Big Planet October Events

Big Planet October Events

Oct 1-14 Back Issue Sale—50% off all back issues at our newest store, Big Planet College Park. That’s over 15,000 back issues all 50% off. Sale starts Monday OCT. 1st and ends OCT. 14th. Big Planet College Park ,7315 Baltimore Ave. , College Park, MD 20740. Phone 301.699.0498


Oct 11 Meet Nick Abadzis. Join creator Nick Abadis and Big Planet Comics in celebrating his newest book “Laika”,the story of the Russian dog sent into orbit.
He will be signing the book at our College Park Store Thursday Oct. 11th from 5pm to 7pm.

Also Oct 11 at our Bethesda store Matt Wagner will be celebrating 25 years of Grendel. Come meet him if you dare, 5pm to 7pm. Phone 301.654.6856.

And don’t forget the Small Press EXPO Oct. 12-13 at the Bethesda North Marriot. Come see Bill Griffith, Gilbert Hernandez, Jeff Smith and many many more. www.spxpo.com

Lost Book Club: 'Watchmen'

Haven't read it yet, but online today was "Lost Book Club: 'Watchmen'; A Monthly Dissection of the Books That Matter to 'Lost'-ophiles" by Jen Chaney, Liz Kelly and Jeff Jensen, washingtonpost.com Staff, Entertainment Weekly Staff Writer, Wednesday, September 26, 2007.

I've never watched Lost, but recommend Watchmen - definitely read it before the movie comes out.

Richard Thompson's Acclaimed Comic Strip Cul de Sac Debuts on GoComics

Richard Thompson's Acclaimed Comic Strip Cul de Sac Debuts on GoComics

Wed Sep 26, 2007

The most recent addition to the GoComics neighborhood may be unfamiliar to some, but Richard Thompson's Cul de Sac is no ordinary "new comic strip on the block." Formerly a Washington Post Magazine weekly exclusive, Cul de Sac made its highly anticipated daily debut in syndication on September 10th, launching simultaneously at GoComics.com and in 70 U.S. newspapers.

Kansas City, MO (PRWEB) September 26, 2007 -- The most recent addition to the GoComics neighborhood may be unfamiliar to some, but Richard Thompson's Cul de Sac is no ordinary "new comic strip on the block." Formerly a Washington Post Magazine weekly exclusive, Cul de Sac made its highly anticipated daily debut in syndication on September 10th, launching simultaneously at GoComics.com and in 70 U.S. newspapers.

Cul de Sac is an all-ages comic strip that follows the everyday suburban life of preschooler Alice Otterloop. Thompson has surrounded Alice with a colorful supporting cast, including her perpetually down-trodden older brother Petey, wide-eyed and inquisitive fellow Blisshaven Preschoolers Beni and Dill, and Mr. Danders, the class guinea pig. The strip is characterized by Thompson's quirky, intelligent wit and distinct, sketch-style cartoon art.

Now that Cul de Sac has made its long-awaited launch into syndication, Thompson is looking forward to playing to a larger crowd.

"I'm proud and tickled to have moved into the neighborhood, among so many nice people, talking animals, zombies, babies & dancing bugs," said Thompson. "And I hope that those who pass through Cul de Sac slow down long enough to enjoy it, and watch out for the hidden entrances & children at play."

To say that Cul de Sac is hitting the ground running would be an understatement. The strip began in 2004 as a weekly feature in the Washington Post Magazine. In the nearly three years since, Cul de Sac has gained a large, loyal fan following, becoming one of the magazine's most-read features.

Thompson gained further momentum when he garnered an unsolicited endorsement from one of the most successful and notoriously reclusive cartoonists of the modern era. Bill Watterson, creator of the modern-classic comic strip Calvin and Hobbes, recently voiced his praise for Thompson's work.

"Thompson has a sharp eye, a fun sense of language and a charmingly odd take on the world," said Watterson. "Best of all, his drawings are wonderful -- something one doesn't often see in cartoons anymore. I'm delighted to see Cul de Sac, and I have high hopes that Thompson will bring a much-needed jolt of energy to the daily newspaper."

Those are lofty aspirations, but GoComics CEO Chris Pizey is confident that Cul de Sac will be a monumental hit with fans.

"Cul de Sac gets top marks for every standard one can apply to a comic strip," said Pizey. "Beyond the charming characters, the perfect pitch of the artwork and the clever dialogue, there's a unique spirit that infuses this strip -- a rare and unquantifiable quality that resonates strongly with readers. There may not be a perfect word for it, but Cul de Sac has it in abundance, and we're excited to bring it to a wider audience."

Fans can read the latest Cul de Sac strip at www.GoComics.com/culdesac. They can also sign up to receive each new installment in their email for free through GoComics, or have Cul de Sac emailed to them daily along with a customized collection of their favorite comics through MyComicsPage.com, a premium subscription service offered by GoComics.

About GoComics:
GoComics (www.gocomics.com) is the online distribution portal for uclick, a leading digital entertainment provider offering a broad mix of popular comic strips for the web and mobile phones. uclick delivers entertaining comics and games to hundreds of online clients, including major consumer and news portals such as Yahoo!, MSNBC.com, New York Times, washingtonpost.com, CNNi, USA Today and AOL. Their mobile division brings comic books, manga, illustration, photography, video and games to mobile consumers worldwide. Their feature lineup includes top brands such as Garfield, The Boondocks, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, TOKYOPOP, USA Today, Pat Sajak, Mary Engelbreit, Wyland and many more. uclick's products are available through the GoComics website, top U.S. carriers and leading distributors worldwide.

uclick is a division of Andrews McMeel Universal, the leading syndicate and publisher of humor books and calendars in North America.

For more information on uclick, visit www.uclick.com.

###

uclick, LLC.
Josh Peres
816-360-6936
E-mail Information
Trackback URL: http://prweb.com/pingpr.php/UHJvZi1QaWdnLVN1bW0tTWFnbi1UaGlyLVplcm8=

Sept 30: new exhibit - ZAPP! Comic Books and the Arts.

This rolled in over the e-transom today; I'll try to make it on Sunday. Anyone else?

You're Invited!

Grand Opening and Dedication
VisArts at Rockville
Sunday Sept. 30th
Noon - 5pm
155 Gibbs Street
Rockville, Maryland 20850

Grand Opening Schedule of Events:

Noon - VisArts Dedication in Rockville Town Square

12:30pm - A very unique ribbon cutting ceremony at the 155 Gibbs Street
entrance!

Official opening of the VisArts gallery featuring the
inaugural exhibition, ZAPP! Comic Books and the Arts

1:00-5:00pm - Education Sneak Peek! Meet the teachers, see artist
demonstrations, enjoy hands-on art activities, and find out more
about art classes for you and your family. Register in person and receive a free gift!

Visit Resident Artist studios. Featuring Karen Fricke, Fabric
Kathie Lynch & Eileen Martin, Glass
Bertrand Mao, Chinese Ink-brush
Pam Hill Byrne & Johnnie Gins, Jewelry
Lauren Hinds, Fabric/Sculpture

ZAPP! Comic Books and the Arts.

Kaplan Gallery: Comics in our Culture
Regional Gallery: The Beat Goes On
Children's Discovery Gallery: What's a Hero? What's a Villain?
Portfolio Gallery: Anime, Manga and You

Children's Imagination Stations! Look for Lola the Art Dog

Building Tours
Refreshments


We look forward to seeing you there!

For more information please call the VisArts office ~ 301-315-8200
VisArts at Rockville ~ 155 Gibbs Street ~ Rockville, MD 20850

SWANN FOUNDATION ACCEPTING FELLOWSHIP APPLICATIONS

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS
101 Independence Avenue SE
Washington DC 20540

September 25, 2007

Public contact: Martha Kennedy (202) 707-9115


SWANN FOUNDATION ACCEPTING FELLOWSHIP APPLICATIONS
Foundation Supports Research in the Humorous Arts of Caricature and Cartoon

The Caroline and Erwin Swann Foundation for Caricature and Cartoon, administered by the Library of Congress, is accepting applications for its graduate fellowship for the 2008-2009 academic year. Applications are due by close of business on Friday, Feb. 15, 2008, and notification will occur in the spring.

The Swann Foundation seeks to award one fellowship annually (with a stipend of up to $15,000) to assist in continuing scholarly research and writing projects in the field of caricature and cartoon.

A fellow is required to be in residence in Washington, D.C., for a minimum of two weeks, use the Library’s extensive collections and deliver a public lecture at the Library on his or her work. Each fellow must also provide a copy of his or her dissertation, thesis or postgraduate publication upon completion, for the Swann Foundation Fund files.

Guidelines and application forms are available through the Swann Foundation’s Web site www.loc.gov/rr/print/swann/swann-fellow.html, by e-mailing swann@loc.gov or by calling Martha Kennedy in the Prints and Photographs Division of the Library at (202) 707-9115.

To be eligible, an applicant must be a resident of the United States and a candidate for a master’s or doctoral degree at a university based in the United States, Canada or Mexico. The applicant must be working toward completion of a dissertation or thesis for that degree or be engaged in postgraduate research within three years of receiving an M.A. or a Ph.D. Individuals who are not U.S. residents but who otherwise meet these academic qualifications may also apply and be considered for a fellowship, contingent upon their visa eligibility.

The applicant’s research must be in the field of caricature and cartoon. There are no restrictions on the place or time period covered. To encourage research in a variety of academic disciplines, any university department may oversee a project proposed for the fellowship, provided the subject pertains to caricature or cartoon art.

Requirements for the fellowship applications include a statement of qualifications, a one-page abstract of the proposed project, a project description that specifies research needs and a budget, two letters of reference and official transcripts.

The Swann Foundation fellowship in caricature and cartoon is the only scholarly fellowship that provides direct support for continuing graduate research in the field. It has supported groundbreaking research on caricature and cartoon that focuses on a variety of subjects and topics such as the Cold War; representations of race, class conflict and disease; and the early origins of caricature and political satire, and the cultural and social forces that have influenced the development of prominent cartoonists’ work. For a list of research projects, visit www.loc.gov/rr/rint/swann/swann-fellowslist.html.

The Caroline and Erwin Swann Foundation for Caricature and Cartoon is overseen by an advisory board composed of scholars, collectors, cartoonists and Library of Congress staff members. The foundation’s activities support the study, interpretation, preservation and appreciation of original works of humorous and satiric art by graphic artists from around the world. New York advertising executive Erwin Swann (1906-1973) established the Swann Foundation for Caricature and Cartoon in 1967.

# # #

PR07-189
9/25/07
ISSN: 0731-3527

Small Press Expo Announces the Slate of Programming Events for SPX 2007

Small Press Expo Announces the Slate of Programming Events for SPX 2007

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

Bethesda, Maryland; September 25, 2007 - Small Press Expo is proud to announce its slate of programming events for SPX 2007. There will be a series of Creator Spotlights, providing a unique opportunity to learn and interact with the special guests at this years Expo. There will also be a series of panels and workshops to further probe the world of graphic novels and comics. Below are the descriptions and participants, which are subject to change, with exact dates and times forthcoming on the SPX web site at http://www.spxpo.com.

This years SPX will be held October 12 and October 13 at The North Bethesda Marriott Convention Center in Bethesda, Maryland, across from the White Flint Metro stop on the Shady Grove Red Line.

For further information, 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.

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 both days.

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 and will be held Saturday, October 13 at 9PM.

CREATOR SPOTLIGHTS

Bill Griffith - As an underground cartoonist, Bill Griffith created such characters as Mr. The Toad and Zippy the Pinhead, while co-editing the anthologies Young Lust and Arcade. Zippy has since "escaped into the real world" as the star of a syndicated daily newspaper strip, surely the oddest character to still roam that now staid realm. Over the course of an hour Griffith will deliver a heavily illustrated slideshow talk about his life and work to date.

Jeff Smith - Jeff Smith's Bone, a beautifully drawn black and white synthesis of Carl Barks and J. R. R. Tolkein, began as a self-publishing success story, drawing raves from all corners of the comics world. The series is now an international hit for young readers in its new incarnation as a series of full-color graphic novels from Scholastic. The artist will discuss his work in a special spotlight session with moderator Heidi MacDonald.

Kim Deitch - Underground comix veteran Kim Deitch continues to produce the best work of his career, most recently the graphic novels Alias the Cat and Shadowlands. His other books include The Boulevard of Broken Dreams, Hollywoodland, and A Shroud for Waldo, and he has contributed to RAW, Weirdo, Zero Zero, Arcade, Esquire and McSweeney's. Over the course of an hour Deitch will discuss his most recent books, his career, his thoughts about art and comics, and his current works-in-progress.

Gilbert Hernandez - In 1982 Gilbert Hernandez and his brothers Jaime and Mario burst onto the comics scene with the publication of Love and Rockets #1. Since then Gilbert has spun out a vast, intergenerational saga detailing the lives, loves, and heartbreaks of the citizens of Palomar, a fictional Central American town, as well as challenging short-form work and a variety of stand-alone stories for various publishers. The prolific artist continues to challenge himself and his audience with new work in a variety of formats and genres, including the self-contained graphic novel Chance in Hell. Long-time friend and publisher Gary Groth will lead a discussion with the seminal artist.

Rutu Modan - Israeli cartoonist Rutu Modan is a co-founder of the Actus Tragicus comics collective, a group of Israeli cartoonists seeking to reach an international audience with accomplished, personal comics work. Her first graphic novel, Nobody Said It Was Going to Be Fun, was a collaboration with author and Actus collaborator Etgar Keret. Exit Wounds is her first full-length graphic novel to be published domestically in the United States.

Nick Abadzis - London-based cartoonist Nick Abadzis has worked in various areas of comics, including the British small press, Vertigo Comics, and 2000 AD, and has also drawn several children's books. Most recently he wrote and drew the graphic novel Laika, about the first living being to be sent into space. Abadzis will discuss the research intensive process behind his latest work.

C.F. - C.F. (aka Christopher Forgues) is the creator of the mini-comics series "Low Tides" and also performs musically as "Kites." His work has appeared in numerous anthologies including Paper Rodeo, Free Radicals and Kramers Ergot (including the wrap-around cover for that anthology's fifth volume). Dan Nadel, whose PictureBox publishing company has just published C.F.'s book Powr Mastrs, will lead a discussion with the artist.

MODERATED PANELS and WORKSHOPS

The State of Comics Criticism - Comics are getting more press than ever, but how good is the press? Is it too good? Do comics suffer from the lack of a vibrant critical milieu? Gary Groth (The Comics Journal), Tim Hodler (Comics Comic), Dan Nadel (Picturebox/Comics Comics), and Douglas Wolk (Reading Comics) discuss in a conversation led by Bill Kartalopoulos.

Center for Cartoon Studies Workshop - Robyn Chapman joins us from the Center for Cartoon Studies, a two-year educational institution for budding cartoonists in White River Junction, Vermont. Robyn will talk about this unique school and will lead a hands-on cartooning workshop. No matter how little experience you have, you will leave this panel having drawn a comics page!

Inanimate Cartoons - Comics and animated cartoons are two distinct media which are often conflated. And yet, the two forms share similarities and share influences (including one another). Douglas Wolk will lead a discussion with Kim Deitch, Roger Langridge, Tom Neely and Jeff Smith about the points of overlap and points of distinction between these two media.

Nemo's Wake: Comic Stripping Today - More than 100 years after comics emerged as a mass medium in American newspapers, the comic strip survives. Bill Griffith (Zippy the Pinhead), Nicholas Gurewitch (The Perry Bible Fellowship), Keith Knight (The K Chronicles) and Ted Rall (Search and Destroy) discuss the strengths and struggles of drawing personal work in the comic strip form today, in venues ranging from the web to alternative newsweeklies to the traditional daily comics page. Josh Fruhlinger (The Comics Curmudgeon) moderates.

Top Shelf Tenth Anniversary Panel - Brett Warnock and Chris Staros reflect on ten years of their publishing house, Top Shelf Comics.

Fletcher Hanks Presentation - Paul Karasik examines the life and work of Fletcher Hanks, the obscure cartoonist whose mad visions of grim superheroic retribution saw print in the pages of second-rate comics in the earliest years of the comic book industry. Karasik will delve into the themes and imagery of Hanks' work and will answer the burning question: What ever happened to Fletcher Hanks?

The Generic and the Particular: Genre in Comics - For decades comics were dominated by a handful of genres, most notably superhero comics, to the point that the genre became identified with the medium. Underground comix inspired several generations of cartoonists who have utilized the medium for artistic, personal expression, often rejecting traditional genres in the process. More recently, independent cartoonists have begun to incorporate generic tropes into their work, while a new generation of critics have begun to reclaim older genre comics. Tim Hodler leads a discussion with Sammy Harkham, Gilbert Hernandez, Jon Lewis and Matt Wagner.

Graphic Not-Novels - As "graphic novels" dominate public perception of comics, where does that leave comics that are more structurally analogous to poetry? Or painting? Moderated by Isaac Cates, who will lead a discussion with a group of cartoonists whose work defies easy categorization.

Bendis interview in Examiner

The Examiner snuck a small return to comics in today - they used to have 2 pages of strips AND 2 pages of weekly reviews - with a short interview with Brian Bendis on the Halo videogame. The online version is longer than the print one. See Jeremy Monken, "Believe in Bendis," Washington Examiner September 24, 2007, p 25.

Montreal Gazette's 1st editorial cartoonist dies, born in DC

The master of the gentle barb; The Gazette's First Editorial Cartoonist, John Collins preferred to draw a smile than blood with his pen" by ALAN HUSTAK, The Montreal Gazette Thursday, September 20.

Jeffrey Brown in today's Express

Sorry to be so late with this, but I was out of the office all day, and then buying new tires. Scott Rosenberg's in today's paper with, "Sincere intent to flatter: Jeffrey Brown's love of a toy spawned his need to satirize it", Express (September 24, 2007): 22. It's about Brown's Incredible Change-Bots, his 'Transformers' comic book. Not online though.

Guy Billout in Post magazine

The 9/23 Post Magazine had an article illustrated by Guy Billout - one of my favorites.

Sept 29 - Gene Yang at National Book Festival

Yang, author of American Born Chinese, a National Book Finalist apparently has at least one other book out now. He's speaking in the Teens & Children's tent at 2:55 pm and signing at 4 pm. This is on the mall, between the main Smithsonian museums.

Interview with Amy Lago over Opus censorship controversy

The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund, September 20, 2007 had this interview with the Post's Amy Lago - "Unpacking the OPUS Controversy" by Tom Spurgeon.

Spotted by Dirk at Journalista.

I'm a regular contributor to the Fund.

Zadzooks interviews Bill Sienkiewicz

For an interview with Bill Sienkiewicz, see "Master of sequential art influences generations," by Joseph Szadkowski, Washington Times, September 22, 2007.

Part two next week.

New feature: QUICK REVIEWS FOR COMICS by John Judy

Many moons ago, probably when comics came out on Friday like they were meant to, John Judy worked at Big Planet Comics in Bethesda, and we'd run into each other every week. John moved to the other coast to pursue his acting career. He keeps his hands, and wit, in comics working at a store in Los Angeles called HiDeHO, and writing the following Quick Reviews which he's given me permission to post. So courtesy of John, and through the intermediary of Big Planet Comics, enjoy!

QUICK REVIEWS FOR COMICS DUE 09-26-07
By John Judy

ALL-STAR BATMAN AND ROBIN THE BOY WONDER #7 by Frank Miller and Jim Lee. “Things fall apart, the center cannot hold…”

ASTOUNDING WOLF-MAN #3 by Robert Kirkman and Jason Howard. So you’ve just ripped the guts out of a beloved super-hero. Do you take it on the lam or just hope you get a Hollywood jury? Fun stuff from Kirkman. Not for younger kids.

ASTRO CITY THE DARK AGE BOOK TWO #4 by Kurt Busiek and Brent Anderson. Gang War, Astro-style! “Sweet Christmas!”

AVENGERS DEFENDERS WAR PREMIERE HC by Steve Englehart, Bob Brown, and Sal Buscema. One of the earliest big team cross-over fights and still one of the best. Beloved by Fan-Boys of A Certain Age. *sniff* Recommended for all ages.

AVENGERS INITIATIVE #6 by Dan Slott and Steve Uy. A mystery at Camp Hammond with an ending you’ll never see coming. Dan Slott continues his rise in the Pantheon of must-read writers. Recommended.

BART SIMPSONS TREEHOUSE OF HORROR #13 by Various Folks. Tales to chill your funnybone from the good citizens of Springfield.

BATMAN #669 by Grant Morrison and JH Williams III. The Club of Heroes strikes back!

CAPTAIN AMERICA CHOSEN #2 of 6 by David Morrell and Mitch Breitweiser. The creator of Rambo continues the story of America’s greatest “dead” hero.

CRIMINAL #9 by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips. “Counterfeit?!?” Highly recommended.

IMMORTAL IRON FIST #9 by Ed Brubaker, Matt Fraction, and David Aja. The best Iron Fist series ever continues even though Our Hero gets slapped around by a fat guy.

IMMORTAL IRON FIST ANNUAL #1 by Ed Brubaker, Matt Fraction, Howard Chaykin, and Dan Bereton. For lovers of the pulp adventure and completists of the latest series. Fun stuff.

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #13 by Dwayne McDuffie and Joe Benitez. After everything that went on at Green Arrow’s wedding, you know the JLA’s looking to hand out some hurt. It happens here.

MARVEL ZOMBIES BOOK ANGELS DEMONS & MONSTROSITIES by Dewey, Cheatham, and Howe. What it sounds like, kids.

MARVEL ZOMBIES COLONEL AMERICA ACTION FIGURE. “He eats people and he’s missing half his head, heh, heh, heh…” Not for kids you care about.

PUNISHER PRESENTS BARRACUDA MAX SC by Garth Ennis and Goran Parlov. Collecting five issues of the most twisted boys adventure stories ever to come from the mind of Garth Ennis. Think about that. Not for kids.

SHOWCASE PRESENTS METAL MEN VOL.1 SC by Robert Kanigher, Ross Andru, and Mike Esposito. The earliest Silver-Age adventures of Doc Magnus and his robot creations can be found here. Recommended.

SPIRIT #10 written and drawn by Darwyn Cooke. Someone’s killing TV personalities and the Spirit has to pretend it’s a bad thing! Recommended.

WALKING DEAD VOL.7: CALM BEFORE SC by Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard. Imagine trying to remember a Lamaze class you’ve never had after your hand’s been chopped off and you’re surrounded by flesh-eating zombies. Highly recommended. NOT for kids.

WONDER WOMAN ANNUAL #1 by Allan Heinberg and Friends. Wrapping up stuff from two years ago. At last!

X-MEN #203 by Mike Carey. Okay, any story where the Big Bad has a name like “Mister Sinister” is not my cup of meat. Still, the back-up story with Beast and Dark Beast is worth the price of admission. And yes, “Dark Beast” is a way cooler name than “Mister Sinister.” So is “Wavy Gravy” or “Urkel.”

Plus this week is PREVIEWS week from Diamond and Marvel Comics.

www.johnjudy.net

Ann Telnaes, like Tom Toles, also lacking basic decency

An Insult to a Patriot
Washington Post Saturday, September 22, 2007; Page A15

I had to shake my head at the disrespectful cartoon depicting Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) in a bikini and high heels, surfing on top of his campaign bus [Drawing Board, Sept. 15].

It seemed to be more than editorial misfeasance. It suggested to me purposeful nastiness that probably had your editorial board chuckling.

It was distasteful and shameful, and it seems clear that if the slight is focused on Republicans, then to heck with decorum and good taste.

Your arrogant paper obviously feels it can do whatever it wants without consequence. Whatever happened to real journalism and respect, in this case, for a man who has devoted his life in service to his country?

-- Christopher S. Moody
Gaithersburg

Obviously, the intent of the bikini was to compare Sen McCain's reinventing of himself with Britney Spears's performance flop in a bikini earlier in the month. The artist, unmentioned in the following rant, is Ann Telnaes of Washington, DC, who's won a Pulitzer Prize for her commentary. Comments on the letter can be seen by clicking through to the Post website.

Trying to find Richard Relkin, publisher of Comics Culture

I want to reprint a Harvey Pekar interview he did in the 1990s. In 1995, he was in Lexington, KY. Anyone know of him?

Geppi's Entertainment Museum news

The Star Wars exhibit is extended until early October - GEM reports, "The Force™ is with Us: 30 Years of Star Wars® opened June 23 and will run through October 7, 2007 due to overwhelming response. Geppi’s Entertainment Museum at Camden Yards is located at 301 W. Camden St., Baltimore, MD 21201. For additional details log on to www.geppismuseum.com or call 410-625-7060. Group tours are welcome, and admission is free to museum members."

Remember, they're having the launch of Arnold Blumberg's zombie book soon too. Everyone who reads this blog semi-regularly or more should visit this museum.

Also, they've made a promotion from within, which I reprint without comment:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

Date of release: Sept. 17, 2007

Melissa Bowersox named executive VP at Geppi’s Entertainment Museum

BALTIMORE – Melissa Geppi Bowersox has been appointed executive vice president at Geppi’s Entertainment Museum at Camden Yards (a k a “GEM”). Previously, Bowersox served as director of Events & Special Promotions for the 17,000-square-foot pop culture mecca, providing critical expertise during the museum’s pre-launch and first year of operation.

In her new role, Bowersox will lead a team of experienced professionals in developing new programs and special events while at the same time overseeing both permanent and changing exhibits. Bowersox said an important goal is spreading the word to civic groups, schools and the travel and tourism industry that Baltimore has added yet another world-class museum to its atmospheric landscape – one that appeals to all ages.

“We have the location, the exhibits and the support of the community,” Bowersox said. “My goal is to raise GEM’s profile so it is recognized not only locally, but also on a national and international level as an outstanding destination for families, students and tour groups.”

Bowersox has had a lifelong passion for pop culture and her native Baltimore. The daughter of GEM’s founder and CEO, Stephen A. Geppi, she began working in the “family business” at age six. “In the early days, my dad had a comic book shop in the basement of a TV repair shop in one of the city’s suburbs,” Bowersox said. “I would go in on weekends, sweep up or count comic book bags, which used to sell for 100 for a dollar – someone had to count the bags. Even as I got older, I continued to work at his retail shops, eventually being ‘promoted’ to working behind the counter, handling subscription orders and assisting the customers.”

As her father’s commercial ventures grew and prospered, Bowersox was always there to pitch in and do her part, whether it was working summers in the back of the warehouse, collating orders for Geppi’s Diamond Comics, or later working as a receptionist for another Geppi firm, Diamond International Galleries.

Bowersox is particularly proud that she represents the first of the Geppi children to join her father’s businesses in an executive capacity. “I know that it was always my dad’s fondest wish that one of his children would want to be involved in his businesses, but he would not have thrust it upon anybody,” Bowersox said. “He wanted us to come to him and let him know if we were interested.” Bowersox recalled that the right moment came in February when she represented the Geppi companies at a major comic book industry event, the New York Comic-Con. “I saw all the people I recognized from my youth when I was working for my dad. I saw the excitement in their faces when they realized that a younger Geppi was involved now, and I realized the timing was perfect. I invited my dad to lunch and told him what I wanted to do, and he said, ‘This is what I’ve been waiting to hear. You’ve just made my day.’”

Steve Geppi remarked, “We are very pleased to have Melissa taking on these new duties at GEM. We look forward to her continued enthusiastic efforts to get the word out about the museum, its facilities, and what we have to offer.”

GEM’s president, John K. Snyder Jr., praised the patient, lifelong course Bowersox has followed en route to her new position with the museum. “Melissa has spent years studying the whole foundation of collecting, interacting with the people who collect and learning how the element of emotion fits into the hobby,” Snyder said. “She’s an idea person, very much like her father. She has taken the knowledge she acquired during the time she spent working in the gallery and watching how her father does things, and is now eminently capable of moving into this high-level position. She spent her time in the arena of learning – it was a baptism of fire, so to speak. Now she’s getting her chance and bringing in a fresh approach that we all wholeheartedly welcome.”

Geppi’s Entertainment Museum is located at Baltimore’s world-famous Camden Yards, immediately adjacent to Oriole Park and across the street from the Baltimore Convention Center. Its displays are arranged in a timeline fashion, incorporating pop-culture memorabilia from the late 18th century through contemporary times. Among the many characters permanently “residing” at GEM are Superman, Batman, Spider-Man, Howdy Doody, Betty Boop, Hopalong Cassidy, Elvis Presley and the original hand-made prototype of G.I. Joe.

To learn more about GEM, log on to www.geppismuseum.com. Tel. 410-625-7060 or
e-mail info@geppismuseum.com.

OT: Children's booksignings in Arlington

On Sunday, September 23 at 1:30 p.m., Arlington resident Barbara Kanninen will present her new book, A Story With Pictures, a funny and colorful depiction of what happens when an author loses her manuscript—and the illustrator decides to take charge of the story. Ms. Kanninen’s stories and poems have been published in a number of children’s magazines, like Highlights, Ladybug, and Fun for Kids. Book signing will follow. Ages 4-8. Please call to register.

On Thursday, September 27 at 6:00 p.m., join us in welcoming Caldecott winner Simms Taback! Mr. Taback, whose vibrant, fanciful illustrations have won him widespread acclaim, will introduce his newest book, I Miss You Everyday. Silly and sweet, I Miss You Every Day is the ideal read-aloud to share with those who, although they might not live close by, are always close to your heart. What do you do when you miss someone you love so much? There’s only one solution, really – wrap yourself up, jump in a box (don’t forget the air holes, of course!) and send yourself for a visit! At least, that’s what happens here, as a little girl wraps herself up, decorates the wrapping and the box and makes her way through the US Postal system. Her final destination? That special someone’s home where good times, yummy sweets and a bedtime story make the trip worthwhile. Its story makes I Miss You Everyday a perfect choice for children to read with their grandparents. Each page is cleverly illustrated with Simms Taback’s signature artwork, packed with details and humorous asides. Mr. Taback’s other books include There Was an Old Lady Who Swallowed a Fly (1998 Caldecott Honor), Joseph Had a Little Overcoat (2000 Caldecott Medal), This is the House that Jack Built, and Kibitzers and Fools. Book signing will follow. Ages 4-8. Please call to register.

Finally, on Friday, September 28 at 4:30 p.m., award-winning author and illustrator D.B. Johnson will read his new book, Four Legs Bad, Two Legs Good!, a hilarious child-friendly take on the George Orwell classic Animal Farm, in which a mischievous little duck transforms the farm. Other books by Mr. Johnson include his series based on the life of Henry David Thoreau, Henry Hikes to Fitchburg, Henry Builds a Cabin, Henry Climbs a Mountain, and Henry Works, in which the American philosopher appears as a bear. Book signing will follow. Ages 4-8. Please call to register.

As usual, all these events are free. Hope your family can participate.

Thanks,

Alina Gawlik
Aladdin's Lamp Children's Books and Other Treasures
2499 N. Harrison St.
Arlington, VA 22207
Tel 703-241-8281
Fax 703-241-8283
Email: aladlamp@speakeasy.net

Oct 11-13: RUTU MODAN ON TOUR

Drawn & Quarterly presents:

RUTU MODAN ON TOUR

With the generous support of the Consulate General of Israel, Rutu Modan presents her recent graphic novel Exit Wounds on a tour to Washington DC, Bethesda, Philadelphia, Chicago, San Francisco, Toronto, and New York.

------------------------------------------------------------------

SPEAKING AT THE DC JEWISH COMMUNITY CENTER
Thursday, Oct. 11, 7:30 PM

1529 16th Street, NW.
Washington, DC 20036

Cost: $8/$6 member

Rutu Modan speaks about and signs her graphic novel Exit Wounds.

Presented alongside Israillustrators 2007: Illustrations from Israeli Children’s Books
In the Barbara & Harold Berman Café and in the Ina and Jack Kay Community Hall

The Jewish Literary Festival, the J’s Ann Loeb Bronfman Gallery and the Embassy of Israel have teamed up to present Israillustrators 2007. This colorful banner exhibition features children’s book illustrations by leading Israeli illustrators, including Rutu Modan. Selected works from this exhibition have been displayed in Israeli pavilions at international book fairs and at other literary events in 30 countries in Europe, Asia and South America. Israeli Illustrator Liora Grossman curated the exhibition, and it is on loan from the Israeli Foreign Ministry. Presented in partnership with the J’s Ann Loeb Bronfman Gallery. Co-sponsored by the Embassy of Israel as part of the Israel @ 60 celebrations.

For more information contact Drawn & Quarterly at 514-279-0691
DCJCC box office: 202-777-3210
http://washingtondcjcc.org/classes/center-for-the-arts/literary/litfest2007/exit-wounds.html

------------------------------------------------------------------

SPECIAL GUEST AT THE SMALL PRESS EXPO
Friday & Saturday, Oct. 12-13

Expo hours: Friday 2:00 PM - 8:00 PM, Saturday 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
programming & signing schedule at D+Q booth TBA
http://www.spxpo.com/

Marriott Bethesda North Hotel & Conference Center
5701 Marinelli Road
North Bethesda, MD 20852

Cost: $8 day/$15 weekend

In its twelfth year, SPX now serves as the preeminent showcase for the exhibition of independent comic books and the discovery of new creative talent. SPX will bring together over 400 artists and publishers to meet their readers, booksellers, distributors, and each other. The celebration culminates in the 11th annual Ignatz Awards Reception -- Rutu Modan and Exit Wounds are nominated in the Outstanding Artist and Outstanding Graphic Novel categories. Expect great programming all weekend long, including a presentation by Rutu Modan, speaking about Exit Wounds.

For more information contact Drawn & Quarterly at 514-279-0691
Tickets available at the event.

------------------------------------------------------------------

ABOUT EXIT WOUNDS:
In modern-day Tel Aviv, a young man, Koby Franco, receives an urgent phone call from a female soldier. Learning that his estranged father may have been a victim of a suicide bombing in Hadera, Koby reluctantly joins the soldier in searching for clues. His death would certainly explain his empty apartment and disconnected phone line. As Koby tries to unravel the mystery of his father’s death, he finds himself not only piecing together the last few months of his father’s life, but his entire identity. With thin, precise lines and luscious watercolors, Modan creates a portrait of modern Israel, a place where sudden death mingles with the slow dissolution of family ties. Exit Wounds is her North American graphic novel debut, and was nominated for the 2007 Quill Award for Best Graphic Novel.

ABOUT RUTU MODAN:
Rutu Modan is one of Israel’s best-known cartoonists. Born in Tel-Aviv in 1966, she has received much recognition for her work, including four Best Illustrated Children's Book Awards from the Israel Museum in Jerusalem. The Israel Ministry of Culture named Rutu Modan the Young Artist of the Year in 1997, she has been a chosen artist of the Israel Cultural Excellence Foundation since 2005, and her work has received nominations for Eisner, Ignatz, and Angoulême awards. She currently lives in England with her family, and will be on tour in select North American cities in October 2007, with the generous support of the Consulate General of Israel.

Small Press Expo Related Book Signing Events for the Washington, D.C. Area

Small Press Expo Related Book Signing Events for the Washington, D.C. Area

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

Bethesda, Maryland; September 21, 2007 - A number of Small Press Expo (SPX) creators attending this years event will be at a series of book signings that will take place at various locations and dates across the Washington, D.C. area.

This year's SPX will be held October 12 and October 13 at The North Bethesda Marriott Convention Center in Bethesda, Maryland, across from the White Flint Metro stop on the Red Line.

The book signings will feature such creators as Bill Griffith (Zippy The Pinhead), Kim Deitch (Alias The Cat), Ted Rall (America Gone Bonkers!), Richard Thompson (Richard's Poor Almanac", "Cul-de-Sac”) and Matt Wagner (Grendel).

The book events are as follows:

will be signing his latest acclaimed graphic novel, Laika, which is being released in conjunction with the 50th anniversary of the launching of the first manned satellites.

Date: September 29
Time: 12:30PM and 2PM
Admission Fee: Free
Location: National Air and Space Museum, Washington, D.C.

Rutu Modan will be part of the Washington DCJCC Book Festival to discuss and sign her new graphic novel, Exit Wounds.

Date: October 11
Time: 7:30PM
Admission Fee: $8 Adult/$6 Children
Location: Washington DCJCC 1529 16th St., NW Washington, D.C.

Kim Deitch (Alias The Cat) and Cartoonists With Attitude with Ted Rall, Jen Sorensen and Keith Knight will have a joint signing event including a slide presentation about their respective works.

Date: October 11
Time: 7PM
Admission Fee: Free
Location: Barnes and Nobles Bethesda 4801 Bethesda Ave, Bethesda, MD

Matt Wagner is one of the pioneers of indie comics with his original creation of “Grendel”, which celebrates its 25th Anniversary this year. Matt also created, wrote and drew “Mage”, and has worked on a number of projects for both DC and Vertigo.

Date: October 11
Time: 5PM-7PM
Admission Fee: Free
Location: Big Planet Bethesda 4908 Fairmont Ave. Bethesda, MD

Nick Abadzis will once again be signing his latest acclaimed graphic novel, Laika.

Date: October 11
Time: 5PM-7PM
Admission Fee: Free
Location: Big Planet College Park 7315 Baltimore Ave. College Park, MD

Richard Thompson, will have a discussion on creating comics. His cartoons "Richard's Poor Almanac" and "Cul-de-Sac" appear in the Washington Post, with Cul-de-Sac going into national syndication this fall. There will also be a display of his original art work.

Date: Friday, 12 October
Time: 7.30PM
Admission Fee: Free

Location: The Writer's Center 4508 Walsh Street, Bethesda, MD 20814; four block south of the Bethesda Metro stop, just off Wisconsin Avenue.

Bill Griffith is known world wide for his syndicated strip, Zippy The Pinhead, which runs daily in The Washington Post. He has a new Zippy collection out from Fantagraphics entitled “Zippy: Walk A Mile In My Muu-Muu”.

Date: Friday October 12
Time: 9PM
Admission Fee: Free

Location: Politics and Prose 5015 Connecticut Avenue NW Washington, DC 20008

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 both days.

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.

As in previous years, all profits from the SPX will go to support the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund (CBLDF), protecting the First Amendment rights of comic book readers and professionals. For more information on the CBLDF, go to their website at

http://www.cbldf.org/.

Founded in 1994, SPX is North America's premier alternative comic-book festival. This annual event brings together comic creators, publishers and more than 2000 fans together to celebrate the art of storytelling.

Sept 20 - Anime Bento showing of Full Metal Alchemist somewhere in DC

“Full Metal Alchemist – The Movie – Conqueror of Shambala” –Thursday, Sept. 20th

and next week:

- “Lupin the III: The Castle of Cagliostro ” – Wednesday, Sept. 26th
- “Karas – The Prophecy” – Thursday, Sept. 27th

Tickets for “Anime Bento” can be purchased for $10.00 at www.FathomEvents.com or at participating theatre box offices. For a complete list of theatre locations, please visit the website (theatres are subject to change)

Oct 4: Geppi's Entertainment Museum booksigning and party with free admission

I'm not into zombies, but Arnold's a real nice guy and this museum is totally cool, so if you're around the area, check this out.

Date of Release: September 18, 2007

From: Geppi’s Entertainment Museum at Camden Yards

Contact: 410-625-7060

Geppi’s Entertainment Museum hosts the US book launch of Blumberg and Hershberger’s Zombiemania: 80 Movies to Die For on Thursday, October 4, from 6-9pm

BALTIMORE – From White Zombie to Land of the Dead … 80 zombie movies that shaped a horror subgenre and left us all with a mortal fear of flesh-eating ghouls clawing their way out of the cold, dark earth. Zombiemania takes an in-depth look at one of the most popular horror film categories of all time. What is it that makes us so scared of and yet so attracted to the living dead? Why is it that shambling corpses with a taste for brains, or mindless automatons controlled by a voodoo master still retain such relentless power? Illustrated with many photographs, some published here for the first time, this is one film guide that will leave you with a restless urge to walk the night in search of living flesh.

Geppi’s Entertainment Museum will host the official US launch party for Zombiemania, published by the UK-based Telos Publishing Ltd (www.telos.co.uk) and co-authored by GEM Curator Dr. Arnold T. Blumberg and GEM Registrar Andrew Hershberger. The party will take place on Thursday, October 4 from 6pm to 9pm. The museum is offering free admission during party hours to all attendees, Halloween-themed food, and the chance to chat with the authors and get a signed copy of Zombiemania.

Zombiemania not only covers 80 of the best and worst zombie movies in exhaustive detail with behind-the-scenes trivia, plot synopses and reviews, but also features a comprehensive title index with over 570 films described and cross-referenced with all alternate titles. The 500+ page book also features a cover by illustrator David Aikins.

The book is available now from Telos or via Amazon.com for $22.95 (ISBN 1-84583-003-2). The book also has an official website at www.zombiemania.com.

To learn more about GEM, log on to www.geppismuseum.com. Tel. 410-625-7060 or
e-mail info@geppismuseum.com. The museum is located at 301 W. Camden Street, Baltimore, MD 21201.

Sept 25-29: Phil Yeh in Baltimore

Randy T. reports Phil Yeh will be appearing in Baltimore later this month:

Graphic Novel Workshops with Phil Yeh, "godfather" of the American graphic novel

This interactive program, for all ages, will introduce you to many of the world's famous graphic novel creators and show you how to create your own unique characters and write a comic strip. Each participant will receive a copy of one of Phil Yeh's books.

Phil Yeh has written, illustrated and published more than 80 books of his own and another 50 from other authors. He has experience in television, radio, animation, licensing and book publishing and has owned galleries in Long Beach and Lompoc, CA.

Schedule:

* Central Library Saturday, Sep 29, 2007 (2:00 p.m.)
* Govans Branch Tuesday, Sep 25, 2007 (4:00 p.m.)
* Light Street Branch Thursday, Sep 27, 2007 (6:30 p.m.)
* Patterson Park Branch Wednesday, Sep 26, 2007 (4:00 p.m.)
* Washington Village Branch Thursday, Sep 27, 2007 (4:00 p.m.)

Oct 12: Free evening with Richard Thompson

Matt Dembicki reports on spotting an event at the Writer's Center (Bethesda):

An evening with Washington Post cartoonist Richard Thompson (whose strip "Cul-de-Sac" appears in the Washington Post Magazine, and "Richard's Poor Almanac" in the Style section). Thompson, who is going into national syndication this month, will talk about how he finds and develops ideas and will share samples of work in process.
Date/Time 10/12/2007 [7:30 PM to 9:30 PM]
Event Type Special Event
Venue/Room Bethesda, Room: Reading Room
Capacity 80 spaces

I imagine there's some type of RSVP.

Emily Flake profile in Baltimore Sun

Flake's work appears in DC in the City Paper, and I like it quite a bit. See "Hip to be square: MICA-trained Emily Flake is a hit with her books and four-panel comic strip, but how will her self-deprecating cartoon alter ego named Lulu handle success? Emily Flake gives observations" by Rob Hiaasen, Baltimore Sun reporter, September 18, 2007.

Sept 22 OT: David Lozell Martin reading at Busboys & Poets

My friend David Lozell Martin is again reading from his post-apocalyptic sacking-of-Washington novel, Our American King at Busboys and Poets on 14th St, NW at 4 pm. I'll be there and I recommend it to you as well.

New finger puppet from Richard Thompson

In yesterday's Richard's Poor Almanack, the new finger puppet was General Petraeus (what does that mean in Latin anyway?). It's not online yet, but should be here eventually. At the moment, that link is to September 8th's End of Summer cartoon.

Wish You Were There #4 - Telnaes and Moss exhibit reviews

These two are from the International Journal of Comic Art 4:1 (Spring 2002). I was still feeling my way with writing these.

Pens and Needles: The Editorial Cartoons of Ann Telnaes. Rosslyn, VA: The Newseum, October 26, 2001--March 3, 2002.

The Newseum is closing in 2002 to move to Washington, DC so the Telnaes show (entitled Pulitzer Prize 2001: Editorial Cartoonist Ann Telnaes in the exhibit) will be the last one for several years. Telnaes, the second woman to win the Pulitzer, has no home newspaper; instead she is under contract with Tribune Media Services. The small exhibit consisted of 16 cartoons, 11 of them originals. 5 were on the disputed 2000 presidential election, 2 on the separation of church and state, 1 on Elian Gonzales, 2 on China's human rights record and the last on OSHA's regulating the home workplace. Telnaes worked as an animator for Disney and Warner Bros., and now does a weekly strip as one of the 'Six Chix.' Her line is very distinctive, probably due to her animation work; one can immediately recognize her art. Telnaes draws in pencil, inks her work and then scans it into a computer to add color. She now produces both black and white and color versions of each cartoon; this show reveals the color detracts from the impact of the cartoon. While this was a pleasant little show, the public would benefit from a larger one showing a larger amount and demonstrating a wider range of her cartoons. The exhibit is online at http://www.newseum.org/telnaes/gallery/open_index.htm. If that site is taken down, many of the cartoons in the exhibit can be seen at http://cagle.slate.msn.com/news/telnaes/main.asp; Telnaes' own site at http://www.anntelnaes.com is under construction as of this writing.

Geoffrey Moss: A Pen as Mighty as a Sword. Rosslyn, VA: The Newseum, Fall 2001--March 3, 2002.

A very small exhibit of six pen and ink cartoons drawn after the terrorism of September 11 was tucked into a corner of the main exhibit hall. Moss, who calls his captionless cartoons "Mossprints" is syndicated by Creators. The six drawings were in the classic tradition of newspaper illustration, showing death as a gasmask-wearing skeleton and the Israel / Palestine issue as part of the larger problem. A larger exhibit with more information on Moss would be a pleasure; this show functioned as an appetizer.

Wish You Were There #3 - A couple of book reviews

The following reviews are ones I wrote for the International Journal of Comic Art 3:1 (Spring 2001).

Raggedy Ann and More: Johnny Gruelle's Dolls and Merchandise. Patricia Hall. Gretna: Pelican Publishing Company, 2000. ISBN 1-56554-102-2. $35.

Cartoonists, children's books, and merchandise have been linked since the late nineteenth century. While Charles Schulz, Jim Davis, Berke Breathed, and especially Walt Disney are well known to the contemporary reader, Johnny Gruelle has largely been forgotten. Patricia Hall has been working to reintroduce Gruelle, and this book is the second in a planned trilogy. The first was a biography, Johnny Gruelle, Creator of Raggedy Ann and Andy (1993) and the third planned for spring 2001 will be a bibliography. Gruelle was an artist who moved easily between the worlds of comic strips, political cartoons, and children's books, eventually creating a family business that lasted until the 1960s.

Gruelle's life is recounted briefly by Hall, but readers interested in detail are referred to her previous book. This extremely well-illustrated book concentrates on the physical products derived from Gruelle's imagination. As a cartoonist for the New York Herald, Gruelle created the "Mr. Twee Deedle" comic strip which was merchandized as a doll by the newspaper immediately. While doing the comic strip, he also illustrated children's magazines and books. In 1915, he submitted a design for a patent on Raggedy Ann, a doll that was apparently partially based on characters from his comic strip.

The patent was granted and Gruelle began making his own dolls. Raggedy Ann was not based on a familiar character and initial sales were slow. Gruelle generated interest in the doll by contracting with publisher P. F. Volland for a children's book based on the doll. Other characters he developed, such as the duck Quacky Doodles, proved more popular and merchandising included a cartoon series. By late 1918, Gruelle had completed his book on Raggedy Ann and dolls were produced to be sold with it. The book and doll combination was a success and Gruelle continued producing merchandizable ideas until he died in 1938. His family took over the company and continued licensing Gruelle's characters until they sold the company to a book publisher.

Probably because of marketing concerns, the book is a curious mixture of a business history attractively designed as a full-color coffee table book that includes a price guide. Hall writes to appeal to historians as well as collectors of children's books, dolls, toys, and cartoons. Many sidebar pieces detail specific parts of Gruelle's business efforts, such as books, sheet music, and copyright infringements. Anyone interested in Gruelle, cartoon merchandising, book or doll collecting, or popular culture of the first half of the twentieth century should find something of interest in this book.


Evil Geniuses in a Nutshell. J. D. "Illiad" Frazer. Sebastopol, CA: O'Reilly & Associates, 2000.

A collection of User Friendly, a free online comic strip, raises some interesting questions about the future of comic art. Frazer's strip is written for a specialized audience of advanced computer users and is published by a company specializing in computer manuals. The strip is done on a computer and lacks backgrounds in the simplified art style that Dilbert made acceptable. Illiad has stated that Breathed's Bloom County was an inspiration, but the humor of User Friendly is extremely dependent on knowledge of computers. A niche market product, reminiscent of earlier specialized work such as Jake's military cartoons, User Friendly is not syndicated, but it still appears in more than 150 college papers and several magazines. In the introduction to this second collection, Frazer said, "But today, with the Web, the distribution infrastructure the syndicates possess is becoming less valuable, and is no longer necessary." One of the strip's webpages claims, "The site, UserFriendly.org, attracts more than 2 million visits each month, including more than a half million unique visitors and 15 million page views ...and is now by far the largest web-based comic strip... Compared to more traditional syndicated comics, User Friendly the Comic Strip is catching up very quickly. For example, Dilbert, around since 1986, is syndicated in over 2,000 newspapers. UserFriendly.org boasts an audience equal to 42% of Dilbert’s online audience."

User Friendly can thus be seen as supporting part of McCloud's argument about the transition of comics to the web, but Frazer, O'Reilly, and McCloud decided to publish and charge for a paper version. The ability of both electronic and paper versions to succeed seems to bode well for the future of comic art. The strip and additional information about it can be seen at http://www.userfriendly.org/ and http://www.ufmedia.com.

Zadzooks on Morrison's Batman

Zadzooks looks at three comic books today - and most interestingly, Grant Morrison's take on Batman. See "Lots of text to distract from 'Batman and Son'" by Joseph Szadkowski, Washington Times September 15, 2007. It occurs to me that I haven't been giving Mr. S enough play in this blog. He's been writing on comics in the area for at least a decade, going back to the Times' giveaway experiment Pop Art Times. I'll try to link to his weekly column from now on.

Updating the Comics Research Bibliography 6/20/07 - includes Chris Ware citations

A friend of mine asked for what I citations had on Chris Ware, so I put together some which are towards the bottom of this list.

Olkowski, Lu. 2007.
Creatures, Milch, McEwan: Bee-ing There [Creature Comforts].
National Public Radio and WNYC's Studio 360 (June 15).
online at http://www.studio360.org/episodes/2007/06/15

Kampfner, Judith. 2007.
Creatures, Milch, McEwan: Silver Surfer.
National Public Radio and WNYC's Studio 360 (June 15).
Online at http://www.studio360.org/episodes/2007/06/15

Dawson, Angela / Entertainment News Wire. 2007.
Bad Surfer dude: The Fantastic Four are back to battle a metallic new
villain.
[Washington Post] Express (June 14): 19

Garfield, Bob. 2007.
Tintin in the World [R.Sikoryak interview].
National Public Radio's On the Media (June 15).
online at http://www.onthemedia.org/transcripts/2007/06/15/08


Hansen, Janet V. 1984.
So You Want to Start your Own Business? [computer-created gag cartoons;
copy at MSU].
Mt. Prospect, IL: Janet V. Hansen

Maynard, John. 2007.
On 'Lil' Bush,' It's the Laughs That Are Tiny.
Washington Post (June 13): C7

McConnell, Robin. 2007.
Barron Storey.
Inkstuds (June 14): http://www.inkstuds.com/?p=173

Moore, Kris. 2007.
Kris Moore - Getting The Signature [autographed comic book collector].
Scoop (June 15):
http://scoop.diamondgalleries.com/scoop_article.asp?ai=15534&si=124

Myers, Bernice. 1979.
Bernice Myers' Book of Giggles [gag comic strips for children; copy at
MSU].
Scholastic

Pressley, Nelson. 2007.
Satoshi Kon, Anime's Dream Weaver: The Japanese Filmmaker Goes Inside
His Characters' Heads to Get Inside Moviegoers' Hearts.
Washington Post (June 17): N3.
Online at
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/06/15/AR200706
1500492.html

Mayo, Jenny. 2007.
'Paprika' offers spicy animation for adults [Satoshi Kon anime].
Washington Times (June 15).
Online at
http://www.washingtontimes.com/entertainment/20070614-085513-6311r.htm

Ressner, Jeffrey. 2007.
Axis of evil: No one embodies villainy this season better than Thomas
Haden Chruch, Timothy Olyphant and Julian McMahon. An exclusive Q&A
[Spider-Man 3, Fantastic Four movies].
USA Weekend (May 4-6): 12-14

Rosenberg, Scott. 2007.
King Cat Comix: Brandon Graham.
[Washington Post] Express (June 18).
Online at
http://www.readexpress.com/read_freeride/2007/06/king_cat_comix_brandon_
graham.php

Spurgeon, Tom. 2007.
CR Sunday Interview: Paul Karasik.
Comics Reporter (June 17):
http://www.comicsreporter.com/index.php/cr_sunday_interview_paul_karasik
/

Yandow, A. Richard. 2006.
Letters: The Funny Pages [Jaime Hernandez's 'La Maggie La Loca'].
New York Times Magazine (May 7)

Poniewozik, James. 2003.
Books: Blankets By Craig Thompson.
Time (August 25)

Zeidler, Sue. 2007.
Animation industry hopes for more grown-up 'toons.
Reuters (June 13).
Online at
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070614/media_nm/animation_hollywood_dc_1

Unknown. 2007.
Barks Art Sets Bonhams' Record.
Scoop (June 15):
http://scoop.diamondgalleries.com/scoop_article.asp?ai=15547&si=123

Bengal, Rebecca. 2006.
On Cartooning: Jessica Abel.
POV (July):
http://www.pbs.org/pov/pov2006/tintinandi/sfartists_abel.html

Bengal, Rebecca. 2006.
On Cartooning: Phoebe Gloeckner.
POV (July):
http://www.pbs.org/pov/pov2006/tintinandi/sfartists_gloeckner.html

Chris Ware

Bengal, Rebecca. 2006.
On Cartooning: Chris Ware.
POV (July):
http://www.pbs.org/pov/pov2006/tintinandi/sfartists_ware.html

Ware, Chris. 2006.
Building Stories - the introduction.
Independent (October 1).
online at
http://enjoyment.independent.co.uk/books/features/article1856445.ece

Worland, Gayle. 2006.
Wisconsin Book Festival: 5 questions with graphic novel genius Chris
Ware.
Wisconsin State Journal (October 13).
Online at
http://www.madison.com/wsj/home/entertainment/index.php?ntid=103165&ntpi
d=2

Young, Robin. 2005.
Comic Strip Artist Chris Ware.
National Public Radio and WBUR's Here and Now (December 9).
Online at http://www.here-now.org/shows/2005/12/20051209_17.asp

Potter, Steven. 2006.
Loud and bright, comics leave an impression; Artist describes medium's
lasting effects on popular culture [Chris Ware].
Journal Sentinal (May 4).
Online at http://www.jsonline.com/story/index.aspx?id=421008

Parschalk, William. 2006.
School-day ACME Novelty proves unique [Chris Ware].
Johns Hopkins News-Letter (March 31).
Online at
http://www.jhunewsletter.com/vnews/display.v/ART/2006/03/31/442ebfdb87b7
b

Warren, Lynne. 2005.
Chris Ware Interview: Chris Ware at the MCA.
Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago (December):
http://www.mcachicago.org/MCA/exhibit/ware_interview.html

Stanislawski, Ethan. 2006.
Chris Ware's urban cartoons make a strange but effective art exhibit.
[University of] Chicago Maroon (June 2).
Online at
http://maroon.uchicago.edu/voices/articles/2006/06/02/chris_wares_urban_
ca.php

Unknown. 2006.
Chris Ware at MCA Chicago.
Art Daily (May 11):
http://www.artdaily.com/section/news/index.asp?int_sec=2&int_new=15698

Mathie, Frank. 2006.
Cartoonist's work on display at Chicago museum [Chris Ware].
ABC 7 News (May 8):
http://abclocal.go.com/wls/story?section=local&id=4153742

Kennedy, Mary. 2006.
Letters: The Funny Pages ['Building Stories,' by Chris Ware].
New York Times Magazine (May 7)

Mazanec, Tom. 2007.
Lending legitimacy to comic book lit: 'The Acme Novelty Library' serves
as an introduction to Chris Ware's graphic novels.
Calvin College Chimes (February 2):
http://www-stu.calvin.edu/chimes/article.php?id=1953

Ware, Chris. 2007.
One Eye: Charles Burns, Photographer.
Virginia Quarterly Review (Winter): 104-117
Online at http://www.vqronline.org/articles/2007/winter/burns-one-eye/

Cole, Patrick. 2006.
Seminole Filmmaker, Guitarist Awarded $50,000 Grants [Joe Sacco, Jim
Woodring, Chris Ware]
Bloomberg (December 4).
Online at
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601088&sid=aBqvgBE9MNnY&refer=m
use

Kwok, Janet K. 2005.
Comics' Trendy Cousins: Graphic novelists behind 'Jimmy Corrigan' and
'Black Hole' appear at the Brattle [Chris Ware and Charles Burns].
Harvard Crimson (October 20).
Online at http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=509245

Edemariam, Aida. 2005.
The art of melancholy: He may be a cartoonist, but Chris Ware is more
likely to fill his strips with sighs than laughs. With a new book and a
new family, he talks about tragedy and comics to Aida Edemariam.
Guardian (October 31).
Online at
http://books.guardian.co.uk/news/articles/0,6109,1605195,00.html

Hune-Brown, Nicholas. 2005.
Graphic Nostalgia: Cartoonists Chris Ware, Seth and Charles Burns aren't
lost in the past, but revelling in it.
Maisonneuve (November 10):
http://www.maisonneuve.org/index.php?&page_id=12&article_id=1898

Poniewozik, James. 2000.
Right Way, Corrigan: From cartoonist Chris Ware, an elegantly crafted,
poignant story of man and not-so-superman.
Time (September 11)

Arnold, Andrew D. 2000.
Web Exclusive - Q and A With Comicbook Master Chris Ware; TIME.com's
Andrew Arnold talked with the much-heralded author of 'Jimmy Corrigan'.
Time.com (September 1).

Poniewozik, James. 2003.
Books - Quimby The Mouse By Chris Ware.
Time (August 25)

Raeburn, Daniel. 2004.
Chris Ware.
New Haven: Yale University Press

Kannenberg, Jr., Gene. 2001.
The Comics of Chris Ware: Text, Image, and Visual Narrative Strategies.
In The Language of Comics: Word and Image. Ed. Robin Varnum and
Christina T. Gibbons.
Jackson: U of Mississippi Press

Baker, Sarah. 2007.
Conscious Comic: Artist Chris Ware reveals his love for Ulysses.
Omaha Weekly Reader (February 15).
Online at
http://www.thereader.com/art.php?subaction=showfull&id=1171564906&archiv
e=&start_from=&ucat=11&

Brattland, Jane Elin. 2007. Verdens beste tegneserie! Trist, lavmaelt
og stemningsfull. RadioSelskapets tegneseriejury har karet 'Jimmy
Corrigan' av Chris Ware til tidenes beste tegneserie.
NRK Publisert (February 6).
Online at http://www.nrk.no/nyheter/kultur/1.1774455

Thorson, Alice. 2007.
The Art of Comic Books: Comic creator Chris Ware will speak at Nebraska
exhibit Omaha native is known for his Acme Novelty Library comics.
Kansas City Star (February 11).
Online at
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/entertainment/16656427.htm

Bredehoft, Thomas A. 2006.
Comics Architecture, Multidimensionality, and Time: Chris Ware's Jimmy
Corrigan: The Smartest Kid on Earth.
MFS Modern Fiction Studies 52 (4, Winter)

Worden, Daniel. 2006.
The Shameful Art: McSweeney's Quarterly Concern, Comics, and the
Politics of Affect [Chris Ware edited anthology].
MFS Modern Fiction Studies 52 (4, Winter)

Gutoff, Bija. 2005.
John Kuramoto: Animating Historic Architecture [Chris Ware's "Lost
Building" DVD].
Apple.com (March?): http://www.apple.com/pro/video/kuramoto/

Gatti, Tom. 2005.
Lives in graphic detail [Chris Ware].
Times of London (September 3).
Online at http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article/0,,923-1760443,00.html

Wolk, Douglas. 2005.
The inimitable Chris Ware: The author of "Jimmy Corrigan" explores a
fallen world in this new installment of breathtakingly intricate comic
strips.
Salon (September 2):
http://www.salon.com/books/review/2005/09/02/ware/print.html

Baker, R.C. 2005.
Panel Discussion: Chris Ware's The Acme Novelty Library.
Village Voice (September 6).
Online at http://villagevoice.com/books/0536,panel,67535,10.html

Howard, Jennifer. 2004.
Comics - Chris Ware, by Daniel Raeburn (Yale Univ., $19.95).
Washington Post Book World(December 26): BW11

Wolk, Douglas. 2004.
Panel Discussion: Jimmy Jazz [Chris Ware By Daniel Raeburn].
Village Voice (November 16).
Online at http://www.villagevoice.com/issues/0446/wolk.php

Swanhuyser, Hiya. 2004.
A Ware Ness: "Sequential artist" Chris Ware is a smart man with a
strange vision.
SF Weekly (June 9).
Online at
http://www.sfweekly.com/issues/2004-06-09/nightday.html/1/index.html?src
=newsletter

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.