Wednesday, July 13, 2011

Mahendra Singh, former local cartoonist, profiled at length by Comics Journal

Carroll, Cross-Contour, and the Demi-Fecund Ram: An Interview with Mahendra Singh
BY Sean Michael Robinson Jul 12, 2011
http://www.tcj.com/carroll-cross-contour-and-the-demi-fecund-ram-an-interview-with-mahendra-singh/
...Mahendra Singh was born in Libya ("against his better judgment," reads one of his official bios) to German and Indian parents. Although he lived in Washington, DC for many years, he is now a resident of Montreal, where he works as an illustrator. His full-length comic debut was the (very) short-lived Adventures of Mr. Pyridine, published by Fantagraphics in 1989. ...

PR: Swann Foundation for Caricature and Cartoon Announces Fellowships

Library of Congress
101 Independence Ave. SE
Washington DC   20540

July 13, 2011

 Swann Foundation Announces Fellowships for 2011-2012

The Caroline and Erwin Swann Foundation for Caricature and Cartoon, administered by the Library of Congress, announces fellowship awards to four applicants for the 2011-2012 academic year: Lara Saguisag, Margaret Samu, Masha Kowell and Jeremy Stoll.

The award winners will use the Library’s collections to explore the following topics: child characters in early American comic strips; Russian caricature as a form of art criticism; political satire in Soviet posters; and the recent use of comic-book format by artists in India.

Due to an unusually large number of strong applications, the foundation's advisory board did not award a single fellowship this year but instead decided to support four applicants’ projects with smaller awards.

Lara Saguisag, a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Childhood Studies, Rutgers University, will conduct research for her dissertation “Drawing the Lines of Innocence: Representations of Childhood in Early American Comic Strips, 1896-1920.”  Focusing on “kid strips,” or comic strips that featured child protagonists, she will investigate why the child became a popular subject in early American comics.  She will analyze how these works at once reflected and shaped contemporary beliefs and anxieties about childhood.  She will study original drawings by such creators as Rudolph Dirks, Lyonel Feininger, Winsor McCay and R.F. Outcault, whose works are well represented in the cartoon collections of the Library’s Prints and Photographs Division.

Margaret Samu, a lecturer in the Education Department of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, will work on her postdoctoral research project titled “Russian Caricature and Art Criticism 1850-1910.”  Caricature in Russian periodicals became a significant outlet for voicing opinions on the state of the art world during the turbulent period of artistic and social reforms that Samu’s study covers. She will draw on the Library’s strong holdings of Russian satirical and political periodicals in her study, the first to address caricatures on art, in contrast with most work in the field, which has focused on political caricature.

Masha Kowell, a doctoral candidate in the History of Art Department at the University of Pennsylvania, will conduct research for her dissertation “Agit-plakat: Political Posters of the Thaw (1956-1967).”  Her project focuses on Soviet political satire produced by the publishing house Agit-plakat.  As an official player in the process of de-Stalinization, this publisher facilitated the transformation of caricature into a vehicle for previously forbidden stylistic diversity and formal experimentation.  The Library’s holdings of the Soviet humor magazine Krokodil and many Soviet posters will provide the main basis for Kowell’s comparative and contextual study of Agit-plakat iconography.

Jeremy Stoll, a Ph.D. candidate in Folklore and Ethnomusicology at Indiana University, will pursue research for his dissertation “Drawing Down the Nation: Reviving Folklore and Social Justice Through Comics in India.”  Stoll will explore how contemporary Indian artists combine regional folklore with comic-book format to produce visual narratives that convey to mass audiences the urgency of social change arising from industrialization and globalization.  He will study examples of recently published Indian comic books and the American roots of these works in the Library’s extensive comic-book collections.  

New York advertising executive Erwin Swann (1906‑1973) established the Swann Foundation for Caricature and Cartoon in 1967.  An avid collector, Swann assembled a large group of original drawings by over 500 artists, spanning two centuries, which his estate bequeathed to the Library of Congress in the 1970s. Swann's original purpose was to build a collection of original drawings by significant creators of humorous and satiric art and to encourage the study of original cartoon and caricature drawings as works of art.  The foundation=s support of research and academic publication is carried out in part through a program of fellowships.

# # #

PR11-132
7/13/11
ISSN: 0731-3527

 

Tuesday, July 12, 2011

Heroes Con panel on classic comic strips now online

Here's a panel that I moderated, but I haven't listened to the recording yet:

HeroesCon 2011: Taking over the Property-The Comic Strips
Dollar Bin podcast July 7, 2011
http://www.thedollarbin.net/shows/heroescon-2011-taking-over-the-property-the-comic-strips.html
http://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/www.thedollarbin.net/storage/shows/audio/Discussion-Taking-Over-the-Property-Comic-Strips.mp3

The Comic Strips—As always, this is another great year for the classic comic strips at HeroesCon. How do you follow a cartooning legend and take those already established characters and work to make them your own? Mike Rhode will ask veteran cartoonists Jim Scancarelli (Gasoline Alley), Marcus Hamilton (Dennis the Menace), Alex Saviuk (Spider-man) and we will be joined by welcome veteran newbie: Joe Staton (Dick Tracy)

Runtime 1 hour 05 minutes 47 seconds

Comic Riffs on Womanthology

THE WOMAN BEHIND 'WOMANTHOLOGY': Renae De Liz sees inspiration blossom for 140 female artists
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog (July 12 2011)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/comic-riffs/post/the-woman-behind-womanthology-renae-de-liz-sees-inspiration-blossom-for-female-artists/2011/07/11/gIQARTobAI_blog.html

Monday, July 11, 2011

Truitt on Flashpoint

Midpoint of 'Flashpoint' focuses on heroic relationships
By Brian Truitt, USA TODAY July 5 2011
http://www.usatoday.com/life/comics/2011-07-05-Midpoint-of-Flashpoint-comic-focuses-on-heroic-relationships_n.htm

USA Today on Xenoholics and Marvel's Alonso

Love of aliens and quirky mystery spawns 'Xenoholics'
By Brian Truitt, USA TODAY July 11 2011
http://www.usatoday.com/life/comics/2011-07-11-Love-of-aliens-quirky-mystery-spawn-new-comic-series-Xenoholics_n.htm

Meet Axel Alonso, the main man at Marvel Comics
By Brian Truitt, USA TODAY July 11 2011
http://www.usatoday.com/life/comics/2011-07-11-axel-alonso-marvel-comics_n.htm

Comic Riffs interviews Stephen Hess on political cartoons

Fresh off Press Club award, author insists that the American political cartoon still matters
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog July 11 2011
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/comic-riffs/post/fresh-off-press-club-award-author-insists-that-the-american-political-cartoon-still-matters/2011/07/08/gIQAOS0t8H_blog.html


Winnie the Pooh animation in today's Express

The Gang is Back: For its 'Pooh' reboot, Disney sticks with traditional animation.
Angela Dawson / Entertainment News Wire
Express (July 11 2011, p. 25)

Brandon Graham on Carla McNeil

Good long interview here:
 
Emma Peel Sessions 62 – Brandon Graham Interview
Supervillain blog 07/02/2011 by sean witzke
http://supervillain.wordpress.com/2011/07/02/emma-peel-sessions-62-brandon-graham-interview/

and here's the pull quote:
 
Carla Speed McNeil

I feel like her work shows how big comics can be. She does such a great example of what I was talking about earlier with clear enough storytelling over dense complex backgrounds.

Recently I got to do a panel with her at a con and took her calling me babe the way other dudes would take home an Eisner.

Friday, July 08, 2011

PR: Comic Book Diner relaunches Kickstarter campaign




Project Update #18: We've Relaunched the Buzzboy/Roboy/Leon Graphic Novel Collection!

Posted by Comic Book Diner - John, Rich & Jamar Like

NEW KICKSTARTER PROJECT: Buzzboy/Roboy/Leon Graphic Novel Collection!

Hey folks– we've resubmitted and started up a new Kickstarter Project, with some nifty changes to the books, and some very col rewards, like hardcover editions of the Roboy, Buzzboy and Leon Books, original art, and even a chance to have a cameo in the books– if you backed us once we hope you'll do it again! If you missed it last time– here's your chance! Click the link below, or the pic above to get the full scoop!

Thanks for your previous support-- hopefully you'll come join the fun again!

NEW KICKSTARTER PROJECT: Buzzboy/Roboy/Leon Graphic Novel Collection!




Thursday, July 07, 2011

USA Today on Savage Dragons' bin Laden

Osama bin Laden returns in the pages of 'Savage Dragon'
By Brian Truitt
USA Today July 6 2011
http://www.usatoday.com/life/comics/2011-07-06-Osama-bin-Laden-returns-in-Savage-Dragon-comic-series_n.htm

PR: Small Press Expo announces Pizza Island as guests for SPX 2011, with Kate Beaton, Sarah Glidden, Lisa Hanawalt, Domitille Collardey, Julia Wertz and Meredith Gran


Small Press Expo Announces Pizza Island as guests for SPX 2011, with Kate Beaton, Sarah Glidden, Lisa Hanawalt, Domitille Collardey, Julia Wertz and Meredith Gran

 

For Immediate Release                              Contact: Warren Bernard

                                                                       E-Mail: warren@spxpo.com


Bethesda, Maryland; July 7, 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 the cartoonist studio Pizza Island—composed of Kate Beaton, Sarah Glidden, Lisa Hanawalt, Domitille Collardey, Julia Wertz, and Meredith Gran—will be guests for SPX 2011, held September 10–11, 2011, at the Marriott North Bethesda Hotel and Conference Center in Bethesda, Maryland, next to the White Flint Metro station. 

These guests are in addition to the previously announced cartoonists Roz Chast, Craig Thompson, Jim Woodring, Chester Brown, Johnny Ryan, Jim Rugg, Jay Stephens, Matthew Thurber, Ann Telnaes, and Diane Noomin.

Kate Beaton's Hark! A Vagrant is one of the most popular web comics, receiving over 500,000 unique hits a month. This fall it will be celebrated in a collection published by Drawn and Quarterly. Visit her site at http://www.harkavagrant.com.

Sarah Glidden is the creator of the well-reviewed How To Understand Israel In 60 Days Or Less, published by Vertigo Books. She is now working as a citizen journalist touring Syria for the Common Language Project to study the Iraqi refugee problem, posting her cartoon commentaries from this trip at http://www.cartoonmovement.com/comic/10. Visit her web site at http://www.smallnoises.com.

Lisa Hanawalt is a cartoonist and illustrator whose work was published in The New York Times, Vice Magazine, McSweeneys, The Believer and Glamour. In 2009, her mini-comic Stay Away From Other People won an Ignatz Award, and she followed that up in 2010 with I Want You #1 winning the Ignatz Award for Outstanding Comic. Her web site is http://lisahanawalt.com.

Julia Wertz has had two volumes of her popular web comic series Fart Party published by Atomic Books. Her latest book is Drinking at the Movies from Three Rivers Press, which details her migration from San Francisco to New York City. Julia's web site is http://www.juliawertz.com.

Meredith Gran is the author of Octopus Pie: There Are No Stars In Brooklyn, which was published by Villard Books, a Random House subsidiary. A compilation of her web comic, you can see new episodes regularly at http://www.octopuspie.com.

Domitille Collardey is a cartoonist and illustrator, having worked for a number of French magazines as well as McSweeneys. She is currently working on another comic book for Editions Delcourt.

For detailed information about all of 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. The event is open to the public. The Ignatz is the first Festival Prize in the US comic book industry, voted on by SPX attendees. 

SPX is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit that 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 well as a series of panel discussions and interviews with this year's guests.

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 12–6pm Sunday, September 11. Admission is $10 for a single day or $15 for the weekend.

Tuesday, July 05, 2011

Abadzis's 'Laika' graphic novel gets new endings for Big Planet Comics


Big Planet Comics says "To help us celebrate our 25th anniversary, Nick Abadzis is going to be posting alternative endings to Big-Planet-favorite graphic novel Laika on our web page!"

Wow, this is totally cool, if ahistorical. Abadzis has a note about why he's doing this, under the first imaginary happy ending for the Russian space dog.

And Big Planet has a podcast? Since June? Who knew?

Californian cartoonist Monte Wolverton a "Beltway cartoonist?"

"I'm told some consider me a `Beltway cartoonist,'" Wolverton said.
 
To see why, read:
 
Cartoonist drawn to sharp views: B.G.'s Wolverton also pursues artistic endeavors
By Mary Ann Albright, Columbian Staff Reporter
Saturday, July 2, 2011
http://www.columbian.com/news/2011/jul/02/cartoonist-drawn-to-sharp-views/

Sunday, July 03, 2011

Cul de Sac might be Chris Schweitzer's favorite comic strip

Find out why or why not at this interview (and let me parenthetically note that I love, LOVE, Chris's Crogan adventure stories -

Chris Schweizer - Cartoonist Survey #231
by David Paccia
June 27, 2011
http://david-wasting-paper.blogspot.com/2011/06/chris-schweizer-cartoonist-survey-231.html

Saturday, July 02, 2011

Print available from Bill Day, 2010 RFK award winner

Bill Day, who was the 2010 RFK editorial award winner (of which I was a judge, hence this post), is selling a signed print of a cartoon about New York's support of gay rights - for ordering details, see