Free Comic Book Day today

From Big Planet Comics:

Free Comic Book Day Approacheth!

Next Saturday, May 5, is the annual Free Comic Book Day! As always, all of our stores are participating, so stop by and get some free comics! It's also a great time to bring your friends or children in too! We have been receiving our free comic books over the last few weeks, and there are a LOT this year. Avengers, DC New 52, Simpsons, Mega Man, a HARDCOVER from Archaia, Serenity, Star Wars, Yo Gabba Gabba, Adventure Time, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Spider-Man, and more! You can see the full list of free comics at freecomicbookday.com

We are also having signings at two of our stores in conjunction with Free Comic Book Day. Jeremy Whitley and Jorge Aguirre, who both write great all ages comics (Princeless and Giants Beware!) will be at our Vienna store from 11-1 and our College Park store from 3-5. They will be signing copies of their comics, and happy to talk to young fans and readers too! More information is below.

We might also have a few special guests (like the Ghostbusters!)

- the Big Planet Comics kids

UPCOMING May 5 - Free Comic Book Day & Jeremy Whitley & Jorge Aguirre Signing

Free Comic Book Day is just a few weeks away! Bring your friends, we have a lot of great comics to give away this year! To see the complete list, go to freecomicbookday.com!

In addition, we are proud to present 2 great comic book writers, who have just published some great all-ages fantasy adventure comics! Jeremy Whitley writes Princeless, and Jorge Aguirre writes Giants Beware! They will be appearing at our Vienna and College Park stores.

11 am-1 pm
Big Planet Comics of Vienna
426 Maple Ave. East
Vienna, VA 22180
703-242-9412
vienna@bigplanetcomics.com

3 pm-5 pm
Big Planet Comics of College Park
7315 Baltimore Ave.
College Park, MD 20740
301-699-0498
bigplanetcollegepark@yahoo.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From Beyond Comics:

This year’s Free Comic Book Day will be Saturday, May 5th.


We will be giving away tons of comic books and other freebies. Meet comic book artists including Dean Haspiel, Mark Whealty, Carla Speed McNeil, Rafer Roberts, Terry Flippo, Megan Steckler and Nathan Richardson.

Also meet an abundance of costumed heroes! Fun for kids of all ages!

Gaithersburg Artists:  Dean Haspiel, Carla Speed McNeil, Casey Jones and Nathan Richardson from 11am to 4pm.

Frederick Artists:  Mark Wheatley, Rafer Roberts, Megan Steckler, and Terry Flippo.

Gaithersburg Store

18794 B North Frederick Rd
Gaithersburg, MD
(301) 216-0007
Hours: M,Tu 11-8; W-Sat 10-9; Sun 12-6

Frederick Store
5632 Route 85
Frederick, MD
(301) 668-8202

Hours: M,Tu 10-8; W-Sat 10-9; Sun 12-6
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

From Game On! Comics

Saturday, May 5th from 11am to 6pm

Come out to Game On! Comics for Free Comic Book Day! Once per year, comic shops around the country give out comics for free.

We will have a great selection of comic books for you and your friends, for FREE. LOTS of children's comics!

Over 40 titles! One Free Thor Heroclix! Widest variety of comics available in our area!

Super-Hero appearances throughout the day!! Starting around 12 noon till 3ish

Batgirl
Sabretooth
A G.I. Joe
Flash
Phoenix

Artist Appearance: 11am to 6pm

Tim Dzon!
Tim has worked on many comics over the years including these:
Avengers West Coast
Avengers Spotlight
What If..
Marvel Comics Presents
Fantastic Four Unplugged
Spiderman Unlimited
Hawkeye Mini-Series
Northstar Mini-Series
WarMachine
Ironman

Tim will be here to sign autographs and even draw commisioned pieces just for you, for an extra cost.

Louis the Magician

11:30am to 12:30pm
Louis the Magician will be performing close up magic in the lobby for the kids!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`

BAMN Comics - free downloadable comic from local creators Jay Payne, Troy Jeffrey Allen and David Dean on May 5th at http://www.bamncan.com/

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From Third Eye Comics in Annapolis:
THIS SATURDAY IS ALSO FREE COMIC BOOK DAY 2012 and THIRD EYE'S 4th ANNIVERSARY!


Yes, it's our favorite day of the year, in fact, this is why we chose it as the day of our big grand opening celebration. FREE COMIC BOOK DAY. Every year, we work hard to bring you guys the best Free Comic Book Day on the East Coast, and this year, we've pulled out all the stops. A huge sale, loads of special guest creators, Stormtroopers!, and so much more!

Click here to get the full rundown of what we have shaking at BOTH Third Eye locations this Saturday for FCBD 2012!

Today: Cinco de Sandra tonight

CINCO DE SANDRA: A CELEBRATION OF COMIX, STORYTELLING, AND MUSIC

On Saturday, May 5, 2012, @8pm sharp, an all-star lineup of DC and NYC storytellers will come together to blow your mind with live performances of poetry, comix, and stories at the Hillyer Art Space in Dupont Circle. Venues represented include Trip City, Act-i-vate, and Barrelhouse. And after that? We'll get the music spinning.

CINCO DE SANDRA's lineup of performers includes:

Sandra Beasley (author of DON'T KILL THE BIRTHDAY GIRL, I WAS THE JUKEBOX)

Dean Haspiel (Emmy winner for BORED TO DEATH title sequence, artist of THE ALCOHOLIC w/Jonathan Ames and THE QUITTER w/Harvey Pekar, creator of BILLY DOGMA)

Molly Lawless (cartoonist of HIT BY PITCH, FROG & OWL)

Jim Dougan (comics writer, SAM & LILAH, CRAZY PAPERS, others at ACTIVATEcomix)

Jennifer Tress (DC-based storyteller, author of YOU'RE NOT PRETTY ENOUGH)

Natalie E. Illum (Spoken word poet, mothertongue organizer)

Tony Mancus (BARRELHOUSE contributor and co-editor of Flying Guillotine Press)

Plus, the whole shebang will be hosted by man-about-town Brandon Wetherbee (YOU, ME, THEM, EVERYBODY) and featuring the sweet sounds of DJ P-Vo (Hometown Sounds DC). We will have a merch table. We will have beer and non-beer. We will have a helluva lotta hijinks. And, in case you were wondering, we will have a birthday girl on hand: Sandra Beasley.

Be there, or be…

...Just be there.

Facebook event page: http://www.facebook.com/events/255811644513842/

TRIP CITY Blog: http://welcometotripcity.com/2012/05/cinco-de-sandra/

'Persepolis' conviction in Tunisia and local 'Avengers' reviews

Tunisian who showed 'Persepolis' on TV fined in free speech case [in print: TV mogul convicted in Airing of movie, May 4th]
By Marc Fisher, Published: May 3 2012
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/africa/tunisian-who-showed-persepolis-on-tv-fined-in-free-speech-case/2012/05/03/gIQA0GpzyT_story.html

 

Crime fighting pays in 'Marvel's The Avengers'
May 03, 2012
 Kelly Jane Torrance
http://washingtonexaminer.com/entertainment/movies/2012/05/crime-fighting-pays-marvels-avengers/568821

 

Superheroes with team spirit
By Ann Hornaday
Washington Post May 4, 2012
http://www.washingtonpost.com/gog/movies/marvels-the-avengers,1059548/critic-review.html

 

Marvel's hero-worshiping spectacular isn't exactly a religious experience.
By Tricia Olszewski • May 4, 2012
http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/articles/42610/marvels-the-avengers-reviewed-marvels-hero-worshiping-spectacular-isnt-exactly/

 

All-Out ‘Avengers’
By Kristen Page-Kirby
Express May 04, 2012, p. 24
http://www.expressnightout.com/2012/05/all-out-avengers/

Art Rhode's 70th birthday

My Dad turns 70 today. Coincidentally, the Avengers movie opens today. Both events are rather personally surprising.  I still think of Dad as somewhere around 45 (and I'm older than that now) and never expected to see a live-action Avengers movie because of expense, special effects and rights issues.

Back in the 1970s, I started reading comics as a kid - my parents bought DC's Superman, Mad magazine and Archie regularly. The Avengers were my favorite though, because, thanks to a cousin, I had some of the early issues and got hooked on Marvel. Mom never went over to the Marvel side, but Dad and I would both read them. When I got old enough, I'd bike up to 7-11 and buy whatever I could find on the spinner rack.

By the time I was in high school, Dad and I were delivering the Sunday NY Times for extra pocket change. On Fridays (new comic book day back then), we'd go to the Bergen Mall in Paramus and I'd buy comics at Collectors Comic Shop while he and Mom went to the bank to deposit his paycheck. After I finished the comics late on Friday night, usually in my bed after 11, I'd pass them along to Dad to read before stacking them up in the corner. I kept this up into college, until the stacks coming home would be 3 or 4 feet high and too much for anyone to get through. At one point, I was trying to have a complete collection of Avengers, but gave up for various reasons (especially Heroes Reborn), so Dad's got a good familiarity with that particular comic book.

There were also tons of books around the house because we're all great readers. Dad and I still swap books whenever see each other.

We're not that big on family celebrations, so I just mailed him a card and gave him a call. However today's one of those big number ones divisible by 10 and I've got my own bully pulpit here, so I'll say

Happy Birthday, Dad, and thanks for everything.

May 5: Free Comic Book Day in the DC-area

From Big Planet Comics:

Free Comic Book Day Approacheth!

Next Saturday, May 5, is the annual Free Comic Book Day! As always, all of our stores are participating, so stop by and get some free comics! It's also a great time to bring your friends or children in too! We have been receiving our free comic books over the last few weeks, and there are a LOT this year. Avengers, DC New 52, Simpsons, Mega Man, a HARDCOVER from Archaia, Serenity, Star Wars, Yo Gabba Gabba, Adventure Time, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Spider-Man, and more! You can see the full list of free comics at freecomicbookday.com

We are also having signings at two of our stores in conjunction with Free Comic Book Day. Jeremy Whitley and Jorge Aguirre, who both write great all ages comics (Princeless and Giants Beware!) will be at our Vienna store from 11-1 and our College Park store from 3-5. They will be signing copies of their comics, and happy to talk to young fans and readers too! More information is below.

We might also have a few special guests (like the Ghostbusters!)

- the Big Planet Comics kids

UPCOMING May 5 - Free Comic Book Day & Jeremy Whitley & Jorge Aguirre Signing

Free Comic Book Day is just a few weeks away! Bring your friends, we have a lot of great comics to give away this year! To see the complete list, go to freecomicbookday.com!

In addition, we are proud to present 2 great comic book writers, who have just published some great all-ages fantasy adventure comics! Jeremy Whitley writes Princeless, and Jorge Aguirre writes Giants Beware! They will be appearing at our Vienna and College Park stores.

11 am-1 pm
Big Planet Comics of Vienna
426 Maple Ave. East
Vienna, VA 22180
703-242-9412
vienna@bigplanetcomics.com

3 pm-5 pm
Big Planet Comics of College Park
7315 Baltimore Ave.
College Park, MD 20740
301-699-0498
bigplanetcollegepark@yahoo.com

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From Beyond Comics:

This year’s Free Comic Book Day will be Saturday, May 5th.


We will be giving away tons of comic books and other freebies. Meet comic book artists including Dean Haspiel, Mark Whealty, Carla Speed McNeil, Rafer Roberts, Terry Flippo, Megan Steckler and Nathan Richardson.

Also meet an abundance of costumed heroes! Fun for kids of all ages!

Gaithersburg Artists:  Dean Haspiel, Carla Speed McNeil, Casey Jones and Nathan Richardson from 11am to 4pm.

Frederick Artists:  Mark Wheatley, Rafer Roberts, Megan Steckler, and Terry Flippo.

Gaithersburg Store

18794 B North Frederick Rd
Gaithersburg, MD
(301) 216-0007
Hours: M,Tu 11-8; W-Sat 10-9; Sun 12-6

Frederick Store
5632 Route 85
Frederick, MD
(301) 668-8202

Hours: M,Tu 10-8; W-Sat 10-9; Sun 12-6
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

From Game On! Comics

Saturday, May 5th from 11am to 6pm

Come out to Game On! Comics for Free Comic Book Day! Once per year, comic shops around the country give out comics for free.

We will have a great selection of comic books for you and your friends, for FREE. LOTS of children's comics!

Over 40 titles! One Free Thor Heroclix! Widest variety of comics available in our area!

Super-Hero appearances throughout the day!! Starting around 12 noon till 3ish

Batgirl
Sabretooth
A G.I. Joe
Flash
Phoenix

Artist Appearance: 11am to 6pm

Tim Dzon!
Tim has worked on many comics over the years including these:
Avengers West Coast
Avengers Spotlight
What If..
Marvel Comics Presents
Fantastic Four Unplugged
Spiderman Unlimited
Hawkeye Mini-Series
Northstar Mini-Series
WarMachine
Ironman

Tim will be here to sign autographs and even draw commisioned pieces just for you, for an extra cost.

Louis the Magician

11:30am to 12:30pm
Louis the Magician will be performing close up magic in the lobby for the kids!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`

BAMN Comics - free downloadable comic from local creators Jay Payne, Troy Jeffrey Allen and David Dean on May 5th at http://www.bamncan.com/

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
From Third Eye Comics in Annapolis:
THIS SATURDAY IS ALSO FREE COMIC BOOK DAY 2012 and THIRD EYE'S 4th ANNIVERSARY!


Yes, it's our favorite day of the year, in fact, this is why we chose it as the day of our big grand opening celebration. FREE COMIC BOOK DAY. Every year, we work hard to bring you guys the best Free Comic Book Day on the East Coast, and this year, we've pulled out all the stops. A huge sale, loads of special guest creators, Stormtroopers!, and so much more!

Click here to get the full rundown of what we have shaking at BOTH Third Eye locations this Saturday for FCBD 2012!

May 4: Bechdel at Politics and Prose

Friday, May 4, 7 p.m.

Alison Bechdel - Are You My Mother?: A Comic Drama (Houghton Mifflin Harcourt, $22)
In her acclaimed graphic memoir, Fun Home, Bechdel focused on her father, his secret life, and his death. Now she turns to her talented, emotionally repressed mother, exploring the family psychology and the tentative mother-daughter truce the two achieved via D.W. Winnicott , Dr. Seuss, and Bechdel's own vivid memories.

This event is co-sponsored by Small Press Expo, an annual festival that provides a forum for artists, writers and publishers of comic art in its various forms to present to the public comic art not normally accessible through normal commercial channels. SPX 2012 is September 15 and 16 at the Marriot Bethesda North Hotel and Conference Center and will feature such special guests as Chris Ware, Daniel Clowes, and the Hernandez Brothers. More information at www.spxpo.com.

Buy a copy of Are You My Mother? from P&P, get it signed by Alison, and receive a free single-day pass to SPX 2012!

Big Planet Comics Orbit Newsletter - May 3, 2012

May 3, 2012

Free Comic Book Day Saturday! This Saturday, May 5, is the annual Free Comic Book Day! As always, all of our stores are participating, so stop by and get some free comics! It's also a great time to bring your friends or children in too! We have been receiving our free comic books over the last few weeks, and there are a LOT this year. Avengers, DC New 52, Simpsons, Mega Man, a HARDCOVER from Archaia, Serenity, Star Wars, Yo Gabba Gabba, Adventure Time, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Spider-Man, and more! You can see the full list of free comics at freecomicbookday.com We are also having signings at two of our stores in conjunction with Free Comic Book Day. Jeremy Whitley and Jorge Aguirre, who both write great all ages comics (Princeless and Giants Beware!) will be at our Vienna store from 11-1 and our College Park store from 3-5. They will be signing copies of their comics, and happy to talk to young fans and readers too! More information is below. We might also have a few special guests (like the Ghostbusters!) 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 UPCOMING May 5 - Free Comic Book Day & Jeremy Whitley & Jorge Aguirre Signing Free Comic Book Day is on Saturday! Bring your friends, we have a lot of great comics to give away this year! To see the complete list, go to freecomicbookday.com! In addition, we are proud to present 2 great comic book writers, who have just published some great all-ages fantasy adventure comics! Jeremy Whitley writes Princeless, and Jorge Aguirre writes Giants Beware! They will be appearing at our Vienna and College Park stores. 11 am-1 pm Big Planet Comics of Vienna 426 Maple Ave. East Vienna, VA 22180 703-242-9412 vienna@bigplanetcomics.com 3 pm-5 pm Big Planet Comics of College Park 7315 Baltimore Ave. College Park, MD 20740 301-699-0498 bigplanetcollegepark@yahoo.com ___________________ Fallen Words SC by Yoshihiro Tatsumi Right after finishing his amazing autobiographic history of Japanese comics A Drifting Life, Tatsumi started a series of shorts based on humorous traditional moral stories, and this book has 8, from a poor man pretending to be rich, a man haunted by the ghosts of his wife AND his mistress, a dad trying to deal with his bratty kid, to a man who makes a deal with death! Strange twists, great stories, funny moments! Amazing! Fury: My War Gone By #1 by Garth Ennis and Goran Parlov In 1954, Nick Fury is stationed in Saigon as CIA station chief as the French try to hold on against the nationalist revolution of the Vietnamese. An idealistic young spy, a mysterious woman, and a tough French officer lead him out to an ill-positioned outpost deep in the jungle. Stark and fantastic, you can feel the danger building. The Spider #1 by David Liss and Colton Worley   Richard Wentworth returns as the classic pulp vigilante, The Spider! He stalks and eliminates the scum of his city, but soon is confronted with what may be his worst foe yet, in a scene of shocking violence! Dogs of War SC by Johnny Zito, Tony Trov, Christian Weiser and Paul Maybury   A science team trying to terraform Mars is confronted by rebellion in the ranks as their leader seems to lose control, equipment malfunctions, and the possibility that they are not alone on Mars after all! An action-thriller in the mode of John Carpenter's The Thing. Teen Boat HC by Dave Roman and John Green The angst of being a teen! The thrill of being a boat! Who needs werewolves when you have a wereboat? Teen Boat has all the usual problems at school, but luckily he can also change into a boat! But what happens when the cool kids want him to take them out to international waters for a gambling weekend? Or pirates come after him? Drama and romance and hilarity! Mind the Gap #1 by Jim McCann, Rodin Esquejo, and Sonia Oback A young woman is mysteriously assaulted and put in a coma. Which of the characters we meet in this first issue did it? And now that see can leave her comatose body as a spirit, she is confronted by the strange supernatural world, even as she tries to wake up again. Strange, compelling, and detailed! Dial H #1 by China Miéville and Mateus Santolouco   Sci-fi novelist Miéville comes to comics with one of his favorite classics, a phone that will turn anyone who uses it into a hero - but a random one each time! Strange, surreal, and rather funny, this is a great start, especially Captain Lachrymose! Animal Man 1: The Hunt SC by Jeff Lemire and Travel Foreman   Buddy Baker is trying to quit being a hero, but now his young daughter Maxine is manifesting her own powers, and they are forced to take a journey into the opposition to his animal-based powers, the zone called The Red. Jeff Lemire created one of the smash hits of the New 52, now get the first 6 issues! Great art by Foreman too. American Vampire Vol 2 SC Avengers Black Widow Strikes #1 (Of 3) Avengers vs. X-Men #3 (Of 12) Bart Simpson's Pal Milhouse #1 Batman and Robin Vol 3 Batman and Robin Must Die SC Danger Club #1 2nd Ptg Epic Kill #1 Exiled #1 Garfield #1 GI Joe 2: Retaliation Movie Prequel SC The Influencing Machine SC Justice League Vol 1 Origin HC Kiki De Montparnasse SC Locke & Key Vol 4 Keys To The Kingdom SC Lou! Vol 2: Summertime Blues SC Planet Of The Apes Vol 2 SC Rex Zombie Killer One Shot Robert Wells Trilogy Vol 1 Sacrifice SC Skeleton Key Color Special One Shot Smallville Season 11 #1 Roger Langridge's Snarked Vol 1 SC Jack Kirby's Spirit World HC Worlds' Finest #1 X-O Manowar #1 Big Planet Comics Podcast #43 Kevin, Nick and Jared discuss Before Watchmen a LOT, and review some great comics! Download now or subscribe on iTunes!   PODCAST REVIEWS: Dial H #1 by China Miéville and Mateus Santolouco Dogs of Mars SC by Johnny Zito, Tony Trov, Christian Weiser and Paul Maybury Earth 2 #1 by James Robinson and Nicola Scott Epic Kill #1 by Raffaele Ienco Fallen Words SC by Yoshihiro Tatsumi Fury: My War Gone By #1 by Garth Ennis and Goran Parlov G.I. Combat #1 by J.T. Krul, Justin Gray, Jimmy Palmiotti, Ariel Olivetti, and Dan Panosian Mind the Gap #1 by Jim McCann, Rodin Esquejo, and Sonia Oback Shooters HC by Eric Trautmann, Brandon Jerwa and Steve Lieber The Spider #1 by David Liss and Colton Worley Teen Boat HC by Dave Roman and John Green Worlds' Finest #1 by Paul Levitz, George Pérez, and Kevin Maguire X-O Manowar #1 by Robert Venditti and Cary Nord Send us questions to podcast@bigplanetcomics.com or call us at 1-703-539-CAST! (1-703-539-2278)   5/5 - Free Comic Book Day All stores! freecomicbookday.com 5/5 - Jeremy Whitley Signing Princeless 11am-1pm 426 Maple Ave. East Vienna, VA 22180 703-242-9412 vienna@bigplanetcomics.com Signing Princeless 3pm-5pm 7315 Baltimore Ave. College Park, MD 20740 301-699-0498 bigplanetcollegepark@yahoo.com 5/5 - Jorge Aguirre Signing Giants Beware! 11am-1pm 426 Maple Ave. East Vienna, VA 22180 703-242-9412 vienna@bigplanetcomics.com Signing Giants Beware! 3pm-5pm 7315 Baltimore Ave. College Park, MD 20740 301-699-0498 bigplanetcollegepark@yahoo.com 5/26 - Jerry Gaylord Signing Fanboys vs. Zombies 7315 Baltimore Ave. College Park, MD 20740 301-699-0498 bigplanetcollegepark@yahoo.com 6/2 - Russ Kick Signing The Graphic Canon 4849 Cordell Avenue Bethesda, MD 20814 301-654-6856 joel@bigplanetcomics.com 6/9 - Nick Abadzis Signing Hugo Tate 4849 Cordell Avenue Bethesda, MD 20814 301-654-6856 joel@bigplanetcomics.com 7/4 - 20% off Sale All stores! 7/28 - Matt Dembicki Signing Xoc 11am-1pm 7315 Baltimore Ave. College Park, MD 20740 301-699-0498 bigplanetcollegepark@yahoo.com Signing Xoc 3pm-5pm 426 Maple Ave. East Vienna, VA 22180 703-242-9412 vienna@bigplanetcomics.com New Next Week 5/9 (Let us know if you want any of these!)   2000 AD #1778 Alabaster Wolves #2 (Of 5) Amazing Spider-Man Parallel Lives #1 America's Got Powers #1 (Of 6) 2nd Ptg Artifacts #17 Astonishing X-Men Vol 7 Monstrous SC Atomic Robo Vol 6 Ghost Of Station X SC Avengers Assemble #3 Avengers Private War Of Dr Doom HC Avengers X-Sanction HC Avenging Spider-Man #7 Babys In Black HC Batgirl #9 (Night Of The Owls) Batman #9 (Night Of The Owls) Batman And Robin #9 (Night Of The Owls) Batman Arkham Unhinged #2 Batman Vol 1 The Court Of Owls HC Betty & Veronica Double Digest #201 Bible HC Brightest Day Vol 2 SC Buffy The Vampire Slayer Season 9 Freefall #9 Captain America #11 Captain America And Hawkeye #630 Captain America By Ed Brubaker Vol 2 HC Choker Vol 1 SC Courtney Crumrin #2 Crossed Badlands #5 Dan The Unharmable #1 Dark Shadows #5 Deadpool #51 2nd Ptg Deadpool #52 2nd Ptg Deadpool #54 Deathstroke #9 Dejah Thoris & White Apes Of Mars #2 Demon Knights #9 Doctor Who Classics Series IV #4 (Of 6) Dungeons & Dragons Forgotten Realms #1 Essential Black Panther Vol 1 Sc Fairest #3 Fatale #5 Ferals #5 FLCL Omnibus GN Forgetless: Live To See Last Call SC New Ed Fracture Vol 1 SC Frankenstein Agent Of Shade #9 Frankenstein Alive Alive #1 GI Joe Vol 2 #13 Green Lantern #9 Green Wake Vol 2 Lost Children SC Grifter #9 Higher Earth #1 Hulk #51 Hulk Smash Avengers #2 (Of 5) Incorruptible #29 Invincible #91 Izombie #25 Journey Into Mystery #637 Exiled Justice League International Vol 1 Signal Mast SC Legion Lost #9 (The Culling) Lobster Johnson The Burning Hand #5 (Of 5) Lord Of The Jungle #4 Magneto Not A Hero SC Manara Erotica Vol 1 HC Manhattan Projects #2 2nd Ptg Marvel Universe Avengers Earths Heroes #2 Marvel Zombies Destroy #1 (Of 5) Mastering Comics SC Mega Man #13 Megalex Complete Story HC Memorial #5 (Of 6) Mmw Avengers Vol 12 HC Morning Glories #18 Mystery In Space #1 Naruto Vol 56 SC New Avengers #26 Avx Night Force #3 (Of 6) Night Of 1000 Wolves #1 (Of 3) Nonnonba GN Oz Ozma Of Oz SC Pokemon Black & White Vol 07 SC The Pro SC New Ptg Punisher #11 Resurrection Man #9 Scarlet Spider #5 Scooby Doo Where Are You #21 Secret #1 2nd Ptg Silver Surfer Parable HC Skullkickers #14 Space Ducks: Infinite Comic Book Musical HC Spider-Man Identity Crisis SC New Ptg Spider-Man Inside World Of Friendly Neighborhood HC Spider-Man Season One HC Star Wars Knights Of The Old Republic War #5 (Of 5) Story Of Saiunkoku Vol 7 SC Suicide Squad #9 Superboy #9 (The Culling) Superman Grounded Vol 1 SC Takio #1 Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Color Classics #1 Thief Of Thieves #3 Var Cvr 2nd Ptg Thing Serpent Crown Affair HC The Tick #100 The Tick Meets Invincible Trio #1 Ultimate Comics Ultimates #10 Ultimate Comics X-Men #11 Ultimate Spider-Man Vol 12 HC Uncanny X-Force #25 Walking Dead #97 Wasteland #37 Robert Jordan Wheel Of Time Eye Of The World #24 Wolverine #306 Wolverine And X-Men #10 AVX World Of Archie Double Digest #17 X-Men Legacy #266 AVX

like us on Facebook | follow us on Twitter | subscribe on iTunes | forward to a friend  Copyright © 2012 Big Planet Comics, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you signed up for our mailing list either online or at one of our stores. 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

Wash Post on Stan Lee and Avengers movie

'The Avengers' to 'Spider-Man': Nearing 90, Marvel mastermind STAN LEE shoots from the still-hip (about Whedon, Kirby and RDJ)
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog March 3 2012
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/comic-riffs/post/the-avengers-to-spider-man-nearing-90-marvel-mastermind-stan-lee-shoots-from-the-still-hip-about-whedon-kirby-and-rdj/2012/05/03/gIQADiKDzT_blog.html#pagebreak

and what I assume is tomorrow's print review -

Essay: 'Avengers' proves actors still matter
By Ann Hornaday, May 3, 2012
http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/essay-avengers-proves-actors-still-matter/2012/05/03/gIQA3nwQzT_story.html

Persepolis cartoon screening overreaction in Tunisia profiled in Post

Tunisian court case exposes rift over free speech in new democracy
By Marc Fisher,
Washington Post May 3 2012, p. A1, 9
http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/tunisian-court-case-exposes-rift-over-free-speech-in-new-democracy/2012/05/02/gIQAj4cexT_story.html

This story had hit the wires months ago, but now there's this good followup article.

Express on Avengers characters

Meet the Unsung Avengers: Black Widow and Hawkeye never got their own movies. They clearly should!
By Kristen Page-Kirby
Express May 3, 2012 p. E8
online at http://www.expressnightout.com/2012/05/meet-the-unsung-avengers/

 

May5: "Cinco de Sandra" featuring Sandra Beasley, Dean Haspiel, Jim Dougan + Much More!

CINCO DE SANDRA:  A CELEBRATION OF COMIX, STORYTELLING, AND MUSIC

 

On Saturday, May 5, 2012, @8pm sharp, an all-star lineup of DC and NYC storytellers will come together to blow your mind with live performances of poetry, comix, and stories at the Hillyer Art Space in Dupont Circle. Venues represented include Trip City, Act-i-vate, and Barrelhouse. And after that? We'll get the music spinning.

 

CINCO DE SANDRA's lineup of performers includes:

Sandra Beasley (author of DON'T KILL THE BIRTHDAY GIRL, I WAS THE JUKEBOX)

Dean Haspiel (Emmy winner for BORED TO DEATH title sequence, artist of THE ALCOHOLIC w/Jonathan Ames and THE QUITTER w/Harvey Pekar, creator of BILLY DOGMA)

Molly Lawless (cartoonist of HIT BY PITCH, FROG & OWL)

Jim Dougan (comics writer, SAM & LILAH, CRAZY PAPERS, others at ACTIVATEcomix)

Jennifer Tress (DC-based storyteller, author of YOU'RE NOT PRETTY ENOUGH)

Natalie E. Illum (Spoken word poet, mothertongue organizer)

Tony Mancus (BARRELHOUSE contributor and co-editor of Flying Guillotine Press)

Plus, the whole shebang will be hosted by man-about-town Brandon Wetherbee (YOU, ME, THEM, EVERYBODY) and featuring the sweet sounds of DJ P-Vo (Hometown Sounds DC). We will have a merch table. We will have beer and non-beer. We will have a helluva lotta hijinks. And, in case you were wondering, we will have a birthday girl on hand: Sandra Beasley.

Be there, or be…

...Just be there.

Facebook event page: http://www.facebook.com/events/255811644513842/

TRIP CITY Blog: http://welcometotripcity.com/2012/05/cinco-de-sandra/

PSA: Honoring Our Veterans of Post 24

This Public Service Announcement is from cartoonist Steve Artley who has been working on this program.

JOIN US AT THE AMERICAN LEGION THIS SATURDAY FOR A FUNDRAISER AND SCREENING OF "Heroes of Post 24." This is the first in an on-going series of video documentaries preserving the oral history of our veterans. 

The project was established to preserve oral history of members of American Legion Post 24 in Alexandria, VA through a series of documentaries. A fundraiser is being held at the Post this Saturday (May 5) to help underwrite this ongoing project by filmmaker John Napolitano, USMC. If you are in the Alexandria area, stop in on Saturday 5:00 to 8:00 for the launch party and screening of the first installment. We'll have food, beverage specials, and raffles. Meet the filmmaker. Meet the first interviewees, including Bill MacNamara who published Stars & Stripes during WWII. On the video he tells of getting out the first issue in Normandy shortly after the D-Day invasion. Come on in for good food, fascinating conversation, and honorable history. 

If you can't make the event, stop down to Market Square for the Farmers Market in Old Town Alexandria earlier in the day. Fellow Sons of the American Legion member Russ Crager and I will be manning the "Heroes of Post 24" booth from 8:30 to 11:00 AM. We'll be collecting donations, selling event tickets, and acquainting the public with our projects.

SEE YOU THERE!

Graphic design, art and creative direction services provided by Steve Artley of Artley Design, Inc.

Signage and collateral materials produced by Russ Crager of Mobile Signz in Alexandria.

On the 12th Day of Interviews...

...ComicsDC gave to me -- a sense of a job finally completed, and better knowledge of a lot of local webcartoonists and animators.  Please check out any you might have missed.

            "Meet a Local Cartoonist: Michael Webster," ComicsDC blog (May 2, 2012): http://comicsdc.blogspot.com/2012/05/meet-local-cartoonist-michael-webster.html

            "Meet a Local Cartoonist: Jason Axtell," ComicsDC blog (May 1, 2012):

http://comicsdc.blogspot.com/2012/05/meet-local-cartoonist-jason-axtell.html

            "Meet a Local Animator: Neil Dittbenner," ComicsDC blog (April 30, 2012): http://comicsdc.blogspot.com/2012/04/meet-local-animator-neil-dittbenner.html

            "Meet a Local Animator: Todd Churn," ComicsDC blog (April 29, 2012): http://comicsdc.blogspot.com/2012/04/meet-local-animator-todd-churn.html

            "Meet a Local Cartoonist: Chris Mararac," ComicsDC blog (April 28, 2012):

http://comicsdc.blogspot.com/2012/04/meet-local-cartoonist-chris-mararac.html

            "Meet a Local Cartoonist: Monica H. or "MonMon"," ComicsDC blog (April 27, 2012): http://comicsdc.blogspot.com/2012/04/meet-local-cartoonist-monica-h-or.html

            "Meet a Local Cartoonist: Gregory Uchrin," ComicsDC blog (April 26, 2012):

http://comicsdc.blogspot.com/2012/04/meet-local-cartoonist-gregory-uchrin.html

            "Cartoonist Guy Delisle on His Year in Israel and Creating Jerusalem: Chronicles From the Holy City," Apr. 25, 2012, http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/artsdesk/visual-arts/2012/04/25/meet-a-visiting-cartoonist-a-chat-with-guy-delisle/

            "Meet a Local Cartoonist: Garth Graham," ComicsDC blog (April 25, 2012): http://comicsdc.blogspot.com/2012/04/meet-local-cartoonist-garth-graham.html

            "Meet Two Local Cartoonists: Mike Isenberg and Oliver Mertz, writers of "First Law Of Mad Science"," (April 24, 2012): http://comicsdc.blogspot.com/2012/04/meet-two-local-cartoonists-mike.html

            "Meet a Semi-Local Cartoonist: Chris Otto," ComicsDC blog (April 23, 2012):

http://comicsdc.blogspot.com/2012/04/meet-semi-local-cartoonist-chris-otto.html

            "Meet a Formerly Local Cartoonist: T Campbell," ComicsDC blog (April 22, 2012): http://comicsdc.blogspot.com/2012/04/meet-formerly-local-cartoonist-t.html

            "Joel Pollack on moving Big Planet Comics' Bethesda store," ComicsDC blog (April 22, 2012): http://comicsdc.blogspot.com/2012/04/joel-pollack-on-moving-big-planet.html

            "Meet a Local Children's Book Creator: K. Michael Crawford," ComicsDC blog (April 21, 2012): http://comicsdc.blogspot.com/2012/04/meet-local-childrens-book-creator-k.html

            "Meet a Local Cartoonist: Michael Munshaw," ComicsDC blog (April 20, 2012): http://comicsdc.blogspot.com/2012/04/meet-local-cartoonist-michael-munshaw.html

May 4: Alison Bechdel at Politics and Prose

Alison Bechdel - Are You My Mother?: A Comic Drama

May 4 2012 7:00 pm

In her acclaimed graphic memoir, Fun Home, Bechdel focused on her father, his secret life, and his death. Now she turns to her talented, emotionally repressed mother, exploring the family psychology and the tentative mother-daughter truce the two achieved via D.W. Winnicott , Dr. Seuss, and Bechdel’s own vivid memories.

5015 Connecticut Ave NW
Washington, District Of Columbia
 
I'm planning on being there - Fun Home was a great book.

“The Life & Times of Tim” article in today's Express

Life's Too Short
By Rudi Greenberg
Express May 2, 2012, p. 15  
http://www.expressnightout.com/2012/05/lifes-too-short/

District Comics promo postcard

Matt Dembicki notes on his Facebook page that he got these promo postcards for District Comics.

I wrote the one w/ the Civil War soldier (2nd from the right) and Kevin Rechin did a great job bringing the story to life.

Meet a Local Cartoonist: Michael Webster

 Michael Webster makes old-school comic books under the banner of 'New Future Comics.' While they'd be categorized as minicomics due to his distribution method, he does full-size comics and then self-distributes them to local newstands. Which is how Robert Crumb got started after all. I don't think he'd mind if I quoted from the e-mail he sent introducing himself after I bought a comic and tried to track him down - "I am the artist whose comic book, Hero Patrol,  you purchased at the One Stop News stand at 2000 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW.  You can check out more of my work at News World located on K Street by the Farragut North subway entrance.  The books you will find there are Kasper the Prince of Power, The Undercover Unit and of course Hero Patrol.  I also have two novels out, Lime Life and The Story of a Man Called Adam which are also located at News World." Webster answered my usual questions a month ago.

Mike Rhode: What type of comic work or cartooning do you do?

Michael Webster: I basically do action comics that are based around the DC area. 

How do you do it? Traditional pen and ink, computer or a combination?

I do traditional pen and ink but sometimes I use the computer to tweek my work  or add color.

When (within a decade is fine) and where were you born?

Born in the 60's and I am a proud Washingtonian

Why are you in Washington now?  What neighborhood or area do you live in?

I live in Maryland and work in the District of Columbia.

What is your training and/or education in cartooning?

I am a self-taught artist but influenced by many of the comic book illustrators.

Who are your influences?

One of my biggest influences was John Byrne.

If you could, what in your career would you do-over or change?

I would have been more aggressive and focused in pursuing my goal.

What work are you best-known for?

My artwork and my novel Lime Life.

What work are you most proud of?

All.

What would you like to do  or work on in the future?

One of my biggest dreams is to write a screenplay or see one of my comics come to life on the big screen.

What do you do when you're in a rut or have writer's block?

I just stop for a moment, get something to eat or exercise until an idea comes.

What do you think will be the future of your field?

It is an expanding field and will always be around.

What's your favorite thing about DC?

The opportunities you can gain as a struggling artist or writer and it's my hometown.

Least favorite?

Nothing.  There are problems everywhere.

What monument or museum do you take most out-of-town guests to?

Smithsonian.

Favorite restaurant for same?

Georgia Brown's.

Do you have a website or blog?

Not as of yet, I am working on it.  But I do have a Facebook page.