Friday, February 26, 2010
Wimpy Kid movie posters begin appearing in DC
Comic Riffs on silly Batman auction price
Thursday, February 25, 2010
Family Guy's considered take on Down syndrome not appreciated by everyone
By Lisa de Moraes
Washington Post (February 25, 2010); C06
Disturbing Peanuts ad in Post
Arlen Schumer covers Post's local living section
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
Weldon on the silliness of a million bucks for a comic book
Oscar nominated shorts reviewed by City Paper
The Wrong and the Short of It: Jeb Stuart addresses the evil of segregation; a shorts collection celebrates quality over quantity.
By Tricia Olszewski
Washington City Paper February 19, 2010
That wascally Tom Toles
Tuesday, February 23, 2010
Cavna on new Judge Parker artist
THIS JUST IN: 'Judge Parker' names its new artist
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog February 23, 2010
I like the new artists work, but it's a lot more cartoony than Baretto's.
Cavna looks into Superman million dollar comic a bit more closely
Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog February 22, 2010
2009 Luna Brothers interview I missed
SPX 2010 press release
Announcing SPX 2010 To Be Held September 11-12 and New Executive Committee
For Immediate Release
Contact: Warren Bernard
Phone: 301-537-4615
E-Mail: warren@spxpo.com
Bethesda, Maryland; February 23 2010 - The Small Press Expo (SPX), the preeminent showcase for the exhibition of independent comics, graphic novels and alternative political cartoons, will be held Saturday Sept 11 from 11AM-7PM and Sunday, September 12 from noon-6PM. Tables for the show are still available, but get your tables orders in quickly, as last year, the show sold out its tables in May. The Ignatz Awards, the first festival prize in the U.S. comic book industry, will be held Saturday evening, September 11, with voting held that day by SPX attendees.
Small Press Expo also announces its new Executive Committee. Karon Flage, who oversaw SPX's successful move from its old facilities to the new, much improved, Marriott Convention Center, is stepping down as Executive Director and will take over the position of Treasurer. Jeff Alexander, the previous Assistant Executive Director, is now the new Executive Director. Warren Bernard will now assume the roll of Assistant Executive Director, as well as maintaining his position as Media Coordinator.
SPX brings together more than 300 artists and publishers to meet their readers, booksellers and distributors each year. Graphic novels, mini-comix, political cartoon books and alternative comics will all be on display and for sale by their authors and illustrators.
As in previous years, profits from the SPX will go to support the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund (CBLDF), protecting the First Amendment rights of comic book readers and professionals. For more information on the CBLDF, go to their website at http://www.cbldf.org/.
Million dollar action
Shutter Island comic review at City Paper site
Posted by Mike Rhode on Feb. 23, 2010.
Monday, February 22, 2010
UK's Telegraph uses DC-area reviewer for Gervais show
The Ricky Gervais Show (HBO): Review; The American cable TV channel HBO's animated series using the original recordings of The Ricky Gervais Show podcasts features the funnyman himself as well as his longtime collaborator Stephen Merchant.
By Rachel Ray, in Washington
Published: 2:35PM GMT 22 Feb 2010
R.C. Harvey on Matt Wuerker
Richard Thompson is up for the Reuben and we forgot to mention it
We're rooting for you, Richard!
Editorial cartoonist - New Yorker cartoonist links?
I'm a big fan of editorial cartoons and New Yorker cartoons. I was wondering you might be able to provide some background about political cartoonists who were also cartoonists for The New Yorker magazine. I know that ironically DC had two: Peter Steiner for the Washington Times and Christopher Weyant for The Hill. I think Weyant is the only one still regularly cartooning for both? Are there others?
I think it takes a special breed to be able to succeed at either type of cartooning, let alone both. I've had trouble finding any info on this subject. Have you ever covered this or do you know where I can find anything about it?
So, anyone in the collective mind got any help for Tom?
Joel Pett on Matt Wuerker
I'll have an interview with Matt on the City Paper's blog early next week.
Comix Claptrap podcast reviews Matt Dembicki
Ayuyang, Rina and Thien Pham. 2010.
Dylan Horrocks - Season 2, Episode 4.
Comix Claptrap podcast (February 18): http://comixclaptrap.blogspot.com/2010/02/season-2-episode-4-dylan-horrocks.html and http://comixclaptrap.podomatic.com/enclosure/2010-02-18T08_30_25-08_00.mp3
Thien and Rina have the huge honor of interviewing distinguished comic artist and writer, Dylan Horrocks, whose celebrated comics masterpiece, "Hicksville" has just been re-released with a beautiful new edition published by Drawn and Quarterly. In this episode, Dylan talks about his personal journey in comics-making since the first printing of "Hicksville", as well as his revealing experiences writing for mainstream comics, the decision to serialize his comics on the internet, and the inspiring comics scene in New Zealand.
We also chat with our lovely New Comics reporter, cartoonist and buddy Josh Frankel about new work by Lewis Trondheim, Oliver East, Matt Dembicki, as well as McSweeney's Panorama. We are really happy about this episode, and hope you will be too -- have a listen!
Meet a Local Cartoonist: A Chat with Kevin Rechin
Meet a Local Cartoonist: A Chat with Kevin Rechin
Comics on the Rack, Quick Picks for Comics Due 02-24-10
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Jo Chen covers Marvel's Girl Comics
Thanks to our Russian readers
Saturday, February 20, 2010
Martel speaks on Calvin and Hobbes tonight
Nerd Nite
When was the last time you went to a bar to actually learn something? Other than all the bits of obscure trivia you've picked up at quiz night over the years, we're guessing it hasn't happened too often. That's where DC9's Nerd Nite comes in: Wet your whistle while stimulating your cranium with informative discussions on insects and storm chasing, and a special presentation about elusive "Calvin and Hobbes" creator Bill Watterson by Nevin Martell, author of "Looking for Calvin and Hobbes: The Unconventional Story of Bill Watterson and His Revolutionary Comic Strip." Local punk rockers Authorization will perform between lectures. Don't be late: A limited number of door tickets are available, but given the size of the venue, they'll go quickly.
ad_icon
Saturday at 6 p.m. DC9, 1940 Ninth St. NW. 202-483-5000. http://www.dcnine.com. $10.
Comic Riffs interviews Wuerker on winning Herblock
May 2: Washington, DC Comicon at George Mason University
Friday, February 19, 2010
Post on animation - Ricky Gervais and Oscar shorts reviewed
'The Ricky Gervais Show': Animated hilarity
By Hank Stuever
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, February 19, 2010; C04
2010 Oscar-nominated short films at Landmark's E Street Cinema
By Michael O'Sullivan
Washington Post Staff Writer
Television Review | 'The Ricky Gervais Show' - Taking the Podcast Back to a Simpler Time
By ALESSANDRA STANLEY
February 19, 2010
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Zadzooks on Dante's Inferno videogame
Nevin Martell jumps the big pond in search of Calvin and Hobbes
Politics and Prose book group reads Alan Moore
Graphic Novel Bookgroup
Top 10: The Forty-Niners, by Alan Moore
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Aquaman's back, and Glen Weldon digs him
Rappahannock librarian has some reading suggestions
Superhero mixtape from DC dj
Tuesday, February 16, 2010
Kal quoted
Famous speakers find way to SW Fla.
Bush brothers here today; many others set to follow
By GLENN MILLER
Fort Meyer News-Press February 16, 2010
John Hopkins U's JohnCon details
Wuerker wins Herblock
Although it will be interesting to hear his speech...
'Kelly' back in the Onion
Monday, February 15, 2010
Marvel's Civil War plays out on Post blog
Local cartoonist Julian Lytle is Glyph Award nomine
Local cartoonist Julian Lytle of "Ants" (http://ants.julianlytle.com/) is a nominee for the Glyph Award's rising star category.
Let's all wish him luck.
Mo Willems comic strip in Post
The Big Planet ACT-I-VATE Primer signing details (TIME corrected)
"ACT-I-VATE makes comics better." - Warren Ellis
THE ACT-I-VATE PRIMER
Official Selection of The New York Times' 2009 Holiday Gift Guide Featured on Big Planet Comics' "Best of 2009" List Selected for Politics and Prose's Favorite Graphic Literature of 2009
http://www.activatecomix.com
Free!
Big Planet Comics
426 Maple Ave. East
Vienna, VA 22180
http://www.bigplanetcomics.com
703-242-9412
Saturday, February 27, 2010, 2-4 pm
###
For more information, a cover image, or art samples, please contact:
Kevin Panetta or Jared Smith
bigplanetvienna@verizon.net
703-242-9412
Big Planet Comics
426 Maple Ave. East
Vienna, VA 22180
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Marc Singer on Watchmen, and the teaching thereof
What Kevin Rechin actually did on Extreme Makeover Home Edition
The family was the Tripp family of Hyattville, MD and it's episode 717 that you can watch on the Extreme Makeover Home Edition website. I quite liked Kevin's mural, and have invited him to do one in my house. I encourage you all to do the same. This time, we could pay him. Bravo to Kevin for donating his time and creativity to this!
Comics on the Rack, Quick Picks for Comics Due 02-17-10
Tonight!: Kevin Rechin on Extreme Makeover Home Edition
Kevin Rechin writes in "I think you wanted me to give you a heads up about the air date for the Extreme Makeover Home Edition show. It airs this Sunday at 9 p.m. I designed and illustrated a mural and other elements for a superhero-based kid's room."
Belgian stop motion animation 'A Town Called Panic' at Landmark in DC
Michigan State U's Comic Art Collection additions for November 2009
Hey, DC's Nate Beeler is the first entry:
"Bexley Graduate National Honoree" p. D3 in The Columbus
Dispatch, Nov. 21, 2008. -- Item about Nage Beeler and the
2008 Berryman Award for Editorial Cartooning. -- Call no.:
NC1320.S35 2008
This is followed by other articles from the newspapers, a lot of which are on Harvey Pekar for some reason. Maybe somebody else is doing a book on him.
Ahhh, remember the days when people really cared about the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles? Enough to parody them?
Adolescent Radioactive Black Belt Hamsters Classics. --
Eureka, CA : Parody Press, 1992- . -- ill. ; 26 cm. --
Began with no. 1 (Aug./Sept. 1992). -- Parody and funny
animal genres. -- LIBRARY HAS: no. 1. -- Call no.:
PN6728.6.P35A3
More newspaper articles, and oooh...
"Ultimate Comic Book" AP wirephoto in the Michigan State News,
East Lansing, Michigan, 1974. -- Shows collector Mitchell
Mehdy with a copy of Action Comics, no. 1 which he has
bought for $1,800. -- Call no.: PN6710.S35 1974
I wonder what's happened to that copy?
It's hard to imagine a comic less likely to cause ADD...
"Minds at 1,000 Miles an Hour" / by Michael D. Clark. p. 8A in
the Cincinnati Post, Dec. 4, 1989. -- Uses a Family Circus
panel by Bil Keane to illustrate an article on attention
deficit disorder. -- The panel is captioned: "Another
evening in the life on an A.D.D. child." -- Call no.:
PN6710.S35 1989
This looks vaguely interesting, at least to a bibliographer...
"Drawn from Life : How Comic Books are Changing Young People's
Lives, from Asia to the Middle East" / by Marco Visscher.
p. 20-24 in Ode, May 2009. -- Article about Suleiman Bakhit
and his company Aranim Media Factory, publishing comic
books for the Arabic language market. -- Call no.:
PN6710.S35 2009
I feel guilty saying it, but this sounds painful:
The Novel of Nonel and Vovel / Oreet Ashery ; Larissa Sansour.
-- Milano : Edizioni Charta, 2009. -- 183 p. : col. ill. ;
24 cm. -- "Oreet Ashery is from Israel and lives in London.
Larissa Sansour is from Palestine and lives in Copenhagen.
These two artists have created a very special graphic novel
that raises questions on artistic practice, the nature of
authority and art and politics, and offers an eye-opening
take on Palestine. All this assumes particular importance
considering that these artists come from both sides of the
Middle Eastern divide. Nonel and Vovel, the artists' alter
egos, are given superpowers from a virus compromising their
creativity. With their new powers and the help of local
ninja women, they strive to save Palestine" -- Political
and superhero genres. -- Call no.: PN6790 .I83 A77N6 2009
Remember when newspapers used to publish collections of their editorial cartoonists?
Macpherson Editorial Cartoons 1977. -- Toronto : Star Reader
Service, 1977. -- 126 p. : ill. ; 24 x 23 cm. -- Cartoons
published in the Toronto Star. -- Call no.: NC1449.M3A52
1977
Shouldn't there be a 'Little Orphan Annie' subject heading here?
"Little Red Wonder Girl : Annie, the Broadway Orphan Who Stole
Our Hearts Almost 30 Years Ago, Arrives at the Wharton
Center for a Six-Day Run" / by Mike Hughes. p. 1D, 3D in
the Lansing State Journal, Apr. 18, 2006. -- The Annie
musical arrives in East Lansing. Sidebar, "Stars Who've
Played Annie," lists several actresses. -- Call no.:
PN6710.S35 2006
Fantagraphics published 50 issues of this? Must be before they became ideologically pure (that's a joke, Gary)...
Critters. -- Agoura, CA : Fantagraphics Books, 1986-1990. --
ill. ; 26 cm. -- Published no. 1 (1986) - no. 50 (Mar.
1990). -- Funny animal genre. -- LIBRARY HAS: no. 1-50. --
Call no.: PN6728.5.F3C7
COMPLETE HOLDINGS
...actually I wonder if there's material worth collecting in there. I seem to recall some fairly good stuff in the few issues I've seen.
There's a lot of NY Times articles indexed. The Times is becoming the paper of record for comic art as well, something I'd never have predicted:
"Captain America Chooses Its Director" p. C2 in the New York
Times, Nov. 11, 2008. -- Item about Joe Johnston being
chosen to direct a Captain America film. -- Call no.:
PN6710.S35 2008
-----------------------------------------------------
"Sad News for Mad Fans" / George Gene Gustines. p. C2 in the
New York Times, Jan. 24, 2009. -- Item about Mad becoming
quarterly, quoting editor John Ficarra. -- Call no.:
PN6710.S35 2009
-----------------------------------------------------
"In Tough Times, Finding the Humor in Value" / Edward
Rothstein. p. C1, C6 in the New York Times, Jan. 31, 2009.
-- Review of an exhibition at the Morgan Library & Museum,
titled "On the Money : Cartoons for the New Yorker," which
collects cartoons about money. -- Call no.: NC1320.S35 2009
-----------------------------------------------------
"Civil War in Uganda, Illustrated and In Panels" / by George
Gene Gustines. p. C1, C5, in the New York Times, Aug. 12,
2009. -- Article about the DC/Vertigo series Unknown
Soldier. -- Call no.: PN6710.S35 2009
-----------------------------------------------------
"Spain Pulls Book with Grown-Up Tintin" p. B2 in the New York
Times, Aug. 19, 2008. -- Item about a book ("The Pink
Lotus") by Antonio Altarriba, which shows Tintin in his 30s
and "contains graphic sex scenes that the Hergé estate
considers to be inappropriate." -- Call no.: PN6710.S35
Not to worry though - obscurities continue!
George Morrow : His Book / with an introduction by E.V. Lucas.
-- 2d ed. -- London : Methuen & Co., 1921. -- 97 leaves :
ill. ; 25 cm. -- Cartoons reprinted from Punch and Land and
Water. -- Call no.: NC1479.M6G4 1921
Morrow, George, 1869-1955.
Lucas, E. V. (Edward Verrall), 1868-1938.
-----------------------------------------------------
More Morrow : a Book of Drawings / by George Morrow. -- London
: Methuen & Co., 1921. -- 97 leaves : chiefly ill. ; 25 cm.
-- Cartoons. -- "Thanks are due to the proprietors of Punch
for permission to reprint ... contributions in this
volume." -- Call no.: NC1479.M6M6 1921
-----------------------------------------------------
It's that Min again! (1968-69) : Cartoons from the New Zealand
Herald / by Minhinnick. -- Auckland : Wilson and Horton,
1969. -- 56 p. : chiefly ill. ; 19 x 24 cm. -- Editorial
cartoons. -- Call no.: NC1761.M5 I8 1969
Minhinnick, 1902-1992.
Furries!
1001 Arabian Tails. -- Miami, FL : Conquest Press, 1992. -- 32
p. : ill. ; 26 cm. -- Numbered "1" on cover. -- Indicia
title: 1001 Arabian Tales. -- Funny animal and erotic
genres. -- Call no.: PN6728.6.C59 O5 1992
The lack of follow through with this was a disappoint to me, as I'm a big Zelazny fan:
Roger Zelazny's Amber: Nine Princes in Amber / adapted by
Terry Bisson ; illustrated by Lou Harrison, Bryn Barnard,
Tom Roberts. -- New York : DC Comics, 1996. -- col. ill. ;
26 cm. -- Cover title: Roger Zelazny's Nine Princes in
Amber. -- Complete in 3 nos. -- "A Byron Preiss Visual
Publications, Inc. book." -- Fantasy genre. -- LIBRARY HAS:
no. 1-3. -- Call no.: PN6728.6.D3R638 1996
Here's our buddy Nevin's book:
Looking for Calvin and Hobbes : the Unconventional Story of
Bill Watterson and his Revolutionary Comic Strip / by Nevin
Martell. -- New York : Continuum International Publishing
Group, 2009. -- 247 p. ; 23 cm. -- Call no.: PN6727.W337M3
2009
Coming soon - December!
Feb 27: Act-i-vate at Big Planet Vienna too
BIG PLANET COMICS
426 Maple Ave. East
Vienna, VA 22180
703-242-9412
Saturday, February 13, 2010
Comic Riffs interviews Scott Kurtz
Feb 27: Act-i-vate at Politics and Prose
Politics & Prose Bookstore
welcomes
The Act-I-Vate Primer
With contributors: Dean Haspiel, Jim Dougan, Simon Fraser and Joe Infurnari
Saturday, February 27, 6 p.m.
5015 Connecticut Avenue, NW • Washington, DC
www.politics-prose.com • (202) 364-1919
Friday, February 12, 2010
My new bookish thing
Here's a sample from the 2010 version I'm working on now - the new citations for 2010 are marked with *:
Comic Book Sales
-Flage, Karon. 2001. Ranking and List Position [comic book sales]. Sequential Tart 4 (2: February): http://www.sequentialtart.com/
-Gustines, George Gene. 2009. Graphic Books Best Seller List: May 9. New York Times Art Beat blog (May 15): http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/05/15/graphic-books-best-seller-list-may-9/
-Gustines, George Gene. 2009. Graphic Books Best Seller List: June 6. New York Times Arts Beat blog (June 12): http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/12/graphic-books-best-seller-list-june-6/
*Hibbs, Brian. 2010. Looking At Bookscan: 2009. Comic Book Resources' Tilting at Windmills (February 12): http://www.comicbookresources.com/?page=article&id=24818
-Miller, John Jackson. 2007. Comic Sales Analysis: January 2007–Snows, fifth week spur big month. Comics and Games Retailer (182; May): 26-27
-Reid, Calvin. 2009. February Comics Bestsellers. Publishers Weekly’s PW Comics Week (February 3): http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6634161.html
-Reid, Calvin. 2009. June Comics Bestsellers. Publishers Weekly (June 15): http://www.publishersweekly.com/article/CA6665433.html
-Sheriff, Amanda. 2008. Comic Sales Figures Circulate. Scoop (December 5):
http://scoop.diamondgalleries.com/public/default.asp?t=1&m=1&c=34&s=268&ai=77604
*Unknown. 2010. Graphic Books. New York Times (February 4): http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/14/books/bestseller/bestgraphicbooks.html
Eduardo Barreto's illness leaves Judge Parker less lovely
PR: Greenwood Encyclopedia of Comic Books and Graphic Novels
...The Greenwood Encyclopedia of Comic Books and Graphic Novels is due out at the end of May. It is now described on the Greenwood website at http://www.greenwood.com/catalog/GR5746.aspx and is up on Amazon as well.
--
M. Keith Booker
That perfect Valentines/President's Day gift...
Thursday, February 11, 2010
Post finally realizes Disney released movie with black heroine
USA Today's Truitt on GI Joe
Feb 14: Kevin Rechin on Extreme Makeover Home Edition
Kevin Rechin writes in "I think you wanted me to give you a heads up about the air date for the Extreme Makeover Home Edition show. It airs this Sunday at 9 p.m. I designed and illustrated a mural and other elements for a superhero-based kid's room."
Phoenix Comics/ Laughing Ogre Comics open
Thanks
Gary Dills
Beyond Comics store open in spite of snow UPDATED
GAITHERSBURG IS OPEN!
FREDERICK Pending Plowing of Parking Lot
We will update the newsletter and our face book page.
Bravo to the Washington Post
And the same thanks holds true for the production people and the reporters. I don't even have my car shoveled out again yet, but my wife is reading the Post and sipping coffee in comfort while the wind howls outside.
So to any Postie (you don't really use that term, do you?) reading this, thank you.
Big Planet's got your hit today, in spite of the snow
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
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Weldon on music and comics
That darn Mussey
Feb 20: DC Anime Club's Cosplay Corner.
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
Tuesday, February 09, 2010
Big Planet Comics says "This crazy weather"
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.
Monday, February 08, 2010
A new comic shop in Falls Church?
Editorial cartoon change at the Examiner
Brian Keene signing in Baltimore
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
Comics on the Rack, Quick Picks for Comics Due 02-10-10
Sunday, February 07, 2010
March 7: Capicons convention rescheduled
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
Herblock & McCarthyism is AAEC's lesson
Saturday, February 06, 2010
Brian Wood interview at USA Weekend
Another Harvey Pekar interview popped up
INTERVIEW: Comix Legend and Creator of American Splendor – Harvey Pekar
The Zeitgeisty Report Feb 5th, 2010
Friday, February 05, 2010
Feb 7: "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs" at Shirlington Library
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.
Thursday, February 04, 2010
Gazette on Katsucon
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
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post's Comic Riffs blog February 4, 2010
Cavna's panda comic
Brian Truitt on Hellblazer for USA Today
OT: Matt Fraction interview
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.
Feb 7: Capicon comics show CANCELED
See Laura's comment - the show's called off.
Herblock! exhibit gallery talks schedule
Gallery Talks, noon-12:30 p.m.
Wednesday, February 10
Herblock! exhibition, 2nd Floor, South Gallery, Jefferson Building
Herblock! exhibition, 2nd Floor, South Gallery, Jefferson Building
Herblock! exhibition, 2nd Floor, South Gallery, Jefferson Building
Feb 4-6: Archer cartoon voice Aisha Tyler at DC Improv
Written by Express contributor Roxana Hadadi
Express February 4, 2010
Wednesday, February 03, 2010
Feb 27: Act-i-vate at Politics and Prose
Date:
Saturday, February 27, 2010
Time:
6:00pm - 8:00pm
Location:
Politics and Prose
Street:
5015 Connecticut Ave. NW
City/Town:
Washington, DC