Weingarten on 'Watch Your Head' comic strip

In "Past imperfect: Is Gene Weingarten old school or just old?" By Gene Weingarten, Washington Post Magazine March 14, 2010; W36, http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/05/AR2010030503120.html, he says of the strip:

 I consider myself an expert on newspaper comics; I can confidently deconstruct how a single panel of a 1939 Krazy Kat episode contained a sly foreshadowing of the anomie that would come to define the beat generation. But my own newspaper is now running a new strip, "Watch Your Head," that is hip and modern and filled with ironic detachment; therefore, I not only cannot understand the jokes, but I cannot tell for sure which characters are male and which are female. Hip people like this strip.

 

A Chat with Matt Dembicki online at City Paper now

Meet a Local Cartoonist: A Chat with Matt Dembicki

Posted by Mike Rhode on Mar. 15, 2010

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/artsdesk/books/2010/03/15/meet-a-local-cartoonist-a-chat-with-matt-dembicki/

ACT-I-VATE at Politics and Prose pictures

ACT-I-VATE webcomics people at Politics & Prose, l-r Simon Fraser, Jim Dougan, Joe Infurnari, and Dean Haspiel. Further down, Jim and Joe switch seats...




(that's Jim's wife who read some of the parts in the comics)

PR: April 16-18: T-MODE gaming and anime convention

T-MODE GETS READY TO ROCK

T-Minus 36 days and counting to the popular D.C.-area convention

ALEXANDRIA, VA. (March 12, 2010) – With just over a month to go, T-MODE 2010 is gearing up for a party like no other. The popular local anime and gaming convention makes its triumphant return April 16-18, 2010, and will be held this year at the Hilton Alexandria Old Town, just steps from the King Street Metro.

T-MODE offers a chance to get up close and personal with some of your favorite guests, including voice actors Wendee Lee ("Cowboy Bebop," "The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya"... enough shows that we could be here all day!), Todd Haberkorn ("D.Gray-Man," "Claymore") and Cristina Vee ("Magical Girl Lyrical Nanoha," "Anime TV"); author Roland Kelts ("Japanamerica"); musician Random ("Mega Ran") and webcomic artists Jessi and Matt Pascal ("Geeks Next Door") – with more surprises in store as the convention draws closer.

Along with guests and performances, T-MODE 2010 presents video game tournaments, a Cosplay Variety Show and Masquerade Prom, live event sessions, an interactive video room, the Otaku Bazaar with vendors and artists and much, much more. T-MODE also offers several different membership options, including its signature collection of Otaku Passports for fans who prefer closer interaction with the convention guests. For a truly unforgettable weekend, check out the Otaku Passport Premier. Only five of these very special memberships will be sold, but T-MODE guarantees a VIP fan experience like no other. Registration is still open and available online at www.tmode.org.

About T-MODE
T-MODE is where Asian, western and urban pop culture collide into a completely fun and unique convention experience. Held in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, T-MODE is a "fun-sized" event that celebrates the fusion of anime, gaming, music, cosplay, and all things otaku. T-MODE also strives to create a friendly and more personal atmosphere for convention attendees.

For more information about T-MODE and T-MODE 2010, please visit our Web site: www.tmode.org.

Comics on the Rack, Quick Picks for Comics Due 03-17-10

COMICS ON THE RACK

Quick Picks for Comics Due 03-17-10

By John Judy

 

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #625 by Joe Kelly and Max Fiumara.  The new Rhino and the old Rhino butt heads.  Heh-heh…

 

AMERICAN VAMPIRE #1 by Scott Snyder, Stephen King (yes, THE Stephen King) and Rafael Albuquerque.  A Vertigo title throwing King's well-worn hat back into the Vampire ring.  This time it's the story of how vampirism came to the good old US of A and how we made it our own.  No "sparkling" guaranteed.  Recommended.

 

BRAVE AND THE BOLD #32 by J. Michael Straczynski and Jesus Saiz.  Give JMS credit, he comes up with team-ups that would not occur to the average bear.  This month: Aquaman and the Demon Etrigan.  Underwater flame breath sold here!

 

BRONX KILL HC by Peter Milligan and James Romberger.  A writer's wife goes missing and he has to go look for her.  He does.  Doesn't he?  Recommended.

 

CHOKER #2 by Ben McCool and Ben Templesmith. Having inked his deal with the devil, Choker meets his new partner on the Shotgun City force.  You love this comic and need it to be happy.  Highly recommended.  Not for kids.

 

DARK AVENGERS #15 by Brian Michael Bendis and Mike Deodato.  Ms. Marvel (Moonstone) and Hawkeye (Bullseye) get sick, twisted and deviant.  Also the sun rises in the East.

 

GARTH ENNIS BATTLEFIELDS: THE FIREFLY AND HIS MAJESTY #4 of 9 by Garth and Carlos Ezquerra.  It's a first for an Ennis war book: The return of a character from a previous story.  In this case it's Corporal (now Sergeant) Stiles from THE TANKIES and he's got a new and improved Nazi-killing machine.  Unfortunately the ratzis have some new stuff of their own.  Highly recommended.

 

HULK #21 by Jeph Loeb and Ed McGuinness.  More big strong monsters fighting.  Reveal of Red Hulk's identity currently scheduled for 2013.

 

INCREDIBLE HULK #608 by Greg Pak and Paul Pelletier.  Bruce Banner leads the Avengers, or at least some people who have been Avengers, against people Bruce Banner doesn't like.  Sweet gig.  Plus, a Red She-Hulk back-up story.

 

IRREDEEMABLE #12 by Mark Waid and Peter Krause.  Modeus, the one guy who might be able to take out the Plutonian, has returned.  And he's pulling the big guy's strings.  Highly recommended but too violent for younger kids.

 

SIEGE #3 of 4 by Brian Michael Bendis and Olivier Coipel.  A bunch of idiots attack Asgard, unaware perhaps that it's full of Gods!

 

SPIDER-WOMAN #7 by Brian Michael Bendis and Alex Maleev.  Can Spider-Woman be an Avenger and an Agent of S.W.O.R.D. at the same time?  It's like she's torn between two lovers, feelin' like a fool.  Lovin' both of them is breakin' all the rules…  And who came up with "S.W.O.R.D.?"  S.H.I.E.L.D. and H.A.M.M.E.R. weren't enough already?  We needed "S.W.O.R.D.?"  Oy…  Alex Maleev is a great artist.

 

SUPERMAN 80-PAGE GIANT #1 by Lotsa People.  An anthology of adventures featuring the Superman Family's most colorful characters.

 

X-MEN LEGACY #234 by Mike Carey and Yanick Paquette.  Rogue can finally, for the first time in her life, make skin contact with a man without knocking him out or killing him.  This could be The Greatest Marvel Comic of All Time.

 

www.johnjudy.net

Molly Crabapple in G40: The Summit exhibit in Crystal City

Today's Washington City Paper has an article about some legal problems for a couple of artists in the G40 exhibit, but it also mentions in passing that cartoonist Molly Crabapple is in the show. The article's online here, and mostly talks about 'lowbrow' art.

Here's the Post review - "'G40: The Summit' brings art to empty Crystal City space," by Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post Staff Writer, Friday, March 12, 2010. And details from the Post on the hours:

G40: The Summit Through March 27 at 223 23rd St., Arlington (Metro: Crystal City). From the Metro, follow the trail of "G40" signs stuck to the floor of Crystal City's underground tunnels. Performance schedules and information about public programs can be found at http://www.artwhino.com/g40. All works are for sale, with prices ranging from $20 to the mid four figures. Hours: Open Fridays 5 p.m. to midnight; Saturdays noon to midnight; Sundays noon to 6 p.m.; Wednesday-Thursday 5 to 10 p.m. Admission: Free

Here's the NY Times with a better explanation of this type of art.

Washington City Paper best of DC poll

I haven't looked at this yet, but the City Paper (for whom I now freelance) is running their annual Best Of poll. I was a surprised winner of Best Comics Blog in 2008, especially since that wasn't a category.

OT: Nickelodeon looking to hire storyboard cartoonist

Editorial cartoonist MJ, who designed one of our logos (and it's on the current 'Friend of ComicsDC' pin that I'm handing out) wants unemployed fellow cartoonists to know about this storyboard artist job announcement at Nickelodeon.

World Bank online game based on comic, and offers free trip to DC

Not being a gamer, I'm not quite sure what to make of ""The entire game revolves around this graphic novel, this comic book which occur 10 years into the future," [Game producer Bob] Hawkins explained." but perhaps this will interest some of our readers, who oddly enough, come from around the globe: "By the end of the game, the top players will be mentored by business leaders and also win a trip to a conference next year in Washington."

For more details, see World Bank Online Game Invites Youth to Solve Global Problems
Zulima Palacio | Washington
Voice of America 10 March 2010

Comic Riffs noses around Bluewater political comics bio line

Sure, Michael ignored the comics about Hillary and Michele, but now that Bluewater's profiling a comedian....

Coming soon: Senator AL FRANKEN, comic book 'hero'
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post's Comic Riffs blog March 11, 2010

I supposed I should really cover these books, since they're usually set in DC, by default, but I just can't get too excited about them. By the way, Barack the Barbarian is actually still being published...

...and at local cons, you can buy the Marvel Spider-Man hardcover collection of his meeting with President Obama for $3.

My Feiffer blurb in today's City Paper

Jules Feiffer at Politics and Prose Thursday, March 18

By Mike Rhode
Posted: March 10, 2010

 

I believe this one is in print - the 2nd bit to so be honored.

Nate Beeler on the continuing Islam cartoon issue

Nate's got a great self-portait cartoon in today's Examiner about the ongoing Danish Islam cartoon issue.

Beyond Comics cracks down on scofflaw subscribers

And who can blame them? I never let my box go longer than 2 weeks - it adds up for the store owner. From their newsletter:

Delinquent Subscription Notification

To all subscribers delinquent in picking up your subscription, we ask that you please get caught up by the end of March.

Due to the tight economic conditions we have no choice but to begin to enforce some of our rules regarding subscriptions. While we have been exceedingly lenient over the last several years, we are no longer in the position to hold comics over any extended period of time unless the entirety of the subscription is purchased at pick up. What this means is that we can no longer store comics to be purchased "eventually." To this end, we are giving our subscribers (who have not made prior arrangements) until the end of March to clear out all of the old comics or we will take one or more of the following actions; loss of subscriber benefits, removal of comics, or suspension of subscription.

This applies to specialty items as well as comics. If you have been having us hold merchandise for you please make the effort to pick it up.

If you are one of our subscribers who have already made other arrangements to pick up your comics on a different schedule, we do not anticipate any change in service.

Additional Subscription Notices
If you are not sure whether you are currently subscribing to a title you want, please let us know and we will add it.

We have been finding subscription comics returned to the shelves and would like to take this time to point out that we order many of our non-returnable comics based on subscription numbers. If you no longer want to get a comic please inform us and we will remove it from your pull list. Do be aware that changes to your sub can affect some of you subscription benefits.

Glen Weldon on upcoming comics movies

For Glen's thoughts on Iron Man 2 (brief), Green Lantern (longer) and the attractiveness of superhero costumes (longest), see Steel and Spandex: Two Oscar Night Super-Developments, Considered, National Public Radio's Monkey See blog (March 10 2010).

May 3: Dan Clowes at Politics and Prose

Dan Clowes is at Politics and Prose, May 3rd at 7 pm. The Drawn & Quarterly blog says that he's got a 2-page story in the new New Yorker using Wilson, the character from his new book, that doesn't appear in the new book, so you might want to buy that now and bring it along in May.

ComicsDC Facebook group

Ok, I started a group on the suggestion of John Judy, who also writes for ComicsDC - but I have no idea what to do w/ it. Or even how to link to it. Have at it.

Nina Paley interview done by local blogger online now

Caroline Small's interview with Nina Paley is up at tcj.com, with part 2 now up as well. Caro, as I've never called her, joined HU last month, and one can frequently find her lurking around cartoonist events in DC, although she always claims she's there for her cousin. Well, now the truth is out.

Library of Congress animation exhibit reviewed at City Paper

Library of Congress' "Molto Animato!" Exhibit Is Hardly Vivace

Posted by Mike Rhode on Mar. 10, 2010

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/artsdesk/visual-arts/2010/03/10/library-of-congress-molto-animato-exhibit-is-hardly-vivace/#more-19988

Beyond Comics' St. Patrick's Day sale

St. Patrick's Sale
25% OFF
GREEN GRAPHIC NOVELS
If it's Green, get a discount.

(Green Lantern, Green Arrow, Hulk, etc.)
Offer Expires: March 16, 2010

Cute idea.

Polite Dissent - a blog on comics and medicine

I can't believe I haven't run across this before - Polite Dissent - a blog on comics and medicine, but no, I hadn't until Bert Hansen pointed it out today. And "Scott"'s been doing this since 2004 with 1738 posts on comics! I need to dip in more obviously, especially if I'm going to keep talking about Comics and Cancer (next at American Association for the History of Medicine, Rochester, MN, late April - be there).