Meet a Local Cartoonist: Rafer Roberts of Plastic Farm and Magic Bullet
Posted by Mike Rhode on Aug. 30, 2010 at 11:01 am
Monday, August 30, 2010
PR: Small Press Expo Announces Richard Thompson, Nate Powell and R. Sikoryak as guests for SPX 2010.
Small Press Expo Announces Richard Thompson, Nate Powell and R. Sikoryak as guests for SPX 2010.
Bethesda, Maryland; August 30, 2010 - The Small Press Expo (SPX), the preeminent showcase for the exhibition of independent comics, graphic novels and alternative political cartoons is pleased to announce that Richard Thompson, Nate Powell and R. Sikoryak will be guests for SPX 2010, to be held September 11 and September 12 at the Marriott North Bethesda Hotel and Conference Center in Bethesda, Maryland, across from the White Flint Metro stop. These guests are in addition to the previously announced Jamie Hernandez, Vanessa Davis, Keith Knight, James Sturm, Raina Telgemeier, Jim Rugg, Kate Beaton and Emmy Award Winner Dean Haspiel.
Richard Thompson writes and draws the successful syndicated comic strip Cul de Sac and drew the weekly Washington Post cartoon Richard's Poor Almanac, best known for the George W. Bush parody "Make the Pie Higher." Thompson was nominated for the National Cartoonist Society's Reuben award in 2009, and his illustrations have appeared in The New Yorker and the Atlantic Monthly.
Nate Powell is a novelist, publisher and musician who owns the DIY record label Harlan records. He received the 2009 Eisner Award for Outstanding Graphic Novel for his work Swallow Me Whole and also received the 2009 Ignatz Award for Best Artist. Visit his web site at
R. Sikoryak has been producing comics adaptations of literary classics, turning familiar cartoon imagery and tropes into quirky and insightful parodies, starting with his early appearances in the groundbreaking series RAW. He has published drawings in The New Yorker and Esquire among others, including The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. He currently teaches illustration at Parsons in New York City.
SPX culminates with the presentation of the Ignatz Awards for outstanding achievement in comics and cartooning on Saturday night, September 11 at 9PM. Attendees at SPX get in free to the Ignatz Awards. The Ignatz is the first Festival Prize in the US comic book industry, with winners chosen by ballots submitted by attendees during SPX.
For detailed information about guests, panels and the Ignatz Awards, visit the SPX web site at www.spxpo.com.
SPX is a registered 501(c)3 which brings together more than 300 artists and publishers to meet their readers, booksellers and distributors each year. Graphic novels, mini comics and alternative comics will all be on display and for sale by their authors and illustrators.
As in previous years, profits from the SPX will go to support the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund (CBLDF), protecting the First Amendment rights of comic book readers and professionals. For more information on the CBLDF, go to their website at http://www.cbldf.org/.
The hours for SPX 2010 are 11AM-7PM Saturday, September 11, and noon-6PM Sunday, September 12. Admission is $10 for a single day and $15 for both days.
Cliff Chiang interviewed at Comic Riffs
The 'Riffs Interview: Comic artist CLIFF CHIANG offers an insider's tour of Neil Young's 'Greendale'
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog August 29, 2010.
Sunday, August 29, 2010
Baltimore Comic-Con on Sunday
I'm a bit tired so here's some new pictures.
A few of interest:
Shannon Gallant and his Valkyrie sketch.
Don Rosa sketching Uncle Scrooge.
Frank Cho's painting of Mara Herning as Zatanna, being air-dried by Mara before auctioning.
Chris Sparks, Sergio Aragones and Richard Thompson share a laugh
Frederick, MD's Stephen Blickenstaff and his monsters.
A few of interest:
Shannon Gallant and his Valkyrie sketch.
Don Rosa sketching Uncle Scrooge.
Frank Cho's painting of Mara Herning as Zatanna, being air-dried by Mara before auctioning.
Chris Sparks, Sergio Aragones and Richard Thompson share a laugh
Frederick, MD's Stephen Blickenstaff and his monsters.
Charlotte Observer editorial cartoonist would like to see daily Cul de Sac
'Dustin' moves in
Kevin Siers
Charlotte Observer's You Write the Caption blog August 25 2010
This is Richard's mother's hometown paper by the way.
Kevin Siers
Charlotte Observer's You Write the Caption blog August 25 2010
This is Richard's mother's hometown paper by the way.
DC Comic Books Examiner: Big Start at the Baltimore Comic Con
Mark Ruffin's still posting, but we didn't find each other today. Mark's got photos of the cosplayers at the bottom of this post.
DC Comic Books Examiner, Mark Ruffin | |
DC Comic Books Examiner at Baltimore Comic-Con
Mark Ruffin's being more productive at the Con than I am -
Stationed in Artist's Alley, two tables away of a directly opposite designation from an extensive line cued by Todd McFarlane as he signed comics, the talents behind Maryland-based Motorcycleboy consecutively drew crowds of their own. After some... Read more »
DC Comic Books Examiner, Mark Ruffin | |
Saturday, August 28, 2010
Day 1 of Baltimore Comic-Con with photos
Shannon "S.L." Gallant with his new banner.Some quick notes - the Con seems to be a smash success. The line wrapped around the convention center this morning and people were still waiting to get in at lunch time.
I met some of the local comic book creators who've been mentioned in this blog, but not in detail such as the Luna Brothers, Pop Mahn and Frank Cho. Expect more on all of them to follow.
Pop Mahn
The Trickster anthology creators have a strong presence with about five of them in various locations, including Matt Dembicki, Rand Arrington and Mike Carr that I've found so far. Dembicki and Andrew Cohen's history of the Heurich Mansion is out and I've bought mine from them.
Todd McFarlane's signing line was stunningly long, snaking through a set of stanchions and then following the wall behind the whole Kid's section.
Pictures of many local creators are here (for the present, see the photo name for the title). Carla Speed McNeil isn't pictured, but is at the con. Same with the Bamn crew.
Emmy-winning Dean Haspiel had a single copy of his newest graphic biography. However he's got promos comica of his Emmy artwork.
Friday, August 27, 2010
Baltimore Comic-Con plans
I'll be at the Con on both Saturday and Sunday, with Richard "Cul de Sac" Thompson and Shannon "G.I. Joe" Gallant the first day, and just Shannon on the second. You can probably find me through them and their table at the kids comics island, but you'd do better buying stuff from them and the other people there.
Satoshi Kon obit in Post, and the New York (Comics) Times
The Post had a little wire story obituary of anime director Satoshi Kon today.* Instead of worry about finding that, read animation historian Charles Solomon's excellent one:
Satoshi Kon dies at 47; Japanese anime director
His boldly original visions and technical sophistication made him one of the
most admired in contemporary animation. Among his films were 'Millennium
Actress,' 'Paprika' and 'Tokyo Godfathers.'
By Charles Solomon, Special to The Los Angeles Times
August 26, 2010
or the NY Times one:
Satoshi Kon, Anime Filmmaker, Dies at 46
By A. O. SCOTT
August 26, 2010
and speaking of the Paper of (Comics) Record, this one in antiques might sneak by people, but an Edward Gorey collection's been donated to Columbia University and pop culture auctioneer Heritage Auctions is coming to Manhattan:
Restoring the Studio of a Meticulous Sculptor
By EVE M. KAHN
August 26, 2010
Finally, Michael Cavna's got a bit on the Baltimore Comic-Con:
BALTIMORE COMIC-CON: Has it become the supreme antidote to San Diego?
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog August 27, 2010
*this one it turns out:
Japanese animated film director Kon dies at 46
By MARI YAMAGUCHI (AP) August 26 2010
Satoshi Kon dies at 47; Japanese anime director
His boldly original visions and technical sophistication made him one of the
most admired in contemporary animation. Among his films were 'Millennium
Actress,' 'Paprika' and 'Tokyo Godfathers.'
By Charles Solomon, Special to The Los Angeles Times
August 26, 2010
or the NY Times one:
Satoshi Kon, Anime Filmmaker, Dies at 46
By A. O. SCOTT
August 26, 2010
and speaking of the Paper of (Comics) Record, this one in antiques might sneak by people, but an Edward Gorey collection's been donated to Columbia University and pop culture auctioneer Heritage Auctions is coming to Manhattan:
Restoring the Studio of a Meticulous Sculptor
By EVE M. KAHN
August 26, 2010
Finally, Michael Cavna's got a bit on the Baltimore Comic-Con:
BALTIMORE COMIC-CON: Has it become the supreme antidote to San Diego?
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog August 27, 2010
*this one it turns out:
Japanese animated film director Kon dies at 46
By MARI YAMAGUCHI (AP) August 26 2010
Thursday, August 26, 2010
Ed Power interviewed on Comic Riffs blog
FAREWELL: His dream shot down, 'MY CAGE' cartoonist has a word for comics fans
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog August 26, 2010
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog August 26, 2010
WashPost Mag: Behind the Scene of Frank Cho's Art World
The Post sent me this notice that their Frank Cho story is online already:
This Sunday's Washington Post Magazine features a profile of comic book artist Frank Cho, who talks about how he started a comic strip in Beltsville, Maryland, despite being raised by parents who expected him to be a doctor or engineer.
Cho draws about six comics a year for Marvel and he's working on breaking into television.
Be sure to check out our video interview with Cho, where he talks about his love of brunettes (and the inspiration for the main character in his strip "Liberty Meadows") and his love of animals (usually dead on a plate, despite his animal-centric comic). Plus, go behind the scenes of The Post's magazine cover shoot featuring Frank on a hand-drawn set (a full day's work captured in less than 2 minutes):
Washington Post: Frank Cho's World (Video + Profile)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/artsandliving/frank-chos-world/
Baltimore Sun on Baltimore Comic-Con
A comic con for comic fans
At a time when the big comic conventions are trying to be all things to all people, Baltimore's tries to keep its focus narrow
By Chris Kaltenbach, Baltimore Sun August 26, 2010
and if you missed it, here's me on it:
New Father Marc Nathan on His Other Baby, the Baltimore Comic-Con
At a time when the big comic conventions are trying to be all things to all people, Baltimore's tries to keep its focus narrow
By Chris Kaltenbach, Baltimore Sun August 26, 2010
and if you missed it, here's me on it:
New Father Marc Nathan on His Other Baby, the Baltimore Comic-Con
PR: Jerry Robinson & Abrams ComicArts Come to Baltimore!
Jerry Robinson is a true gentleman, and, while best known to the BCC crowd for his early comic book work, he also had careers as a comic strip creator, a comics historian, and the founder of a syndicate that brought foreign editorial cartoons to US audiences. I'll be buying his book from him.
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PR: Small Press Expo Announces Programming Slate for SPX 2010
Small Press Expo Announces Programming Slate for SPX 2010 Bethesda, Maryland; August 26, 2010 - The Small Press Expo (SPX), the preeminent showcase for the exhibition of independent comics, graphic novels and alternative political cartoons, is pleased to announce its slate of programming for SPX 2010. SPX is presenting a program of some of the most insightful, thought provoking interviews and panel discussions in comics today, assembled by comics curator, teacher and author Bill Kartalopoulos. Spotlight one on ones will be held with James Sturm and Jaime Hernandez, as well as discussions on comics with Gary Groth, Kate Beaton, R. Sikoryak and Emmy Award winner Dean Haspiel, amongst others. The Center for Cartoon Studies will again hold a comics workshop and there will be a panel on Comics For Younger Readers with such notable creators as Raina Telgemeier and the Metaphrog team. Below is a complete description of all of the Spotlights, Panels and Workshops. The schedule in grid form may be seen at the SPX web site at http://www.spxpo.com. SPX will be held Saturday, September 11 from 11AM to 7PM and Sunday, September 12, noon-6PM at The North Bethesda Marriott Convention Center in Bethesda, Maryland. Admission is $10 for a single day and $15 for both days. To request an interview, please contact Warren Bernard at warren@spxpo.com.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 11 PROGRAMMING SCHEDULE
Comics and Worldbuilding
1:00 | Brookside Conference Room
This panel will consider the challenge of developing original settings for comics, individual artistic processes, and how the medium of comics is particularly well-suited to creating convincing invented worlds. Evan Dahm will lead a conversation with Liz Baillie, Aaron Diaz, Carla Speed McNeil and Spike Trotman.
Spotlight: James Sturm
1:30 | White Flint Amphitheater
James Sturm is the author of several comics and graphic novels including The Golem's Mighty Swing, Unstable Molecules, James Sturm's America, and Market Day. He is also the founder of the Center for Cartoon Studies, a unique two-year degree granting institution dedicated to cartooning. In this spotlight presentation, Sturm will discuss his work and answer questions from moderator Chris Mautner.
A Conversation About Daniel Clowes
2:00 | Brookside Conference Room
Daniel Clowes has long been one of America's premier cartoonists, and his work has caught the public eye again with the 2010 publication of his graphic novel Wilson. Ken Parille and Isaac Cates, co-editors of the recent anthology Daniel Clowes: Conversations (University Press of Mississippi) will discuss Clowes's art and career with moderator Bill Kartalopoulos.
Carousel at SPX
2:30 | White Flint Amphitheater
The long running slide show series, Carousel, returns with some of today's finest comics artists, graphic novelists, and pencil pushers reading and presenting their work. Hosted by R. Sikoryak, this special SPX edition of Carousel will feature Kate Beaton, Dean Haspiel, Lizz Hickey, and more!
Critics' Panel: How We Judge
3:00 | Brookside Conference Room
The accessibility of online publishing alongside traditional media has enabled a diversity of critical voices who are addressing the broad spectrum of comics being published today. A diverse group of critics will discuss the disparate bases for their own critical opinions, and the extent to which they regard different kinds of work in different ways. Join moderator Bill Kartalopoulos for a discussion with Johanna Draper Carlson (Comics Worth Reading), Gary Groth (The Comics Journal), Tim Hodler (Comics Comics), Chris Mautner (Robot 6), Joe McCulloch (Jog the Blog/Comics Comics), Ken Parille (Blog Flume), and Caroline Small (The Hooded Utilitarian).
Center for Cartoon Studies Self-Publishing Workshop
3:30 | White Flint Amphitheater
Robyn Chapman, Jon Chad and Alec Longstreth join us from The Center for Cartoon Studies, a two-year college for budding cartoonists in White River Junction, Vermont. Alec will offer a short presentation chock full of self-publishing tips. Afterwards, each participant will draw, fold and bind a comic using the Hidden Book format. This simple process allows you to create an 8-page comic with a single piece of paper. No matter what your experience level, you'll leave this workshop with your own handmade minicomic!
Remembering Harvey Pekar
4:00 | Brookside Conference Room
When comics writer Harvey Pekar died in July 2010, he left behind an influential legacy of independent autobiographical comics that highlighted the forgotten moments and ignored people of everyday life. In this special panel event, a group of Pekar's former collaborators will discuss their experiences of working with the creator of American Splendor. Heidi MacDonald will moderate this conversation with Vanessa Davis, Dean Haspiel, Jeff Newelt, Rick Parker, Ed Piskor, and Sean Pryor.
Spotlight: Jamie Hernandez
4:30 | White Flint Amphitheater
The 1982 publication of Jaime, Gilbert and Mario Hernandez's Love and Rockets #1 by Fantagraphics virtually created the model for the post-underground alternative comic book series that characterized art-comics for nearly two decades. In the intervening years, Jaime Hernandez has emerged as one of the most distinctive visual stylists and compelling storytellers in modern comics, as he crafts the still-continuing saga of Hopey, Maggie, and his other post-punk Locas. Publisher and editor Gary Groth will ask Jaime about his art and life in this special spotlight session.
Comics for Younger Readers
5:00 | Brookside Conference Room
Book-length comics for younger readers are increasingly following graphic novels for adults into the bookstore and library shelves. Johanna Draper Carlson will discuss the pleasures and challenges of creating comics for younger readers with the collaborative duo Metaphrog, Aaron Renier, Raina Telgemeier, and Drew Weing.
Return of the Monster: The Fort Thunder Legacy
5:30 | White Flint Amphitheater
From 1995 to 2001, the Fort Thunder artists' and performance space in Providence, Rhode Island was a fertile creative center. Work produced by artists living at the Fort – both at the time and in the years since it was shut down – has been enormously influential in the worlds of fine art, music, and comics. A new issue of the de facto Fort Thunder anthology Monster debuts at this year's SPX. To mark the occasion, Bill Kartalopoulos will moderate a discussion with artists and former Fort Thunder residents Brian Ralph and Paul Lyons and publisher/editors Tom Devlin and Dan Nadel.
SUNDAY SEPTEMBER 12 PROGRAMMING SCHEDULE
Telling Stories
12:30 | White Flint Amphitheater
How do creators shape inspiration and life experience into memorable stories and characters? Join moderator Heidi MacDonald for a lively discussion about vision and process with a panel of cartoonists including Meredith Gran, Roger Langridge and Jon Lewis.
Teaching Comics
1:00 | Brookside Conference Room
Comics have increasingly gained a berth as the subject of courses within the academy, and classes about comics production are increasingly a part of studio art departments. What do students need to know about comics? To what extent do studio art students need to know about comics history and theory, and to what extent do humanities students need to know about the practice of comics production? Professors Marc Singer and Isaac Cates join Center for Cartoon Studies founder James Sturm for a conversation moderated by Bill Kartalopoulos.
Kate Beaton and Julia Wertz in Conversation
1:30 | White Flint Amphitheater
Two of the most popular and entertaining cartoonists of their generation, Kate Beaton and Julia Wertz have both attracted dedicated audiences online with their uniquely humorous comics. This special conversation moderated by Dustin Harbin will investigate the similarities and differences between the creators of Hark, A Vagrant! and The Fart Party.
Brave New Comic Strips
2:00 | Brookside Conference Room
The newspaper industry, long the home of American comics' first popular dedicated format, faces an existential crisis presented by the emergence and proliferation of digital media. Against all odds, artists interested in the daily strip format continue to produce work with an eye for print. Mike Rhode will discuss the present and the future of the newspaper comic strip with Marguerite Dabaie, Keith Knight, and Richard Thompson.
Developing Iconographies
2:30 | White Flint Amphitheater
Distinct from drawing as an art discipline with its own self-ratifying purpose, artists in comics create pictures as part of a visual language. Moderator Ken Parille will investigate the ways in which comics artists develop visual iconographies in individual works and throughout bodies of work. Cartoonists Eamon Espey, Kevin Huizenga, and Tom Kaczynski will participate in this discussion, illustrated with slides of the artists' work.
Autobiography in Pieces
3:00 | Brookside Conference Room
How do you tell the story of a life that's still in progress? Is "story" even the right way to think about it? How do you winnow down the manifold details and data of your life? Cartoonists Sarah Becan, Gabrielle Bell, Vanessa Davis, and Jesse Reklaw will discuss alternatives to the memoir with moderator Isaac Cates.
R. Sikoryak: Adaptation and Parody
3:30 | White Flint Amphitheater
Comics chameleon R. Sikoryak inventively adapts canonical Western literature using the visual styles and characters of historical American comic books and comic strips. These works have been collected in his 2009 book Masterpiece Comics (Drawn and Quarterly). Sikoryak will reveal his intensive working process and will discuss the history of parody and adaptation in comics in a discussion with Bill Kartalopoulos, curator of the recent exhibit "R. Sikoryak: How Classics and Cartoons Collide."
Commercial Eruptions
4:00 | Brookside Conference Room
Jim Rugg (Street Angel, Afrodisiac) and Frank Santoro (Storeyville, Cold Heat) have produced auteurial work that shows the influence of commercial comics, and have brought an independent sensibility to work for publishers like Marvel Comics. In a conversation moderated by Tim Hodler, the two cartoonists will reflect on what they have learned from the contents and processes of historical commercial comics and how they reinterpret their influences when working for corporate publishers.
Comics and Printmaking
4:30 | White Flint Amphitheater
Comics have historically been a medium of work made for reproduction, but the means of reproduction have often constrained by technical and commercial limitations. Even as new digital technologies have broadened technical possibilities, a number of cartoonists are exploring the possibilities of reproducing work using traditional printing techniques including silkscreening and etching. Noel Freibart, Lizz Hickey, Brian Ralph and Jon Vermilyea will discuss the relationship between comics and printmaking with moderator Bill Kartalopoulos.
Who Framed Roger Rabbit? airs this weekend
Shauna Miller at the Express is reporting that the interesting animated movie Who Framed Roger Rabbit? is airing at the E Street Cinema on Fri and Sat at midnight. This is one of the successful mixtures of live -action and animation and the only film in which Donald and Daffy Duck appear together.
Small Press Expo bleedover events at Politics and Prose
Thursday September 9
Richard Thompson & Keith Knight
7 p.m. In conjunction with the Small Press Expo (September 11-12 at the Bethesda North Marriott Hotel & Conference Center), we're delighted to host two artists who excel at contemplating the minutiae of everyday life and making it hilarious. Thompson's strip is focused on a loveable family in a suburban development, while Knight's is told through the eyes of a city dweller.
Friday September 10
James Sturm - Market Day
8 p.m. Co-founder of the Center for Cartoon Studies, Sturm has set this beautifully crafted historical fiction in the Eastern European countryside of the 1900s. His day in the life of Mendleman, a carpet peddler, uses spare narrative and finely-honed images to achieve a powerful emotional resonance.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Caro responds on Comic Lit Crit
You can see Caroline Small's continued commentary here as an online 'discussion' of Best American Comics Criticism continues.
PR: Beyond Comics $3 Silver Age Comic Book Sale 1 Day
This sounds like an amazing deal; if only I was closer...
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