Dustin Harbin on Watchmen and beyond

I met Dustin at HeroesCon this year, and liked him immensely. Here's a link to something he's written - "Okay, I've Read Watchmen. What's Next?" By Dustin Harbin,
Newsarama 2008-08-28.

Another Meltzer bit or two

Here's a review of his new comic book "DC Universe: Last Will and Testament": John Hardick: "Kuberts create a surprising new tale," Lehigh Valley Express Times Saturday, August 30, 2008.

And here's a blog post: "Brad Meltzer: Faster than a speeding bullet," by Chauncey Mabe, South Florida Sun Sentinel's Off the Page blog August 31, 2008.

Give me that ol' time Bat-religion, and other news

R. Kikuo Johnson's illustrated today's New York Times magazine story on President Bush. Rutu Modan's comic story is continuing too, although it hasn't really captured my imagination.

"Must-See Sermons: Va. Pastor Culls Lessons From Silver Screen to Pull In Larger Audience," By Ben Hubbard, Washington Post Staff Writer, Sunday, August 31, 2008; C01 is about a minister who's preached dressed as both the Batman and the Joker during sermons.

Also, the last completely new For Better or For Worse strip appeared in the Sunday Post comics section. Ms. Johnston extrapolates what happens to the characters in the future, much as the last Harry Potter book did.

In the "Lord, what fools these mortals be" column we find "Studio War Involving ‘Watchmen’ Heats Up," By MICHAEL CIEPLY, New York Times August 30, 2008.














This piece explained a James Gillray cartoon, which can be incomprehensible at a remove of 200 years - "Be an Old Master, for 10 Guineas," By J. D. BIERSDORFER, New York Times August 31, 2008

In the Sunday Examiner's inserts - "Why I love Superman: A best-selling novelist on why he adores the Man of Steel," By Brad Meltzer, USA Weekend August 29 2008.

Jen Sorenson blogged from the DNC and we missed it

Jen's based in Charlottesville, and a regular attendee of SPX. She's also got a new book out. You can still see her blog on the DNC even if the event's over.

Family Circus has left Washington

The Family Circus flew out of DC yesterday, leaving via Dulles Airport (in a fine rendering of the architecturally significant airport). With four children and two adults, they significantly added to the local tourism economy in spite of sticking to free monuments and museums. We hope they enjoyed their visit.

QUICK REVIEWS FOR COMICS DUE THURSDAY 09-04-08

QUICK REVIEWS FOR COMICS DUE THURSDAY 09-04-08
By John Judy

(Note: Long weekends mean late comics but only by a day.)

AL JAFFE TALL TALES HC by Al Jaffe. Collecting 120 installments of the world’s first and last vertical newspaper comic-strip from the veteran MAD artist who gave us “Snappy Answers to Stupid Questions” and the folding back-cover gags of about a million issues of MAD. Very cool stuff. Recommended.

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #570 by Dan Slott and John Romita Jr. Big fights between Spidey, Venom and “Anti-Venom” so help me. Where’s a Skrull when you need one? But it’s Dan Slott so of course he makes it all sing.

ANGEL: AFTER THE FALL #12 by Brian Lynch and Nick Runge. The incomprehensibility continues! Contains vaguely humanoid shapes and words!

BOYS #22 by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson. The Legend wraps it up, the Homelander throws a hissy, and Butcher learns something. Featuring a variant glow-in-the-dark cover and lots of perversion. Not for kids. Recommended.

BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #18 by Joss Whedon and Karl Moline. Buffy’s in the future and Dawn’s a centaur. A really hot centaur… Hey Michelle Trachtenberg’s like 32 years old now so it’s okay! Oh man, it’s never gonna be okay….

GREEN LANTERN #34 by Geoff Johns and Ivan Reis. Hal Jordan and Sinestro take on Abin Sur’s killer. It’s like Anakin and Obi-Wan if George Lucas knew how to write. Recommended.

MARVEL APES #1 of 4 by Karl Kesel and Ramon Bachs. An alternate universe where the Marvel heroes are all monkeys. Hey, it was this or more zombies… Oh wait, they’re doing that too. I don’t care! It’s monkeys as heroes! I’m reading it! Ook-ook!

SECRET SIX #1 by Gail Simone and Nicola Scott. The always awesome Gail Simone returns to chronicle the on-going adventures of DC’s favorite anti-heroes. Strong, character-driven stories of triple-crosses, desperation, out-and-out psychosis and other stuff straight out of the GOP National Convention! Highly recommended.

STORMING PARADISE #3 of 6 by Chuck Dixon and Butch Guice. It’s game-on as the allies invade the Japanese mainland in this alternate-world history in which there was no Fat Man or Little Boy to end WWII. Weird, wild stuff. Recommended.

SUB-MARINER: DEPTHS #1 of 5 by Peter Milligan and Esad Ribic. The Marvel Knights version of Namor the Sub-Mariner which means it’s out of continuity and probably incredibly sexy, vulgar and violent. And other stuff straight out of the GOP National Convention! (Call-back! Yes!) Gotta look. Unless you’re a kid.

TWELVE ½ by Various Creators, including Stan Lee, Joe Simon and Basil Wolverton. Collecting early golden-age appearances of the stars of the hit series THE TWELVE. This issue includes the Fiery Mask, Rockman and Mister E. For those of us who love such stuff but can’t afford the big-buck back issue prices. Cool.

X-MEN: MANIFEST DESTINY #1 of 4 by Mike Carey, Michael Ryan and Others. A series of stories laying out the latest status quo of all things “X.”

www.johnjudy.net

Diary of a Wimpy Kid's Jeff Kinney at Baltimore Comic-Con!

Diary of a Wimpy Kid's Jeff Kinney at Baltimore Comic-Con!
Diary of a Wimpy Kid
Baltimore, Maryland - August 23, 2008 - Jeff Kinney, author of the #1 New York Times best-selling title Diary of a Wimpy Kid, and nominee in 8 Harvey Award categories this year, will be making his Baltimore Comic-Con debut on Saturday, September 27th!

"Jeff Kinney's been picking up accolades left and right with his series, and really draws a different demographic to the show," said show promoter Marc Nathan. "We're really excited to have him and think his appearance is going to be a huge hit."

Jeff is appearing courtesy of Amulet Books, an imprint of Harry N. Abrams, Inc., and will be signing in their booth on Saturday at 3pm.

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), Nick Cardy (Aquaman, Teen Titans), Tommy Castillo (Grimm Fairy Tales, Kong: King of Skull Island), Howard Chaykin (Wolverine, American Flagg), Cliff Chiang (Green Arrow & Black Canary), Gene Colan (Daredevil, Tomb of Dracula), 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), Guy Davis (B.P.R.D., Lobster Johnson), 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), Chris Ivy (Beast Boy, Marc Spector: Moon Knight), 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), Sean McKeever (Teen Titans, Countdown), 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), Rags Morales (Identity Crisis, Batman Confidential), 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), Alex Robinson (Too Cool to be Forgotten, Box Office Poison), 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), Tony Shasteen (O.C.T.: Occult Crimes Taskforce), Jim Shooter (Legion of Super-Heroes), John K. Snyder III (Grendel), Taki Soma (Silent Forest, You'll Never Die), Mark Sparacio (Heroes for Hire, Captain Action), Brian Stelfreeze (Midnighter, The Ride), Karl Story (Black Canary Wedding Planner, Number of the Beast), 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), Doug Wagner (The Ride, Gun Candy), 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. Final ballots are presently online at www.harveyawards.org. Kyle Baker will return as Master of Ceremonies for the evening's events.

Tickets are now available for sale. For more information about the Baltimore Comic-Con, email cardscomicscollectilbes@yahoo.com or call (410) 526-7410. The guest list, ticket information, directions, 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.

Upcoming Anime Con

The Anime USA convention, "For Otaku, By Otaku", is coming up at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City in Arlington, VA over the Columbus Day Weekend (October 10-12, 2008).

http://www.animeusa.org/

Guests include Robert DeJesus, a pretty big name in manga circles, and local yokel Jo Chen, who does covers for Runaways at Marvel and the vast majority of the Joss Whedon-verse titles at Dark Horse, among other things, plus Allison Strom, who does manga work at Seven Seas Entertainment, Matt Herms, who works at Archie, and webcomics artsts of Paradox Lost and Applegeeks.

As with all of these Anime conventions, the price of admission is steep -- $40 through the end of September, and then I assume it goes up. I guess if you're going for the whole experience, that might be more reasonable than if you're me and just want to see the folks I just mentioned above!

Selcuk Demirel is BACK

Turkish cartoonist Selcuk Demirel used to be a regular illustrator in the Post's Book World section, but he went missing years ago. Today he is BACK, illustrating the cover of the Weekend section. The above lift from the Post's website is 1/2 the cover he did, and obliterates the tree. More Demirel!

Also in today's Post is a review of the latest Nightmare Before Christmas DVD release which appeared online earlier in the week as "A Very Vivid 'Nightmare'," By JEN CHANEY, washingtonpost.com Staff Writer, Tuesday, Aug. 26, 2008 and in print as "An Early Christmas Present," Post August 29 2008, Weekend p. 32

More Meltzer ephemera

Brad's publisher is really pushing this book. Here's the postcard that came in the mail yesterday.


Brad's comic book Last Will and Testament came out from DC Comics this week and I picked it up, but haven't read it yet. It seems to deal with Geo-Force from the Outsiders and whatever the Final Crisis is.

Washington Post selects Little Dog Lost to replace FBOFW

Michael Cavna is reporting that on Monday the Post will begin running "Little Dog Lost," by Ohio-based artist Steve Boreman in place of Canada-based Lynn Johnston's "For Better or For Worse."

BASH! Magazine #2..."featuring new stories from D.C. artists in your monthly comic alternative"

I noticed issue #2 of BASH! Magazine was on the stands today at the Vienna Metro station (though not in the kiosk at Gallery Place yet!). Says the cover, "This month in Bash Magazine read about the strange fates awaiting those who dare take fake vacations, walk obsure forest paths, order frozen lobster, travel to Cuba, or ride the bus!" It truly is a cornucopia of variety and strangeness. From your political-leaning cartoons by the likes of Keith Knight and Jen Sorensen to the illustrated poetry of John Dimes.

For your edification, the Table of Contents:

Something Peculiar by John Dimes
As I Wait by Theo Ellsworth
Something Happens by Thomas K. Dye
Limbs of the Megalith by Eamon Espey
Onionhead by Bryan Stone
K Chronicles by Keith Knight
One Cannot Travel Where There are Not Roads by Morgan Pielli
Slow Wave by Jesse Rekaw and Susan Ortiz
Cuba Libre by Dan Archer
Tiny Sepuku by Ken Cursoe
slowpoke by Jen Sorensen
Animal Stew by Matt Dembicki

All that, and free to boot!

Zadzooks on videogame with minor comics tie-in and ill-fitting Star Wars characters

For info on some videogame called Soulcatcher IV, the DC comic book that comes with it, and the weird fact that you can have Darth Vader in your game, see "ZADZOOKS: Swords cast world into strife," Joseph Szadkowski, Washington Times Thursday, August 28, 2008.

We also have Bennett's Best online - I looked at the Superman 3-D Final Crisis and put it back. If I made a mistake, somebody let me know.

Disney expands on Blu-ray plans

"At Disney, Blu-ray Sales Team Is a Cast of Characters," By BROOKS BARNES, New York Times August 27, 2008 reports that five more animated films are joining Sleeping Beauty as Blu-ray releases - Pinocchio, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Fantasia, Fantasia 2000 and Beauty and the Beast.

They also had a mention of Virgin Comics imploding - "Virgin Comics Venture Is Shut Down," by JULIE BLOOM, New York Times August 27, 2008.

Smackin' around the Post over the Danish cartoons

I just loved this letter to the editor:

Throwing Stones At Random House
Washington Post Wednesday, August 27, 2008; Page A12

The Post was entirely correct to criticize Random House for preemptively caving in to Islamic fundamentalists who might take offense with the novel "The Jewel of Medina" ["Random House's Retreat," editorial, Aug. 22].

But I can't help but think you would have a little more credibility on the subject if you hadn't allowed the same potential threats to dictate how you reported the controversy two years ago over cartoons depicting the prophet Muhammad. The Post had its chance to assert its right to report current events as a major newspaper should by printing the cartoons, but instead you caved in to the mob just as Random House has.

JOE SCHWIND
Martinsburg, W.V.

Meltzer's Book of Lies begins getting press

USA Today raved about Meltzer's book and theory in "The crime that created Superman: Did fatal robbery spawn Man of Steel?" By David Colton, USA TODAY April 26 2008.

Today, The Cleveland Plain Dealer smacks it around a bit in response - "Novel's Superman lore a bit weak on the facts," by Patrick O'Donnell and Michael Sangiacomo, Wednesday August 27, 2008.

Seth MacFarlane's new animation for Burger King

A few days ago, I linked to a NYTimes article about Seth MacFarlane’s Cavalcade of Cartoon Comedy project. A rep from Burger King's ad agency wrote in to say that while "Exclusive Cavalcade content will be presented by BK on youtube.com/bk beginning September 10" there's a sneak peak up now. Which actually looks rather dementedly amusing. Plus she said nice things about the blog...

MTV wants you, maybe, perhaps...

I've started getting press releases due to this blog, and while I'd like to stay focused on the DC area, I'll stick a few up that tickle my funny bone or some other anatomical part. Here's one from MTV's True Life show, which beyond being over 28 by some years, I still wouldn't apply to go on. However if it appeals to you, here's the unedited PR:

ARE YOU A FANBOY?

MTV’S TRUE LIFE WANTS TO HEAR YOUR STORY!

Are you a young person who is obsessed with a certain book, comic, or video game? MTV’s True Life is looking for young people who are die-hard fans of certain brands, characters, or fantasy series.

Are you obsessed with comic books, anime, fantasy, or manga? Do you like to dress up as your favorite character and attend conventions with other fans? Have you ever waited in line overnight for a book, movie, or videogame release? Do you have tattoos depicting your favorite brand or characters? Have you ever missed work, school, or other important events to engage in role-playing or cosplay? Are you misunderstood by your family or significant other because of it? Do you aspire to author your own graphic novel or comic series despite your parents’ disapproval?

If you appear to be between the ages of 16 and 28, and want to share the story of your fantasy obsession, email us at fanboy@mtvn.com with all of the details. Be sure to include your name, location, phone number and a photo, if possible.

Tell MTV why you need to be seen and heard. This is your chance to let others see what your life is all about!

So there you have it. If you do decide to apply, feel free to let us know as well.

Threefer For Better or For Worse

Actually, there was a 3rd bit in the Post today, at least the electronic one - Cavna, Michael. 2008. "Interview With the Artist: "For Better or For Worse's" Lynn Johnston," Washington Post Comic Riffs blog (August 27). It ended with the surprise news that "As of next Monday, The Washington Post plans to drop "For Better or for Worse" from its print edition but continue to carry it online."

Twofer Betterfer Worse

For Better For Worse articles in today's Post:

Something for Everyone to Hate by Hank Stuever

and

Lynn Johnston's Drawn-Out Adieu to Cartooning by Michael Cavna

I expect we'll see many more of these before all is said and done!