Tuesday, August 02, 2016

One More Page Books remembers Richard Thompson

The kind, generous and very talented cartoonist and artist Richard Thompson (Cul de Sac, Richard's Poor Almanac) passed away last week due to the effects of Parkinson's disease. Richard was one of the first authors to appear at OMP - so early that the store was not quite open - and since then he has been a generous, gracious and wonderful friend to us. We can't put into words how much we'll miss his humor and friendship and many of you have shared the loss you feel. Our thoughts are with Amy, the girls, his family & his many, many, many friends.

If you'd like to help others with Parkinson's in honor of Richard, you can donate to Team Cul de Sac, part of the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research.

One More Page Books
2200 N. Westmoreland Street, #101
Arlington, VA 22213
703-300-9746 Visit our website
Mon-Sat: 10 am - 8 pm; Sun: noon to 5 pm

(excerpted from their August 2, 2016 newsletter)

PR: SPX 2016 Announces Special Guests Hanawalt, Brown, Burns and Glidden

For Immediate Release
Contact: Warren Bernard
Email: warren@spxpo.com

Small Press Expo Announces Lisa Hanawalt, Jeffrey Brown, Charles Burns and Sarah Glidden as Special Guests for SPX 2016

Bethesda, Maryland; August 2, 2016
Media Release - Small Press Expo is proud to announce Lisa Hanawalt, Jeffrey Brown Charles Burns and Sarah Glidden as special guests for SPX 2016. These guests are in addition those previously announced for the 40th Anniversary of Fantagraphics celebration; Daniel Clowes, Carol Tyler, Jim Woodring, Drew Friedman, Jaime & Gilbert Hernandez, Ed Piskor, SPX first timer Trina Robbins, and a rare festival appearance by Joe Sacco.

Hot Dog Taste Test serves up Lisa Hanawalt's devastatingly funny comics, saliva-stimulating art, and deliciously screwball lists as she skewers the pomposities of foodie subculture. From the James Beard award-winning cartoonist and production designer/producer of Bojack Horseman, Hot Dog Taste Test from Drawn & Quarterly dishes out five-star laughs, as Hanawalt keenly muses on pop culture, relationships, and the animal in all of us.

Jeffrey Brown is the bestselling author of Darth Vader and Son as well as the Jedi Academy series from Scholastic Books. He began his comics career with Clumsy and other autobiographical comics that chronicled everyday awkward and intimate moments from life. His new book, Lucy & Andy Neanderthal from Random House Kids, is a heavily researched middle grade story about prehistoric cavemen kids. He lives in Chicago with his wife and sons.

Charles Burns is renown for his epic graphic novel Black Hole, for which he won the Eisner, Ignatz and Harvey Awards. In addition to work in set design, posters and advertising, he has worked for such periodicals as Raw, The Believer and The New Yorker. SPX 2016 will see the debut of Last Look from Penguin Random House, which presents the Nitnit Trilogy of the previously published X'ed Out, The Hive and Sugar Skull in one volume.

Cartoonist Sarah Glidden accompanies her two friends—reporters and founders of journalism non-profit—as they research potential stories on the effects of the Iraq War on the Middle East and, specifically, the war's refugees. Joining the trio is a childhood friend and former Marine whose past service in Iraq adds an unexpected and sometimes unwelcome viewpoint, both to the people they come across and perhaps even themselves. The group travels across Turkey, Iraq, and Syria, with Glidden's observations resulting in her latest book, Rolling Blackouts, that will debut at SPX 2016 is published by Drawn & Quarterly. Glidden (How to Understand Israel in 60 Days or Less) records all that she encounters with a sympathetic and searching eye. Painted in her trademark soft, muted watercolors and written with a self-effacing humor, Rolling Blackouts cements Glidden's place as one of today's most original nonfiction voices.

In the next few weeks, SPX will announce the international guests coming from all over the world to attend the show, the 2016 Ignatz nominees and a full slate of programming.

SPX 2016 takes place on Saturday and Sunday, September 17-18, 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.

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.smallpressexpo.com.

Comic Riffs on Suicide Squad comic book

'Suicide Squad' could be huge. Can the comic books capitalize by attracting new fans?

By David Betancourt

Washington Post Comic Riffs August 2 2016
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2016/08/02/suicide-squad-could-be-huge-can-the-comic-books-capitalize-by-attracting-new-fans/

There's a lot of sample pages of President Obama.

The Post on the Simpson's endorsement of Clinton

'The Simpsons' predicted a Trump presidency, but they won't be voting for him

By Bethonie Butler
Washington Post August 2 2016, p. C2
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/arts-and-entertainment/wp/2016/08/01/the-simpsons-predicted-a-trump-presidency-but-they-wont-be-voting-for-him/

Mike Rhode on Richard’s Poor Almanac(k) by Richard Thompson (2011)

This is excerpted from Craig Fischer's Team Cul de Sac fundraising zine, Favorites (2011). I was just asked for a copy, so I'll put here for those interested. Since I wrote this, Andrews McMeel scanned all the original drawings Richard had in his studio (and he'd given away a decent amount of them before the scanning) and began running them on Go Comics.

Mike Rhode on Richard's Poor Almanac(k) by Richard Thompson

When I was young, I had favorite comics.

As I grew a bit older, I had favorite comics and creators.

As I dash into middle age, I have almost no favorite comics or creators. Because I find the world opened to me far more than I ever expected it could have, and I've read thousands of comic books, tens of thousands of comic strips and millions of words. And I've liked a lot of them. So I've picked one by someone I know.

To you, I'll recommend a comic (and book) that tens of thousands of Washingtonians enjoyed for years, but one that you may not have seen—Richard Thompson's Richard's Poor Almanac (or Almanack as it later became). From 1997 through 2009, Thompson did a weekly cartoon for the Washington Post about whatever struck him as amusing that week. Which may have included Saddam Hussein bobbleheads, the Dillinger Wing of the Smithsonian Institution, county fairs, potholes, closed restaurants, ambiguous toys, or cherry blossom lore. Many of these strips were tinted with watercolor, a technique never seen in comics anymore, because it takes too much time. But boy, did it look lovely, even when applied to a red-faced "Spring [who] became irritated when asked about her vivid outfit, a flowing, low- cut gown that barely contained her fertile figure," which led her to threaten, "Watch it or I'll put 3 feet of water in your basement!" as her first public appearance ended. In four panels, Richard mocked the overly-familiar Washington press conference, zinged the local fixation on Cherry Blossom timing, and noted the change in seasons with tongue firmly in cheek. This cockeyed take on the world, in this case the arrival of spring, is typical of his Alamanc(k) strips, and leads to a large part of the enjoyment of the strip. If you're curious about "Our Fireworks Heritage," seek out the 2004 collection of the panels and glory in "12 Months of Misinformation in Handy Cartoon Form."

The NY Times on March vol. 3

'March' Graphic Novel Revisits Civil Rights Movement in Rich Detail

By GEORGE GENE GUSTINES

A version of this article appears in print on August 2, 2016, on page C5 of the New York edition with the headline: At School, a 'March' Through the Civil Rights Movement in Visual Detail.

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/08/02/books/for-younger-readers-march-revisits-civil-rights-movement-in-visual-detail.html

Charles Hatfield tribute to Richard Thompson

A third tribute by Charles Hatfield has been added to the Comics Journal page at http://www.tcj.com/tributes-to-richard-thompson/ , adding to those by Warren Bernard and Craig Fischer.

Andrew Aydin interviewed about March

"March" Co-Writer Hopes John Lewis' Story Instills a Sense of Power In Young Readers

Alex Dueben

Comic Book Resources August 1 2016
http://www.comicbookresources.com/article/march-co-writer-hopes-john-lewis-story-instills-a-sense-of-power-in-young-readers

Monday, August 01, 2016

The Post interviews Roz Chast

What's in Roz Chast's bag? A new ending to her best-selling book. [in print as Her need for closure no longer remains].

By Nora Krug
Washington Post August 1 2016, p. C1
https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/books/whats-in-roz-chasts-bag-a-new-ending-to-her-best-selling-book/2016/07/31/8f3bac3c-54ce-11e6-b7de-dfe509430c39_story.html

Comic Riffs on Jack Davis

RIP Jack Davis, legendary sports cartoonist and MAD magazine artist

By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs July 29 2016
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2016/07/29/rip-jack-davis-legendary-sports-cartoonist-and-mad-magazine-illustrator/

Anti-Trump designs by Auger

Looks like local cartoonist Michael Auger has designed a few more anti-Trump T-shirts.

Studio Ghibli film fest at Angelika at Mosaic

Yesterday I watched Tales from Earhsea at the Angelika Film Center, in the Mosaic District in Fairfax, VA. The film was part of the annual Studio Ghibli Film Festival, which happens every summer. I was fortunate to learn about this seasonal event last year, allowing fans like myself to view their favorite Studio Ghibli movies on the big screen. As in the case with yesterday, it was the first time I saw Tales from Earthsea, a film that is absolutely stunning on the big screen. One of my all time favorites - a Studio Ghibli classic and early Miyazaki film, was Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind - one I own on Blu Ray, but was able to fully appreciate after seeing and hearing it in a movie theater earlier this summer, at Angelika. It's good to note that last year, they didn't show Nausicaa, so I'm glad they decided to mix things up this time around!

As the schedule goes, each week they'll play a Studio Ghibli film twice, once on Saturday mornings at 11:00am, and again on Wednesday evenings at 7pm. On Saturdays, they'll show the English dubbed version, and on Wednesdays, for a film's second showing, they'll show the original Japanese version, with English subtitles. So, if I wanted to see Earthsea again, I could go this Wednesday evening and watch it in its original, Japanese form.

Sadly, this summer's line-up is almost done, however there a still a few more to see through August. If you're a fan of Studio Ghibli films, or great animation, or great movies in general, then get on over to the Angelika Film center at Mosaic before it's too late!

-Steve Loya

Flugennock's Latest'n'Greatest: "#DNCleaks"

From DC's anarchist cartoonist, Mike Flugennock:

"#DNCleaks"
http://sinkers.org/stage/?p=2010

At last report, there is absolute zero evidence that the Russians had squat to do with the recent Wikileaks dump of Democratic National Committee emails detailing the program of fraud and sabotage against the Sanders campaign. Still, that hasn't stopped all manner of Liberal Democratic mouthpieces like MSNBC shrieking at full throat about how "the Russians did it".

Actually, I think it's too bad that the Russians didn't do it, because ma-aan, would that have been some poetic justice.