The Year according to Toles in today's Post

The Year According to Toles is in today's Washington Post - December 25th, p. A23 - but I can't find it online. Here's his page with other collections.

Truitt on the year in comics

From 'Flashpoint' to 'Fear Itself,' the year in comics 2011
By Brian Truitt, USA TODAY December 22 2011
http://www.usatoday.com/life/comics/story/2011-12-22/best-in-comics-2011/52161212/1

Post on Christmas animation

Highlighting two holiday sidekicks: 'Peanuts' pal Shermy and Grinch's dog Max
By Jen Chaney,
Washington Post December 25 2011.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/highlighting-two-holiday-sidekicks-peanuts-pal-shermy-and-grinchs-dog-max/2011/12/20/gIQAtwifDP_story.html

Happy holidays

Happy holidays, and best wishes for a better 2012, no matter how good this year has been.

Mike

Photos! Al Jaffee, Michael Uslan, Rick Marschall and Jim Ottaviani

Comics events in DC happen with surprising regularity these days - here's pics of a few events I attended late in the year.

Comic book writer Jim Ottaviani signed his new book 'Feynman' at the National Air & Space Museum. Notwithstanding the last photo, he had so many people I barely had a chance to speak with him:









Comics historian Rick Marschall at the Library of Congress:







Batman movie producer Michael Uslan discussing his book The Boy Who Loved Batman at Discovery (note the signature he uses):









MAD magazine cartoonist Al Jaffee and Mary-Lou Weisman signing their book at the DCJCC:













Al Jaffee's bookplate that he uses instead of signing due to a tremor.


Al Jaffee's bookplate that he uses instead of signing the biography Al Jaffee's Mad Life (by Mary-Lou Weisman).


A display of Big Nate books at Barnes and Noble.


Cartoon books for sale at the National Cathedral.

Gauld interview

Gavin Lees
Interview: Tom Gauld
 Graphic Eye
http://www.graphic-e-y-e.com/2011/12/interview-tom-gauld.html

Truitt on Finch's Batman

David Finch lives a 'fanboy dream' with 'Dark Knight' series
By Brian Truitt, USA TODAY December 22 2011
http://www.usatoday.com/life/comics/story/2011-12-22/Batman-Dark-Knight-comic-series/52167044/1

Politico notes another Bluewater biography

Ron Paul gets his own comic book
By PATRICK GAVIN
Politico 12/22/11
 http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1211/70783.html

PR: Happy Holidays - Our Christmas & New Years Hours

Happy Holidays, Third Eye Faithful!   Happy holidays, Third Eye Faithful! We just wanted to take a moment to say thank you for your loyalty, support, and for making Third Eye one of the premiere comic book stores in the country. You guys are like family to us, and we hope you all enjoy your holidays.    Got some last minute shopping to do? We're here today 11AM-9PM, and we are OPEN on Christmas Eve as well!    Below, we've listed our holiday hours for both Christmas and New Year's for both locations:     HOLIDAY HOURS CHRISTMAS EVE ( SATURDAY 12/24) - 11AM-5PM CHRISTMAS DAY ( SUNDAY 12/25) - CLOSED NEW YEARS EVE (SATURDAY 12/31) - 11AM-8PM NEW YEAR'S DAY (SUNDAY 1/1) - 11AM-6PM   **Open NORMAL HOURS (M-F 11AM-9PM, SAT: 11AM-8PM, SUN:11AM-6PM) on ALL other days)**

Third Eye Comics | 45 Old Solomons Island Rd | Suite 102 | Annapolis | MD | 21401

PR: Big Planet Comics Orbit Newsletter - December 22, 2011

December 22, 2011

Holiday Time So we will be closed on Sunday for Christmas, but we are open Saturday from noon to 5, if you need some last minute comics. And then NEXT Sunday, January 1st is our 20% Off Everything Annual New Year's Day Sale (whew!). More info on that is below, I hope everyone is enjoying the end of the year with the manic overly busy schedule!   If you haven't seen it yet, we put together some of the year's best graphic novels for our 2011 Holiday Gift Guide: http://www.bigplanetcomics.com/2011-holiday-gift-guide We will have our voting polls on best of the year starting after new years. Feel free to forward on our newsletter, and please send us any comments or mailing list requests to vienna@bigplanetcomics.com Thanks!   - the Big Planet Comics kids New Year's Day Sale 20% Off Everything All 4 stores! Everything in the stores 20% off! Toys, games, t-shirts, supplies, comic books, graphic novels, everything! Noon to 5 pm on January 1, 2012! Tina's Mouth: An Existential Comic Diary HC by Keshni Kashyap and Mari Araki Tina is a young teenager dealing with being an Indian in California, her best friend leaving her to hang out with a new boyfriend, family problems, confusing boys, and an assignment to write a diary about her life. Her self-analysis leads to a great commentary as her lives changes. Memorial #1 (Of 6) by Chris Roberson and Rich Ellis A woman who lost her memory finds a strange magical shop and realizes that in another world there is something stealing memories from everyone, but a stringless puppet and mechanical man have been sent to capture her. Magical realism in the style of Gaiman and Fables, with great art. The Last Battle SC by Tito Faraci and Dan Brereton As Julius Caesar attempts to pacify the warriors of Gaul in their last stronghold of Alesia, he calls on his greatest general Rodius to track down the rebel Cammius. But Rodius and Cammius have a prior history together, and even Rodius's band of elite soldiers may not be enough. Historical action! The Activity #1 by Nathan Edmondson and Mitch Gerads When the CIA messes up, they send in this group to fix their problems. Team Omaha are the elite team whose mission is flexible but their tech and skills are cutting edge. In their last mission, they lost a member, and now must accept a new woman. More espionage thrillers by the writer of Who Is Jake Ellis? Big Planet Comics Podcast #27 In this week's podcast Kevin, Nick and Jared plug a lot of stuff, talk about the world's best comic stores, and review all the new stuff. Download this week's now or subscribe on iTunes! Send us questions to podcast@bigplanetcomics.com Baltimore 1: The Plague Ships SC by Mike Mignola/Christopher Golden and Ben Stenbeck After a plague ends WWI, Lord Baltimore must fight off a vampire attack! Batman Incorporated: Leviathan Strikes #1 by Grant Morrison and Chris Burnham/Cameron Stewart Grant Morrison ties up his Batman Inc. storyline with a double issue of awesomeness! The Immortal: Demon In The Blood #1 by Ian Edginton and Vicens Villagrasa In medieval Japan, magical tattoos can let demons possess the owner. Infinite 1 SC by Robert Kirkman and Rob Liefeld Bowen must travel back in time to find his younger self to stop The Infinite! Jason Conquers America by Jason An overview and interview with Jason's work and some new short strips. Jubilee SC by Robert Kirkman and Derek Donovan/Michael O'Hare/Casey Jones Kirkman's great high school thriller as Jubilee moves in with her mysterious aunt. Ratfist SC by Doug TenNapel TenNapel's online comic experiment of the surreal adventures of Ratfist! Tales Designed to Thrizzle #7 by Michael Kupperman A new and hilarious issue dealing with Reservoir Dogs 2 and the adventures of Saint Peter. Uncanny X-Force #19 by Rick Remender and Robbi Rodriguez The epilogue to the Dark Angel saga starts off a new direction and team for X-Force!

Big Planet Comics  -  426 Maple Ave. East, Vienna, Virginia 22180  -  703.242.9412 Big Planet Comics  -  7315 Baltimore Ave., College Park, Maryland 20740  -  301.699.0498 Big Planet Comics  -  4908 Fairmont Ave., Bethesda, Maryland 20814  -  301.654.6856 Big Planet Comics  -  1520 U St. NW, Washington, DC 20009  -  202.342.1961

PR: Beyond Comics Christmas Eve Coupon Specials!

CHRISTMAS EVE SPECIALS! Greetings! One Day Only! Saturday,  December 24th 9am to 6pm   Must bring in your Coupon. Graphic Novels Get Any One Graphic Novel 30% OFF Excludes December Arrivals New Comics Buy One New Comic Get One 50% OFF (No Limit)   Excludes December Arrivals Apparel All Apparel    50% OFF  Excludes December Arrivals   Action Figures Buy One Action Figure Get One 50% OFF  Excludes December Arrivals Posters Buy One Poster 50% OFF Excludes December Arrivals Heroclix   All Pre-2011 Releases 50% OFF  Excludes December Arrivals   Beyond Comics 536 North Frederick Ave. Gaithersburg, MD 20877 (301) 216-0007 Beyond Comics 5632 Buckeystown Pike Frederick, MD 21704 (301) 668-8202

Weldon's 2011 best comics

The Best Comics of 2011. Yep.
by Glen Weldon
National Public Radio's Monkey See blog (December 22, 2011)
http://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2011/12/22/144068495/the-best-comics-of-2011-yep

and a bonus list -

Kois, Dan.  2011.
Best Books Of 2011: Six Graphic Novels That Will Draw You In.
NPR.org (December 21): http://www.npr.org/2011/12/21/142899602/six-graphic-novels-that-will-draw-you-in

Wimpy Kid lawsuit wire article in yesterday's Post

'Wimpy Kid' Battles Trademark-Eating Zombies in Court

By Tim Kenneally at TheWrap

Reuters Dec 21, 2011

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/12/22/idUS205992784420111222

Truitt on Batman and Memorial

The Court of Owls takes wing vs. the Dark Knight in 'Batman'
By Brian Truitt, USA TODAY December 19 2011
http://www.usatoday.com/life/comics/story/2011-12-19/Batman-comic-series/52061716/1

Chris Roberson builds a fantasy world for IDW's 'Memorial'
By Brian Truitt, USA TODAY December 21 2011
http://www.usatoday.com/life/comics/story/2011-12-21/Memorial-fantasy-comic-series/52141052/1

Post on GE's 1950s science comics

Teaching STEM: The GE Comics series
General Electric faced the challenge of getting young people interested in the sciences back in 1953. Its solution? Comic books.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/on-innovations/teaching-stem-the-ge-comics-series/2011/12/20/gIQAFDNF9O_gallery.html#photo=1

Magic Bullet #3 reviewed

Here at Panel Patter.

Carla McNeil's artwork on Dark Horse Christmas card

See it here.

Local papers on Tintin movie

'Tintin' character has a head full of it
By: Kelly Jane Torrance  Washington Examiner December 21 2011
http://washingtonexaminer.com/entertainment/movies/2011/12/tintin-has-head-full-it/2020021

So-So 'Tintin': Spielberg film's charm is all on the surface.
By Ann Hornaday
Washington Post Dec 21, 2011
http://www.washingtonpost.com/gog/movies/the-adventures-of-tintin,1161918/critic-review.html

KAL profile online

Kal [Cartoonist]
Malibu Magazine December 15, 2011
http://www.malibumag.com/site/article/kal_cartoonist/

Jiminy Cricket poster in National Library of Medicine

I found this tonight while looking up safety posters for another reason. The National Library of Medicine, just north of the city in Bethesda, has a massive poster collection with a lot of cartoons and cartoonists represented, but I haven't seen this one before.