Politics and Prose appreciates Doonesbury's appreciation

David Cohen, one of the new store owners, blogs about his bookstore's appearance in Doonesbury.

FoxNews story on big, bad comics

Relaunched Comics Using Sex and Violence To Sell: MyFoxDC.com

Here's that FoxNews story which appears to have been about as bad as guest commentator Ray Bottorff Jr. expected - there's a text article on this site:

Relaunched Comics Using Sex and Violence To Sell
Sherri Ly
myfoxdc 18 Jan 2012,
http://www.myfoxdc.com/dpp/news/special_report/relaunched-comics-using-sex-and-violence-to-sell-011812

Big Planet Comic's Jared Smith is quoted (if misidentified). And in Fox's defense (I can't believe I wrote that), Starfire's new approach to casual sex has been questioned in the comics community as well, as has the T&A of the Catwoman comic. Neither of which I'm reading so take my opinion with a grain of salt too.

and here's some commentary:

TV Report Targets DC Comics For Sex and Violence
01/19/2012


I especially like the comparison picture here: http://www.bleedingcool.com/2012/01/18/fox-news-calls-catwoman-fictionalised-playboy

and advice from the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund (I'm a member):

Retailer Advisory: How To Manage A Media Attack

January 18th, 2012

By Charles Brownstein

http://cbldf.org/homepage/how-to-manage-a-media-attack/

and although DC wouldn't comment to Fox, here's commentary they did do on the same day:

Why Jim Lee And Dan DiDio Decided To Reboot DC Comics [Video]
BY Kevin Ohannessian and Adam Barenblat
January 18 2012
http://www.fastcompany.com/1809039/jim-lee-dan-didio-dc-comics-relaunch-video

Truitt on Image retread Glory and Dead Man's Run

Glory hallelujah: Image relaunches classic superheroine
By Brian Truitt, USA TODAY January 18 2012
http://www.usatoday.com/life/comics/story/2012-01-18/Glory-comic-book-series-relaunches/52649650/1

....sorry, but "classic superheroine?" I don't think so.

Greg Pak creates a hellish prison for 'Dead Man's Run'
By Brian Truitt, USA TODAY January 17 2012
http://www.usatoday.com/life/comics/story/2012-01-17/Dead-Mans-Run-comic-book-series/52621720/1

Interview on revival of Feiffer's Little Murders

Questioning Jules Feiffer's Little Murders at American Century
 by Mike Rhode on Jan. 18, 2012
http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/artsdesk/theater/2012/01/18/questioning-jules-feiffers-little-murders-at-american-century/

Walking Dead tv show interview in Examiner

Talking with IronE Singleton of 'The Walking Dead'
By: Patricia Sheridan | Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Washington Examiner January 18 2012, p. 21

http://washingtonexaminer.com/entertainment/2012/01/talking-irone-singleton-walking-dead/2105846

Telnaes and Wuerker on the future of the editorial cartoon

The Golden Age for Editorial Cartoonists at the Nation's Newspapers is Over
A report presented by The Herb Block Foundation
http://www.herbblockfoundation.org/sites/default/files/imce_uploads/pdfs/hbf2011whitepaper_f1.pdf

Truitt on Billy Fog

Graphic novel 'Billy Fog' stars a boy with 'trouble sight'
By Brian Truitt, USA TODAY January 16 2012
http://www.usatoday.com/life/comics/story/2012-01-16/Billy-Fog-graphic-novel/52601694/1

Dale Rawlings chat online

Meet a Local Cartoonist: A Chat With Dale Rawlings
by Mike Rhode on Jan. 17, 2012
http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/artsdesk/visual-arts/2012/01/17/meet-a-local-cartoonist-a-chat-with-dale-rawlings/

 

Truitt on Nightwing

Nightwing is an inspiring hero in his relaunched series
By Brian Truitt, USA TODAY January 16 2012
http://www.usatoday.com/life/comics/story/2012-01-16/Nightwing-comic-book-series/52592040/1

Joshua Luna's Whispers preview online

http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=preview&id=11078

Richard Thompson taking time off for physical therapy

He's got the story of his break from Cul de Sac here.

Cavna on Tintin books; Toles on Mitt and money

Two new books about Tintin and his creator
By Michael Cavna,
Washington Post January 15 2012
http://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/books/two-new-books-about-tintin-and-his-creator/2012/01/11/gIQAzui0wP_story.html

And soon we'll find out
By Tom Toles
January 12 2012
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/tom-toles/post/and-soon-well-find-out/2012/01/11/gIQAogq1qP_blog.html

Truitt on Supreme's return, the Activity and cartoons

Image Comics' Erik Larsen takes on a 'Supreme' new role
By Brian Truitt, USA TODAY January 13 2012
http://www.usatoday.com/life/comics/story/2012-01-13/Supreme-comic-book-series/52539116/1

'The Activity' aims for realism with its government intrigue
By Brian Truitt, USA TODAY January 11 2011

DVD sets highlight obscure 'G.I. Joe,' 'Transformers' 'toons
By Brian Truitt, USA TODAY January 10 2012

Short Frank Cho interview online

Interview with Frank Cho at Albuquerque Comic Con, possible Zombie King movie?
Jared Earickson, Albuquerque Comic Books Examiner
January 14, 2012
http://www.examiner.com/comic-books-in-albuquerque/interview-with-frank-cho-at-albuquerque-comic-con-possible-zombie-king-movie

Local guy comments on internet animation

Around minute 22 I have a talking head moment - but the whole program is well done and worth watching. I had a second commentary where I recommended Ann Telnaes' animation on the Washington Post's website, but that didn't make it in - Mike

Nick Muirhead
"Online animators with a political punch,"
Al Jazeera's Listening Post (January 14, 2012): http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/listeningpost/2012/01/201211481528732918.html

Linda Holmes on Beauty and the Beast's return

'Beauty And The Beast' Returns And Enchants, Even In Unneeded 3-D
by Linda Holmes
National Public Radio's Monkey See blog (January 14, 2012):
http://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2012/01/14/145189123/beauty-and-the-beast-returns-and-enchants-even-in-unneeded-3-d

Post's Stuever on new animation

'Napoleon Dynamite,' 'Unsupervised' and 'Archer': Cartoons that feel unanimated
By Hank Stuever,
Washington Post January 15 2012
http://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/television/napoleon-dynamite-again-gosh/2012/01/08/gIQAlwbhwP_story.html

Guest reporter post : Fox 5 News DC Just ran a promo for an upcoming story on comic books

Ray Bottorff Jr reports:

WTTC Fox 5 of Washington DC, ran a promo during the NFC Divisional Playoffs Saturday evening January 14 on an upcoming special report that appears to be a Wertham-style attack on comic books.

Scheduled to air on Wednesday January 18th, on their 11:00 pm newscast, the promo presents to the audience the suggestion that comics are full of sex and violence, using the quote "Playboy meets comics."

With what sensationalized call to arms, the ad purported to show in the news story how parents can "KO" these comics for their kids.

Certainly a 30-second plug for a late night news story will not cover everything that will be mentioned during the story when it airs. But the promo certainly gave the impression that it will malign the industry and deliver the usual stereotypes on how comics are only for kids (never mind that the comics shown are not for kids), and that smut is being peddled by comic book stores to children (which they are not).

What kind of vigilance should comic book fans do to this modern day Wertham-style attack? Swamp Fox 5 with phone calls? Protest at the Fox 5 studios? Something else?

Here's the post-broadcast update.

Wisconsin reader wants Cul de Sac

Seth Kleinschmidt: Maybe it's time to retire `Family Circus'
Wisconsin State Journal January 14, 2012
 http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/opinion/mailbag/seth-kleinschmidt-maybe-it-s-time-to-retire-family-circus/article_d9bce17c-3e1c-11e1-9bb6-001871e3ce6c.html

Yardley on Pogo in tomorrow's Post

"Pogo Through the Wild Blue Wonder: The Complete Syndicated Comic Strips, Volume 1" by Walt Kelly
By Jonathan Yardley,
Washington Post January 15 2012
http://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/books/2012/01/03/gIQA5QU0wP_story.html