Carla McNeil's Finder to be published by Dark Horse

Comic Book Resources has the story of Finder moving from self-published to Dark Horse.

Zadzooks - barely about comics, but...

Zadzooks: Battlestar Galactica: The Complete Series and The Lord of the Rings: The Motion Picture Trilogy
Joseph Szadkowski
April 12, 2010

Meanwhile, Greg's got a few suggestions, only 1 of which I concur with - see if you can guess which it is!

Bennett's Best: S.H.I.E.L.D., Invincible Returns and Art In Time
By Greg Bennett, Special to Zadzooks April 12, 2010

Most laughable reason to disagree with Fiore's Pulitzer goes to...

...the Washington Examiner!

From April 18, 2010's "10 Lowlights of the Week" column:

#4 Puerile Pulitzer
Political cartoonist award goes to 'Tea Bag' jokester

The details: According to the Pulitzer committee, Mark Fiore "Set a high standard for an emerging form of commentary" with his animated cartoons on the Internet. Fiore is best known for a cartoon, "Learn to Speak Tea Bag" which has tea party protesters running around screaming "Nazi! - Socialist! Baby killer!" High standards, indeed.

On the next page, Nate Beeler picked his pro-Tea Party cartoon as his favorite of the week - can't agree with that call either, Nate.

Wuerker's Herblock award - Cavna makes his attendance tax-deductible

I'll have my own post up eventually, with photos from Joe Azar, but here's Michael's take on the evening -

Politico's MATT WUERKER accepts the Herblock Prize
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post's Comic Riffs blog April 16, 2010

He also talked to Steve Breen and Jen Sorenson about their recent awards -
Fischetti-winning Steve Breen: Awards 'mean more than ever' in tough times
By Michael Cavna, April 17, 2010

NPR's Weldon, on the other hand, does not like Kick-Ass

Glen Weldon's got some hard words for the comic book - Shiv and Let Shiv: Making Peace with 'Kick-Ass' (And Other Meditations). National Public Radio’s Monkey See blog (April 15 2010).

Comics on the Rack, Quick Picks for Comics Due 04-21-10

COMICS ON THE RACK

Quick Picks for Comics Due 04-21-10

By John Judy

 

100 % SC written and drawn by Paul Pope.  Collecting five issues of the cyber-punk life circa 2038!

 

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #628 by Roger Stern and Lee Weeks.  So that's whatever happened to Captain Universe.  Too bad for the Juggernaut though.  Saying you got slapped by Captain Universe has got to be the worst…

 

AMERICAN VAMPIRE #2 by Scott Snyder, Stephen King and Rafael Albuquerque.  Skinner and Pearl rise to their occasions.  Recommended.

 

BENNY AND PENNY IN THE TOYBREAKER HC written and drawn by Geoffrey Hayes.  Cousin Bo seriously busts up B&P's toys every time he visits.  Cousin Bo is going to have to be dealt with.  Great for all ages.

 

BRAVE AND THE BOLD #33 by J. Michael Straczynski and Cliff Chiang.  Wonder Woman, Zatanna and Batgirl (the real one!) go out for a night on the town.  There may or may not be a story attached but who cares?  Highly recommended.

 

CAPTAIN AMERICA: WHO WON'T WIELD THE SHIELD #1 by Jason Aaron, Matt Fraction and Some Swell Artists.  Who won't it be?!  Sarah Palin?  The cute barista at Starbucks?  That dude with the really ill-advised tattoo?  Only Irving Forbush knows for sure!

 

CRISIS ON MULTIPLE EARTHS, VOL. 5 SC by Gerry Conway, Dick Dillin, George Perez and Others.  Justice League/Society cross-overs from JLA#159, 160, 183, 184 and 185.  Big fights and gorgeous George Perez art!  Recommended.

 

CROSSED: FAMILY VALUES #1 of 6 by David Lapham and Javier Barreno.  Lapham takes up where Garth Ennis left off in a world where a virus drives everyone who gets it to extremes of madness, torture and mayhem.  It's like a big teabagger rally with no cops.  Absolutely not for kids.

 

DO ANYTHING, VOL. 1: THOUGHTS ON COMICS AND THINGS by Warren Ellis.  That nice Mr. Ellis writes about stuff while channeling the robot head of Jack Kirby.  It's cheap and it's from Avatar, so we're lucky to have heard of it at all.  Recommended.

 

DV8: GODS AND MONSTERS #1 of 8 by Brian Wood and Rebekah Isaacs.  "So, tell us about the time you and your super-friends were briefly gods in a pre-historic world."

 

FIRESTAR #1 by Sean McKeever and Emma Rios.  It turns out Firestar has survived cancer.  I get the feeling this will be a Very Special Episode of Firestar…

 

GARTH ENNIS BATTLEFIELDS #5 of 9 by Ennis and Carlos Ezquerra.  "The Firefly and His Majesty" continues.  Tank fight with ratzis!  Recommended.

 

GREEN LANTERN #53 by Geoff Johns and Doug Mahnke.  So it's the morning after "Darkest Night."  Let's call it "Brightest Day" if you will.  You've suddenly got all these other-than-green colored Lanterns running around, at least three of whom you want nothing to do with.  In fact, you should probably be fighting them on account of them being mass murderers and all.  What do you do?  Recommended.

 

GREETINGS FROM CARTOONIA: THE ESSENTIAL GUIDE OF THE LAND OF COMICS SC by Various Creators.  An international compilation of strips from twelve different creators, each inspired by different things from their country of choice.  Gotta look!  From Stripburger, distributed by Top Shelf.

 

GUILD #2 of 3 by Felicia Day and Jim Rugg.  Our cute protagonist finds herself getting more and more into her on-line role-playing game as her boyfriend's emotional neglect gets worse.  (No, I'm not crying.  It's just something in my eye…)

 

HELLBLAZER #266 by Peter Milligan and Simon Bisley.  The story of aging and wannabe punk rockers dedicated to raising the spirit of Sid Vicious is probably the best Constantine story Milligan has done so far.  And Biz is the perfect artist for it.  Highly recommended.

 

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #44 by James Robinson and Mark Bagley.  Okay, I don't know about you but I'm counting members of at least four different DC super-teams on this cover and not one of whom could be called proper JLA.  What gives, Robinson?

 

RASL, VOL. 2: FIRE OF SAINT GEORGE SC written and drawn by Jeff Smith.  The continuing adventures of Smith's universe-hopping scientist/art thief/debaucher can be found here.  Highly recommended.

 

SIEGE: SPIDER-MAN #1 by Brian Reed and Marco Santucci.  Spidey dukes it out with Venom.  For the title!

 

SIF #1 by Kelly Sue Deconnick and Ryan Stegman.  Thor's bride is in Loki-possession recovery and that requires chopping stuff up with her sword!  It's therapy, Norse goddess style!

 

SPIRIT #1 by Mark Schultz and Moritat.  Co-feature by Dennis O'Neil and Bill Sienkiewicz.  Re-launching the adventures of Will Eisner's legendary domino-masked punch-up artist, this one features an interesting twist:  A Spirit comic with a back-up story featuring "The Spirit!"  Because most of us don't care about the Spirit.  We only want it for the Spirit.

 

ULTIMATE COMICS: AVENGERS #6 by Mark Millar and Carlos Pacheco.  Ultimate Captain America and his little boy Ultimate Red Skull (yeah, I know…) go mano a mano in the conclusion of Millar's latest burst of summer movie ultra-violence.

 

UNDELETED SCENES SC written and drawn by Jeffrey Brown.  Top Shelf presents ten years worth of rare and previously uncollected works by indy humorist Brown.  Recommended.

 

X-FACTOR #204 by Peter David and Valentine DeLandro.  The team fights a reanimated dead guy named "Bolivar."  You kind of have to win this one if you ever want to show your face at the X-picnic again.

 

X-MEN LEGACY #235 by Mike Carey and Greg Land.  The X-gang is still chasing after Hope.  Once they get her they'll work on Change.

 

www.johnjudy.net

April 18: Capicon Comic convention

Sunday, April 18th, 2010
Capicons Comic Book and Pop Culture Con

Dunn Loring Vol. Fire Dept, Dunn Loring, Virginia

Special Guests:
Martin Grams, Jr, Author of The Green Hornet: A History of Radio, Motion Pictures, Comics and Television
http://www.martingrams.com

Dan Nokes, Artist/Publisher--21 Sandshark Studios
http://21sandshark.com/

Also featuring
Artist Tom Arvis, Sureshot Comics
http://www.arvtoon.com

FREE admission! Door prize drawings!

Open to the public from 10 am - 3 pm. Buy, sell & trade: Gold, Silver, Bronze Age comics; Indie & Modern comics, Publishers & Creators, TV & Movie Collectibles. Non-sport cards; Videos & DVDs; Anime; Manga; Horror/Sci-Fi; figures, toys; Star Wars & Star Trek memorabilia; original artwork, posters and other comic-related collectibles.

See you there!
Laura, Jeff & Ed,

Post on Fiore's iPhone rejection

Rob Pegoraro's Faster Forward: Apple rejects Pulitzer winner Fiore's iPhone app
Washington Post April 17, 2010

Alliance Française de Washington lecture today

Antoine Dodé is speaking at 2 pm at the Alliance. The complete festival press release follows.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

The Alliance Française de Washington, MICA's Illustration and Experimental Animation Departments present

From April 16 to 24, 2010

Festival Imagé

French Comics and Animation Festival

Baltimore-Washington DC (USA)

The Alliance Française de Washington and The Maryland Institute College of Arts (MICA) are inaugurating their partnership with the Festival Imagé, first festival in the USA, which promotes the new generation of French artists working in comics and animated films.

From April 16 to 24, meetings, author-led workshops, and screenings of animated films will stress the similarities and differences which exist in "bande dessinée" and animated film between both sides of the Atlantic.

Five comics artists, four comic book publishers from both France and the US, as well as various comics connoisseurs and a series of events prepared by DC-based comics artists and students of MICA – America's oldest art school– will help animate this exceptional 10-day festival dedicated to sequential art.

The festival will engage a wide audience of amateurs, children, art students, Francophiles, and comic's aficionados of the "9ème Art" through the creativity and vitality of this made-in-France artistic format where more than 5000 titles are published each year.

Having been involved in the Festival Imagé since its inception, MICA's animation students will also have the chance to introduce their view of French culture through their own animated shorts, to be shown at two successive screenings.

During these two consecutive days, animated films from both MICA students and students from one of the most famous French schools, SUPINFOCOM, will be showcased in Baltimore and Washington.

A French author will also be visiting one of DC's underprivileged elementary schools through the Alliance Française's Outreach Program to share his passion with children.

On their side, students from MICA and local illustrators will meet French and US publishers and present their work through exhibitions during the professional forum.

This forum will offer a chance to create artistic ties and professional opportunities to be published in the USA but also in France.

Last but not least, French and American illustrators will launch a creative dialogue during the entire Festival Imagé with an interactive and collective production to be revealed during the festival's closing party.

Prepare to be overwhelmed by a new generation of talented and productive artists who interpret the daily complexities of modern society through an incredible variety of styles and artistic universes.

"Strike your imagination!"

Festival Imagé Program

-Friday April 16 at MICA:

7:30 pm: Opening reception

8 pm: Panel discussion with Nicolas Nemiri, Antoine Dodé, Alain Corbel, and Laurence Arcadias. Moderated by José Villarrubia.

Beginning of the contest

At MICA/ Free

-Saturday April 17 at AFDC, 2 pm

Workshop with Antoine Dodé

http://www.antoinedode.com/

At the Alliance Française/ Free

-Monday April 19 at MICA, 8 pm

Lecture by José Villarrubia: "Colors in Comics"

At MICA/ Free

-Tuesday April 20 at AFDC, 6:30 pm

Opening reception of the exhibition Les Trois Ombres by Cyril Pedrosa

Workshop with Domitille Collardey

http://www.domitille-collardey.com/ink.html

At the Alliance Française/ Free for MICA students and AF members - General Admission $8

-Wednesday April 21st at MICA, 7 pm

Presentation: Laurence Arcadias

Short Films from SUPINFOCOM and MICA students

At MICA/ Free

-Thursday April 22nd at Letelier Theater, 7 pm

Short Films from SUPINFOCOM and MICA students

At Letelier Theater 3251 Prospect Street, NW, Upper Courtyard, Washington DC

Free for MICA students and AF members - General Admission $8

-Friday April 23rd at AFDC, 6:30 pm

Lecture by Pascal Fioretto: "Humor in comics"

At the Alliance Française/ free for MICA students and AF members - General admission: $8

-Saturday April 24th at MICA:

2:00 Alain Corbel presents his students work:

Exhibition "Gargantua"

2:30 pm: Workshop with Cyril Pedrosa http://www.firstsecondbooks.com/threeShadows.html

4 pm: Professional Forum with publishers from France and the US

Contest Results

6:30 pm: Closing Party

At MICA/ Free

---

Artists and speakers

Antoine Dodé was born in Amiens and lived there until he moved to Belgium to study illustration at the Saint Luc School of Art. He is best known in the French and Belgian market for his character Armelle, who has been featured in two graphic novels published under Carabas Revolution (Semic): "Armelle and the Bird" and "Armelle and My Uncle."

http://www.antoinedode.com/

José Villarrubia was born in Madrid, Spain, but is a long time Baltimore resident. A professor of the Illustration Department at MICA, José is best known for his coloring work in comics for Marvel, DC, Dark Horse and other companies and for his collaborations with author Alan Moore.

Domitille Collardey (born 1981) is best known for founding the Chicou-Chicou comics collective with Aude Picault. She currently lives in Paris and Brooklyn, NY. Domitille graduated from les Arts Decoratifs de Paris in 2004.

She is currently working on an adaptation of Jean Teulé's novel "The Suicide Shop" for French publisher Delcourt, with Olivier Ka.

She also works for various press publications, such as Technikart, Beaux Arts Magazine, and Double.

http://www.domitille-collardey.com/ink.html

Pascal Fioretto Although he was a math whiz early on, having majored in chemistry at the Ecole normale supérieure of Chemistry, he also displayed a strong interest in literature and writing, which he finally gave in to. Catching the attention of cartoonist Marcel Gotlib, Fioretto then lent his wit to Fluide Glacial, a French monthly publication appealing to any and all lovers of truly tasteless jokes and irreverent humor.

Cyril Pedrosa began his career in animation, working on the Disney films "Hunchback of Notre Dame" and "Hercules." He has since become a rising star in a new kind of graphic storytelling, combining the influences of animation and the literary traditions of Borges, Garcia Marquez, and Tolkien to create a unique visual signature.

http://www.firstsecondbooks.com/threeShadows.html

Nicolas Nemiri is a French comics author and illustrator who has always been very much inspired by Japanese manga. His artistic style is unique in that it blends manga with French esthetics. Nicolas is actually working on the 3rd album of his series "Je suis morte" created with writer Jean-David Morvan, a sci-fi story where teenagers are dealing with life, death and eternity.

http://www.nemiri.com/

Alain Corbel. With comic creator Eric Lambe, he produced Mokka and Pelure Amere, two modern comic strip magazines that influenced many authors and publishers in France and Belgium like Amok, Freon and La Cinquieme Couche. He works as an illustrator, comic strip artist, and storywriter. He is also teacher at MICA, Illustration Department. He did many books published in France and Portugal. He has a passion for Africa where he organizes regularly with the Portuguese NGO ACEP illustration/writing workshops. http://www.alaincorbel.in-netz.com/ http://obaraleixo.blogspot.com/

Laurence Arcadias teaches animation at MICA and is the Co- chair of the Animation department.

She started her career in Paris as an illustrator and animator. She directed a TV show: "Alex", best animated TV series in Annecy festival and spent 3 years as Animator in Residence at Apple. She also worked for several companies such as hotwired, Kodak, Leapfrog…Her films have been screened internationally.

http://www.arcadias.tv

Located in the north of France, SUPINFOCOM is a unique school, made of passionate people for passionate students, armed with an educational experience and managed by a united team, a demanding school, which innovates, supports the students towards their professional future by developing their artistic sensitivity, and opens unclear ways. After 20 years of existence and 1246 graduates, SUPINFOCOM is still filled with the enthusiasm of pioneers and enriched with collective experience. http://www.supinfocom.org/

With the support of the Maryland Institute College of Art's Office of Academic Services, the office of Research and the Dean of Undergraduate Studies and Faculty.

Please include Festival Imagé, from April 16 to 24 in your cultural events listing. Do not hesitate to contact me directly if you want to attend or cover this event.

WHAT: Festival Imagé French Comics and Animation Festival

WHEN: From April 16 to 24, 2010

WHERE: At the Alliance Française 2142 Wyoming Avenue, NW, Washington DC 20008

MICA 1300 W. Mount Royal Avenue, Baltimore, Maryland 21217

And Letelier Theater 3251 Prospect Street, NW Upper Courtyard Washington DC 20007

COST: All of the events are free for MICA students and Alliance Française members

Events at the Alliance Française and Letelier Theater: free for MICA students and AF members - General Admission $8

Information/reservation: Alliance Française 202-234-7911 - MICA 410-225-2300

The Alliance Française is the largest network of French language and cultural centers in the world. Founded in 1949, the Alliance Française de Washington offers French classes for all levels, numerous cultural events throughout the year, and a multi-media library open to all members. For more information visit www.francedc.org

You can download our press kit here: http://www.francedc.org/en/Article.aspx?id=460

L'Alliance Française de Washington is on Facebook! Join our group at http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=4811854756

We are also on Twitter! http://twitter.com/FranceDC

Sonia Lahcene
Cultural Assistant
_______________________________________
Alliance Française de Washington
2142 Wyoming Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20008
tel: (202) 234-7911 ext 16
fax: (202) 234-0125
www.francedc.org

To subscribe to our email list and receive our messages on cultural activities, please go to www.francedc.org then "sign up for our e-newsletter".

You can also join our Facebook group: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=4811854756

April 17: Jules Feiffer at Portrait Gallery

Saturday April 17, 2010

American Pictures

4:30 PM

McEvoy Auditorium, Lower Level
American Art Museum, National Portrait Gallery

The American Pictures series offers a highly original approach to art and portraiture, pairing great works of art with leading figures of contemporary American culture. Each American Pictures event features an eminent writer, thinker, historian, or artist who speaks about a single, powerful image and explores its meaning. The series director is historian and essayist Adam
Goodheart, who is director of the C. V. Starr Center for the Study of the American Experience at Washington College.

Lectures begin at 4:30 p.m.
Free tickets available in the G Street lobby one hour prior.


Saturday, April 17, 4:30 p.m.
Cartoonist Jules Feiffer on Bob Landry's Fred Astaire in "Puttin' on the Ritz"

Washington Post likes Kick-Ass

Movie review: Profane but humane 'Kick-Ass' provides something to cheer
By Ann Hornaday
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, April 16, 2010; C01

and here's an interview with the film's writer -

Wait 'til they get a load of Hit-Girl
By Jen Chaney
Washington Post's Celebritology 2.0 blog April 14, 2010

The Times liked it too. So far, that's 3 reviews by WOMEN reviewers and one interview with the WOMAN screenwriter. I'm missing something here.

It’s a Bird, It’s a Plane, It’s a Blood Bath
By MANOHLA DARGIS
April 16, 2010

Washington Examiner likes Kick-Ass movie

Shocking, funny 'Kick-Ass' does exactly that

By: Sally Kline
Washington Examiner April 16, 2010

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/lifestyle/Shocking_-funny-_Kick-Ass_-does-exactly-that-90959999.html

Weldon reviews Sturm's Market Day

'Market Day': Beauty And History In Handmade Art
by Glen Weldon
April 12, 2010

Express on Kick-Ass

From Panel to Screen: Another 'Kick-Ass' Comic-Book Movie
Written by Express contributor Roxana Hadadi
Express at 9:15 AM on April 14, 2010

French comics and animation festival starts tomorrow

Quick details here -

Accent on Art: Alliance Francaise's and MICA's Festival Image
Written by Express contributor Ryan Little
Express April 15, 2010

I'm off to see Matt Wuerker get the Herblock award.

Yoe on anti-war cartoons

Pencils for Peace: Craig Yoe, 'The Great Anti-War Cartoons'
Written by Express contributor Roxana Hadadi
April 15 2010

Reviewed: Kick-Ass: Creating the Comic; Making the Movie

Reviewed: Kick-Ass: Creating the Comic; Making the Movie

Posted by Mike Rhode on Apr. 15, 2010 at 10:51 am

Truitt on GI Joe

Larry Hama relaunches his '80s 'G.I. Joe 'series
By Brian Truitt, USA TODAY April 14 2010

Bamn writer Troy Allen interview up at City Paper

Meet a Local Cartoonist: A Chat with Bamn Writer Troy Allen

Posted by Mike Rhode on Apr. 14, 2010 at 12:37 pm

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/artsdesk/general/2010/04/14/meet-a-local-cartoonist-a-chat-with-bamn-writer-troy-allen/

Marc Singer on teaching Love & Rockets

Week 10: Gilbert Hernandez, Human Diastrophism
April 12, 2010

My classes' reactions to "Human Diastrophism" have changed over the years, and mostly for the better. Seven or eight years ago a few of my students were awfully interested in branding the women of Palomar as "sluts." - click thru the link to see what Marc's current students got out of it.