Saturday, May 21, 2011

Bill Rechin has died

Formerly-local 'Crock' cartoonist Bill Rechin has died today of complications from cancer. He's survived by his son, cartoonist Kevin Rechin of Falls Church, whom will be drawing the strip now.

Our sympathies go out to Kevin and his family.

Friday, May 20, 2011

Comic Riffs on Team Cul de Sac, Bill Watterson and Peter Dunlap-Shohl

'Calvin and Hobbes' creator BILL WATTERSON: On painting a portrait of 'Cul de Sac's Petey
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog May 20 2011
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/comic-riffs/post/calvin-and-hobbes-creator-bill-watterson-on-painting-a-portrait-of-cul-de-sacs-petey/2011/05/18/AF7W1m7G_blog.html

THE 'RIFFS INTERVIEW: How cartoonist Peter Dunlap-Shohl adapted after the 'unexpected impact' of Parkinson's
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog May 20 2011
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/comic-riffs/post/the-riffs-interview-how-cartoonist-peter-dunlap-shohl-adapted-after-the-unexpected-impact-of-parkinsons/2011/05/18/AFUQ6l7G_blog.html#pagebreak

PR: ACT-I-VATE’s SAM & LILAH MOVES TO MTV GEEK, GIVES AWAY FREE STUFF

From: Jim Dougan

Gentle readers, friends, family, and acquaintances:

We are pleased to announce that, as part of the continuing relationship between webcomics collective ACT-I-VATE (http:www.activatecomix.com) and MTV GEEK, Jim Dougan and Hyeondo Park's SAM & LILAH will be part of growing new comics lineup at the MTV site.

The first three chapters of S&L that have previously appeared on ACT-I-VATE will now also appear on MTV GEEK, with future installments to follow, likewise, on both sites.

You can read more about it, and even see video of Jim being interviewed at this year's MoCCA Festival, here:

http://geek-news.mtv.com/2011/05/19/star-crossed-lovers-read-act-i-vates-sam-and-lilah-now-on-mtv-geek/

And read (or re-read, as the case may be) the first installment of SAM & LILAH here:

http://www.mtv.com/geek/comic/issue/1111/sam-and-lilah-1-pt-1.jhtml

SO WHAT ABOUT THAT FREE STUFF?

Here's the deal: each week we will be asking a question, or asking you to tell us a story relevant to that week's Sam & Lilah update. The best response will get the writer our Weekly Prize: a signed print of a page from that week! Then, for each Chapter, we'll pick a winner to receive the Chapter Prize: a signed copy of the ACT-I-VATE PRIMER from IDW Publishing, which contains an exclusive Sam & Lilah story that will not appear on MTV Geek (or on ACT-I-VATE). Finally, we'll choose from among all the responses over 11 weeks to receive the Grand Prize of a page (our choice) of Hyeondo Park's original art!

How do I reply: you can post here on Tumblr, on our Facebook page (www.facebook.com/samandlilah), Tweet us @samandlilah, link to a blog post, or e-mail us at samnlilah AT gmail DOT com. Extra points for audio/visual responses!

Week 1's question is here:

http://samandlilah.tumblr.com/post/5642511600/weekly-contest-question-week-1

We look forward to hearing from you!

NOTE: To be eligible for a Weekly Prize, you need to have responded during the first week the update appeared. To be eligible for the Chapter Prize, you only need to have provided a response that we like to any of the questions during the time the Chapter first appeared (winners of the Weekly Prizes will be automatically included). Finally, to be eligible for the Grand Prize, you only need to have provided a response that we like to any of the questions during the time that all three Chapters appeared (winners of the Weekly and Chapter Prizes will be automatically included, though, so if you're a latecomer it better be good!.)

So in summary: 11 free prints, 3 signed books, 1 page of original art, and an unlimited amount of Jim and Hyeondo's good will and appreciation. Good luck!

Thanks again for your time and interest!

Sincerely,

Jim Dougan and Hyeondo Park

www.facebook.com/samandlilah

www.twitter.com/samandlilah

samandlilah.tumblr.com

samnlilah AT gmail DOT com

MTV GEEK: http://www.mtv.geek.com

ACT-I-VATE: http://www.activatecomix.com

Jim Dougan: http://chatterbox-dc.livejournal.com

Hyeondo Park: http://www.hanaroda.net

Romance. Adventure. Curses. Cupcakes.

SAM & LILAH.

Washington Examiner article on comics movies

The Washington Examiner cover story article on comics movies is a bait-and-switch with just a couple of paragraphs of descriptions about movies coming out this summer.

OT: Comics and health and medicine

Martha's got an excellent bibliography online now, that's of interest to me due to Harvey Pekar's Our Cancer Year, as well as my day job in a medical museum. I've presented a paper on comics and cancer, but haven't published it yet.

Here's Martha's list -

Graphic Novels Short Takes: Health & Medicine
By Martha Cornog May 19, 2011
http://www.libraryjournal.com/lj/newslettersnewsletterbucketbooksmack/890594-439/graphic_novels_short_takes_health.html.csp

Martha would also like people to know about this year's Graphic Medicine conference.

Comic Riffs' massive Richard Thompson profile

THE 'COMIC RIFFS' / POST MAGAZINE PROFILE: 'Cul de Sac' creator Richard Thompson faces life's cruel twists with artful wit
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog May 19 2011
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/comic-riffs/post/the-comic-riffspost-magazine-profile-cul-de-sac-creator-richard-thompson-faces-lifes-cruel-twists-with-artful-wit/2011/05/18/AFiNaT7G_blog.html#pagebreak

Note that this version is longer than the one appearing in Sunday's print Post Magazine.

Great job, Michael!

Thursday, May 19, 2011

"A portrait of ‘Cul de Sac’ cartoonist Richard Thompson" photos online

A portrait of 'Cul de Sac' cartoonist Richard Thompson

Dustin Fenstermacher
Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/magazine/a-portrait-of-cul-de-sac-cartoonist-richard-thompson/2011/05/18/AFHTxQ7G_gallery.html#photo=1

and there's a big article coming this weekend.

Local writer Annette Curtis Klause in Bordertown anthology

Local fantasy writer Annette Curtis Klause has a story in the new Welcome to Bordertown anthology. Annette is a Montgomery County librarian who works with their comics collection, and was a judge for this year's RFK Journalism Award for the editorial cartoon division. In this anthology, comics writers Dylan Meconis, Holly Black and Neil Gaiman appear.

Weldon suggests more comics

Enjoying Your Trip to "Dream Country?" Here's Some Other Places to Visit
by Glen Weldon
May 19, 2011
http://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2011/05/19/136436115/enjoying-your-trip-to-dream-country-heres-some-other-places-to-visit

PR: Heroclix Tournament Saturday May 21 at Beyond Comics

Beyond Comics Heroclix Tournament...

Saturday May 21st

1:00pm to 5:00pm

600pts

Golden Age

10% limit on feats

1 feat per character max.

$2 Entry Fee

Prizes include $25 Gift Card, Limited Edition GSX Figures

At Beyond Comics

5632 Buckeystwon Pike Frederick, MD 21704

(301) 668-8202

USA Today on New Brighton Archaeological Society and Dilbert

Cast yourself in a 'Dilbert' strip
By John Geddes, USA TODAY May 18 2011
http://www.usatoday.com/life/comics/2011-05-18-New-tech-lets-you-cast-yourself-in-Dilbert-strip_n.htm

I'm not sure why the company thinks that they'll replace the idea of Photoshopping a picture into a strip.

Comic creator uses Kickstarter to fund new graphic novel
By Brian Truitt, USA TODAY May 18 2011
http://www.usatoday.com/life/comics/2011-05-18-Comc-creator-uses-Kickstarter-for-graphic-novel_n.htm

Wednesday, May 18, 2011

May 21: Rafer Roberts at Fanticon 2, plus his Carolyn Belefski interview. And her Rafer Roberts interview.

Rafer Roberts says he'll be in Asheville, NC at Fanticon 2 this coming weekend.http://www.blogger.comhttp:http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif//www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif/img/blank.gif

He and Carolyn Belefski also interviewed each other. And here's the one on Carolyn's site.

How about Happy Hooligan? Or Princeton plates?

Here's a Happy Hooligan planter (possibly) I picked up last weekend. It's small - it would fit in the palm of my hand.

And here's some plates that appear to be aimed at appealing to a Princeton University sophisticate.

"With his active interests, we'll probably send him to Princeton!" cartoon plate made by Paden City Pottery Company, and sold by College Hall, Tuckahoe, N.Y.

"She once dated a Princeton man! What's she doing up here?" cartoon plate made http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifby Paden City Pottery Company, and sold by College Hall, Tuckahoe, N.Y.

Label on reverse of Princeton cartoon plate - made by Paden City Pottery Company, and sold by College Hall, Tuckahoe, N.Y.

Finally, I didn't get anything but the photographs, but here's another of the Disney nutrition posters at DC bus stops - the third I think.

Gary Varvel receives RFK Journalism award for editorial cartoons

Tonight Gary Varvel received the RFK Journalism Award for editorial cartoons at the new US Institute of Peace. As one of the judges, I went to the award and got to http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifmeet him and chat briefly about his Path to Hope series that won him the award.

There's a few more photographs here.

SF Nebula Awards book signings - more details

Forty authors will sign their books at the Nebula Awards Weekend, Friday, May 20, 2011 from 5:30 p.m. until 7:00 p.m. at the Washington Hilton at 1919 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Washington, D.C. located four blocks from the Dupont Circle Metro Station (use the Q Street exit).

The event is open to the public.

The books of the authors participating in the signing will be available to be purchased near the Nebula Awards Weekend registration area in the Terrace Foyer throughout the weekend. See below for the tentative hours of The Book Depot.

The people who have currently indicated they would like to participate in the book signing are:

John Joseph Adams
Catherine Asaro
Paolo Bacigalupi
Christopher Barzak
J. Kathleen Cheney
Chris Claremont
Brenda W. Clough
Aliette de Bodard
Scott Edelman
Timons Esaias
Cynthia Felice
Andrew Fox
Laura Anne Gilman
Anne Groell
Joe Haldeman
Peter Heck
M.K. (Mary) Hobson
Vylar Kaftan
David Keck
John Kessel
Alethea Kontis
Mary Robinette Kowal
Geoffrey A. Landis
Lee Martindale
James Morrow
John Scalzi
Lawrence Schoen
Stanley Schmidt
Bud Sparhawk
Allen Steele
Eric James Stone
Michael J. Sullivan
Michael Swanwick
Darrell Schweitzer
Judith Tarr
Brandie Tarvin
Mary Turzillo
Michael Whelan
Connie Willis

Location and hours for The Book Depot:

Terrace Lobby – Friday 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Columbia Foyer – Friday 4:30 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Terrace Lobby – Saturday 10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Terrace Lobby – Sunday 10:00 a.m. – Noon

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Flugennock strikes again

http://sinkers.org/stage/?p=853
Off Your Asses, America – Time To Get Your Greek On!

Y'know, I really am jealous of the Greeks – not because of the shape their economy's in, nor because of the corruption of their government and its servility to capital, nor because of the state-imposed "austerity" programs they struggle against. I'm jealous of the Greeks and other Europeans because they haven't forgotten how to fight in the streets – unlike US activists, for whom "direct action" these days means standing around, waving signs or holding candles in front of the White House in the dark.

Click through for the rest of Mike's comments.

Washington Post (May 16, 2011)

...doesn't appear to be online, but is on the second page of the style section and deals with the political caricatures painted on the walls of the Sax restaurant which this earlier article touches on.

Frank Cho's Liberty Meadows video rights available again

'Liberty Meadows' Rights Revert; Frank Cho Working on Issue #38

ICv2 05/16/2011

http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/20085.html