Cavna on March vol. 3

Rep. John Lewis's new 'March: Book Three' rises to the historic occasion

[in print as It's the very height of epic, August 7 2016, p. E11]

By Michael Cavna
August 3 2016

https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/books/rep-john-lewiss-new-march-book-three-rises-to-the-historic-occasion/2016/08/03/63355a0e-57fb-11e6-831d-0324760ca856_story.html

That darn Steve Sack

Letters to the Editor

Where are 'Je suis Bamako' and 'Je suis Ouagadougou'? [in print as Je suis Eurocentric].

Cecilia Op de Beke, Falls Church

Washington Post August 6 2016, p. A11

online at https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/where-are-je-suis-bamako-and-je-suis-ouagadougou/2016/08/05/b3028424-58de-11e6-8b48-0cb344221131_story.html

The Post's Letter page on Richard Thompson

Letters to the Editor

'Cul de Sac' creator Richard Thompson, a charming man who made charming art [in print as A charming creator of charming art].

Lewis Sorley, Potomac

Washington Post August 6 2016, p. A11

online at https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/cul-de-sac-creator-richard-thompson-a-charming-man-who-made-charming-art/2016/08/04/4cdadbba-58ed-11e6-8b48-0cb344221131_story.html

More from The Post on Suicide Squad

Margot Robbie on becoming Harley Quinn and 'the most unpleasant thing I've ever done'

By David Betancourt
Washington Post Comic Riffs August 4 2016
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2016/08/04/margot-robbie-on-becoming-harley-quinn-and-the-most-unpleasant-thing-ive-ever-done/

Sorry, 'Suicide Squad,' but fighting evil with evil is a bad idea [in print as And down we go: Fighting evil with evil is a scary idea].

By Kristen Page-Kirby
Express August 5 2016, p. 29

online at https://www.washingtonpost.com/express/wp/2016/08/05/suicide-squad-shows-fighting-evil-with-bad-is-often-not-good/

Aug 6: Kim and Kim creators at Third Eye Comics

Tom King's Sheriff of Babylon is 'best retelling' of Iraq war

The Best Retelling of the Iraq War Story Is a Comic Book

By Scott Beauchamp

August 4 2016
http://www.vulture.com/2016/07/sheriff-of-babylon-comic-book-iraq-war.html

Dana Maier remembers Richard Thompson

RIP Richard Thompson
Dana Jeri Maier
August 4, 2016
http://www.danajerimaier.com/writing/rip-richard-thompson

Flugennock's Latest'n'Greatest: "Gold Star Mother"

From Michael Flugennock, DC's anarchist cartoonist...

"Gold Star Mother"
http://sinkers.org/stage/?p=2019

So, about a week or so ago, The Donald queefed out yet another classic Tourette's outburst about how he "sacrificed" during the Iraq War by "employing thousands and thousands of people" in response to remarks at the Democratic Convention by Khizr Khan, father of Army Capt. Humayun Khan, killed in Iraq in 2004, about how The Donald "sacrificed nothing" for his country.

The Democrats, always on the lookout for an issue to exploit, started up a good old-fashioned flag-waving contest, yelling to anyone who'd listen about patriotism and sacrifice. Gotta give 'em credit, though; they managed to find the perfect non-issue to distract the media from all the leaks of DNC emails detailing their campaign of fraud and deception against Bernie Sanders' campaign for the Democratic Presidential nomination. And, it's always good to see that Liberals love Muslims -- as long as they're willing to die for the Empire.

And speaking of sacrifice, I'm guessing Chelsea was too busy studying to become a hedge fund manager to do any sacrificing.

Jacket and M4 Carbine Ensemble by Giorgio Armani, $100b.

NPR on Suicide Squad

Pop Culture Happy Hour: Getting Punchy With 'Jason Bourne' And 'Suicide Squad'

Glen Weldon

Pop Culture Happy Hour August 5, 2016
http://www.npr.org/sections/monkeysee/2016/08/05/488722597/pop-culture-happy-hour-getting-punchy-with-jason-bourne-and-suicide-squad
http://pd.npr.org/anon.npr-mp3/npr/pchh/2016/08/20160804_pchh_307.mp3

The Unsung Heroine Who Helped Shape 'Suicide Squad' [Kim Yale].

Neda Ulaby
 All Things Considered August 4, 2016

http://www.npr.org/sections/monkeysee/2016/08/04/488680942/the-unsung-heroine-who-helped-shape-suicide-squad
http://pd.npr.org/anon.npr-mp3/npr/atc/2016/08/20160804_atc_the_unsung_heroine_who_helped_shape_suicide_squad.mp3
http://www.npr.org/templates/transcript/transcript.php?storyId=488680942

Fanzine and fine artist John Fantucchio has died

Fantucchio's art, possibly for Gary Groth's first Metro Con

It's being reported on Facebook that Arlington's John Fantucchio passed away yesterday, August 4th, at age 78. He was at Virginia Hospital Center after suffering a stroke.

Big Planet Comics founder Joel Pollack writes, "John Fantucchio was my mentor when I was 16. He taught me about the great strip artists Alex Raymond and Hal Foster, as well as illustrators such as Maxfield Parrish, N.C. Wyeth, and Howard Pyle. I'm happy that we rekindled our friendship in the last five years."

Joel noted that Fantucchio's influence wasn't limited to him. "John's nephew, Rick Lowell, owns Casablanca Comics, Maine's coolest comics stores!, in Portland, ME, and counts John as a mentor, as well." Fantucchio eventually left the fan community and made a name for himself as a fine artist.

Joel took me to meet John, who coincidentally lived right around the corner from Richard Thompson, and we had a great time looking at his paintings and his collectibles. John had a fondness for the Shadow just like me. He wasn't all that interested in revisiting his fanzine days, so we never did an interview, but he does have several mentions on ComicsDC, mostly about his later career.

John is survived by his wife Mary.

PR: SPX 2016 Announces International Guests Tom Gauld, Cyril Pedrosa, Aimée de Jongh and Pascal Girard

For Immediate Release Contact: Warren Bernard Email: warren@spxpo.com Small Press Expo Announces International Special Guests Tom Gauld, Cyril Pedrosa, Aimée de Jongh and Pascal Girard for SPX 2016 Bethesda, Maryland; August 4, 2016 Media Release - Small Press Expo is proud to announce Tom Gauld, Cyril Pedrosa, Aimée de Jongh,  and Pascal Girard as Special Guests for SPX 2016. Small Press Expo is honored that all of these international creators are appearing at the festival for the very first time, This is in additon to previously announced special guests Daniel Clowes, Lisa Hanawalt, Jeffrey Brown, Trina Robbins, Charles Burns, Jaime & Gilbert Hernandez, Sarah Glidden Carol Tyler, Jim Woodring, Drew Friedman, Ed Piskor, and a rare festival appearance by Joe Sacco. Tom Gauld is reknown comic creator, designer and illiustrator. He has weekly comic strips in The Guardian and New Scientist, as well as having his work published in The New York Times and The Believer. In addition to his graphic novels Goliath and You're All Just Jealous of My Jetpack, he has designed a number of book covers, as well as a can for Diet Coke. This fall he releases Mooncop from Drawn & Quarterly. Gauld lives and works in London. Cyril Pedrosa studied animation design at the Gobelins, a Parisian school dedicated to careers in the moving image. He went on to work on Disney animated feature films such as The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Hercules. A rising star in graphic storytelling, his unique work is a product of his animation background combined with his literary influences of Borges, Marquez and Tolkien. His moving journal of going back to his family roots, Portugal, is a bestseller. NBM will release Pedrosa's latest, Equinox  this September. Aimée de Jongh is an award-winning animator, comic artist, and illustrator from the Netherlands. She has since created work for children's books, TV shows, music videos, and art installations, alongside numerous comic book series. Her animated film Aurora was screened widely in the Netherlands and Janus, a video installation she created with the L.A.-based artist Miljohn Ruperto, was exhibited at the Whitney Museum of American Art. The Return of the Honey Buzzard, her first graphic novel, won the Prix Saint-Michel and is published in English by SelfMadeHero. Pascal Girard was born in Jonquière, Quebec, Canada, in 1981. He began filling his notebook with drawings on his very first day of school and never stopped. Since he was unable to rid himself of this habit, he naturally decided to make it his career. Girard is the award-winning author of Nicolas, Bigfoot, Reunion, and Petty Theft. He lives in Montreal. In September 2016, Girard is releasing an expanded hardcover edition of his first book Nicholas published by Drawn & Quarterly. In the next few weeks, SPX will announce more guests, 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.

The Post doesn't like Suicide Squad

‘Suicide Squad’ is as bad as you’ve heard
By Michael O'Sullivan
Washington Post August 3 2016
https://www.washingtonpost.com/goingoutguide/movies/suicide-squad-is-as-bad-as-youve-heard/2016/08/03/590a949e-5987-11e6-9aee-8075993d73a2_story.html

‘Suicide Squad’ is perfect for 2016. Which means it’s absolutely terrible.
[in print as 'Suicide Squad': Perfect for 2016. But terrible.
By Ann Hornaday August 4 2016, p. C1, 4
online at https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/suicide-squad-is-perfect-for-2016-which-means-its-absolutely-terrible/2016/08/03/6df78956-5992-11e6-9aee-8075993d73a2_story.html
https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/suicide-squad-is-perfect-for-2016-which-means-its-absolutely-terrible/2016/08/03/6df78956-5992-11e6-9aee-8075993d73a2_story.html

Obituary for commercial animator Gary Hughes

Gary Hughes, animator, sculptor
Washington Post August 4 2016
https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/notable-deaths-in-the-washington-area/2016/08/03/ed46f394-57f4-11e6-9aee-8075993d73a2_story.html

Andrew Farago's Comics Journal obituary for Richard Thompson

Richard Thompson, 1957-2016

BY Andrew Farago Aug 4, 2016
www.tcj.com/richard-thompson-1957-2016

Remembering Mr. Richard

by Claire Rhode

I will be eternally grateful for the time I have spent with artists. From an early age, I was my dad's frequent companion to everything from art museums to comic conventions. I met a lot of artists, but none of those I met were ever quite like Mr. Richard Thompson.

Mr. Richard was one of the artists who seemed to be around all of the time, with my knowledge of him coming from being my dad's shadow and not from any prior experience with his work (although I soon learned). Because of that, I have no memory of actually meeting him. In my (admittedly flawed) memory, he has just always been a part of my life. I remember play dates with Charlotte mostly arranged so our dads could hang out; picking up Mr. Richard for conventions; and frequent mentions of my dad "going over to Richard's for an hour" (or two or three). It seems to me that I don't have a past without Mr. Richard in it, at least tangentially, and I cannot imagine a future where he is not present at all.

It isn't just his presence in my life that has made him special to me. A lot of people have talked about his sly wit (which, quite frankly, flew over my head until recently) and his art far more eloquently than I could ever hope to, so instead I want to talk about his kindness. Mr. Richard had a knack for making everyone in the room feel seen and a part of things, even the ten-year-old in the corner reading. He would smile or crack a quick joke and no matter who he was talking to, he would make them feel included, just as if they were old friends joking around. A talent like that is a wonderful thing to have. I wish that Mr. Richard had gotten more time, for art, for his jokes, for his kindness, and, most importantly, for his family and friends, but I also know that he lived his life in a way that made a lot of people smile, and that is a wonderful gift to have given to the world.

Mr. Richard, rest in peace.

August 27: Memorial for Richard Thompson

A memorial for Richard Thompson, open to the public, will be held on August 27, 2016, at the National Press Club in Washington, DC at 1 pm. It will be in the Press Club's ballroom. Information on the Press Club is at http://www.press.org/

'Pigheaded' at Newburyport Documentary Film Festival

Local film-maker and comics creator John Kinhart had his documentary on cartoonist Skip Williamson called "Pigheaded" accepted into Massachusetts' Newburyport Documentary Film Festival, where it will be screened in September.

John Gallagher's tribute cartoon for Richard Thompson

NoVA cartoonist John Gallagher drew CdS characters with his and daughter Katie's characters, Zoey and Ketchup, noting "Katie dedicated our Zoey and Ketchup book to Richard— when you brought him up to the Kids Love Comics booth in Baltimore, he made Katie feel so special, and was a true inspiration to her, and as a father, I appreciated him even more."

Life Without Richard Thompson by Anton Scamvougeras

Anton Scamvougeras has sent in a strip with his take on Alice and Petey reading comics in the cell phone age in his Dysconnected strip.

Life Without Richard Thompson

It's his reworking of this strip.

Anton also wrote of Richard, "He had a wonderful eye, and ear, and hand; and many, many of us will continue to enjoy the works he graciously created."

His website is https://dysconnectedblog.wordpress.com/

Phil Nel on Cul de Sac

Dancing on the Manhole Cover: The Genius of Richard Thompson

BY Philip Nel Aug 3, 2016
http://www.tcj.com/dancing-on-the-manhole-cover-the-genius-of-richard-thompson/