Sunday, August 10, 2008

Suprise appearance by Pekar on NPR

Harvey speaks briefly in this "Remembering The Birth Of Superman," by Daniel Barnett,
National Public Radio's Weekend Edition Saturday, August 9, 2008.

Time-Warner about to get it wrong again?

An extensive article discusses possible plans by Time-Warner, the behemoth that owns DC Comics as well as Batman - according to this article "Holy Cash Cow, Batman! Content Is Back," By TIM ARANGO, New York Times August 10, 2008, they're suddenly convinced that owning content and not distribution systems is the way to make money.

The article, and perhaps the chief executive, seem to miss the point. First we read:

For now, Mr. Bewkes is staking the company’s future on three big content providers: Warner Brothers, Turner Broadcasting (which includes TNT, TBS and CNN) and HBO. To ramp things up on the entertainment front, he’s also been overseeing internal discussions about acquisitions in film and television — including a possible takeover of NBC Universal, should its parent, General Electric, decide to sell, according to executives and bankers who requested anonymity because they were not authorized to disclose details of the discussions.

and then this follows:

It is less clear how the Time Inc. unit, which publishes magazines like Time, People, In Style, Fortune and Sports Illustrated, meshes with Mr. Bewkes’s strategy. According to Time Warner insiders, the company is likely to shrink the publishing unit to just a handful of the most profitable titles. Some analysts predict that Time Warner might try to sell the publishing unit en masse, but only if market conditions improve.

I'm not sure what that means for DC Comics, but I think it's worth noting that Warner Bros. wouldn't have had Batman to make a movie about if it wasn't for the comic book company. They've already sold Warner Books, presumably another source of content and one that is doing graphic novels now.

Pay me a few million dollars and I'll come up with some good ideas like making cable companies profitable by providing good service and shows people want to see.

Saturday, August 09, 2008

Legendary comic book store owner Greg Bennett makes recommendations

So I popped over to Zadzooks' new Washington Times website to add a link over there on the right and was startled to find "Legendary comic book store owner Greg Bennett provides a pair of recommendations for comic book lovers every week." So far he's provided recs for August 3, July 27, July 20 and July 13.

Geez. I don't know why I even started this blog. Greg runs the Georgetown Big Planet these days, and I probably see him once a month. But do I hear about this? Noooo...

Zadzooks on DC's Chemistry Set comic book writer

See "ZADZOOKS: Chemistry Set writer Dougan has lots of stories to tell," by Joseph Szadkowski, Washington Times Thursday, August 7, 2008.

Richmond's Jen Sorenson on women political cartoonists

Dave Astor pointed out the story initially - here's Jen Sorenson's take on women political cartoonists - "Wanted: Female Cartoonist; Slowpoke artist Jen Sorensen explains why comics have historically been a nerdy guy thing and how we can change that," By Jen Sorensen, Campus Progress August 8, 2008.

Jen will undoubtedly be at the Small Press Expo again this year, and I think people should go up and engage her on this point. She's also appearing in Bash, the new DC comics tabloid.

QUICK REVIEWS FOR COMICS DUE 08-13-08

QUICK REVIEWS FOR COMICS DUE 08-13-08
By John Judy


ABSOLUTE LEAGUE OF EXTRAORDINARY GENTLEMEN: THE BLACK DOSSIER HC by Alan Moore and Kevin O’Neill. A year later I’m still trying to get through the regular version. Anybody got a record player and some hard drugs?

ACTION COMICS #868 by Geoff Johns and Gary Frank. Superman meets Brainiac and it’s really creepy.

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #567 by Marc Guggenheim and Phil Jimenez. Spidey and his drug-crazed roommate beat on the albino Kraven-chick with the bad make-up and hair gel addiction.

ANGEL: AFTER THE FALL #11 by Brian Lynch and Nick Runge. I think Angel and Gunn are gonna kiss. About time!

ASTONISHING X-MEN #26 by Warren Ellis and Simone Bianchi. It’s mutants! Internet-Jesus style! Skrull-free! There’s preview pages up on comicbookresources.com some with actual dialogue. Good stuff. Recommended.

BATMAN #679 by Grant Morrison and Tony Daniel. When your villains have names like Hunchback, King Kraken and Charlie Caligula who needs a story you can actually follow?

BPRD: THE WARNING #2 of 5 by Mike Mignola, John Arcudi and Guy Davis. Your snow-bound, moose carcass-pondering, Abe Sapien action starts here, people!

FANTASTIC FOUR #559 by Mark Millar and Bryan Hitch. In which the Human Torch’s girlfriend problems threaten the entire team with destruction! Oh sure, like it’s never happened to you…

FINAL CRISIS: REVELATIONS #1 of 5 by Greg Rucka and Philip Tan. It’s Rucka writing two of his best characters, Crispus Allen and Rene Montoya, these days known as The Spectre and The Question. I sense a titanic team-up in the offing! Recommended!

THE GOON #27 written and drawn by Eric Powell and Guests. Three twisted tales from the Gooniverse. Recommended!

HELLBOY: THE CROOKED MAN #2 of 3 by Mike Mignola and Richard Corben. HB tries to reclaim a soul from a hill-billy devil. Maybe he can trade it for a can of chaw and those back issues of “American Spectator” they got behind the outhouse.

MAMMOTH BOOK OF BEST CRIME COMICS SC by Many People including Eisner, Moore, Gaiman, Spillane, Chandler, Krigstein and pre-21st Century Frank Miller (before he went insane)! Twenty-five of the best crime comics ever published. Gotta look!

PUNISHER #60 by Garth Ennis and Goran Parlov. It’s the end of an era (and a whole lot of punks) as Garth Ennis goes out in style. Plus, a preview of next issue’s new creative team. Salud!

SECRET INVASION #5 of 8 by Brian Michael Bendis and Leinil Francis Yu. The Skrulls want Earth to “embrace change.” There’s your proof: Barack Obama is a Skrull. This will appear on FoxNews as a headline. Just wait….

TRANSFORMERS ANIMATED: ARRIVAL #1 by Marty Isenberg and Dario Brizuela. My kid wants one of these. Yours probably does too. By the head writer of the TV series which is actually quite good. Recommended for younger readers.

WALKING DEAD #51 by Robert Kirkman and Charles Adlard. Lookin’ like someone took his eye off the undead cannibals. Tsk, tsk. Yeah, put your hands up. That’ll help. Recommended. Not for kids.

WELCOME TO HOXFORD #1 of 4 written and drawn by Ben Frickin’ Templesmith! Meet Ray. Ray lives in a mental institution for the violently freaky. Ray is written and drawn by the guy who did 30 DAYS OF NIGHT and FELL. You want this, but if you’re a kid you can’t have it. Recommended.

WONDER WOMAN #23 by Gail Simone and Aaron Lopresti. Wonder Woman returns to Earth and beats the bejeebers out of some big nasty with Roman hands and Russian fingers! What more could we ask?

YOUNG LIARS #6 written and drawn by David Lapham. I’m mentioning this comic again because, even though it’s kind of confusing and all over the place, last issue Lapham castrated his male lead. I mean, come on, you have to respect that kind of effort. Not for kids.

www.johnjudy.net

Baltimore Comic-Con tickets on sale

Here's their PR:

Tickets Now Available for the Baltimore Comic-Con!

Baltimore, Maryland - August 8, 2008 -
The Baltimore Comic-Con is proud to announce that tickets for the show are now available for sale. From the show's website, fans can now click on the Tickets link to reach TicketMaster and purchase tickets for Saturday, Sunday, or both!

In addition to a great guest list, the Baltimore Comic-Con offers an amazingly diverse list of vendors from all around the country! They'll be bringing their Golden Age, Silver Age, Bronze Age, and Modern Age comics, graphic novels, trade paperbacks, statues, action figures, collectible cards, original art, and much, much more!

"If you are looking for something particular, chances are it will be in the room," said show promoter Marc Nathan. "The strength of any great convention is the dealers area, and this year we have some of the best any room can offer."

A full list of retailers can now be found on our website.

Swamp Thing co-creator and Frankenstein artist Bernie Wrightson will be the show's Guest of Honor.

He headlines a guest list that includes, in alphabetical order, Michael Bair (Identity Crisis, 52), Kyle Baker (Nat Turner, The Bakers), Brian Michael Bendis (Ultimate Spider-Man, Secret Invasion), Ivan Brandon (NYC Mech, Marvel Comics Presents), Buzz (JSA), Jim Calafiore (Exiles, Countdown), Dennis Calero (X-Factor, Countdown), Tommy Castillo (Grimm Fairy Tales, Kong: King of Skull Island), Howard Chaykin (Wolverine, American Flagg), Cliff Chiang (Green Arrow & Black Canary), Darwyn Cooke (New Frontier, The Spirit), Frank Cho (Liberty Meadows, Mighty Avengers), Steve Conley (Star Trek, The Escapist), Amanda Conner (Green Arrow/Black Canary, JSA Classified), Todd Dezago (Perhapanauts, Tellos), Steve Dillon (Punisher, Preacher), David Finch (World War Hulk, New Avengers), Ramona Fradon (Aquaman, Mermaidman and Barnacleboy), John Gallagher (Buzzboy, Roboy Red), Ron Garney (Wolverine, Skaar: Son of Hulk), Michael Golden (Micronauts, The 'Nam), Bryan J.L. Glass (Mice Templar), Mike Grell (John Sable, Iron Man), Cully Hamner (Blue Beetle, Black Lightning), Dean Haspiel (American Splendor, Brawl), Adam Hughes (Catwoman), Stuart Immonen (Ultimate Spider-Man), Geoff Johns (Green Lantern, Action Comics), J.G. Jones (52, Wonder Woman), Robert Kirkman (Invincible, Ultimate X-Men), Barry Kitson (Amazing Spider-Man, Empire), Rich Koslowski (Marvel Comics Presents, Sonic the Hedgehog), Scott Kurtz (PvP), Erik Larsen (Savage Dragon, Image EIC), Jim Lee (All Star Batman & Robin, Wildcats), Norman Lee (Marvel Adventures: Spider-Man, Spider-Man Loves Mary Jane), the Luna Brothers (The Sword, Girls), David Mack (Kabuki, Daredevil), Mark McKenna (Banana-Tail, Annihilation: Conquest), Bob McLeod (New Mutants, Spider-Man), Pop Mhan (Blank, Marvel Adventures: Spider-Man), Carla Speed McNeil (Finder), Mike Mignola (Hellboy, Disney's Atlantis), Mark Morales (Civil War, Secret Invasion), Phil Noto (Danger Girl, Jonah Hex), Michael Avon Oeming (Mice Templar, Powers), Mike Okamoto (Hellraiser, Chaos! Quarterly), Jimmy Palmiotti (Painkiller Jane, Jonah Hex), David Petersen (Mouse Guard), Brandon Peterson (Ultimate X-Men, Strange), Eric Powell (The Goon), Tom Raney (Annihilation: Conquest, Ultimate Secrets), James Robinson (Superman, JSA), John Romita Sr. (Amazing Spider-Man), Don Rosa (Uncle Scrooge), Craig Rousseau (Perhapanauts, X-Men: First Class), Andy Runton (Owly), Tim Sale (Batman: The Long Halloween, Heroes), Alex Saviuk (Web of Spider-Man, Feast of the Seven Fishes), Jim Shooter (Legion of Super-Heroes), John K. Snyder III (Grendel), Mark Sparacio (Heroes for Hire, Captain Action), Robert Tinnell (EZ Street), Peter Tomasi (Nightwing, Green Lantern Corps), Herb Trimpe (Incredible Hulk), Timothy Truman (Conan, Grimjack), Billy Tucci (Shi, Sgt. Rock - The Lost Battalion), Neil Vokes (The Black Forest, The Wicked West), Matt Wagner (Zorro, Grendel), Mark Waid (Flash, Boom! Studios), Mark Wheatley (Frankenstein Mobster, Mighty Motor Sapiens), Ron Wilson (The Thing), and Thom Zahler (Love and Capes).

The Harvey Awards will return to the Baltimore Comic-Con for the third consecutive year. The awards dinner and ceremony will be held Saturday night, September 27, 2008, following the convention's normal hours. As in 2007, the first 300 paid attendees and honorees at the 2008 Harvey Awards Ceremonies will receive a Hollywood-style bag of swag. Last year's bag included The EC Archives: Two-Fisted Tales - Volume 1 from Gemstone Publishing, a complete base set of the soon-to-be-released Jericho Season One trading cards from Inkworks, an exclusive pin from AdHouse Books, a Comic-Con exclusive edition of 30 Days of Night: Red Snow 1 from IDW Publishing, a Toon Tumbler from Popfun Merchandising, and an exclusive Harvey Awards keychain from LaserMach. Nominating ballots are presently online at www.harveyawards.org. Kyle Baker will return as Master of Ceremonies for the evening's events.

For more information about the Baltimore Comic-Con, e-mail cardscomicscollectilbes@yahoo.com or call (410) 526-7410. The guest list and other information can be found on the convention's website or on its MySpace page.

For more information about the Harvey Awards, including sponsorship opportunities, e-mail baltimorecomiccon@yahoo.com.

Adams, Kubert do comic book story on Holocaust survivor

Today's NY Times has an article about Neal Adams and Joe Kubert drawing a story to aid Dina Gottliebova Babbitt, a Holocaust survivor and animator get some original artwork returned. Stan Lee also participated. See "Comic-Book Idols Rally to Aid a Holocaust Artist," By GEORGE GENE GUSTINES, New York Times August 9, 2008. You can download the comic story as well.

Early articles on this issue, courtesy of my Comics Research Bibliography research, are

Wyman Institute. 2006.
450 Cartoonists Urge Poland to Return Auschwitz Paintings [by animator Dina Babbitt].
Kansas City infoZine (September 21):
http://www.infozine.com/news/stories/op/storiesView/sid/17845/

Brady, Matt. 2006.
JOE KUBERT RALLIES THE CREATIVE COMMUNTY FOR DINA BABBIT.
Newsrama (September 12): http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=83781

Thursday, August 07, 2008

August 10: Capital Associates comic book con

$3 and at the Dunn Loring fire dept. See www.capicons.com for details. I'll be there around the opening at 10 am.

OT: Out of Sequence: Underrepresented Voices in American Comics exhibit

A couple of guys I know from ICAF, John Jennings and Damian Duffy, have some interesting ideas on exhibiting comics. They've curated a new exhibit, "Out of Sequence: Underrepresented Voices in American Comics," which argues:

Despite recent attention to the history and development of comics, the steps required to create a new canon have been limited and incomplete. Out of Sequence continues and expands on investigations such as Masters of American Comics, presented in 2005 by UCLA's Hammer Museum and the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles, by showcasing areas of sequential art that might otherwise be overlooked or underappreciated. These areas include the work of women and minority artists and small press and webcomics creators. The exhibition will explore alternate histories of American comics and suggest some of the limitless possibilities for the medium in the past, present, and future, from early newspaper strips to the Internet and virtual narratives in simulated three-dimensional space.

The exhibit includes a catalog as well.

It's booked for display in two places so far:

Krannert Art Museum and Kinkead Pavilion
October 24, 2008 to January 4, 2009

The Laboratory of Art and Ideas at Belmar (The Lab), Belmar, CO
January 28, 2008 to April 26, 2009

Check out this checklist of art as well. This looks like an excellent exhibit. I hope it wanders to the East Coast too.

Otakon anime fest in Baltimore this weekend

Here's another article on Otakon in Baltimore this weekend - "Wide-eyed wonder: Otakon draws fans of exotically simple anime," By Julia Marie Simpson, Howard County Times 8/07/08.

Cavna's Signe Wilkinson interview

The Philadelphia cartoonist is on the Comic Riff's blog at "The Interview: Political Cartoonist Signe Wilkinson," By Michael Cavna August 7, 2008.

"Spadefoot' trade for FREE on Wowio.com

Matt Dembicki's sent along a note about his new comic book:

Just wanted to drop a quick note that Spadefoot, an 84-page graphic novel about a space frog and his merry band of misfits prophesized to conquer an evil emperor, a salamander named Hellbender, is available to read online for FREE at Wowio.com. (Type "Spadefoot" in the search function.) It's a whacky, good old-fashioned space opera! (If you want to download it, it's $4; that's something new with Wowio since it was recently bought by another company.)

If the comic hits a target number of visits, AlternaComics has agreed to publish a print version, which, of course, is any creator's goal. So, please check it out and, if you think it's good, please recommend friends to read it, too.

Thanks!
Matt Dembicki
http://threecrowspress.blogspot.com
http://trickster-anthology.blogspot.com

Wednesday, August 06, 2008

OT: Flu comic book


In my professional life, I dabble in medical history. Dave Lasky's done a comic book "No Ordinary Flu" about the 1918 influenza epidemic for King County in Washington State. You can download it as a pdf in multiple languages. Their website reads:

To promote pandemic flu preparedness, Public Health - Seattle & King County has developed a 12-page comic book on pandemic flu. Targeting readers of all ages, this story tells the tale of a family’s experience of the 1918 influenza pandemic. It also explains the threat of pandemic flu today, illustrates what to expect during a pandemic (such as school closures), and offers tips to help households prepare.

You can also hear Lasky on KUOW's Sound Focus for August 6th - "No Ordinary Flu and Recipes for Peaches." Here's a direct link.

Thanks to cartoonists Scott Gilbert and Scott Faulkner for the tips!

Richard Thompson Interview On-Line

Chris Mautner has a look at Cul de Sac at "Graphic Lit: An interview with Richard Thompson,"Panels and Pixels Tuesday, August 05, 2008.

http://panelsandpixels.blogspot.com/2008/08/graphic-lit-interview-with-richard.html



Richard's got a comment about it on his blog now too. His post is better because he can draw Alice. --Mike

Tuesday, August 05, 2008

Bush political cartoon ad


The NRDC Action Fund paid for a full-page caricature/political cartoon ad in today's Washington Post showing George W bush as a snake-oil salesman. It's a lovely piece and they've put a pdf online - I can't recall anything similar since Pat Oliphant did a series of full page ads about airlines at least a decade ago.

August 8: Otakon anime fest in Baltimore

For more information, see "Otakon draws people together," By SALLY NEWLIN, Herald-Mail August 5 2008.

I've lifted the relevant physical info from the end of the article:

Otakon
9 a.m. Friday, Aug. 8, to 2 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 9, and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, Aug.10
Baltimore Convention Center, 1 W. Pratt St., Baltimore
$65 each day for Friday and Saturday; $25 for Sunday
Visit www.otakon.com for more information and for a complete schedule.

NY Times on French cartoonist Sine's resignation UPDATEd

A Scooter, a Sarkozy and Rancor Collide
By STEVEN ERLANGER
Published: August 5, 2008
A scandal has emerged in France involving the president’s son, his wealthy fiancée, a much-beloved and scabrous magazine, a crusty cartoonist and humid charges of anti-Semitism.

I don't have a deep interest in this, but I've run across a few more articles for my Comics Research Bibliography, so here's links:

Satirical jab at Sarkozy's son sparks cries of anti-Semitism
By Haaretz Service and News Agencies August 4 2008

Cartoonist gets death threats over Sarkozy 'Jew' quip
Adam Sage in Paris
The Times August 6, 2008

Muslims, Jews and the free speech debate
By Sarah El Sirgany
Daily News Egypt August 5, 2008

French satirist sparks uproar with Sarkozy son Jewish jibe
by: Emma Charlton
05/Aug/2008 16:58 (AFP)

'Anti-Semitic' satire divides liberal Paris
Controversial columnist's aside about Sarkozy's son and a Jewish heiress reignites old embers
Jason Burke in Paris
The Observer, Sunday August 3 2008

French cartoonist fired for anti-Semitic remarks towards Sarkozy's son
EJP 29/Jul/2008

Rob Ullman comic reviewed by Comics Reporter

Tom Spurgeon looks at Rob Ullman's minicomic Crustacean Frustration. I must confess that I now barely glance at Savage Love in the City Paper without Rob's illustrations.

Cavna's Steve Breen interview

Comic Riffs has a longer interview with editorial cartoonist Steve Breen up today - see "The Interview: Political Cartoonist Steve Breen."