Feb 27: Act-i-vate at Big Planet Vienna too

At 2 pm.

BIG PLANET COMICS
426 Maple Ave. East
Vienna, VA 22180
703-242-9412

Comic Riffs interviews Scott Kurtz

The 'Riffs Interview: 'PvP' creator Scott Kurtz speaks today at Macworld. Washington Post Comic Riffs blog (February 12, 2010). This is Cavna's 2nd interview with Kurtz, if you're a PVP fan.

Feb 27: Act-i-vate at Politics and Prose

Politics & Prose Bookstore
welcomes

The Act-I-Vate Primer
With contributors: Dean Haspiel, Jim Dougan, Simon Fraser and Joe Infurnari

Saturday, February 27, 6 p.m.

5015 Connecticut Avenue, NW • Washington, DC
www.politics-prose.com • (202) 364-1919

My new bookish thing

The new issue of the International Journal of Comic Art 11-3 is actually Comic Art, 2005-2009: A Global Bibliography, 626 pages of citations on comics compiled by John Lent and Mike Rhode. And it's got a special cover drawing done for us by Richard Thompson which makes it a collector's item (for collectors of Richard Thompson of course). You can buy it as a stand alone issue by sending $15 to John Lent. This is an addendum to John's previous 10-volume series of comics citations, and is a bargain because a set of those will cost you well over $1000.

Here's a sample from the 2010 version I'm working on now - the new citations for 2010 are marked with *:

Comic Book Sales
-Flage, Karon. 2001. Ranking and List Position [comic book sales]. Sequential Tart 4 (2: February): http://www.sequentialtart.com/
-Gustines, George Gene. 2009. Graphic Books Best Seller List: May 9. New York Times Art Beat blog (May 15): http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/05/15/graphic-books-best-seller-list-may-9/
-Gustines, George Gene. 2009. Graphic Books Best Seller List: June 6. New York Times Arts Beat blog (June 12): http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/12/graphic-books-best-seller-list-june-6/
*Hibbs, Brian. 2010. Looking At Bookscan: 2009. Comic Book Resources' Tilting at Windmills (February 12): http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=24818
-Miller, John Jackson. 2007. Comic Sales Analysis: January 2007–Snows, fifth week spur big month. Comics and Games Retailer (182; May): 26-27
-Reid, Calvin. 2009. February Comics Bestsellers. Publishers Weekly’s PW Comics Week (February 3): http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6634161.html
-Reid, Calvin. 2009. June Comics Bestsellers. Publishers Weekly (June 15): http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6665433.html
-Sheriff, Amanda. 2008. Comic Sales Figures Circulate. Scoop (December 5):
http://scoop.diamondgalleries.com/public/default.asp?t=1&m=1&c=34&s=268&ai=77604
*Unknown. 2010. Graphic Books. New York Times (February 4): http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/14/books/bestseller/bestgraphicbooks.html

Eduardo Barreto's illness leaves Judge Parker less lovely

Alan Gardner had a more hopeful story up at Daily Cartoonist, but Michael Cavna's Comic Riffs post says Eduardo Barreto's illness is meningitis and he'll be leaving the strip, which definitely leaves Judge Parker less lovely. It's one of the best looking action strips out there now, although Paul Ryan on the Phantom and Graham Nolan on Rex Morgan, MD do excellent work -- and those strips aren't in the Post.

PR: Greenwood Encyclopedia of Comic Books and Graphic Novels

I'm a contributor to this - I wrote the Harvey Pekar entry. I think it's a good project - for years I've thought we should have the equivalent of the volumes of Dictionaries of British Cartoonists which give the basic information about the person. This is a good start and I'm noodling over other plans with a knowledgeable person.

...The Greenwood Encyclopedia of Comic Books and Graphic Novels is due out at the end of May. It is now described on the Greenwood website at http://www.greenwood.com/catalog/GR5746.aspx and is up on Amazon as well.

Thanks again to all of you who helped to make this project a reality--I'm very pleased with the way it turned out. And thanks in advance to those of you who will help to make it a success by buying it or recommending it to your university or public libraries.
--
M. Keith Booker

That perfect Valentines/President's Day gift...

My latest City Paper blog post is another book review - “For the Wonky, Lovelorn Comics Reader, a Perfect Gift,” February 12, 2010,

Post finally realizes Disney released movie with black heroine

The Post finally realized Disney released a movie with a black heroine last year and just did an article on what it all means to children - "'The Princess and the Frog's' Tiana: A more modern heroine," By Mari-Jane Williams, Washington Post Staff Writer, Thursday, February 11, 2010; T17.

USA Today's Truitt on GI Joe

This is about writer Christos Gage, not our own SL Gallant, but I'm continuing to assume that Truitt is still in the area - "'G.I. Joe: Cobra' brings on the bad guys," By Brian Truitt, USA TODAY February 11 2010.

British not-quite comic books reviewed at City Paper

Reviewed: Classic Dan Dare: Safari in Space and The Best of Roy of the Rovers: The 1970s Straight from the "boys papers," two recently collected U.K. comic strips
By Mike Rhode
Washington City Paper February 11, 2010

Feb 14: Kevin Rechin on Extreme Makeover Home Edition

Kevin Rechin writes in "I think you wanted me to give you a heads up about the air date for the Extreme Makeover Home Edition show. It airs this Sunday at 9 p.m. I designed and illustrated a mural and other elements for a superhero-based kid's room."

Phoenix Comics/ Laughing Ogre Comics open

Both our locations at GMU and in Lansdowne are open today.

Thanks

Gary Dills

Beyond Comics store open in spite of snow UPDATED

Beyond Comics writes in:

GAITHERSBURG IS OPEN!

FREDERICK Pending Plowing of Parking Lot

We will update the newsletter and our face book page.

Bravo to the Washington Post

I think the Post's delivery people deserve a special thanks, although I'm sure none of them are reading this blog. We haven't gotten the paper everyday, but it's been delivered when the roads are passable. I was very surprised to look out this morning and see a bag poking out of the snow.

And the same thanks holds true for the production people and the reporters. I don't even have my car shoveled out again yet, but my wife is reading the Post and sipping coffee in comfort while the wind howls outside.

So to any Postie (you don't really use that term, do you?) reading this, thank you.

Big Planet's got your hit today, in spite of the snow

Owner Joel Pollack wrote to me to say, "Because each store in our chain sets its own policy, I can only speak for Bethesda and Georgetown. We are going to try to open today (Thursday) 11-7, but we recommend a phone call, just in case." Owner Greg Bennett followed up with "Vienna and College Park are both open today as well. Closing time dependent on weather/road conditions, so call first if you're coming out after dark. And we have new books!"

I'm going to suggest that unless you live in Bethesda or Georgetown, it's probably not a great idea to try to get there no matter how much you're missing your comics. I was just out in my Arlington neighborhood and the streets and sidewalks aren't ready.

Here's the BP contact info:

BIG PLANET COMICS
4908 Fairmont Ave.
Bethesda, MD 20814
301-654-6856

Also affiliated with:

BIG PLANET COMICS
3145 Dumbarton St. NW
Washington, DC 20007
202-342-1961

BIG PLANET COMICS
426 Maple Ave. East
Vienna, VA 22180
703-242-9412

BIG PLANET COMICS
7315 Baltimore Ave.
College Park, MD 20740
301-699-0498

Weldon on music and comics

Presumably Glen Weldon is snowed in like the rest of us in DC, so he's written a long look at "Comics That Have A Nice Beat And Are Easy To Dance To," National Public Radio's Monkey See blog (February 10 2010).

That darn Mussey

Marie Drom says in a letter to the editor of the Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star "Mussey's cartoon was not a bit funny" (2/10/2010)

Feb 20: DC Anime Club's Cosplay Corner.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Chris Wanamaker, (202) 262 2083 president@dcanimeclub.org

DC Anime Club
 Presents Cosplay Corner

On Saturday February 20, 2010 at 2:30pm DC Anime Club will be hosting an costume creation workshop called "Cosplay Corner" at the Martin Luthur King, Jr Memorial Library 901 G St NW Washington, DC 20001 in Room A5 on the A Level. "Cosplay" is short for "Costume Play", in which fans of Japanese Animation (Anime) and Japanese Comics (Manga) dress up as their favorite Anime, Manga and Video Game Characters by costumes they make themselves. The word "Cosplay" was coined by Nov Takahashi of the Japanese Studio, "Studio Hard". DC Anime Club will teach members how to create their own costumes: everything from making cosplay props, to places where materials can be acquired, to even acting as their characters. DC Anime Club has also given Cosplay Presentations at the Smithsonian Anime Marathon an event which is part of the National Cherry Blossom Festival and the Fiesta Asia Parade where



This event is free and open to the public for Ages 13 and up.

For more information please call (703) 655-1412 visit the DC Anime Club website at http://dcanimeclub.org.

Tom the Dancing Bug cartoonist raises over $4,000 for Haiti

We highlighted Ruben Bolling's campaign to raise money for Haiti when he started, and now Ruben's written in to announce the total he's raised and who won original drawings. Let's here a big round of e-pplause for Ruben and his donors. Remember you can still donate too.

Big Planet Comics says "This crazy weather"

Big Planet Comics Bethesda and Georgetown stores will be closed Wednesday Feb. 10th because of the snow storm.  We hope to be open Thursday the 11th.  We do have the new comics...and they'll be on the racks when next we open our doors.
Please call before coming here on Thursday to make sure we are in fact open, and to find out what time we plan on closing.

Stay safe and stay warm.

--Joel Pollack

--

BIG PLANET COMICS
4908 Fairmont Ave.
Bethesda, MD 20814
301-654-6856

Also affiliated with:

BIG PLANET COMICS
3145 Dumbarton St. NW
Washington, DC 20007
202-342-1961

BIG PLANET COMICS
426 Maple Ave. East
Vienna, VA 22180
703-242-9412

BIG PLANET COMICS
7315 Baltimore Ave.
College Park, MD 20740
301-699-0498

So who was editorial cartoonist John M Baer anyway?

For our 3rd post on editorial cartoonist John M Baer, we finally have some real information, courtesy of Curt Hanson, Department Head, Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections, Chester Fritz Library, University of North Dakota. Thanks to Curt for providing copies of articles about Baer, and also for pointing out their digitized collection of Stuart McDonald editorial cartoons.

The first article by Charles P. Stewart of the Central Press Association appears to be from 1921. Baer had been elected to congress from North Dakota in 1917 as an advocate for labor and farmers. In this article Baer blamed his re-election loss on his cartooning, rather than the fact that he was on the left (blue) in a right (red) district. The article said, "The fact is, Baer's cartoons had not rated as of national importance while their circulation was confined to North Dakota. As a congressman's handiwork, however, they quickly began making their appearance in all corners of the republic, causing widespread trouble for conservatism. In consequence, the campaign of 1920 saw an invasion of the Fargo district by outside spellbinders with practically unlimited resources. Since then Cartoonist Baer has been an ex-congressman."

Personally, I doubt that his cartooning was the cause of his election loss, but who can say 90 years later? He apparently was represented at some point by King Features Syndicate, who released the following:

World-Famous Artist Crashed Congress With A Lead Pencil
Washington, D.C. - Let it be understood that John M. Baer knows his politics from left to right, up and down and diagonally. For years he has been the champion of the farmer and the worker, fighting for them, not with glib, silver-tongued oratory but with a facile cartooning crayon that clarifies and mocks at most intricate bits of Machiavellian chicanery that back-room politicians ever foisted upon a suffering country.

Baer's political cartoons are known wherever a newspaper is read and he has he distinction of being the only man who ever crayoned himself into Congress, his Farm-Labor and Graft drawings having brought him such prominence that he was elected to fill the term of Congressman Helgessen of North Dakota, on the latter's death in 1917. At the expiration of that term, he was re-elected.

It was in 1912 that he came into real prominence by cartooning an expose of how the farmers were being "gypped" 90 cents per bushel on their wheat.

Since then he has never ceased in his fight on graft and shady political dealings and his work has appeared in most of our national periodicals and newspapers. His friends, among them workers of every calling, number millions and he is adding to the list daily. Baer's home is in Washington, D.C., where he keeps a watchful eye on the solons that make the wheels go round. One wonders if he is ever amused at the tales of huge campaign funds ad he remembers how he crashed Congress with a pencil.

"John M. Baer, once N.D. Congressman, still active at 83," a 1969 article by Jack Hagerty for the Grand Forks Herald provided far more information on Baer's life and career. Baer was born Mach 29, 1886 in Black Creek, Wisconsin, went to Lawrence University where he edited the newspaper and the yearbook before graduating in 1909, and then married a woman from North Dakota and moved to work on her father's farm. In 1913 he was appointed a postmaster, but soon was making more money from cartoons so in 1916 he moved to Fargo, North Dakota, to work for the Courier-News.

After losing re-election, Baer worked for Labor, a railroad union newspaper. In 1969, he was still working for them in an AFL-CIO building on Lafayette Square, but also cartooning at his home in Chevy Chase, MD.


Hagerty's article says this "Appropriation Pie" cartoon was printed over 100 million times, in 18 languages, and was credited with bringing about the Naval Disarmament Conference of 1921. Unfortunately, it's still true - past wars are shown as taking up 68% of the budget, defense with 25%, education at 1% and 6% left to labor, farmer and public.


Hagerty's article says that General Billy Mitchell distributed 20 million copies of this cartoon in 1925 and it was used in his court martial over aggressively pursuing an air force.


Baer's 1931 cartoon that was credited with coining the phrase "The New Deal." The worker, honest business and the farmer are saying "We demand a new deal" at a crooked card game with speculators, big business and cooked politicians.


A sidebar to Hagerty's article says that "For 58 years, he has used bears on his Christmas cards, but was turned down when he offered another cartoonist $1,000 for the right to use a bear symbol as an identifying mark in his cartoons." The other cartoonist is undoubtedly Clifford Berryman, also of Washington, who created the Teddy bear and drew him in many cartoons.

A new comic shop in Falls Church?

Missy Frederick is reporting that Victory Comics will be at 586 S. Washington Street. She notes that Hole in the Wall Books (which is a general used book store with comics) and Anime Pavilion are already in Falls Church.

Editorial cartoon change at the Examiner

Perusing today's Examiner online, we find that their editorial cartoon today is from Mike Ramirez and Creators Sydicate. I'm not sure if Cagletoons will still be providing cartoons to them as well. Their editorial cartoonist Nate Beeler is syndicated through Cagle.

Brian Keene signing in Baltimore

Up to our north, we have an upcoming creator appearance, which is really to promote a horror anthology book, The New Dead, but that never stopped me personally from plopping a comic or four in front of the creator and asking for a signature!

Nationwide Signing Event

On February 16th, 2010, the day The New Dead is released, the majority
of the authors who have written stories for the book will be signing in various
locations around the country.

Baltimore, MD: Brian Keene
7 PM
Barnes & Noble, 1819 Reisterstown Rd, Baltimore, MD 21208
(410) 415-5758

Mr. Keene wrote Marvel's Dead of Night Featuring Devil-Slayer. He also edited Cemetery Dance Publications' Grave Tales.

Bored? Big Planet is open in Georgetown and Bethesda

I'm not going out, but Big Planet is open in Georgetown and Bethesda. Beyond Comics was planning on being open today too. I would imagine that Fantom Comics is open since both sites are in large malls.

Comics on the Rack, Quick Picks for Comics Due 02-10-10

COMICS ON THE RACK

Quick Picks for Comics Due 02-10-10

By John Judy

 

ADVENTURE COMICS #7 by Tony Bedard and Travis Moore.  Black Lantern Superboy!  No, the other one!  Fight!

 

ALL-STAR SUPERMAN, VOL. 2 SC by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely.  Collecting issues #7-12 of the best Superman comics in quite a while.  Recommended.

 

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #620 by Dan Slott and Marcos Martin.  Mysterio made his big move last ish, but I'm really coming back to read more "Adventures of Dark Aunt May!"  Recommended.

 

BATMAN AND ROBIN #8 by Grant Morrison and Cameron Stewart.  So who or what exactly is coming out of that Lazarus pit?  There's gonna be a scrap!  I can tell!

 

BPRD: KING OF FEAR #2 of 5 by Mike Mignola, John Arcudi and Guy Davis.  A journey to the Hollow Earth and an attempt to lay Lobster Johnson's ghost to rest.  Also, Liz cremates some dead dudes.

 

CHOKER #1 by Ben McCool and Ben Templesmith.  There are so many reasons this comic is a must-have, but among the most compelling is this: The female lead is a cop nicknamed "Dick-Puncher."  Described by co-creator Templesmith as "A little bit like FELL with a bad case of Gonorrhea."  Highly recommended.  Not for kids.

 

DAYTRIPPER #3 of 10 by Fabio Moon and Gabriel Ba.  Okay, I think I'm getting this one now.  Every issue is a new "Death of Kenny."  It's cool though because each issue thus far has been extremely well-crafted on both the art and scripting.  Recommended for grown-ups.

 

HELLBLAZER: PANDEMONIUM HC by Jamie Delano and Jock.  John Constantine goes to Iraq.  What could possibly go wrong?  This marks the return of the original HELLBLAZER scribe to the character.  Combined with Jock doing the art makes this one Highly Recommended.

 

HIT-MONKEY #1 by Daniel Way and Dalibor Talijic.  This is written by Daniel Way, the guy who writes WOLVERINE:ORIGINS.  And that's all I have to say about that…

 

HUMAN TARGET #1 of 6 by Len Wein and Various Creators.  DC's newest TV star, Christopher Chance, takes on every low-life and ne'er-do-well on the European continent!  Action, intrigue and glamour galore from co-creator Len Wein!  Recommended.

 

JSA ALL-STARS #3 by Matthew Sturges and Freddie Williams II.  After last week's godawful JSA ANNUAL #2 Mr. Sturges has some serious ground to make up.  Geoff Johns has never been more missed. And why there needs to be a Liberty Belle/Hourman co-feature written by Jen Van Meter continues to elude me.

 

PUNISHERMAX #4 by Jason Aaron and Steve Dillon.  Words that will make me buy a comic, sight unseen: "Sledgehammer-swinging hitman!"  Must-have!  Not for kids.

 

SECRET SIX #18 by John Ostrander, Gail Simone and Jim Calafiore.  Black Lanterns vs. the Six vs. the Suicide Squad!  Boy, who most deserves to eat that one?  Recommended.

 

SMILE SC written and drawn by Raina Telgemeier.  The autobiographical account of a girl who gets her two front teeth knocked out just in time to start middle school.  In real-world pubescent terms this is Galactus coming to Earth.  Recommended.

 

SOLOMON KANE: DEATH'S BLACK RIDERS #2 of 4 by Scott Allie and Mario Guevara.  Okay, so if you're hiding from demons in the Black Forest is it really a step up to barricade yourself in a tavern called The Cleft Skull?  This is a cool adventure series and you should read it.

 

STRANGE #4 of 4 by Mark Waid and Emma Rios.  The big finish that leaves readers asking, "Hey, could we maybe get an on-going Doctor Strange series written by Waid, like, starting next month?"  Great series.  Recommended.

 

TAILS OF THE PET AVENGERS #1 by Various Pickers of the Short Straw.  Kids, when you start shooting heroin you think it will be cool, like in those reality fashion shows.  Then you wake up one morning , naked and alone, with your name attached to something like PET AVENGERS.  Stay in school!

 

UNWRITTEN #10 by Mike Carey and Peter Gross.  Tommy Taylor meets the spiritual father of Fox News: Josef Goebbels!  Gotta look!

 

X-MEN: PIXIE STRIKES BACK #1 of 4 by Kathryn Immonen and Sara Pichelli.  No Pet Avengers appear in this comic.

 

www.johnjudy.net

March 7: Capicons convention rescheduled

Event: Capicons Comic Book & Pop Culture Con
Start Time: Sunday, March 7 at 10:00am
End Time: Sunday, March 7 at 3:00pm
Where: Dunn Loring Volunteer Fire Department

To see more details and RSVP, follow the link below:
http://www.facebook.com/n/?event.php&eid=293214896993&mid=1d94bd4G40206d0eG15556b8G7

Zadzooks on Whiteout dvd

Zadzooks: Whiteout, Doctor Who and Zombieland reviews, Joseph Szadkowski, Washington Times February 6, 2010.

Herblock & McCarthyism is AAEC's lesson

Click on the AAEC's Cartoons in the Classroom website and look for February 7th.

Brian Wood interview at USA Weekend

From the heart of snowy Rosslyn comes - Comics scribe Brian Wood ready for the best February ever, by Brian Truitt, USA Weekend's Whos News blog (February 5 2010).

Another Harvey Pekar interview popped up

Here's another one to print out and paste in the back of Harvey Pekar: Conversations -

INTERVIEW: Comix Legend and Creator of American Splendor – Harvey Pekar
The Zeitgeisty Report Feb 5th, 2010

Feb 7: "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs" at Shirlington Library

Ok, I'm pretty sure this will be cancelled now that we have 1 1/2 feet of snow with another 1/2 foot projected... It was a good movie though.

Film: "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs"
Sunday, Feb. 7, 2pm
Shirlington Branch Library

The Shirlington "Family Movie Matinee" presents "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs" [2009]. Rated PG, 90 minutes. Directed by Christopher Miller and Phil Lord. Featuring Andy Samberg, Anna Faris and James Caan. Based on the children?s book, this animated adventure follows a scientist who tries to solve world hunger only to see things go awry as food falls from the sky in abundance.

Gazette on Katsucon

Katsucon sets sail for National Harbor
Japanese culture, anime and manga convention moves to Oxon Hill for its 16th celebration
by Joshua Garner
Gazette February 4 2010

Cavna also interviews the doodling comedian

The Demi-Post: Comedy Central's DEMETRI MARTIN Returns. Thankfully.
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post's Comic Riffs blog February 4, 2010

Cavna's panda comic

Michael Cavna reprints his comic about the Tai Shan, the National Zoo panda on Comic Riffs today.

Brian Truitt on Hellblazer for USA Today

Brian Truitt used to be one half of the Washington Examiner comic book tag team, along with Scott Rosenberg. Scott's in the Big Apple now. Here's a new article by Brian - Happy birthday, John Constantine, By Brian Truitt, USA TODAY February 2 2010.

OT: Matt Fraction interview

Techland kindly sent me notice that it has an interview with Matt Fraction up, whose always been a nice guy whenever I run into him, so read it and buy his comics.

Although I liked Watchman better than he did:

PH: Did you think Watchmen sucked?
MF: I did, but I thought The Dark Knight sucked too, save from the Joker bits. I loved the first half, I was little tired in the second half, and in the third half I wanted to leave... Avatar is the first movie I've seen where it made me feel like I needed to up my game. In terms of what comics could do, Avatar was the first film that touched anything close to what comics can do.

Nate Beeler's astronomical economics lesson

Nate's cartoon today is a thing of beauty.

Feb 7: Capicon comics show CANCELED

Kathleen Stocker would like to point out that the Capicon comics show is this weekend. The guest is Tim Dzon, the show is at the Dunn Loring fire station from 10-3. I was planning on trying to attend, but I'm not sure given the weather forecast.

See Laura's comment - the show's called off.

Herblock! exhibit gallery talks schedule

In conjunction with exhibition Herblock! in Library of Congress' Thomas Jefferson Building:

Gallery Talks, noon-12:30 p.m.

Wednesday, February 10  

Holly Krueger will discuss the Conservation of the Herbert L. Block Collection
Herblock! exhibition, 2nd Floor, South Gallery, Jefferson Building

 

Wednesday, February 17    

Sara Duke and Martha Kennedy, co-curators of the Herblock! exhibition will lead a tour of the "Reagan" and "Clinton/Bush" sections
Herblock! exhibition, 2nd Floor, South Gallery, Jefferson Building

 

Wednesday, March 24     

Sara Duke and Martha Kennedy, co-curators of the Herblock! exhibition will lead a tour of the special  "Classic Cartoons" section
Herblock! exhibition, 2nd Floor, South Gallery, Jefferson Building

Feb 4-6: Archer cartoon voice Aisha Tyler at DC Improv

According to the interview, she's at DC Improv, 1140 Connecticut Ave thru Saturday - tickets are $15.

 

She's Pretty Funny: Comedian, actress and cartoon voice Aisha Tyler keeps pushing boundaries [Archer].

Written by Express contributor Roxana Hadadi

Express February 4, 2010

Feb 27: Act-i-vate at Politics and Prose

Dean Haspiel announced it on Facebook.

Date:
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Time:
6:00pm - 8:00pm
Location:
Politics and Prose
Street:
5015 Connecticut Ave. NW
City/Town:
Washington, DC

The Quotable Darwyn Cooke up at City Paper

See my The Quotable Darwyn Cooke: Highlights from the Cartoonist’s Talk at American Art, by Mike Rhode on Feb. 3, 2010 at the City Paper for some of the interesting things the cartoonist said, and here's a few of my pictures as well.

Herblock! treasures tour at noon today

At least I think it's at noon.  It's on Herblock's Nixon cartoons and should be in the Jefferson bldg.

Chris Flick interview on Capes and Babes

There's a Chris Flick interview on his comic Capes and Babes at Villains Corner podcasts. Here's the download link. I bought Chris' comic at one of the recent cons in Virginia, but it's in the dreaded 'to be read' pile.

Comic Riffs scores an Up interview

THE OSCARS: Pixar's 'Up' soars to score a historic nom, By Michael Cavna, Washington Post Comic Riffs blog February 2, 2010 has an interview with "its writer and co-director, BOB PETERSON."

Former local guy Brad Meltzer interview

Radiation Interrogation: Brad Meltzer
Blogs Atomic Fallout
Tuesday, February 02, 2010

My books on 15% off sale at Lulu

Stories Without Words: A Bibliography with Annotations 2008 edition - On Sale Now!

Interplanetary Journal of Comic Art - On Sale Now!

Film & TV Adaptations of Comics 2007 edition book - On Sale Now!

Buy or Sell Your Book 15% Off
Offer ends 2/3/10
Happy Groundhog Day from Lulu

Take 15% off your next order, site-wide!
Just add coupon code "SHADOW" at checkout.

John M. Baer

No biographical information from the Library of Congress this time, although they hold some of his cartoons that they're cataloguing. However they do have two photographs:


BAER, JOHN MILLER. REP. FROM NORTH DAKOTA, 1917-1921
LC-DIG-hec-09390
Harris & Ewing Collection (Library of Congress)


BAER, JOHN MILLER. REP. FROM NORTH DAKOTA, 1917-1921
LC-DIG-hec-09389
Harris & Ewing Collection (Library of Congress)

and one drawing:


Ohio State U's Cartoon Library has 5 clipped comics by him.

Henry Eugene "Gene" Elderman

The Ohio State U Cartoon Research Library has a file under "Elderman, Eugene" with about 75 clipped cartoons in it.

Sara Duke of the Library of Congress pitched in with the following information:

Henry Eugene Elderman, 1910-1963

Check out his obituary in The Washington Post, "Henry Elderman, 53, former Post cartoonist," Washington Post, December 25, 1963, p. D8; "Gene Elderman dies at 53; former political cartoonist," New York Times, December 25, 1963, p. 33; Thirteenth Census of the United States: 1910, Montana, School District No. 63 (Aubrey), April 16, 1910, district 2, enumeration district 122, sheet no. 1B; Fourteenth Census of the United States: 1920, Kentucky, Ashland City, January 19, 1920, district 9, enumeration district 23, sheet no. 4B; Fifteenth Census of the United States: 1930, Kentucky, Ashland, April 11, 1930, enumeration district 10-12, sheet no. 12B.

He had been the editorial cartoonist for the Post in the 1930s. He was born in Helena, Montana in 1910, where his father was a farmer, and grew up in Ashland, Kentucky with his mother, where he came to be known as Eugene. He worked as a civil engineer in a steel mill before he came to the Post in 1932, having worked as an animator. His colleagues knew him as "Geneo." He left the Post around 1942 to serve in the U.S. Army. He was a cartoonist for the Office of War Information's "Victory" magazine. After World War II he lived in New York, where he died in 1963.

Obviously, he didn't get his job back at the Post, as Herblock's first cartoon was published on January 3, 1946.