Publicity Release: Announcing America's Greatest Otaku and TOKYOPOP Tour

Note that they reach Washington, DC on July 30 and Baltimore on the following day.

Publicity Release: America's Greatest Otaku and TOKYOPOP Tour May 13, 2010 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE               CALLING ALL OTAKU...   Announcing America's Greatest Otaku and the TOKYOPOP Tour   The search is on for the most talented fan in the nation!   Los Angeles, CA (May 13, 2010) - This summer, TOKYOPOP will hit the road on a 12,000-mile journey to find America's Greatest Otaku, the person who best exemplifies a truly unique fervor and passion for all things influenced by Japanese pop culture. This nationwide competition will be part of the ambitious "TOKYOPOP Tour," a road show that takes a tour bus to hundreds of thousands of fans, in dozens of cities across the United States-including five fan conventions-to discover and embrace manga and anime fan culture around the nation.   The TOKYOPOP Tour kicks off in July at Anime Expo in Los Angeles, CA, and will run through Chicago Comic-Con at the end of August. The culminating event will be a multi-episode reality show, premiering in the fall on a major online video site, which will reveal to the nation who will be crowned America's Greatest Otaku!   Stu Levy, Executive Producer of the America's Greatest Otaku reality show, as well as TOKYOPOP's founder, says, "Japanese pop culture has influenced many of us Americans in a number of ways.  The goal of this show is to prove to the world that American otaku are just as talented - if not more - than their counterparts worldwide."   Joining Levy on the maiden voyage of the TOKYOPOP Tour bus will be his apprentices in the search for America's Greatest Otaku: the "Otaku Six". These six college students-an energetic and outgoing group of manga and anime devotees-were selected from nearly one hundred candidates from thirty-one states and seven countries, after a lengthy and arduous audition process. In addition to reaching out to fans nationwide and seeking out each city's Greatest Otaku, the Otaku Six will also be featured on the show itself.   Filming the day-to-day events for broadcast will be TOKYOPOP associate producer Daisuke "Dice" Kinouchi, who anticipates a thrilling ride. "I can't wait to experience the unpredictability of the road on this summer-long show. I just hope no one accidentally whacks me with a yaoi paddle while I'm lugging around my camera filming the show."   You and your friends can enter to become America's Greatest Otaku at http://tokyopoptour.ning.com. The TOKYOPOP Tour web site has a complete list of all stops, details for how to enter the competition, application requirements, and reasons why every citizen of Pokopen isn't eligible to enter. New features, including the official America's Greatest Otaku merchandise store, will be added in the coming weeks.   Adds Levy: "We also have thousands of giveaways and prizes to hand out all over the course of the Tour-new manga, signed artwork, shirts and hats, stickers of your favorite characters such as Domo-kun, Tohru Honda, Abel Nightroad, and scores of others. I think I even saw a flag from HETALIA on our list of swag."   The TOKYOPOP Tour bus is fueling up for its first stop at Anime Expo in July, and fans can follow the daily goings-on at http://tokyopoptour.ning.com for the latest city-by-city Otaku updates, road videos and blogs, giveaways, and much more. The featured stops and dates for America's Greatest Otaku along the multi-city TOKYOPOP Tour include:   Los Angeles, CA (Anime Expo), July 3 San Francisco, CA, July 5 Salt Lake City, UT, July 8 Denver, CO, July 11 Kansas City, MO, July 13 Dallas, TX, July 15 Albuquerque, NM, July 18 Phoenix, AZ, July 20 San Diego, CA (Comic-Con), July 23 Oklahoma City, OK, July 27 Nashville, TN, July 28 Washington, DC, July 30 Baltimore, MD (Otakon), July 31 New York, NY, August 3 Philadelphia, PA, August 4 Indianapolis, IN (Gen Con), August 7 Louisville, KY, August 9 Atlanta, GA, August 11 New Orleans, LA, August 14 Chicago, IL (Wizard World Chicago Comic-Con), August 21   Stay tuned for updates and more information about the premier of the reality show this fall, when TOKYOPOP crowns America's Greatest Otaku!   Contact:       Marco F. Pavia, TOKYOPOP (323) 692-6730          Marcop@ TOKYOPOP.com     About TOKYOPOP: Founded by multi-cultural media visionary Stu Levy, TOKYOPOP is hailed as a leading youth-oriented entertainment brand and an innovator of manga creation, with a revolutionary artistic vision that transcends countless platforms. From the introduction of the first-ever extensive manga publishing program in North America, to the development of its manga-originated intellectual properties into film, television and digital entertainment, TOKYOPOP has changed the way teens experience pop culture. The company's global reach has expanded to Europe and Asia, with offices in the UK and Germany, in addition to its Los Angeles and Tokyo operations. With millions of fans logging onto the new social networking site www.TOKYOPOP.com, reading its books, which are licensed in 50 countries in more than 30 languages, and watching its DVDs and television programs, TOKYOPOP's award-winning catalogue of licensed and original properties has made the company a visionary in an ever-growing teen entertainment marketplace. Visit www.TOKYOPOP.com for additional information. Get TPOP News Live! Facebook         Twitter

Post's Frazetta obituary

Frank Frazetta, 82, celebrated comic artist and illustrator
By Terence McArdle
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, May 13, 2010; B07

Local collector helps with article on World War 1 cartoonist

Local collector Warren Bernard is thanked for assisting in research for this interesting article on a WW1 cartoonist -

Louis Raemaekers (1869-1956)

by John Adcock,

Yesteray's Papers May 12, 2010

Children's animation program in DC

See The View From There: Kids World Cinema, By Arion Berger, Express May 13, 2010 for some details, but the Alliance Francaise de Washington and the Goethe Institute are among the hosts.

TONIGHT: Adult Teen Hunger Force creator at State Theater

There's an interview at End of an Era?: 'Aqua Teen Hunger Force's' Dave Willis
by Express contributor Topher Forhecz
May 13 2010, p. E2

» State Theatre, 220 N. Washington St., Falls Church; Thu. May 13, 8 p.m., $25; 703-237-0300.

Brad Meltzer, former area comics geek, on his new book

Brad Meltzer Explains How 'Heroes For My Son' Broke His Boy's Heart
by Rick Marshall
MTV's Splash Page blog May 12 2010

PR: ALADDIN’S LAMP CHILDREN’S BOOKS WILL BE CLOSING AT THE END OF JUNE

I was sorry to get this email today - this is an excellent store and has hosted cartoonists readings.

         703-241-8281        

aladlamp@speakeasy.net

In the Lee Harrison Shopping Center

Lower Level Shops

2499 N. Harrison St, Suite 10, Arlington, VA 22207

STORE HOURS: Monday, Wednesday, Friday & Saturday 10 am to 6 pm, Tuesday & Thursday 10 am to 8 pm, Sunday 11 am to 5 pm

********************************************************************************************************************

 

WE ARE SAD TO ANNOUNCE THAT, AFTER 20 YEARS SERVING THE COMMUNITY, ALADDIN'S LAMP CHILDREN'S BOOKS WILL BE CLOSING AT THE END OF JUNE.

 

Throughout May, we will continue to provide regular service.  We will still carry new books, replace popular titles, and fulfill special orders.  Our regular story hours will continue on Wed. and Sat. at 11:00.  The listing of May events is attached.

 

Our GOING OUT OF BUSINESS SALES will kick off this month with discounts of 20-40% on select sections and books.  Please tell your friends, and come to take advantage of our rich inventory of over 18,000 titles, and non-book items such as puzzles, puppets, Baltic amber jewelry, and more!

 

We would like to thank all our customers for their support, patronage and friendship over the years.   It has been wonderful being part of this community for so many years, and we will miss you greatly.

 

FOR MORE INFORMATION, CALL

703-241-8281

Cartoonists on greeting cards

My grandmother died a few weeks ago at 96, and we've been going through her stuff. Nobody wanted all the greeting cards she saved since the 1940s, so I've been going through them. Here's a few that might interest this audience.


Miss Peach 1966 birthday card by Mell Lazarus.


1979 Hallmark birthday card by the great MAD cartoonist Paul Coker.

and the interior message:




This 1970-something Hallmark Valentine's Day card is by another MAD artists whose name is escaping me. Help?

And the interior message:



Finally here's a 1966 Christmas card from the Art Guild of Williamsburg with surprising good girl art and it's interior -

PR: TODD MCFARLANE TO ATTEND BALTIMORE COMIC-CON 2010

TODD MCFARLANE TO ATTEND BALTIMORE COMIC-CON 2010 McFarlane to appear Saturday, August 28, 2010, at the 11th annual Baltimore Comic-Con   Berkeley, CA - 10 May 2010 - Image Comics Founder and Partner Todd McFarlane is set to appear at Baltimore Comic-Con 2010 on Saturday, August 28, 2010. The creator of the groundbreaking comic book SPAWN will take part in signings and other events during the show.   "I'm thrilled to be able to participate in this year's Baltimore Comic Con," says McFarlane. "It's good to know events still exist where comics are the main focus, instead of being swallowed up by competing entertainment such as movies and video games. I appreciate all the support Baltimore Comic Con has provided Image with in the past, and am looking forward to attending and meeting with fans."   Marc Nathan, organizer of the Baltimore Comic-Con, adds, "The Baltimore Comic-Con could not be more thrilled about hosting Todd McFarlane at this year's convention. Image Comics continues to be at the top of all our publishing partners. We all know how popular Todd is and look forward to a great time!" From budding baseball player to comic book artist extraordinaire to family man, Spawn creator Todd McFarlane has a wealth of experience in the world of entertainment. McFarlane's road trip to creative autonomy began when he accepted an assignment penciling for Marvel/Epic Comics in March 1984. From there, he worked his way to the top of the talent roster before leaving Marvel to help found Image Comics with six other artists. It was then that Todd introduced his own character, Spawn. In 1994, Todd founded McFarlane Toys. Over the years, the company has become one of the largest, most renowned toy manufacturers in the world.   Don't miss SPAWN creator Todd McFarlane at this year's 11th annual Baltimore Comic-Con. He will appear one day only, on Saturday, August 28, 2010.   Image Comics is a comic book and graphic novel publisher founded in 1992 by a collective of best-selling artists. Image has since gone on to become one of the largest comics publishers in the United States. Image currently has five partners: Robert Kirkman, Erik Larsen, Todd McFarlane, Marc Silvestri and Jim Valentino. It consists of four major houses: Todd McFarlane Productions, Top Cow Productions, Shadowline, and Image Central. Image publishes comics and graphic novels in nearly every genre, sub-genre, and style imaginable. It offers science fiction, romance, horror, crime fiction, historical fiction, humor, and more by the finest artists and writers working in the medium today. For more information, visit www.imagecomics.com.   ###   In coming weeks, look for more announcements from the Baltimore Comic-Con. We will highlight our guests, the Harvey Awards, industry exclusives, and programming. The latest developments can always be found at our website (http://www.baltimorecomiccon.com/), Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/baltimorecomics), Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/baltimorecomiccon), MySpace (http://www.myspace.com/baltimorecomics), and ComicSpace (http://www.comicspace.com/baltimorecomicon) pages. This year's Baltimore Comic-Con will be held August 28-29, 2010. Convention hours are Saturday 10 AM to 6 PM and Sunday 10 AM to 5 PM. The ceremony and banquet for the Harvey Awards will be held Saturday night, August 28th.   Contact Information Please use the following e-mail addresses to contact the Baltimore Comic-Con:   press@baltimorecomiccon.com - for any general press inquiries or to be added to our PR distribution promoter@baltimorecomiccon.com - for requesting exhibitor, publisher, and Artist Alley applications registrar@baltimorecomiccon.com - for inquiries about submitted registrations harveys@baltimorecomiccon.com - for communications regarding the Harvey Awards ceremony and banquet general@baltimorecomiccon.com - for general Baltimore Comic-Con inquiries   About The Baltimore Comic-Con The Baltimore Comic-Con is celebrating its 11th year of bringing the comic book industry to the Baltimore and Washington D.C. area.  With a guest list unequaled in the industry, the Baltimore Comic-Con will be held August 28-29, 2010.  For more information, please visit www.baltimorecomiccon.com. About The Harvey Awards The Harvey Awards are one of the comic book industry's oldest and most respected awards.  With a history of over 20 years, the last 5 in conjunction with the Baltimore Comic-Con, the Harveys recognize outstanding achievements in over 20 categories.  They are the only industry awards nominated and selected by the full body of comic book professionals.  For more information, please visit www.harveyawards.org.

New cartoonist in Post?

Today's Federal Page by Al Kamen has a lovely political illustration by Chris Morris of the White House Press Corps yelling over the landing of an Osprey VTOL. I don't recall seeing Morris' name before - anyone?

This Week: Comic Books' Brad Meltzer on His Real Heroes

Posted by Mike Rhode on May. 12, 2010 at 10:06 am

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/artsdesk/books/2010/05/12/this-week-comic-books-brad-meltzer-on-his-real-heroes/#more-23574

Ruffin on DC Comics Con

I'm still catching up from business travel -

Welcome to 2010, Washington D.C. Comic Convention
DC Comic Books Examiner Mark Ruffin
May 3, 2010

Express review of Pride and Prejuidice and Zombies

And Panels: 'Pride and Prejudice and Zombies: The Graphic Novel'
Written by Express contributor Stephen M. Deusner
Express May 3, 2010

Luna Brothers interview at Newsarama

THE SWORD Slashes Expectations As FINAL ISSUE Hits
By Vaneta Rogers
Newsarama 10 May 2010

Comic Riffs on Frazetta's influence

A warrior's farewell: RIP, Frank Frazetta, master of fantasy illustration
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog May 11, 2010

-and I must say I wasn't (and still am not) immune to the allure of Frazetta's art. I bought all those Bantam collections in the '70s and still pick up used books just because he did the covers.

Who will be our lucky 200,000 reader?

One of the maps in the this site links to says that, as of last night, our readership "Total since 3 Apr 2008: 199,809."

So some time today, someone becomes the 200,000 reader, at least by one count. I have no way of knowing who that is, but thank you, wherever you are.

Daria dvd collection reviewed in today's Express

Smells Like Teen Spirit: 'Daria: The Complete Animated Series' on DVD.
Written by Express contributor Afton Lorraine Woodward
[Washington Post] Express (May 11): 28.
online at http://www.expressnightout.com/content/2010/05/daria-complete-series-dvd.php

Recent Dan Clowes interviews and articles, as requested

Braganza, Chantal. 2010.
Don’t confuse Daniel Clowes with an opinionated, middle-aged loner
Ghost World author is back with Wilson, his first full-length comic in five years. But he’s not the protagonist.
Toronto Star (May 6): http://www.thestar.com/entertainment/books/article/805305--don-t-confuse-daniel-clowes-with-an-opinionated-middle-aged-loner


Khosla, Abhay et al.  2010.

Savage Symposium: Wilson By Dan Clowes.

Savage Critics blog (May 10): http://www.savagecritic.com/roundtable/savage-symposium-wilson-by-dan-clowes/

 

Levack, Chandler.  2010.

Comic timing: After six years, Daniel Clowes is returning to the Toronto Comic Arts Festival with Wilson, his first original graphic novel with Drawn & Quarterly. The only problem? He's more afraid of success than ever.

Eye Weekly (May 5): http://www.eyeweekly.com/arts/article/91751--comic-timing

 

 Del Signore, John.  2010.

Daniel Clowes, Cartoonist.

Gothamist (May 5): http://gothamist.com/2010/05/05/daniel_clowes_illustrator.php

 

Rudick, Nicole.  2010.

Daniel Clowes [Cartoonist].

Believer (May).

Partially online at http://www.believermag.com/issues/201005/?read=interview_clowes

 

Miliard, Mike.  2010.

Interview: Daniel Clowes: On going from Enid to Wilson.

Boston Phoenix (April 27): http://thephoenix.com/boston/arts/101313-interview-daniel-clowes/

 

Brooks, Allen.  2010.

DCist Interview: Daniel Clowes.

DCist (April 30): http://dcist.com/2010/04/dcist_interview_daniel_clowes.php

 

Kois, Dan.  2010.

Panel Discussion Daniel Clowes covers cartoon history in one graphic novel.

NYmag.com (May 2): http://nymag.com/arts/books/features/65724/

 

Deusner, Stephen M.  2010.

Stick Figure: Daniel Clowes, 'Wilson'.

Express (May 3): http://www.expressnightout.com/content/2010/05/daniel-clowes-wilson-politics-prose.php

 

Chute, Hillary.  2010.

Off-page with... Dan Clowes: With Wilson, the graphic novelist has more fun being bleak.

Time Out New York (761; April 29–May 5).

Online at http://newyork.timeout.com/articles/books/85200/off-page-with-daniel-clowes

 

Howard, Dave.  2010.

Dan Clowes' new Graphic Novel, Wilson,

Torontoist (April 14): http://books.torontoist.com/2010/04/dan-clowes-new-graphic-novel-wilson/

 

Mercier, Jean-Pierre.  2009.

“ Je crois que je me suis toujours senti à part”: entretien avec Dan Clowes.
Ninth Art: http://neuviemeart.citebd.org/spip.php?article34

Rhode, Mike.  2010.

International Ink: Clowes, Kids, Crackers and Hellboy [reviews].

Washington City Paper Arts Desk blog (April 29): http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/artsdesk/books/2010/04/29/international-ink-clowes-kids-crackers-and-hellboy/

 

Rhode, Mike.  2010.

“Likable Characters Are for Weak-Minded Narcissists”: A Chat with Daniel Clowes.

Washington City Paper Arts Desk blog (May 3): http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/artsdesk/books/2010/05/03/likeable-characters-are-for-weak-minded-narcissists-a-chat-with-daniel-clowes/#more-23182

 

 

May 15: 'Trickster' launch signing

Matt Dembicki writes in-

 

A bunch of contributing artists to Trickster: Native American Tales: A Graphic Collection will be at Big Planet Comics in Vienna, Va., this Sat., May 15, for a signing from 2-4 p.m. In attendance: Matt Dembicki, Andrew Cohen, Evan Keeling, Chris Piers, Jacob Warrenfeltz, Mike Short, Jerry Carr, Rand Arrington and Scott White. We'll also be doing sketches and giving away artist trading cards featuring Trickster critters! I'll also give a very brief talk about the project. Come by and join the fun!

 

I'll be stopping in if anyone wants to say hello.

Back when Frank Frazetta came to DC cons

Frank Frazetta, the great comic book, strip and fantasy artist, has died. I'm sure obituaries will appear tomorrow, but Gary Groth has a Frank Frazetta Interview 1994 interview online, prefaced by a note about how Frazetta came to a 1971 comics con in Washington that Groth had organized.