Noted animated historian Charles Solomon likes Cul de Sac

Book review: 'Cul de Sac Golden Treasury'
Richard Thompson manages to preserve a little kid's sense of wonder and fear and mischief in his delightfully quirky comic strip.
By Charles Solomon Special to the Los Angeles Times September 26, 2010
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/la-ca-cul-de-sac-20100926,0,5377445.story

3 pages of Ben Classen in today's Express

Ben Classen has got 3 full page illustrations for the Virgin Mobile FreeFest in today's Express, the free paper in the yellow box.

Comic Riffs on Signe's support for freedom of speech

Signe Wilkinson is interviewed in IN SUPPORT OF MOLLY NORRIS: Pulitzer winner draws line against fatwa
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog September 22, 2010

Comic Riffs interviews Sikoryak

I'm sending my wife out to buy my first ever issue of GQ tomorrow. This looks great.

Midterm elections spoofed in GQ 'Funny Pages'
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, September 22, 2010; C05

Sept 27: Ted Rall at Busboys and Poets

This PR just arrived -

 

Renowned political cartoonist and graphic novelist TED RALL will will be appearing at Busboys & Poets on 14th St, NW at 6:30PM on September 27.

 

A little about Ted:
Twice the winner of the Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award and a Pulitzer Prize finalist, TED RALL is a political cartoonist, opinion columnist, graphic novelist and occasional war correspondent whose work has appeared in hundreds of publications, including the New York Times, Washington Post, Village Voice, and Los Angeles Times. Due out is his new book, The Anti-American Manifesto, in October. The book is a new manifesto for an America heading toward economic and political collapse. While others mourn the damage to the postmodern American capitalist system created by the recent global economic collapse, Rall sees an opportunity. As millions of people lose their jobs and their homes, they and millions more are opening their minds to the possibility of creating a radically different form of government and economic infrastructure.

 

- I'm a big fan of Ted's work, and glad that my Kickstarter donation to send him back to Afghanistan didn't get him killed, so I'll probably be attending this.

NIck Crawford, GPO cartoonist interview

Meet a Local Cartoonist: A Chat with the GPO's Nick Crawford
 by Mike Rhode on Sep. 22, 2010

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/artsdesk/books/2010/09/22/meet-a-local-cartoonist-a-chat-with-the-gpos-nick-crawford/

Oct 2: Lolita Picnic Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

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

 

DC Anime Club

  Presents Lolita Picnic

 

DC Anime Club on October 2, 2010 at DC Freer Gallery Garden from 12:30pm-5:00pm will have a Lolita Picnic. For those who are unfamiliar, Lolita is a fashion subculture in Japan that is primarily influenced by Victorian children clothing, as well as costumes from the Rococo period. Lolita has made this into a unique fashion by adding gothic and original design elements to the look. From this, Lolita fashion has evolved into several different sub ...styles and has created a devoted subculture in Japan. The Lolita look consists primarily of a knee-length skirt or dress, headdress, blouse, petticoat, knee-high socks or stockings, and rocking horse or high heel/platform shoes.

Attendees are encouraged to bring food, since there will be a potluck with the photo shoot.

We will meet up at Smithsonian Subway Station (Blue/Orange Line) at 12pm, then proceed to the Mall. Come in your best Lolita outfits.

THIS EVENT IS FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC.

Contact:
president@dcanimeclub.org (connected to Blackberry)

 

 

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

 

For more information please call (202) 262 2083, email DC Anime Club president@dcanimeclub.org visit the DC Anime Club website at http://dcanimeclub.org.

 

 

About DC Anime Club:

 

DC Anime Club was established in 2003 to introduce and educate people in the Washington, DC area about East Asian culture, through viewing and discussion of Japanese animation (also known as anime) and Japanese comics (manga).

We also work to provide a positive, alternative activity to the youth in the area by exposing them to foreign culture, encouraging artistic expression and creativity, and providing opportunities for participation in community activities and leadership.

DC Anime Club is a 501(c)(3) not for profit organization. Contributions to DC Anime Club are tax deductible to the extent allowable under the law.

DC Anime Club has been featured in many newspapers and publications .

In addition to our bi-meetings, the club holds an Art Show, a Cosplay Party fundraising event, and anime lectures at local schools . Our club works with the Japan Information and Culture Center, Embassy of Japan, Smithsonian Freer Gallery and DC Asian Pacific American Film Festival on their anime screenings. Our Marketing Team has helped promote performances for several Japanese bands such as Puffy Ami Yumi, Pine am, The Slants, The Captains and Ayabie.

DC Anime Club was founded by Chris Wanamaker (President), Jules Chang (former Vice President) and Craig Vaughn (Vice President) on Saturday June 5, 2003. We have a strong membership that continues to grow. 

 

 

Another Lynn Brudon cartoon found

A few months ago, I posted on a Lynn Brudon anti-malaria World War 2 cartoon in the National Museum of Health and Medicine. See the comments of that post for more on Brudon. Meanwhile here's one I found today.


REEVE 088546-4

Malaria prevention. Charts. "G.I bedtime story. Control malaria. Shorten the war. Bug heaven, here comes Hiroskito. Damn that d.d.t. [Dichloro-Diphenyl-Trichloroethane]. Lynn Brudon [artist], 1945."

[Posters. Illustration. Insect pests, Control. Mosquitoes. Sanitation. Preventive medicine.] [Propaganda.]

Meet a Local Comics Writer: A Chat with the GPO’s Jim Cameron

Meet a Local Comics Writer: A Chat with the GPO's Jim Cameron
by Mike Rhode on Sep. 21, 2010
http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/artsdesk/books/2010/09/21/meet-a-local-comics-writer-a-chat-with-the-gpos-jim-cameron/

Sigh. Comic Riffs interviewed them too.

THE MOUSE THAT SCORED: GPO publishes its own comic book (*starring Gutenberg!)
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs September 21, 2010

Washington Examiner editorial on Molly Norris and Islam cartoons

I rarely agree with the Examiner's editorial line, as much as I like Nate Beeler, their editorial cartoonist (look at his lovely Dracula). However, I think they're pretty much spot on here:

Government and journalists cower at threats to cartoonist
Washington Examiner Editorial
September 20, 2010

Signe Wilkinson had a nice cartoon on this recently too.

Matt Wuerker on Paul Conrad

Among others, Matt's recollections of the great cartoonist are here - Conrad the mentor: An editorial is 90 percent idea and 10 percent drawing
By Kevin Cody
Easy Reader September 20th, 2010.

There's a tiny thumbnail of Matt's obituary cartoon - I don't know if it appeared in Politico or not.

Kal's fall schedule

He's keeping busy - the Russia one sounds a bit different, for him.
Remember, he's regularly in the Economist (twice each week, if I'm
getting the uncredited color cartoon correct).

From: kevin Kallaugher

Friends and Colleagues

I wanted to share with you some fun and exciting events that will be coming up in the weeks ahead.

On September 28, I will be in St Petersburg, Russia opening an exhibition of my work at the State Russian Museum of Political History. I will be in the country for 8 days addressing groups of journalists, artists, students and academics on issues of cartoons, commentary and freedom of expression. I will be posting pictures of events upon my return at my Sketchblog...
http://www.kaltoons.com/wordpress.

October 7, I have been invited to be the featured speaker at the at the 21st annual GBTC TechNite on Oct. 7 at Rams Head Live! in Baltimore. With over 800 attendees TechNite is the Greater Baltimore Region's premiere night out to celebrate the business and technology community. For more information:
https://www.gbtechcouncil.org/Programs/TechNite-2010.aspx

On Election night, November 2, I will be teaming up with the Baltimore Improv Group for an evening of Political nonsense, improvisational humor and Stand Up Cartooning. The event will take place at Baltimore's famous Creative Alliance Theater. More information will be available at http://www.Creativealliance.org

Speaking of the Creative Alliance... On Monday November 8, I will be headlining a fundraising party for this amazing Arts institution. It is called "Art to Dine For". These are always great fun...

Alpha and Omega review in Post

Alpha and Omega: This tale just chases its tail
By Michael O'Sullivan
Washington Post September 17, 2010
http://www.washingtonpost.com/gog/movies/alpha-and-omega,1163473/critic-review.html

Zadzooks and Bennett's Best

Comic book review: 'Fractured Fables'
by Joseph Szadkowski
Monday, August 16, 2010 - Zadzooks - Comics and Video Games

Bennett's Best: 'Cuba: My Revolution' and 'I Am Legion'
By Greg Bennett, Special to Zadzooks
Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Bennett's Best: 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer,' 'Thor,' 'Wolverine' and 'Batman: Cacophony'
By Greg Bennett, Special to Zadzooks Wednesday, September 8, 2010


Bennett's Best: 'New Orleans After the Deluge,' 'Superman/Batman' and 'Guarding the Globe'
By Greg Bennett, Special to Zadzooks
Sunday, August 29, 2010

Bennett's Best: 'Buffy the Vampire Slayer,' 'The Doom Patrol,' 'Little Lulu's Pal Tubby'
By Greg Bennett, Special to Zadzooks Thursday, August 26, 2010

Bennett's Best: 'Bone,' 'Strange Science Fantasy,' 'Avengers' and 'Unwritten'
By Greg Bennett, Special to Zadzooks Friday, August 20, 2010

Truitt on Wolverine's son, clone daughter

... or something like that. I don't bother reading X-Men titles any more.

Daken steps out of dad Wolverine's shadow
By Brian Truitt, USA TODAY September 14 2010
http://www.usatoday.com/life/comics/2010-09-14-dakendarkwolverine-ST_N.htm

Marjorie Liu brings humanity to the tortured teen of 'X-23'
By Brian Truitt, USA TODAY September 15 2010
http://www.usatoday.com/life/comics/2010-09-15-x23-ST_N.htm

and here's one that sounds more interesting - I'm going to put it on my pull list now (of course I've written a paper on this topic).

Marvel Comics gives a superhero cancer in 'One Month to Live'
By Brian Truitt, USA TODAY
9/1/2010
http://www.usatoday.com/life/comics/2010-09-01-onemonth-marvel01-ST_N.htm

Belefski of Curls nominated for Lulu Award

Matt Dembicki's let me know that Carolyn Belefski of Curls is nominated for a Lulu Award - Carolyn has the story on her site. It looks like anyone who wants to can vote.

She also has her report on SPX up where she notes that she's publishing Elizabeth Watasin's return to comics. (whoo-hoo! I loved Charm School). She also discusses her new anthology which has a lot of local creators in it.

I interviewed Carolyn a few weeks ago for the City Paper - coming up soon, her writing partner Joe Carabeo.

Joe Sutliff's Ark design

Local cartoonist Joe Sutliff has also been a furniture designer, and
is now designing an Ark for his family's Temple. We chatted at SPX and Joe sent me his design, noting, "Here's what it's gonna be - based on Exodus - a Burning Bush stained glass in the face of a Torah table, with a Moses and staff image made out of cut steel, that has added copper and brass elements (guess who gets to do that part?). I will also probably have to do the Hebrew lettering over the doors. Growing up Spanish Catholic, that urge to do something for a church is pretty strong. I'm planning on doing a limited edition woodblock print of the door art as a fundraiser for the temple."

Pretty cool, huh? Joe, let us know when the woodblock is out.

Lost Art Books promo video online now

Lost Art Books promo video here. I bought all the books at SPX and am glad to have them (although they remain in a giant pile with everything else I bought there).;

Sept 18: Audrey Niffenegger at Politics and Prose

Anyone going to this? I'm going to try to make it.

Audrey Niffenegger - The Night Bookmobile

Start: September 18, 2010 - 3:30pm
End: September 18, 2010 - 4:30pm

Readers know Niffenegger from The Time Traveler’s Wife, but her involvement with books is visual as well as literary. A professor at the Columbia College Chicago Center for Book and Paper Arts, she has produced two “novels-in-pictures,” and now a graphic novel. First serialized in The Guardian, this is the story of Alexandra, a reader who becomes a librarian in order to find the elusive night bookmobile containing everything she has ever read.

A bit more on SPX

I still haven't pulled the pictures off my camera, but here's a nice video that features some of our local creators in the DC Conspiracy, including RM Rhodes in the purple -

Small Press Expo - Canon 7D
by Steven Greenstreet
September 13 2010

The video was recommended by David Malki, whose webcomic Wondermark is excellent. Here's his account.

Comics Riffs sourced for NY Times article

Cartoonist in Hiding After Death Threats
By BRIAN STELTER
New York Times September 17, 2010
http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/17/us/17cartoon.html

 

PR: 2010 Festival of Cartoon Art

Off-topic, but I'm going with local cartoonist Richard "CdS" Thompson.

The 2010 Festival of Cartoon Art

October 14-17, 2010

Spaces are still available for the tenth triennial Festival of Cartoon Art, which will take place at The Ohio State University in Columbus, OH from October 14-17, 2010.    The Festival will feature presentations by acclaimed cartoonists Steve Breen, Roz Chast, Tony Cochran, Jan Eliot, Matt Groening and Tom Gammill, Dave Kellett, Paul Levitz, Dan Piraro, Jen Sorensen, Art Spiegelman, James Sturm, and Gene Luen Yang.   The Festival will also include an academic conference, a tribute to Jay Kennedy, cartoon exhibitions, special receptions, and much more!   For a complete list of speakers and events see http://cartoons.osu.edu/fca2010/schedule.html.

The Festival is limited to 275 participants.  Registration is available online through October 12 or until it sells out.  The registration fee is $125 ($100 for members of the National Cartoonists Society and the Association of American Editorial Cartoonists).  The registration fee for students and senior citizens aged 65 and over is $25 (ID will be required).  

The conference hotel is the Hyatt Regency Columbus.  Reservations can be made at the conference rate through September 24.  Transportation from the Hyatt Regency to campus for the Festival will be provided.

For further information about the Festival, see http://cartoons.osu.edu/fca2010 or contact us at cartoons@osu.edu or 614-292-0538.

###

 

 

 

USA Today's Dark Horse

USA Today bills itself as the nation's newspaper so I rarely think about them actually being in the DC area - are they still in Rosslyn? Anyway, here's an interesting article on a partnership between the paper and Dark Horse Comics -

Defining Dark Horse's Partnership With USA TODAY-TOSHIBA
By Chris Arrant
posted: 15 September 2010

Truitt inteviews comics fan actor Nathan Fillion

With Nathan Fillion, there's no mystery to actor's success
By Brian Truitt, USA TODAY

More SPX from local folks

Matt Dembicki has a few pictures up.

Comicsgirl was there, but we've avoided another potentially hazardous blogger meeting again. Although I did meet Xavier Xerses at Intervention, and apparently the universe still exists. And "Comic Riffs" Cavna and I talked. Maybe it'll only be a problem if 3 of us meet at one time...

Weldon on Moto Hagio's manga

'A Drunken Dream': What it Feels Like For a Girl. (And a Boy. And an Iguana.)

 by Glen Weldon

September 15, 2010

 

Mark Zaid's comic book lawyer exhibit profiled in Times

Read the article here -
Superheroes in Court at Yale Show
By JOHN SCHWARTZ
September 15, 2010
-and watch for an upcoming interview with Mark.

Jim Dougan's "SAM & LILAH" webcomic updated

I spoke to Jim at SPX who says they're almost 1/2 through and the Act-I-Vate Primer story occurs next.

Jim DouganSeptember 13, 2010 says Subject: SAM & LILAH Updated Today! Here's two more pages from Chapter 3.... http://www.facebook.com/l/adc8dt9FirAKXzmKRlQjR4zxIpA;www.activatecomix.com/42-3-30.comic Need to catch up first? Start here: Chapter 1: http://www.facebook.com/l/adc8djPCMjtglXSTjtJyq47zz_Q;www.activatecomix.com/42-1-1.comic Chapter 2: http://www.facebook.com/l/adc8dOQeSuy9acPZEKIjol3c8pQ;www.activatecomix.com/42-2-1.comic Chapter 3: http://www.facebook.com/l/adc8dakwf9P-RyZ4ZGKfbA7MCOg;www.activatecomix.com/42-3-1.comic We'll be back with more in just two weeks! See you September 27! In the meantime, here's where to go for all the OTHER great comix at ACT-I-VATE: http://www.facebook.com/l/adc8d3iPOFJhzVyAOgzpxvXQSpA;www.activatecomix.com If you haven't already, why not pick up a copy of the ACT-I-VATE PRIMER? We didn't win the Harvey Award, but being nominated still counts! Right? http://www.facebook.com/l/adc8dT8S47vip4V4r5qHy3tWhzA;www.amazon.com/gp/product/1600105289

Sept 15: Beyond Comics signing - Sean Anderson (Skyscraper)

Just Announced! Gaithersburg Artist Signing! Sean Anderson (Skyscraper) Wednesday Sept 15th 4pm to 7pm Meet Local Artist Sean Anderson with the debut of his brand new comic book series Skyscraper Don't Miss: SEPTEMBER SPECIALS OF THE MONTH Graphic Novel: SEE COUPON 40% OFF Comic: Transformers Movie Comics $1.00 Each See stores for details. No coupon required. Please Note, some items are not available at all store locations. For more information please speak with any store representative. Some items may also be allocated by the manufacturer and may not be available. Beyond Comics does not guarantee items being in stock; however we will do our best to keep them available. Email: Gaithersburg John Shine Mgr or Frederick Mike Imboden Mgr Gaithersburg Store 536 North Frederick Ave Gaithersburg, MD (301) 216-0007 Hours: M,Tu 11-8; W-Sat 10-9; Sun 12-6 Frederick Store 5632 Route 85 Frederick, MD (301) 668-8202 Hours: M,Tu 10-8; W-Sat 10-9; Sun 12-6 536 North Frederick Ave Gaithersburg, MD 20877 (301) 216-0007 5632 Buckeystown Pike Frederick, MD 21704 (301) 668-8202 40% OFF Graphic Novel Clearance SALE! Frederick Sep. 15 - 21 See Stores For Details! Excludes New Arrivals. Does not apply to special orders or held merchandise. May not be combined with other discounts, specials or sale items. One Coupon per household. Offer Expires: September 21, 2010

Bruce Guthrie's Small Press Expo photos

Bruce has two pages of pictures up - one from panels and one from the floor. When you go to one of his pages, the little pencil icon under the picture lets you create a caption for the image. Some caption fairies would be helpful, because Bruce doesn't do that - he's too busy taking more pictures.

That's is the great New Zealand expat Roger Langridge being interviewed.

And this is Kate Beaton and Julia Wertz on Dustin Harbin's panel blowing attendance for my counter-programmed one out of the water.



But we looked gooood.


Me, Richard Thompson, Marguerite Dabaie and Keith Knight.

Oooh, and Spurgeon linked to a video of Dean Haspiel's shirtless SPX moment.

And Dirk Deppey pointed out Brian Heater's con report. I love the Daily Cross Hatch and have never managed to run into Brian at the show.

Thompson and Rhode outed by Devlin

Canadian publisher Drawn and Quarterly's Tom Devlin's posted his SPX memories here, and outed Richard and I. It's true - we do love comics.

Seriously, James Sturm's talk was really interesting and I was glad to pick up his new book Market Day. Dinner with James, Tom and Kevin Huizenga as well as a local poetess was a lot of fun too. Thanks to Thad at Politics and Prose for the restaurant recommendation. And thanks to D&Q for putting out such a great line of books - I already had most everything they had on their table, but bought Kevin's new book as well as Vanessa Davis'.

Truitt on Spider-Man video game

'Spider-Man' scribe talks 'Shattered Dimensions'
By Brian Truitt
USA Today's Game Hunters blog Sep 14, 2010

It's an interview of Dan Slott.

Amazing Fantasy 15 original art going on the road

Here's a press release with the relevant part highlighted. Long-time readers may recall that ComicsDC broke the story of the donation in 2008:

September 13, 2010

Library of Congress Takes to the Road, Bringing Rolling Exhibition to the Heartland

         The Library of Congress will launch a new traveling exhibition late in September that will bring facsimiles of many of its top treasures and information about the millions of resources in its unparalleled collections to the heartland of America. "Gateway to Knowledge," an exhibition that will travel in a specially fitted-out 18-wheel truck, will launch from the site of the National Book Festival on the National Mall late in September, and will initially travel to sites in Maryland, Virginia and West Virginia.

         Ultimately, "Gateway to Knowledge" is expected to visit up to 60 sites in states across the Midwest and South over the next year.

         The exhibition was the idea of philanthropists Abby and Emily Rapoport, the granddaughters of Audre and Bernie Rapoport, founding members of the Library's private-sector support organization, The James Madison Council.  The young Rapoports have donated $1 million to the Library to make the "Gateway to Knowledge" exhibition possible and bring the Library's riches to areas of the nation – particularly rural areas – that may not be aware of their access to the wealth of information in this publicly funded institution.

         "As both a storehouse of world knowledge and primary resource for the U.S. Congress, the Library is energized by the prospects of the Abby and Emily Rapoport Traveling Exhibition playing an important role in sharing the national collection with the people to whom it belongs," said Librarian of Congress James H. Billington.

         The exhibit will include programming especially for teachers and students and provide relevant and engaging learning experiences for lifelong learners.  The truck, which will be staffed and driven by two docents well-versed in the Library and its collections, will be parked at various schools, libraries, community centers and other public venues.

         The trailer expands to twice its road width, and visitors will enter from a central staircase to find several areas of museum-style exhibits including a welcoming multimedia display, computer terminals displaying Library of Congress websites including the main site, www.loc.gov and other library websites including the Center for the Book/ Literacy Programs site www.read.gov and sites pertaining to U.S. collections, exhibitions and a special site for use by teachers.

         The exhibition will also outline the history of the Library, including Thomas Jefferson's role in allowing its re-establishment following the burning of the U.S. Capitol in 1814 by providing his personal book collection to the nation.  Jefferson's organization of his books by "Memory, Reason and Imagination" will inform the organization of the exhibition, which will feature facsimiles of such treasures as the 1507 Waldseemüller Map (the first document to use the word "America"); the 1455 Gutenberg Bible; the rough draft of the Declaration of Independence, in Thomas Jefferson's hand with edits by Benjamin Franklin and John Adams; the original 1962 drawings for the comic book that introduced Spiderman to the world; the handwritten manuscript to jazz pioneer Jelly Roll Morton's "Frog-i-More Rag"; and Walt Whitman's poem "Leaves of Grass."

         Founded in 1800, the Library of Congress is the nation's oldest federal cultural institution.  The Library seeks to spark imagination and creativity and to further human understanding and wisdom by providing access to knowledge through its magnificent collections, programs and exhibitions.

Tour Stops for the Library of Congress "Gateway to Knowledge"
Traveling Exhibition


•       Sept. 25, 2010, Library of Congress National Book Festival, National Mall, Washington, D.C.

•       Sept. 27-28, Museum of the Shenandoah Valley, Winchester, Va.

•       Sept. 30, Canal Place, Cumberland, Md.

Brave New Comic Strips panel at SPX audio is online

I had a good time doing this, and I think everyone was happy with it, so here's my recording for those who couldn't make it.

Brave New Comic Strips (September 12, 2010)


Small Press Expo panel from September 12, 2010.

The newspaper industry, long the home of American comics first popular dedicated format, faces an existential crisis presented by the emergence and proliferation of digital media. Against all odds, artists interested in the daily strip format continue to produce work with an eye for print. Mike Rhode will discuss the present and the future of the newspaper comic strip with Marguerite Dabaie, Keith Knight, and Richard Thompson.

Patriot-News comics poll considers adding Cul de Sac

Vote on the comic strip that will replace 'Cathy' in The Patriot-News
CHRIS MAUTNER, The Patriot-News September 12, 2010.

No ballot stuffing now. My friend Chris is undoubtedly technically savvy enough to detect that, and the fact that he undoubtedly spent time in Richard's vicinity at SPX this weekend doesn't mean anything.

A couple of SPX links and a Politics and Prose set

Greg McElhatton took some nice photos and has them online now.

Bruce Guthrie thinks his will be online tomorrow, but in the meantime has 2 sets (set 1, set 2) of pictures from Richard Thompson and Keith Knight's appearances at Politics and Prose bookstore.


Animator Marc Crisafulli, Politics & Prose's Adam Waterreus, SPX's Warren Bernard, Keith Knight, Politics & Prose's Mike G, Richard Thompson and Mike Rhode.

And here's my friend, and crack cartoonist, Ben Towle on his experiences. I talked to him on Saturday night, around the time that last picture was being taken and followed up on his recs on Sunday.

New comics publisher starts in DC

Oddly enough, it's the Government Printing Office:

GPO PUBLISHES ITS FIRST COMIC BOOK

WASHINGTON—The U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO) builds on its storied history by publishing the agency’s first comic book. GPO employees created the comic book Squeaks Discovers Type! as a teaching tool for children of all ages. As the agency celebrates its 150-year anniversary, the comic book takes a unique approach to educate readers on the important role printing has played from the beginnings of civilization to today’s digital world. The comic book’s concept, story and illustrations were created at GPO. Jim Cameron wrote the story and Creative Services’ Graphic Designer Nick Crawford provided the illustrations. Squeaks Discovers Type! is available at GPO’s newly designed and renovated bookstore in Washington, DC or available online at:
http://bookstore.gpo.gov/collections/squeaks-discovers-type.jsp



“GPO serves the communication needs of the federal government, and a comic book is a great way to communicate with young people,” said Public Printer Bob Tapella. “Through the talents of Jim Cameron and Nick Crawford, GPO is able to create a publication that conveys the message that printing is an important component to the history of the world and to our nation.”

The GPO is the federal government’s primary centralized resource for gathering, cataloging, producing, providing, authenticating, and preserving published U.S. government information in all its forms. GPO is responsible for the production and distribution of information products and services for all three branches of the federal government. In addition to publication sales, GPO makes government information available at no cost to the public through GPO’s Federal Digital System (www.fdsys.gov) and through partnerships with approximately 1,220 libraries nationwide participating in the Federal Depository Library Program. For more information, please visit www.gpo.gov. Follow GPO on Twitter http://twitter.com/USGPO and on YouTube http://www.youtube.com/user/gpoprinter.

Cavna on Peanuts and with Ted Rall

Cavna's Comic Riffs blog post turned into an article over the weekend -


'Peanuts' comics strip will leave syndicate in February for Universal Uclick
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, September 11, 2010; C02

and then he ran an interview with Ted Rall today -

The 'Riffs Interview: TED RALL returns from Afghanistan, ready to draw upon his up-close encounters
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog September 13, 2010

ComicsDC (ie me) helped fund Ted's trip through Kickstarter, so I'm glad it worked out well. I don't need any guilt about prematurely dead cartoonists.

PR and OT: Top Shelf comics sale

I like Top Shelf's products a lot and just bought more from them at SPX. To move this slightly on-topic, 'Regards from Serbia' is a journalistic/autobiographical comic about the wars in the Balkans and I helped compile it.

 

THE 2010 TOP SHELF MASSIVE $3 SALE
*******************************************************

For the next ten days -- thru Friday September 24th -- Top Shelf is having a giant $3 graphic novel web sale. When you visit the site, you'll find over 100 graphic novels and comics on sale -- with over 70 titles marked down to just $3 & $1!

To go directly to the list of items on sale at the Top Shelf website, just click here:

http://www.topshelfcomix.com/specialdeals
http://www.topshelfcomix.com/specialdeals

But here are a few sample sale items:

-- Slashed Prices: Lost Girls, Alec: The Years Have Pants!
-- Slashed Prices: Essex County, Moving Pictures, BB Wolf!
-- Slashed Prices: Owly Hardcovers and Plushy, Undeleted Scenes!
-- Slashed Prices: Dodgem Logic, The Surrogates Owner's Manual!
-- Slashed Prices: The 120 Days of Simon, Far Arden, and more!

-- $3 Titles: Voice of the Fire, The Surrogates (Vols 1 & 2)!
-- $3 Titles: Sulk (Vols 1, 2, & 3), I Am Going To Be Small!
-- $3 Titles: SuperF*ckers #1-#4, Lower Regions, Please Release!
-- $3 Titles: Regards from Serbia, Delayed Replays, and more!

-- $1 Titles: The Surrogates #1-#5, Black Ghost Apple Factory!
-- $1 Titles: The Man Who Loved Breasts, Comic Diorama, 24x2!
-- $1 Titles: Jack's Luck Runs Out, Tales/Great Unspoken, & more!

Please note that Top Shelf accepts PayPal (as well as Visa, MasterCard, Amex, and Discover -- all secure), and that this
sale is good for retailers as well (and comic book shops will get their wholesale discount on top of these sale prices).

http://www.topshelfcomix.com/specialdeals
http://www.topshelfcomix.com/specialdeals

Your friend thru comics,

Chris Staros
Top Shelf Productions
PO Box 1282
Marietta GA 30061-1282
USA

Another Gallant sketch

Another sketch from Shannon, for another con goer -

"St Trinian's girl..."

 
- and he didn't even have a table. This is a Searle tribute, of course.

Another reason to buy sketches from Shannon (SL) Gallant at cons

My 3rd original Shadow drawing is this sweet piece. I now have a collection. Coming soon - Roger Langridge's SPX drawing.

Jerzy Drozd's arrival at SPX on his Comics Are Great podcast

This is a new podcast, and since I'm too tired to post any of my SPX bits yet - here's one to try out.

http://comicsaregreat.com/?p=790

Off to SPX and Intervention

I'll be hanging around SPX until around 4 today, and then moving over to Intervention. Tomorrow I'll be at SPX and running a panel with Richard Thompson, Keith Knight and Marguerite Dabaie.

Kleefeld visits Big Planet

Big Planet Comics, Bethesda
Wednesday, September 08, 2010

"The inside of the store was almost surprisingly clean." Who needs a better recommendation than that?

Niffenegger and Feiffer also at Politics and Prose

Audrey Niffenegger will be signing her new comic book, The Night Bookmobile on Sept 18th at 3:30 pm.

 

Jules Feiffer and Norton Juster will be signing The Odious Ogre at 11 am on Sept 26th.

 

Not a comics writer, but science fiction author William Gibson will be there later the same day at 1 pm.

 

Here's an NPR piece with Feiffer:

 

 

Hansen, Liane.  2010.

'Phantom Tollbooth' Creators Reunited By An 'Ogre'.

National Public Radio's Weekend Edition Sunday (September 5).

online at  http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=129608795

http://public.npr.org/anon.npr-mp3/npr/wesun/2010/09/20100905_wesun_08.mp3

and http://www.npr.org/templates/transcript/transcript.php?storyId=129608795

Sturm at Politics and Prose tonight

Note that it's an hour later than usual.

James Sturm - Market Day
8 p.m. Co-founder of the Center for Cartoon Studies, Sturm has set this beautifully crafted historical fiction in the Eastern European countryside of the 1900s. His day in the life of Mendleman, a carpet peddler, uses spare narrative and finely-honed images to achieve a powerful emotional resonance.

Geppi Museum curator Arnold Blumberg featured in Post

Exploring the undead: University of Baltimore to offer English class on zombies

By Daniel de Vise
Washington Post September 10, 2010; B01

Weldon on Cruse's Stuck Rubber Baby

A book I liked a lot although I haven't read it since it originally came out.

Back in Print: In 'Stuck Rubber Baby,' Civil Rights In Black & White & Gray
by Glen Weldon
September 8, 2010

Comic Riffs on Peanuts syndication move

These are strange times...

Good grief: 'PEANUTS' will leave syndicate in February for Universal [UPDATED]
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog September 9, 2010

Tonight! Keith Knight and Richard Thompson duet

They're at Politics and Prose bookstore on Conn Ave, NW in the District -

Thursday September 9
Richard Thompson & Keith Knight
7 p.m. In conjunction with the Small Press Expo (September 11-12 at the Bethesda North Marriott Hotel & Conference Center), we're delighted to host two artists who excel at contemplating the minutiae of everyday life and making it hilarious. Thompson's strip is focused on a loveable family in a suburban development, while Knight's is told through the eyes of a city dweller.

and the following evening-

Friday September 10
James Sturm - Market Day
8 p.m. Co-founder of the Center for Cartoon Studies, Sturm has set this beautifully crafted historical fiction in the Eastern European countryside of the 1900s. His day in the life of Mendleman, a carpet peddler, uses spare narrative and finely-honed images to achieve a powerful emotional resonance.