Baltimore City Paper reviews graphic novels.

Drawing Fire: Strong artwork saves two otherwise flawed graphic novels about war
By Andrea Appleton
Baltimore City Paper September 1, 2010

Reviews War is Boring, By David Axe and Matt Bors (NAL) and Greendale, By Joshua Dysart, Cliff Chiang, Dave Stewart, and Todd Klein (Vertigo).

Meet a Local Con Organizer: A Chat with Small Press Expo’s Jeff Alexander

Meet a Local Con Organizer: A Chat with Small Press Expo's Jeff Alexander

Posted by Mike Rhode on Sep. 1, 2010 at 9:27 am 

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/artsdesk/books/2010/09/01/meet-a-local-con-organizer-a-chat-with-small-press-expos-jeff-alexander/

Weldon's suggested comics links

Weldon, Glen.  2010.

An End-of-Summer Comics Linkdump. Um, 'Roundup.' Meant to Say Roundup.

National Public Radio's Monkey See blog (September 1): http://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2010/08/31/129563688/an-end-of-summer-comics-linkdump-um-roundup-meant-to-say-roundup

Jim Dougan's Sam & Lilah webcomic updated

In spite of being at the Baltimore Comic-Con and bringing all the cosplay G.I. Joes over to Shannon Gallant's table, Jim's got new pages of his excellent webcomic up now:


SAM & LILAH Updated Today!

We're back! Here's two more pages from Chapter 3....


http://www.activatecomix.com/42-3-28.comic

Need to catch up first? Start here:

Chapter 1: http://www.activatecomix.com/42-1-1.comic

Chapter 2: http://www.activatecomix.com/42-2-1.comic

Chapter 3: http://www.activatecomix.com/42-3-1.comic

We'll be back with more in just two weeks! See you September 13!

Frank Cho's Zatanna painting featured on Comic Riffs

FRANK CHO UPDATE: Oil painting sells at Comic-Con auction for $10K
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs August 31, 2010

Zadzooks interviews George Romero

Zadzooks: George Romero Interview
A visit with zombie-film king Romero
By Joseph Szadkowski
The Washington Times August 26, 2010

Bruce Guthrie's Baltimore Comic-Con photos

Richard Thompson and 'Cul de Sac' website manager Chris Sparks.

Bruce Guthrie has put his Baltimore Comic-Con photos online, in spite of an illegal towing of his car. Bruce is a long-time friend of Richard Thompson, and a maniac photographer who puts his material online through essentially a Creative Commons, attribution, non-commercial use license. Be sure to check out this crazy Little Nemo commission that Jeremy Bastian did.

MD -- Baltimore Comic-Con (2010) -- Day 2 (of 2) -- Miscellaneous (Partially reviewed)

MD -- Baltimore Comic-Con (2010) -- Day 2 (of 2) -- Artists
Artists in sequence: Marv Wolfman, Jim Shooter, Jim Calafiore, Barry Kitson, Jerry Robinson, Paul Pope, Howard Chaykin, Tom Raney, Jim Starlin, Ron Marz. Brian Pulido, Bob McLeod, Antonio Clark, Brad Samuelson, ???, Jose Garcia-Lopez, Matt Wagner, John K. Snyder III, Walter Simonson, Louise Simonson,... (Partially reviewed)

MD -- Baltimore Comic-Con (2010) -- Day 2 (of 2) -- Greg LaRocque and friends (Partially reviewed)

MD -- Baltimore Comic-Con (2010) -- Day 2 (of 2) -- Richard Thompson and friends (Partially reviewed)

MD -- Baltimore Comic-Con (2010) -- Day 1 (of 2) -- Miscellaneous (Partially reviewed)

MD -- Baltimore Comic-Con (2010) -- Day 1 (of 2) -- Artists
Artists in sequence: Dennis O'Neil, Jerry Robinson, Matt Wagner, John Snyder III, Marv Wolfman, Jim Shooter, Michael Golden, Joe Jusko, Mark Wheatley, Denis Kitchen, Steve Conley, Tim Truman, Todd McFarlane, Timothy Lantz, Bryan Brown, Terry Moore, Bill Tucci, Walt Simonson, Paul Pope, Don Rosa, Sergio... (Partially reviewed)


MD -- Baltimore Comic-Con (2010) -- Day 1 (of 2) -- Greg LaRocque and friends
Artists here: Greg LaRocque, Julie (Ms Marvel), and Cesar Castillo Jr. (Partially reviewed)

MD -- Baltimore Comic-Con (2010) -- Day 1 (of 2) -- Richard Thompson and friends
Artists: Richard Thompson and Shannon Gallant. (Partially reviewed)

Mark Waid says copyright is too long at Harvey Awards speech

Apparently there's something in the air lately. Here's The Beat's report on Mark Waid's speech about copyright. Here's me on the topic a few days ago. In the comments on The Beat, I agree with Stuart Moore's reasoned take. Note Dean Haspiel's remark about building his brand as well.

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

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 

http://www.seemybrotherdance.org.

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.

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.

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.

Big Start at the Baltimore Comic Con Sunday, August 29, 2010 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.