Thursday, November 09, 2017

Baltimore Sun cartoonist wins Berryman Award for his impassioned takedowns of Trump

Washington Post Comic Riffs blog November 9 2017

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2017/11/09/baltimore-sun-cartoonist-wins-berryman-award-for-his-impassioned-takedowns-of-trump/

(KAL 2017)

Wednesday, November 08, 2017

Kevin Kallaugher Wins Cartooning Award

November 8, 2017
http://nationalpress.org/newsfeed/kevin-kallaugher-wins-cartooning-award/

Kevin Kallaugher, cartoonist for The Baltimore Sun and The Economist, will receive the 2017 Clifford K. and James T. Berryman Award for Editorial Cartoons.

Catching up with graphic artist Marty Baumann

by Mike Rhode

We're checking in with Arlington's Marty Baumann again on the publication of Toybox Time Machine, his new book from IDW, . We've featured his work in passing a couple of times in the past, and it's been six years since I interviewed him for the Washington City Paper (which sadly is currently for sale in case anyone reading this can afford to buy a newspaper). He's answered my usual questions again, but in new ways, as well as discussing his recent work so I'm running the whole interview here. Honestly, both Marty and I forgot about that interview (an occupational hazard when you know people personally and socially. I've seen him at the Baltimore Comic Con in September and at a flea market last weekend when he bought some Kirby and Kubert comic books). I highly recommend his new book; Marty is one of the cleverest illustrators I know -- as this interview shows.

Marty has provided the following biographic information:

Marty Baumann is an illustrator, graphic artist and production designer. He has contributed to some of the most popular, Oscar-winning animated films of all time.

Marty has worked as an artist at Walt Disney Pictures and Pixar Animation Studios as an illustrator, graphic artist and production designer on such films as “Toy Story 3,” “Big Hero 6,” “Zootopia,” “Cars 2,” “Planes,” “Wreck-It Ralph 2” and many others. He also helped develop theme park installations, toy packaging and Pixar corporate branding.

Marty has rendered illustrations and developed characters for toy manufacturers, magazines and newspapers, illustrated children’s books, created logos, info-graphics, broadcast promotions and presentation art for Hasbro, Universal Studios, National Geographic, Scholastic Books, Nickelodeon and many others.

Recent projects include his role as concept artist for the new “Mystery Science Theater 3000,” and the visual development of Sir Paul McCartney’s feature film, “High in the Clouds.”


Marty's dog Summer

Marty has been a rhythm and blues singer/guitarist for more than 40 years. He’s shared the stage with Hound Dog Taylor’s Houserockers, Danny Gatton, Bobby “Blue” Bland, Jr. Walker and the All Stars, Fenton Robinson, John Hammond, Johnny Winter and others. Marty’s sold-out CD “Let’s Buzz Awhile” features 13 original blues tunes.

He encourages everyone to adopt at least one dog.

What type of comic work or cartooning do you do?

As far as personal projects: My influences are primarily of mid-century vintage; the logos, designs, signage and draftsmanship, often combining limited color palettes, stylized figures and crazy type treatments. They communicate fun and excitement in a way we don't see today. I tried hard to emulate that aesthetic in my book, "Toybox Time Machine."

As far as film work goes: Logos, title card design, billboards and signage, magazine covers, posters and general production design and just about anything you see in the background or applied to the body of a character.

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

I do some pencil roughs, scan them and use primarily Illustrator and a bit of Photoshop. If I'm doing a commission or a personal piece for someone I might print what I've done digitally and finish it with touches of ink.

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

I was born in Maryland the same year "Invasion of the Saucer Men" hit theaters. Is that specific enough?

What is your training and/or education in cartooning?

Jack Kirby comics. He's one of my heroes. It might not show in my style but I started drawing because of him. I've had no formal training.

Who are your influences?

The first books I actually recall buying were Joe Kubert's Sgt. Rock comics. Starting in grade school it was Kirby. Then a friend said, "If you like Kirby, get a load of Steranko -- and I got a load. Then I discovered Ditko, Toth, Meskin. As time went on I became aware of the great magazine, paperback and movie poster illustrators -- James Bingham, Robert McGinnis, James Bama. And then the groundbreaking design work of the UPA cartoons and the logo and title designs of Saul Bass and Paul Julian. Not to mention the great children's book artists, a particular favorite being the great Mel Crawford -- who also worked in comics and fine art.

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

Nearly everything! I tell aspiring artists to look at my career path and do the opposite. I wish I'd taken art classes, studied life drawing, studied painting, tried oils, charcoal, etc. I fell under the sway of rhythm and blues and began playing in clubs as a teenager. I was trying to focus on two creative areas. Maybe I should have focused on just one -- but I couldn't! In the end I think they complimented one another.

What work are you best-known for?

I didn't know that I was KNOWN! So I'd have to say my Disney/Pixar work.

What work are you most proud of?

I'll cite this example: I did a TON of work on "Zootopia." My wife and I saw it in a theater packed with kids and they LOVED it. I was kinda proud that I helped in some small way to make those kids happy.

How did you come up with the idea of Toybox Time Machine?

Well, after having one children's book idea after another rejected, I decided to draw whatever the heck I wanted. I love old toys. I have a small collection of old favorites. And I think my real artistic strengths are design, typography and color. I tried to channel the artistic influences mentioned previously and I never had more fun working on a project.

What's the process of conceptualizing and then drawing a toy that never existed?

My wife and I go to lots of estate sales. I buy the stuff nobody else wants: stacks of old magazines, postcards, travel literature. I snap pictures of anything with nifty retro packaging. It seems that in the 1940s and 50s every advertiser employed an illustrator in lieu of using a photo. With inspiration like this the ideas flow.

How did IDW come to publish this?

At the risk of sounding like a name-dropper, Jim Steranko has been something of a mentor since I was a teenager. (When he critiques your work, you KNOW you've been critiqued, and HOW!) He mentioned to IDW that they might want to look at my work, and, as Bogart would say, it was the beginning of a beautiful friendship.

What's your favorite non-existent toy?

That's the one question I'm going to side-step -- because I just don't know! The sci-fi and monster related toys would be near the top of the list. And I love cowboys!

How did you end up working for Pixar?

I had always loved what Pixar was doing. That retro sensibility seemed to be present in everything they turned out. Quite by accident I discovered that they were looking for a Graphic Artist and I sent them some stuff. They called me a couple weeks later, flew me out there, apparently liked me, and within a few weeks, we were living in San Francisco! I know that makes it sound easy, but let me be clear, I paid my dues for years working for newspapers, magazines, ad agencies, toy companies...

How has the experience been?

It's been great -- and also tough. Every artist working there was better than me! So I really had to up my game.

What have you worked on for them?

"Big Hero 6," "Zootopia," "Toy Story 3," "Cars 2," so many shorts that I can't remember them all -- "Hawaiian Vacation," "Small Fry," "Partysaurus Rex". I also worked on installation pieces for Disney resorts and contributed to the development of Cars Land at Disneyland.

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

Well, I worked on the visual development of a film with Paul McCartney. It would be cool to work with Ringo one day!

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

Writer's block? Let me see. I, um, er -- sorry…gimme a minute...I just can't think of anything to write at the moment…

When did you start collecting comics?

Maybe 1961 or 1962, when I first discovered Sgt. Rock and the Kirby monster books. I wouldn't call it "collecting" in the modern sense of the word, i.e. as if a comic book were a precious object to be preserved for posterity to accrue in value. I traded them, rolled them up and stuck 'em in my back pocket to read again later, and sat down with pencil and paper and tried to copy them. I read my favorite ones until the covers came off. Isn't that how they were meant to be used? Then -- a familiar story -- my mom threw a ton of them away.

What do you focus on? Who are your favorite comic book artists?

I guess my big four are Kirby, Kubert, Toth and Steranko. But there are so many -- the great Jack Davis, Ditko, Mort Meskin, Fred Kida, Wally Wood, and the incredibly underrated and versatile Bob Fujitani. The "Hangman" stories he did for MLJ in the mid-1940s are some of my favorites. I love the books Hillman put out in the 40s, ("Air Fighters," "Clue") and the stuff ME (Magazine Enterprises) published in the late 40s and early 50s ("Jet," "The Avenger"). I've often been asked what, in my opinion, are the best comics of all time. Without hesitation I say choose any issue of Fantastic Four from numbers 30-90. Any one of them is better than anything produced since.

How large is your collection?

It's quite modest. I'm no big-time collector. I buy comics I think I can learn from. I have dealers who save their coverless, moldy, brittle, flaking old books for me because they know I love the obscurities, learning the forgotten history of comics and discovering great cartoonists who have been unjustly overlooked. Mike Roy is a favorite, and Tony DiPrieta, and John Cassone, and Mike Suchorsky, etc. etc.

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

Do you mean animation or comics-related material? In either case I don't know. What used to be marginal pop-culture interests are big, BIG business now and it's all too complicated for me to understand.

How was your Baltimore Comic Con experience this year? How often have you attended it?

I always have a great time at Baltimore. I was at the very first one! I believe I've been a guest at all of them except for those that I missed when I lived in the Bay Area.

Do you have a website or blog?

www.martybaumann.com

What's your favorite thing about DC?

That I don't have to commute there.

Least favorite?

The times I DO have had to commute there.

What monument or museum do you like?

Without a doubt Arlington Cemetery. Not only do we have relatives buried there, but it's brimming with history and trivia. For instance: My wife's uncle is buried just a few tombstones away from Lee Marvin -- who is buried right next to Joe Louis! Dashiell Hammett is resting there, and cartoonist Bill Mauldin.

How about a favorite local restaurant?

Caribbean Grill in Arlington, hands down.

Podcast with Julie Segal Walters and Brian Biggs

My friend Brian Biggs, the former cartoonist, has a new book out, and his coauthor lives in DC.

Julie Segal Walters and Brian Biggs: All The Wonders, Episode 401

In All, All The Wonders Podcast, Podcasts by Matthew Winner

November 7, 2017

http://www.allthewonders.com/podcasts/julie-segal-walters-and-brian-biggs-all-the-wonders-episode-401/

This Is Not a Normal Animal Book

Julie Segal-Walters (@J_S_Dub) and Brian Biggs (@mrbiggsdotcom), author and illustrator of This is Not a Normal Animal Book, stop by the podcast to talk about creating a metafiction book over animal classifications, incorporating the voices of a parent and a precocious child, and asking "what the heck is going on here?"

Episode Notes

Julie Segal-Walters' home page
Brian Biggs' home page
This is Not a Normal Animal Book Teachers Guide (Grades PreK-2) (Grades 3-6)
Story Storm (formerly PiBoIdMo – Picture Book Idea Month)

Comic Riffs talks to Sex Criminals cartoonists

How a comic about getting superpowers from sex became an unlikely hit

By David Betancourt

Washington Post Comic Riffs blog October 4 2017

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2017/10/04/how-a-comic-about-getting-superpowers-from-sex-became-an-unlikely-hit/

and I think we missed this article from earlier in the year -

After 25 years with Image Comics, Todd McFarlane and 'Spawn' are still going strong

By David Betancourt

Washington Post Comic Riffs blog May 17 2017

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2017/05/17/after-25-years-with-image-comics-todd-mcfarlane-and-spawn-are-still-going-strong/

Tuesday, November 07, 2017

PR: Man at Arms & Maid Cafe Reservations - Anime USA 2017 Newsletter

Anime USA is right around the corner, and I haven't been putting up too much information on it, so here's their latest newsletter.

Anime USA 2017 Newsletter, Volume 14: Man at Arms and Maid Cafe Reservations

View this email in your browser

Join Us at Anime USA 2017 - Click Here

Anime USA 2017 Educational Guest

Man at Arms

Announcing the stars of the hit TV & Youtube series MAN AT ARMS! These bladesmiths, armourers & craftsmen bring to life fantasy arms & armor from your favorite video games, anime & pop culture!

Matt Stagmer – Host – Bladesmith
Matt Stagmer has been making swords for 19 years and is the lead blade grinder at Baltimore Knife and Sword. In the summer of 2014 he began hosting the hit web series:
MAN AT ARMS: REFORGED. Teamed with other talented craftsmen, he brings to life the most requested fantasy arms and armor from your favorite video games, anime, and other pop culture genres. In 2017 he became the host of the TV show MAN AT ARMS : The Art of War, starring alongside Danny Trejo, to make history's most devastating weapons.

Ilya Alekseyev
Ilya Alekseyev was born in Troitsk, Russia. Since an early age, he developed a liking for the art and craftsmanship of bladed weapons. He brings his background in Art History, Asian Studies, and Philosophy to his craft. Ilya is currently an Armourer and product designer working with Baltimore Knife and Sword. Among the skills that he brings to the Man at Arms project are his expertise in armor, Damascus steel, bloomery steel, and engraving.

Bill Collison
Bill Collison has been working with Baltimore Knife and sword for the past 20 years grinding blades. His craftsman background started in armor making and progressed into casting, mold making and heat treating. His knowledge with sheet metal work has made it easy to transition into prop armor and costuming. He has been working with the Freelancers as their jousting armorer for 17 years and has a background in Martial Arts and the SCA. Bill is a contributing smith on both the MAN AT ARMS television and Youtube series.

Website: http://imakeswords.com/

Anime USA 2017 Special Event

Maid Cafe Reservations

Over the past few years, we've noticed that the lines for the ultra-popular My Cup of Tea Maid Café have been getting progressively longer. And why shouldn't they? Our hard-working maids go above and beyond to give their Masters and Princesses the best experience they can! We hate to turn away anyone looking to enjoy our Maid Café, and this year, we've come up with a way for you to guarantee a seat, skip the lines and get some really neat perks in the process: Introducing MoePass+!

MoePass+ works like a flexible reservation system. At both the Maid Café Meet & Greet on Thursday evening, or at the café itself starting Friday morning, you can purchase a MoePass+ and select a time period you'd like to come back and be seated at the Café. The passes cost $5.00 for just about any party size, and come with the following benefits:

– The pass is good for a full hour, so if you choose a 1:00PM time slot, you can arrive any time up until 1:59PM, go right to the MoePass+ line, and you'll be seated next! This way, if there's a panel you want to finish up, or if you're stuck in an autograph line, you don't have to worry about losing your spot.

– Once you're seated, and you turn your pass over to your maid, you'll get one free picture and game (a $8.00 value).

There are only 4 MoePass+ spots available for every 30 minute window, so if you're really eager to get a good spot at the café this year, make sure to show up to the Maid Café Meet & Greet on Thursday night!

If you can't make it on Thursday, just head to the Café at any time, and a hostess will gladly take care of your reservation.

Anime USA is Recruiting Public Safety Staff

You Can Be a Part of the

ANIME USA 2017 Team!

Anime USA is recruiting Public Safety Staff for our convention from 8 Dec to 10 Dec at the Washington Marriott Wardman Park hotel in Washington, DC. Duties will include, but not be limited to:

Patrolling (monitoring convention areas & all hallways to enforce convention rules)
Badge check (posting outside function rooms or entrances to hallways to ensure only Anime USA attendees enter)
Enforcing signs designating no cameras, no bags or large coats, no audio recording, etc, where applicable
Line wrangling (making sure attendees waiting to enter functions are standing and entering the function in an orderly manner)
Wristband Check (for adult only functions, assuring only attendees who are over eighteen with a valid wristband and Anime USA badge are admitted).

**Those that have staffed public safety, security, or have experience in other such departments at other conventions should list what conventions they worked at, and what ranks they held**

***This position requires excellent customer service skills. Positive customer interactions are required***

Please send an email to Public Safety at publicsafety@animeusa.org for more information about the position or to apply to be on our 2017 staff.

Memberships

Regular: $66
Child: $33
Silver: $91
Sponsor: $150

Join Anime USA

Hotel

Anime USA's host hotel is the Washington Marriott Wardman Park.

Rooms are $167 a night plus tax.

There will be a non-refundable $50 deposit for each room.

Reserve a Room

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Questions?

Reply to this e-mail and we'll be happy to answer them for you!

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Our mailing address is:
Anime USA, 2009 Capstone Circle, Herndon, VA 20170