Interview with Batman writer Tom King

The MothershipMay 21 2016

Interview with Batman writer Tom King
https://soundcloud.com/the-mothership/interview-with-batman-writer-tom-king

USA TODAY's Brian Truitt, Brett Molina and Kelly Lawler interview the writer behind the new Batman series in DC Comics' "Rebirth." Plus the new Ghostbusters trailer.

Kennedy Center's opera stars influenced by Bugs Bunny

How Bugs Bunny and 'Kill the Wabbit' Inspired a Generation of Opera Stars

'Ring' cast recalls influence of Bugs Bunny's 'What's Opera, Doc'

Many of the people involved in the Washington National Opera's production of Richard Wagner's Ring Cycle say their first exposure to opera came from the same source—Bugs Bunny and Elmer Fudd cartoons.

By

Michael M. Phillips

May 20, 2016
http://www.wsj.com/articles/singers-wecall-how-elmer-fudd-bugs-bunny-tuned-them-to-wagner-roles-1463753848

Flugennock's Latest'n'Greatest: "Hail To The Choom"

From DC's anarchist cartoonist, Michael Flugennock:

"Hail To The Choom"
http://sinkers.org/stage/?p=1961

In his high school days in Hawaii, Barack Obama hung out with a circle of friends nicknamed "the Choom Gang" -- "choom" being Hawaiian slang for smoking marijuana. Almost all the students in this group went on to be entirely productive and successful citizens -- writers, lawyers, businessmen and, of course, President of the United States.

This is by way of reminding everybody out there that cannabis is still listed by the DEA as "Schedule 1", along with meth and heroin, and that Obama could start the descheduling process for marijuana himself instead of passing the buck to Congress. Obama himself is living proof that cannabis should be descheduled; his legacy could only be improved by ending a program of persecution based entirely on the deceptions and racism of Harry Anslinger and Richard Nixon.

Scrooge McDuck's voice dies

Alan Young, 96: Best friend of Mister Ed, voice of Scrooge McDuck [online as Alan Young, actor who played Willllburrrrr on 'Mister Ed,' dies at 96]

By T. Rees Shapiro
Washington Post May 22 2016, p. C7
 https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/tv/alan-young-actor-who-played-wilbur-on-mister-ed-dies-at-96/2016/05/20/88ae8838-1ed4-11e6-8c7b-6931e66333e7_story.html

Cuddles & Rage diorama at National Building Museum

The National Building Museum has a new exhibit called “Small Stories: At Home in a Dollhouse” that includes among its artists the miniature work of Cuddles & Rage (aka Liz and Jimmy Reed). The D.C.-area husband-and-wife team is known for its cute dioramas and witty comics. On exhibit at NBM is “Banana Bath.” According to the description, “Banana loves waking-up and starting his day off soaking in a cool tub of milk and cereal while devouring a great book. As a single banana living in Snuggle City, he embraces the morning quiet before heading off to a long day at work.”

Also, keep an eye out for their first picture book, Sweet Competition, which is about a pair of competitive twin cherries. It's due in November from HarperCollins.

Cuddles & Rage will also exhibit at Awesome Con June 3-5. On Sunday, Liz will participate on a panel on how to write and pitch books for kids.

Photo courtesy of Cuddles & Rage

'Artshow 15 : Comix' photos

Photos from the "Artshow 15: Comix" event at Hole in the Sky studios in D.C. It's been a while since a show has captured the excitement of the local comics scene like this has. Lotsa new talent and some veterans in there, too. Kudos to Mike O'Brien and his crew for organizing this exhibit.

Mari Naomi at Big Planet Comics in Dc, right now

The Post reviews Preacher

'Preacher' has some thrilling, quirky action — but its spirit soon grows weak

By Hank Stuever
Washington Post May 20 2016
 https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/tv/preacher-has-some-thrilling-quirky-action--but-its-spirit-soon-grows-weak/2016/05/19/f891d31e-1bbc-11e6-b6e0-c53b7ef63b45_story.html

The Post reviews ‘The Angry Birds Movie’

The comedy doesn't fly in this animated film inspired by the app [online as 'The Angry Birds Movie': App-inspired animated feature doesn't fly]

By Jen Chaney
Washington Post May 20 2016, Weekend p. 26-7
https://www.washingtonpost.com/goingoutguide/movies/the-angry-birds-movie-app-inspired-animated-feature-doesnt-fly/2016/05/19/fdaa2b1e-1c4b-11e6-8c7b-6931e66333e7_story.html

Comic Riffs on caricaturing Trump

Here's the trick to drawing the perfect Donald Trump

By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog May 20 2016
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2016/05/20/heres-the-true-trick-to-drawing-the-perfect-donald-trump/

Gaithersburg Book Festival is tomorrow

Gaithersburg Book Festival

The Gaithersburg Book Festival is one of the nation's premier literary events, featuring talks and signings by some of the world's top authors, writing workshops, children's activities and performances, literary exhibitors, book sales, music, food, and fun for everyone!

Starts: 05/21/2016 10:00

Duration: 6 hours:

Gaithersburg City Hall, 31 S. Summit Avenue

Gaithersburg, MD

20877

US

Several cartoonists including Gareth Hinds, John Patrick Green, Dave Roman and KAL will be there.
Details are at http://www.gaithersburgbookfestival.org/2016-gbf-schedule/master-schedule/

July 9: Doctor Who Comics Day - Meet Artist Mark Wheatley

Doctor Who Comics Day - Meet Artist Mark Wheatley


Saturday, July 9 at 11 AM - 3 PM

Beyond Comics

5632 Buckeystown Pike, Frederick, Maryland 21704

June 9: Ben Hatke at Politics and Prose

Ben Hatke - Nobody Likes a Goblin

Thursday, June 9, 2016 at 10:30 a.m.

Goblin lives a quiet but happy life in a dungeon. He has everything he needs: boots to eat for breakfast, rats to care for as pets, and Skeleton to have as his Very Best Friend. Together, the two buddies do what they love best: namely, counting the bats hanging from the ceiling and telling stories. One day, however, disaster strikes: a band of adventurers storms the dungeon and, as Goblin hides, they steal absolutely everything—including Skeleton. Goblin immediately leaves his comfortable home and embarks upon a rescue mission. But how can he succeed when everyone he meets keeps running away from him? Ages 4 – 8

Online pre-orders for school events may be placed up until 48 hours before the event takes place

5015 Connecticut Ave NW

Washington DC 20008

Nobody Likes a Goblin (Hardcover)

By Ben Hatke

$17.99

9781626720817

Coming Soon—Pre-Order Now

First Second - June 7th, 2016

Art imitating life, imitating art, imitating life

Local cartoonist and filmmaker John Kinhart had a cool comic in Magic Bullet 12 about the locally produced documentary "Heavy Metal Parking Lot." (See image, below). The makers of that film are holding an exhibition and reception on May 27 in College Park, Md., in honor of the film's 30th anniversary. (I heard one the filmmakers bought the original art from John.)

The Post on Finding Dory's effect on fish

'Finding Nemo' wasn't so entertaining for real clownfish. Now conservationists worry about 'Finding Dory'.

By Travis M. Andrews
Washington Post Morning Mix blog May 18 2016

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2016/05/18/finding-nemo-wasnt-so-entertaining-for-real-clownfish-now-conservationists-worry-about-finding-dory/

Download 'Teaching Japanese American Incarceration through Comics'

Local comics creator Evan Keeling posts on Facebook: "Today is Yuri Kochiyama's 95th birthday.
here is the comic I drew about her while working with the Smithsonian Youth Civic Engagement Program." Evan notes that you can download for free the entire booklet Teaching Japanese American Incarceration through Comics.

Local comics at Transformer exhibit

DCist has a brief write up and photos of the new “Gift Shop” exhibit at Transformer gallery, which includes a few comics from D.C. Conspiracy members. The exhibit runs through June 18.

May 21: Artshow15: Comix

Hole in the Sky Studio hold a one-day exhibit May 21 from 5-11 p.m. entitled:  ARTSHOW_15: COMIX – A Showcase of Work Steeped in and Inspired by Sequential Art and Visual Storytelling.

Participating local artists include:
Nick Hagelin - http://instagram.com/bar_fly_comics
Jonathan Ottke - https://www.wpadc.org/artist/jonathan-ottke
Rose Jaffe - http://www.rosejaffe.com/
JD Deardourff - http://www.deardourff.com/
LA Johnson - http://thelajohnson.com/
Rachel Wallach - https://www.instagram.com/rachelwallach/
Dayanita Ramesh - http://dayanitababuramesh.com/girl-comix
Darius Frank - http://Defcise.com/
Sara Lautman - http://www.saralautman.com/
JT Wilkins (JTW) - http://thinktankrx.com/
Chris Pyrate - http://instagram.com/chrispyrate
Atomic Blowfish - https://www.instagram.com/atomicblowfishstudios/
Jules Kang - https://www.instagram.com/kangjules/
Kristy Cunningham - http://novemberkris.webflow.io/
Malaka Gharib - http://illustrationbymalaka.tumblr.com/
Emily R. Gillis - http://www.waywardstudios.net/
Ch Pf - http://chpfa.tumblr.com/
G. E. Gallas - http://gegallaswriterillustrator.wordpress.com/
bonner sale - http://instagram.com/bonnersale
Brad Ulreich - http://bradulreich.com/
Robin Ha - http://robin.megaten.net/
Dana Jeri Maier - http://www.danajerimaier.com/
Gordon Harris - http://dustelves.com/
Andrew Cohen - http://instagram.com/howzitfunnies
Andrew Wodzianski - http://www.wodzianski.com/
Robert Allen Burns - https://www.instagram.com/robertallenburns/
Seansberg - http://seansberg.com/
Jadah-Lysette Thomas - https://www.instagram.com/xannytoons/?hl=en
Russell Richard Hite - Www.russellrichardhite.com
Caryn Tayeh - http://www.thebottomlessmimosa.com/
Martin Swift - http://mrtnswft.com/
Yankee Pope - https://www.instagram.com/yankeepope/
Athena Naylor - http://athenanaylor.tumblr.com/
ARTIFEX JAY - http://artifexjay.tumblr.com/
Castle Printshop - http://www.castleprintshop.com/
Lizzie Parmenter
Lucas Alejandro - http://365cdn.tumblr.com/
K.S.Brenowitz - http://www.puzzlinghappenstance.tumblr.com/
Danielle Hedquist
Nicki Avena - http://instagram.com/Don_Nixote
Charlie Visconage - http://www.visconage.com/
Matt Corrado - http://instagram.com/mattcorradoart
KeyHan - http://keyhansolo.com/
The Coaster Doodler - https://www.instagram.com/the_coaster_doodler
Saman Bemel-Benrud - http://trashmoon.com/

All art sales will go 100% to the artists and they'll be chilling at the show so come on out and meet them and buy their work cause that's what's up.

FOOD BY:
Milk Cult

We're asking for $5 donations at the door to help us keep doing awesome things at HITS and we're super appreciative of whatever you can shoot our way.

Doors @ 5pm
GTFO @ 11pm

The math behind Spiderman's punch

Local comics editor/writer Jason Rodriguez, who works as an applied mathematician, takes a mathematical look at Spiderman’s punch in a post for The Robot’s Pajamas blog. Read his article 

"Spider-Man’s Punch Speed vs. Talking Time (Or: Why Spider-Man is a Terrible Fighter)."

Comic Riffs talks to Seth on the Complete Peanuts

All 'Peanuts' comic strips have been collected for the first time. Here's how it happened.

By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs May 18 2016
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2016/05/18/all-peanuts-comics-have-been-collected-for-the-first-time-heres-how-it-happened/
 

"The Complete Peanuts: Comics & Stories (Vol. 26). (courtesy of Fantagraphics 2016)