Monday, July 06, 2015

I've been going to Big Planet Comics for 29 years?!

Big Planet Comics Founder Celebrates 29 Years in the Comic Business


Joel Pollack Big Planet Comics

Copyright Protection Back Under Attack


Attention professional cartoonists and illustrators: 

They're back at it again.. those who can't do, steal. 


Artists' copyright is back under attack again. Certain interests want to make it easier for large Internet firms and others who want access to artwork,  to use images legally without having to go through the pesky process of actually paying the artists. Copyright laws protect our works from being used without due compensation. We professional artists whose work are designed for print/Internet distribution rely almost exclusively on residuals and usage fees to make our living. Challenging this is a travesty to enterprise, implying that we artists somehow fall outside the parameters of prevailing commerce. Among other things, the new law would require cumbersome and costly registration processes for each individual piece artists would want to protect from theft. 

For details on the issue and what you can do about it, check out the American Society of Illustrators link: Artists Alert: The Return of Orphan Works Part 1


-Steve Artley

Sunday, July 05, 2015

Archivist Ray Bottorff on black comic books in the National Archives

Record of the Week: African-American Comics During World War II

by Ray Bottorff,

National Archives' Rediscovering Black History blog May 28, 2015

http://blogs.archives.gov/blackhistoryblog/2015/05/28/rotw-af-am-comics/

Thursday, July 02, 2015

William Brown illo in 'Cricket' magazine

Local illustrator William Brown has a cool shark illustration in the new issue of the kids' magazine Cricket (July/August 2015).

Gary Groth and Mike Catron's pre-Fantagraphics debacle

July 4: Big Planet Comics 29th Anniversary Sale


BIG PLANET COMICS
4849 Cordell Ave.
Bethesda, MD 20814



4th of July weekend sale at Beyond Comics


Friday, July 3 to Sunday, July 5

  Comic Books as low as 75cents
($1 each, 50 or more 85c, 100 or more 75c)


Select Inventory Clearance Items! 
{Statues, T-shirts, Toys, and more???}
Sale applies to specified product only. Discounts may not be combined with any
other specials or sales. Does not include bagged sets. Discounts and products may not be combined with purchases from other locations.  

Store Hours: Fri (10-9), Sat (10-5), Sun (12-6)

July 4th sale at Third Eye Comics


  We are OPEN normal hours Saturday July 4th, 2015

11AM-8PM  

Happy 4th of July From Third Eye Comics

Join Your Third Eye Fam For A Very Special 4th of July Sale

7/4/15

11AM-8PM 

Valid at Both Locations!

Comic Riffs talks to editorial cartoonists about presidential candidates

Christie? Trump? Here's the candidate that nation's cartoonists most love to draw.


Local cartoonists Matt Wuerker and Kevin KAL Kallaugher are included.

Wednesday, July 01, 2015

Grayson beefcake amuses Bleeding Cool

Grayson is co-written by local author Tom King.

Grayson Panders Like He's Never Pandered Before - And It's Exquisite (SPOILERS)

June 24, 2015 by

http://www.bleedingcool.com/2015/06/24/grayson-panders-like-hes-never-pandered-before-and-its-exquisite-spoilers/


Juana Medina cartoon same-sex marriage

Teresa Logan's new Facebook page

Coloring with T - introducing her upcoming coloring book. It's at https://www.facebook.com/ColoringWithT

The Art of Richard Thompson documentary at San Diego Comic-Con

"The Art of Richard Thompson" screens Saturday, July 11 at 6:35 pm - 7:10 pm Grand Ballroom D. Nick Galifianakis and David Apatoff will have a Q & A session afterward.

Today at noon: Political cartoon talk at Library of Congress

Sara Duke will be giving a public presentation on Wednesday, July 1 at noon on the first American political cartoon – published in 1747 in Benjamin Franklin's pamphlet, Plain Truth: http://www.loc.gov/exhibits/bay-psalm-book-and-american-printing/online-exhibition.html#franklin-as-colonial-printer (to see the cartoon, click on the image of Plain Truth). The presentation will take place in the First Among Many: The Bay Psalm Book and Early Moments in American Printing exhibition in the South Gallery  – go through the Civil Rights Act exhibition, past Thomas Jefferson's library, and around the corner to the South Gallery.

More information at

Ben Franklin, America's first genius of the viral political image

July 4: Big Planet Comics 29th Anniversary Sale


BIG PLANET COMICS
4849 Cordell Ave.
Bethesda, MD 20814


Tuesday, June 30, 2015

PR: Small Press Expo Announces Michael DeForge, Gemma Correll and Noah Van Sciver


For Immediate Release

Contact: Warren Bernard

Email: warren@spxpo.com

Small Press Expo Announces Michael DeForge, Gemma Correll and Noah Van Sciver to Celebrate SPX's 21st Birthday

Bethesda, Maryland; June 30, 2015

Media Release ­— SPX is pleased to announce 21st Century creators Michael DeForge, Gemma Correll and Noah Van Sciver as guests at SPX 2016. This is in addition to the previously announced creators of the current century Kate Beaton, Luke Pearson and Noelle Stevenson.

SPX 2016 takes place on Saturday and Sunday, September 19-20, and will have over 650 creators, 280 exhibitor tables and 22 programming slots to entertain, enlighten and introduce attendees to the amazing world of independent and small press comics.

Having recently designed an Adventure Time title card and running an active Patreon account, Michael DeForge represents the modern cartoonist and working freelancer. DeForge marches onward in 2015, with SPX privileged in seeing the debut of his Koyama Press publications, the graphic novel Dressing and Lose #7, the latest in his award winning comics series. 2015 also saw the release of the collection of two of his Patreon works in On Topics from Breakdown Press, as well as First Year Healthy from D&Q. His singular vision and design-influenced style of storytelling make each new work instantly recognizable and remain with readers well after they have put the book back on the shelf.

Illustrator, writer, artist Gemma Correll rounds out the guest list with her succinct cartoons and whimsical books. Correll's The Worrier's Guide to Life hits stands this year from Andrews McMeel while A Pug's to Guide to Etiquette is still making readers' sides ache from laughter. With a pen line easily suited to many audiences, Correll also celebrates illustrating new children's books this year with Pig and Pug, written by Lynne Berry, from Simon & Schuster and Being a Girl, written by Hayley Long, from Hot Key Books.

Noah Van Sciver continues to create new work as the "cartographer of his generation" (Paul Buhle, TCJ).  A true powerhouse, Van Sciver has one-two-three-FOUR new books out this year: Saint Cole and Fante Bukowski from Fantagraphics, My Hot Date from Kilgore Books, and Cheer Up from Hic and Hoc. Van Sciver utilizes the aesthetics of underground and alternative cartoonists before him like Crumb, Clowes and Bagge while speaking straight from the heart of today's disenchanted and disenfranchised youth.

Small Press Expo (SPX) is the preeminent showcase for the exhibition of independent comics, graphic novels, and alternative political cartoons. SPX is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit that brings together more than 650 artists and publishers to meet their readers, booksellers, and distributors each year. Graphic novels, mini comics, and alternative comics will all be on display and for sale by their authors and illustrators. The expo includes a series of panel discussions and interviews with this year's guests.

The Ignatz Award is a festival prize held every year at SPX recognizing outstanding achievement in comics and cartooning, with the winners chosen by attendees at the show.

As in previous years, profits from the SPX will go to support the SPX Graphic Novel Gift Program, which funds graphic novel purchases for public and academic libraries, as well as the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund (CBLDF), which protects the First Amendment rights of comic book readers and professionals. For more information on the CBLDF, visit their website at http://www.cbldf.org. For more information on the Small Press Expo, please visit http://www.spxpo.com.

 


WJLA reports on Montgomery Sentinel's cartoon plagiarism

Lewis, Kevin.  2015.

Cartoon plagiarism at issue in Montgomery County.

WJLA's ABC7 news 06/26/2015

http://www.wjla.com/video/2015/06/cartoon-plagiarism-at-issue-in-montgomery-county.html


(caught by Alan Gardener's Daily Cartoonist)

Monday, June 29, 2015

SPX 2014 videos online, suddenly en masse

These are by Joe Mochove and Rusty Rowley.

SPX 2014: Tom Scioli

Jun 23, 2015

Joe and Rusty convene with Tom Scioli to discuss comics, Transformers, GI Joe, and Transformers vs. GI Joe.


SPX 2014: Rafer Roberts

 Jun 23, 2015

Rusty and Joe have a heartfelt sit-down with Rafer Roberts talking about comics, giant books as flotation devices and weapons, and the state of snakes.


SPX 2014: RM Rhodes

 Jun 23, 2015

Joe and Rusty chat with RM Rhodes about comics, liquor laws, and the importance of purple.


SPX 2014: MDT & Sam Marx

 Jun 23, 2015
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3VwezgQLufE

Rusty and Joe chat with MDT and Sam Marx about comics, unrepentant manliness, and vertical exhibiting because gravity is for losers.


SPX 2014: Katy Rex

 Jun 23, 2015
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ClGP3zToAU

Joe and Rusty sit down with faux-Joe Katy Rex to talk about comics, the mystery of dinosaurs, and emotional naps.


SPX 2014: Matt Dembicki

Jun 23, 2015
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBaB9W9igzM

Rusty and Joe talk with Matt Dembicki about editing anthologies, teaching comics, and making comics about what's happening right now!


SPX 2014: Luke Humphris

 Jun 23, 2015
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MFVZSZpvhm4

Joe and Rusty speak the devil's tongue with Luke Humphris and chat about comics, Australian handshakes, fresh-pressed vinyl emotions.


SPX 2014: Joey Weiser

 Jun 23, 2015
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T6S0ai8GX1Y

Rusty and Joe kick back with Joey Weiser to talk about comics, the challenges of writing and drawing, and a confluence of Joes.


SPX 2014: Claire Folkman & Kelly Phillips

 Jun 23, 2015
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKbKSBBabWQ

Joe and Rusty sit down with the ladies of Dirty Diamonds to talk about their anthology, sPromX, and Joe's last days as a contributing member of society.


SPX 2014: Neil Brideau & Kenan Rubenstein

 Jun 24, 2015

Rusty and Joe team up with Neil Brideau and Kenan Rubenstein to talk about comics, creating new avenues for sharing comics, and that old guy over there.


SPX 2014: Caitlin Major & Matt Hoddy

 Jun 23, 2015
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YGtZxzIQRSY

Joe and Rusty make magic happen with Caitlin and Matt as they breakdown comics, the benefits of eating trash, and wondrous meat pies!


SPX 2014: Catherine Fraas

Jun 23, 2015
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEwzyxFWMpo

Joe and Rusty chat with Catherine Fraas about comics, being fancy at the prom, and question opinions on maximum macaroni and cheese intake.


SPX 2014: Jessica Anderson

 Jun 23, 2015
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aAEcvhfZGmc

Rusty and Joe interview Jessica Anderson about things that aren't comics, regrettable crimes, and the sort of sandwiches that change the game.


SPX 2014: Hannah Lee Stockdale

Jun 23, 2015
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdENCKmtTtE

Joe and Rusty talk to Hannah Lee Stockdale about a plethora of topics including comics, dreams, and the mortality of tires.


SPX 2014: Alexis Sugden

Jun 23, 2015
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0JY4rNRqMo

Rusty and Joe chat with Alexis about Australian comic conventions, spooky stories, and a pinch of murder.


SPX 2014: Frank Candiloro

Jun 23, 2015
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F0bAPDrW5xw

Joe and Rusty have a time with Frank Candiloro as they ruminate on comics, traveling the world, and the skill of romance.


SPX 2014: Jeff Zwirek

 Jun 23, 2015
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TifRcYPy9Ig

Rusty and Joe verbally cohabit with Jeff Zwirek to exchange ideas about comics, impressive website addresses, and unwanted children finding new homes.


SPX 2014: Matt Czap

 Jun 23, 2015
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=od3wW0_EfCw

Rusty and Joe have a mighty discourse with Matt Czap to discuss comics, approved bootlegging, and the art of pantomime.

Dembicki on 'Pilot Waves' podcast

I had an opportunity to chat with Alex Vidales of Pilot Waves, a local arts and music podcast, about small press, the DC Conspiracy, Magic Bullet, distribution, inspiration, dedication, persistence and, of course, the Small Press Expo. Give it a listen, won't ya?

Photo by Chris Mararac