Buzzboy’s John Gallagher interview up at City Paper site

Meet a Local Cartoonist: A Chat with Buzzboy's John Gallagher

Posted by Mike Rhode on Mar. 29, 2010
http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/artsdesk/books/2010/03/29/meet-a-local-cartoonist-a-chat-with-buzzboys-john-gallagher/

Comics on the Rack, Quick Picks for Comics Due 03-31-10

COMICS ON THE RACK

Quick Picks for Comics Due 03-31-10

By John Judy

 

ASTRO CITY: THE DARK AGE BOOK FOUR #3 of 4 by Kurt Busiek and Brent Anderson.  In the last issue before the big wrap-up The Pale Horseman makes his debut.  Imagine if the Ghost Rider were really scary….  Recommended.

 

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #627 by Roger Stern and Lee Weeks.  What could possibly pound the bejeebers out of the Juggernaut and why is Spidey sticking around to find out?

 

BLACKEST NIGHT #8 of 8 by Geoff Johns and Ivan Reis.  The double-sized grand finale in which all the colors come together and Sinestro sports a new look!  Highly recommended.

 

THE CREEPER BY STEVE DITKO SC by Ditko and Associates.  If you like Ditko and one of his wilder creations, it's all here for you!  "Beware the Creeper!"

 

DETECTIVE COMICS #863 by Greg Rucka, Jock and Cully Hamner.  In which "things do not end well."  My kinda comic!  Recommended.

 

FANTASTIC FOUR #567 by Jonathan Hickman and Dale Eaglesham.  The FF's on the moon and the Inhumans are… where?

 

INCORRUPTIBLE #4 by Mark Waid and Jean Diaz.  Will newly reformed Max Damage go back to his evil ways if it's for a good cause?  A true head-scratcher.  Highly recommended.

 

IRON MAN: EXTREMIS HC by Warren Ellis and Adi Granov.  Collecting that story where Tony Stark caught a virus from that nice Mr. Ellis.  Recommended.

 

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #43 by James Robinson and Mark Bagley.  When archers go bad…

 

KEVIN SMITH'S GREEN HORNET #2 by Smith and Jonathan Lau.  The old Green Hornet just ain't what he used to be.  Fortunately his kid is waiting in the wings.  This Kevin Smith comic is coming out on time and is thus highly collectible!

 

PREVIEWS by Diamond and Marvel Comics.  See what your Summer vacation holds in store(s)!

 

RASL #7 written and drawn by Jeff Smith.  It is so hard waiting for the trade collections of this book.  That's why I don't even try.  Highly recommended.

 

SHE-HULK: SENSATIONAL #1 by Peter David, Brian Reed , Iban Coello and little John Byrne thrown in for seasoning.  Celebrating 30 years of that character who can lift tractor-trailers easier than she can carry her own book.  Good times!

 

TERMINATOR 2029 #1 by Zack Whedon and Andy MacDonald.  Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Kyle Reese!

 

WONDER WOMAN #42 by Gail Simone and Nicola Scott.  A Big Bad from Diana's past rolls in.  Fortunately the Green Lantern Corps is already there.

 

X-MEN: SECOND COMING #1 by Craig Kyle, Chris Yost and David Finch. Cable returns to the present with little Hope.

 

www.johnjudy.net

 

This week's Zadzooks and Bennett's Best reviews

Zadzooks: Halo Wars: ODST and Construct-A-Buzz reviews
Joseph Szadkowski
Washington Times March 27, 2010

Bennett's Best: Simpsons/Futurama and The Guild
By Greg Bennett, Special to Zadzooks
Washington Times Zadzooks blog March 27, 2010

Bennett's Best: Bronx Kill and American Vampire
By Greg Bennett
Washington Times Zadzooks blog March 21, 2010

Comic Riffs interview for Dragon Trainers in print too

Reprinted from Comic Riffs -

Cavna, Michael. 2010.
'Dragon' directors are flying in the face of fearsome 3-D technology
Washington Post (March 28): E5.

Comic Riffs interviews Dragon Trainers

The 'Riffs Interview: 'TRAIN YOUR DRAGON' directors enter a new dimension
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog March 26, 2010

Small Press Expo adds animation

The Small Press Expo is showing animation for the first time and the application process is online now.

Podcaster Marc Maron roams DC after talking to Bob Fingerman

I haven't listened to this yet, but I doubt if he found the soul of America in DC - just a feeling I have.

Episode 58 - El Chupacabra / Bob Fingerman. Marc Maron, WTF with Marc Maron Podcast (March 25 2010): http://wtfpod.libsyn.com/index.php?post_id=596953 and http://media.libsyn.com/media/wtfpod/WTF_-_EPISODE_58.mp3


By popular demand, Marc welcomes El Chupacabra back to WTF. Plus, artist and writer Bob Fingerman takes a unique look at the end of the world (forward by Marc Maron). And Marc searches for the soul of America as he wanders around Washington, DC.

Whither Thingpart, late of the City Paper

Before the City Paper's great (blood-)shedding of comics a couple of years back, they ran a strip called Thingpart close to the front. Here's an interview with the cartoonist - Joey Alison Sayers Interview, Dan Copulsky, Question Riot blog March 25th, 2010.

The cartoon made me do it

I don't really follow sports, but I imagine the cartoon defense in a weapons charge isn't all that common - Arenas’ ‘Character’ Witness Is a Cartoon Character: Gazo the Pranksta, by Rend Smith Washington City Paper City Desk blog Mar. 24, 2010.

Post review of How To Train Your Dragon

Movie review: 'How to Train Your Dragon': 3-D you can sink your teeth intoa
By Mike Clark
Washington Post March 26, 2010; WE26

March 27: Steranko at Geppi's Entertainment Museum REPOST

Colin Solan sends in "GEM hosts Steranko for a retrospective exhibit." Geppi's Museum site is here. As hard as it is to believe, it seems the exhibit is only up for 3 days. Steranko will be there in person for one day.

April 2-4: Cards, Comics & Collectibles Annual Easter Sale

Annual Easter Sale

From the Store that Brings You the Baltimore Comic-Con...

This Friday, April 2nd through Sunday, April 4th, come to the Cards, Comics & Collectibles Annual Easter Sale for amazing savings of 20% to 70% all weekend! Fill in those missing back issues or pick up that paperback, hardcover, or action figure you've been meaning to buy! This is the weekend to shrink that want list!

50% OFF: PAPERBACKS, HARDCOVERS, TOYS, TOON TUMBLERS, AND MORE!
70% OFF: MODERN BACK ISSUES, CARD SINGLES!
30% OFF: GOLD & SILVER AGE COMICS!
PLUS! DISCOUNTS ON CARD PACKS, POSTERS, AND MORE!

SUNDAY ONLY SPECIALS:
80% OFF: MODERN BACK ISSUES!
60% OFF: PAPERBACKS & HARDCOVERS!


Our address: 100 A Chartley Dr., Reisterstown, MD 21136
Our Hours: Friday, 11am-7:30pm; Saturday, 11am-7pm; Sunday, 12am-5pm
For more information, call Cards Comics and Collectibles: 410-526-7410

This annual sale has run for over 20 years, and this year, we're stocked to the gills!

Ask us about Free Comics every Wednesday!

Truitt on The Guild

Felicia Day takes her 'Guild' offline and into comics, By Brian Truitt, USA TODAY March 24 2010.

This is getting to be like the Good Old Days when the Examiner was introduced with 3 pages of comics, and a weekly page of comic book articles by Truitt and Scott Rosenberg...

Free Kick-Ass posters at Big Planet Bethesda

I'm not really looking forward to this movie, but Big Planet Bethesda has a pile of free Kick-Ass movie posters today.

Unexpected editorial cartoons in today's Post

The 'Russia Today' advertising section actually has 4 editorial cartoons or illustrations in it. 2 traditional cartoons are signed V Bogorad. 2 illustrations are by Dimitry Divin. At least 1 cartoon by Bogorad from a previous section can be seen on their website.

 

 

President Obama in Archie comic book

Now up at the Washington City Paper site -

Obama Returns to Comic Books, Tasks Veronica with Powering Economy

Posted by Mike Rhode on Mar. 24, 2010

PR: Baltimore Comic-Con

Publishers and Creators Come to the 2010 Baltimore Comic-Con!

Baltimore, Maryland - March 19, 2010 - The Baltimore Comic-Con is proud to announce our first series of guests for the 2010 convention. Major publishing houses Image Comics, Boom! Studios, and Top Cow Productions are the first announced exhibitors for our 11th annual show. In addition, we are pleased to announce the following guests: Mike and Laura Allred (Madman), Sergio Aragones (Groo), Ivan Brandon (Nemesis: The Imposters), Jim Calafiore (Secret Six), Eric Canete (New Avengers: Luke Cage), Howard Chaykin (Black Kiss), Cliff Chiang (Greendale), Frank Cho (Ultimate Comics New Ultimates), Steve Conley (Star Trek Omnibus: The Original Series), Amanda Conner (Power Girl), Dan DiDio (The Outsiders, Co-Publisher, DC Comics), Al Feldstein (MAD Magazine), Ron Garney (Wolverine: Weapon X), Michael Golden (Marvel 1602: Spider-Man), Cully Hamner (Detective Comics), Dean Haspiel (ACT-I-VATE), Geoff Johns (Blackest Night, Chief Creative Officer, DC Comics), J.G. Jones (DC Universe Legacies), Rich Koslowski (BB Wolf and the 3 LPs), Michael Lark (Spider-Man: Return of the Hunter Saga), Laura Martin (Girl Comics), Mark McKenna (Banana Tail), Terry Moore (Echo, SiP), Phil Noto (Avengers: The Origin), Ryan Ottley (Invincible), Jimmy Palmiotti (Jonah Hex), Khoi Pham (Mighty Avengers), Eric Powell (The Goon), James Robinson (Justice League of America), Stephane Roux (Zatanna), Louise Simonson (X-Factor Forever), Walter Simonson (Wednesday Comics), Jim Starlin (Dreadstar), Brian Stelfreeze (The Authority: The Lost Year), Karl Story (Zatanna), Mark Texeira (X-Men: Origins), Billy Tucci (Shi), Doug Wagner (World of Warcraft: Horde), Mark Waid (Irredeemable, Editor-in-Chief, Boom! Studios), Marv Wolfman (New Teen Titans), and John Workman (Heavy Metal).

"We're months away from show-time, and already, we've lined up some of the biggest stars of the industry. We're excited to have the presence and support of Image, Boom!, and Top Cow - we have an excellent relationship with all three publishers, and can sense the fans lining up to see them already!" said Marc Nathan, promoter of the Baltimore Comic-Con. "We're also very proud to have Dan Didio and Geoff Johns from DC Comics joining us again this year. Both have been great friends for some time now, and they produce some of the most cutting edge comics on the market today. There are so many noteworthy guests coming to the show that represent a cross-section of the comics industry's genres, creative roles, eras, and publishing models, we think 2010 is shaping up to be one of our best yet!"


In coming weeks, look for more announcements from the Baltimore Comic-Con. We are looking forward to highlighting our guests, the Harvey Awards, industry exclusives, and programming. The latest developments can always be found at our website (http://www.baltimorecomiccon.com/), Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/baltimorecomics), Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/baltimorecomiccon), MySpace (http://www.myspace.com/baltimorecomics), and ComicSpace (http://www.comicspace.com/baltimorecomicon) pages.

This year's Baltimore Comic-Con will be held August 28-29, 2010. Convention hours are Saturday 10 AM to 6 PM and Sunday 10 AM to 5 PM. The ceremony and banquet for the Harvey Awards will be held Saturday night, August 28th.

Contact Information
Please use the following e-mail addresses to contact the Baltimore Comic-Con:

press@baltimorecomiccon.com - for any general press inquiries or to be added to our PR distribution
promoter@baltimorecomiccon.com - for requesting exhibitor, publisher, and Artist Alley applications
registrar@baltimorecomiccon.com - for inquiries about submitted registrations
harveys@baltimorecomiccon.com - for communications regarding the Harvey Awards ceremony and banquet
general@baltimorecomiccon.com - for general Baltimore Comic-Con inquiries

About The Baltimore Comic-Con
The Baltimore Comic-Con is celebrating its 11th year of bringing the comic book industry to the Baltimore and Washington D.C. area. With a guest list unequaled in the industry, the Baltimore Comic-Con will be held August 28-29, 2010. For more information, please visit www.baltimorecomiccon.com.

About The Harvey Awards
The Harvey Awards are one of the comic book industry's oldest and most respected awards. With a history of over 20 years, the last 5 in conjunction with the Baltimore Comic-Con, the Harveys recognize outstanding achievements in over 20 categories. They are the only industry awards nominated and selected by the full body of comic book professionals. For more information, please visit www.harveyawards.org.

PR: KAL returns from Public diplomacy trip to Middle East and releases iPhone App

We noticed he was gone, and now KAL tells us he's back -

Friends and colleagues

I wanted to share with you some recent exciting news. 

I have just returned from a 12 day visit to Amman, Jordan and Beirut, Lebanon as part of a strategic speaker initiative sponsored by the US Embassies in the region. During my visit I addressed a wide variety of groups including University students on six campuses, cartoonists, animators, journalists, and civic leaders. Our discussions centered on  the opportunities and limitations of political cartoons in promoting freedom of expression. There was great interest in the region in the program particularly in light of the controversial Danish cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohammed.

My visit garnered a good bit of media exposure. There were numerous press and television interviews. Links to some of the news stories along with photos and observations from the trip will be available on my blog (www.kaltoons.com/wordpress) in the days ahead.

A also would like to announce the launch of the first KAL iPhone App.  Created in conjunction with RevelMob, the iKal-Book is just $.99 and available at the iTunes store. Please see our press release below.

Best

Kal

Kevin Kallaugher
kal@kaltoons.com
www.Kaltoons.com

KALTOONS GET THE IPHONE TREATMENT

Kevin KAL Kallaugher, the editorial cartoonist for The Economist magazine, launches his first iPhone app  

Baltimore/London: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

If you love fun and witty political cartoons of the highest quality, you will love the new iPhone application by Kevin KAL Kallaugher, the world-renowned editorial cartoonist for The Economist magazine.

Designed for the iPhone, this new application is an impressive collection of KAL's award winning political cartoons, hand-picked by the artist himself.  Browse through 150+ examples of KAL's work, including 29 color covers and illustrations from The Economist magazine. Store them on your iPhone, upload to Facebook or share with friends. 

Kal uses his poison pen to comment on Presidential elections, the War on Terror, American politics and international affairs. 

"Speaking about the iKal Book app, Kevin KAL Kallaugher said:

"iKal Book is more than an assembly of individual cartoons... together, the over 150 images read like a history lesson of recent world events."

"Among the award winning art found in the iKal-book are all the cartoons from my print collection "KAL Draws Criticism"($20.00) but at a fraction of the cost ($.99)"

Roman Grigorjev, Founder and Managing Partner of Revel Mob, comments:

"Cartoons are graphically engaging, instantaneous and fun to share with friends ... making them perfect for mobile devices like smartphones and iPhone in particular"

Revel Mob and KAL are also looking into developing more interactive and engaging applications for KAL in the near future and are welcoming any ideas and contributions as to what you would like to see in the next KAL iPhone application. Make your ideas count - post them on Revel Mob's Facebook Fan page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/RevelMob/296197102796?ref=ts

The iKal Book app is available for $0.99 from the App Store on iPhone and iPod Touch.

Marc Singer on teaching Bechdel's Fun Home

Marc Singer is on week 9 of his comics class and teaching Bechdel's Fun Home, which is one of my favorite graphic novels. He's got a much better sense of the formalist art that I ever will though.

Comic book writer wanted in DC?

This is making the rounds of the internet... I don't know anything else about it, but it does specifically mention DC.

My company is starting a project that will require us to develop manga-style comics for our client. We already have an excellent manga artist, and now we’re looking for a freelance writer who can translate business stories (esp. positive behaviors in the workplace) into an interesting comic book or graphic novel style narrative.

The general roles and responsibilities would include:
- Work with the project lead to develop potential characters, settings, and general plots
- Create interesting story lines based on information provided by the client
- Interact with the cartoonist to translate the story lines into a comic book

Qualifications for the job are:
- Successful screenwriting, comic, or graphic novel portfolio
- Demonstrated knowledge of global corporate environments (beyond Dilbert)
- Free to work on a 1099 basis
- Available for ~20 hours per week during May-June
- Preference for individuals located in NYC or Washington, DC
- Experience in agency or consulting environment is a plus

To be considered for this position, please send a cover letter, resume, and work samples/portfolio via email to:

Gordon Hui
Peer Insight LLC
ghui@peerinsight.com
Thanks,
Gordon

Brian Truitt reviews The Bronx Kill

Mystery abounds in Milligan's 'The Bronx Kill'
By Brian Truitt, USA TODAY March 22 2010

Jeff Kinney interviewed about reading

 

The future of children's book publishing

By Stephen Lowman
Washington Post  March 21, 2010; BW08

Chatalogical Humor on Weingarten's new comic strip

Today's Chatalogical Humor is on Gene Weingarten's new comic strip "Barney & Clyde" as well as the quality of early Dennis the Menace.

Updating this a little, Barney and Clyde is a comic about a billionaire and a pauper. It's got a Facebook page now, and will be appearing in the Post when it launches.

April 26: Kim Deitch at Johns Hopkins U

from Eric Reynolds of Fantagraphics....
CARTOONIST KIM DEITCH TO SPEAK AT JOHNS HOPKINS APRIL 26

The Homewood Art Workshops wraps up its 35th anniversary celebration with a slide talk by legendary cartoonist Kim Deitch on Monday, April 26. Deitch’s talk, “The Search for Smilin’ Ed and Other Tales,” will begin at 5:30 p.m. in Room 101 of the F. Ross Jones Building, Mattin Center, on the Homewood campus at 3400 N. Charles St. in Baltimore.

Along with Robert Crumb, Bill Griffith and Art Spiegelman, Deitch transformed the art of cartooning in the psychedelic late 1960s. Combining a love of early 20th century comic strips and animation with the media-savvy satire of mid-century MAD Magazine, these artists gave a raucously subversive jolt to a nearly moribund medium.
Deitch, 65, began doing comic strips for the New York underground newspaper, the East Village Other, in 1967. Since then, his work has appeared in dozens of publications, including RAW, Pictopia, Details, Nickelodeon Magazine, and Little Lit. Among his groundbreaking comic books and graphic novels are Hollywoodland, The Mishkin Files, A Shroud for Waldo, The Boulevard of Broken Dreams and Alias the Cat! His latest book, The Search for Smilin’ Ed, will be published by Fantagraphics in June. Deitch will sign advance copies of Smilin’ Ed at the Johns Hopkins Barnes & Noble, 3330 St. Paul Street, on Sunday, April 25, from 4 to 6 p.m.

Deitch has been recognized with the comics industry’s highest honors, including an Eisner Award, an Inkpot Award and a retrospective exhibition at the Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art in 2008. He lives in New York City with his wife, Pam.

To download images of Deitch’s work, go to: http://www.jhu.edu/artwork/deitch.html

“The Search for Smilin’ Ed and Other Tales” is co-sponsored by Homewood Art Workshops and Homewood Arts Programs. Visitor parking on campus is available in the South Garage, 3101 Wyman Park Drive, Baltimore, Md. 21211. Admission is free and open to the public. For more information, call 410-516-6705.

April 11: Rob Rogers at the Newseum

Inside Media: The Best of Editorial Cartoonist Rob Rogers
Guest: Rob Rogers
Date: Sunday, April 11, 2010
Location: Knight TV Studio, Level 3, 2:30 p.m.

The editorial cartoons of Rob Rogers have been gracing the pages of newspapers since 1984 when he was hired by the Pittsburgh Press.

A syndicated cartoonist with United Features Syndicate, Rogers has covered a diverse range of topics, including the Cold War, gun control, smoking, racism, the environment, 9/11 and presidential elections.

He talks about his new retrospective "No Cartoon Left Behind! The Best of Rob Rogers," which recounts his humorous path to cartooning. He also shares his own personal perspective on the major news stories of the past 25 years.

In a chapter called "Where's the Beef: Fear and Drawing On the Campaign Trail," Rogers shares his best cartoons from the last seven presidential races, including President Barack Obama's historic win in 2008. This unique retrospective includes a chapter for every White House he has covered.

Rogers's cartoons appear regularly in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Newsweek, and USA Today.

A book signing will follow the program.

thanks to Bruce Guthrie for the tip.

You still have a chance to send Ted Rall to Afghanistan...

His latest plea for money (I've given some)-

Heading Toward the Finish

My plan to return to Afghanistan this summer is halfway there--more than 140 backers have put up 50% of the $25,000 I will need (I'm also going to spend about $10,000+ of my own money) to get there and around. War zones are crazy expensive, and this is actually the bargain rate for this sort of journalism, particularly when one isn't backed by a major publication or broadcasting company.

This is the do-or-die phase. I'm halfway there, but there are less than two weeks left. Unless the pace of pledges accelerates, I won't make it. If you have been considering whether or not to participate, please think about it now!

As always, I remain ready, willing and able to answer any and all questions, comments, concerns, etc. about this project.

To comment on this update or see previous updates:
http://www.kickstarter.com/e/7JEIG/projects/tedrall/comix-journalism-send-ted-rall-back-to-afghanista-0/posts/9163?show_token=c63ec49fab336c2c

Von Allen, friend of ComicsDC, interviewed at Sequential Tart

The Road To God Knows... A Very Personal Story: Von Allan
By Corrina Lawson
Sequential Tart March 22, 2010

Chris Flick interview on City Paper's Arts Desk

Meet a Local Cartoonist: A Chat with Chris Flick

Posted by Mike Rhode on Mar. 22, 2010

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/artsdesk/books/2010/03/22/meet-a-local-cartoonist-a-chat-with-chris-flick/

Chris talks about his webcomic Capes and Babes.

Kal in Beirut

American cartoonist says future of trade in doubt
By Kenny Laurie
Special to The Daily Star March 22, 2010

April 13: Fantom Comics 1st Comic Book Happy Hour

From their March newsletter...

Fantom Comics would like to invite you to our first Comic Book Happy Hour, to be held from 6-8pm at The Laughing Man Tavern (just off Metro Center) on the 2nd Tuesday of every month.

April 13th will be our first event, featuring a panel of three policy wonks and a Marvel Comics editor discussing "Politics in Comics". Come for the 20 minute discussion and Q&A, stay for the fun of meeting other comic book nerds in the area! More details will be posted on the website in a couple of weeks, but remember to save that date: Tuesday, April 13th!

Zadzooks reviews comic books, including Captain America's return to life

Zadzooks: Captain America, The Crazies and Sparta U.S.A.
Joseph Szadkowski
Washington Times March 20, 2010

Meanwhile at Bennett's Best, Greg has a couple of recommendations, neither of which I can get behind.

Takoma Park librarian's kids comics recommendations in Post

Graphic novels for beginning readers
By Dave Burbank and Karen MacPherson
Washington Post March 21, 2010; BW10

Washington bedtimes stories feature Feiffer, comic books

See Washington figures name the book they most enjoyed reading to their children.

May 12: Brad Meltzer @ Barnes & Noble

Colin Solan comes through again to tell us about a local reading -

Brad Meltzer (Justice League of America, Identity Crisis) signs his new book Heroes for My Son on May 12, 2010 at 7:00 PM.
Barnes & Noble Booksellers
4801 Bethesda Avenue, Bethesda, MD 20814
301-986-1761 

Cartoonists Rights Network quoted on Voice of America

Robert Russell is interviewed on the Danish Islam cartoons in Cartoonist Defender Asks Muslims to Accept Free Speech Principles, Nico Colombant, Washington 20 March 2010.

That darn Luckovich

Cartoon is out of sync with painting it resembles
Washington Post Saturday, March 20, 2010


The March 13 Drawing Board cartoon drawn by Mike Luckovich for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution was inaccurate.

It purported to depict the Constitutional Convention. What was actually depicted was the famous John Trumbull painting, "Declaration of Independence," showing the presentation of the draft of the Declaration of Independence to John Hancock by Thomas Jefferson and the rest of the "Committee of Five."

Today the image appears on the reverse of the two-dollar bill. The image is also found in the life-size mural in the U.S. Capitol. Jefferson was in Paris as minister to France when the Constitutional Convention was held.

H. Wayne Elliott,
Charlottesville

Dembicki's Trickster previewed at Graphic Novel Reporter

You can see some pages of Matt Dembicki's new book, Trickster, here.

Glen Weldon recommends Iranian webcomic

In spite of Glen Weldon's recommendation, I'll be reading this on paper when it's collected - Zahra's Paradise: The Revolution Will Be Bookmarked. National Public Radio's Monkey See blog (March 17 2010).

Mark Millar's Nemesis to be set in DC

Marc Ruffin has a story on how Mark Millar's Nemesis is to be set in DC.

Marc Singer on teaching Nat Turner

Marc Singer writes on teaching Kyle Baker's Nat Turner for week 8 of his class on comics at Howard.

MTV's Real World cartoonist met Tom Toles

There's a story on the Express website and one at the WTOP site, about Andrew, the would-be editorial cartoonist on MTV's The Real World: DC meeting Tom Toles and drawing a cartoon for the Washington Times.

Post does review Diary of a Wimpy Kid movie

Given how big this book series is, I didn't expect the review for it to be buried in the Weekend section

In 'Diary of a Wimpy Kid,' the ordinary hero has a certain draw
By Dan Kois
Washington Post March 19, 2010; WE27

Feiffer at Politics and Prose pictures online

Man about town photographer Bruce Guthrie has put his pictures of the Jules Feiffer reading online.

'Losers' comic book a prize in Style Invitational contest, while Staake is taken to task

In today's Style Invitational contest, 2nd prize is an issue of DC Comics' The Losers #176 from the 1970s: Second place gets a comic book we're surprised we hadn't heard about before: This 1970s series was about a group of Nazi-fighting World War II heroes -- one for each branch of the services -- who called themselves the Losers because they kept getting refrigerator magnets with stupid cartoons on them. No, it was because men had died under their command. Whatever, this is an original comic, sealed in plastic, and was donated by Fighting Loser Peter Metrinko.

Nice Joe Kubert cover on that comic. The early issues were covered by Jack Kirby. I'm surprised they haven't heard of the comic, because DC brought it back 8 years or so ago, set in Rwanda perhaps, and it's now being turned into a movie.

Meanwhile, on the letters page, cartoonist Bob Staake is taken to task for his drawings for last week's contest. Humor.. . it's just so not funny.

Comics on the Rack, Quick Picks for Comics Due 03-24-10

COMICS ON THE RACK

Quick Picks for Comics Due 03-24-10

By John Judy

 

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #626 by Fred Van Lente and Michael Gaydos.  Next Spidey villain to get the "Gauntlet" treatment: The Scorpion!  No, the other one…

 

ANGEL SPECIAL: LORNE ONE-SHOT written and drawn by John Byrne.  This time it's the beloved green crooner's turn to save the world.  An overdue tribute to the memory of the late Andy Hallett.

 

BLACK BLIZZARD GN written and drawn by Yoshihiro Tatsumi.  A little unearthed treasure here from Drawn and Quarterly: A re-issue of a 1950s manga noir that's part "The Fugitive" and part "The Defiant Ones."  A couple of violent crooks escape a derailed prison train into a blizzard.  Hijinks ensue.  Gotta look!

 

BOOK OF GRICKLE HC written and drawn by Graham Annable.  A collection of off-beat humor strips by the award-winning animator and storyboard artist on "Coraline."

 

CAPTAIN AMERICA #604 by Ed Brubaker and Luke Ross.  Bucky America and the fifties Cap duke it out while the Falcon beats on some racist anti-government extremists who are NOT the teabaggers!  Honest.  They just carry the same signs and believe the same stuff.  But they're different.

 

GREEN LANTERN #52 by Geoff Johns and Doug Mahnke.  Okay, looking at the cover I can honestly say I never saw that one coming.  Recommended.

 

GUILD #1 of 3 by Felicia Day and Jim Rugg.  The comic book adaptation of the web series about a bunch of role-playing gamers.  You will regain your virginity just looking at this book.  On the other hand, the preview was great and it contains the line: "Oboists.  All that blowing makes them brain dead."  Recommended.

 

HELLBLAZER #265 by Peter Milligan and Simon Bisley.  Constantine gets tangled up with a bunch of punks who worship Sid Vicious.  (Sid was a naughty lad who died before you were born, children.)

 

HOME FOR MR. EASTER GN written and drawn by Brooke A. Allen.  Just in time for the season!  The story of an awkward teen who inadvertently finds the Easter Bunny.

 

JUSTICE LEAGUE: THE RISE OF ARSENAL #1 of 4 by J.T. Krul and Geraldo Borges.  Things Roy Harper can no longer say: "Boy, I'd give my right arm for ____."  And the story proceeds from there.

 

KING OF FLIES, VOL. 1: HALLORAVE HC by Mezzo and Pirus.  The first of three graphic novels containing what appear to be random short stories, but which in fact are setting up an epic trilogy of suburban suspense.  Volume two is due out this Summer from Fantagraphics.  Appropriate for older teens and up.

 

MARVELS PROJECT #7 of 8 by Ed Brubaker and Steve Epting.  Cap meets Bucky, the world meets the Destroyer and Prince Namor meets his match!  Recommended.

 

MIGHTY AVENGERS #35 by Dan Slott and Khoi Pham.  Ultron's back.  Isn't he always?  And at the worst possible time!

 

NEMESIS #1 of 4 by Mark Millar and Steve McNiven.  If you are a fan of the unchecked ultra-violence and incidental story of KICK-ASS and everything else Millar's ever written then this is the book for you.

 

NEW AVENGERS #63 by Brian Michael Bendis and Stuart Immonen.  Much fighting out Asgard way.  That Sentry boy ain't got no sense, no-how!

 

NEWSBOY LEGION BY SIMON AND KIRBY, VOL. 1 HC by Joe Simon and Jack Kirby.  Back in the early 1940s there was a book called STAR-SPANGLED COMICS featuring the adventures of a bunch of kids who sold newspapers, which were sort of the internets of their day only more literate and you could touch them.  Anyway, these kids fought crime with the aid of a super-hero called The Guardian.  It was great and you should read this if only for the intro by the surviving co-creator, Joe Simon.  Recommended.

 

NORTHLANDERS #26 by Brian Wood and Leandro Fernandez.  Gunborg is totally on top of his frozen, plague-scarred village.  Those heads on pikes are strictly decorative.  Nothing to see here… Recommended.

 

NORTHLANDERS, VOL. 3: BLOOD IN THE SNOW SC by Brian Wood and Many Fine Artists.  Collecting issues #9, 10 and 17-20.  Bunch of awesome tales of blood and thunder from the bad, old Viking Days.  Highly recommended.

 

PETER PARKER #1 of 5 by Bob Gale and Patrick Olliffe, plus a back-up by Fred Hembeck.  Between three issues of his regular book each month, his guest-appearances in others, his daily newspaper strip and the underwear I have on right now, is it possible to have too much Spider-Man?  Let's find out shall we? 

 

SCALPED #36 by Jason Aaron and Davide Furno.  After all this time, we finally get to know Shunka a little better.  And what better way to do so than by watching him sort some things out for his boss Lincoln Red Crow?  This is the one comic each month you always have to buy.  Highly recommended.

 

THE STAND: SOUL SURVIVORS #5 of 5 Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and Mike Perkins.  Y'know what's really interesting after all the doctors in the world die of the super-flu?  Surgery.  Not for kids.  Recommended.

 

SUPERGOD #3 of 5 by Warren Ellis and Garrie Gastony.  That nice Mister Ellis makes Gods that fight!  Wizard!

 

SUPERMAN #698 by James Robinson and Bernard Chang.  Supes and Mon-El duke it out with Brainiac.

 

THOR #608 by Kieron Gillen and Billy Tan.  The Sentry has destroyed Asgard.  Now it's Thor's turn at bat.

 

THUNDERBOLTS #142 by Jeff Parker and Wellinton Alves.  In which we find out which of the current T-Bolts is good, bad and/or crazy.

 

UNCANNY X-MEN #522 by Matt Fraction, Phil Jimenez and Whilce Portacio.  Kitty Pryde is back with a silver bullet!

 

VICTORIAN UNDEAD #5 of 6 by Ian Edgington and Davide Fabbri.  The penultimate issue of this great series finds Holmes and Watson as the last hope against the undead plague sweeping London.  And is it possible Moriarty the Living Zombie has more tricks up his blood-soaked sleeve?  Recommended.

 

WACKY PACKAGES NEW NEW NEW HC by Various Creators including Art Spiegelman, Bill Griffith and Kim Deitch with an intro by Jay Lynch.  All the product parody stickers from series #8-14 (1974-75) that weren't included in the first hardcover.  A must for boys of a certain age.

 

X-FACTOR #203 by Peter David and Valentine Delandro.  Monet and Guido go on a jungle rescue mission.  Those always go well.

 

www.johnjudy.net

Dougintology, on the webcomics he reads

A buddy of mine who lives in DC has been listing the webcomics he reads on his blog. He's up to 8 pages of lists. Obviously, he's more plugged in than I am.

Comic strips - part 1

Comic strips - part 2

Comic strips - part 3

Comic strips - part 4 - he wanders into the syndicated strips he reads here.

Comic strips - part 5

Comic strips - part 6

Comic strips - part 7

Comic strips - part 8

and he took in Short Animation Oscar nominees just for good measure.

Highlights from Jules Feiffer's talk now at City Paper website

The Quotable Jules Feiffer: Highlights from the Cartoonist's Talk at Politics and Prose
Posted by Mike Rhode on Mar. 19, 2010, at 2:37 pm

March 24: Final Herblock exhibit talk by curators

Sara Duke and Martha Kennedy will be giving their last Treasure Talk in the Herblock! exhibition on Wednesday, March 24, 2010 at noon in the South Gallery of the Jefferson Building of the Library of Congress.

This week they are in the introductory section, and will bring treasures from the cartoon collections of the Prints and Photographs Division to show how Herblock fits into a long tradition of caricature and cartoon, not only in the United States, but in Europe as well.

Independent scholar Warren Bernard returns to the Library of Congress on Wednesday, March 31, to give a talk in conjunction with the Herblock! exhibition, "Declaration of Independence: Herblock: His Foes and His Editors". This event will take place in Dining Room A located on the 6th Floor of the Madison Building at noon.

Twilight comic book review on Express website

Mangled Manga: 'Twilight: The Graphic Novel, Volume 1'

Written by Express contributor Roxana Hadadi

Express March 19, 2010

Bill Baker interviews Greg Houston

We see Greg Houston's work off-and-on in the City Paper, and I haven't known anything about him. Bill Baker's got a two-part interview with him online now -

BAKER'S DOZEN for 03/03/2010
Send in The Clowns
Greg Houston on The Vatican Shuffle, part one

BAKER'S DOZEN for 03/17/2010
Send in The Clowns
Greg Houston on The Vatican Shuffle, part two