Alliance Française de Washington cartooning contest extended to May 20

The Alliance Française de Washington is launching its first "Bubble Factory" festival – "La Fabrique à Bulles" – dedicated to graphic arts. The festival will encourage and promote the emergence of new talents in this contest for graphic artists.

The idea of a "Factory" emphasizes the power of the mind and creativity of the young artists while "Bubbles" refers to, as in English,  "Speech Bubbles."

When? The contest will  start on Monday, February 8,  2016 and will end on May 20, 2016.

The awards ceremony will take place in Washington on May. We will announce the location soon.

What? The theme for this first year's contest is:"Résister!" "Resist!" (in English).

How? There will be two parts to the contest:
– One for teenagers: From 12 years old to 16 years old.
– One for Adults: More than 16 years old.

Contestants will be required to submit 1 "ledger size" panel (11 x 17) by April 22, 2016 (must be postmarked by 04.22.16).

Download the Contest Guidelines

Free Comic Book Day: Fantom Comics flash mob on Dupont Circle

Fantom Comics to Hold 'Civil War' Flash Mob in Dupont Circle

by Tim Regan — May 3, 2016

https://www.borderstan.com/2016/05/03/fantom-comics-to-hold-civil-war-flash-mob-in-dupont-circle/

It's at 1:45 pm.

New Shadow artwork commission by Rob Ullman

Rob Ullman of Richmond has long had ties to the DC area. For years, he illustrated Dan Savage's Savage Love column in the Washington City Paper. He's also been at every SPX. I commissioned this drawing of the Shadow and Margo Lane from him at SPX, and it arrived today. I quite like it.

PR: Sitcomics to premiere at Awesome Con

Over the e-transom comes this announcement:

My name's Darin Henry and I'm a longtime TV writer (Seinfeld, Futurama & a dozen others) and this year I've also started my own comic book publishing company called Sitcomics.  The basic idea behind Sitcomics is to take popular comic book subgenres such as vampires, zombies and superheroes, and give them a sitcom twist.  I'm launching three new print titles at Awesome-Con next month.

 

Sitcomics feature original properties including a line of shared universe super-hero titles with mainstream artists including Ron Frenz, Sal Buscema and Craig Rousseau helping to bring them to life..  They are in an all-new 68 page format called The Binge Book which contains a complete, 3 part story arc in every issue for only $3.99.  That's essentially three comics for the price of one.

Telepathetic #1 - After trying for years, two ninth grade underdogs finally achieve their dream of getting super-powers only to learn that the most popular girl in school has them too!  Written by Darin Henry (KC Undercover, Muppets Tonight), Telepathetic is rated 7 o'clock on my timeslot ratings system which means it's appropriate for all-ages.)

 

Startup #1 - When a 300 pound single mom's embarrassing rescue by a super-hero goes viral, she agrees to try an experimental diet drug that ends up giving her super-speed.  Written by Darin Henry (Futurama), with art by Craig Rousseau (Batman Beyond, Harley Quinn), Startup is rated 8 o'clock due to superhero action.

 

Super 'Suckers #2 - The adventures of two female college students who contract the STD called "vampire" off a two-timing boyfriend and how they learn to deal with their new, vampire-positive lifestyle.  Written by Darin Henry (Seinfeld, The War at Home) and drawn by Jeff Shultz (Betty & Veronica) Super 'Suckers is rated 9 o'clock for slightly edgier sexual innuendo.  (Artist Jeff Shultz will also be appearing at Awsome Con and doing sketches of Super 'Suckers characters.)

 

Other Sitcomics at the con will be Super 'Suckers #1 and The Blue Baron #1 (with art by Ron Frenz and Sal Buscema).

Again, the Binge Books are all 68 page, complete stories for only $3.99.

For more information, you can check out www.facebook.com/Sitcomics or perhaps you can stop by my booth at Awesome-Con and see the books for yourself.

 

Local Cartoonist Tour by Paul Merklein

PRESS RELEASE

Do you like to draw?  Do you want to be a cartoonist?

See local cartoonist Paul Merklein this month at libraries in DC, Maryland
and Virginia.

Merklein is touring libraries in May thru August, drawing cartoons, super
heroes and people right from the audience!  Who will he draw next?

Merklein lives in Silver Spring MD, and tours Libraries, Schools and Comic
Cons. His cartoons appear in publications and online.

See Merklein's Tour Dates here...   http://greatbigfaces.blogspot.com

See his cartoon "Dabney and Dad" at DabneyandDad.com

See his cartoon "Take Five" at TakeFiveCartoons.com

Ben Hatke video online now

Video: Nobody Likes A Goblin Cartoonist Ben Hatke Breathes Fire, Is More Interesting Than the Rest of Humanity

By Paste Staff  |  May 4, 2016
http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2016/05/nobody-likes-a-goblin-cartoonist-ben-hatke-breathe.html

Iranian cartoonist freed from jail

Cartoonist Atena Farghadani, sentenced for satirizing government as animals, is freed in Iran

By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog May 4 2016
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2016/05/04/cartoonist-atena-farghadani-sentenced-for-satirizing-government-as-animals-is-freed-in-iran/

May 7: FCBD at Fantom Comics

Saturday at 10 AM - 9 PM

Fantom Comics

2010 P St NW, Washington, District of Columbia 20036

It's that time of year again, Fantomites!

Free Comic Book Day 2015 was one of our biggest FCBDs ever, and we're gonna make this year's event EVEN BIGGER!

We're giving away 6,000 books composed of 50 made-for-FCBD comics!

Special guests JOE KEATINGE and LEILA DEL DUCA, the creative team behind one of our favorite comics, SHUTTER, will be here for your signing and hanging out pleasure.

At 7pm we'll be opening up the bar and serving drinks as we play FANTOM FEUD, a comic book version of Family Feud. Come to watch, participate, have some drinks and hang out.

Keep watching this event for updates as we get closer to the big day!

Interested in being a volunteer? Contact us at fantomhq@fantomcomics.com for details on how you can help!

May 7: Curls Studio at the Amazing Comic-Shop

May 7: Arsia Rozegar at Amazing Comic Shop for Free Comic Book Day

Free Comic Book Day THIS SATURDAY (May 7) at Cards, Comics & Collectibles!

FREE COMIC BOOK DAY THIS SATURDAY (May 7) at Cards, Comics & Collectibles! Mark Morales, Matt Slay, Steve Conley! Free Comics! From the Store that Brings You...  Free Comic Book Day Free Comic Book Day 2016 is this Saturday at Cards, Comics & Collectibles - Baltimore County's Premiere Comic Book Store and the Official News Source of the Baltimore Comic-Con! You don't want to miss our amazing guests, giveaways, events, and FREE COMICS! The full-day event kicks off with an awesome line-up of creators appearing at the store! Mark Morales, Matt Slay, and Steve Conley will be all signing autographs at the store throughout the day. Mark Morales has established himself as one of the industry's go-to inkers for major titles and events for the big publishers. He has inked a vast number of titles at Marvel Comics including, among many others, A+X, Amazing Spider-Man, Avengers vs. X-Men, New Avengers, Secret Invasion, Sentry, Siege, Spider-Man/Deadpool, Thor, Uncanny X-Men, Wolverine, X-Force, and X-Men. He has also done work for DC Comics on titles like Action Comics, Batman/Superman, JLA, New Suicide Squad, Prez, and Superman: The Man of Steel. He was also awarded the Harvey Award for Best Inker in 2009 and 2011. Matt Slay has contributed to the TMNT/Ghostbusters crossover and the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Micro Series: Leonardo. You can find his work gracing countless trading cards for Image, Cryptozoic, and Marvel, and more recently on covers from American Mythology Productions' Equilibrium. Award-winning designer, illustrator, and cartoonist Steve Conley has worked on such notable comics as Star Trek: Year Four (IDW), Michael Chabon's Amazing Adventures of the Escapist (Dark Horse Comics), JLA-Z (DC Comics), and Mighty Morphin Power Rangers (BOOM! Studios). Conley, who is also the creator of Astounding Space Thrills and the all-ages series Bloop (www.bloopstree.com), will be signing and sketching all day. "We love giving away comics on Free Comic Book Day," said Marc Nathan, owner of Cards, Comics & Collectibles. "It's such a fantastic opportunity for the industry, where everyone walking in the store walks out with a comic, whether they're a regular or just starting to read comics. We are delighted to host Mark, Matt, and Steve for this year's signing, and the free comics we'll be giving away are fantastic!" Besides giving away free comic books, the store will have free Baltimore Comic-Con t-shirts to give away as well, and will offer 50% off modern and bronze age back issues, trade paperbacks, and hardcovers. Join us on Saturday, May 7, 2016 as events kick off at 10:00am with store signings and, of course, FREE COMICS! Cards, Comics & Collectibles is located at 100A Chartley Drive, Reisterstown, MD. For more information, please visit cardscomicscollectibles.com, our Facebook page, or call 410-526-7410. 100 A Chartley Dr., Reisterstown, MD 21136 Friday, 11am-7:30pm; Saturday, 11am-7pm; Sunday, 12pm-5:00pm 410-526-741 | http://cardscomicscollectibles.com/

Baltimore Comic-Con, P.O. Box 917, Reisterstown, MD 21136

May 7: Free Comic Book Day at Third Eye Comics

Click here for event info on FACEBOOK

Saturday, May 7: Free Comic Book Day

 

And note that stores pay for the comics. I always buy something.

Rick Riordan pledges up to $10,000 in matching funds for Rosarium

Best-selling author Rick Riordan (Percy Jackson & The Olympians) has joined the campaign to help local publisher Rosarium reach its Indiegogo funding raising goal of $40,000.

Per Riordan's blog:

Okay, folks. I have now read two great books from Rosarium, a small press that is trying to bring quality diverse voices into the world of publishing, which as we all know is very, very white. I have been REALLY impressed with both works -- the short story collection The Assimilated Cuban's Guide to Quantum Santeria and the graphic novel DayBlack.

This is the kind of business we need to support, in the same way we support independent bookstores, if we value a world of reading that is not boring and monolithic but fully representative of all the amazing life experiences in the world.

One way I can do that personally is to read and review and celebrate the books publishers like Rosarium produce. But Rosarium is also holding a fundraiser to expand their list and keep their books coming. I am donating and I challenge you to join me.

We have only a few days left for Rosarium to meet their goal. From today, Monday, through the rest of their fundraiser, I will match all donations up to a total of $10,000. Make your money go twice as far and support excellent diverse publishing of science fiction, fantasy, graphic novels and more. Please join me at whatever level you are able, and let Rosarium know we support what they are doing!

The campaign ends May 4. Go do your part.

"March" animation musings

WILL 'MARCH' START A LONG-OVERDUE ANIMATED CONVERSATION?

 by Rob Salkowitz on May 2, 2016
http://icv2.com/articles/columns/view/34373/will-march-start-long-overdue-animated-conversation

Tom King on writing Batman

REBIRTH BATMAN Writer TOM KING On His Own 'Rebirth' From C.I.A. To Comic Books

by Lan Pitts, NewsaramaDate: 02 May 2016
http://www.newsarama.com/29070-getting-inside-the-head-of-dc-s-rebirth-batman-writer-tom-king.html

 
 

CREDIT: DC Comics View full size image

Iranian cartoonist may be freed from prison

Imprisoned Iranian cartoonist Atena Farghadani could soon be released, CRNI reports

By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog May 2 2016
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2016/05/02/imprisoned-iranian-cartoonist-atena-farghadani-could-soon-be-released-crni-reports/

Missed it: Khalid Albaih Political Cartoonist & Satirist of Khartoon!

Khalid Albaih, Political Cartoonist & Satirist of Khartoon! was in town last week, but nobody told ComicsDC.

Here's an article on his US tour which started here on April 28:

Arab cartoonist on US road trip to explore shared struggles [Khalid Al-Baih of Qatar].

Noha Medhat

April 28th, 2016

http://stepfeed.com/more-categories/design/arab-cartoonist-us-road-trip-explore-shared-struggles/

PR: BAMN COMICS CELEBRATES 2ND ANNIVERSARY WITH ROB THE VIKING 12-WEEK EVENT!

From Bamn Studios: Now approaching its second year as an ongoing online comic series, BAMNcomics.com turns a spectacular new corner just in time for its 2 year anniversary! In an unprecedented move, co-creator and regular artist Jay Payne will temporarily put down his pen and make room for the incoming Matt Rawson (Colonial Comics) as he joins writer Troy-Jeffrey Allen (District Comics) for ROB THE VIKING IN...A CAMPAIGN OF A COURAGE. 

  

Art by Matt Rawson

Beginning May 7th, 2016 at BAMNcomics.com, this 12-part weekly event will be a brief departure for the series as the story focuses on one character instead of its growing cast.  For nearly 100 installments, the title character Bamn -- a washed up pro wrestler -- has been training a crew of downtrodden teenagers on how to defend themselves against the bullies of their high school. Things turn ugly as the kids launch into an all-out war for respect inside their school cafeteria. It's at this point that A CAMPAIGN OF COURAGE picks up to zero in on Rob, the only member of Bamn's trainees still left standing. Followers of the series will recognize Rob as the soft spoken Viking warrior who rounds off BAMN's cast of wannabe wrestlers. True to the series' "anti-bullying" roots, Rob's standalone adventure will delve into how "The Nubian of Newfoundland" overcomes his schoolyard tormentors. The catch: While his friends are preoccupied with their own high school drama in the real world, Rob goes on a fantasy-themed adventure of his very own. In the process, fans will discover what makes the shy seafarer tick and what ticks him off. 

Readers will also get to see how his love of fantasy films, collectible card games, and roleplaying factor into his backstory.

Concept art by Matt Rawson

"Ever since we started BAMN a few years back it's been my intention to focus on each of the teen characters individually and Rob specifically," says Troy-Jeffrey Allen, co-creator of Bamn. "When Jay  and I were conceptualizing the characters he had this Viking with an afro in the mix. I instantly loved the absurdity of the character, which in turn made me want to totally own the idea of it. I started thinking a lot about black cosplayers and how their options for characters are limited. That got me thinking about how that makes it even more important that you commit to the cosplay -- how that in itself could be a point of ridicule from peers. Organically, that connected to the comic's theme of bullying. That's when I knew that that was the story I wanted to tell." "I'm excited to finally get to read the comic as a fan," says artist Jay Payne about Rawson joining the creative team. "I remember Matt doing a BAMN art piece for us at a convention. It was exciting to see someone else's interpretation of the character. That instantly got us thinking of how we can occasionally flip the genre of the comic and bring in new artist to just play with the world of BAMN -- to see another artist's point of view and let them express themselves with our cast."

 

Concept art by Matt Rawson

Artist Matt Rawson, who typically has worked on historically-based comics utilizing a traditional pen and ink style, is eager to jump into the digital world of BAMN. "Coming into an established story that has had a very specific visual style from the beginning proved a challenge in figuring how I was going to approach these characters in my own way. Then, at a certain point, I just stopped worrying about it and started drawing some comics," Rawson laughs. " Jay and Troy are the main men on BAMN. Regardless, I'm definitely having a damn good time getting to play in the universe!" Once A CAMPAIGN OF COURAGE's 12 installments are completed in July, Rob will rejoin the larger cast with a completely new perspective. "You'll definitely see a major transformation in Rob when it is said and done," explains Allen. "Bamn really is about finding strength in the face adversity. Every character in the series has to sort that out, and Rob is the first one. Expect him to 'get gud' on Matt's watch." For updates and more, visit www.bamncomics.com, and look for the first part of ROB THE VIKING IN...A CAMPAIGN OF COURAGE when it debuts on Free Comic Book Day, May 7th, 2016 on the BAMN Comics website!

BamnComics.com

Troy-Jeffrey Allen

Writer|Producer
info@BamnComics.com
www.bamncomics.com

Flugennock's Latest'n'Greatest: "Glass Ceiling"

From DC's anarchist cartoonist, Mike Flugennock:

"Glass Ceiling"
http://sinkers.org/stage/?p=1936

When women like Carly Fiorina, Sheryl Sandberg and Hillary Clinton break the "glass ceiling", it's because they're standing on the backs of millions of poor and working-class women who are lucky to see the floor.