Monday, August 30, 2010

Rina Piccolo interview at Comic Riffs

'RHYMES WITH ORANGE': Rina Piccolo fills us in on her Hilary Price fill-in
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog August 30, 2010

Wertham papers at LoC article

I'm working on an article for the City Paper, but here's another person's take on the story:

Papers of anti-comic book crusader now open to scholars
By Matthew Lasar
August 30 2010

Oh, and he's got a link to an internal LoC article -

Papers of Comic-Book ‘Villain’ Open at Library
August 27th, 2010 by Matt Raymond
My colleague Erin Allen wrote the following for the Library’s in-house letter, The Gazette, and I thought it worth sharing with a wider audience:

Ask Stan Lee a question, on CNN

This one was sent to me by one of my Arlington neighbors, so it's ComicsDC turf by default - thanks, Mike McM!

Ask Stan Lee

Got a question about "The Hulk," "X-Men" or "Spider-Man" that's eating at you? Want to pick the brains of one of the Marvel revolution's key masterminds?

Iconic comic book creator and writer Stan Lee will be stopping by CNN HQ on Thursday to sit down with us and take your questions.

Put yourself on camera and ask a concise question for Lee. Get it to us by Tuesday, August 30 at 5 p.m. and your video just might be chosen.

Guidelines:

Video questions please

Try to keep them under 30 seconds

Have fun

Jerry Beck on History Detectives in 1/2 hour

History Detectives

Monday, August 30 -- 9:00pm
26 - WETA
WB Cartoons, Galvez Papers, Mussolini Dagger

A box of cartoon drawings and cels reveals information about the early days of animation and the people behind it; emancipation papers for a female slave that were signed by a regional governor; a dagger that may have belonged to Benito Mussolini.

A reason to buy a sketch from SL Gallant at a Con

100_0369 GI Joes visit Shannon Gallant

At Baltimore Comic-Con my buddy Shannon Gallant gave me a sketch he did of "Real Leela," based on the Futurama character. You too can commission him to draw one of these (actually I asked for the Shadow, but he stayed busy all weekend doing G.I. Joe and other characters). Link is NQ SFW cheesecake.

America's Next Great Cartoonist begins running in Post

Olivia Walch's six-week stint in the Post with Imogen Quest begins today.

Rafer Roberts interview on Magic Bullet up at City Paper

Meet a Local Cartoonist: Rafer Roberts of Plastic Farm and Magic Bullet

Posted by Mike Rhode on Aug. 30, 2010 at 11:01 am

 

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/artsdesk/books/2010/08/30/meet-a-local-cartoonist-rafer-roberts-of-plastic-farm-and-magic-bullet/

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:

100_0399 Shannon Gallant and Valkyrie sketch
Shannon Gallant and his Valkyrie sketch.

100_0390 Don Rosa
Don Rosa sketching Uncle Scrooge.

100_0402  Frank Cho's painting of Mara Herning as Zatanna
Frank Cho's painting of Mara Herning as Zatanna, being air-dried by Mara before auctioning.

100_0430 Chris Sparks, Sergio Aragones and Richard Thompson
Chris Sparks, Sergio Aragones and Richard Thompson share a laugh

100_0382 Stephen Blickenstaff
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.

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.


Throngs convergently formed lines of ticket-purchasers at the Conference Center on Pratt St. for 2010s Baltimore Comic Con. Escaping the heat to indulgently homage the escapism of sequential arts, certain conventioneers put accentuation during their... Read more »


DC Comic Books Examiner, Mark Ruffin


Mark Ruffin, a freelance writer and story editor, recalls a first read of Peter Parker, the Amazing Spider-Man #8 and a collection of comic books from that point. Following honorable service in the military, he has contributed and edited articles on subjects political, sports car related, and of murder mystery dinner games. Grouped with his enthusiasm for culinary arts and sports, he enjoys discussions on the various perspectives of the comics medium. Contact Mark here.


 



Today in The New York (Comics) Times

Computer Animation, Made by Hand
By JOHN ANDERSON
New York Times August 29, 2010

DC Comic Books Examiner at Baltimore Comic-Con

Mark Ruffin's being more productive at the Con than I am -



Mike Imboden has nothing against superheroes with an edgier side than the Silver Age costumed champions. On the other hand, he considers the comics industry has enough scape for that championing role-model with altruistic motives. Fist of Justice... Read more »

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


Mark Ruffin, a freelance writer and story editor, recalls a first read of Peter Parker, the Amazing Spider-Man #8 and a collection of comic books from that point. Following honorable service in the military, he has contributed and edited articles on subjects political, sports car related, and of murder mystery dinner games. Grouped with his enthusiasm for culinary arts and sports, he enjoys discussions on the various perspectives of the comics medium. Contact Mark here.


 




Saturday, August 28, 2010

Day 1 of Baltimore Comic-Con with photos

100_0329 Shannon GallantShannon "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.

100_0354 Pop Mahn
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.

100_0350 Dean Haspiel
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

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

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