NPR on Blue Monday

I really enjoyed this comic when it first came out.

There Could Be No Other Way: 'Blue Monday' Is Back

Petra Mayer

August 3, 2016
http://www.npr.org/2016/08/03/485864616/there-could-be-no-other-way-blue-monday-is-back

Citizen Bill exhibit in Takoma Park

Citizen Bill Cartoon Exhibit

Takoma Park Community Center, 7500 Maple Avenue, MD 20912

Citizen Bill cartoons are on exhibit and for sale in Takoma Park through September 4.

The free exhibit spans the cartoon's last 23 years, a wry, off-beat chronicle of city history. Bill and his Takoma Park family take on subjects from climate change to early school-starting times, from bicycle addiction to gun control. The framed prints are available for purchase.

The Citizen Bill exhibit is in the Dempsey Gallery, just off the front entrance lobby. Hours are M-F: 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m., Sat: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Sun: noon to 3 p.m.

Takoma Park Community Center, 7500 Maple Ave. at the intersection of Carroll Avenue (MD Rte 410), Takoma Park, MD, 20912.

TODAY at 2 pm Andrew Aydin signs March vol 3 at Fantom Comics

Details are here: https://www.facebook.com/events/2151638434975458/

New Ben Hatke interview podcast

014: Feed Your Creativity with Ben Hatke

Comics Manifest August 10 2016

http://comicsmanifest.com/benhatke/

Pop Culture Happy Hour on Steven Universe cartoons

Pop Culture Happy Hour: 'Steven Universe' And The Games We Play

Stephen Thompson

Pop Culture Happy Hour

August 12, 2016
http://www.npr.org/sections/monkeysee/2016/08/12/489615434/pop-culture-happy-hour-steven-universe-and-the-games-we-play
http://pd.npr.org/anon.npr-mp3/npr/pchh/2016/08/20160811_pchh_pchh.mp3

The Post reviews two movies, one formerly traditionally animated

'Sausage Party': Raunchy talking-food comedy makes for an unsavory stew [in print as 'Sausage Party': See your groceries under a whole new fluorescent light]

By Pat Padua
Washington Post August 12 2016, p. C2

online at https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/sausage-party-raunchy-talking-food-comedy-makes-for-an-unsavory-stew/2016/08/11/ddf2b5f2-5fd5-11e6-8e45-477372e89d78_story.html

'Pete's Dragon' gets a technological upgrade, but is a storytelling throwback [in print as The dragon has magic, but the tale lacks emotion]

By Michael O'Sullivan
Washington Post August 12 2016, p. Weekend 27
https://www.washingtonpost.com/goingoutguide/movies/petes-dragon-gets-a-technological-upgrade-but-is-a-storytelling-throwback/2016/08/11/ea403efa-5e5a-11e6-9d2f-b1a3564181a1_story.html

Really necessary: There be dragons, and there be hope [online as Here be dragons. Here is hope.]

By Kristen Page-Kirby
Express August 12 2016, p. 20
https://www.washingtonpost.com/express/wp/2016/08/12/here-be-dragons-here-is-hope/

John Fantucchio's passing noted by Scoop

In Memoriam: John G. Fantucchio
http://scoop.previewsworld.com/Home/4/1/73/1012?articleID=182370

His death notice appeared in the Washington Post the same day:

John Guy Fantucchio Death Notice

Washington Post August 12 2016
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/washingtonpost/obituary.aspx?fhid=3060&n=john-guy-fantucchio&pid=181026245

August 28: Greg Pak Signing at Big Planet Comics DC

Sunday, August 28 at 3 PM - 5 PM

Greg Pak Signing

Big Planet Comics

Washington, District of Columbia

Details

Big Planet Comics is proud to welcome Greg Pak for a signing of the first issue of his newest comic, Kingsway West.

After spending thirteen years in a war that made him a monster, a Chinese gunslinger named Kingsway Law just wants to live in peace with his wife, Sonia. But even in a fantastical Old West crackling with magic, a man of his skills can never quite disappear. So when a woman with a red-gold sword brings bloody chaos to his doorstep, Kingsway must fight for his life, his wife, and his very soul. Written by Greg Pak and drawn by Mirko Colak.

Greg Pak currently writes The Incredible Hulk for Marvel, and Big Trouble in Little China for Boom. He has worked on MANY fantastic other titles and projects, including the award-winning film, Robot Stories.

Greg Pak's website: http://gregpak.com/

Comic Riffs on Maus

Why 'Maus' remains 'the greatest graphic novel ever written,' 30 years later

By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs August 11 2016
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2016/08/11/why-maus-remains-the-greatest-graphic-novel-ever-written-30-years-later/

Gareth Hinds' Olympic sketches

Gareth Hinds has a graphic novel on samurais out now, but he's sketching the Olympics for his own entertainment. See them at

http://twitter.com/garethhinds
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Gareth-Hinds/38117633853
Instagram gareth.hinds

Nick Galifianakis on Richard Thompson's death

Somehow we missed the announcement by Richard's best friend to his colleagues at the National Cartoonists Society:

Richard Thompson 1957-2016

– Nick Galifianakis

July 27th, 2016
http://www.reuben.org/2016/07/richard-thompson-1957-2016/

Pat Oliphant's thoughts on Richard Thompson in 2004

Andrews McMeel has put Pat Oliphant's introductory comic strip from the 2004 collection of Richard's Poor Almanac online. Oliphant compared Richard to Michelangelo which probably made him squirm, but grin.

His next book was blurbed by Bill Watterson, which shocked him, since he knew Pat, but not Bill.

Comic scholar John Lent on Richard Thompson's last books

"Scratchy sketchbook drawings, doodlings, exquisite caricatures and humorous paintings": Reviewing Richard Thompson's last books

by John A. Lent, publisher and editor-in-chief of the International Journal of Comic Art.
International Journal of Comic Art blog August 10, 2016
http://ijoca.blogspot.com/2016/08/scratchy-sketchbook-drawings-doodlings.html

This review will appear in print in the Spring/Summer 2016 IJOCA issue later this summer.

Richard saw all three of the books reviewed here, and approved them. - MR

The Horn Book interview on March vol. 3

Five questions for John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, and Nate Powell

August 8, 2016 by Elissa Gershowitz

From the August 2016 issue of Notes from the Horn Book.

http://www.hbook.com/2016/08/authors-illustrators/interviews/five-questions-for-john-lewis-andrew-aydin-and-nate-powell/

Maré Odomo on her new book from Retrofit / Big Planet Comics

An Interview with Maré Odomo

BY Annie Mok Aug 10, 2016        

http://www.tcj.com/mare-odomo/

Montgomery Sentinel article on Eric Gordon's 'Creeps'

Local artist sees Metro riders as zombies
By  Kathleen Stubbs

TAKOMA PARK – Local artist Eric Gordon said he sees a semblance of zombies, or what he likes to call “creeps,” in riders of the D.C. Metro and he sketches them when he uses public transit. 

Gordon said he couldn’t take full credit for the idea of depicting riders as akin to zombies or creeps.

Read the full article.

'Jesus 2016' up for a Drunk Duck Award

Local cartoonist Dale Rawlings’ political webcomic Jesus 2016 is a finalist for the 2016 Drunk Duck Awards—presented by the webcomics site The Duck Comics—in three categories: Best Philosophical/Political Comic, Most Deliciously Offensive and Best Overall Comic Strip. (With categories like that, you know it’s gotta be good. :) 

Oct 8: Richard Thompson, Cartoonist and Illustrator -- A Tribute

Richard Thompson, Cartoonist and Illustrator -- A Tribute

Richard Thompson, creator of the comic strip Cul de Sac, passed away from complications of  Parkinson's disease this summer. Learn more about this Reuben Award-winning artist through a screening of the 2014 documentary The Art of Richard Thompson and a presentation on Thompson's background and accomplishments by one of the late cartoonist's friends.

Saturday, October 8, 2016
1:00 p.m.

Mt. Pleasant Regional Library
1133 Mathis Ferry Road
Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464
843.849.6161
http://www.ccpl.org

Donna Lewis' Reply All tribute to Richard Thompson

http://www.gocomics.com/replyall/2016/08/08

Aug. 7: Comic Logic bartends for a good cause

Join the staff from Comic Logic (a comics shop in Ashburn, Va.) as they guest bartend 6-11 p.m. on AUG. 7 at the Ashburn Pub (whose owner Kevin Bednarz also owns the shop) to raise awareness for www.girlpower2cure.org, an organization to raise awareness for Rett Syndrome. There will be raffle prizes, including passes to see the new Suicide Squad movie, as well as a cosplay contest and other giveaways.