City Paper's Best of D.C. 2015 winners

Fantom Comics gets the nod from the paper's staff - http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/bestofdc/goodsandservices/2015/best-comic-shop

Carolyn Belefski is a runner-up for reader votes - http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/bestofdc/poll/artsandentertainment/2015/best-visual-artist

Flugennock's Latest'n'Greatest: "Phrygian Capitol"

Hey, now, Free DC! Got those Phrygian Caps ready? Because it's just about time for the DC Democracy Vigil on Tax Day, April 15. Find out more and RSVP at the DC Cannabis Coalition:
http://dcmj.org/dc-democracy-vigil/

"...At the beginning of this year we sought volunteers to staff a DC Democracy Vigil. Had Congress moved to overturn Initiative 71, we planned to stage at 24 hour a day vigil to highlight our discontent. But after our meeting last week with Representative Jason Chaffetz's staff, where we offered him a chance to reset relations with DC residents, we came away thinking Congressional leaders are not going to lift a finger for us! We have no choice but to escalate protests NOW to ruin their fake "freedom" brand and see them exposed for what they are: Oppressors."

So... y'ever wonder why the Statue Of Freedom on top of the Capitol Dome isn't wearing a Phrygian Cap? Check it out here...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phrygian_cap

"...In 1854, when sculptor Thomas Crawford was preparing models for sculpture for the United States Capitol, Secretary of War Jefferson Davis (later to be the President of the Confederate States of America) insisted that a Phrygian cap not be included on a Statue of Freedom, on the grounds that "American liberty is original and not the liberty of the freed slave". The cap was not included in the final bronze version that is now in the building."


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

Holy slot machines, Batman!

The Maryland Live! Casino in Hanover, Md., has a special promotion called the Batman Classic TV Series Slot. It's also doing a giveaway later this month of a Batmobile replica. Of course, you gotta gamble to be eligible to participate in the drawing.

April 13: Gene Weingarten at Kramerbooks

In addition to humorous writing, he's also one of the writers of the comic strip Barney & Clyde and an author of a chapter in The Art of Richard Thompson.

Kramerbooks Presents an Evening of Humorous Readings

• Monday, April 13 at 8:00pm

• Show Map Kramerbooks & Afterwords Cafe & Grill 1517 Connecticut Avenue, NW, Washington, District of Columbia 20036

What is it? It's an evening of humorous readings--like the kind you'd see in McSweeney's, or Shouts and Murmurs--live and in person.

Also, it's free, and you can buy beer. Invite your friends!

Hosted by:
Brian Agler (The New Yorker, McSweeney's, Splitsider)

Featuring:
Jenn Tisdale (The Kennedy Center, Bentzen Ball)
Stephen Mann (Hot Hot Phone)
Justin Droms (Cracked)
Gene Weingarten (Washington Post)

Lovecraft, Tesla and John Reilly

by Mike Rhode

Less than a week ago, I'd never heard of John Reilly, but ComicsDC's scouts are constantly on the job. Today, I know that the first collection of his Herald: Lovecraft & Tesla out tomorrow in comic book stores throughout the country, and I've put in my order for it, and put the comic on my subscription list. Without further ado, here's John's answers to our usual questions.

What type of comic work or cartooning do you do?

I write the ongoing series from Action Lab called Herald: Lovecraft & Tesla. 

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

Thankfully, I don't do any of the artwork as it would likely look terrible - that job falls on Tom Rogers (who's out near Portland) and Dexter Weeks (who lives in Jersey).

How did you get into writing comics?

The comic was born one evening when my wife picked up a shirt with a print by Travis Pitts - By Appointment Only - which has Lovecraft & Tesla together. When we realized it wasn't already a comic, we spent the rest of the evening feverishly discussing all the amazing plotlines that would be possible. I spent the next year planning 54 issues before writing the first script, which was the first comic I'd ever written; everything up till that point was just an excited hobby. So, to answer your question, I have no idea how any of this happened.

How did you come to work w/ your co-creators?

Finding an artist who can knock out quality pages on a regular basis is the hardest part, so we spent quite a while searching conventions and online portfolios before we found Tom. The style he's using for Herald is exactly what we wanted - not so gritty that it looks like we're taking ourselves too seriously, but not so cartoony that we can't have dramatic/suspenseful moments. Dex is a friend of the family with roughly fifteen years experience in the industry, including work on Image titles like Avengelyne. To wrangle them on the project, we pitched the idea like anyone else would and made them co-creators. 

How many issues of the comic are out now? Where can you buy it locally?

The first 3 issues are out now and you can buy it at any comic store, including Big Planet Comics and (I'm told) Comic Logic opening soon in Ashburn. On April 8th, our first TPB of 1-3 comes out, "History in the Making." 

Is it listed in Previews, the monthly magazine for ordering comics?

We're listed in Previews with Action Lab's titles. This month you can see Tom's EC Comics homage with our cover to issue #4, with special guest Mark Twain. 

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

 I was born near Philly in 1978.

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

I'm living in Sterling, VA now and I teach English and writing courses at NVCC.

What is your training and/or education in cartooning?

I have no training in the visual arts, but I've got some powerful skills when it comes to crocheting.

Who are your influences?

Brian K. Vaughn, Neil Gaiman, Joss Whedon, Joseph Heller, Kurt Vonnegut, and Shakespeare (for good measure).

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

My career has just started, but if if I could go back, I'd start it sooner. 

What work are you best-known for?

 I'm not really known for anything unless people mistake me for veteran character actor John C. Reilly, who has an impressive oeuvre.

What work are you most proud of?

Is it cliche to say you're most proud of your kids? Herald is a close second.

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

I'd love to take a crack at writing a short arc for a Marvel or DC title, but I suppose everyone would. 

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

The trick to avoiding writer's block is to keep a regular pace - you have to stop writing when you want to continue and force yourself to start when you don't want to. That sounds crazy, but if you can hit a regular quota each day and leave some ideas for tomorrow, you'll find everything gets done and there are less patches of downtime. This romantic idea we have of a writer waiting to be struck by a thunderbolt of inspiration doesn't exist - you make it happen, even if it hurts or feels forced. Later, you revise the hell out of it and walk away proud.

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

I'm still trying to figure out the present state of comics before I could opine on its future, but I'll take a shot: robots are going to be HUGE in the next decade.

What local cons do you attend? The Small Press Expo, Intervention, or others? Any comments about attending them?

The first three issues of Herald are relatively new, so we haven't had much convention presence. I'll be at San-Diego this year with Action Lab, and as more issues are released (we have 54 planned), I'd like to hit SPX, Awesome, and Baltimore when they're next up.

What's your favorite thing about DC?

The National Mall and surrounding area is a unique experience, culturally and intellectually. I love that DC feels like NYC without the claustrophobia.

Least favorite?

The traffic and parking.

What monument or museum do like to take visitors to?

My soft spot is the American History museum, but some of the Air and Space exhibits genuinely affect me sometimes.

Do you have a website or blog?

You can reach us @ facebook.com/HeraldComic, twitter.com/HeraldComic, and HeraldComic@gmail.com.

I haven't had time to watch it yet, but Terence Dollard's Comic Culture videocast has an interview with John online.

Sandwiches in comics

Arlingtonian food designer Lisa Cherkasky did a short blog post about comics and sandwiches recently, although she skipped the ocean of references that Blondie would bring in. Instead she went with thoughts about indy cartoonist Marc Bell.

Personally, I now wonder if any of Dagwood's sandwiches would be worth eating.... Lisa? Want to build some?

Good Comics for Kids on Zodiac Starforce

Dark Horse Comics Picks Up Magical Girl Zodiac Starforce

April 6, 2015 By Lori Henderson
http://blogs.slj.com/goodcomicsforkids/2015/04/06/dark-horse-comics-picks-up-magical-girl-zodiac-starforce/

Mutts play wins award says Comic Riffs

'Mutts': Patrick McDonnell 'grateful' for 'Gift of Nothing's' new Helen Hayes Award

By Michael Cavna April 7 2015

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2015/04/07/mutts-patrick-mcdonnell-grateful-for-gift-of-nothings-new-helen-hayes-award/

April 11: Jiim Zub at Third Eye Comics

SATURDAY 4/11/15: International TableTop Day with special guest WAYWARD writer JIM ZUB

 

That darn Flashbacks

A condensed version of history

Daniel Lovelace, Williamsburg

Washington Post April 4 2015
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/a-condensed-version-of-history/2015/04/02/a6450252-d7c0-11e4-bf0b-f648b95a6488_story.html

The Mary Sue takes exception to a Frank Cho drawing

Just Because You Can, Doesn't Mean You Should

C'mon now.

by Sam Maggs
The Mary Sue April 6th 2015
http://www.themarysue.com/spider-gwen-sketch-cover/

Flugennock's Latest'n'Greatest: "Phrygian Protest!"

"Phrygian Protest!"
http://sinkers.org/stage/?p=1680

Hey, there, Free DC! Time to bust out your Phrygian Caps and get together for the Tax Day protest at Congress, featuring the DC Cannabis Coalition's legendary Liberty Pole!

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

SPX 2014 Panel - Micro-Press and Beyond

SPX 2014 Panel - Micro-Press and Beyond

SmallPressExpo Apr 3, 2015
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNA4ZDi0H2I

Robyn Chapman has been documenting the movement in comics towards very small publishing, otherwise know as micro-publishing. Robyn briefly shares findings from her upcoming publication (The Tiny Report: Micro-Press Yearbook 2013) and speaks with a range of publishers—from the micro-press to traditional small press—to discuss how they print, sell, and distribute their comics. Panelists include Chuck Forsman (Oily Comics), Keenan Marshall Keller (Drippy Bone Books), Justin Skarhus and Raighne Hogan (2D Cloud), and Anne Koyama (Koyama Press).

Cartooning Classes Press Release

This came in over the e-transom. I don't know Mr. Merklein yet.

PRESS RELEASE

Do you like drawing cartoons?  Do you want to be a cartoonist?

Washington DC-based cartoonist Paul Merklein is teaching 2 Cartooning
Classes starting Sunday April 19 at The Walter Reed Community Center in
Arlington, Virginia.

Classes focus on writing and drawing cartoons, and how to get your
cartoons published.  Bring your ideas and talent, and get ready to have
fun!

Paul Merklein's cartoons have appeared in newspapers, magazines, books and
online media since he was a college student in the 80's.

The first Cartooning Class is already almost full, but the second class is
open to teens, tweens and adult students.

To register, click here  -
https://registration.arlingtonva.us/wsc/webtrac.wsc/wbsearch.html?wbsi=a16bb969-0520-b2a3-e411-6dd6dc79db7f
- and select "Drawing/Painting" classes.

You can also register at Paul Merklein's Facebook page here...
https://www.facebook.com/greatbigfaces

See Paul Merklein's new cartoons here...
https://www.facebook.com/dabneyanddad

Thanks,

Paul Merklein

Barney & Clyde slips one into the Post

The Washington Post regularly censors the cartoons it runs, but Gene and Dan Weingarten and David Clark slipped not one, but two pubic hair jokes into the April 4, 2015 strip that ran in the paper. It's online here.

Weingarten and Thompson talk Almanacs: An Art of Richard Thompson excerpt

The Art of Richard Thompson book excerpt: Thompson and Gene Weingarten talk

http://www.richardspooralmanac.blogspot.com/2015/04/the-art-of-richard-thompson-book_5.html

Here's another excerpt of the conversation from The Art of Richard Thompson, which you can buy right now from Amazon or Barnes & Noble, or order and wait for a copy signed by Richard from One More Page.  Part 1 of the Bill Watterson excerpt is here.  Part 2 of the Bill Watterson excerpt is here.

Ronnie Joyner, sports cartoonist

Check it out at:

Maryland's Ronnie Joyner May be America's Last Sports Cartoonist

by Mike Rhode on Apr. 3, 2015
http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/artsdesk/visual-arts/2015/04/03/marylands-ronnie-joyner-may-be-americas-last-sports-cartoonist/

And here's some minor clips of material that didn't make it into the City Paper, just for the record:

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

My wife and I had three kids and stayed in Accokeek until moving to Charlotte Hall, MD, in 2001. We're still in Charlotte Hall. It's about fifty minutes south of DC, right on the Charles County-St. Mary's County line.

What local cons do you attend? The Small Press Expo, Intervention, or others? Any comments about attending them?

To be honest, I've never been to a con, so I'm not too clued in on them. I think I need to get to one and see what's up. I'll report back!

Splotch Monsters invade The Griffin Art Center, Frederick, Maryland!

That's right. A little shameless plug - I've got a big art exhibit featuring Splotch Monster art, both big and small, old and brand spanking new, hanging at the beautiful front gallery of The Griffin Art center in historic, downtown Frederick, Maryland. The art reception will be a week from today, on Saturday, April 11, from 5-8pm, and it's going to be awesome. Below is a sneak peek at a fraction of what will be on display at the exhibit. There's also plenty more to see and do in the area. So, mark your calendars and hope to see you there next Saturday night!  -Steve