2 Beeler cartoons in today's Examiner

In addition to the regular cartoon on page 2, Nate Beeler's got a second one tucked into the paper on page 24, illustrating 'who owns the Democratic Party' as the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse.

Toles played music over the weekend

Another 'for the record' blogpost -

Reporters rock the National Press Club
By: Nikki Schwab and Katy Adams
Washington Examiner January 24 2011

- someday you'll thank me.

Comic Book Legal Defense Fund profile

Anyone who's serious about comics should be a member of the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund.

Meet the CBLDF, the people who make sure you aren't arrested for reading comic books
By Cyriaque Lamar
January 24 2011
http://io9.com/5742147/meet-the-cbdlf-the-people-who-make-sure-you-arent-arrested-for-reading-comic-books

Long 2003 Carla Speed McNeil interview posted

Carla Speed McNeil
Jenni Scott
FA the Comic Zine January 2011
http://comiczine-fa.com/interviews/carla-speed-mcneil/

Ok, this one's 5 years old and just dragged out, but it's really long, but with God as my witness, I'll get Carla on the phone soon for a City Paper interview!

Hat-tip to Tom Spurgeon's Comic Reporter for catching this.

Front Royal's Ben Hatke

Randy T notes about Front Royal's Ben Hatke, "Not quite a local, but close enough: http://www.househatke.com/"

He's got a book coming out from First Second - http://firstsecondbooks.typepad.com/mainblog/2011/01/first-second-is-turning-5-this-year.html

- and note that Richard Thompson's got a story in a nursery rhyme anthology from them too.

Sequential artist RM Rhodes begins writing on French comics

Here's his first column, and I like his anecdote and his conclusion -

Heavy Metal Magazine: A Brief Introduction

Posted on 01.23.11 by R.M. Rhodes
http://www.needcoffee.com/2011/01/23/heavy-metal-magazine/

I interviewed him for the City Paper in 2010 and we're planning on having a follow-up as to the nature of sequential art and how cartooning is just one variety of it.

Disney's Kingdom Hearts game reviewed in Examiner

For the record, Disney's Kingdom Hearts Re:coded videogame is reviewed today's Washington Examiner.

Steve Conley interview online at City Paper

Meet a Local Cartoonist: A Chat With Steve Conley
by Mike Rhode on Jan. 24, 2011

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/artsdesk/books/2011/01/24/meet-a-local-cartoonist-a-chat-with-steve-conley/

 

Contributing to Team Cul de Sac, if you're not a cartoonist

For the non-cartoonists who want to support Team Cul de Sac, you can choose to contribute money directly online.

The Fox Foundation's website for Team Cul de Sac is somewhat confusing, but click on that link, and then select the big orange button that says DONATE NOW. You can select amounts to be charged to a credit card. If you want to join TCdS, there's another button for that, but there's a $50 fee, and I'm not sure what benefit there is to that.

Mason Mastroianni of B.C. is the latest artist to join.

1 more day in Toles cartoon contest

The Post has joined the caption-writing contest world...

Readers will have a chance at writing a cartoon caption with The Washington Post's caption-writing contest with Tom Toles.

WashPost editorial Cartoonist Tom Toles sketched a State of the Union cartoon here, but there's no caption: http://voices.washingtonpost.com/tomtoles/2011/01/state_of_the_union_cartoon_cap.html

Readers can post their suggested caption(s) in the comments section until 11:59 p.m. ET Monday, Jan. 24. The winner gets a print of the cartoon, with their suggested caption, signed by Tom Toles. The winner will be announced before Obama begins his State of the Union address that Tuesday evening.

For official rules, go here: http://voices.washingtonpost.com/tomtoles/tom-toles-cartoon-caption-cont.html

Steve Brodner caricatures in Sunday's Post UPDATED

Steve Brodner illustrated Dana Milbank's column I'm declaring February a Palin-free month. Join me! in today's Washington Post but the excellent drawings aren't online at the Post site, but Mr. Brodner has them at his site.

Benita Epstein claims Richard Thompson is favorite artist

On a cold Sunday afternoon, I'm working my way backwards through David Paccia's excellent blog of interviews - here's one where Richard Thompson is cited as a favorite artist:

Benita Epstein - Cartoonist Survey #66
February 7, 2010
http://david-wasting-paper.blogspot.com/2010/02/cartoonist-survey-66.html

Cul de Sac up for vote at Post-Standard

Help choose a new comic for the pages of The Post-Standard
The Post-Standard  January 23, 2011
http://blog.syracuse.com/entertainment/2011/01/help_choose_our_new_comic.html

1/25: Tom Inge speaks on Charles Schulz in Fredericksburg

Good ol' 'Charlie Brown' Schulz
by Thomas Inge
Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star 1/23/2011
http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2011/012011/01232011/595935

Ton says, "This leads to an article I wrote that appears in today's Fredericksburg FREE LANCE-STAR newspaper, in anticipation of my lecture on Charles Schulz in the "Great Lives" series next Tuesday at 7:30 in Dodd Auditorium at the University of Mary Washington."

Truitt on GI Joe

IDW relaunches G.I. Joe titles, ignites a 'Cobra Civil War'
By Brian Truitt, USA TODAY January 20 2011
http://www.usatoday.com/life/comics/2011-01-20-CobraCivilWar_N.htm

Post reviews Dalai Lama manga

The forging of a holy man
Jeffrey Paine
Washington Post Sunday, January 23, 2011; B07
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/21/AR2011012106630.html

The book reviewed is

THE 14th DALAI LAMA

A Manga Biography

By Tetsu Saiwai

Penguin

Unpaginated. Paperback, $15

OT: New Jersey sports cartoonist

I was stunned and glad to see this article today - I grew up reading the Bergen (County, NJ) Evening Record, and seeing these caricatures. I'm thrilled to hear about the cartoonist and the fact that he's still doing them.

Sports Illustrator: Closter's Charlie McGill is quick on the draw
MICHELE WILSON
BERGEN.COM January 22 2011

CFP: International Comic Arts Forum 2011 (9/29-10/1)

It's not in DC anymore, but it'll always have a place in my heart...

The 15th Anniversary International Comic Arts Forum: ICAF 2011
September 29-October 1, 2011
The Center for Cartoon Studies in White River Junction, Vermont
<http://www.internationalcomicartsforum.org>

ICAF, the International Comic Arts Forum, invites scholarly paper proposals for its fifteenth anniversary meeting, to be held at the Center for Cartoon Studies in White River Junction, Vermont, from Thursday, September 29, through Saturday, October 1, 2011.

The deadline to submit proposals is March 18, 2011. (Scroll down for proposal guidelines and submission information.)

ICAF welcomes original proposals from diverse disciplines and theoretical perspectives on any aspect of comics or cartooning, particularly studies that reflect an international perspective. Studies of aesthetics, production, distribution, reception, and social, ideological, and historical significance are all equally welcome, as are studies that address larger theoretical issues linked to comics or cartooning, for example in image/text studies or new media theory. Proposals that focus on bandes dessinées or manga are encouraged.

In recognition of the fifteenth meeting of ICAF, we are hoping to schedule a special panel on larger issues pertaining to the teaching and study of comics. We are therefore particularly interested in papers that address the study of comics as an academic discipline by itself and within other disciplines. This can be focused either in terms of pedagogy (the challenges and pitfalls of how we bring the study of comics into the classroom) or scholarship (the opportunities for and liabilities of doing research in comics in the modern academy, and the concerns about methodology). There will also be a special panel on the representation of History and Alternative Histories in Comics.

The Center for Cartoon Studies <http://www.cartoonstudies.org> is served by the Lebanon NH Municipal Airport. Coach service is also available through Dartmouth Coach from New York City and Logan International Airport in Boston MA.

PROPOSAL GUIDELINES: For its refereed presentations, ICAF prefers argumentative, thesis-driven papers that are clearly linked to larger critical, artistic, or cultural issues; we strive to avoid presentations that are merely summative or survey-like in character. We can accept only original papers that have not been presented or accepted for publication elsewhere. Presenters should assume an audience versed in comics and the fundamentals of comics studies. Where possible, papers should be illustrated by relevant images. Presentations must be timed to finish within the strict limit of twenty (20) minutes. Proposals should not exceed 300 words.

REVIEW PROCESS: All proposals will be subject to blind review by the ICAF Executive Committee. The final number of papers accepted will depend on the needs of the conference program. Due to high interest in the conference, in recent years ICAF has typically been able to accept only one third to one half of the proposals it has received.

AUDIOVISUAL EQUIPMENT: ICAF's preferred format for the display of images is MS PowerPoint. Regretfully, we cannot accommodate non-digital media such as transparencies, slides, or VHS tapes. Presenters should bring their PowerPoint or other electronic files on a USB key.

SEND ABSTRACTS (with complete contact information) by March 18, 2011, to C. W. Marshall, ICAF Academic Program Director, via email at: toph@exchange.ubc.ca

Receipt of all proposals will be acknowledged. Applicants should expect to receive confirmation of acceptance or rejection by April 18, 2011.

Matt Dembicki's Xoc finds publisher

Matt Dembicki reports on his Facebook page, "'Xoc' followers: Looks like the shark book has found a publisher. (Just gotta sign some papers.) It will have about 50 percent new content. I'm excited to get working on this again!"

Matt's been self-publishing individual issues in comic book format.

Zadzooks reviews Spider-Man videogame

Zadzooks: Ultimate Spider-Man: Total Mayhem HD, Risk and Rock Band Reloaded HD
Spidey for 'tweens; Risk makes iPad debut
By Joseph Szadkowski
Washington Times January 20, 2011
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/jan/20/zadzooks-spider-man-total-mayhem-risk-rock-band/