Wow, the GPO has an interesting choice for a Christmas illustration

I'm a fan of their blog. I just wouldn't have chosen this illustration for an article about Christmas trees....

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Oh, say, can you tree? American Christmas tree traditions

by Michele Bartram, U.S. Government Online Bookstore
http://govbooktalk.gpo.gov/2013/12/17/oh-say-can-you-tree-american-christmas-tree-traditions/

As you can see, it's Uncle Sam and Columbia bringing the blessings of liberty to less-enlightened peoples in the wake of the Spanish-American War.  My guess is that it's a scan off the Library of Congress site. Yes, here it is, from 1899.

In the larger size reprinted here, you can see children in native garb representing their countries, with Puerto Rico receiving a book, Hawaii reaching out for something too, Samoa sucking on candy, and  Cuba and the Philippines getting a nice new plow. If it's not a justification of imperialism (although I think it is), it's certainly paternalism.

However, should you like to have this Keppler print for your own decorating, you can download a 140mb tif and print it out probably as big as a tree. It is a nice drawing.

'Cartoon Picayune' #6 is available

Local cartoonist/small press publisher Josh Kramer has a new issue out of his Cartoon Picayune anthology. The "Small Worlds" issue (No. 6) is now available to order (40 pages; $4). Josh has also lauched a subscription drive to help continue to fund the series: $10 for one year (and two issues) or $20 for two years (and four issues). Shipping included. As a bonus, subscribers will now recieve a limited edition screen print by Dakota McFadzean, while supplies last.

Flugennock's Latest'n'Greatest: "Selfies!"

"Selfies!"
http://sinkers.org/stage/?p=1421

The past couple of weeks have seen many memorable moments in all the pomp and ceremony marking the passing of Nelson Mandela, but none as memorable as this indelible image of three world leaders keeping it classy at the Mandela memorial service last week.

And now, Mandela has finally been laid to rest in his ancestral village -- and not a moment too soon, as I don't know if I could've stood much more of the hypocritical spewage from the leaders of the nations who funded and armed the apartheid regime and conspired to keep Mandela imprisoned for nearly three decades.

Some of the most breathtaking spewage had to have come from that inimitable mass murderer and concentration camp operator, our very own Barack "Dronemeister" Obama:

"We will not likely see the likes of Nelson Mandela again.  So it falls to us as best we can to forward the example that he set..."

President Sparkle Pony has actually said something truthful here, if only by accident. If the likes of Mandela were emerging today, he'd likely have made it onto Obama's "Disposition Matrix" if he hasn't already been smeared in a drone strike while he attended a friend's wedding. Either that, or he might be rotting in Guantanamo right now.


http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-25322260

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2013/12/05/statement-president-death-nelson-mandela


--

.

"Though I could not caution all, I yet may warn a few:
 Don't lend your hand to raise no flag atop no ship of fools!"

                                               --grateful dead.
________________________________________________________________
Mike Flugennock, flugennock at sinkers dot org
Mike's Political Cartoons: dubya dubya dubya dot sinkers dot org

Jennifer & Matthew Holm: 2013 National Book Festival

LibraryOfCongress·Dec 12, 2013
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_jUZnZr9SIw

Jennifer and Matthew Holm appear at the 2013 Library of Congress National Book Festival.

Lynda Barry: 2013 National Book Festival

LibraryOfCongress·Dec 12, 2013
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fWlZPfkaoxA

Cartoonist Lynda Barry appears at the 2013 Library of Congress National Book Festival.

That darn Doonesbury

Letter to the Editor: Some commentary doesn't belong in the comics [in print as No commentary in the comics].

Alan S. Miller, Alexandria

Washington Post December 14 2013

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/some-commentary-doesnt-belong-in-the-comics/2013/12/12/8123097e-610b-11e3-a7b4-4a75ebc432ab_story.html

Comic Riffs posts Family Guy spoilers, ruins Christmas

Just kidding...

BRIAN GRIFFIN'S RETURN: 'Family Guy' offers a canine holiday gift from a 9/11 'passenger'

By Michael Cavna Washington Post Comic Riffs blog December 16 2013

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/comic-riffs/post/brian-griffins-return-family-guy-offers-a-canine-holiday-gift-from-a-911-passenger/2013/12/16/22989d50-6670-11e3-ae56-22de072140a2_blog.html 

The Post reviews VeggieTales and Betty Page

Watch online: VEGGIE TALES: MERRY LARRY AND THE TRUE LIGHT OF CHRISTMAS

BY  STEPHANIE MERRY

Washington Post December 12 2013 http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/going-out-guide/wp/2013/12/12/watch-online-the-lifeguard-some-velvet-morning-veggietales/

'Bettie Page Reveals All' movie review: Juicy tidbits in the pin-up's own voice

By Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post December 12 2013 

http://www.washingtonpost.com/goingoutguide/movies/bettie-page-reveals-all-movie-review-juicy-tidbits-in-the-pin-ups-own-voice/2013/12/11/e996ad06-5e92-11e3-bc56-c6ca94801fac_story.html

Game On! Comics in Ballston Mall

NEW LOCATION! Opens Tomorrow! Kiosk in Ballston Common Mall! We are opening a kiosk right inside the heart of Arlington in Ballston Common Mall!  Located on the first floor right outside of GameStop. We are opening it on Monday December 16! Tomorrow! Come on by and say hello if you can! Game On! Comics 4238 Wilson Blvd  Arlington, VA 22203 703-310-8551 At this location you can have subscription, pick up the latest comics out that week, and pick up a board game or two! Same great staff/service now in two great locations! So tell your friends if they want the latest comics and games, the best service and the best discounts to come on by!   Game On! Comics 310 Dominion RD NE Vienna, Virginia 22180 703-539-8680

Another Indian comics interview by Ryan Holmberg

Bengal's Drighangchoo: An Interview with Deeptanil Ray

BY Ryan Holmberg Dec 13, 2013
http://www.tcj.com/bengals-drighangchoo-an-interview-with-deeptanil-ray/

Mark Wheatley interviewed about Breathtaker

Breathtaker: The Early Vertigo Hit Returns

Scoop December 13 2013
http://scoop.diamondgalleries.com/Home/4/1/73/1017?ArticleID=142754

A week of interviews recap

In case you missed any:

"Meet a Local Cartoonist: A Chat with Jerry Gaylord," ComicsDC Blog (December 13, 2013): http://comicsdc.blogspot.com/2013/12/meet-local-cartoonist-chat-with-jerry.html

            "Meet a Local Cartoonist: A Chat with Rajan Sedalia," ComicsDC Blog (December 12, 2013): http://comicsdc.blogspot.com/2013/12/meet-local-cartoonist-chat-with-rajan.html

            "Meet a Local Comics Writer: A Chat with Davy Shian," ComicsDC Blog (December 11, 2013): http://comicsdc.blogspot.com/2013/12/meet-local-comics-writer-chat-with-davy.html

            "Meet a Local Cartoonist: A Chat with Reuel Smith," ComicsDC Blog (December 10, 2013): http://comicsdc.blogspot.com/2013/12/meet-local-cartoonist-chat-with-reuel.html

            "Meet a Local Cartoonist: A Chat with Monica Marier of Tangent Artists," ComicsDC Blog (December 9, 2013): http://comicsdc.blogspot.com/2013/12/meet-local-cartoonist-chat-with-monica.html

            "Meet a Local Cartoonist: A Chat with Kathleen Brenowitz," ComicsDC Blog (December 8, 2013): http://comicsdc.blogspot.com/2013/12/meet-local-cartoonist-chat-with.html

Richard Thompson exhibit in Ohio this spring

An exhibit of Richard Thompson's cartoons will be at the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library and Museum in late March, shown with Bill Watterson's Calvin and Hobbes. Curator Caitlin McGurk just spent 3 days selecting art for the exhibit, and it'll be good. 

This cartoon won't be included, but begin planning your trip now anyway.

Meet Justin Jordan (LUTHER STRODE, Green Lantern New Guardians) tomorrow 11AM-1PM

Saturday 12/14/13 Click here to RSVP on FACEBOOK. First 25 In Line Receive a FREE mystery gift, limited ONLY to this event, and numbered at 25 Copies! Signed & Numbered to ONLY 25. SIGNING FROM 11AM to 1PM Happy Holidays, Third Eye Faithful! We're super pumped to be doing a very special Third Eye signing event for the brand new IMAGE COMICS series DEAD BODY ROAD from one of our favorite rising stars in the comic industry: JUSTIN JORDAN. Justin Jordan has wowed you guys with his work on books like STRANGE TALENT OF LUTHER STRODE & LEGEND OF LUTHER STRODE, as well as his work on GREEN LANTERN NEW GUARDIANS and SHADOWMAN. Now, he's got a brand new series out on ROBERT KIRKMAN'S (the creator of WALKING DEAD) SKYBOUND IMPRINT at IMAGE COMICS. DEAD BODY ROAD is a bone-crushing, adrenaline-charged revenge story that's one part Quentin Tarantino, one part Frank Castle (aka the Punisher).  It grabs a hold of you, and doesn't let go, and is one of the most exciting IMAGE books to drop this Winter. Justin has been to Third Eye before, and after seeing how awesome a crowd we have for our events, plus getting to interact with so many of you, our loyal Third Eye Faithful, he knows we are the go-to spot to launch some of his most kick-ass stuff. So, if we could ask you, Third Eye Faithful, to help us keep the streak of awesome Justin Jordan signings continuing, and make sure you come out and get your own Strode issues signed, as well as taking a peek at the incredible new DEAD BODY ROAD, it would be mighty awesome. :)  Click here to RSVP to the event on FACEBOOK. What's DEAD BODY ROAD all about? Find out & Snag Your'sthis Saturday!   Image and Skybound, the publishing imprint of WALKING DEAD creator ROBERT KIRKMAN, have put together one heck of an awesome new series with Justin Jordan's incredible new DEAD BODY ROAD.  What's it all about? Featuring the incredible art of rising star MATTEO SCALERA and writing by JUSTIN JORDAN, DEAD BODY ROAD is a simple revenge tale... executed so well.   One man's wife is dead, and now, all the men involved in his wife's death must die. All of them.   DEAD BODY ROAD follows the story of one man's revenge and the dark road it leads him down.   The base concept around DEAD BODY ROAD is very reminiscent of a '70s revenge flick: man's family is killed, he swears to enact vengeance, and fro there, we get one hell of a trip.   Imagine the Punisher -- if written by the man who brought you LUTHER STRODE. Sounds awesome? Yeah, we thought so!   The men involved in Gage's wife's death must pay, and if it turns him into a monster himself -- then so be it.   Emotionally and mentally drained, there's no elaborate plan for Gage, just one mission: revenge!   We don't want to give too much away, but folks: this is THE best revenge story we've seen done in comics since Garth Ennis's work on PUNISHER MAX.   There's so many interesting characters who're lurking beneath the surface of the story, and you can just tell that by the time this mini-series concludes, the roles of many characters will have changed drastically.   One part QUENTIN TARANTINO, one part THE PUNISHER, DEAD BODY ROAD lives up to the high expectations that we had for it, and we think you're going to love it. Want more information on the event? Click here for the full scoop on Facebook. Be One Of The First 25 In Line & Receive a Very Special FREE Gift!    We're big on giving you guys a kick-ass experience, as well as something unique to take home with you from the signing, and we've spared no expense at putting together a very cool exclusive item in collaboration with Justin Jordan to give to you totally free!  Plus, Third Eye Faithful, it's YOUR enthusiasm, and your participation in these events that really keeps us trucking, and bringing more cool stuff to the store. When we first pull up in the morning, and we see you guys hanging out, having fun, and bringing a truly awesome community setting to our store -- we just love it.  So, our way of saying thanks, and rewarding you guys is by hooking you up with something totally unique and special at the signing. Make sure you get here early to score your's! Other Projects by Justin Jordan! Check them out this Saturday!   STRANGE TALENT OF LUTHER STRODE & LEGEND OF LUTHER STRODE are probably the two books that Justin is most well-known for, and for good reason -- they're modern comics masterpieces; prime examples of everything that makes IMAGE such a unique and innovative comic book publisher.   What's LUTHER STRODE all about?  We know many of you may have already checked this one out, but for those of you who haven't -- make sure you do this weekend!  One of our favorite IMAGE titles of the last few years, STRANGE TALENT OF LUTHER STRODE is the hyper-kinetic, over-the-top lovechild of comics like Mark Millar's KICK-ASS and anime like DRAGON BALL. Meet Luther. A teenage comic fan who sends away for one of those Charles Atlas-style get ripped routines -- and ends up finding himself transformed into a super predator. He thinks he's becoming the world's first superhero -- but, instead, he's being groomed into a super-slasher.    See, the guy who sends out the book telling Luther just how to get super buff and fight crime? He's an ancient entity who believes murder moves civilization forward, and whether it's Genghis Khan or Jack the Ripper, he's been gifting the dark arts of mass murder for generations.    Now, Luther must do everything in his power to fight the monster he's becoming.    This series smokes, Third Eye Faithful, and if you haven't read it yet -- we highly recommend snagging the graphic novel and checking it out this weekend!    Also available at the signing this weekend, we've got the second graphic novel volume of THE LEGEND OF LUTHER STRODE, as well as all the individual single issues (1-6) of the series.  In this series, set 5 years after the events of STRANGE TALENT OF LUTHER STRODE, Luther has become an urban legend -- a vicious killer of crime, far and wide, big and small -- and as he finds his own humanity escaping him... it's going to be up to those closest to him to bring him back from the edge. Get the LEGEND OF LUTHER STRODE Phantom Variants (limited qtys available!) including issue #2 featuring Third Eye Steve getting KILLED by Strode!   In very limited amounts, we'll have the LEGEND OF LUTHER STRODE Phantom Variants, which when connected together make one big, killer image of Luther Strode killing various comic industry types -- including your's truly, Third Eye Steve (as seen above). Make sure you line up early -- so you can snag your's! Get the LEGEND OF LUTHER STRODE #1 Third Eye Variant!   We'll also have limited quantities available of our own LEGEND OF LUTHER STRODE #1 Third Eye Variant, featuring Luther's girlfriend Petra rocking the Luther mask and a Third Eye t-shirt.  Again, much like the Phantoms, these were printed in lower quantities, and will be quick to go on Saturday, so make sure you pop by early to snag your's! Start Justin Jordan's run of GREEN LANTERN NEW GUARDIANS with his first issue #21 this Saturday & get 'em signed!   While Justin is really known for his uber violent STRODE epics, he's also been making a name for himself at DC Comics with his work on books like Team 7, and most currently, Green Lantern: New Guardians, where he's been doing one heck of a job of building the mythology of the various Lantern Corps. We'll have plenty of GL NEW GUARDIANS issues 21-25 (the most current) in stock to get you on board with his run, and for you to get signed by Justin this Saturday. Try Justin's SHADOWMAN from VALIANT COMICS!   Another fantastic book that Justin has been working on for quite some time now has been Valiant's SHADOWMAN series, which delivers the kind of cutting edge superhero storytelling mixed with bizarre supernatural themes that make LUTHER STRODE so darn neat.  In SHADOWMAN, Jordan weaves a tale set in New Orleans that pulls you in and doesn't let go. As the forces of darkness prepare to claim New Orleans as their own, Jack Boniface must embrace the legacy he was born to uphold. As Shadowman, Jack is about to become the only thing that stands between his city and an army of unspeakable monstrosities from beyond the night.  But, is the mantle of Shadowman a blessing or a curse?  Snag the first graphic novel for only $9.99 -- or we've got issues 1-13 in stock now to get you up to date -- and to get signed by Justin this Saturday. Third Eye Faithful, we've got a killer signing set up for you guys this Saturday, and we'd love to have you join us for this event! You know you guys are what makes us keep doing awesome stuff like this, and we'd love to turn you onto some of Justin's incredible work.

Fantom Comics' Holiday Picks: The Best of 2013

2013 has been an INCREDIBLE year for comics. Fantom has great graphic novel gift ideas for the holidays!   BATTLING BOY GRAPHIC NOVEL One of comics' greatest storytellers, Paul Pope brings you Battling Boy GN, a brilliant and kinetic take on the hero's journey that practically dares ALL that enter its world not to become a comics fan.   A 13 year old boy is thrown from the heavens armed with little more than heritage, an invisible credit card, a traveling cloak, gauntlets and twelve t-shirts that imbue him with the strength, cunning and prowess of the creatures of earth and legend. With these things, a young god boy must find what he's made of in a world of monsters and men. EAST OF WEST VOLUME ONE The Four Horsemen roam The Earth, ready to lay waste to all that is. Death has gone missing, pursuing a mission of his own. Death has gone on to reclaim the one thing he can't live without: his only love, Xiaolian. To quote series writer Jonathan Hickman (Avengers), "She is Xiaolian. And you should fear her as much as you fear (Death). For this is the woman who conquered (him)." MARCH: A GRAPHIC NOVEL Congressional Medal of Freedom recipient & civil rights champion Congressman John Lewis brings his incredible story to the medium of comics. John Lewis with co-writer Andrew Aydin (A Fantom customer) and artist Nate Powell, chronicle his journey from son of a sharecropper, to a young man ready to change history marching with Dr. Martin Luther King and beyond. MARCH isn't just one man's story; it's a story of change and growth.  MARCH is truly America's story. SAGA VOLUME ONE From writer Brian K. Vaughan, the mind that brought you Vertigo Comics' Y: The Last Man, comes SAGA, an all-new series guaranteed to capture your mind. Two soldiers on opposite sides of a universal conflict manage to fall in love and get swept into webs of intrigue, scandal, political and racial strife; all while trying to raise a baby. Gorgeously illustrated by Fiona Staples, SAGA is a sci-fi/fantasy successfully blending elements of Star Wars, Game of Thrones and miraculously, television's How I Met Your Mother. Purchase any of these in-store and we'll be glad to gift wrap them for you, free of charge! As always, you can subscribe these to your Fantom Comixology pull list yourself or have us do it by simply emailing us at reservations@fantomcomics.com. Our mailing address is: 50 Massachusetts Ave. NE Washington, DC 20002

Fox Guy by Art Hondros online now

Fox Guy

Takoma Park Voice DECEMBER 13, 2013 

http://tpssvoice.com/2013/12/13/fox-guy/

BY ART HONDROS

Walt Rave, Takoma Park resident, animal-rights activist and Tool Librarian died two years ago in December. He died as a result of burns suffered in a house fire, as reported in The Takoma Voice Dec. 11, 2011.

Rave was the subject of "Fox Guy," an 8-page graphic-novel style piece by Takoma Park comics-artist Art Hondros in the Washington Post Magazine last March.  The artist and the Washingon Post Magazine have granted permission to reprint "Fox Guy" in The Takoma Voice.

The City Paper and The Post review the new movie with Walt Disney

Girls to the Front: In two films, Kathleen Hanna and Mary Poppins creator P.L. Travers fight the good fight.

By Tricia Olszewski • December 13, 2013

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/articles/45128/the-punk-singer-and-saving-mr-banks-reviewed-in-two/

'Saving Mr. Banks' review: The affecting story of how 'Mary Poppins' reached the screen

François Duhamel - Tom Hanks turns on the charm as Walt Disney and Emma Thompson is practically perfect in every way as P.L. Travers in "Saving Mr. Banks."

By Ann Hornaday, Washington Post December 13 2013

http://www.washingtonpost.com/goingoutguide/movies/saving-mr-banks-review-the-affecting-story-of-how-mary-poppins-reached-the-screen/2013/12/11/a711137c-6275-11e3-a373-0f9f2d1c2b61_story.html

Meet a Local Cartoonist: A Chat with Jerry Gaylord

Jerry Gaylord & Brian Turner at ANS Sci-Fi & Comic Con,   May 11, 2013.

Jerry Gaylord can be found at many local cons on the Maryland side of town, along with his colleagues at Identity Comics Studios, one of whom is his wife Penelope. After self-publishing his book, TheFranchize Vol I: Start Up Capital, Gaylord penciled BOOM!'s Fanboys vs. Zombies. That title has been cancelled at #20 and he's moving onto Loki: Ragnarok and Roll.

What type of comic work or cartooning do you do?

I draw mostly super hero or action/ adventure comics.

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

I work both traditionally and digitally. It really depends on my mood and how much time I have for the project.

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

I was born in Washington, DC in 1980.

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

Right now I live about an hour outside of DC on Maryland's eastern shore. I've lived in and around the DMV all my life.

What is your training and/or education in cartooning?

For the most part I'm a self-taught artist. I've known I wanted to work in comics since I was just a little boy.

Who are your influences?

Jerry & Penelope Gaylord and Brian Turner

My biggest influences are Jose Luis Garcia Lopez, Ryan Ottley, Joe Mad, Sean Galloway, Penelope Gaylord and Bryan Turner.

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

If I could do anything over it would probably be to have gone to a good art school. It would have gotten me further faster.

What work are you best-known for?

Right now I am best known for being the artist on Fanboys vs Zombies for Boom! Studios.

What work are you most proud of?

I'm pretty proud of being nominated for a Harvey Award (for Most Promising New Talent) this year.

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

I would love to work on Superman at some point and I'm looking forward to doing more creator-owned work.

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

I either take a day off or if time is a factor, I just grit and fight through it.

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

I think the future is in creator-owned works. I think more and more artists will be working on their own projects.

What's your favorite thing about DC?

That's easy... it's home.

Least favorite?

Another easy one... traffic.

What monument or museum do you like to take visitors to?

I love the Air and Space Museum.

How about a favorite local restaurant?

Mike's Grill in Springfield, VA.

Do you have a website or blog?

thefranchizelive.com  and identitycomics.com

Milestones: African-Americans in Comics, Pop Culture and Beyond opens at GEM

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 20, 2013                CONTACT:    Tatiana EL-Khouri

                                                                                                Creative Force Group

                                                                                                424.645.7570/ info@milestonestheshow.com

                                                                                                Geppi's Entertainment Museum

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                410.625.7060/gem@milestonestheshow.com

           

GEPPI'S ENTERTAINMENT MUSEUM MOUNTS HISTORICAL EXHIBITION OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN POP CULTURE

MILESTONE MEDIA'S MICHAEL DAVIS CURATES A MULTIMEDIA EXHIBIT SHOWCASING HISTORIC AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMIC BOOK SUPERHEROES

November 18, 2013 (Baltimore, Maryland): Geppi's Entertainment Museum President Melissa Geppi-Bowersox announced the Museum's collaboration with Inkpot Award recipient Michael Davis of Milestone Media on a historical exhibit featuring numerous artistic examples of African-Americans' contribution to pop culture throughout America's cultural revolution.  

The invitation-only opening night gala has been set for Friday, December 13, 2013 from 7pm- 10pm. The exhibit will officially open to the public on December 14^th and run through April 2014. "We are thrilled to be showcasing such an extraordinarily diverse collection of artistic pieces in so many different mediums within the Museum," comments Melissa Geppi-Bowersox. "There are some truly amazing comics, designs, drawings, paintings and programming that have been set for this exhibit, and Geppi's Entertainment Museum is proud to be the sole exhibitor for such a terrific group of artists." 

Milestones: African-Americans in Comics, Pop Culture and Beyond will feature not only the work of mainstream Black creators, but also the work of those who are considered outside the mainstream and even some who actively avoid the spotlight. Milestones "offers many different examples of profound contributions to the comic book medium by showcasing the vital roles that Black superheroes have played in shaping the unique narrative thread of so many ongoing narratives," comments Marvel Comics Editor-in-Chief Axel Alonso.  "The true beauty of this exhibit is the moment when race and color become obsolete, and you see the creative genius of the amazing worlds established that are mainstream." Not only will the exhibit focus on the comic and art world; it will also be dedicated to the internet market, today's newest medium. Says actor/producer Orlando Jones (currently starring on the hit FOX TV show Sleepy Hollow):

"African-Americans have made an indelible mark on the pop culture and entertainment landscape in front of the camera, behind the scenes, on the stage and in the recording booth. Although not as widely known, this is equally true in the world of comic books, where a renaissance of Black writers and artists are creating new characters and telling unique stories that are reaching larger audiences than ever before. As a lifelong comic book nerd, it's my greatest pleasure to showcase the art from my digital graphic novel Tainted Love within the Milestones exhibit at Geppi's Entertainment Museum. This labor of love has enabled me to bring together some of my favorite artists who are leading the charge in creating increased diversity within the industry."

Adds director/producer/comics writer Reggie Hudlin (Django Unchained): "If comics are modern mythology, then Black participation and representation is crucial. The Milestones exhibit will document on paper those dreams through the years and give all Americans a chance to see them up close."

The exhibit will offer patrons a full spectrum of Black historical contributions made throughout comic book and graphic novel history. "From movies to film, from music to art, from graphic novels/comic books to TV, and from politics to sports, all aspects of America's pop culture contain different aspects of the African-American viewpoint," says Exhibit Curator and Milestone Media co-founder Michael Davis.  "America has changed, and the attitudes about Black people and their limitless creativity touch, embrace, or lead all aspects of culture."

"I'm especially excited that young people of color will see themselves represented in so many different ways," added Tatiana EL-Khouri, Co-Curator. "This show may well influence future careers in comics, and perhaps even fine art. We have significantly made enormous strides to find a place within society, and I'm so excited to be in these times where we are now being nationally recognized in every field. In so many ways, African-American culture has always been a part of pop culture, and curating this exhibit will be one of the most significant things that I do in my lifetime."

Adds Museum President Melissa Geppi-Bowersox, "Honestly, this is exactly what Geppi's Entertainment Museum is all about. Our focus on American pop culture really showcases one of the youngest nations in the world and shines a light on our history as well as our contributions to the international community. Milestones: African-Americans in Comics, Pop Culture and Beyond is a very important part of the fabric which makes up our country.

"With America being a dominant force in the world, we strive to continue with our exhibits highlighting every aspect of American culture—and will continue to be the leading museum in America showcasing not only who we are, but where we came from and where we're going."

For more information visit: www.MilestonesTheShow.com

Ben Hatke interviewed on podcast

CAG! 92 – Give Your Heroes a Reason to Quit with Ben Hatke

December 10, 2013 by Jerzy Drozd  

http://comicsaregreat.com/cag92

http://www.podtrac.com/pts/redirect.mp3/media.blubrry.com/comicsaregreat/p/comicsaregreat.com/audio/cag92.mp3