culture Show at the Dunn Loring Volunteer Fire Department. Our Guest will be Artist/Creator and President of Heritage Comics HSQ, Andre Campbell! AND 21st Century Sandshark Presents Tim Dzon--Artist/Inker (West Coast Avengers, GI Joe.) The show is open to the public from 10 am - 3 pm. Buy, sell and trade...gold, silver age and new comics; Magic and other gaming cards; Non-Sport Cards; Videos and DVDs; Anime; Horror; Sci-Fi; figures, toys; Star Wars and Star Trek memorabilia; original artwork, posters, T-shirts/clothing and various other comic related items. FREE customer admission for this show!
21st Century Sandshark Studios/Cards Comics & Collectibles/Doug Cheshire/Michael & Connie Creager/Chris Flick/
Donald and Kathy Gehl/Heritage Comics HSQ/FANDATA/J&M Comics/Outpost Station/Packcracker/Silver Fox Comics/TNT Comics/Steve Wagner/Tomorrow's Treasures/Wandering Rebel/Zeno's Books
...and MORE!!!!!!!!!!
...............
To get to the Dunn Loring Volunteer Fire Department (located about 20 minutes west of Washington, D.C.), take I-495 (DC/Capital Beltway) to Exit 47A (Rt 7 West). Go 1/2 mile, Take a Left on Gallows Rd and proceed 1 mile to 2148 Gallows Rd.
Or visit our website for detailed directions and Mapquest directions:
http://www.capicons.com/directions_dlvfd.htm
Address for convention location (no mail, please):
Dunn Loring Volunteer Fire Department
2148 Gallows Road
Dunn Loring, VA 22027
Monday, November 30, 2009
Dec 4: Tezuka Family Weekend at Freer
'Improved' Express cuts most comics UPDATED
Should you wish to question this improvement, you can write to inbox@readexpress.com
I will be doing so in a few minutes.
UPDATE: The editor wrote back to me to say, "We might feature fewer comics in our print edition now, but we've added an expanded comics section in an easy-access, newspaper-style format at our Web site, ExpressNightOut.com. You'll find Bizarro, Cornered and The Duplex there every day - plus a slew of new comics to make a visit worth your time. Those include Lio, Non Sequitur, The Argyle Sweater, Bound and Gagged, Candorville, Cul de Sac and the New Adventures of Queen Victoria. You can find them here: http://www.expressnightout.com/comics."
While I obviously don't agree with him, I appreciate the fact that he took the time to respond. I've just sent him a response which includes, "We'll have to agree to disagree though because if it's a commuting newspaper, then putting the comics online doesn't really help anyone except those with overly-smart phones. Besides the Post does that already. In the end, I just don't see providing less of something as a way to bring in more readers."
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Dec 6: Will Eisner Film
WILL EISNER: PORTRAIT OF A SEQUENTIAL ARTIST
Sunday, December 6, 12:15 pm
AFI Silver Theatre
Will Eisner started working in comics in the1930s, just as they were moving from reprints of newspaper strips to tabloids featuring original material, and Eisner had some of the most original creations of all. He combined elements of art, literature and film that eventually led to a successful career in what he called "sequential art," the forerunner of today's graphic novels. Starting in 1939, his gritty crime fighter series The Spirit incorporated "film noir" as well as elements of the Jewish experience and the fight against anti-semitism. Featuring interviews with Michael Chabon, Art Spiegelman, Jules Feiffer and others, this visually imaginative documentary captures Eisner's groundbreaking genius. USA, 2007, video, documentary, 96 minutes, Director: Andrew D. Cooke
SPECIAL GUEST Andrew Cooke, Director
For tickets and information about other WJFF films please visit WJFF.org
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SL (Shannon) Gallant, comic book artist, now in DC
I'm a comic artist-illustrator living in DC and currently working for IDW on G.I. Joe. I've also worked for DC, Dark Horse, Marvel, and Titan UK in the past on titles ranging from Marvel Adventures:The Avengers and Torchwood to more cartoon oriented work such as Shrek and Monsters vs Aliens.
The last few months I've been making the effort to create connections with other artists in the area, through DC Conspiracy and other groups. I was hoping you might know similar professionals in the region I should try to get in touch with who are less likely to participate in such outings?
So if you're a comic book professional in the area, feel free to post below. Send me news of your current and upcoming projects and I'll promote them as well. I know my co-author Randy's compiled a list of local people at one point - does he still have that?
Fantastic Mr. Fox feature in Post
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Saturday, November 28, 2009
Zadzooks interviews Dark Horse's Scott Allie and reviews Plastic Man
Zadzooks: Plastic Man: The Complete Collection, Star Wars: The Clone Wars, The Complete Season One, Joseph Szadkowski, Washington Times November 19, 2009
Mark Wheatley interview on Baker's Dozen
Check out his books too - he's got interviews with Alan Moore and others. I bought a complete set recently.
The Real Story of the Superheroes photo exhibit CLOSING TODAY
I just got back from seeing The Real Story of the Superheroes photo exhibit and I'd recommend you rush into the Joan Hisaoka Healing Arts Gallery on U St, NW at 16th St. and check it out. Photographer Dulce Pinzon clothed Mexicans working in New York City in Halloween superhero costumes loosely related to their jobs, and photographed them doing that work. 13 large images are displayed. It's a clever conceit and worth seeing. It's open until 3 pm today, the last day of the show.