Big Planet's got your hit today, in spite of the snow

Owner Joel Pollack wrote to me to say, "Because each store in our chain sets its own policy, I can only speak for Bethesda and Georgetown. We are going to try to open today (Thursday) 11-7, but we recommend a phone call, just in case." Owner Greg Bennett followed up with "Vienna and College Park are both open today as well. Closing time dependent on weather/road conditions, so call first if you're coming out after dark. And we have new books!"

I'm going to suggest that unless you live in Bethesda or Georgetown, it's probably not a great idea to try to get there no matter how much you're missing your comics. I was just out in my Arlington neighborhood and the streets and sidewalks aren't ready.

Here's the BP contact info:

BIG PLANET COMICS
4908 Fairmont Ave.
Bethesda, MD 20814
301-654-6856

Also affiliated with:

BIG PLANET COMICS
3145 Dumbarton St. NW
Washington, DC 20007
202-342-1961

BIG PLANET COMICS
426 Maple Ave. East
Vienna, VA 22180
703-242-9412

BIG PLANET COMICS
7315 Baltimore Ave.
College Park, MD 20740
301-699-0498

Weldon on music and comics

Presumably Glen Weldon is snowed in like the rest of us in DC, so he's written a long look at "Comics That Have A Nice Beat And Are Easy To Dance To," National Public Radio's Monkey See blog (February 10 2010).

That darn Mussey

Marie Drom says in a letter to the editor of the Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star "Mussey's cartoon was not a bit funny" (2/10/2010)

Feb 20: DC Anime Club's Cosplay Corner.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Chris Wanamaker, (202) 262 2083 president@dcanimeclub.org

DC Anime Club
 Presents Cosplay Corner

On Saturday February 20, 2010 at 2:30pm DC Anime Club will be hosting an costume creation workshop called "Cosplay Corner" at the Martin Luthur King, Jr Memorial Library 901 G St NW Washington, DC 20001 in Room A5 on the A Level. "Cosplay" is short for "Costume Play", in which fans of Japanese Animation (Anime) and Japanese Comics (Manga) dress up as their favorite Anime, Manga and Video Game Characters by costumes they make themselves. The word "Cosplay" was coined by Nov Takahashi of the Japanese Studio, "Studio Hard". DC Anime Club will teach members how to create their own costumes: everything from making cosplay props, to places where materials can be acquired, to even acting as their characters. DC Anime Club has also given Cosplay Presentations at the Smithsonian Anime Marathon an event which is part of the National Cherry Blossom Festival and the Fiesta Asia Parade where



This event is free and open to the public for Ages 13 and up.

For more information please call (703) 655-1412 visit the DC Anime Club website at http://dcanimeclub.org.

Tom the Dancing Bug cartoonist raises over $4,000 for Haiti

We highlighted Ruben Bolling's campaign to raise money for Haiti when he started, and now Ruben's written in to announce the total he's raised and who won original drawings. Let's here a big round of e-pplause for Ruben and his donors. Remember you can still donate too.

Big Planet Comics says "This crazy weather"

Big Planet Comics Bethesda and Georgetown stores will be closed Wednesday Feb. 10th because of the snow storm.  We hope to be open Thursday the 11th.  We do have the new comics...and they'll be on the racks when next we open our doors.
Please call before coming here on Thursday to make sure we are in fact open, and to find out what time we plan on closing.

Stay safe and stay warm.

--Joel Pollack

--

BIG PLANET COMICS
4908 Fairmont Ave.
Bethesda, MD 20814
301-654-6856

Also affiliated with:

BIG PLANET COMICS
3145 Dumbarton St. NW
Washington, DC 20007
202-342-1961

BIG PLANET COMICS
426 Maple Ave. East
Vienna, VA 22180
703-242-9412

BIG PLANET COMICS
7315 Baltimore Ave.
College Park, MD 20740
301-699-0498

So who was editorial cartoonist John M Baer anyway?

For our 3rd post on editorial cartoonist John M Baer, we finally have some real information, courtesy of Curt Hanson, Department Head, Elwyn B. Robinson Department of Special Collections, Chester Fritz Library, University of North Dakota. Thanks to Curt for providing copies of articles about Baer, and also for pointing out their digitized collection of Stuart McDonald editorial cartoons.

The first article by Charles P. Stewart of the Central Press Association appears to be from 1921. Baer had been elected to congress from North Dakota in 1917 as an advocate for labor and farmers. In this article Baer blamed his re-election loss on his cartooning, rather than the fact that he was on the left (blue) in a right (red) district. The article said, "The fact is, Baer's cartoons had not rated as of national importance while their circulation was confined to North Dakota. As a congressman's handiwork, however, they quickly began making their appearance in all corners of the republic, causing widespread trouble for conservatism. In consequence, the campaign of 1920 saw an invasion of the Fargo district by outside spellbinders with practically unlimited resources. Since then Cartoonist Baer has been an ex-congressman."

Personally, I doubt that his cartooning was the cause of his election loss, but who can say 90 years later? He apparently was represented at some point by King Features Syndicate, who released the following:

World-Famous Artist Crashed Congress With A Lead Pencil
Washington, D.C. - Let it be understood that John M. Baer knows his politics from left to right, up and down and diagonally. For years he has been the champion of the farmer and the worker, fighting for them, not with glib, silver-tongued oratory but with a facile cartooning crayon that clarifies and mocks at most intricate bits of Machiavellian chicanery that back-room politicians ever foisted upon a suffering country.

Baer's political cartoons are known wherever a newspaper is read and he has he distinction of being the only man who ever crayoned himself into Congress, his Farm-Labor and Graft drawings having brought him such prominence that he was elected to fill the term of Congressman Helgessen of North Dakota, on the latter's death in 1917. At the expiration of that term, he was re-elected.

It was in 1912 that he came into real prominence by cartooning an expose of how the farmers were being "gypped" 90 cents per bushel on their wheat.

Since then he has never ceased in his fight on graft and shady political dealings and his work has appeared in most of our national periodicals and newspapers. His friends, among them workers of every calling, number millions and he is adding to the list daily. Baer's home is in Washington, D.C., where he keeps a watchful eye on the solons that make the wheels go round. One wonders if he is ever amused at the tales of huge campaign funds ad he remembers how he crashed Congress with a pencil.

"John M. Baer, once N.D. Congressman, still active at 83," a 1969 article by Jack Hagerty for the Grand Forks Herald provided far more information on Baer's life and career. Baer was born Mach 29, 1886 in Black Creek, Wisconsin, went to Lawrence University where he edited the newspaper and the yearbook before graduating in 1909, and then married a woman from North Dakota and moved to work on her father's farm. In 1913 he was appointed a postmaster, but soon was making more money from cartoons so in 1916 he moved to Fargo, North Dakota, to work for the Courier-News.

After losing re-election, Baer worked for Labor, a railroad union newspaper. In 1969, he was still working for them in an AFL-CIO building on Lafayette Square, but also cartooning at his home in Chevy Chase, MD.


Hagerty's article says this "Appropriation Pie" cartoon was printed over 100 million times, in 18 languages, and was credited with bringing about the Naval Disarmament Conference of 1921. Unfortunately, it's still true - past wars are shown as taking up 68% of the budget, defense with 25%, education at 1% and 6% left to labor, farmer and public.


Hagerty's article says that General Billy Mitchell distributed 20 million copies of this cartoon in 1925 and it was used in his court martial over aggressively pursuing an air force.


Baer's 1931 cartoon that was credited with coining the phrase "The New Deal." The worker, honest business and the farmer are saying "We demand a new deal" at a crooked card game with speculators, big business and cooked politicians.


A sidebar to Hagerty's article says that "For 58 years, he has used bears on his Christmas cards, but was turned down when he offered another cartoonist $1,000 for the right to use a bear symbol as an identifying mark in his cartoons." The other cartoonist is undoubtedly Clifford Berryman, also of Washington, who created the Teddy bear and drew him in many cartoons.

A new comic shop in Falls Church?

Missy Frederick is reporting that Victory Comics will be at 586 S. Washington Street. She notes that Hole in the Wall Books (which is a general used book store with comics) and Anime Pavilion are already in Falls Church.

Editorial cartoon change at the Examiner

Perusing today's Examiner online, we find that their editorial cartoon today is from Mike Ramirez and Creators Sydicate. I'm not sure if Cagletoons will still be providing cartoons to them as well. Their editorial cartoonist Nate Beeler is syndicated through Cagle.

Brian Keene signing in Baltimore

Up to our north, we have an upcoming creator appearance, which is really to promote a horror anthology book, The New Dead, but that never stopped me personally from plopping a comic or four in front of the creator and asking for a signature!

Nationwide Signing Event

On February 16th, 2010, the day The New Dead is released, the majority
of the authors who have written stories for the book will be signing in various
locations around the country.

Baltimore, MD: Brian Keene
7 PM
Barnes & Noble, 1819 Reisterstown Rd, Baltimore, MD 21208
(410) 415-5758

Mr. Keene wrote Marvel's Dead of Night Featuring Devil-Slayer. He also edited Cemetery Dance Publications' Grave Tales.

Bored? Big Planet is open in Georgetown and Bethesda

I'm not going out, but Big Planet is open in Georgetown and Bethesda. Beyond Comics was planning on being open today too. I would imagine that Fantom Comics is open since both sites are in large malls.

Comics on the Rack, Quick Picks for Comics Due 02-10-10

COMICS ON THE RACK

Quick Picks for Comics Due 02-10-10

By John Judy

 

ADVENTURE COMICS #7 by Tony Bedard and Travis Moore.  Black Lantern Superboy!  No, the other one!  Fight!

 

ALL-STAR SUPERMAN, VOL. 2 SC by Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely.  Collecting issues #7-12 of the best Superman comics in quite a while.  Recommended.

 

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #620 by Dan Slott and Marcos Martin.  Mysterio made his big move last ish, but I'm really coming back to read more "Adventures of Dark Aunt May!"  Recommended.

 

BATMAN AND ROBIN #8 by Grant Morrison and Cameron Stewart.  So who or what exactly is coming out of that Lazarus pit?  There's gonna be a scrap!  I can tell!

 

BPRD: KING OF FEAR #2 of 5 by Mike Mignola, John Arcudi and Guy Davis.  A journey to the Hollow Earth and an attempt to lay Lobster Johnson's ghost to rest.  Also, Liz cremates some dead dudes.

 

CHOKER #1 by Ben McCool and Ben Templesmith.  There are so many reasons this comic is a must-have, but among the most compelling is this: The female lead is a cop nicknamed "Dick-Puncher."  Described by co-creator Templesmith as "A little bit like FELL with a bad case of Gonorrhea."  Highly recommended.  Not for kids.

 

DAYTRIPPER #3 of 10 by Fabio Moon and Gabriel Ba.  Okay, I think I'm getting this one now.  Every issue is a new "Death of Kenny."  It's cool though because each issue thus far has been extremely well-crafted on both the art and scripting.  Recommended for grown-ups.

 

HELLBLAZER: PANDEMONIUM HC by Jamie Delano and Jock.  John Constantine goes to Iraq.  What could possibly go wrong?  This marks the return of the original HELLBLAZER scribe to the character.  Combined with Jock doing the art makes this one Highly Recommended.

 

HIT-MONKEY #1 by Daniel Way and Dalibor Talijic.  This is written by Daniel Way, the guy who writes WOLVERINE:ORIGINS.  And that's all I have to say about that…

 

HUMAN TARGET #1 of 6 by Len Wein and Various Creators.  DC's newest TV star, Christopher Chance, takes on every low-life and ne'er-do-well on the European continent!  Action, intrigue and glamour galore from co-creator Len Wein!  Recommended.

 

JSA ALL-STARS #3 by Matthew Sturges and Freddie Williams II.  After last week's godawful JSA ANNUAL #2 Mr. Sturges has some serious ground to make up.  Geoff Johns has never been more missed. And why there needs to be a Liberty Belle/Hourman co-feature written by Jen Van Meter continues to elude me.

 

PUNISHERMAX #4 by Jason Aaron and Steve Dillon.  Words that will make me buy a comic, sight unseen: "Sledgehammer-swinging hitman!"  Must-have!  Not for kids.

 

SECRET SIX #18 by John Ostrander, Gail Simone and Jim Calafiore.  Black Lanterns vs. the Six vs. the Suicide Squad!  Boy, who most deserves to eat that one?  Recommended.

 

SMILE SC written and drawn by Raina Telgemeier.  The autobiographical account of a girl who gets her two front teeth knocked out just in time to start middle school.  In real-world pubescent terms this is Galactus coming to Earth.  Recommended.

 

SOLOMON KANE: DEATH'S BLACK RIDERS #2 of 4 by Scott Allie and Mario Guevara.  Okay, so if you're hiding from demons in the Black Forest is it really a step up to barricade yourself in a tavern called The Cleft Skull?  This is a cool adventure series and you should read it.

 

STRANGE #4 of 4 by Mark Waid and Emma Rios.  The big finish that leaves readers asking, "Hey, could we maybe get an on-going Doctor Strange series written by Waid, like, starting next month?"  Great series.  Recommended.

 

TAILS OF THE PET AVENGERS #1 by Various Pickers of the Short Straw.  Kids, when you start shooting heroin you think it will be cool, like in those reality fashion shows.  Then you wake up one morning , naked and alone, with your name attached to something like PET AVENGERS.  Stay in school!

 

UNWRITTEN #10 by Mike Carey and Peter Gross.  Tommy Taylor meets the spiritual father of Fox News: Josef Goebbels!  Gotta look!

 

X-MEN: PIXIE STRIKES BACK #1 of 4 by Kathryn Immonen and Sara Pichelli.  No Pet Avengers appear in this comic.

 

www.johnjudy.net

March 7: Capicons convention rescheduled

Event: Capicons Comic Book & Pop Culture Con
Start Time: Sunday, March 7 at 10:00am
End Time: Sunday, March 7 at 3:00pm
Where: Dunn Loring Volunteer Fire Department

To see more details and RSVP, follow the link below:
http://www.facebook.com/n/?event.php&eid=293214896993&mid=1d94bd4G40206d0eG15556b8G7

Zadzooks on Whiteout dvd

Zadzooks: Whiteout, Doctor Who and Zombieland reviews, Joseph Szadkowski, Washington Times February 6, 2010.

Herblock & McCarthyism is AAEC's lesson

Click on the AAEC's Cartoons in the Classroom website and look for February 7th.

Brian Wood interview at USA Weekend

From the heart of snowy Rosslyn comes - Comics scribe Brian Wood ready for the best February ever, by Brian Truitt, USA Weekend's Whos News blog (February 5 2010).

Another Harvey Pekar interview popped up

Here's another one to print out and paste in the back of Harvey Pekar: Conversations -

INTERVIEW: Comix Legend and Creator of American Splendor – Harvey Pekar
The Zeitgeisty Report Feb 5th, 2010

Feb 7: "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs" at Shirlington Library

Ok, I'm pretty sure this will be cancelled now that we have 1 1/2 feet of snow with another 1/2 foot projected... It was a good movie though.

Film: "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs"
Sunday, Feb. 7, 2pm
Shirlington Branch Library

The Shirlington "Family Movie Matinee" presents "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs" [2009]. Rated PG, 90 minutes. Directed by Christopher Miller and Phil Lord. Featuring Andy Samberg, Anna Faris and James Caan. Based on the children?s book, this animated adventure follows a scientist who tries to solve world hunger only to see things go awry as food falls from the sky in abundance.

Gazette on Katsucon

Katsucon sets sail for National Harbor
Japanese culture, anime and manga convention moves to Oxon Hill for its 16th celebration
by Joshua Garner
Gazette February 4 2010

Cavna also interviews the doodling comedian

The Demi-Post: Comedy Central's DEMETRI MARTIN Returns. Thankfully.
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post's Comic Riffs blog February 4, 2010

Cavna's panda comic

Michael Cavna reprints his comic about the Tai Shan, the National Zoo panda on Comic Riffs today.

Brian Truitt on Hellblazer for USA Today

Brian Truitt used to be one half of the Washington Examiner comic book tag team, along with Scott Rosenberg. Scott's in the Big Apple now. Here's a new article by Brian - Happy birthday, John Constantine, By Brian Truitt, USA TODAY February 2 2010.

OT: Matt Fraction interview

Techland kindly sent me notice that it has an interview with Matt Fraction up, whose always been a nice guy whenever I run into him, so read it and buy his comics.

Although I liked Watchman better than he did:

PH: Did you think Watchmen sucked?
MF: I did, but I thought The Dark Knight sucked too, save from the Joker bits. I loved the first half, I was little tired in the second half, and in the third half I wanted to leave... Avatar is the first movie I've seen where it made me feel like I needed to up my game. In terms of what comics could do, Avatar was the first film that touched anything close to what comics can do.

Nate Beeler's astronomical economics lesson

Nate's cartoon today is a thing of beauty.

Feb 7: Capicon comics show CANCELED

Kathleen Stocker would like to point out that the Capicon comics show is this weekend. The guest is Tim Dzon, the show is at the Dunn Loring fire station from 10-3. I was planning on trying to attend, but I'm not sure given the weather forecast.

See Laura's comment - the show's called off.

Herblock! exhibit gallery talks schedule

In conjunction with exhibition Herblock! in Library of Congress' Thomas Jefferson Building:

Gallery Talks, noon-12:30 p.m.

Wednesday, February 10  

Holly Krueger will discuss the Conservation of the Herbert L. Block Collection
Herblock! exhibition, 2nd Floor, South Gallery, Jefferson Building

 

Wednesday, February 17    

Sara Duke and Martha Kennedy, co-curators of the Herblock! exhibition will lead a tour of the "Reagan" and "Clinton/Bush" sections
Herblock! exhibition, 2nd Floor, South Gallery, Jefferson Building

 

Wednesday, March 24     

Sara Duke and Martha Kennedy, co-curators of the Herblock! exhibition will lead a tour of the special  "Classic Cartoons" section
Herblock! exhibition, 2nd Floor, South Gallery, Jefferson Building

Feb 4-6: Archer cartoon voice Aisha Tyler at DC Improv

According to the interview, she's at DC Improv, 1140 Connecticut Ave thru Saturday - tickets are $15.

 

She's Pretty Funny: Comedian, actress and cartoon voice Aisha Tyler keeps pushing boundaries [Archer].

Written by Express contributor Roxana Hadadi

Express February 4, 2010

Feb 27: Act-i-vate at Politics and Prose

Dean Haspiel announced it on Facebook.

Date:
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Time:
6:00pm - 8:00pm
Location:
Politics and Prose
Street:
5015 Connecticut Ave. NW
City/Town:
Washington, DC

The Quotable Darwyn Cooke up at City Paper

See my The Quotable Darwyn Cooke: Highlights from the Cartoonist’s Talk at American Art, by Mike Rhode on Feb. 3, 2010 at the City Paper for some of the interesting things the cartoonist said, and here's a few of my pictures as well.

Herblock! treasures tour at noon today

At least I think it's at noon.  It's on Herblock's Nixon cartoons and should be in the Jefferson bldg.

Chris Flick interview on Capes and Babes

There's a Chris Flick interview on his comic Capes and Babes at Villains Corner podcasts. Here's the download link. I bought Chris' comic at one of the recent cons in Virginia, but it's in the dreaded 'to be read' pile.

Comic Riffs scores an Up interview

THE OSCARS: Pixar's 'Up' soars to score a historic nom, By Michael Cavna, Washington Post Comic Riffs blog February 2, 2010 has an interview with "its writer and co-director, BOB PETERSON."

Former local guy Brad Meltzer interview

Radiation Interrogation: Brad Meltzer
Blogs Atomic Fallout
Tuesday, February 02, 2010

My books on 15% off sale at Lulu

Stories Without Words: A Bibliography with Annotations 2008 edition - On Sale Now!

Interplanetary Journal of Comic Art - On Sale Now!

Film & TV Adaptations of Comics 2007 edition book - On Sale Now!

Buy or Sell Your Book 15% Off
Offer ends 2/3/10
Happy Groundhog Day from Lulu

Take 15% off your next order, site-wide!
Just add coupon code "SHADOW" at checkout.

John M. Baer

No biographical information from the Library of Congress this time, although they hold some of his cartoons that they're cataloguing. However they do have two photographs:


BAER, JOHN MILLER. REP. FROM NORTH DAKOTA, 1917-1921
LC-DIG-hec-09390
Harris & Ewing Collection (Library of Congress)


BAER, JOHN MILLER. REP. FROM NORTH DAKOTA, 1917-1921
LC-DIG-hec-09389
Harris & Ewing Collection (Library of Congress)

and one drawing:


Ohio State U's Cartoon Library has 5 clipped comics by him.

Henry Eugene "Gene" Elderman

The Ohio State U Cartoon Research Library has a file under "Elderman, Eugene" with about 75 clipped cartoons in it.

Sara Duke of the Library of Congress pitched in with the following information:

Henry Eugene Elderman, 1910-1963

Check out his obituary in The Washington Post, "Henry Elderman, 53, former Post cartoonist," Washington Post, December 25, 1963, p. D8; "Gene Elderman dies at 53; former political cartoonist," New York Times, December 25, 1963, p. 33; Thirteenth Census of the United States: 1910, Montana, School District No. 63 (Aubrey), April 16, 1910, district 2, enumeration district 122, sheet no. 1B; Fourteenth Census of the United States: 1920, Kentucky, Ashland City, January 19, 1920, district 9, enumeration district 23, sheet no. 4B; Fifteenth Census of the United States: 1930, Kentucky, Ashland, April 11, 1930, enumeration district 10-12, sheet no. 12B.

He had been the editorial cartoonist for the Post in the 1930s. He was born in Helena, Montana in 1910, where his father was a farmer, and grew up in Ashland, Kentucky with his mother, where he came to be known as Eugene. He worked as a civil engineer in a steel mill before he came to the Post in 1932, having worked as an animator. His colleagues knew him as "Geneo." He left the Post around 1942 to serve in the U.S. Army. He was a cartoonist for the Office of War Information's "Victory" magazine. After World War II he lived in New York, where he died in 1963.

Obviously, he didn't get his job back at the Post, as Herblock's first cartoon was published on January 3, 1946.

Feb 12-14: Katsucon anime and manga festival

16th year at the Gaylord in National Harbor, MD. $50 registration at the door. See http://www.katsucon.org for more information.

Updated - Eden in the comments says "Saturday only is $35, which is reasonable. Sunday is also only $20"

Henry Elderman? John M. Baer? UPDATED

Mike Lynch has 2 pages of scans of 'Famous Cartoonists' addresses from 1941 up at his blog. For DC, we find...

Henry Elderman at 5002 Newport Ave, Friendship Station, Washington, DC?

John M. Baer at A.F. of L. Bldg., Washington, DC?

Admittedly I wasn't here (or anywhere in 1941), but who are these guys? Is Baer a cartoonist for the American Federation of Labor Union? Where's the cartoonists for the dailies, like the Berrymans?

Update:

Ok, I've got a bit more time after turning in a City Paper article. Googling Baer finds his biographical file at the University of North Dakota - along with a biographical sketch that says he was a cartoonist before and after being a Member of Congress. After losing an election in 1920, "he resumed his previous activities as a cartoonist and journalist for Labor," says the ELWYN B. ROBINSON DEPARTMENT OF SPECIAL COLLECTIONS in the CHESTER FRITZ LIBRARY. And he's buried in Silver Spring. Here's a link to a larger version and more information on that sketch of him. This biographical note says he was born in 1886 and was the first cartoonist elected to Congress.

Henry Elderman's still a mystery at the moment though.

Comics go meta as Calvin and Hobbes interview appears

A Cleveland Plain Dealer reporter got an interview with Bill Watterson where our own Nevin Martel failed, so Comic Riffs interviewed the reporter - 'CALVIN & HOBBES': How a Cleveland reporter landed a rare interview with reclusive Bill Watterson, By Michael Cavna, Washington Post's Comic Riffs blog February 1, 2010.

Swann Fellowship applications due in 2 weeks

Feb. 15 is the deadline to receive Swann Fellowship applications. Up to $15,000 is awarded annually to qualified graduate student applicant(s) to support scholarly research in caricature and cartoon by the Swann Foundation administered by the Library of Congress. For criteria, application forms, and list of funded projects, please see
http://www.loc.gov/rr/print/swann/swann-fellow.html
Email swann@loc.gov if you have questions.

Herblock! speedtour post up on City Paper blog

How to Zip through "Herblock!" in 10 Minutes, Make that Meeting on the Hill

Posted by Mike Rhode on Feb. 1, 2010, at 11:50 am

Comics on the Rack, Quick Picks for Comics Due 02-03-10

COMICS ON THE RACK

Quick Picks for Comics Due 02-03-10

By John Judy

 

BLACKEST NIGHT: WONDER WOMAN #3 of 3 by Greg Rucka and Nicola Scott.  WW's had her world rocked from fighting Black Lanterns, being a Black Lantern and then becoming an honorary Star Sapphire.  But no matter things get, she makes it look good.

 

THE BOYS #39 by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson.  New story arc kicks off here with everyone getting closer to knowing stuff they ought not.  Awkward moments galore!  Recommended.  Not for kids.

 

BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #32 by Brad Meltzer and Georges Jeanty.  "Chapter One: Buffy Has F#@$ing Superpowers."  Worth it for the tribute cover alone.  Recommended.

 

CRIMINAL: SINNERS #4 by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips.  Ex-Army bad-ass Tracy Lawless has been busted by Uncle Sam, which leaves him almost as screwed as disappointing the gangsters he's been working for.  What's an AWOL royal executioner to do?  Highly recommended.

 

CROGAN'S MARCH HC written and drawn by Chris Schweizer.  How long has it been since you've read a good French Foreign Legion story involving flesh-eating monsters?  Too long, obviously!  From Oni Press.

 

DEMO #1 of 6 by Brian Wood and Becky Cloonan.  A series of done-in-one stories, each one sketching pivotal events in the lives of their unique protagonists.  From the author of NORTHLANDERS and DMZ.

 

DISNEY'S HERO SQUAD: ULTRAHEROES #1 by Riccardo Secchi and Stefano Turconi.  No, this is not the first Avengers comic under the Disney logo.  This is the all-ages adventures of Super Goof, the Duck Avenger, Eega Beeva and the Red Bat.  And they don't meet Wolverine until next issue.  From BOOM! Studios.

 

DOOM PATROL #7 by J.M. DeMatteis and Matthew Clark.  One of the greatest DP members ever, Crazy Jane, is back. But will she bring her multiple personalities and Morrisonian weirdness with her?  Plus, Metal Men!

 

GREEN LANTERN: SECRET ORIGIN SC by Geoff Johns and Ivan Reis.  What it sounds like.  Collecting GL #29-35 with some nifty foreshadowing of the current "Blackest Night."  Recommended.

 

INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #23 by Matt Fraction and Salvador Larroca.  Tony Stark remains comatose while Norman Osborn's assassin draws ever closer.  This one's got three variant covers so it must be awesome!

 

JUSTICE SOCIETY ANNUAL #2 by Keith Giffen, Matthew Sturges and Tom Derenick.  The JSA thinks Magog's responsible for a prison break and he's miffed.  Expect fisticuffs and zappage.

 

MARVEL HEARTBREAKERS #1 by Various Creators.  Four Valentine's Day tales featuring the heartache of hormonal heroines.  Starring Dazzler, MJ and Gwen, the Nextwave gals and Snowbird.  That's right, Snowbird!  You got a problem with Snowbird?  Take it up with Dazzler, I say!  Gotta look!

 

MILESTONE FOREVER #1 of 2 by Dwayne McDuffie and Many of Milestone's Original Artists.  In which we see the merging of the Milestone Universe with the DCU from the Milestone POV.  Gotta look!

 

THE QUESTION #37 by Greg Rucka, Denys Cowan and Bill Sienkiewicz.  Vic Sage is back from the dead and looking to mix it up with the new Question.  I loves me some Rucka but what a shame they couldn't get Dennis O'Neil to write it.

 

SCALPED #37 by Jason Aaron and RM Guera.  When last we left our heroes Chief Red Crow was voluntarily having his guts kicked out by the Hmong gangsters.  Is it possible they have him right where he wants them?  Highly recommended.  Not for kids.

 

SIEGE #2 of 4 by Brian Michael Bendis and Joe Quesada.  For some reason someone thinks it would be a fine idea to invade a city full of gods.  This in turn is guaranteed to result in an Avenger dying.  Tough break, Living Lightning.  (Note: I'm kidding about Living Lightning, but if Bendis did off him would people have to start calling him Dead Lightning?  Because that actually sounds cooler.)

 

SEIGE: EMBEDDED #2 of 4 by Brian Reed and Chris Samnee.  Y'know, you can't have a really great company-wide cross-over without a title devoted to the brave reporters who are covering all that stuff you've already read in the other titles.  Sorta goes without saying.

 

SUPERMAN: WORLD OF NEW KRYPTON #12 of 12 by Greg Rucka, James Robinson and Pete Woods.  Supes and Adam Strange unravel the Kryptonian conspiracy but at what cost?  Plus, it looks like Brainiac is back for seconds.  Big finish!

 

TORCH #5 of 8 by Mike Carey, Alex Ross and Patrick Berkenkotter.  They should change the name of this comic to TORCHES because there's three of 'em in this issue.  Nobody can turn a one-shot into a maxi-series like Alex Ross!

 

ULTIMATE COMICS X #1 by Jeph Loeb and Art Adams.  So it appears Ultimate Wolverine has an Ultimate Kid or he's pretending to be dead while masquerading as a surly blonde teenager.  In spite of Loeb's recent output, this one merits a look because it is drawn by the great Arthur Adams.  And Loeb likewise always merits a look, if only to see if he's getting his game back.  Fingers crossed.

 

WOLVERINE: SAVAGE ONE-SHOT by Ryan Dunlavey and Richard Elson.  Wolvie's fighting monsters at sea!  Big ones!  Maximum choppage!

 

WOLVERINE WEAPON X #10 by Jason Aaron and C.P. Smith.  Nobody writes Wolverine better than Jason Aaron and this one introduces a new woman into his cursed life.  Good luck, lady!  And may god have mercy on your immortal whatever…  Highly recommended.

 

www.johnjudy.net

 

Big Planet extends 50% off hardcover sale

Store owner Greg Bennett writes in, "Seems that both owner and customer consensus is that we should extend the 50% off hardcover sale through Tuesday 2/2, since a bunch of people got snowed in this weekend and didn't get their last shot at it"

I know I got mine... at several of the stores.

A collector's account in the Post

There's quite a bit of overlap between book and comic book collectors these days...

Dispatch from the hoard
People who collect things and those who don't can be friends
Washington Post Sunday, January 31, 2010

The accompanying photo of generic comic books is actually Steve Geppi's collection at the Geppi Entertainment Museum in Baltimore

M.K. Perker comic strip in Post hardcopy

Attention, shoppers! by Michael S. Rosenwald opens with a large comic strip by M.K. Perker in the January 31 2010 Post's Outlook section. It's not online.

Zadzooks reviews comics!

Zadzooks: Soul Kiss, X-Men Forever and Star Wars: The Clone Wars, Colossus of Destiny reviews. Joseph Szadkowski, Washington Times January 28, 2010.

Former Silver Spring resident pens anti-abortion comic strip

Obviously, comics can be used for anything! The cartoonist is Gary Cangemi, for anyone who knew him 38 years ago when he lived in Silver Spring and collected comic books.

Local man uses "Umbert The Unborn" to advocate for anti-abortion, JOSH MROZINSKI, January 31, 2010.

Comic Riffs on the slings and arrows of their webcomics poll

Check out Michael Cavna's defensive duck, bob and weave about his wecomics poll here.

Jim Shooter Signing (Charlottesville, VA)

A little off the beaten path (Charlottesville), but Former EIC of Marvel and founder of Valiant Comics Jim Shooter is coming to Atlas Comics, (1750 Rio Hill Center, Charlottesville, VA 22901) on Friday, February 12, 2010 from 3:30-5:00pm.

From the PR:

After beginning his comic book career at age 13, Shooter has written acclaimed stints on Legion of Super-Heroes, The Avengers, Harbinger, and many other titles.

Presently he’s at work on Dark Horse Comics’ revival of Gold Key’s Magnus Robot Fighter, Doctor Solar, and other characters. The first of those stories debuts on Free Comic Book Day, May 1, 2010.

For more information on Atlas Comics or the signing, visit their website or call (434) 974-7512.

Cartoonists on the joy of cartoon contests

That title up there is sarcastic, but check out the comments where two local cartoon contests - the Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award and the Herblock Award are specifically mentioned - Picking up the tab to enter cartoon contests, by Alan Gardner, January 13, 2010.

BTW, I've been asked to be an RFK judge again this year (mentioned in the interests of transparency), but I was told by one of the previous judges who picked Derf that they had to threaten to not give the award that year if it wasn't given to him - so the judges aren't always in sync with the award-granting organization. I can say that last year the other RFK judges and I took our roles quite seriously and spent hours pouring through a few score portfolios.

Holy!#@$! Kevin #$@ Smith is coming!

I think you're obliged to use profanity at least once when discussing and/or referencing Kevin "Silent Bob" Smith. I read it on Wikipedia. Or something.

So yes, Kevin Smith is coming to DC. It's quite a ways away, but tickets went on sale this morning through TicketMaster. He's coming to the Sixth & I Historic Synagogue in NW on Thursday, April 22nd at 8pm. Anyone up for this? I've seen some of his college tour content on TV and he is hilarious.

Baltimore City Paper drops cartoon contest winner, and contest judges protest

Larnell Custis Butler's Just Ask Larnell won last year's Baltimore City Paper cartoon contest, but the paper recently dropped it. A letter to the editor signed by judges Tom Scocca, Tony Millionaire, Dina Kelberman, Benn Ray, and Emily Flake, "Bring Back Larnell," Baltimore City Paper 1/27/2010 brings the disagreement to light.

Politics and Prose book group reads Alan Moore

Adam reports that the next book for the Politics and Prose graphic novel book group will be Top Ten: The Forty-Niners by Alan Moore - not a typical Moore choice I'd think.

Tony Millionaire's Elvis Costello in Post

Tony Millionaire draws Elvis Costello for an ad that's on page 9 of the Weekend section of the Post.

Feb 3: Satoshi Kon's Tokyo Godfathers at JICC

Satoshi Kon's Tokyo Godfathers anime is at the Japan Information and Cultural Center at 1155 21st St, NW at 6:30. Call 202-238-6949 for reservations

Cooke interview at Smithsonian American Art blog

There's a Darwyn Cooke interview at the Smithsonian Magazine's blog for his appearance at American Art tomorrow. I'll be there - anyone else?

Signed Sacco books at Politics and Prose

Politics and Prose bookstore is reporting that they have signed copies of Footnotes in Gaza by Joe Sacco for sale. We didn't fall down on the job and let you miss Sacco; the books were shipped in from NYC.

Comic Riffs on iTricorder

Top 10 Names for the new Apple tablet (*as chosen by top artists), By Michael Cavna, January 27, 2010

East Germany animation reviewed in Express

Drawn and Confined Together: 'Red Cartoons: Animated Films from East Germany'

[print title: Drawn and Confined Together: Vintage cartoons from East Germany draw a bleak picture of a country divided].

http://www.expressnightout.com/content/2010/01/red-cartoons-east-germany-dvd.php

Written by Express contributor Stephen M. Deusner
Photo courtesy First Run Features

January 28, 2010

Daumier drawing at Corcoran

Today's Examiner, on p. 32, ran a Daumier drawing that's on display at the Corcoran for the exhibit Turner to Cézanne: Masterpieces from the Davies Collection, National Museum Wales, January 30–April 25, 2010.

1/30: Darwyn Cooke at National Portrait Gallery

Darwyn Cooke will discuss his graphic novel The Hunter, based on 1962 crime classic by Donald Westlake (under pseudonym Richard Stark). January 30. 4pm. Free.

Tip from Bruce Guthrie

Glen Weldon on the iTricorder and comics

Glen Weldon's take on 2010's big early tech news: Did You Hear? The Apple Tablet Is Gonna Save Comics, Too. National Public Radio's Monkey See blog (January 27 2010).

Kal on Florida public radio

This is a good interview. Luis Hernandez asks some good questions and gets into Kal's different procedures for doing an editorial cartoon vs an Economist cover, and also gets Kal to mention his earliest influence - one I hadn't heard before - Dr. Seuss.

Political Cartoonist Kevin Kallaugher
WGCU's Gulf Coast Live 01-27-2010

Since 1978, Kevin Kallaugher has made a name for himself as a political cartoonist – drawing thousands of cartoons for papers like The Baltimore Sun, the New York Times and Newsweek. He’s probably best known for his dozens of cover pieces for the Economist. Kallaugher is the guest speaker for the Speakers Assembly of Southwest Florida this week and he joins us to talk about his craft.

Obscure Richard Thompson advertising art

Well, it was obscure Richard Thompson advertising art until he posted it on his website. Now it's just cool.

Big Planet Comics hardcover sale ends this week

Hardcovers are 50% off through the end of the week. I've gotten a good-size stack, but I didn't buy everything.

My look at the dwindling comics pages is at City Paper now

The State of the Union for D.C. Newspaper Cartoonists

Posted by Mike Rhode on Jan. 27, 2010, at 3:30 pm

Danielle Corsetto's from Frederick?

Apparently she is -

Frederick native cartoons for a living
By Danielle McFall
Special to the News-Post January 26, 2010

My Comic Valentine play in Adams Morgan

Broadway World.com has the story "MY COMIC VALENTINE Plays Valentines Week At DCAC in Adams Morgan".

Everybody seems to be mining old romance comics these days. Well, a play is creative. Anyone want to go?

Here's the details:

2438 18th Street NW, Washington DC 2009
202.462.7833
info@dcartscenter.org
PERFORMANCE DATES AND TIMES: February 11-14, 2010

2/11 - 7:30pm

2/12 - 10pm

2/13 - 10pm

2/14 - 3pm & 7:30pm
TICKET PRICES: General - $17, DCAC Members - $12

Tickets may be reserved by contacting the DCAC box office at 202.462.7833

15% of all profits will go to the H.E.R.O. Initiative, a charitable organization that supports aging comic-book artists.

Learn More at www.heroinitiative.org

City Paper post on Darwyn Cooke

Same basic information as posted here, but a bit more on Cooke -

 

Darwyn Cooke to Speak at Smithsonian Saturday

Posted by Mike Rhode on Jan. 26, 2010, at 12:30 pm

Onion dropped editorial cartoon?

Since they haven't appeared for the month of January, I'm assuming that the Onion has dropped the putative editorial cartoon by the hack "Sean Kelly" (actually the talented cartoonist Ward Sutton).

Post photo of kids seeking Superman

Today's Post (and the Express) had a cute photograph by Sarah L. Voisin of the children of the Fine family dressed as Superman and Flash Gordon. The caption said they were "preparing to see a Superman exhibit at the National Museum of American History on Sunday, but they missed it." As far as I recall the last Superman exhibit was for his 50th birthday in 1988 which means they missed it by quite a lot. -17 years in the case of the older boy.

Unfortunately the image isn't online.

Darwin non-fiction graphic novel that snuck by me

Charles Darwin's On the Origin of Species: A Graphic Adaptation came out this fall. Amazon's product description, reproduced below, says that the cartoonist lives in DC:

Product Description

A stunning graphic adaptation of one of the most famous, contested, and important books of all time.

Few books have been as controversial or as historically significant as Charles Darwin’s On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life. Since the moment it was released on November 24, 1859, Darwin’s masterwork has been heralded for changing the course of science and condemned for its implied challenges to religion.

In Charles Darwin’s On the Origin of Species, author Michael Keller and illustator Nicolle Rager Fuller introduce a new generation of readers to the original text. Including sections about his pioneering research, the book’s initial public reception, his correspondence with other leading scientists, as well as the most recent breakthroughs in evolutionary theory, this riveting, beautifully rendered adaptation breathes new life into Darwin’s seminal and still polarizing work.

Michael Keller, an award-winning journalist and writer, has a bachelor of science degree in wildlife ecology from the University of Florida and a master’s degree from the Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism.

Nicolle Rager Fuller is a professional illustrator, with a bachelor of arts degree in biochemistry from Lewis and Clark College and a graduate certificate in science illustration from the University of California-Santa Cruz. She lives in Washinton, DC, with her husband.

Few books have been as controversial or as historically significant as Charles Darwin’s On the Origin of Species by Means of Natural Selection, or the Preservation of Favoured Races in the Struggle for Life. Since it was released on November 24, 1859, Darwin’s masterwork has been heralded for changing the course of science and condemned for its implied challenges to religion.

In Charles Darwin’s On the Origin of Species, author Michael Keller and illustator Nicolle Rager Fuller introduce a new generation of readers to the original text. Including sections about his pioneering research, the book’s initial public reception, his correspondence with other leading scientists, as well as the most recent breakthroughs in evolutionary theory, this engaging, beautifully rendered adaptation breathes new life into Darwin’s seminal and still polarizing work.

SL Gallant interview posted to City Paper

The editor has had his way with it so go read Meet a Local Cartoonist: A Chat with S.L. Gallant

by Mike Rhode on Jan. 25, 2010

Comics on the Rack, Quick Picks for Comics Due 01-27-10

COMICS ON THE RACK

Quick Picks for Comics Due 01-27-10

By John Judy

 

AFRODISIAC HC by Brian Maruca and Jim Rugg.  "By day he cleans up your office, by night he cleans up the streets: Alan Diesler, a.k.a. Afrodisiac!  A mysterious man from a faraway land – the original unbeatable, irresistible, smooth dark chocolate brother, b!^<!"  You want this in the worst possible way.  There's an eleven-page preview up on comixology.com that will sell even the most hardened skeptic.  Highly recommended!

 

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #619 by Dan Slott and Marcos Martin.  Mysterio's back working for the Maggia (I know…) and Aunt May has become Dark Aunt May!  This is totally the plot for the next Spider-Man movie!  Gotta look!

 

ARCHIE #605 by Michael Uslan and Stan Goldberg.  The final chapter in the "Archie Marries Betty" storyline in which things play out the way Nature intended.  Fun for all ages.

 

ASTRO CITY: THE DARK AGE BOOK FOUR #1 of 4 by Kurt Busiek and Brent Anderson.  The decades-spanning quest of the Williams brothers to catch their parents' killer continues.  It's the mid-80s and they're getting warmer.  Recommended.

 

ATOM AND HAWKMAN #46 by Geoff Johns and Ryan Sook.  Newly-minted member of the Indigo Tribe, Ray Palmer must use the indigo light of compassion to beat a pack of zombie Black Lanterns dressed up like his dearest friends.  Tough gig.

 

BATMAN AND ROBIN #7 by Grant Morrison and Cameron Stewart.  It's "Blackest Night" Morrison-style featuring guest-stars galore!  Some actually living!

 

BLACKEST NIGHT: JSA #2 of 3 by James Robinson and Eddy Barrows.  Dead JSAers all around!  Black power rings hungry for hearts!  Earth-2's mightiest corpses!  Gotta look!

 

CAPTAIN AMERICA: REBORN #6 of 6 by Ed Brubaker, Bryan Hitch and Butch Guice.  This is the Big One!  The return of the dead star-spangled hero who's already been knocking around peripheral titles for the past month and a half!  Make Mine Timely!

 

CHEW #8 by John Layman and Rob Guillory.  Agent Chu must track down the murderers of some guys who make their living cock-fighting.  He must also track down a sense of urgency.  Recommended.

 

DAREDEVIL #504 by Andy Diggle and Roberto De La Torre.  Marvel promises a "shattering climax" in this one and that's always been good enough for me!  But whose climax will it be and what will it shatter?  Team Diggle!

 

FALL OF THE HULKS: RED HULK #1 of 4 by Jeff Parker and Carlos Rodrigues.  Three words: "Cosmic. Hulk. Robot."  See you there!

 

FANTASTIC FOUR #575 by Jonathan Hickman and Dale Eaglesham.  A new story begins here featuring the smartest moloid you'll ever meet.  Seriously, he's got his GED and everything.

 

GREEN LANTERN #50 by Geoff Johns and Doug Mahnke.  Hal Jordan versus the Black Lantern Spectre.  A grudge match beyond life or death.  Good thing Hal's bringing some help.

 

IRREDEEMABLE #10 by Mark Waid and Peter Krause.  In which we learn more about what Bette Noir and the Plutonian were up to behind everyone's back.  Rough stuff.  Recommended.

 

JUSTICE LEAGUE: CRY FOR JUSTICE #6 of 7 by James Robinson and Mauro Cascioli.  Chopping off Red Arrow's arm was a bold move, but what else does Prometheus have up his sleeve?  Other than Red Arrow's arm, I mean…

 

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #41 by James Robinson and Mark Bagley.  When Congorilla joins the JLA that's either the first issue you're buying or the last.  On the other hand, he's no Rocket Red.

 

JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #35 by Bill Willingham and Travis Moore.  The gang decides they've taken enough guff for a while and starts dishing it out.  Piping hot!

 

KICK ASS #8 by Mark Millar and John Romita Jr.  Kick-Ass and Hit-Girl start killing people but they are all bad.  This will be a movie.  For real.  Not for kids.

 

NEW AVENGERS #61 by Brian Michael Bendis and Stuart Immonen.  Steve Rogers is back with the Avengers just in time for the Siege of Asgard.  Okay, awkward…

 

NORTHLANDERS #24 by Brian Wood and Leandro Fernandez.  Supplies are running low and now the Vikings have to go outside the village walls to forage, plague or not.  Was that a cough…?  Recommended.

 

PILOT SEASON: DEMONIC #1 by Robert Kirkman and Joe Benitez.  A new hero's in town and he's possessed by a homicidal demon!  Or is he?

 

PREVIEWS by Diamond and Marvel Comics.  A way to plan your future comics shopping that never crashes and won't try to sell you Viagra!

 

SUPERMAN #696 by James Robinson and Bernard Chang.  Mon-El and his buds set out to give General Zod's sleeper agent a wake-up call.  The heat vision's gonna fly!

 

SUPERMAN: SECRET ORIGIN #4 of 6 by Geoff Johns and Gary Frank.  The Man of Steel has his first major fight with the Parasite!  Major!

 

THOR #606 by Kieron Gillen and Billy Tan.  Doctor Doom has gassed up the Destroyer armor and challenged Thor to drag!  Big fight!

 

ULTIMATE COMICS: ENEMY #1 of 4 by Brian Michael Bendis and Rafa Sandoval.  The greatest threat to the Ultimates universe is revealed and it ain't internal continuity!

 

VICTORIAN UNDEAD #3 of 6 by Ian Edginton and Davide Fabbri.  The zombies have overrun Baker Street!  Can the brain of Sherlock Holmes solve this problem before it gets eaten?  Pip-pip!

 

WALKING DEAD #69 by Robert Kirkman and Charles Adlard.  And in the other great zombie book, the survivors arrive at what's left of Washington DC.  Okay, serious note: I was just down in DC yesterday and the anti-abortion protestors left the place looking pretty much exactly like the cover of this comic.  Politics aside, these people are unbelievable litterbugs.  Not cool, kids.  Not.  Cool.

 

WONDER WOMAN #40 by Gail Simone and Aaron Lopresti.  WW fights The Crows, five guys dressed like Catholic schoolboys.  Years of therapy not included.

 

X-FACTOR #201 by Peter David and Bing Cansino.  The Invisible Woman has disappeared and…!  Hey, wait a minute…

 

www.johnjudy.net

Zadzooks on Joe Madureira's videogame

Zadzooks reviews Joe Madureira's videogame at Zadzooks: Bayonetta and Darksiders game reviews, Joseph Szadkowski, Washington Times January 21, 2010.

Kal interview on Maryland Morning about USDemocrazy

From: kevin Kallaugher

Friends and colleagues

I wanted to alert you that I will be on WYPR's Maryland Morning on Friday discussing the great website www.USDemocrazy.com.  USDemocrazy is a project that I lead as Artist-in-Residence at the University of Maryland Baltimore County (UMBC). The site is a current events/educational/entertainment site dedicated to making the news fun and interesting. 

The show airs at 9AM EST but I will be posting a link to an audio clip of the interview after it airs Friday morning on my blog:  http://www.kaltoons.com/wordpress/

Kal

Kevin Kallaugher

kal@kaltoons.com

www.Kaltoons.com

Jim Scancarelli & Gasoline Alley helping army museum

According to this press release Cartoonist Takes Up the Cause (1/5/10) from the Army Historical Foundation, Jim Scancarelli is featuring Skeezix's World War II service in the Gasoline Alley strip to call attention to the Arlington-based Foundation's attempt to build a National Museum of the US Army at Fort Belvoir, VA.

Virginia animator featured in Post

Animation Odyssey: Charlotte Rinderknecht wants to build a state-of-the-art film studio in Virginia. Can her debut short help take this dream beyond fantasy?
By Stephanie Booth
Washington Post Magazine Sunday, January 24, 2010; W18

SL Gallant interview coming up soon on City Paper

DC-area cartoonist SL Gallant, the artist on IDW's GI Joe, answered some brief interview questions for me and it should be coming up on Monday after it's edited on the City Paper site.

Understanding Comics in the classroom

Marc Singer talks about problems with using Scott McCLoud's book Understanding Comics in the classroom as he teaches his course at Howard University.

Check out today's Cul de Sac

Check out today's Cul de Sac. Cartoonist have been saving themselves some effort on redrawing similar figures, at least since photocopiers became common, and certainly today with the prevalence of scanners. But not our Richard - note how Alice and Petey are slightly different in every drawing - and then enjoy that madcap 3rd panel. I think this gag actually works better in black and white too - the 3rd panel looks both more and less busy sans color.

Jan 23: Chip Bok (and Helen Thomas) booksigning

Chip Bok (and Helen Thomas) are doing a booksigning for their Great Whitehouse Breakout tomorrow at 10:30 in King's Park Library, Burke. Registration req'd. 703-978-5600.

Jan 27: Politics & Prose book group

Graphic Novel Bookgroup
Wednesday, January 27, 7:30 p.m.
Stitches, by David Small

One of these days, I may actually make it to this. But notwithstanding that, Stitches is a very good book - one of the best graphic books to come out last year. It's a nonfiction account of Small's childhood and the medical problem he labored under.

Tom the Dancing Bug cartoonist raises money for Haiti

Tom the Dancing Bug cartoonist Ruben Bolling is raising money for Haiti - he's set up a donation page and the two highest donors will get an original drawing from him. Check it out now. [Those of us with longish memories still miss Tom from the Post's Weekend section].

Ok, I just checked it out after putting up this post - I'm the first donor. Hah! Beat that! I'll bet you can.

Toles quotes Dr. Seuss

Tom Toles' cartoon today uses Dr. Seuss' Horton to make his point.

Weldon on floppies vs. trades

Weldon, Glen. 2010.
How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Wait For The Trade Collection.
National Public Radio's Monkey See blog (January 20).

Like Glen, I'm of two minds about this. I usually buy the individual issues to make sure the series survives and then buy the collection if I think I want to read it again.

OT: Animators Bill Plympton and Patrick Smith have started a blog

Animators Bill Plympton and Patrick Smith have started a blog - Scribble Junkies. I'm a big fan of Plympton's work - he comes through town about every other year and I'd recommend meeting him, seeing his animation and buying his cartoon books.

Darwyn Cooke's appearance at American Art PR

Darwyn Cooke's appearance at American Art on January 30th has PR hitting the comics sites now. Except for mine. IDW doesn't love me.

Nevin Martell talking about Calvin and Hobbes in Pittsburgh

See Author goes in search of 'Calvin and Hobbes', By Maria Sciullo, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette Wednesday, January 20, 2010.

2nd Washington City Paper post is up

What’s So Special about Wednesday? which is kind of an oxymoronic question for anyone in the US likely to be reading this blog.

Lise Myhre video interview

Lise Myhre, the Norwegian cartoonist behind Nemi, is in a video interview here.

Why is ComicsDC linking to this? Well, she's a friend of Greg Bennett of Big Planet who helps her on the translations into English. And Titan's sent me a review copy of the current collection which I still need to post on here.

Singer on McCloud's Making Comics

Marc Singer reprints his review of Scott McCloud's Making Comics that originally ran in the International Journal of Comic Art.

Jan 20, OT: Gaiman chat at New Yorker

Ask the Author Live: Dana Goodyear with Neil Gaiman
Posted by The New Yorker

This week in the magazine, Dana Goodyear writes about Neil Gaiman. On Wednesday, January 20th, at 3 P.M. E.T., Gaiman will be joining Goodyear for a live chat with readers. Submit advance questions for Gaiman and Goodyear, sign up for an e-mail reminder below, and come back Wednesday to join the discussion.

There's a long article about Gaiman in the magazine and online too. For some obligatory DC content, Gaiman's read at Politics & Prose and the National Book Festival.

My first Washington City Paper blog post

My first Washington City Paper blog post is online now. Nothing special, just introducing myself. I'm going to try to get the first content post written tonight though, and over to my editor. Heh. I like having an editor.

9 Chickweed Lane continues to push the envelope

Last year, I blogged about 9 Chickweed Lane's virginity losing strips. Apparently that storyline was a success for creator Brooke McEldowney because he's now got Grandma reminiscing about her first boyfriends (two and a time! warring countries!) and 'feeling a salute,' if you know what he means...

Chickweed makes reading the comics feel like watching modern tv, not Ozzie and Harriet!

More ComicsDC than ever before!

I've been asked by the Washington City Paper to freelance for them so I'll be writing longer pieces on comic art, most often for their blog I'd guess. I've submitted an introduction tonight and hope to have a piece about Wednesday and comic books up later this week. I will of course link from here to anything I write for them.

Richard Thompson on his watercolor technique

Tom Spurgeon picked this up first, but my excuse is that I was driving from NJ and I'm sticking with it. Here's Richard on his watercolor technique.

Herblock Christmas cards auctioned for Haiti

Rob Stoltzer's offering two Herblock Christmas cards from 1930-1931 on ebay for Doctors without Border's efforts in Haiti.

Flugennock on Obama

I haven't checked on Mike Flugennock's site for a while, but here's an Obama caricature that Google tossed up to me.

Zadzooks reviews animation and comics

Zadzooks: Robot Chicken: Season 4, Family Guy: Something, Something, Something Dark Side and Witchblade: The Complete Series, Joseph Szadkowski, Washington Times January 14, 2010