Post ombudsman on censoring Opus

See "Why Were These Comics Dropped?" by Deborah Howell, Washington Post Sunday, September 16, 2007; Page B06. Apparently it was the decision of executive editor Len Downie - whom one would have hoped had better things to do than worry about the comics pages. The omsbudsman thinks he was wrong. Click on the 'censorship' tag at the bottom for further examples of the Post dropping strips.

Christopher Bing

The New York Times has published one of my favorite non-cartoonists today - editorial illustrator Christopher Bing. He illustrated letters for 'Parsing Bush's address on Iraq' on the editorial page, but unfortunately the illustration isn't online. Bing used to do regular illustrations for the Post's Sunday Opinion section, but is rarely seen there now, sigh.

Sept. 24: David Wallis appearance for Killed Cartoons in Fairfax REPOST

I enjoyed the book quite a bit.
FALL FOR THE BOOK
GEORGE MASON UNIVERSITY
FAIRFAX, VIRGINIA

Sept. 24, 12:00 pm David Wallis Gold Room, Johnson Center
Davis Wallis discusses "Killed: Great Journalism Too Hot to Print and Killed Cartoons: Casualties from the War on Free Expression."

The six-day Fall for the Book Festival celebrates literature, learning and all types of books and storytelling - from literary fiction to mystery and thrillers to folk tales, from poetry and plays to children's books, and across a diverse range of nonfiction: history, memoir, politics and more. All events are free and open to the public.

Richard Thompson's Cul de Sac launches in the Post

...several years ago. But it relaunches tomorrow. You can get the details here, or buy the paper tomorrow, or steal that bit that the Post delivers on Saturday from a neighbor's lawn - the one with the coupons and the comics and the magazine. And note the Post editor taking credit for the idea. Why the nerve of that guy.

Richard really does look like that, by the way. Except he's taller.

OT: Administrivia

I just discovered 'tagging' which will let you, the reader, click on a link on the bottom of each post and get every post that I've tagged with that link on one page. So I'll start working my way backwards through the list so you can use it more efficiently. Thanks go out to my friend Ed, who runs the Daily Randonneur cycling blog, for the help.

Next week - we discover fire.

Oct 18-20 ICAF: LAT, KAL and Kyle (Baker that is)

Here's the schedule - some of the talks look awfully good. I'd especially recommend Ian Gordon and Rusty Witek's. And LAT! All the way from Malaysia. KAL! Always entertaining. And Kyle Baker - an all-around excellent cartoonist who's always great to listen to.

OT: Seeking Mike Barson, who did interviews for Heavy Metal

I'm trying to find Mike Barson, who did interviews for Heavy Metal in the 1980s. I'd like to reprint one of his interviews with Harvey Pekar. When I called HM today, they said they don't own the rights to his interviews and I should contact him. Anyone have any idea how to find him?

Small Press Expo Announces the 2007 Ignatz Award Nominees

Small Press Expo Announces the 2007 Ignatz Award Nominees



For Immediate Release
Contact: Warren Bernard
Phone: 301-537-4615
E-Mail:webernard@spxpo.com

SPX 2007 will host the 11th annual presentation of the Ignatz Awards, a celebration of outstanding achievement in comics and cartooning. The Ignatz is named after Krazy Kat’s creator George Herriman's brick-wielding mouse, recognizes exceptional work that challenges popular notions of what comics can achieve, both as an art form and as a means of personal expression.

The Ignatz Awards are a festival prize, the first of such in the United States comic book industry. The nominees for the ballot were determined by a panel of five comic artists, which will be voted on by the attendees during SPX. The Ignatz Awards ceremony will be held at the North Bethesda Marriott Convention Center in Bethesda, Maryland on Saturday, October 13th, 2007 at 9:00 PM.

For more information on the Small Press Expo and the Ignatz Awards, please visit http://www.spxpo.com.

Outstanding Artist

Vanessa Davis, Papercutter #4 (Tugboat Press), Kramers Ergot #6 (Buenaventura Press)

John Hankiewicz, Asthma (Sparkplug Comic Books)

Jaime Hernandez, Love & Rockets (Fantagraphics Books)

Rutu Modan, Exit Wounds (Drawn & Quarterly)

Ted Stearn, Fuzz & Pluck in Splitsville #4 (Fantagraphics Books)



Outstanding Anthology or Collection

Curses by Kevin Huizenga (Drawn & Quarterly)

Drawn & Quarterly Showcase Vol. 4 by Gabrielle Bell, Martin Cendrera, and Dan Zettwoch (Drawn & Quarterly)

King-Cat Classix by John Porcellino (Drawn & Quarterly)

Misery Loves Comedy by Ivan Brunetti (Fantagraphics Books)

Moomin Book One by Tove Jansson (Drawn & Quarterly)



Outstanding Graphic Novel

Aya by Marguerite Abouet and Clement Oubrerie (Drawn & Quarterly)

Bookhunter by Jason Shiga (Sparkplug Comic Books)

Don't Go Where I Can't Follow by Anders Nilsen (Drawn & Quarterly)

Exit Wounds by Rutu Modan (Drawn & Quarterly)

House by Josh Simmons (Fantagraphics Books)



Outstanding Story

Delphine #1-2 by Richard Sala (Fantagraphics Books/Coconico Press)

Don't Go Where I Can't Follow by Anders Nilsen (Drawn & Quarterly)

The End #1 by Anders Nilsen (Fantagraphics Books/Coconico Press)

"Martha Gregory" by John Hankiewicz, Asthma (Sparkplug Comic Books)

"Untitled" by Gabrielle Bell, Drawn & Quarterly Showcase Vol. 4 (Drawn & Quarterly)



Promising New Talent

Gabrielle Bell, Lucky, Drawn & Quarterly Showcase Vol. 4 (Drawn & Quarterly)

Scott Campbell, Flight Vol. 4 (Ballantine Books), Hickee vol. 3 #3 (Alternative Comics)

Lilli Carre, You Ain't No Dancer Vol. 2 (New Reliable Press)

Brandon Graham, King City (TokyoPop)

Tom Neely, The Blot (I Will Destroy You)



Outstanding Series

Atlas by Dylan Horrocks (Drawn & Quarterly)

Delphine by Richard Sala (Fantagraphics Books/Coconico Press)

Dungeon by Lewis Trondheim, Joann Sfar, and various (NBM)

Love & Rockets by Los Bros Hernandez (Fantagraphics Books)

Mourning Star by Kazimir Strzepek (Bodega Distribution)



Outstanding Comic

Doctor Id by Adam McGovern and Paolo Leandri (Indie Ink Studios)

Fuzz & Pluck in Splitsville #4 by Ted Stearn (Fantagraphics Books)

Love & Rockets vol. 2 #18 by Los Bros Hernandez (Fantagraphics Books)

Monster Parade #1 by Ben Catmull (Fantagraphics Books)

Optic Nerve #11 by Adrian Tomine (Drawn & Quarterly)



Outstanding Mini-Comic

Burning Building Comix by Jeff Zwirek

The Monkey and the Crab by Shawn Cheng and Sara Edward-Corbett

Noose by Mark Burrier

P.S. Comics #3 by Minty Lewis

Seven More Days of Not Getting Eaten by Matt Wiegle



Outstanding Online Comic

Achewood by Chris Onstad (www.achewood.com)

Grace by Kris Dresen (www.girlthrow.com/grace)

Persimmon Cup by Nick Bertozzi (www.act-i-vate.com)

Thingpart by Joe Sayers (www.jsayers.com/thingpart/thingpart.html)

Wondermark by David Malki (www.wondermark.com)



2007 Ignatz Jury

Sara Edward-Corbett
Paul Hornschemeier
Steve MacIsaac
Jesse Reklaw
Zack Soto

Oct 12-13 Small Press Expo guests Cartoonists with Attitude

This came from Randy T and Warren in close succession - not the October 11th booksigning as well, as Randy points out.

Small Press Expo Announces Cartoonists With Attitude, featuring Ted Rall, Jen Sorensen and Keith Knight at SPX 2007

For Immediate Release
Contact: Warren Bernard
Phone: 301-537-4615 E-Mail:webernard@mindspring.com

Bethesda, Maryland; September 11, 2007 - Small Press Expo (SPX), the preeminent showcase for the exhibition of independent comic books, graphic novels and alternative political cartoons, is proud to announce that the Cartoonists With Attitude (C.W.A.) posse will once again attend this years SPX, which will be held October 12 and 13 at The North Bethesda Marriott Convention Center in Bethesda, Maryland.

Members of C.W.A. along with Kim Deitch, author of the graphic novel “Alias The Cat”, will also be at a book signing event to be held on October 11 at 7:30PM at the Barnes and Nobles bookstore in Bethesda, Maryland.

Founded in the finest tradition of Thomas Nast and Matt Groening, C.W.A.’s mission is to draw attention to the groundbreaking political and social commentary its member cartoonists contribute to the weekly alternative newspapers around the United States and in the online world. The C.W.A. posse coming to SPX this year consists of the following award winning cartoonists:

Ted Rall (“Search and Destroy”) - http://www.tedrall.com/

- Ted was just appointed as the new President of the American Association of Editorial Cartoonists (A.A.E.C.) and recently returned from yet another trip to Central Asia. Author, ATTITUDE editor, cartoonist, columnist and sometime TV personality, Ted is currently has two books out, the “Silk Road to Ruin: Is Central Asia the New Middle East?” and his latest cartoon collection, “America Gone Wild”.

Jen Sorensen (“Slowpoke”) - http://www.slowpokecomics.com

- Jen is now following in the footsteps of Jules Feiffer, as her weekly cartoon is now being published in the Village Voice, amongst many other alternative weeklies. The first place winner at in the 2005 Association of Alternative Newsweekly Awards, Jen has two books out, the latest being “America Gone Bonkers” and was featured in “ATTITUDE: The New Subversive Political Cartoonists”. Jen is working on her next book, “Slowpoke: One Nation, Oh My God!” due out in April 2008 from Ig Publishing, with an introduction by Ruben Bolling of “Tom The Dancing Bug” fame.


Keith Knight (“The K Chronicles”, “(th)ink”) - http://www.kchronicles.com/

- Keith is a Harvey award nominee and has twice won the Glyph Award for Best Comic Strip. He is also a rapper whose latest books are “Are We Feeling Safer Yet”? and “The Beginner's Guide to Community-Based Arts”. His art has appeared in various publications worldwide, including Salon.com, ESPN the Magazine, L.A. Weekly, MAD Magazine, the Funny Times and World War 3 Illustrated.

Mikhaela Reid (“The Boiling Point”) - http://www.mikhaela.net/

- Mikhaela has just released her first cartoon compendium entitled “Attack of the 50-Foot Mikheala!” with a foreword by Ted Rall. In 2006, Mikhaela was named one of “Girls in Government's Real Hot 100”. Mikhaela is a political cartoonist and illustrator whose work has appeared in the Los Angeles Times, The Guardian, Boston Phoenix, Bay Windows, Metro Times, The Rochester Insider, Women's eNews, In These Times, Ms., The Funny Times, Campus Progress, Girlfriends, The Minnesota Women's Press, amongst publications.

Masheka Wood (“Not Just Knee Deep”) - http://www.whatmashekadid.com

- Masheka is a Glyph Award nominee, and has just released his first book titled “Deep Doodle”. He is currently working on a series of illustrations titled “Dirty Letters” and his comic “Not Just Knee Deep”.

Stephanie McMillan (“Minimum Security”) - http://www.minimumsecurity.net/

- Stephanie’s latest book is titled “ATTITUDE: Featuring Stephanie McMillan's Minimum Securit”y. In 2006, one of her cartoons was featured in the MoCCA art show "She Draws Comics: A Century of Women Cartoonists". She recently sparked controversy with a cartoon featuring anti-choice South Dakota state senator Bill Napoli's home phone number.

August J. Pollak, (“XQUZYPHYR” & Overboard) - http://www.xoverboard.com/

- August will premiere his latest book “Junk in the Toaster” at SPX. A Washington, DC local, August's cartoon "Some Guy With a Website" and has appeared in the Los Angeles Times, In These Times, and The Huffington Post.

Matt Bors (“Idiot Box”) - http://www.mattbors.com/

- Matt was featured in “ATTITUDE 3: The New Subversive Online Cartoonists” and has self-published a series of “Idiot Box” books. Clients include the Seattle Stranger, the ACLU and The Nation.

Brian McFadden (“Big Fat Whale”) - http://www.bigfatwhale.com/

- Brian was also featured in ATTITUDE 3 and has self-published a series of “Big Fat Whale” books.

For further information on the artists or to request an interview, please contact Warren Bernard at webernard@spxpo.com.

SPX, a non-profit organization, brings together more than 300 artists and publishers to meet their readers, booksellers and distributors each year. Graphic novels, political cartoon books and alternative comics will all be on display and for sale by their authors and illustrators. A series of panel discussions will also be held of interest to readers, academicians and creators of graphic novels and political cartoons.

SPX will be open to the public from 2 pm - 8 pm, Friday, October 12 and 10am - 7 pm Saturday, October 13. Admission is $8 for a single day and $15 for bothdays.

SPX culminates with the presentation of the 11th Annual Ignatz Awards for outstanding achievement in comics and cartooning. The Ignatz is the first Festival Prize in the US comic book industry, with winners chosen by balloting during the SPX.

Oct 18: Oliphant at Politics and Prose?

At least that's what the tip I got says.

Baltimore City Paper article on Geppi's Entertainment Museum

It's the Baltimore City Paper's comic issue*. Can anyone grab me an extra copy?

For the big GEM story - read "Iron Men: Geppi's Museum May Preserve Comic Book Heroes in Amber, But They Don't Need the Help" by Violet Glaze, Baltimore City Paper (September 12, 2007).

I love this museum, but one should remember what blog one's reading, and take that as it's worth.

The issue has an intro, and there's another comics column too - "Comics and Me" by Vincent Williams, and somewhere in there, they have a comics jam which isn't online, although a description of it is.


*and shouldn't the DC City Paper have one? They're not owned by the same multi-media conglomerate though.

The Secret History of Comics: Carl Rose

My friend Warren has a theory that there's the popular history of comics - the Yellow Kid, newspaper funnies, Superman, Seduction of the Innocent, Batman tv show etc, etc and then there's another parallel history that's rarely glimpsed. Here's a look at that history.





Carl Rose did quite a few illustrations for this book - presumably it exists in hardcover so I'm only presenting a couple rather than destroying my copy. Nice work through, huh? And how many readers of this blog (all 10 of you) know anything about Rose? Obviously, he was big in his time, but now sadly forgotten.

Oct 11: Wagner and Abadzis comic signings

Big Planet owner Joel Pollack was complaining today that this blog's been too academic lately so I challenged him to give me some news. Here it is:

Matt Wagner will be at a 25th Anniversary of Grendel signing at Big Planet Bethesda on October 11, probably from 5-7 pm.

Nick Abadzis will be signing his new book, Laika, on the Russian space dog at Big Planet College Park on the same day. He'll also be making two appearances at the Air & Space Museum at some point.

More stories about comics and music

Meanwhile, over at the Express' website, an interview with author Rick
Spears and artist Chuck BB on Black Metal, or underground heavy metal music popular in Scandanavia, has been posted as "Cartoon Mayhem: 'Black Metal'", posted by Christopher Porter on September 12, 2007. The story is online only.

The comic has actually, no kidding, been read and approved of by a metal journalist from Oslo who happened to be hanging around Big Planet Bethesda today.

UVA political cartoonist canned, departure covered by Post

The Post has picked up the story of the UVA cartoonist who drew a joke about Ethiopian famine victims and lost his job after a week or so of spiraling complaints. See "Cartoonist Forced Out Over Image of African Famine" by Ian Shapira, Washington Post Staff Writer, Wednesday, September 12, 2007; B05.

Jim Lee NOT bought at auction for DC comics store

Jim Lee auctioned himself off for the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund at the Baltimore Comic-Con. According to Russ Toney, "The winning bid was $7,500.00 from a shop in Washington D.C." So who was the lucky winner? And is it a business expense?

Late-breaking comments (see below) reveal that Jim Lee was actually bought by Minnesota, a much colder place than Washington. Newsarama has a line on the story. We regret the error, although understand the story much better now, as I couldn't believe any DC store that I knew of would actually do that.

Local Arlington paper notes Zippy's visits

We had it first, thanks to my civic association's keen eyes, but here's the bigger picture, or at least more background - "Arlington Gets Zippy: A strange comic strip character has been making appearances in the diners of our fine county" by David Schultz, The Connection September 11, 2007.

Sept 11: Daniel Krall in today's NY Times

Daniel Krall, who's local insofar as he appears to be in Baltimore, has a drawing in today's NY Times on 9-11 and the Pentagon. His website says he does comics, and his work looks familiar, but I can't recollect why. Anyone?

Thompson actually swoops down on large part of US, but not DC

Although I thought the Post was carrying it, Richard's strip launched in 70 papers today according to the Daily Cartoonist, but not the Post, his home paper. As my friend Robert says, "You know, you have several dead guys there..." The scum.

They've still got the Sunday strip only online. You can see the first strip at Go Comics.

Thompson, no longer content with ruling Post, expands

Richard Thompson's now moved in on the Chippewa Valley - wherever that is - he's like a one-man Tony Soprano. "'Cul de Sac’ comes around to Herald comics page" screams The Chippewa Herald.

He also had an amusing cartoon in today's Health section as he limbers back up from vacation.