PR: Mini Comics Meet Up - March 25 at Beyond Comics in Frederick

Mini Comics Meet Up Featuring Local Comic Creators! Ask Questions, Buy Comics, Watch them Draw! 11am to 4pm Here is a chance to meet many local comic creators.   Local comic artists Carl Yonder "Pirate Eye", Michael Bracco "Creators", as well as many "Magic Bullet" contributors including Andrew Cohen, Michael Cowgill, Hobbes Holluck, Karly Perez, David Ross, and more. Kickstarter Basics Carl Yonder and the rest of the guests will give you pointers on how to get started funding your self-publishing on Kickstarter. Find out how to succeed, and many of the pitfalls you might encounter. Making Mini Comics Mini Comics - The mainstay of the indie comics creators. Learn how to make your own from a single piece of paper. 3D Scanning Demonstrations Ever wonder how it works? David Ross will show you some of the amazing things you can do. Only at Beyond Comics Frederick 5632 Buckeystown Pike 11am to 4pm STAY CONNECTED:

Beyond Comics, 18749 B North Frederick Avenue, 5632 Buckeystown Pike Frederick, MD, 207 S. Princess Street - Shepherdstown, WV, Gaithersburg, MD 20879

New political blog from cartoonist Al Goodwyn (and a friend)

The site is https://confederacyofdrones.com/

Here's a quote from their 'about' page:

Al Goodwyn of Washington, DC and Jeff Newman of South Carolina bring you their blog, Confederacy of Drones.  They expose the bias, hyperbole and out-right lies that prey on the gullible, the lazy, and the gimme-free-stuff sucklers.  And they often try to do it with a sense of humor.

How did they come up with the name Confederacy of Drones?  The confederacy of drones is the mindless segment of the population that blindly accepts the media, allows others to do their thinking and worships at the celebrity alter.

So enjoy the blog and if you have thoughts, praise or disgust, you can reach Al and Jeff at confederacyofdrones@gmail.com.  Al provides the cartoons and illustrations, plus you can see a wide range of his work at: http://goodwyn.wix.com/cartoons

IDW credits 'March' gns with strong overall sales

'March' Led Sales Rise at IDW Publishing

By Jim Milliot 

Mar 22, 2017
http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/financial-reporting/article/73139-march-led-sales-rise-at-idw-publishing.html

PR: The Art of Bernie Fuchs

Fuchs is an illustrator, not a cartoonist, but the author David Apatoff is one of the coauthors on the Art of Richard Thompson and also writes about cartoonists on his blog. The Life and Art of Bernie Fuchs ... IS NOW AVAILABLE for PRE-ORDER!  Scheduled to ship in July 2017, this spectacular new book explores the life and work of one of America's most admired and imitated illustrators — Bernie Fuchs. This volume is printed in FULL COLOR throughout and features over 300 illustrations. The book is 240 pages long and is filled to the brim with scores of beautiful illustrations reproduced from the original paintings and drawings, as well as rarely seen tear sheets from vintage magazines, photographs, color studies, and more. A complete preview of the book is available here: PREVIEW THE BOOK HERE 240 pages, 9"x12", full-color on premium low-gloss stock, hardbound with dust jacket. The Standard Edition is $44.95 plus postage. PRE-ORDER THE STANDARD EDITION  A Special Edition of the book, limited to just 100 copies signed and numbered by author David Apatoff, and presented in a slipcase with white lettering, is available for $64.95 plus postage. PRE-ORDER THE SPECIAL EDITION   To learn more, please visit my website: http://www.theillustratedpress.com/fuchs.html Sincerely, Dan Zimmer, Publisher

Comic Riffs talks to Daniel Clowes about Wilson, the movie

How sketching a dying father led Daniel Clowes to his quirky new film 'Wilson'

By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog March 22 2017
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2017/03/22/how-sketching-a-dying-father-led-daniel-clowes-to-his-quirky-new-film-wilson/

Regarding Wilson, in 2010 I wrote a brief review of the book and interviewed Mr. Clowes, who at conventions is very personable and approachable, unlike his characters.

Gary Cangemi, formerly local cartoonist, dies in PA

More details are in the two stories linked below, but he was born in Arlington and graduated from high school in Rockville, before spending the rest of his live in Pennsylvania.

Gary L. Cangemi Obituary

Scranton Times on Mar. 20, 2017

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/thetimes-tribune/obituary.aspx?n=Gary-L-Cangemi&pid=184583290

Umbert, and the Rest of Us, Will Miss You, Gary; COMMENTARY: Remembering the Register's pro-life cartoonist, Gary Cangemi.

Tom Hoopes
National Catholic Register Mar. 20, 2017
http://www.ncregister.com/daily-news/umbert-and-the-rest-of-us-will-miss-you-gary

Gary L. Cangemi

Charity interview with Dana Maeir (with a Richard Thompson mention)

WPA Auction Gala Preview

svetlana | Mar 17, 2017
https://brightestyoungthings.com/articles/wpa-auction-gala-preview

Meet a Local Cartoonist: A Chat with Anthony Dortch

by Mike Rhode

I was recently at a local business asking about a comics-related item they were selling, and one of the staff told me that his colleague did comic books. After some followup, we interview Arlington's Anthony Dortch who currently has a Kickstarter campaign to turn his comics into film (warning: contains body-painted nudity).

What type of comic work or cartooning do you do?

I am currently working on PURE. It's an epic tale of ingrained racism and the evils of inequality. It's a project where models get body painted to become the characters of a graphic novel and hopefully a feature-length movie.

How do you do it? Traditional pen and ink, computer or a combination?

PURE is a fumetti-style graphic novel.

Photo comics are a form of sequential storytelling that uses photographs rather than illustrations for the images, along with the usual comics conventions of narrative text and word balloons containing dialogue. They are sometimes referred to as fumetti, photonovels, fotonovelas, or similar terms.

Although far less common than illustrated comics, photo comics have filled certain niches in various places and times. For example, they have been used to adapt popular film and television works into print, tell original melodramas, and provide medical education. Photo comics have been popular at times in Italy and Latin America, and to a lesser extent in English-speaking countries.

When (within a decade is fine) and where were you born?

I always say I born in the blizzard of 1978. I was born Fri., 1/13/78 in Akron, OH. I was raised in Hamilton, OH.

Why are you in Washington now?  What neighborhood or area do you live in?

I wanted something different, but wasn't ready for New York. I currently live in the Ashton Heights neighborhood in Arlington, VA.

What is your training and/or education in cartooning?

I went to SCAD for graphic design.

Who are your influences?

I am often fascinated by Van Gogh. Today, Van Gogh is regarded as an artistic genius and his masterpieces sell for record-breaking prices; however, during his lifetime, he was a poster boy for tortured starving artists and sold only one painting. I find this intriguing.

In time, Van Gogh’s work evolved from dark/somber artistic style to lightened up and more color one. I like use of color and energetic strokes.

If you could, what in your career would you do-over or change?

The time I gave up on myself. This was the time that I started believing that I wasn't talented and my art was no good as people from the outside kept telling me I should try to find a career.

What work are you best-known for?

My use of color to help tell my story.

What work are you most proud of?

I am most proud that I have stuck with this project. In 2009, I began working on a project called The Privileged Series. I traveled to Tybee Island, GA to work with fashion designer Anthony Canney, Tim Cabel and Julie Simser to do the first shoot. The goal was to represent differences between the rich and the poor through a surrealistic art form.

In 2010, The Privileged Series was displayed at Touchstone Gallery in Washington, D.C. and soon after traveled to galleries around the United States.

 In 2012, The Privileged Series was displayed at Distinction Gallery near San Diego, CA. I partnered with Keifla Antonio and his team to take things to the next level. The team painted the models, bringing my outrageously colored characters to life.

This was also the first time the characters emerged from paper into live action in the first mini-video.

In 2013, I created the first pilot comic book called PURE. The project uses real people with a wide variety of body types to become the characters in the story.

In 2014, when I met Michael Coslow The Privileged Series: PURE exploded into a series of making short videos. The small team traveled to Europe and across the United States painting people for the videos.


By 2015, I released the first official graphic novel. I also collaborated with Yogabear Studio twice; once in Washington, D.C. and again in San Diego, CA. The collaborative efforts produced our first joint book. PURE: Yogabear Studio: 2015. This book captures 19 models as they portray a variety of PURE characters.

After a stroke in 2016, I'm back to settle a goal. The goal is to create my first movie. The Kickstarter is my first opportunity.

What would you like to do or work on in the future?

I would love to work in the television industry.

What do you do when you're in a rut or have writer's block?

I tend to visit the Smithsonian Portrait Gallery/American Art Museum and/or The National Gallery's East/West Wings. The two sites have both classic and contemporary in one space.

What do you think will be the future of your field?

I think it's evolving with technology. We now have moving comics, more comic books turning into movies, and more independent artist creating and producing their own companies. It is very exciting.

What local cons do you attend? The Small Press Expo, Intervention, or others? 

I've attended SPX, Awesome Con, and Baltimore Comic Con.

Any comments about attending them? 

Take your time. Their are many very talented indie artists that can be overshadowed by popular artists.

What's your favorite thing about DC? 

The free museums. There is so much to see how can you not be inspired.

Least favorite? 

The traffic (cars and metro). Grrrr!

What monument or museum do like to take visitors to?

I tend to visit the Smithsonian Portrait Gallery/American art Museum and/or The National Museum East/West Wings. The two museums have both classic and contemporary in one space.

How about a favorite local restaurant?

I like Cuba Libra for intriguing cuisines and decor. The inside of the resteraunt make you feel like you on a Cuban street.

Do you have a website or blog?

Facebook is www.facebook.com/dortchdesigns and web is www.dortchdesigns.com

Here's a photo gallery more of PURE work:

Bernie Wrightson has passed away

The great comic book artist Bernie Wrightson passed away on Saturday night from cancer. I had only met him at cons, but my friend and Big Planet Comics store owner Joel Pollack was a good friend of his, and in the past has had some articles here about the two of them.

The links are:

An Interview with Berni Wrightson
Originally published in CFA-APA #5 (June 30, 1986)
http://comicsdc.blogspot.com/2007/02/interview-with-berni-wrightson-part-1.html
http://comicsdc.blogspot.com/2007/03/interview-with-berni-wrightson-part-2.html
http://comicsdc.blogspot.com/2007/03/interview-with-bernie-wrightson-3-and.html

posted on ComicsDC ten years ago in 2007

Joel Pollack on 30 years of Big Planet Comics stores

http://comicsdc.blogspot.com/2016/07/joel-pollack-on-30-years-of-big-planet.html


Here's some photographs I've taken of Mr. Wrightson and his work: