Saturday, April 10, 2010

CHS Otaku Fest Press Release.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For information, contact:
Sophie Song
Convention Chair of CHS Otaku Fest
Former President of Centennial High School Anime Club
president.chsanime@gmail.com
609.220.1955

CHS OTAKU FEST ANNOUNCES FOUR MUSICAL GUESTS!
The Protomen, Entertainment System, Lesser.core and DJ Sheephead!

Ellicott City, MD April 9th, 2010 – CHS Otaku Fest is proud to announce four new musical guests: The Protomen, Entertainment System, Lesser.Core and DJ Sheephead.  All four bands will be performing at the convention on April 24th, 2010 at Centennial High in Ellicott City, MD.

The Protomen are more than just a band. They are messengers, riding atop an Iron Stallion on their way to deliver the most vicious rock 'n' roll fable that the world has ever known. With several planned albums, and a live show that could crumble mountains, there's no denying The Protomen have created a work unique to its medium
The first record, 'Act I', includes elements of Ennio Morricone, Queen and Black Sabbath, which culminate in a listening experience unlike anything you've ever heard. If you're afraid of sky cracking distortion and epic chaos, you won't survive this album.
'Act II' is a departure from the signature distorted sound of the first record. It focuses on a time before the world had fallen under darkness. It is a brighter and more optimistic look at the world The Protomen has created. The album is split into two separate eras (and sounds), and gives the feeling of two distinct albums in one. 'Act II' was produced by Alan Shacklock (Meatloaf, The Alarm, Bonnie Tyler, Babe Ruth, Roger Daltry) and The Protomen. Mastering was provided by Richard Dodd (Tom Petty, Jeff Lynne, Roy Orbison, George Harrison, Traveling Wilburys).

Since 2004, Entertainment System has been playing hard hitting arrangements of classic video game songs. A love of performing and a total lack of concern for their own safety brings an infectious energy to their shows, which have been described as "totally epic and somewhat dangerous." After 3 full length albums, 1 collaborative EP, and many, many melted faces, they have only just begun. They're new full length album, "Rock n' Roll Cereal", comprised entirely of Mario and Zelda songs, debuts this summer at their annual concert, Bit Gen Gamerfest. Become a fan of Entertainment System on Facebook for constant and typically self-indulgent updates on their status, concert dates, embarrassing videos, as well as songs from their previous albums.

Lesser.Core is a Newly formed Visual Kei/J rock band. The band is heavily influenced by J rock and American bands such as: X japan, Versailles, Dir en Grey, Lynch, Pierrot, Nightmare, Avenged Sevenfold, Attack Attack, and A day to remember.  The band was formed in February 2010 in MD/DC, area with original members Ryuu [Guitar], Ton [Bass], and Ginny [Vocals]. Daniel [Drummer] joined the band a week before their first show. Upon its formation, each member of the band also took on pseudonyms which were already nicknames of theirs from their old bands. The band started to receive recognition, performing with bands such as Project Echo and Price of Gas. Currently, Lesser.Core is composing "New Material".

DJ Sheephead is a producer and a DJ. While working hard on his music projects, The Megadrives and Hypnotic Buddha, he always returns to his DJing roots, bringing you the hard sounds of underground electronic dance music. He is a man on a mission to put you on your feet and make you move to the groove.

In addition to these musical performances, events at CHS Otaku Fest includes Super Art Fight, Otaku Quest, a Cosplay Contest, an AMV contest, Artist Alley, Discussion Panels, Dealers Room, Manga Library, Anime Screenings, Gaming Tournament  and more! Registration is still open! Pre-register now at chs-otakufest.com and save $5!

About the Centennial High Anime Club and CHS Otaku Fest:  This organization is an entirely high school based club with about 30 active members. The club has been an establishment in the school since 2005 and is gaining membership annually. It is a place for otaku to gather and meet while relaxing and discussing anime and the community at large. Last year the club hosted our first successful convention, CHS Otaku Fest, a one day public event dedicated to all things anime and awesome. This year, the club is looking forward to making Otaku Fest even better.

CHS Otaku Fest information
Date: Saturday April 24th, 2010
Time: 10:00 am to 6:00 pm
Location: Centennial High School
4300 Centennial Lane
Ellicott City, MD 21042
Registration fee: $10 before January 31st and $15 after. There is a $3 discount to groups of 10 or more ($7 per person before 1/31/10 and $12 after 1/31/10). At-the-door registration is $20.
For additional information visit: www.chs-otakufest.com
E-mail: president.chsanime@gmail.com
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April 16: Craig Yoe at Politics and Prose

Note our buddy Warren is featured as well.

Craig Yoe - The Great Anti-War Cartoons
Start: April 16, 2010 - 7:00pm
End: April 16, 2010 - 8:00pm

Yoe, a historian of cartoons, has assembled a vast array of anti-war comics that span the globe and date back to the 1600s. These comics run the gamut of emotions, from Bill Mauldin’s humor to Francisque Poulbot’s sorrow. Yoe’s presentation will include source material from Warren Bernard’s private collection.

[The Great Anti-War Cartoons]
The Great Anti-War Cartoons (Paperback)
By Craig Yoe, Sara W. Duke, Muhammad Yunus
$24.99
ISBN-13: 9781606991503
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Fantagraphics Books, 12/01/2009

Location:
Politics and Prose
5015 Connecticut Ave. NWWashington, D.C. 20008

Ocean City, MD cartoonist Jennifer Jurden launches green cartoon jcampaign

Cartoonist with Green Cartoon Side-Kick "Jurdy" Launches "GET GRINNING GET GREENING" Environmental Program at Schools for Earth Day.
OCEAN CITY, MD, April 10, 2010 /24-7PressRelease.

Jen Sorenson wins Social Justice Journalism award

She may have moved away from the East Coast, but perhaps we'll still see her at SPX. Meanwhile, here's the story of her award - Jen Sorensen, Cartoonist With Conscience, April 7, 2010 by Audrey Bilger.

April 18: Capicon Comic convention

Sunday, April 18th, 2010
Capicons Comic Book and Pop Culture Con

Dunn Loring Vol. Fire Dept, Dunn Loring, Virginia

Special Guests:
Martin Grams, Jr, Author of The Green Hornet: A History of Radio, Motion Pictures, Comics and Television
http://www.martingrams.com

Dan Nokes, Artist/Publisher--21 Sandshark Studios
http://21sandshark.com/

Also featuring
Artist Tom Arvis, Sureshot Comics
http://www.arvtoon.com

FREE admission! Door prize drawings!

Open to the public from 10 am - 3 pm. Buy, sell & trade: Gold, Silver, Bronze Age comics; Indie & Modern comics, Publishers & Creators, TV & Movie Collectibles. Non-sport cards; Videos & DVDs; Anime; Manga; Horror/Sci-Fi; figures, toys; Star Wars & Star Trek memorabilia; original artwork, posters and other comic-related collectibles.

See you there!
Laura, Jeff & Ed,

Brian Truitt's Kick-Ass interview

Meet Chloe Moretz, the precocious teen star of ‘Kick-Ass’
USA Weekend April 9th, 2010
Brian Truitt

I think the hard copy of this should be in tomorrow's Examiner.

Paul Fitzgerald's book on Will Eisner and PS mag nominated for Eisner award

Paul Fitzgerald's excellent book, Will Eisner & PS Magazine is up for an Eisner. One day I plan on writing a review of this - I got about 1/2 through it when the Christmas holidays intervened, but it's well worth getting. For more details see

Botetourt man gets nominated for Eisner comic industry award
Roanoke Times April 10 2010

Comics on the Rack, Quick Picks for Comics Due 04-14-10


COMICS ON THE RACK
Quick Picks for Comics Due 04-14-10
By John Judy
 
ACTION COMICS #888 by Greg Rucka, Eric Trautmann and Pere Perez.  Okay, so the whole Nightwing/Flamebird thing has been the most contrived, least interesting part of the "New Krypton" arc that got buried by BLACKEST NIGHT.  That said, it's wrapping up with a big fight against a Kryptonian god with Wonder Woman and the JSA helping out.  This also has a Captain Atom back-up feature you are not obliged to care about at all.  Enjoy!
 
BODYWORLD HC written and drawn by Dash Shaw.  A psychedelic sci-fi story about a plant that gives you telepathy when you smoke it.  Contains awkwardness.
 
BOOTH GN by CC Colbert and Tanitoc.  A graphic bio of our 16th President's murderer.  Too soon?
 
BRIGHTEST DAY #0 by Geoff Johns, Peter Tomasi and Fernando Pasarin.  To be sub-titled "Look Who's Back from the Dead and What They Are Doing About It."  Cool.  Gotta look.
 
CHEW #10 by John Layman and Rob Guillory.  Wrapping up the exotic mayhem of "International Flavor!"  Highly recommended.
 
DAREDEVIL #506 by Andy Diggle, Antony Johnston and Marco Checchetto.  DD begins to suspect somebody in the assassins guild he now leads may be untrustworthy. DD = Brains.
 
DAYTRIPPER #5 of 10 by Fabio Moon and Gabriel Ba.  This time out it looks like Bras is going to die a child.  Highly recommended.
 
DOC SAVAGE #1 by Paul Malmont and Howard Porter.  The Man of Bronze is back in fine pulp-action form!  Also features a JUSTICE, INC. back-up starring The Avenger!
 
EXCALIBUR VISIONARIES: WARREN ELLIS, VOL. 1 SC by Ellis and Various Artists.  The first time that nice Mr. Ellis got his hands on mutant superheroes the results were… well… this.  Reprinting issues #83-90 of that X-book nobody ever read.
 
FLASH # 1 by Geoff Johns and Francis Manapul.  Barry Allen's first job back as the Flash is protecting the lives of his arch-enemies, the Rogues!  No rush.  Recommended.
 
FLASH PROMO RINGS from DC.  Squirty, super-compacted speedster costume not included!  Ask your comic shop clerk for yours today!
 
IRON MAN: LEGACY #1 by Fred Van Lente and Steve Kurth.  Tony Stark hates it when you use his Iron Man tech for bad stuff like war and genocide.  Consequences ensue.
 
IRREDEEMABLE SPECIAL #1 by Mark Waid, Emma Rios, Paul Azaceta and Howard Chaykin.  A special issue focusing on better days with the Plutonian and his old pals the Paradigm.  New insights into how Tony went bad, plus a guest appearance by the pre-heroic Max Damage.  Highly Recommended.
 
KILL SHAKESPEARE #1 by Connor McCreery, Anthony Del Col and Andy Belanger.  What if Shakespeare's greatest heroes and villains all wanted to kill him?  And why wouldn't they?  Gotta look!
 
OTHER LIVES HC written and drawn by Peter Bagge.  An original graphic novel about self-loathing geeks with secrets, from the creator of HATE.  Highly recommended.
 
PUNISHERMAX #6 by Jason Aaron and Steve Dillon.  Two words: "Bullseye.  Max."  Recommended. Not for kids.
 
SECRET SIX #20 by Gail Simone and Jim Calafiore.  With his son missing Catman's got a whole lotta killing to do and no time to be nice about it.  Cool.
 
SIEGE: CAPTAIN AMERICA #1 by Christos Gage and Federico Dallocchio.  Cap and Bucky fight some dudes.
 
ULTIMATE COMICS ENEMY #3 of 4 by Brian Michael Bendis and Rafa Sandoval.  There really is an Ultimate Enemy.  Bendis tells us so.
 
UNWRITTEN #12 by Mike Carey and Various Artists.  A stand-alone issue with a distinct Wonderland vibe to it.  Recommended.
 
WOLFSKIN HUNDREDTH DREAM #1 of 6 by Warren Ellis, Mike Wolfer and Gianluca Pagliarini.  Wolfskin will attempt to leave the blood-soaked savagery of his past behind him and live a peaceful life of helping people.  Not for kids.
 
WOLVERINE WEAPON X, VOL. 1: THE ADAMANTIUM MEN SC by Jason Aaron and Ron Garney.  What if Blackwater mercenaries were given all the powers of Wolverine?  And what if Wolvie felt morally compelled to chop every one of those freaks into cat food?  From the thin collection of Wolverine Stories That Don't Suck.  Recommended.
 
WORLD WAR HULKS: HULKED OUT HEROES #1 by Jeff Parker and Humberto Ramos.  If you've been waiting your whole life to read the adventures of a hulked-out Deadpool then this is the one thing you can't miss!  Unlike kissing a girl…
 
 


Turkish illustrator Selcuk Demirel's return to Post

Back in the good old days of the '90s, Selcuk Demirel's cartoon illustrations appeared regularly in the Post's Book World. He's got a lovely cartoon in today's Real Estate section. It's not online of course.

Friday, April 09, 2010

Scoop has interview with DC Comicon founder

New Convention in Town: DC Comicon
Scoop April 9 2010

Truitt on Deadpool

Everybody loves Deadpool
By Brian Truitt, USA TODAY April 9 2010

OT: Dave Astor award news

David Astor writes in, "my weekly "Montclairvoyant" topical humor column for The Montclair (N.J.) Times just won (on April 8) both first and second place in the New Jersey Press Association's annual contest."

The link is below, with my awards listed in the second part of the "W-8" category.

http://www.njpa.org/njpa/better_newspaper_contest/2009/2009%20Editorial%20Results%20-%20Weekly.pdf

Post doesn't like Addams Family musical

Even with Neuwirth, Lane, 'Addams Family' musical can't live up to original
By Peter Marks
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, April 9, 2010; C02

and neither does the Times -

April 9, 2010
Theater Review | 'The Addams Family'
Buh-Da-Da-Dum (Snap Snap)

By Ben Brantley

Mark Ruffin interviewed Act-i-vate's Simon Fraser

A conversation with Simon Fraser
April 9, 2010
DC Comic Books Examiner
Mark Ruffin

Thursday, April 08, 2010

Steve Geppi's unsold home auctioned by bank

C'mon people - buy MORE COMICS!

Auction today for Geppi mansion
Green Spring Valley estate has outstanding mortgage debt of $3.25 million

By Lorraine Mirabella
Baltimore Sun April 8, 2010

May 15 - Trickster: Native American Tales: A Graphic Collection Signing

Event: Trickster: Native American Tales: A Graphic Collection Signing!

Start Time: Saturday, May 15 at 2:00pm
End Time: Saturday, May 15 at 4:00pm
Where: Big Planet Comics Vienna

To see more details and RSVP, follow the link below:
http://www.facebook.com/n/?event.php&eid=111988172162490&mid=228478fG40206d0eG17ff164G7&n_m=mrhode%40gmail.com

Weldon on comics and literacy (in the big picture)

It Pays To Enrich Your Nerd Power: What Kids Learn From Comics

by Glen Weldon

National Public Radio's Monkey See blog April 7 2010

- even more nerdy? His title is a play on Reader's Digest old feature, It Pays To Enrich Your Word Power.

Maryland's Villarrubia works on PBS film

Jose Villarrubia was digital artist for 'I.M. Pei: Building China Modern'

Posted 04.06.10 by mica communications

 

 

 

Wednesday, April 07, 2010

Comic Riffs pushes Cul de Sac to sell out

Cavna thinks it should be an animated tv series based on the new RingTales shorts.

The comments quickly turned surly due to the Post's iffy record of running the Sunday strip haphazardly, as well as not updating the e-version. Our Man Thompson also chimed in with his opinion, for what that is worth.

PR: 'Trickster' is now available

I'll be getting mine when it hits Big Planet.

From: Matt Dembicki

'Trickster' is now available at Amazon.com and hits other major and indie bookstores very soon (maybe even this week). It features 20 trickster tales as told by Native American storytellers and illustrated by some wonderfully talented indie comic artists. (It'll be getting a starred review in an upcoming edition of 'Booklist.')


Thanks, again.

Matt Dembicki