Gareth Hinds' Macbeth is on sale today

From his blog:

Macbeth is on sale!

Today is Feb. 10, and Macbeth is now available in fine book and comic shops, online, and on iBooks, Comixology, and Kobo (coming soon on Google Play and Nook).

Launch events have not changed since the last email, but here's a quick reminder:

Wellesley, MA - Wellesley Books, 2/11 @7pm

Cambridge, MA - Porter Square Books, 2/13 @7pm

Washington, DC - Politics & Prose, 2/17@10:30am

Takoma Park, MD - Takoma Park Public Library sponsored by P&P, 2/23 @7:30pm
Alexandria, VA - Hooray for Books, 2/27 @7pm

St. Louis, MO - Left Bank Books, 3/5 @7pm

Gaithersburg, MD - appearing at the Gaithersburg Book Festival, 5/16 (10am-6pm)
 

Macbeth-related blog highlights:

You can see a step-by-step animated GIF of how I created the artwork for Macbeth here.

I just saw a great "sequel" to Macbeth called Dunsinane -- sketches and reviews here. And here are sketches from two performances of The Tempest (part 1 and part 2), and from Mary Stuart, a drama about Elizabeth I and Mary Queen of Scots.

Flugennock's Latest'n'Greatest: "Ye Olde Colonial Constituents Day"

"Ye Olde Colonial Constituents Day"

http://sinkers.org/stage/?p=1662


Congratulations, DC! Your new plantation overseer -- that is, the new chairman of the House Oversight Committee -- is a Mormon with an injection-molded face, one Jason Chaffetz of Utah.

Seeing as how part of his job is getting in the way of the people of Washington, DC when they try and govern themselves, then perhaps he might be interested in such DC minutiae as traffic, parking, trash pickup, Metro subway fires, and that goddamn' streetcar project that keeps falling behind schedule.

Join us as we take these and other grievances to our new colonial governor at his office in the Rayburn Building on March 17... won't you?

___________________________________________________________
Mike Flugennock, flugennock at sinkers dot org
Political Cartoons: dubya dubya dubya dot sinkers dot org

Feb 18: Syrian animator Essa Neima exhibit opens on Dupont Circle

My interview with Essa from 2013 can be read here.

 

Artist Essa Neima Presents "Touch Me Not" at Dupont Pilgrims Gallery

FEBRUARY 18^TH THROUGH APRIL 5^TH

WHO: Artist Essa Neima

WHAT: Opening for "Touch Me Not", an expressionist/abstract exhibit done with acrylic and oil on canvas depicting the effect of violence on art in the country of Syria.

WHERE: Dupont Pilgrims Gallery located at 2201 P Street NW, Washington D.C. 20037

WHEN: February 18^th through April 5^th with Exhibition Reception Friday, March 6^th, 2015 from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m.

About the artist and his art:

Due to the acts of violence from extreme organizations in Syria, a huge number of artwork from that area is being destroyed. Mr. Neima's paintings speak about these damaged pieces.  His work is designed to show the viewer a part of Syria the media doesn't seem to have time to show, that of what is lost beyond the obvious, the art and emotions it provokes.

Essa Neima was born and raised in Syria and currently lives in Washington D.C. He is an art instructor at University of the District of Columbia and has worked in the animation field for ten years between Syria and Dubai.  Essa studied art at the University of Damascus in Syria. 

MEDIA CONTACT:  Pat Brogan, 703-462-0530, pbrogan@wamu.org

The Dupont Pilgrims Gallery features rotating exhibits by local artists using visual art as inspiration. It's open Sundays 12-2pm, First Fridays of each month 6-8pm and by request. Contact Carol Hulls at artgallery@churchofthepilgrims.org or 202-236-5525

###

Chip Beck, cartoonist, combat artist and CIA agent, profiled at City Paper

Inside the Drawings of a Cartoonist for the CIA

by Mike Rhode on Feb. 9, 2015
http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/artsdesk/visual-arts/2015/02/09/inside-the-drawings-of-a-cartoonist-for-the-cia/

Chip Beck is my latest interview subject. At 69 years old, I think he's the longest working cartoonist I've talked to besides Jules Feiffer. His career is certainly livelier than any one else I know of.

In spite of the article's length, my editor Christina Cauterucci barely trimmed it, for which I thank her.

Mark Korsak is a local cartoonist

I've met Mark Korsak, a professional illustrator, at a couple of local events and found out from him that he's working on a Civil War graphic novel, which sounds pretty neat. He moved to the area within the past year with his wife, but worked at the Society of Illustrators in NYC before that which sounds unspeakably cool.

Mark's going to answer my longer interview questions, but in the meantime, I will note that he's available for illustration work.

Feb 11 - 16: Disney on Ice: Worlds of Fantasy at Verizon Center

Experience a magical Disney fantasy live on ice! Rev up for non-stop fun with four of your favorite Disney stories at Disney On Ice presents Worlds of Fantasy Presented by Stonyfield YoKids Organic Yogurt. Thrill to high-speed stunts as Lightning McQueen, Mater and the crew of Disney•Pixar's Cars race across the ice like you've never seen before! Dive into The Little Mermaid's enchanting undersea kingdom and enter the mystical world of Pixie Hollow with Tinker Bell and the Disney Fairies as they reveal the magic that lies within! The toys are back in town with heroic action when Buzz Lightyear, Woody, Jessie and the Toy Story gang escape from the rambunctious tots of Sunnyside Daycare and race for home, in their most daring adventure ever! From wheels to waves, playtime to pixie dust, your family's favorite Disney moments come to life at Disney On Ice presents Worlds of Fantasy.

Indiegogo campaign for Cartoonists Rights Network International - CRNI

Here's a local fundraising campaign supported by Matt Wuerker -

Cartoonists Rights Network International - CRNI

CRNI defends the creative and human rights of cartoonists under threat throughout the world.

Gareth Hinds is now a local cartoonist

Actually he's been a local cartoonist for a year or so, but I've never met him until last night.

Gareth Hinds has a new Shakespeare adaptation coming out next week. He'll be introducing Macbeth at Politics and Prose in DC, the Takoma Park Library in MD, and Hooray for Books in VA. I'll be at the VA one.

His website is here and his blog is here. I hope to run an interview soon with him on the City Paper's site.

Last night we met at Scott McCloud's talk at Politics and Prose. Here's his take on it.

Scott McCloud in Conversation with Michael Cavna (February 6, 2015) UPDATED

The recording of the event, 1 1/2 hours long, is at this link:

https://archive.org/details/PP150206ScottMcCloudAndMichaelCavna

This may be the only recording as I'm not sure if the store recorded it. Someone was videoing it, but they weren't from P&P.

Nice things were said about local cartoonist Richard Thompson, and less nice things about Bob "Batman" Kane. McCloud had some things to say that rang true to me and I'll try to excerpt them in a post early next week.

More photographs by me are online here.

Better photographs by Bruce Guthrie are online here.

Cartoonist Gareth Hinds did some live-sketching of the event.

Scott McCloud live at Politics and Prose

Here's a few pictures from his conversation ongoing now with Comic Riffs' Michael Cavna.

Comic Riffs talks to Scott McCloud several times

Cavna will also be speaking with McCloud tonight at Politics and Prose in DC at 7 pm.

'THE SCULPTOR': With graphic-novel epic, Scott McCloud weighs artistic ambition on the scale of life

By Michael Cavna

Washington Post Comic Riffs blog February 6 2015

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2015/02/06/the-sculptor-with-graphic-novel-epic-scott-mccloud-weighs-artistic-ambition-on-the-scale-of-life/

Flugennock's Latest'n'Greatest: "Blood In The Water"

I gotta say, I don't get this one, but I'm not the intended audience for our resident anarchist's cartoon.

"Blood In The Water"
http://sinkers.org/stage/?p=1657

So, I was hanging around the Prop 71 office the other day, working on sketches and listening to Our Exalted Leader Adam Eidinger giving an interview to Cannabis Radio News over at Marijuana Public Media, and in the course of his discussion of the growing pushback against GOP meddlers regarding DC's Initiative 71, Adam threw down the phrase "blood in the water"...

___________________
Mike Flugennock, flugennock at sinkers dot org
Political Cartoons: dubya dubya dubya dot sinkers dot org

FEB 28: Justin Jordan Signing at Fantom Comics

• Saturday, February 28 at 1:00pm - 3:00pm

• Show Map Fantom Comics 2010 P St NW, Washington, District of Columbia 20036

The incredibly talented creator/writer of The Strange Talent of Luther Strode, Dead Body Road, Deep State, and Spread will be gracing Fantom Comics with his presence the last Saturday in February!

Bring your comics and prints and autograph books to get ALL THE THINGS signed!

Feb 27: Gareth Hinds in Alexandria

This event is at Hooray for Books on King Street.

Friday, February 27th: Author Gareth Hinds will present and sign his latest graphic novel for teens, Macbeth. 7 pm.

Set against the moody backdrop of eleventh-century Scotland, Gareth Hinds's illustrated interpretation of Shakespeare's classic play takes readers into the claustrophobic mind of a man driven mad by ambition. An evil seed takes root in the mind of Macbeth, a general in the king's army, when three witches tell him he will one day be king. But is Macbeth prepared to commit murder to steal, and keep, the crown?

The Post on the new SpongeBob movie

A franchise fueled by Krabby Patties [online as 'The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water' review: Krabby Patties provide fuel for a cartoon franchise's staying power]

By Jen Chaney
Washington Post February 6 2015, p. Weekend 30.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/goingoutguide/movies/the-spongebob-movie-sponge-out-of-water-review-krabby-patties-provide-fuel-for-a-cartoon-franchises-staying-power/2015/02/04/515be4e8-ab08-11e4-ad71-7b9eba0f87d6_story.html

Teresa Logan's art exhibit at Bistro Bohem

Teresa (The Laughing Redhead) Logan's art exhibit at Bistro Bohem opened tonight. Here's pictures and then more pictures.

March vol. 2 signing at Fantom Comics photos

I've finally gotten these online at Flickr. Rep. John Lewis and Andrew Aydin signing March v. 2 at Fantom Comics in DC. (But I need another signed copy as the Post Office destroyed and lost the one I sent to Chris Sparks).
(click for Fantom Comics website)

Doonesbury innovation credit caught by The Post

How Doonesbury helped make Pandora a success

By Matt McFarland
Washington Post Innovations blog (February 4 2015): http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/innovations/wp/2015/02/04/how-doonesbury-helped-make-pandora-a-success/

Carolyn Belefski featured on Comic Riffs

White House comics? How cartoonist Carolyn Belefski got an unexpected booster shot-in-the-arm from HealthCare.gov

By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog (February 5 2015)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2015/02/05/white-house-comics-how-cartoonist-carolyn-belefski-got-an-unexpected-booster-shot-in-the-arm-from-healthcare-gov/

Feb 18: Thermae Romae

J-Film Series Presented by the JICC, Embassy of Japan and the Japan Commerce Association of Washington, D.C. Thermae Romae Wednesday, February 18, 6:30 p.m. Never miss another event!   Our Location: JICC, Embassy of Japan 1150 18th St, NW Suite 100 Washington, DC 20036 Driving directions © 2012 "Thermae Romae" Film Partners | 2012 | 108 min | Not Rated | In Japanese with English subtitles | Directed by Hideki Takeuchi Adapted from the wildly popular manga by Mari Yamazaki and winner of the 2010 Manga Grand Prix and the 14th Osamu Tezuka Cultural Prize - Short Story Award   In this hit comedy about bathing culture we are introduced to second-century Roman architect Lucius (Hiroshi Abe).  Criticized for his outdated building styles, Lucius is in danger of losing his job unless he can come up with a suitable design for the Emperor's new bathhouse.   Overwhelmed by the task at hand, Lucius visits a spa in order to collect his thoughts.  As he is relaxing in the water he gets pulled into the drainage and through a time portal.  He emerges from the water in a modern Japanese public bathhouse.  There he meets an aspiring young manga artist, Mami (Aya Ueto), along with others of the "flat-faced clan" (i.e. the Japanese).   Impressed by the innovations of Japan's bathing culture, Lucius borrows their ideas and brings them back to ancient Rome.  As he goes back and forth between the two places, his reputation as a genius begins to grow...   For his role as Lucius, Hiroshi Abe won Best Actor in the 2012 Japan Academy Awards and the Blue Ribbon Awards Register Now! This event is free and open to the public, but registration is required. Please note that seating is limited and registration does not guarantee guests a seat. Registered guests will be seated on a first come, first served basis. Please contact us at jicc@ws.mofa.go.jp in the event of cancellation. Doors open at 6:00 pm. No admission or re-entry after 7:00 pm.

JICC, Embassy of Japan | 1150 18th St., NW | Suite 100 | Washington | DC | 20036