Friday, May 02, 2014

Fantom Comics' Free Comic Book Day


Under new manager, Esther Kim, Fantom Comics has an ambitious FCBD schedule.
 
Fantom Comics Free Comic Book Day 2014!
Saturday, May 3rd, 10am-9pm
Union Station, 50 Mass Ave NE, Washington, DC 20002

OVER 50 DIFFERENT FREE COMIC BOOKS!

25% off ALL GRAPHIC NOVELS!

FREE RAFFLE PRIZES ALL DAY!

COSTUME CONTEST WITH $100 SHOPPING SPREE PRIZE!

PREVIEW OF THE GEEK CHIC FASHION SHOW!

GOODIE BAGS FOR THE FIRST 50 CUSTOMERS!

FIRST 5 PEOPLE IN LINE GET A BAG FULL OF ONE OF EACH AND EVERY FREE COMIC BOOK!

LOCAL CREATORS TROY JEFFREY-ALLEN, MATT RAWSON, AND ANDREW COHEN MAKE AN APPEARANCE!


Thursday, May 01, 2014

'Cul de Sac' mention in 'Blink'


Columbus Alive—the alternative newspaper in Columbus, Ohio—has started a news comics feature with local cartoonists called “Sketch in the City.” The first strip is the work of cartoonist Max Ink, who does the excellent “Blink” comics strip/comic books. What’s the connection to D.C.? In the first installment, Max mentions the “Billy” featuring the co-exhibit of Bill Watterson and D.C. comics icon Richard Thompson. Click on the image below to see the full strip.

With permission from Max Ink

Arlington's own fotonovela

La Dieta: Que Quito a Los Lopez Varios Pesos de Encima, Arlington Department of Environmental Services, is a Spanish-language photonovel (i.e. photographs with word balloons) explaining how you don't need a car to get around in Arlington. Copies were spotted today at the Shirlington Library.

Bruce Guthrie's Herblock award photos online now

  • 2014_04_29C_LOC_SorensenP: DC -- Library of Congress -- Herblock Prize: Jen Sorensen -- Presentation (72 photos from 04/29/2014)
  • 2014_04_29D_LOC_SorensenS: DC -- Library of Congress -- Herblock Prize: Jen Sorensen -- Presentation -- Slide Show (57 photos from 04/29/2014)
  • 2014_04_29F_LOC_SorensenR: DC -- Library of Congress -- Herblock Prize: Jen Sorensen -- Reception (217 photos from 04/29/2014)

Wednesday, April 30, 2014

A few pictures of Al Feldstein

AP is reporting that the great Mad Magazine editor Al Feldstein has passed away. I knew him slightly. He used to send seriously leftist emails to people he knew. I will set about saving them for a the Billy Ireland Library at Ohio State.


100_5475
That's Craig Fischer, Richard Thompson, Roger Langridge and Al.

100_3977 Mike Rhode w Al Feldstein at Baltimore Comic-Con 2007
Mike Rhode with Al Feldstein at Baltimore Comic-Con 2007

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Al and a fan at Heroes Con.

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Al and Ben Towle at Heroes Con.

More pictures from the 2008 Heroes Con are here.

Brooke Allen's Lumberjanes on CBR TV

CBR TV: TALKING "LUMBERJANES" WITH NOELLE STEVENSON
Jonah Weiland, Executive Producer/Publisher
Comic Book Resources April 30 2014

Brooke will be signing the comic at Big Planet on Saturday's Free Comic Book Day.

The Jen Sorensen Seal of Approval

Jen Sorensen is the first Herblock Award winner I've asked to sign something. "For my fave comics blogger, Mike - Jen Sorensen" is a nice autograph to have.

City Paper (and me) on Free Comic Book Day

May 10: The ANS Sci-Fi & Comic Con Returns! press release



The ANS Sci-Fi & Comic Con Returns with

The Independent Fan Film Festival!

The ANS Sci-Fi & Comic Con returns to Archbishop Neale School in La Plata, Maryland on May 10, 2014 with a brand new event - The Independent Fan Film Festival - featuring five amazing fan-produced films and the headlining film, "Dear Mr. Watterson, An Exploration of Calvin and Hobbes".

The ANS Sci-Fi & Comic Con is a fundraiser and awareness-raiser for Archbishop Neale School, a Catholic School in operation in La Plata for over 85 years.  The event is organized, promoted and run by a small staff of committed volunteers and every penny raised goes directly to the school.  The popular event features over 50 vendors and artists selling original art, old and new comics, trading cards, collectibles, toys and other pop culture ephemera.  Over 75 vendor tables sold out in less than 24 hours when they were made available in January prompting organizers to open hallways in the school to accommodate more dealers.

Earlier in April, the Independent Fan Film Festival was announced along with the Spotlight Feature Film, "Dear Mr. Watterson".  This Kickstarter-funded film examines the impact of the ever-popular comic strip, "Calvin and Hobbes" and its' enigmatic creator, Bill Watterson.  Directed by Joel Allen Schroeder, "Dear Mr. Watterson" has won numerous awards at film festivals nation-wide. 

"We were really lucky that "Dear Mr. Watterson" was made by such a generous guy like Joel", says convention organizer Tom Boone.  "He understood that this is our first film festival and a charity event, too.  Joel graciously gave us permission to screen this wonderful film that I think matches our audience perfectly.  It's great for young, aspiring artists as well as fans of comics and great art."

In addition to the indie film fest favorite "Watterson", five other fan-produced films have been announced as part of the Independent Fan Film Festival.  "All of these films were made by fans, and can exist within the film franchises they represent because they happen just outside of the films we've already seen", says Boone.  The Italian "Dark Resurrection" takes place several hundred years after "Star Wars - Return of the Jedi" and "The Hunt for Gollum" follows the adventures of the J.R.R. Tolkien-created character Strider, who was not seen in the "Lord of the Rings" trilogy.  Similarly, the Harry Potter-related film "The Greater Good" features a story of Young Dumbledore mentioned in one of J.K. Rowlings' books and "Judge Minty" is based on a character from the "Judge Dredd" comics.  A parody of the A-Team, "The Safe Team", rounds out the selection of films.  Attendees can vote for their favorite films and the winning director will receive a "Best Film" trophy made by Virginia -based glass artist Patti North. 

Organizers encourage attendees to plan for a full day at the ANS Sci-Fi & Comic Con.  An Art Contest for Kids will be featured as well as a costume contest for all ages.  There will be a Silent Auction featuring autographed items and collectibles and door prizes will be awarded hourly.  Costumed members of the 501st and Rebel Legions will be on hand to play a Star Wars Angry Birds game with kids.  Plus Viking re-enactors from the Longship Company will be returning with their historic Nordic artifacts and food will be available, too.   

The ANS Sci-Fi & Comic Con and the Independent Fan Film Festival run concurrently on May 10, 2014 from 10-3pm at Archbishop Neale School, 104 Port Tobacco Road, La Plata, Maryland.  Admission is $5 for adults and free for children 10 and under.  For more information, visit www.anscomiccon.com

 

Films to be Shown during the Independent Fan Film Festival at ANS Sci-Fi & Comic Con:

"The Safe Team", directed by David Noble

"Dark Resurrection", directed by Angelo Licata

"The Greater Good", directed by Justin Zagri

"The Hunt for Gollum", directed by Chris Bouchard

"Judge Minty", directed by Steve Sterlacchini

"Dear Mr. Watterson", directed by Joel Allen Schroeder

 



Tom Boone
Event Organizer
ANS Sci-Fi & Comic Con
104 Port Tobacco Road
La Plata, Maryland 20646

(202) 297-1461

The ANS Sci-Fi & Comic Con is an ALL AGES fan and collectors event benefiting Archbishop Neale School on Saturday, May 10, 2014, from 10am to 3pm. For more information, visit
www.anscomiccon.com

About Archbishop Neale School -

Archbishop Neale School is a Catholic elementary school in La Plata, Maryland that has been in continuous operation since 1927, with a two-track system for grades Pre-K through 8 and a curriculum centered on the Archdiocese of Washington graded course of study. We are fully accredited, and our teachers are certified by the State of Maryland in their specific areas. We serve Catholic students from over seven parishes and many non-Catholics as well. For over 80 years, parents have entrusted their children to ANS because they are assured of an excellent, Archdiocesan standards-based academic curriculum that encompasses Catholic faith and values delivered in a safe, caring environment. For more information, visit
www.ArchbishopNealeSchool.org



Herblock award photographs online

Local photo gadfly Bruce Guthrie has put his pictures of last night's Herblock Award talks by Jen Sorensen and Bob Woodward online. Both talks were excellent. Jen's had multiple highpoints, and Woodward's went through the history of Watergate via Herblock cartoons. I look forward to both being posted online.

More photos from Bruce should follow when he gets the time to upload them.

Tuesday, April 29, 2014

Poynter on The Post's hosting Doonesbury.com

 

Doonesbury's website moves to Washington Post from Slate

by Andrew Beaujon

Poynter Apr. 28, 2014

http://www.poynter.org/latest-news/mediawire/249577/doonesburys-website-moves-to-washington-post-from-slate/

Studio Ghibli Encore at AFI Silver theater in Silver Spring

Studio Ghibli EncoreApril 18-July 2

Following 2012's hugely popular series "Castles in the Sky: Miyazaki, Takahata and the Masters of Studio Ghibli," this selection of Studio Ghibli favorites returns to AFI Silver for an encore presentation, now also including a new 35mm print of GRAVE OF THE FIREFLIES, unavailable in 2012, and Hayao Miyazaki's latest and declared-final masterpiece, THE WIND RISES.

May 3: Free Comic Book Day at Big Planet Comics

It's time for the best day of the year! Free Comic Book Day is THIS Saturday, May 3, running all day at ALL of our stores!

We have over 60 different FREE comic books to give away, so come by and grab some of your favorites! You can see a list of all the titles available at the official website: http://www.freecomicbookday.com/

We are also hosting 6 different comic book creators at our stores:
College Park, MD -- 11am-1pm -- Brooke Allen and Grace Ellis
Vienna, VA -- noon-2pm -- Carolyn Belefski and Joe Carabeo
Bethesda, MD -- 1pm-3pm -- Joe Sutliff
Washington, DC -- 1pm-3pm -- Teresa Roberts Logan
Vienna, VA -- 2pm-4pm -- Brooke Allen and Grace Ellis

Brooke and Grace are co-creators of Lumberjanes, the new comic from Boom.

Carolyn, Joe, other Joe, and Teresa are all contributors to Magic Bullet and volunteering their time for the "Cartoonists Draw Blood" blood drive on May 31, at Seekers Church across from the Takoma metro.

Jen Sorenson featured in today's Post

Alt-cartoonist rises on power of her point: Freelancer is first woman to receive Herblock Prize
[online as Jen Sorensen becomes first female winner of Herblock Prize for political cartooning]
By Michael Cavna, Washington Post (April 29 2014): C1, 2

Jen Sorensen and Herblock award featured in The Post

Jen Sorensen will be receiving the Herblock award for editorial cartooning tonight at the Library of Congress. There's a good story in the Washington Post by Michael Cavna, but it doesn't appear to be online yet.

NPR on Ralph Steadman: how a nice man became a pictorial assassin

"Ralph Steadman is known to most Americans for the surreal illustrations he drew to accompany Hunter S. Thompson's articles and books, including Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas. But Steadman has drawn everything from extinct birds to savage political caricatures to wine and beer labels. He's even written an opera libretto." Click for more.

Monday, April 28, 2014

May 1: March book one authors at local school


from Andrew Aydin's website.






Location
The event will be held at the St. Augustine Catholic School, located at 1421 V Street NW, Washington DC 2009.
Time
The event will start at 630p and end at 830p on Thursday May 1st, 2014. Doors will open at 6p.
Target audience
The event is designed for teenagers and young adults. However, the event is open to all, and parents, teachers, and mentors are welcome to come with their children, students, and mentees.
Books
"March: Book One" will be available for sale at the event.
Food
Light refreshments will be provided.
Public Transit
The St. Augustine Catholic School is on V Street NW between 14th St NW and 15th St NW. Nearby bus stops are on 14th and U Sts (52, 54, Circulator) as well 16th and V Sts (S2, S4). The nearest metro station is the U Street station (Yellow/Green lines) at 13th and U Sts NW.
Parking
There is limited free public parking available at the Gingras Center located next to the school, at 1419 V Street NW Washington DC. Street parking is also available, and is free after 6:30 pm.

Tom Toles' Catapult Love musical fundraiser


Us! Gettin' to know each other. Through fun and mayhem. Can you name that location, Brooklynites?? (I love the sign behind us: "Do Not Be Alarmed, All Is Secure." Perfect for "Catapult Love." Though extremely untrue for the heroine...!)

Hey guys! We are almost half way there in just under three week!! Woohoo! Thank you!


Can you please SHARE this link? It can triple your impact of your donation! Cuz this is the ONLY way people will know about this. Thank you!


https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/catapult-lov...

Richard Thompson interviewed at Comic Book Resources

RICHARD THOMPSON ANNOTATES "THE COMPLETE CUL DE SAC"
Alex Dueben, Staff Writer
Comic Book Resources April 28 2014

Doonesbury.com moves to The Washington Post website


This is a bit of a surprise, especially a day after Cavna's article on the Post's spiking of a Doonesbury strip... admittedly that was 41 years ago. I guess Trudeau isn't holding a grudge.


Doonesbury.com, the ultimate destination for fans of Garry Trudeau's famous comic strip, will now live exclusively on The Washington Post's website. More than just your average fan site, Doonesbury.com is a place where readers can interact with the strip and its characters through fresh content and features like daily videos, links to news stories, a regular Straw Poll, character bios, a Doonesbury timeline and more.


Molly Gannon
Senior Publicist, The Washington Post