Washington Times on Little Orphan Annie

BOOK REVIEW: 'Complete Little Orphan Annie'
By Michael Taube
The Washington Times May 6, 2011
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/may/6/book-review-complete-little-orphan-annie/

In a politicized review, we are  told, "For conservative, libertarian and classical liberal thinkers, "Little Orphan Annie" was, in many ways, our kind of comic strip" which would seem to include all Americans, no?

Washington Post and University of Maryland Diamondback on Thor

It's hammer time
By Zachary Berman
University of Maryland Diamondback  May 5, 2011
http://www.diamondbackonline.com/diversions/it-s-hammer-time-1.2223303

THE "THOR' STORY: Stan Lee talks Norse gods as film debuts
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post May 6 2011
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/comic-riffs/post/the-thor-story-stan-lee-talks-norse-gods-as-film-debuts/2011/05/06/AFEutI6F_blog.html

News about Apple Creek and Robert Steibel

Rob Steibel writes in with some interesting news (gocomics can be the farm league for syndication):

I just started doing a traditional daily comic strip online called Apple Creek. Here is the link:

http://www.gocomics.com/apple-creek

I'm also doing a cartoon focused on current events called Wild Life which I'm posting at my website robertsteibel.com. Plus I'll be doing other comics experiments there as well.

Ben Claassen's Dirtfarm hits #300

This week's City Paper has Ben Claassen's Dirtfarm #300, an autobiographical strip about doing 6 years of weekly comics.

PR: Free Comic Book Day & Nat'l Train Day Coincide at Fantom Comics!

This Saturday, May 7, is National Free Comic Book Day ( http://www.freecomicbookday.com/)! From 10am til we close at 9pm, we'll be handing out 39 different free comic book titles and a free heroclix figurine in the thousands to anybody who stops by. We're also having sales on Hard Covers that go as low as $6! And we made sure to have plenty of our $1 comic books in stock for the occasion. Fantom Comics believes FREE COMICS should be more than enough to get you out, but just in case you need more, Free Comic Book Day also happens to coincide with National Train Day ( http://dc.about.com/od/specialevents/a/National-Train-Day.htm) at Union Station, from 11-4. Among other highlights of Train Day:     * Gladys Knight will be hosting the event     * Amtrak High Speed Rail Display     * K-9 Unit Demonstrations     * AmtraKids Depot So Fantom encourages you to come for what matters: free comics! But if you really need that extra push to head over to Union Station, we're hoping that whole train hoopla will put you over the edge. See you Saturday! Union Station - 50 Massachusetts Avenue NE | Washington, DC 20002 | 202-216-9478 www.fantomcomics.com

Beeler rallies against Dan Snyder

Nate Beeler rallies to the side of the Washington City Paper which is being sued by Redskins owner Dan Snyder in today's cartoon.

Team Cul de Sac featured in Charlotte Observer

'Calvin' creator joins Team Cul de Sac
Kevin Siers.
Charlotte Observer's You Write The Caption blog (May 4 2011)
http://blogs.charlotte.com/write_the_caption/2011/05/calvin-creator-joins-team-cul-de-sac.html

More 'Thor' reviews in local papers

With that hammer, he nails it
By Michael O'Sullivan
Washington Post May 6, 2011
http://www.washingtonpost.com/gog/movies/thor,1158985/critic-review.html

 

The god of thunder rolls in with a bang in 'Thor'
Kelly Jane Torrance
Washington Examiner (May 6 2001): 28
http://washingtonexaminer.com/entertainment/2011/05/god-thunder-rolls-bang

Epic Inside Jokes: 'Thor' Full of Fun Comic Nods
 Kristen Page-Kirby
Express May 6, 2011 p. 27
http://www.expressnightout.com/content/2011/05/thor-epic-inside-jokes.php

Secret Identity: 'Thor' Actually a Heavyweight Compared to Some
Kristen Page-Kirby
Express May 6, 2011 p. 27
http://www.expressnightout.com/content/2011/05/thor-not-most-obscure-comic-hero.php

 

for the last, she mixes up DC's The Atom with Marvel's Ant-Man/Giant-Man/Yellow Jacket.

City Paper reviews Thor

Reviewed: Thor

by Tricia Olszewski on May 6, 2011

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/artsdesk/film/2011/05/06/reviewed-thor/

May 7 Free Comic Book Day - cartoonists at Victory Comics

According to Megan Arellano at the City Paper:

 

Victory Comics: Local artists Jamie Rambo, Josh Lyman, Chris Scott, Elvin Hernandez, and Dustin Wilson will draw sketches in the shop throughout the day. 10 a.m.–9 p.m., 586 South Washington St., Falls Church.

Free Comic Book Day articles in the City Paper

How to Spend Free Comic Book Day

 by Mike Rhode on May. 5, 2011
http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/artsdesk/books/2011/05/05/how-to-spend-free-comic-book-day/

Free Comic Book Day in D.C. Saturday May 7
By Megan Arellano on May 6, 2011
http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/articles/40798/free-comic-book-day-in-dc-may-7/

Truitt on Free Comic Book Day and Flashpoint

Free Comic Book Day offers something for everyone
By Brian Truitt, USA TODAY May 5 2011
http://www.usatoday.com/life/comics/2011-05-05-Free-Comic-Book-Day-online_N.htm

'Flashpoint': Not the DC heroes you know
By Brian Truitt, USA TODAY May 5 2011
http://www.usatoday.com/life/comics/2011-05-05-Flashpoint05_ST_N.htm

May 21: DC Anime Club cosplay parade

The press release seeking volunteers for the DC Anime Club cosplay parade is here.

Free Comic Book Day May 7th

From: Joel Pollack at Big Planet Comics

Just wanted to remind everyone that next Saturday is Free Comic Book Day. The Thor movie opens on Friday, and Saturday is FCBD. We are really looking to FCBD, there are a lot really good free comes this year. So don't forget, Saturday, May 7th, Free Comic Book Day. See you Saturday.

NPR blogger continues to struggle with Sandman

Book Club: Neil Gaiman's 'The Sandman: Dream Country,' Part Two

by Linda Holmes and Glen Weldon

May 5, 2011

http://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2011/05/05/136017702/book-club-neil-gaimans-the-sandman-dream-country-part-two

Jeffrey Thompson's travel sketchbooks

Big Planet Comics' staff (and children's book artist) Jeffrey Thompson happened to mention that he was planning on traveling to Peru this summer and would then be posting his sketchbook online to me today. I was surprised to find out that he's been doing travel sketch books since this one from Belize in 1996. Links to his others are here: Italy & Amsterdam, Iceland & Ireland, France & Verdun, Mexico & Belize.

I love these types of books.

6 new Team Cul de Sac cartoons online

Boy, you turn your back for a minute, and 6 more Team Cul de Sac cartoons have been added to the blog. Thanks to Terri Libenson, Brian Anderson,  Jonathan Lemon, Jay Stephens, Chris Schechner and Barbara Dale.

May 17: DC Conspiracy books at Gaithersburg Book Festival

R. M. Rhodes writes in-

I'm going to be vending on behalf of the DC Conspiracy at the Gaithersburg Book Festival on May 17th. http://www.gaithersburgbookfestival.org/

OT: Free Comic Book Day appearance by John Kovaleski

Friend of ComicsDC John Kovaleski has written in - note the good cause he's raising money for.

One of the greatest holidays is coming up on Saturday, May 7 - Free Comic Book Day. Once again, I'll be at Comix Connection (at their York, PA location) from 12-3. I'll be giving away prints, signing books and having fun. All proceeds will be going to Team Nick, the fund set up to help with the costs associated with my nephew's leukemia treatment. Hope to see you there.

I've also launched a new webcomic called "Dadding Badly" -  all true tales of a
first-time father. Not your typical parenthood  stories, "Dadding Badly" has already covered such hot topics as  leprechaun impersonations, square cows, and how many times you can  hit your father in the head with an empty Kleenex box. Please visit the site below for more fathering fun.
http://daddingbadly.com/

Best,
John

------------------------------------------------

John Kovaleski is a cartoonist and humorous illustrator. He is the  creator of the comic strip "Bo Nanas," which was syndicated by the  Washington Post Writers Group from 2003 to 2007, and collected in  the books "Monkey Meets World" (2005) and "APPEELING: The Best of Bo Nanas" (2008). He is also a frequent contributor to MAD Magazine,  making him one of the "usual gang of idiots."

You can see more of my work here:
http://www.kovaleski.com/

As always you can find  out too much about me on my blog:
http://kovaleski.wordpress.com/

Or follow me on Twitter:
http://twitter.com/johnkovaleski

Tyger cartoon exhibit at National Gallery of Art?

That's what this article says -

Frank Tyger, Times' former publicity manager, dies at 81
Carmen Cusido/The Times of Trenton May 03, 2011
http://www.nj.com/mercer/index.ssf/2011/05/frank_tyger_times_for_publicit.html

- anyone know anything about this? The NGA hasn't been noticeably cartoon (in the modern sense) friendly, although some Daumier sculptures are on permanent display in the West building.