Artisphere’s Half of “Party Crashers” Exhibit Opens Tomorrow

Artisphere's Half of "Party Crashers" Exhibit Opens Tomorrow
Posted by Mike Rhode on Dec. 10, 2010

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/artsdesk/general/2010/12/10/artisphere%e2%80%99s-half-of-party-crashers-exhibit-opens-tomorrow/

Comic Riffs on the end of Brenda Starr (which the Post didn't run)

After 70 years, Brenda Starr will soon face final deadline
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post December 10, 2010; C05
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/09/AR2010120907040.html

 

Neal (Conan) on Neil (Gaiman) on NPR

Neal Conan, who's in Washington, according to this story's dateline, although that never occurred to me before, interviewed Neil Gaiman today -

Best Of 2010: Gaiman On The 'Golden Age' Of Comics
National Public Radio's Talk of the Nation December 9, 2010
http://www.npr.org/2010/12/09/131937258/neil-gaiman-selects-top-american-comics-of-2010
http://public.npr.org/anon.npr-mp3/npr/totn/2010/12/20101209_totn_03.mp3
http://www.npr.org/templates/transcript/transcript.php?storyId=131937258

- do you readers want me to link to more NPR stories since it's based here in DC? I can.

Politics and Prose's recommendations - (Almost) Wordless Books

December Graphic Novel Recommendations - (Almost) Wordless Books http://www.politics-prose.com/graphic-novels

Every month Adam Waterreus reviews graphic novels for our newsletter.

If you like this genre, consider participating in the Graphic Novel Bookgroup which meets the fourth Wednesday of every month.

Long-awaited Richard Thompson interview online now

Now posted to the City Paper -

Meet a Local Cartoonist: A Chat with Richard Thompson

Posted by Mike Rhode on Dec. 9, 2010

 

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/artsdesk/books/2010/12/09/meet-a-local-cartoonist-a-chat-with-richard-thompson/

John Kelly on Arlington cartoon dog mural

Whether Arlington mural is a sign or art, compromise could help resolve dispute [print title, 'Time to play nice over illegal dog mural', December 9]

By John Kelly
Washington Post Staff Writer
Wednesday, December 8, 2010; 7:41 PM

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/08/AR2010120804163.html

Truitt on DC's Brightest Day

'Brightest Day' shines light on new DC Universe life By Brian Truitt, USA TODAY December 8 2010

SL Gallant's GI Joe comic book shipped today

Shannon "SL" Gallant, our Dupont Circle-area action hero artist, had the first issue of the GI Joe comic book reboot he's illustrating for 1980s fan favorite writer Larry Hama ship today - G.I. Joe #161 (IDW, $3.99) should be available at local comic stores.

McElhatton on Little

Greg McElhatton has a review up for Jason Little's new book Motel Art Improvement Service - I love Little's stuff. If only this had been out when his wife Myla Goldberg was in town last month signing her new book.

New Yorker cartoonist Liza Donnelly was in DC yesterday

According to the Daily Cartoonist, New Yorker cartoonist Liza Donnelly was in DC yesterday. Noted for history (although you can give TED $100 if you want to watch a recording of her talk).

Weldon explains the Green hero

A Spandex-Set Field Guide: Get To Know Your Greens (Hornet, Lantern, Arrow)

by Glen Weldon

National Public Radio's Monkey See blog (December 8, 2010)

http://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2010/12/08/131899207/a-spandex-set-field-guide-get-to-know-your-greens-hornet-lantern-arrow?sc=nl&cc=msb-20101208

- and he's got a suprising amount of comments from women.

A Chat With editorial cartoonist Steve Artley is up at City Paper

Meet a Local Cartoonist: A Chat With Steve Artley

by Mike Rhode on Dec. 8, 2010

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/artsdesk/books/2010/12/08/meet-a-local-cartoonist-a-chat-with-steve-artley/

 

Arlington cartoonish dog mural, continued.

A few days ago, I mentioned a mural of dogs in Arlington, and the battle over whether it's advertising a business or brightening up the adjacent dog park. Today's Washington Examiner reveals that the artist is Mark Gutierrez. The story says "The mural looks just like her logo," [Zoning administrator] Artman explained. "If you consider that the Mercedes Benz or Lexis logo is not advertising, then I suppose Ms. Houghton is correct."

So let's check that out:

Here's the top of Wag More Dogs website:

Here's a shot of the mural, from Courthouse News Services' good story on the lawsuit:

Looks like the same artist to me. Whether or not the mural is advertising for the business around the corner? I have no opinion, except that even if it is, I'd rather look at a piece of art than a blank wall. Gutierrez's painting is at least fun.

Jan 13: Brad Meltzer at Politics and Prose

January 13 at 7 pm, Brad Meltzer will be at Politics and Prose.

http://www.politics-prose.com/event/book/brad-meltzer-inner-circle

 

 

PR: New Kaltoons Store is Open

The new redesigned and refurbished Kaltoons store is now up and operational. Please stop by and browse for Kal books and the new fully illustrated Economist 2011 Wall Kalendar.  Here's the link:

http://shop.kaltoons.com

Best wishes

Kal

Kevin Kallaugher

kal@kaltoons.com

www.Kaltoons.com

The KAL iPhone App is now available at the iTunes store.

Send a holiday e-card from Donna Lewis' forthcoming Reply All comic strip

You too can send a holiday e-card from Donna Lewis' forthcoming Reply All comic strip - click here.

Dec 20: Cul de Sac booksigning

Richard Thompson will be at a new bookstore on December 20th at 7 pm. As previously noted, he'll be at Big Planet Comics Bethesda on December 14th. Lucky these are bookstores so he can get his Christmas shopping done.

Comic Riffs on Charlie Brown Christmas

Cavna gets quotes from Mike Peters and Michael Chabon too-

Tonight's 'A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS': Show's Emmy-winning producer reflects on its enduring appeal
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog (December 7 2010)

Comic art book reviews now at City Paper

International Ink: Think Holiday Thoughts

Posted by Mike Rhode on Dec. 7, 2010

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/artsdesk/books/2010/12/07/international-ink-think-holiday-thoughts/

 

I'd be interested in hearing anyone's opinions about these, or any other books they'd recommend at the tail end of 2010.

PR: Fantom Comics Hardcover Holiday Sale

They called us crazy the first time we did. People looked at us with skepticism, "How can you sell these beautiful, pristine Marvel hardcovers at such low, low prices?"   The answer is simple; at Fantom Comics, we make the impossibe, happen.   And we're about to do it again. Over 50 select Marvel hardcovers will be on sale while supplies last.   These aren't damaged books or remainder copies. No, these are a special purchase and absolute things of beauty.   And a perfect opportunity to pick that perfect Christmas gift.   Let me give you the names of a few of the books included within this sale:   ASTONISHING X-MEN HC VOLUME ONE (Written by Buffy The Vampire Slayer creator Joss Whedon)   HULK VOLUME ONE: RED   ONSLAUGHT REBORN HC   ETERNALS BY NEIL GAIMAN HC   Hardcovers previously retailing $35, now priced at or below $12!   Are we crazy? Not at all. Just people who know a good bargain when we see one and more importantly, know how to pass it on to our awesome Fantom Comics customer.   Sale starts Wednesday, December 12th! Union Station - 50 Massachusetts Avenue NE | Washington, DC 20002 | 202-216-9478 www.fantomcomics.com

Arlington's dog mural

I hadn't paid much attention to the controversy over a Shirlington dog mural, but am being asked about it, so here's a couple of pieces on it -

 

http://washingtonexaminer.com/local/virginia/2010/12/arlington-doggie-mural-heart-federal-lawsuit

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/crime-scene/spencer-s-hsu/lawsuit-over-arlington-dog-mur.html

 

Anybody know who the artist is?

Richmond's AdHouse Books' Duncan the Wonder Dog featured as NY Times holiday book

Chris Pitzer, publisher of Richmond's AdHouse Books' has been putting out some high quality books, and now Duncan the Wonder Dog is featured as NY Times holiday book -

 

Holiday Books: Graphic Novels

By DAN KOIS
December 5, 2010

Nick Galifianakis #1 on local booksales list

Nick Galifianakis' new book is #1 on the Post's local booksales list -

1. If You Loved Me, You'd Think This Was Cute: Uncomfortably True Cartoons About You

(Andrews McMeel, $12.99). By Nick Galifianakis (1)

Gallant's GI Joe 'pick of the week' by G4 on LA Times site

Shannon Gallant and Larry Hama's GI Joe is 'pick of the week' by G4's Blair Butler on the LA Times Hero Complex site. 

In Between the Panels: DC's Emergence on the Graphic Novel Scene - parts 1 thru 6 on YouTube

In Between the Panels: DC's Emergence on the Graphic Novel Scene - parts 1 thru 6
Filmed by Astray Productions Joe Carabeo
Astray Productions (December 3 2010)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x26ZBYIl5Oc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ft8mAYB_Yyc
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pejmI3Q8Upo
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EwFoBZxVTPY
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPp4Uc5WNqk
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WOoTnaoi1c4

In Between the Panels: DC's Emergence on the Graphic Novel Scene
Wednesday, November 17.
Busboys and Poets, 5th & K Streets, Washington, DC

The Women's National Book Association, DC Chapter  sponsored a panel discussion on the DC graphic novel scene. The panel for the event, was held at Busboys & Poets in Mount Vernon and included Carolyn Belefski, Molly Lawless, Matt Dembicki, and Mike Rhode.

Carolyn Belefski is the mastermind behind the web comic Curls. She is also one of the creators of several other comic books: Kid Roxy, Black Magic Tales, and The Legettes, and an indefatigable (nightly) poster to her blog, Sketch Before Sleep. Her work has appeared in USA WEEKEND Magazine, The Commonwealth Times, Virginia Living Magazine, Magic Bullet, CROQ Zine, and The Pulse on COMICON.com. Ms. Belefski is a nominee for the Kim Yale Award for Most Talented Newcomer for 2010.

Matt Dembicki is a DC-based cartoonist whose work includes the award-winning nature parable Mr. Big, The Great White Shark Story, Xoc, and The Brewmaster's Castle, about legendary DC brewer Christian Heurich. His latest anthology, Trickster: Native American Tales: A Graphic Collection, has received rave reviews from Booklist, Publishers Weekly and School Library Journal and has been nominated as one of the Young Adult Library Services Association's 2011 Great Graphic Novels for Teens. In addition to his own work, Dembicki also hosts kids' workshops in the DC area and beyond on making comic books.

Molly Lawless, a Boston native, moved to the DC area in 2005. She has self-published mini comics as well as a compilation, Infandum! Ad Infinitum. She is currently working on a full-length graphic novel for McFarland Publishing titled Hit by Pitch. She is an avid blogger and includes stories about her family in her daily posts.

Mike Rhode, panel moderator, is co-author of the comics research bibliography, editor of Exhibition and Media Reviews for the International Journal of Comic Art, and a contributing writer for Hogan's Alley. In 2008, he was named Best (Comics) Art Blogger by the Washington City Paper for his Comics DC blog. Rhodes edited Harvey Pekar: Conversations, a book of interviews with the late underground comic book writer and author of American Splendor published by the University Press of Mississippi. He has written for the Comics Journal and was selected as an RFK Journalism Awards judge for the editorial cartoon division of Comics Journal in 2009 and 2010. Rhodes currently writes about comics for the City Paper.

Matt Dembicki's Cartoon Cult exhibit photos

Matt Dembicki has put up some photographs of the opening of the Cartoon Cult exhibit at The Soundry in Vienna, VA.

Today: Capicon comics show at Tyson's Corner

Capicons Comic Book & Pop Culture Con
Sun, Dec. 5, 2010

10 am - 3 pm

Dunn Loring Volunteer Fire Hall, 

2148 Gallows Rd, Dunn Loring, Virginia

Admission $3 - Kids FREE!

Open to the public from 10 am - 3 pm. Buy, sell & trade: Gold, Silver, Bronze Age comics; Indie & Modern comics, Publishers & Creators, TV & Movie Collectibles. Non-sport cards; Videos & DVDs; Horror/Sci-Fi; figures, toys; Star Wars & Star Trek memorabilia; original artwork, posters and other comic-related collectibles.

FEATURING:
John Gallagher of Sky-Dog Comics (Buzzboy, Roboy Red)


Steve Conley (Star Trek, Astounding Space Thrills, Bloop, Kid Knight)


Andre Campbell and Tyran Eades of Heritage Comics HSQ


Dan Nokes, 21st Century Sandshark


Chris Flick, Capes & Babes


Rob Anderson, Panda Dog Press


Tim Dzon

Directions to DLVFRD: 
Take I-495 (DC/Capital Beltway) to Exit 47A (Rt. 7 West). Go 1/2 Mile, Left on Gallows Rd. 1 mile to 2148 Gallows Rd

"In Between the Panels: DC’s Emergence on the Graphic Novel Scene" video online now

Carolyn 'Curls' Belefski has posted a link to "In Between the Panels: DC's Emergence on the Graphic Novel Scene" video which is online now. Carolyn, Matt Dembicki and Molly Lawless talked comics while I read questions at them. Carolyn's SO Joe Carabeo kindly recorded the event for posterity. Carolyn also mentioned another website - Jada Bradley's DC Cultural Examiner blog - that covered the event.

Arlington Art Center cartoon classes in January

January COMIC ART Mini Semester
The FUNdaMentals!

Saturdays, January 8 & 15
12:30- 2 pm
Grades 6-8
Instructor: Eric Piccione
$37

Have fun with wacky characters in this cartooning course. In single panel and multi-panel exercises, develop a humorous main character. You will build important sketching, drawing, and inking skills while you review methods cartoonist devised to create a dynamic main character in your story. Visit the Jenkins Gallery to see work by students who took classes with Eric Piccione this summer. Click here for more information and to register.

KAPOW! Comic Explosion

Sundays, January 9, 16 & 23

12:30- 3:30 pm

For adults and mature high school juniors & seniors

Instructor: Jacqueline Levine

$90

BAM! You try to look the other way, but there it is too... COMICS! It's in advertisements, on sneakers, CD covers, clothes, and on your uncle's bookshelf. It's everywhere and everybody loves it. Come to Arlington Arts Center where ZAPP! you'll land into the classroom to learn the basics about creating comic art imagery. Explore inking, character development, narrative, and composition. You will then have the opportunity to use experimental mediums and forms to create your art piece in the format you envision. By the end of this class, POOF!, you are a creative superhero.

Please click here for more information and to register.

thanks to Herschel K for the tip!

Maira Kalman and Walking Dead featured in Post

'And the Pursuit of Happiness,' illustrator Maira Kalman's quirky take on American history
By Monica Hesse
Washington Post December 4, 2010

This event was filmed so hopefully will show up on the Library of Congress website. The Hirschhorn director introduced Kalman by saying she does illuminated manuscripts.

Q&A: 'The Walking Dead's' Andrew Lincoln
By Liz Kelly
Washington Post's Celebritology 2.0 blog December 3, 2010

Tonight: Cartoon Cult exhibit opens in Vienna

“Cartoon Cult” is an art show celebrating contemporary art forms of cartoons, comics, digital animation, illustration, anime, and videogames (emphasis on original characters).

OPENING RECEPTION! SATURDAY DEC. 4TH 7-11PM
The Soundry, 316 Dominion Road, Vienna, VA 22180


ARTISTS:
Ivan Collich
Matt Somma
Matt Dembicki
Jeannette Herrera
Heather Moore
Joseph Galletta
Kristen Fritch
Xenia Latii
Chris Day
Bobby Moore
Jeff Block
Ralph Paine
Matthew Mehmel
Cavan Fleming
Annie Lunsford
Steve Loya
Christiann MacAuley

Dark Horse editor loves Finder

Dark Horse editor Rachel Edidin loves Carla Speed McNeil's Finder.

Rob Ullman's Capital's fangirl

Check out Rob Ullman's Washington Capital's fangirl.

Washington Times positive about local 'Annie'

'Annie' gets Olney in the holiday mood
by Terry Ponick
Washington Times' Curtain Up! blog December 1, 2010

Frank Cho on cover of DC magazine

Blog co-author Randy T reports "Frank Cho is on cover of DC magazine -  while his article is pretty terse, he did get the blurb and illustration on the cover: http://media.modernluxury.com/digital.php?e=WASH

 Up, Up and Away! Local comic book artist Frank Cho goes intergalactic and proves he’s a superhero in his own right
By Tiffany Jow
DC (December 2010): 48

  You can also download a pdf of the issue.

Oddly enough, the cover is Michelle Obama, getting the Cho superheroine treatment.

Monkey See blog on Tangled

Holmes, Linda.  2010.

Pop Culture Happy Hour: Disney Princesses And People We're Pulling For.

National Public Radio's Monkey See blog (December 3): http://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2010/12/03/131779569/pop-culture-happy-hour-disney-princesses-and-people-we-re-pulling-for and http://public.npr.org/anon.npr-mp3/npr/blog/2010/12/20101202_blog_pchh.mp3

International Journal of Comic Art 12:2/3 is out

The latest issue of the International Journal of Comic Art #12:2/3 is out. 712 pages in this issue. It's time to renew for 2012 at $45 / year.

George Washington University's Philip Troutman has a piece in the current issue, and the exhibit review section has work by me on local shows.

Table of Contents:
John A. Lent 1 Editor’s Note

Fabrice Leroy 2 Yves Chaland and Lue Cornillon’s Rewriting of Classical Belgian Comics in Captivant: From Graphic Homage to Implicit Criticism

Giancarla Unser-Schutz 25 Exploring the Role of Language in Manga: Text Types, Their Usages, and Their Distributions

Rick Marschall 44 Nurturing the Butterfly: My Life in Comic Art Studies

Derik A. Badman 91 Talking, Thinking, and Seeing in Pictures: Narration, Focalization, and Ocularization in Comics Narratives

Enrique Garcia 112 Coon Imagery in Will Eisner’s The Spirit and Yolanda Vargas Dulché’s Memín Pinguín and Its Legacy in the Contemporary United States and Mexican Comic Book Industries

Kerry Soper 125 From Jive Crows in “Dumbo” to Bumbazine and “Pogo”: Walt Kelly and the Conflicted Politics Reracinating African American Types in Mid-20th Century Comics

Robert Furlong and Christophe Cassiau-Haurie 150 Comic Books, Politics, and Manipulation: The Case of Repiblik Zanimo, the First Comic Strip and Book in Creole

Grazyna Gajewsk 159 Between History and Memory – Marzi: Children Should Be Seen and Not Heard Marzena Sowa and Sylvain Savoia

Matthew M. Chew and Lu Chen 171 Media Institutional Contexts of the Emergence and Development of Xinmanhua in China

Jörn Ahrens 192 The Father’s Art of Crime: Igort’s 5 Is the Perfect Number

Marco Pellitteri 209 Comics Reading and Attitudes of Openness toward the Other: The Italian-Speaking Teenagers’ Case in South Tyrol

Iren Ozgur 248 Have You Heard the One about the Islamist Humor Magazine?

Weidan Cao 251 The Mountains and the Moon, the Willows and the Swallows: A Hybrid Semiotic Analysis of Feng Zikai’s “New Paintings for Old Poems”

Candida Rifkind 268 A Stranger in an Strange Land? Guy Delisle Redraws the Travelogue

Daniel Stein 291 The Long Shadow of Wilhelm Busch: “Max & Moritz” and German Comics

Hannah Miodrag 309 Fragmented Text: The Spatial Arrangement of Words in Comics

Christopher Eklund 328 Toward an Ethicoaesthetics of Comics: A Critical Manifesto

Muliyadi Mahamood 336 The Malaysian Humor Magazine Gila-Gila: An Appreciation

Roy Bearden-White 354 Inheriting Trauma in Chris Ware’s Jimmy Corrigan: The Smartest Kid on Earth

Philippe Gauthier 367 On “Institutionalization”: From Cinema to Comics

Marc A. Londo 376 Mr. Tap and His African-American Cartoons of the 1940s/1950s

Marcia R. Ristaino 395 Two Linked by Another, Ding Cong: Interviews with Betty McIntosh and Shen Jun

Shelley Drake Hawks 402 Ding Cong’s “True Story of Ah Q” in Art and Life

John A. Lent and Xu Ying 425 Fengjing – The Town That Claimed Ding Cong

Phillip Troutman 432 The Discourse of Comics Scholarship: A Rhetorical Analysis of Research Article Introductions

Ross Murray 445 Referencing Comics: A Comprehensive Citation Guide

Sylvain Rheault 459 Curvy Alterations in “Gaston” by Franquin

Miriam Peña-Pimentel 469 Baroque Features in Japanese Hentai

Yuko Nakamura 487 What Does the “Sky” Say? – Distinctive Characteristics of Manga and What the Sky Represents in It

B.S. Jamuna 509 Strategic Positioning and Re-presentations of Women in Indian Comics

Meena Ahmed 525 Exploring the Dimensions of Political Cartoons: A Case Study of Pakistan

Camila Figueiredo 543 Tunes Across Media: The Intermedial Transposition of Music in Watchmen

Rania M. R. Saleh 552 Making History Come Alive Through Political Cartoons

Bill Kartalopoulos 565 Taking and Making Liberties: Narratives of Comics History

Toni Masdiono 577 An Indonesian Bid for the First Graphic Novel

John A. Lent 581 In Remembrance of Five Major Comic Art Personalities

Perucho Mejia Garcia 588 Ismael Roldan Torres (1964-2009) of Colombia: A Memorial Tribute

Zheng Huagai 598 Tributes to Two Famous, Anti-Japanese War Cartoonists: Zhang Ding and Te Wei

John A. Lent 614 The Printed Word

620 Book Reviews

644 Exhibition and Media Reviews

696 Correction

697 Portfolio

Dec 4: Cartoon Cult exhibit opens in Vienna

“Cartoon Cult” is an art show celebrating contemporary art forms of cartoons, comics, digital animation, illustration, anime, and videogames (emphasis on original characters).

OPENING RECEPTION! SATURDAY DEC. 4TH 7-11PM
The Soundry, 316 Dominion Road, Vienna, VA 22180


ARTISTS:
Ivan Collich
Matt Somma
Matt Dembicki
Jeannette Herrera
Heather Moore
Joseph Galletta
Kristen Fritch
Xenia Latii
Chris Day
Bobby Moore
Jeff Block
Ralph Paine
Matthew Mehmel
Cavan Fleming
Annie Lunsford
Steve Loya
Christiann MacAuley

Ketcham and Hotchkiss' Navy cartoon posters from World War 2

Courtesy of the US Navy's Bureau of Medicine and Surgery, the National Museum of Health and Medicine has scans of these Navy posters from World War 2.

One is by Dennis the Menace creator Hank Ketcham -



The rest are by Hotchkiss -

Cavna interviews Maureen Dowd comic book creator

Brenda Starr meets Batgirl: Artist gives MAUREEN DOWD her own bio-comic book (UPDATED)
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog December 2 2010.

He also got a few quotes including one by Stan Lee, on the passing of an Archie artist -

RIP, Archie Comics & Marvel artist John 'Jon' D'Agostino
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog December 1 2010

Meet a Local Cartoonist: A Chat With Kevin Ward

Now online at the City Paper - Meet a Local Cartoonist: A Chat With Kevin Ward, by Mike Rhode on Dec. 2, 2010.

Brad Meltzer, former local comics writer, interviewed on his new tv show Decoded

Brad Meltzer, a former local comics writer, answered some of my questions on his new tv show Decoded. First, here's some information about him from the press release for the show.

 

Brad Meltzer is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of The Book of Fate and six other novels. His first non-fiction work Heroes For My Son, a collection of historical heroes, recently hit the New York Times bestseller list. Meltzer is also author of the critically acclaimed comic books Identity Crisis and Justice League of America and is the first author to ever reach the #1 spot on both the New York Times and the Diamond comic book bestseller lists simultaneously. Meltzer's books have spent over eleven months on bestseller lists, and have been translated into over 25 languages.

  
Best-selling author Brad Meltzer loves a good mystery. A history enthusiast known for his immaculate research, he has studied and written about some of America's most revered institutions and documents. But sometimes he uncovers unverifiable stories that keep him awake at night. Is there another hidden message buried in the Statue of Liberty? What happened to the White House cornerstone that's been missing for two centuries?  Could it be true that John Wilkes Booth lived for 40 years after his presumed death under an assumed identity? 

In the new 10-part series BRAD MELTZER'S DECODED, premiering on Thursday, December 2 at 10 p.m. on HISTORY®, Meltzer scours secret clues, symbols and conspiracy theories to unravel some of society's most provocative enigmas. And the deeper he digs into the past, the more we learn about our future. 
 
Together with a team of experts – Buddy Levy, a professor and journalist who assumes there is always more than meets the eye; Christine McKinley, a mechanical engineer who believes only what she can prove; and Scott Rolle, a trial lawyer who is skeptical by nature – Meltzer hunts for answers to questions that have perplexed us for centuries yet have never been fully investigated.
 
The premiere episode rolls out with "The White House" as the team gets to the bottom – literally – of a mystery concerning the cornerstones of our democracy.  Laid by the ultra secretive Freemasons, this landmark piece of stone vanished. The search for the cornerstone has been on for over 200 years, everyone from Harry Truman to Barbara Bush have looked for it. Is it a coincidence…or is there a secret conspiracy tied to these stones and the buildings they were meant to support?

 

ComicsDC: Brad, to provide a figleaf of cover for this appearing on ComicsDC - you used to live in suburban Maryland, and you still write comics, correct?

 

Brad Meltzer: Of course.

 

 ComicsDC: How did the idea for the tv show come about?

 

Brad Meltzer: One of the heads of HISTORY read my novel The Book of Fate, which dealt with Freemasons and the secret codes that Thomas Jefferson used when he was President -- and then said, "We should do a show like this."  And y'know what that is?  That's dumb luck by me.

 

 ComicsDC: How did the topics get picked?

 

Brad Meltzer: I keep a book (now books) of every idea I've had over the years -- some stupid and dumb and not fleshed out -- and some that'll feed characters and comic books and anything else.  And there were just tons of historical details that I'd love to know the answers to, but just couldn't use in the books.  So really, I'm stealing from my future novels.

 

ComicsDC: How much research do you personally do or supervise?

 

Brad Meltzer: For the novels, I do all the research myself.  But for the show, HISTORY said, you give us the mysteries and we'll give you the research team to solve it.  The problem is, I still couldn't help myself and sometimes found myself digging as well.

 

ComicsDC: Which is your favorite show?

 

Brad Meltzer: Of Decoded?  I love this first one airing tonight -- about the first piece of the White House.  That was the very first idea I suggested, and it really set up a good model for the show.  Sure, we're not digging it up from below the White House -- but we do answer questions like, is it hollow?  And what's inside?  As for surprises, the John Wilkes Booth one is the one that kept me awake.

 

ComicsDC: Navy medical historian Jan Herman is a friend of mine - I've known him for 20 years - and he hasn't convinced me yet that Lincoln's murderer John Wilkes Booth may have escaped, as one of your shows examines. Did any of the shows change your mind about an historical 'truth'?

 

Brad Meltzer: I hear you.  And I started the Booth show thinking the exact same thing.  But wait till you see Booth's family telling their side of the story.  It's like "Who is Donna Troy?"  Will mess you up good.

 

ComicsDC: Is the show going to continue? If so, do you know what other topics you'd like to look into?

 

Brad Meltzer: It depends if we get more viewers than my last try at television -- Jack & Bobby.  There, our ratings were 14.  Not a 14 share.  Fourteen people.  Total.

 

ComicsDC: Is it really possible to solve a mystery for a tv show?

 

Brad Meltzer: Especially with historical shows, the biggest barrier is simply that so much of the physical evidence is gone or unavailable.  When Lee Harvey Oswald was dead, theories started that it wasn't him in the grave.  So they dug him up and proved it was.  If you want to solve the Booth mystery, dig up the grave.  For now, the government still won't allow it.  But when you watch our Lewis episode, the ballistic evidence and the other details we find definitely add a huge piece to the puzzle.  

 

ComicsDC: Your next book is about secrets in a museum or archives - can you tell us anything about that?

 

Brad Meltzer: The Inner Circle comes out 1/11/11 and for that one, I got help with the research from a former President of the United States.  So I'm now gearing up that release.

 

ComicsDC: What is your favorite museum or archives? 

 

Brad Meltzer: The National Archives.  No question.  It's the attic of the US Government.  Library of Congress is a close second.

 

ComicsDC: And bringing it all back home, do you have any plans to write another comic book? How about adapting your existing works to graphic novels?

  

Brad Meltzer: Love to write more comics.  Without question, comics still have had the biggest influence on my writing.  More than film.  More than novels.  More than anything.  They're still the best.

 

PR: Brad Meltzer's Decoded premieres on the History Channel tonight at 10pm/9c

Former local comics writer new tv show, Brad Meltzer's Decoded, is on the History Channel tonight.
http://www.history.com/shows/brad-meltzers-decoded/videos/behind-the-scenes-brad-meltzers-decoded#brad-meltzers-decoded-preview

Ian Sattler's come a long way from Big Planet Comics

DC Comics promotes Eddie Berganza and Ian Sattler
December 1, 2010 by Kevin Melrose

Ian was a clerk at the Bethesda store, years ago.

Dec 14 LIVE cartoonist/illustrator Richard Thompson at Big Planet Comics

As Mad used to say - Accept no imitations!

On Tuesday, December 14 from 7-9 PM, cartoonist/illustrator Richard Thompson will sign his newest Cul de Sac collection, Shapes and Colors, at Big Planet Comics, 4908 Fairmont Ave, Bethesda, MD. 301-654-6856.

--

Joel Pollack

Big Planet Comics
Bethesda
4908 Fairmont Ave
Bethesda, Maryland 20814
301-654-6856

Nick Galifianakis pics

Here's a few shots of Nick Galifianakis signing his new cartoon collection book. Buy it now... or the Newfie may visit. My City Paper interview with Nick is here.

Matt Dembicki posts photos of Party Crashers exhibit

Right here.

I still haven't made it back to the exhibit.

Drew Sheneman, latest editorial cartoonist casualty, interviewed on Comic Riffs

Exit Interview: Buyout in hand, Star-Ledger cartoonist DREW SHENEMAN plans a career 'reinvention'
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs December 1, 2010
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/comic-riffs/2010/12/exit_interview_star-ledgers_dr.html

Weldon reviews 'Special Exits'

It's a nice, touching review -

 

Going Gentle Into That Good Night Goes Awry: The Graphic Memoir 'Special Exits'

by Glen Weldon

National Public Radio's Monkey See blog December 1, 2010

  http://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2010/11/30/131699453/going-gentle-into-that-good-night-goes-awry-the-graphic-memoir-special-exits

Discovery Channel comic books article in today's Examiner

It's this article -

Discovery Channel expanding into comic books
(AP) – November 29 2010
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5g9JIk6JddX6PYnGdsVIv8p8BPBlQ?docId=323a0d02552f4b9cbb5b556c8671ca1e