Friday, May 21, 2010

Thursday, May 20, 2010

That darn Toles


Cartoon draws unfair comparisons to the Middle East

Washington Post Thursday, May 20, 2010

If the goal of Tom Toles's May 17 cartoon comparing the division of Jerusalem with Alexandria's retrocession to Virginia was intended to trivialize the issue and distort history, he succeeded. The U.S. Congress willingly agreed to Alexandria's request to return to Virginia, which was based on economic factors and lack of representation in Congress.

In contrast, Jews have lived in Jerusalem all but two times since the days of King David, and one of these times is when Jordan ruled East Jerusalem from 1949 to 1967 and prevented Jews, regardless of nationality, from praying at the most sacred places. To compare the division of Jerusalem with the Alexandria retrocession is beyond political cartoon license -- it is really outrageous.

Beth Marcus, Washington


Cavna article on 'Everybody Draw Muhammad Day,' an accidental provocation

By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, May 20, 2010; C04


InTHEIR TURN: 12 top cartoonists offer their take on 'Draw Muhammad Day' the Riffs blog has longer quotes from the cartoonists Michael interviewed.

 
The cartoonist who started the idea has since disavowed it:
 


But Over the Hedge and Mark Fiore both did rather different interpretations.

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Bamn goes to the classroom

Here's Troy Allen's report on visiting a Prince George's County school for Career Day - Career Day and ECBACC, May 19, 2010. Very cool of them.

Naif Al-Mutawa, creator The 99 comic series, was in DC recently

Naif Al-Mutawa, creator The 99 comic series, was in DC recently...
and we missed him. You can read an interview about his experiences here -

Comic book saving the world from stereotypical rhetoric, By Marriam Mossalli, Palestine Note blog May 18 2010

My pictures of the 2010 Herblock Award

100_9893 Wuerker accepting Herblock prize
Matt Wuerker making his acceptance speech.

100_9899 George Stevens Herblock lecture
George Stevens Jr. speaking about his Herblock film while Frank Swoboda looks on.

100_9902 Richard Thompson and Rob rogers
Richard Thompson and Rob Rogers.

100_9903 Michael Cavna and Kevin Rechin
Michael Cavna and Kevin Rechin.

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Nick G's friend from Greece and Richard Thompson.

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Kevin Rechin, Nick's friend from Greece and the back of Nick's head.

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Nick Galifianakis with his friend from Greece and Richard Thompson (in the red tie) in the background.

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Matt Wuerker's contemplating the uses to which the award may be put.

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Everyone wants a picture of Matt with his award.

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Richard Thompson - not ALL of those drinks were his.

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Kevin Rechin's STILL contemplating the award.

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Kevin Rechin's now got it all - the award, the girl, the cheesy grin. It's better not to ask questions.

Fantom Comics: Our Pentagon City Mall shop will be Closing

This just came across the e-transom from Fantom Comics-

Opening a shop in the Pentagon City Mall (PCM) was a fabulous opportunity to try a hand at a very high end mall. The one wrinkle in our short-term lease was that if another business wanted the spot for a full-term lease, we would have to match their offer or leave.

This happened the week before Free Comic Book Day. Unfortunately, the cost of matching would have meant doubling our monthly rent, which, at this early point in our tenure at PCM would have been impossible.

Thus, it is with very much regret that we announce our last day at PCM will be May 31st.

To all of our PCM customers, we at Fantom want to thank you for your patronage. We love the spot, had a lot of fun, and had hoped to serve you there for many years to come.

I would also like to point out that our Union Station store is still open and running strong, and we hope to see you there!

best,
Matt Klokel

Pentagon City Mall - 1100 South Hayes Street | Arlington, VA 22202 | 703-415-2094
Union Station - 50 Massachusetts Avenue NE | Washington, DC 20002 | 202-216-9478

Weldon on Little Orphan Annie's end

Lizards, Leap No More: Little Orphan Annie Strip To End In June, by Glen Weldon, May 19, 2010.

 

Post reviews Feiffer's biography

Memoirs [Feiffer].

By Michael Lindgren

Washington Post May 19, 2010; C04

 

A Chat with Illustrator Paul Zdepski now online at City Paper

Meet a Local Cartoonist: A Chat with Illustrator Paul Zdepski, who is one of the Trickster cartoonists.

Posted by Mike Rhode on May. 19, 2010 at 11:49 am

OT: Library Journal likes Walter Reed Hospital book I worked on


In my other life, I work with historic documents and photographs - one book I worked on was just highlighted by the Library Journal:
 

Digital Dreams and Dashboards: Notable Government Documents 2009

By David N. Griffths -- Library Journal, 5/15/2010

The entire article is worth reading, but here's the book's blurb -

Walter Reed Army Medical Center Centennial: A Pictorial History, 1909–2009. ed. by John R. Pierce & others. Borden Inst. 2009. 279p. illus. maps. SuDoc # D104.2:W17/8. GPO Stock # 008-000-01020-0. ISBN 978-0-9818228-3-9. $35.

The Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, DC, and its predecessor, Walter Reed General Hospital, have treated millions of active and retired personnel from every branch of the military. This collection of photographs and text pays tribute to the center's legacy.

 
 

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Marc Singer on teaching Morrison and Quitely's We3

Week 13: Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely, We3 - in which we return with Marc to the hallowed halls of Howard University...

...where he wraps it all up - The class brought just as much passion to the course as I did, right up to the very end, and I probably didn't need to worry about flagging attentions in the final weeks.

BTW, this is an excellent graphic novel and a moving story.

Host your own Herblock exhibit

from a posting on the Museum-L listserve

Herblock’s Political Cartoon Panel Exhibitions
Available for use in classrooms, museums, libraries, and organizations.

The Herb Block Foundation presents four panel exhibitions displaying reproductions of the work of legendary Washington Post editorial cartoonist Herbert Block, famously known as “Herblock.”

The goal of these exhibitions is to promote Herblock’s efforts to defend the rights and freedoms of Americans through his political cartoons. Prepared by Curator Harry L. Katz, these exhibitions can be used for teaching or promoting the American topics that reflect Herblock’s passions- Education, Democracy, Civil Rights and the Presidency. Together all four present a fascinating history of Herblock’s 72 year career.

No rental fee is required- only the shipping fees via Fedex or UPS are charged. The panels come in cases that are easy to move, set up and store.

A seven minute DVD, Herblock: The Man Behind the Cartoons and illustrated brochures come with the exhibitions.

For information on scheduling visit

www.herblockexhibitions.org or email loretta@elyinc.com

Monday, May 17, 2010

Richard Thompson interview on David-Wasting-Paper blog this week

Richard Thompson - Cartoonist Survey #125, May 17, 2010.

Degas? Really?

Cavna on the economics of Little Orphan Annie

Good interview here with the Steve Tippie of the Tribune Media Services syndicate - "Why canceled 'LITTLE ORPHAN ANNIE' is really seeing her final 'tomorrow'..." By Michael Cavna, Washington Post Comic Riffs blog May 17, 2010.

Joe Azar's Herblock award photos

Cartoonist Joe Azar sent these pictures of Matt Wuerker's Herblock award dinner over to me last month.


Herblock award winner Matt Wuerker's cartoons on display in the Library of Congress.


Wuerker surrounded by admirers.


Joe Sutliff, Nick G's date, Nick Galifianakis, Matt Wuerker and the previous year's winner Pat Bagley.


ComicsDC blogger Mike Rhode, apparently wondering what kind of seafood he just accidentally ingested.


Nick Galifianakis napping on Mike Rhode's shoulder as the speeches continued into the buffet.


Kevin Rechin may be getting ideas...

Meet a Local Cartoonist: A Chat with Joe Sutliff online at City Paper


Meet a Local Cartoonist: A Chat with Joe Sutliff

Posted by Mike Rhode on May. 17, 2010 at 11:53 am

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/artsdesk/books/2010/05/17/meet-a-local-cartoonist-a-chat-with-joe-sutliff/#more-23769

Sunday, May 16, 2010

Richard Thompson interview due on David-Wasting-Paper blog this week

It should be number 125 here.

Trickster graphic anthology signing

There were a LOT of cartoonists at the Trickster anthology launch at Big Planet Comics yesterday. I only got to talk to a few of them, but I'm going to run a series of Chat with a Cartoonist talks over at the City Paper with them over the next month. The book looks very good - it's published by Fulcrum, a specialist in American Indian books, but a newcomer to comics. I did buy a piece of art from Jacob Warrenfeltz of Takoma Park - the story he drew was about a trickster rabbit and two buffaloes.

Trickster: Native American Tales: A Graphic Collection at Big Planet Comics in Vienna, Va., Sat., May 15, 2010 for a signing. In attendance: Matt Dembicki, Andrew Cohen, Evan Keeling, Chris Piers, Jacob Warrenfeltz, Mike Short, Jerry Carr, Rand Arrington and Scott White.

101_0156
Matt Dembicki on left, Rand Arrington on right, Chris Piers in center.

101_0157
(left) Mike Short, (right) Evan Keeling. Coincidentally, the piece of art I bought is the one between the two of them with the cardboard arrow pointing at it.

101_0158
(left) Andrew Cohen, (right) Stephen Loya (not in book).