Wednesday, March 23, 2011

March 29: Dueling comics events

On March 29 at Busboys and Poets (14th and V in Washington, D.C., 6:30-8:30) discussing 'Trickster' will be editor Matt Dembicki, contributing artists Michael Auger and Jacob Warrenfeltz, as well as Christopher Cardinale, illustrator of 'Mr. Mendoza's Paintbrush,' who will be talking about that book.

Also on March 29, Ben Katchor is at the Corcoran Gallery of Art. Here's their PR:

The Picture Stories of Ben Katchor
Tuesday, March 29
7 p.m.
Members $12; Public $15
Hailed by The New York Times as "the most poetic, deeply layered artist ever to draw a comic strip," Ben Katchor has collected both a cult and mainstream following for his wry, perceptive, and slightly surreal comic strips of urban life. The author of The Jew of New York and Julius Knipl, Real Estate Photographer: The Beauty Supply District, Katchor's work has appeared in The New Yorker, The Forward, and Metropolis. The first cartoonist to receive a MacArthur Fellowship, Ben Katchor discusses his first book in more than 10 years, The Cardboard Valise (Random House, 2011)- the whimsical graphic novel which follows the intertwined lives of three characters who travel to the fantastical nation of Outer Canthus. A book signing follows the talk.

Hatke's Zita the Space Girl reviewed

Front Royal's Ben Hatke's Zita the Space Girl is reviewed at ICv2 today.

Tuesday, March 22, 2011

March 24: Sarah Glidden in DC

Sarah Glidden is speaking about her graphic novel, How to Understand Israel in 60 Days or Less, at the 16th Street Washington DC Jewish Community Center on March 24th at 7:30 pm for only $5. Tickets and information here. I'm going. Her book was one of my favorites of 2010.

Kal at TEDx

Kal writes in about an online video of his work:

I wanted to alert you that I recently gave a TEDx talk in the UK on the magic and the power of caricature. The video of the presentation is now online and can be viewed here:

http://www.kaltoons.com/wordpress/2011/03/kal-at-tedx-2/

best wishes

Kal

Kevin Kallaugher

Kaltoons@aol.com

www.Kaltoons.com

The iKAL iPhone App is now available at the iTunes store.

2 new art pieces at Team Cul de Sac blog

Caanan the Art Boy's strip is quite cute as is Ron Ferdinand's Dennis the Menace in a different way.

Matt Dembicki's SPACE photos

Matt Dembicki's SPACE photos are here (link via Spurgeon's excellent Comics Reporter).

BTW, Matt, the last pic shows Ryan Claytor's car.

Jeffrey Thompson's new children's comics

Writer Lori Mortenson and Big Planet Comic's Jeffrey Thompson (the artist) have some comics from Capstone Press out for very young
children.

A Day At The Fire Station
Going To The Dentist
A Visit To The Vet
Working On The Farm

These are really aimed at first graders, but Jeff did a nice job
making the art clear and easy to follow.

Additional DC area cartoonists

Matt Dembicki's pointed out 3 local cartoonists new to me, two of whom he met at SPACE:

Ed Delaney's Peculiar Comics.

Katie Omberg's Office Bitch stripand her Fancy Graphics blog.

Liz Suburbia's comics and blog.

PR: WashPost's Tom Toles's Cartoon Caption Contest returns

The Tom Toles Cartoon Caption Contest returns today! To enter, readers can post your suggested caption in the comments section. You will have until 11:59 p.m. ET on March 28. Toles will read through all the entries and plan to announce a winner by the next evening.

For the cartoon and rules, go here: http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/tom-toles/post/tom-toless-cartoon-caption-contest-returns/2011/03/21/ABVyaB8_blog.html

PR: Small Press Expo Announces Roz Chast, Jim Woodring, Ann Telnaes and Jim Rugg as guests for SPX 2011

Small Press Expo Announces Roz Chast, Jim Woodring, Ann Telnaes and Jim Rugg as guests for SPX 2011

For Immediate Release Contact: Warren Bernard

E-Mail: warren@spxpo.com

Bethesda, Maryland; March 22, 2011 - 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 Roz Chast, Jim Woodring, Ann Telnaes and Jim Rugg will be guests for SPX 2011, to be held September 10 and September 11 at the Marriott North Bethesda Hotel and Conference Center in Bethesda, Maryland, across from the White Flint Metro stop.

Roz Chast is a long time contributor of cartoons and covers to The New Yorker. She has published ten volumes of her cartoon work from The New Yorker and other magazines such as Scientific American, Redbook and Mother Jones . In addition to her New Yorker output, she collaborated with the comedian/actor Steve Martin on the book titled "The Alphabet from A to Y, With the Bonus Letter Z!" and last year released her children's book "Too Busy Marco". This will be Ms. Chast's first appearance at SPX and her first appearance at a convention since 2004.

Jim Woodring is the creator of the surreal long running comic series "Frank and Jim". The duo will be appearing in their second full length graphic novel, a followup to last years "Weathercraft" , titled "Congress of the Animals" that is due to be released in May from his long time publisher, Fantagraphics.

. Mr. Woodring is also an illustrator and designs his own toys.

Ann Telnaes won the Pulitzer Prize for editorial cartooning for her work in The Washington Post. A few years ago, she moved from single panel cartoons to creating animated editorial cartoons for the Washington Post web site, using her prior background as an animator for a number of companies around the world. SPX is honored that this is her first time at any comic related convention.

Jim Rugg is the cowriter and artist for the multiple Glyph nominee "Afrodisiac" from Adhouse Books. At last years SPX, Mr. Rugg won the Ignatz Award for his mini-comic "Rambo 3.5". He also is an illustrator, working for such venues as VH1 and New York Magazine.

For detailed information about our announced guests, visit the SPX web site at www.spxpo.com.

SPX culminates with the presentation of the Ignatz Awards for outstanding achievement in comics and cartooning on Saturday night, September 10 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.

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 2011 are 11AM-7PM Saturday, September 10, and noon-6PM Sunday, September 11. Admission is $10 for a single day and $15 for both days.

Politics and Prose graphic novel bookgroup discusses Market Day tomorrow at 7:30

From Adam W:

Just wanted to send out a friendly reminder that we are meeting tomorrow 3/23 at 7:30pm to discuss Market Day by James Sturm.

Gag cartoonist Mike Shapiro interviewed at City Paper

Meet a Local Cartoonist: A Chat With Mike Shapiro

by Mike Rhode on Mar. 22, 2011

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/artsdesk/books/2011/03/22/meet-a-local-cartoonist-a-chat-with-mike-shapiro/

Monday, March 21, 2011

Mammoth Shawn Belschwender interview up at City Paper

When Comics Return: A Chat With Shawn Belschwender

by Mike Rhode on Mar. 21, 2011

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/artsdesk/books/2011/03/21/when-comics-return-a-chat-with-shawn-belschwender/

Belschwender's back, the City Paper's got him, and he tells us how he feels about that and a lot of other things.

Saturday, March 19, 2011

Herblock oral history begun by Penn State professor

To Herblock and to Spring Flowers: Postcard from Washington
by Russell Frank
March 11, 2011
http://www.statecollege.com/news/columns/to-herblock-and-to-spring-flowers-postcard-from-washington-682171/

and

Herblock in the Hosbog: Musings on the Political Cartoonist with the 'Saber-Toothed' Pen
by Russell Frank
March 18, 2011
http://www.statecollege.com/news/columns/herblock-in-the-hosbog-musings-on-the-political-cartoonist-with-the-sabertoothed-pen-689343/

Children's comic strips in tomorrow's Kids Post

The Kid's Post insert runs four comic strips by young cartoonists tomorrow, based on their recent Jef Mallett article.