Shooting ones' self in the foot? Or, 'Go to our website for comics'

A few months ago, we took the Express to task for dropping 2/3 of its comics page. One of the editors responded with the rationale that you could read them on their website. Here's an ad from the March 4th edition, conveying the same thing, but before I clipped it, it originally was sandwiched between two paid ads -- which they ain't getting on their website, or if they are, they won't make the same amount of money. And the rationale of going to their site is still weak, since you can go directly to the syndicates or some larger papers and read dozens of strips.

Is Second Life animation?

Obviously, it's an animation of a sort, just like motion capture movies like Avatar. But is it suitable to be considered comic art and covered here? I'm not sure - I've decided that Avatar and Alice in Wonderland are not the type of animation I want to cover here.

Read this and then feel free to give me your opinion -

Second Life's virtual money can become real-life cash
By Michael S. Rosenwald
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, March 8, 2010; A01

USA Today's Truitt on First Wave

Doc Savage is back! Brian Truitt on "'First Wave' reintroduces pulp heroes to new readers," USA Today (March 3 2010)

March 13: A true comic opera

This weekend is The Metropolitan Opera's staging of Shostakovich's The Nose. And why should we care? Because it's being directed by South African fine art animator William Kentridge and carried on WETA 90.9FM at 1 pm on March 13. The NY Times reviewed it today.

Comic Riffs' Michael Cavna interviewed at Tall Tales Radio

Episode 77 – Michael Cavna, "Comic Riffs"

By Tom Racine on March 8th, 2010
http://talltalefeatures.com/2010/03/08/episode-77-michael-cavna-comic-riffs/

Thanks to Our Man Thompson for the tip - he's been on the show too.

Matt Wuerker interview up at City Paper

Meet a Local Cartoonist: A Chat with Politico's Matt Wuerker

Posted by Mike Rhode on Mar. 8, 2010

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/artsdesk/books/2010/03/08/meet-a-local-cartoonist-a-chat-with-politicos-matt-wuerker/

PR: Sal Buscema book out

Sal Buscema was a Marvel mainstay for many years. I've got hundreds of comics he drew. He lives in Northern Virginia now, although I haven't had the luck to meet him.

 

If you enjoyed our previous books on Gene Colan and John Romita, Sr., don't miss SAL BUSCEMA: COMICS' FAST & FURIOUS ARTIST, which ships this week from TwoMorrows! And when you order directly from us, you get 15% off the retail price! (NOTE: Discount does not apply to the Ultra-Limited Hardcover sketch edition.)

In 1968, Sal Buscema joined the ranks of Marvel Comics and quickly became one of their most recognizable and dependable artists. Following in the footsteps of his big brother John Buscema, Sal quickly came into his own, and penciled some of Marvel's most memorable storylines, such as the original Avengers/Defenders war, as well as "The Secret Empire Saga" and the Nomad arc in the pages of Captain America. He also had a ten-year run on the Hulk and drew 100 consecutive issues of Spectacular Spider-Man, making him one of the few definitive artists of the Bronze Age. Sal Buscema: Comics' Fast & Furious Artist, by Alter Ego's Jim Amash with Modern Masters' Eric Nolen-Weathington, explores the life and career of this true legend of the comics industry, through an exhaustive interview with the artist, complete with extensive examples of his art, including a deluxe color section, and a
gallery of work from Sal's personal files. Fans love the fast and furious style of Sal Buscema, and this first-ever career-spanning book is guaranteed to please!  (NOTE: The deluxe hardcover contains a dust jacket, printed endpapers, and 16 extra full-color pages, not found in the softcover edition!)

The $26.95 SOFTCOVER can be ordered HERE at 15% off:
http://twomorrows.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=793

The standard $46.95 HARDCOVER can be ordered HERE at 15% off:
http://twomorrows.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&products_id=794

The $100 ULTRA-LIMITED HARDCOVER (which includes an individually numbered PENCIL SKETCH of one of Sal's favorite characters) can be ordered HERE:
http://twomorrows.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=106&products_id=838


Or just go to www.twomorrows.com where you'll find them listed on the home page for ordering. And as always, thanks for supporting TwoMorrows!

Best regards,
John Morrow, publisher
TwoMorrows
10407 Bedfordtown Dr.
Raleigh, NC 27614
919-449-0344
fax 919-449-0327
www.twomorrows.com

Cavna on animation Oscars race

Animation station: A race to the finish for these features
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, March 7, 2010; E06

March 27: Steranko at Geppi's Entertainment Museum

Colin Solan sends in "GEM hosts Steranko for a retrospective exhibit." Geppi's Museum site is here. As hard as it is to believe, it seems the exhibit is only up for 3 days.

Comics on the Rack, Quick Picks for Comics Due 03-10-10

COMICS ON THE RACK

Quick Picks for Comics Due 03-10-10

By John Judy

 

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #624 by Mark Waid and Paul Azaceta.  Holy moley, did the new Vulture really barf acid all over J. Jonah's face?!  And will it be an improvement?  Thrilling suspense from the mind of Mark Waid!

 

BATMAN AND ROBIN #10 by Grant Morrison and Andy Clarke.  Will Robin chop Batman's head off with a sword or won't he?  Decisions, decisions…

 

BATMAN: WIDENING GYRE #5 of 6 by Kevin Smith and Walter Flanagan.  "The women in (Batman's) life force him into an awkward position."  Kevin, Kevin, Kevin…

 

THE BOYS, VOL. 6: SELF-PRESERVATION SOCIETY SC by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson.  The supes go after the Boys.  Not smart, supes.  Not smart at all.  Massive violence and perversion ensue.  Recommended.  Not for kids.

 

BPRD: KING OF FEAR #3 of 5 by Mike Mignola, John Arcudi and Guy Davis.  Abe Sapien and Liz versus Tibetan frog monsters and the big, bad King of Fear!  Pulpy!

 

BREAKING INTO COMICS THE MARVEL WAY #1 of 2 by C.B. Cebulski and Others Who Have Done It.  No, this isn't about how Jack Kirby got his original art back, nor is it about being Kevin Smith.  It's a guide for the aspiring dweller in the House of Ideas and you could certainly do worse than to give it a read.  After all, if Rob Liefeld did it, why can't you?

 

CRIMINAL: SINNERS #5 by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips. Caught between the gangsters he works for and the military that wants him back Tracy Lawless is all out of options.  The big finish of this mini-series and possibly of its hard-luck star. Highly recommended.  Not for kids.

 

DARK X-MEN #5 of 5 by Paul Cornell and Leonard Kirk.  A battle for control inside Norman Osborn's mind could best be described as taking place on treacherous ground.  And isn't that always fun to watch?

 

DAYTRIPPER #4 of 10 by Fabio Moon and Gabriel Ba.  Bras has a son and then no doubt dies again.  Still a really good, beautiful read.  Highly recommended.

 

DOOM PATROL #8 by Keith Giffen and Matthew Clark.  More trouble comes to Oolong Island.  Why the gang doesn't pick up sticks and move is beyond me.  I mean, how good can an island be?

 

EX MACHINA #48 by Brian K. Vaughan and Tony Harris.  Long-ago prophecies come true as Mitchell Hundred comes one step closer to the end of his term.  Only two issues remain til the conclusion of this series which remains highly recommended.

 

GHOST PROJEKT #1 of 5 by Joe Harris and Steve Rolston.  A little something from Oni Press about a US weapons inspector and his Russian counterpart who have to track down a missing weapon that really shouldn't be.

 

GHOST RIDERS: HEAVEN'S ON FIRE SC by Jason Aaron and Roland Boschi.  Big, crazy, grindhouse biker brawl between heaven and hell with a bunch of Ghost Riders and the Son of Satan in the middle!  Great with Everclear and nachos!

 

GHOUL #3 Steve Niles and Bernie Wrightson.  A gorgeously illustrated monster noir mystery set in Hollywood.  This one really needs to be a movie.  From IDW.  Recommended.

 

HELLBOY, VOL. 9: THE WILD HUNT SC by Mike Mignola and Duncan Fegredo.  HB dukes it out with the Queen of Blood!  Because how can he not?

 

JUSTICE LEAGUE: RISE AND FALL SPECIAL #1 by James Robinson, J.T. Krul and Mike Mayhew.  Now that Green Arrow's back to greasing bad guys the JLA may need to re-examine their mission statement.

 

LOCKJAW AND THE PET AVENGERS UNLEASHED #1 of 4 by People Who Gotta Make Rent.  Six thousand years ago a naked lady ate an apple she wasn't supposed to and that's why this comic exists.

 

POWERS #3 Brian Michael Bendis and Michael Avon Oeming.  Walker's in trouble.  Lotsa swears.

 

PUNISHERMAX #5 by Jason Aaron and Steve Dillon.  After getting sledge-hammered and trampled by horses last issue Frank's gotta figure out how to take out the Mennonite, the Kingpin and everyone else who's looking to finish the job.  Highly recommended. Not for kids.

 

SECRET SIX #19 by Gail Simone and Jim Califiore.  Chesire the lady assassin/psycho-tramp has some news she wants to share with Catman.  Things kinda go south from there.

 

SOLOMON KANE: DEATH'S BLACK RIDERS #3 of 4 by Scott Allie and Mario Guevara.  Deep in the Black Forest things are smokin' at the Cleft Skull Tavern!  Indeed they are demon-slicing hot!  If you're a fan of the great Charles Vess you want to check out the art Mario Guevara's doing on this book.  Recommended.

 

SUPERMAN: LAST STAND ON NEW KRYPTON #1 of 3 by James Robinson, Sterling Gates and Pete Woods.  Rumble with Brainiac starts now!

 

THE MYSTIC HANDS OF DOCTOR STRANGE #1 by Lotsa People.  In the spirit of DEADLY HANDS OF KUNG-FU and BIG GREEN HANDS OF THE HULK and all those other black and white Marvel mags of the seventies that did so well, it's Doctor Strange's turn.  And are mystic hands anything like magic fingers?

 

THE TWELVE: SPEARHEAD #1 written and drawn by Chris Weston.  Captain America leads the heroes of The Twelve on a Nazi-fighting mission in 1945, which oddly enough was the last time we saw an issue of THE TWELVE.  Kidding!  It was November of 2008 which is much better.  Straczynski says issue #9 will come out "later this year."  Honest.  Anyway, Chris Weston is always amazing so this is Highly Recommended.

 

UNWRITTEN #11 by Mike Carey and Peter Gross.  In a city full of ghost Nazis Tommy Taylor tries to help.  But who can help him?  Recommended.

 

WOLVERINE: MR. X ONE-SHOT by Frank Tieri and Francesco Mattina.  Big fight!

 

www.johnjudy.net

Rob Ullman on Inkpanthers podcast

Mike Dawson and Alex Robinson have Rob Ullman on their March 3rd Inkpanthers podcast - Wrapping up our Olympic coverage, and coming to the conclusion that we should really be a sports show rather than a comedy one. We’re joined in the Lair by cartoonist and illustrator Robert Ullman, who schools us on Hockey, Curling, Jarts, and Fantasy Football Leagues. Comments Welcome!

Palin's 'Family Guy' quibble is the gift that keeps giving

Not so much a 'Patriot,' actor rejects praise from O'Reilly, By Lisa de Moraes, Washington Post March 5, 2010; C04.

April 17: Jules Feiffer at American Art

Saturday April 17, 2010

 American Pictures 

4:30 PM

McEvoy Auditorium, Lower Level
American Art Museum, National Portrait Gallery

The American Pictures series offers a highly original approach to art and portraiture, pairing great works of art with leading figures of contemporary American culture. Each American Pictures event features an eminent writer, thinker, historian, or artist who speaks about a single, powerful image and explores its meaning. The series director is historian and essayist Adam
Goodheart, who is director of the C. V. Starr Center for the Study of the American Experience at Washington College.

Lectures begin at 4:30 p.m.
Free tickets available in the G Street lobby one hour prior.


Saturday, April 17, 4:30 p.m.
Cartoonist Jules Feiffer on Bob Landry's Fred Astaire in "Puttin' on the Ritz"

May 4: Richard Kelly speaks at American Art

I've seen his collection - it's great. It's not exactly cartoonists, but there are people who went both ways in it like AB Frost.

 

Collectors Roundtable
7:00 PM

McEvoy Auditorium, Lower Level
American Art Museum

This annual series provides insight and invaluable advice on collecting art from museum directors, curators, collectors, and art dealers and consultants. Free and open to the public; no advance registration required. All lectures begin at 7 p.m.; doors open at 6:30 p.m.

Collecting for the Long Haul
Tuesday, May 4, 7:00 p.m.
Richard Kelly, The Kelly Collection of American Illustration

Bennett's Best with two good recs

Bennett's Best: First Wave and Strange Tales By Greg Bennett, Special to Zadzooks Thursday, March 4, 2010.

Can't go wrong with either Doc Savage or people satirizing Marvel, even if Marvel is paying them to do it. Well, actually, you can - I had forgotten about What The?!

(Image courtesy of the Grand Comics Database)

Zadzooks on Aliens vs Predators vs You vs the Kid down the block vs...

The idea for Aliens vs Predator actually originated in the Dark Horse comics, presumably because the movie would have cost a fortune. Anyway - "Zadzooks: Aliens vs. Predator review," Joseph Szadkowski, Washington Times March 4, 2010.

There seem to be a lot of us writing about comics in DC all of a sudden, eh? Zadzooks been doing it for at least 10 years though.

Apparently Garfield: The Play will arrive in DC in 2011

The Warner Theater is specifically suggested as a venue in "Garfield" Will Be Star of His Own Musical, Harry Haun, Playbill's Playblog (March 4 2010). Unless my daughter's tastes change radically in the next year, I'll be seeing this.

Takoma Park librarian on Benny and Penny

'Benny and Penny' tops 2010 list of best books for beginners, By KAREN MACPHERSON, Scripps Howard News Service March 3 2010.

Benny & Penny is one of Toon Books line.

DC writer reviews Sturm's Market Day

Unraveling Jewish Threads: James Sturm's Graphic Novel Market Day
Menachem Wecker
Jewish Press Mar 03 2010

PR: Festival Image (French Comics and Animation Festival)- Alliance Francaise de Washington

This looks good!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

The Alliance Française de Washington, MICA's Illustration and Experimental Animation Departments present

 

From April 16 to 24, 2010

 

Festival Imagé

French Comics and Animation Festival

Baltimore-Washington DC (USA)

The Alliance Française de Washington and The Maryland Institute College of Arts (MICA) are inaugurating their partnership with the Festival Imagé, first festival in the USA, which promotes the new generation of French artists working in comics and animated films.

 

From April 16 to 24, meetings, author-led workshops, and screenings of animated films will stress the similarities and differences which exist in "bande dessinée" and animated film between both sides of the Atlantic.

 

Five comics artists, four comic book publishers from both France and the US, as well as various comics connoisseurs and a series of events prepared by DC-based comics artists and students of MICA – America's oldest art school– will help animate this exceptional 10-day festival dedicated to sequential art.

 

The festival will engage a wide audience of amateurs, children, art students, Francophiles, and comic's aficionados of the "9ème Art" through the creativity and vitality of this made-in-France artistic format where more than 5000 titles are published each year.

 

Having been involved in the Festival Imagé since its inception, MICA's animation students will also have the chance to introduce their view of French culture through their own animated shorts, to be shown at two successive screenings.

During these two consecutive days, animated films from both MICA students and students from one of the most famous French schools, SUPINFOCOM, will be showcased in Baltimore and Washington.

 

A French author will also be visiting one of DC's underprivileged elementary schools through the Alliance Française's Outreach Program to share his passion with children.

 

On their side, students from MICA and local illustrators will meet French and US publishers and present their work through exhibitions during the professional forum.

This forum will offer a chance to create artistic ties and professional opportunities to be published in the USA but also in France.

 

Last but not least, French and American illustrators will launch a creative dialogue during the entire Festival Imagé with an interactive and collective production to be revealed during the festival's closing party.

 

Prepare to be overwhelmed by a new generation of talented and productive artists who interpret the daily complexities of modern society through an incredible variety of styles and artistic universes.

 

"Strike your imagination!"

 

Festival Imagé Program

 

 -Friday April 16 at MICA:

 

7:30 pm: Opening reception

8 pm: Panel discussion with Nicolas Nemiri, Antoine Dodé, Alain Corbel, and Laurence Arcadias. Moderated by José Villarrubia.

Beginning of the contest

At MICA/ Free

 

-Saturday April 17 at AFDC, 2 pm

Workshop with Antoine Dodé

http://www.antoinedode.com/

At the Alliance Française/ Free

 

 

-Monday April 19 at MICA, 8 pm

 

Lecture by José Villarrubia: "Colors in Comics"

 At MICA/ Free

 

 

-Tuesday April 20 at AFDC, 6:30 pm

 

Opening reception of the exhibition Les Trois Ombres by Cyril Pedrosa

Workshop with Domitille Collardey

http://www.domitille-collardey.com/ink.html

 At the Alliance Française/ Free for MICA students and AF members - General Admission $8

 

-Wednesday April 21st at MICA, 7 pm

Presentation: Laurence Arcadias

Short Films from SUPINFOCOM and MICA students

 At MICA/ Free

 

 

-Thursday April 22nd at Letelier Theater, 7 pm

Short Films from SUPINFOCOM and MICA students

At Letelier Theater 3251 Prospect Street, NW, Upper Courtyard, Washington DC

Free for MICA students and AF members - General Admission $8

 

-Friday April 23rd at AFDC, 6:30 pm

Lecture by Pascal Fioretto: "Humor in comics"

 At the Alliance Française/ free for MICA students and AF members - General admission: $8

 

-Saturday April 24th at MICA:

2:00 Alain Corbel presents his students work:

Exhibition "Gargantua"

2:30 pm: Workshop with Cyril Pedrosa http://www.firstsecondbooks.com/threeShadows.html

4 pm: Professional Forum with publishers from France and the US

Contest Results

6:30 pm: Closing Party

At MICA/ Free

 

 

---

Artists and speakers 

 

 

Antoine Dodé was born in Amiens and lived there until he moved to Belgium to study illustration at the Saint Luc School of Art. He is best known in the French and Belgian market for his character Armelle, who has been featured in two graphic novels published under Carabas Revolution (Semic): "Armelle and the Bird" and "Armelle and My Uncle."

 http://www.antoinedode.com/

 

José Villarrubia was born in Madrid, Spain, but is a long time Baltimore resident. A professor of the Illustration Department at MICA, José is best known for his coloring work in comics for Marvel, DC, Dark Horse and other companies and for his collaborations with author Alan Moore.

Domitille Collardey (born 1981) is best known for founding the Chicou-Chicou comics collective with Aude Picault. She currently lives in Paris and Brooklyn, NY. Domitille graduated from les Arts Decoratifs de Paris in 2004.  

She is currently working on an adaptation of Jean Teulé's novel "The Suicide Shop" for French publisher Delcourt, with Olivier Ka.

She also works for various press publications, such as Technikart, Beaux Arts Magazine, and Double.

 http://www.domitille-collardey.com/ink.html

 Pascal Fioretto Although he was a math whiz early on, having majored in chemistry at the Ecole normale supérieure of Chemistry, he also displayed a strong interest in literature and writing, which he finally gave in to. Catching the attention of cartoonist Marcel Gotlib, Fioretto then lent his wit to Fluide Glacial, a French monthly publication appealing to any and all lovers of truly tasteless jokes and irreverent humor.

Cyril Pedrosa began his career in animation, working on the Disney films "Hunchback of Notre Dame" and "Hercules." He has since become a rising star in a new kind of graphic storytelling, combining the influences of animation and the literary traditions of Borges, Garcia Marquez, and Tolkien to create a unique visual signature. 

http://www.firstsecondbooks.com/threeShadows.html

Nicolas Nemiri is a French comics author and illustrator who has always been very much inspired by Japanese manga. His artistic style is unique in that it blends manga with French esthetics. Nicolas is actually working on the 3rd album of his series "Je suis morte" created with writer Jean-David Morvan, a sci-fi story where teenagers are dealing with life, death and eternity.

http://www.nemiri.com/

 

Alain Corbel. With comic creator Eric Lambe, he produced Mokka and Pelure Amere, two modern comic strip magazines that influenced many authors and publishers in France and Belgium like Amok, Freon and La Cinquieme Couche. He works as an illustrator, comic strip artist, and storywriter. He is also teacher at MICA, Illustration Department. He did many books published in France and Portugal. He has a passion for Africa where he organizes regularly with the Portuguese NGO ACEP  illustration/writing workshops.   http://www.alaincorbel.in-netz.com/  http://obaraleixo.blogspot.com/

 Laurence Arcadias teaches animation at MICA and is the Co- chair of the Animation department.

She started her career in Paris as an illustrator and animator. She directed a TV show: "Alex", best animated TV series in Annecy festival and spent 3 years as Animator in Residence at Apple. She also worked for several companies such as hotwired, Kodak, Leapfrog…Her films have been screened internationally.

http://www.arcadias.tv

Located in the north of France, SUPINFOCOM is a unique school, made of passionate people for passionate students, armed with an educational experience and managed by a united team, a demanding school, which innovates, supports the students towards their professional future by developing their artistic sensitivity, and opens unclear ways. After 20 years of existence and 1246 graduates, SUPINFOCOM is still filled with the enthusiasm of pioneers and enriched with collective experience. http://www.supinfocom.org/

 

With the support of the Maryland Institute College of Art's Office of Academic Services, the office of Research and the Dean of Undergraduate Studies and Faculty.             

 

 

Please include Festival Imagé, from April 16 to 24 in your cultural events listing. Do not hesitate to contact me directly if you want to attend or cover this event.

 

WHAT: Festival Imagé  French Comics and Animation Festival

 

WHEN: From April 16 to 24, 2010

 

WHERE: At the Alliance Française 2142 Wyoming Avenue, NW, Washington DC 20008

                 MICA 1300 W. Mount Royal Avenue, Baltimore, Maryland 21217

And Letelier Theater 3251 Prospect Street, NW Upper Courtyard Washington DC 20007

 

 COST: All of the events are free for MICA students and Alliance Française members 

Events at the Alliance Française and Letelier Theater: free for MICA students and AF members - General Admission $8

 

 Information/reservation:  Alliance Française 202-234-7911 - MICA 410-225-2300

 

 

The Alliance Française is the largest network of French language and cultural centers in the world. Founded in 1949, the Alliance Française de Washington offers French classes for all levels, numerous cultural events throughout the year, and a multi-media library open to all members.  For more information visit www.francedc.org

You can download our press kit here: http://www.francedc.org/en/Article.aspx?id=460

 

L'Alliance Française de Washington is on Facebook! Join our group at http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=4811854756

 

We are also on Twitter! http://twitter.com/FranceDC

 

Sonia Lahcene
Cultural Assistant
_______________________________________
Alliance Française de Washington
2142 Wyoming Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20008
tel: (202) 234-7911 ext 16
fax: (202) 234-0125
www.francedc.org
 
To subscribe to our email list and receive our messages on cultural activities, please go to  www.francedc.org then "sign up for our e-newsletter".

You can also join our Facebook group: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=4811854756