June 5: DC Anime Club’s Gundam Day

Press Release

DC Anime Club’s Gundam Day

DC Anime Club invites all Giant Robot fans to Gundam Day on Saturday June 5, 2010 2pm-5pm at the Martin Luther King, Jr Memorial Library, 901 G St NW Washington, DC 20001 in A5 on the A Level of the Library.

For those of you who are unfamiliar Gundam is a Japanese Animated metaseries by the Animation Studio in Japan Sunrise.

Gundam Day will consist of the following activities:

Model kit construction where attendees will learn how to build their own Gundams.

Attendees are encouraged to bring their own model kits.

An Marathon of the Japanese Animated Series Gundam Wing will be screened during Gundam Day.

An Anime Swap Meet will be included as part of Gundam Day.
Have anime dvd’s or Japanese Comics you don’t want anymore?
Come to the Anime Swap Meet and trade with fellow anime enthusiast who no longer.

We hope to see you there.

This event is free and open to the public.
Ages 13 and up.

For more information please visit the DC Anime Club website at http://dcanimeclub.org.

June 1: Swann Fellow's lecture on Turkish cartoonists

From Martha Kennedy at the Library of Congress -

Swann Fellow Yasemin Gencer presents her public lecture, "Cartooning Progress: Secularism and Nationalism in the Early Turkish Republic (1922-28)" at noon on Tuesday, June 1, in Dining Room A on the sixth floor of the Madison Building.

Gencer will discuss how cartoons of this era had the power to create, shape and project a new Turkish national identity based on European models. She will look at cartoons that highlight reforms initiated during the early years of the Turkish Republic. In one such image, for example, an automobile made of Latin letters speeds past a camel composed of Arabic letters, demonstrating how the cartoonist combines text with visual metaphor to underscore the benefits of changing the official alphabet. Such cartoons from 1922-28 illustrate many reforms aimed at secularizing the nation.

Meet a Local Cartoonist: A Chat with Trickster Artist Chris Piers

Meet a Local Cartoonist: A Chat with Trickster  Artist Chris Piers

 by Mike Rhode on May. 24, 2010

I've got a few more of these in the pipeline.

Zadzooks on Iron Man 2 toys and some movie comics

Zadzooks: Escape From L.A., A Nightmare on Elm Street
Joseph Szadkowski, May 11, 2010

Zadzooks: War Machine, Mark VI Metalon and Iron Man Helmet
Joseph Szadkowski, May 19, 2010

Homer Simpson in Parade Magazine insert in today's Post

Homer's 6 Best Grilling Tips

Parade Magazine  05/23/2010
http://www.parade.com/food/2010/05/23-homer-simpson-grilling-tips.html

Illustration by Julius Preite

Comics on the Rack, Quick Picks for Comics Due 05-26-10

COMICS ON THE RACK

Quick Picks for Comics Due 05-26-10

By John Judy

 

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #632 by Zeb Wells and Chris Bachalo.  Holy jeez, did the Lizard really eat his own kid?  Turn the page…  Recommended, but not for the easily creeped out.

 

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN ANNUAL #37 by Kurt Busiek and Patrick Olliffe.  A flashback tale of when Spidey met Captain America for the very first time!  Some villainous shmoes get a-pummeled, you bet!

 

BATMAN: THE RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE #2 of 6 by Grant Morrison and Frazer Irving.  The original Dark Knight is fighting his way back from the dawn of time!  This issue he's fighting Puritans!  Go!  Go!  Go!

 

BRAVE AND BOLD #34 by J. Michael Straczynski and Jesus Saiz.  The Legion of Super Heroes meets the Doom Patrol in a contest to see whose series can get canceled faster!

 

CHIMICHANGA #2 of 3 written and drawn by Eric Powell.  The monstrous "Chimichanga" joins the circus!  From the creator of THE GOON.  Highly recommended!

 

CHOKER #3 of 6 by Ben McCool and Ben Templesmith.  The murder rate in Shotgun City continues to rise even as Choker's hopes dwindle.  Recommended.

 

DAZZLER #1 by Jim McCann and Kalman Andrasofszky.  Because for some fanboys PET AVENGERS just isn't enough…

 

DCS GREATEST IMAGINARY STORIES VOL. 2 SC by Bill Finger, Sheldon Moldoff and Others.  Collecting the best of the Batman "imaginary stories" from the 60s and 70s by Batman's uncredited co-creator, Bill Finger.  Good for all ages.

 

DOC SAVAGE THE MAN OF BRONZE SC by Many Creators.  This volume collects the entire series originally published by Marvel in 1972 adapting four of the Doc Savage pulps from the 1930s.  Neat stuff.

 

FANTASTIC FOUR #579 by Jonathan Hickman and Neil Edwards.  Reed Richards has had enough of your guff and is bringing the huge, Kirby-dotted hammer down!  For your own good.  Excelsior!

 

GREEN LANTERN #54 by Geoff Johns and Doug Mahnke.  In which we learn how the various spectra of Lanterns are adjusting to their new home on Earth.  Check out the cover.  Recommended.

 

THE GUILD #3 of 3 by Felicia Day and Jim Rugg. Will seeing her boyfriend kissing a dude finally get Cyd to wake up?  Will her on-line game quest involve getting a life?  These are the days of our lives…  Recommended.

 

INCORRUPTIBLE #6 by Mark Waid and Horacio Domingues.  Newly reformed bad guy Max Damage goes on a rescue mission that leaves you wondering if Max hasn't gone as crazy with the hero gig as his arch-foe the Plutonian has with the villainy.  Great, unpredictable stuff.  Recommended.

 

INVINCIBLE GENE COLAN HC edited by Clifford Meth and drawn by Gene Colan.  A tribute book and retrospective of one of comics greatest illustrators, featuring analysis from such creators as Stan Lee, Neil Gaiman and many others lucky enough to have worked with Gene the Dean.  Highly recommended.

 

JUSTICE LEAGUE: GENERATION LOST #2 by Keith Giffen, Judd Winnick and Joe Bennett.  Maxwell Lord is back and screwing with the lives of the former JLI.  This series is turning out surprisingly well, maybe because the original creative team has been broken up, thus leading to less of the "Bwah-ha-ha" stuff that stopped being funny back in the 80s.

 

KEVIN SMITH'S GREEN HORNET #4 by Kevin Smith and Jonathan Lau.  The old Hornet is dead and now it's up to Kato to get the new one up to speed.  There's bad guys need to pay!

 

NORTHLANDERS #28 by Brian Wood and Leandro Fernandez.  The final chapter of the epic "Plague Widow."  Recommended.

 

PREVIEWS by Marvel and Diamond Comics.  Stuff in the future you can actually look forward to!  How great is that?

 

SCALPED #38 by Jason Aaron and R.M. Guera.  An issue set in the Vietnam War starring a character we finally get to know a little better.  Always highly recommended.

 

SECRET AVENGERS #1 by Ed Brubaker and Mike Deodato.  Hey, if I had Moon Knight on my team I'd keep it a secret too.  It's Brubaker and he makes stuff like this work.

 

THANOS IMPERATIVE: IGNITION #1 by Dan Abnett, Andy Lanning and Brad Walker.  I believe this is a one-shot that Thanos insists you set fire to.  A "burn after reading" thing, if you will.

 

THOR #610 by Kieron Gillen and Doug Braithwaite.  Thor dukes it out with his insane cyborg clone.  As if the sane ones aren't bad enough…

 

THUNDERBOLTS #144 by Jeff Parker and Kev Walker.  Luke Cage is now a parole officer for the worst villains on the planet.  If they want to see daylight they need to get their good behavior points from Mr. Cage.  It's almost as if it would be Suicide to be on this Squad!  Hey….  Gotta look!

 

ULTIMATE COMICS ENEMY #4 of 4 by Brian Michael Bendis and Rafa Sandoval.  So it turns out this is the concluding chapter of Part One of a three-part trilogy which means, according to my public school math, we have eight more issues comprising two more mini-series to go until this story is finished.  Recommended for people with money, patience and a desire to see if Ultimate Ben Grimm blows up real good.

 

WEDNESDAY COMICS HC by Many Cool Creators.  An oversized edition collecting all the glorious hits and misses of last year's Great Experiment.  If you don't find something to love in these pages you haven't looked hard enough.  Recommended.

 

WOLFSKIN: HUNDREDTH DREAM #2 of 6 by Warren Ellis, Mike Wolfer and Gianluca Pagliarani.  The prehistoric berserker travels north to chew bubblegum and fight monsters.  And bubblegum hasn't been invented yet!  Not for kids.

 

WOLVERINE WEAPON X #13 by Jason Aaron and Ron Garney.  Wolvie and Captain America have to take out a Deathlok army from the future without completely mucking up the timestream.  And they'd like fries with that.  Recommended.

 

WONDER WOMAN #44 by Gail Simone and Nicola Scott.  WW must thrash it out with her evil alien warlord cousin.  And, believe it or not, next issue is #600!  Just accept it!

 

www.johnjudy.net

 

9 Chickweed Lane's post-war nookie

In a great extended flashback, Edna's grandmother has been telling of her World War II adventures as a femme fatale, who fell in love both with a German POW who taught her to sing better, and the American officer who sent her in. The American vanished during the invasion of France, but the Austrian has surface in New York, singing in the opera. The two have found each other and ... clenched hands have resulted.

This is the third example of sexuality that Brooke McEldowney has shown in his strip. Our notes on number one is here and number two is here.

Comic Riffs' Shrek interview

The 'Riffs Interview: 'SHREK' animator Walt Dohrn steps into the oh-so-green limelight
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog May 21, 2010

Cavna on the political cartoon.

THE RIFF: A day after 'Draw Muhammad,' the political cartoon gets a powerful reminder
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog May 21, 2010

Reason on the Danish Islam cartoons controversy again

I don't link to Reason often enough, although they're based in DC, because I think of them as a nationwide publication (as do they, I'm sure). Here's an editorial of interest -

And The Winner of The Everybody Draw Mohammad Contest is...
Nick Gillespie & Matt Welch | May 20, 2010

Cartoons, cartoons every where

Here's some pictures from 16th St, NW in DC today:


Pom The Antioxidant Superpower ad in a bus stop.


Shrek Forever After ad on a bus.


Marmaduke the movie ad at a bus stop. The original comic strip is by Brad Anderson, a longtime gag cartoonist.

Matt Wuerker's very excellent hat and the Funny Times

As requested by no less than Richard Thompson, here are pictures from the recent Funny Times subscriber party in Arlington, which featured the first Irving Award presented to Matt Wuerker. The Irving Award is named in honor of publisher Ray Lesser's father, and his large collection of trophies, that Ray intended to regift, but never quite got around to. I'd like to thank Ray for making me welcome, and to note that I retroactively became a subscriber, especially since the magazine supports our local cartoonist Matt.


The party.


Matt and the hat.


Cartoonists Matt Wuerker, Bill Brown and Joe Sutliff.


Ray Lesser presenting the first Irving Award to Matt.


Matt admiring his award.

Lots more pictures are here.

Post on Pakistan response to Draw Mohammed day

Pakistan blocks YouTube a day after shutdown of Facebook over Muhammad issueBy Karin Brulliard
Washington Post Foreign Service
Friday, May 21, 2010; A08

and some commentary from yesterday:

Drawing Muhammad respectfully
By guest bloggers Kelsey Sheridan and Saleha Mallick
Washington Post’s On Faith blog May 20, 2010

Shrek Forever After local reviews

The fourth time is the charm
By Michael O'Sullivan
Washington Post Friday, May 21, 2010

'Shrek Forever After' heavy on sight gags and sidekick antics [online title: Third time not as charming for ‘Shrek’].
By: Sally Kline
Washington Examiner May 21, 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

Political cartoonists split on usefulness of 'Everybody Draw Muhammad Day'

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:

 

'Everbody Draw Mohammed' cartoonist: I'm against my own concept becoming a reality

By JAMIE GRISWOLD

MyNorthwest.com

 

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

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

Matt Wuerker making his acceptance speech.


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


Richard Thompson and Rob Rogers.


Michael Cavna and Kevin Rechin.


Nick G's friend from Greece and Richard Thompson.


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


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


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


Everyone wants a picture of Matt with his award.


Richard Thompson - not ALL of those drinks were his.


Kevin Rechin's STILL contemplating the award.


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