Sunday, April 11, 2010

Rose Herman, 1914-2010



My grandmother, Rose Herman, died yesterday a few weeks shy of her 96th birthday. Coming out of a poor family in Browndale, PA, and then being a young adult in the Depression, Gram didn't have much time for the foolishness of buying comic books for her grandchildren. However, she let me store 15,000 or so in her attic while I was out of space at home, or living at college or in rented apartments. She was quite amused when I'd show up every 3 months or so with another longbox to 'insulate her attic' (not a recommended way to store your comics, of course, but needs must). We used to visit her every Saturday when I was young too, and I used to sit on her back porch and page through the Overstreet Price Guide (pre-Internet), amazed at the number of comics I still had to even see, let alone collect.

Over the past few years, she'd been fading away, getting confused and aggressive, so she was in a nursing home in Texas near her son when she passed away, having outlived almost everyone she knew.

Saturday, April 10, 2010

CHS Otaku Fest Press Release.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For information, contact:
Sophie Song
Convention Chair of CHS Otaku Fest
Former President of Centennial High School Anime Club
president.chsanime@gmail.com
609.220.1955

CHS OTAKU FEST ANNOUNCES FOUR MUSICAL GUESTS!
The Protomen, Entertainment System, Lesser.core and DJ Sheephead!

Ellicott City, MD April 9th, 2010 – CHS Otaku Fest is proud to announce four new musical guests: The Protomen, Entertainment System, Lesser.Core and DJ Sheephead.  All four bands will be performing at the convention on April 24th, 2010 at Centennial High in Ellicott City, MD.

The Protomen are more than just a band. They are messengers, riding atop an Iron Stallion on their way to deliver the most vicious rock 'n' roll fable that the world has ever known. With several planned albums, and a live show that could crumble mountains, there's no denying The Protomen have created a work unique to its medium
The first record, 'Act I', includes elements of Ennio Morricone, Queen and Black Sabbath, which culminate in a listening experience unlike anything you've ever heard. If you're afraid of sky cracking distortion and epic chaos, you won't survive this album.
'Act II' is a departure from the signature distorted sound of the first record. It focuses on a time before the world had fallen under darkness. It is a brighter and more optimistic look at the world The Protomen has created. The album is split into two separate eras (and sounds), and gives the feeling of two distinct albums in one. 'Act II' was produced by Alan Shacklock (Meatloaf, The Alarm, Bonnie Tyler, Babe Ruth, Roger Daltry) and The Protomen. Mastering was provided by Richard Dodd (Tom Petty, Jeff Lynne, Roy Orbison, George Harrison, Traveling Wilburys).

Since 2004, Entertainment System has been playing hard hitting arrangements of classic video game songs. A love of performing and a total lack of concern for their own safety brings an infectious energy to their shows, which have been described as "totally epic and somewhat dangerous." After 3 full length albums, 1 collaborative EP, and many, many melted faces, they have only just begun. They're new full length album, "Rock n' Roll Cereal", comprised entirely of Mario and Zelda songs, debuts this summer at their annual concert, Bit Gen Gamerfest. Become a fan of Entertainment System on Facebook for constant and typically self-indulgent updates on their status, concert dates, embarrassing videos, as well as songs from their previous albums.

Lesser.Core is a Newly formed Visual Kei/J rock band. The band is heavily influenced by J rock and American bands such as: X japan, Versailles, Dir en Grey, Lynch, Pierrot, Nightmare, Avenged Sevenfold, Attack Attack, and A day to remember.  The band was formed in February 2010 in MD/DC, area with original members Ryuu [Guitar], Ton [Bass], and Ginny [Vocals]. Daniel [Drummer] joined the band a week before their first show. Upon its formation, each member of the band also took on pseudonyms which were already nicknames of theirs from their old bands. The band started to receive recognition, performing with bands such as Project Echo and Price of Gas. Currently, Lesser.Core is composing "New Material".

DJ Sheephead is a producer and a DJ. While working hard on his music projects, The Megadrives and Hypnotic Buddha, he always returns to his DJing roots, bringing you the hard sounds of underground electronic dance music. He is a man on a mission to put you on your feet and make you move to the groove.

In addition to these musical performances, events at CHS Otaku Fest includes Super Art Fight, Otaku Quest, a Cosplay Contest, an AMV contest, Artist Alley, Discussion Panels, Dealers Room, Manga Library, Anime Screenings, Gaming Tournament  and more! Registration is still open! Pre-register now at chs-otakufest.com and save $5!

About the Centennial High Anime Club and CHS Otaku Fest:  This organization is an entirely high school based club with about 30 active members. The club has been an establishment in the school since 2005 and is gaining membership annually. It is a place for otaku to gather and meet while relaxing and discussing anime and the community at large. Last year the club hosted our first successful convention, CHS Otaku Fest, a one day public event dedicated to all things anime and awesome. This year, the club is looking forward to making Otaku Fest even better.

CHS Otaku Fest information
Date: Saturday April 24th, 2010
Time: 10:00 am to 6:00 pm
Location: Centennial High School
4300 Centennial Lane
Ellicott City, MD 21042
Registration fee: $10 before January 31st and $15 after. There is a $3 discount to groups of 10 or more ($7 per person before 1/31/10 and $12 after 1/31/10). At-the-door registration is $20.
For additional information visit: www.chs-otakufest.com
E-mail: president.chsanime@gmail.com
###



April 16: Craig Yoe at Politics and Prose

Note our buddy Warren is featured as well.

Craig Yoe - The Great Anti-War Cartoons
Start: April 16, 2010 - 7:00pm
End: April 16, 2010 - 8:00pm

Yoe, a historian of cartoons, has assembled a vast array of anti-war comics that span the globe and date back to the 1600s. These comics run the gamut of emotions, from Bill Mauldin’s humor to Francisque Poulbot’s sorrow. Yoe’s presentation will include source material from Warren Bernard’s private collection.

[The Great Anti-War Cartoons]
The Great Anti-War Cartoons (Paperback)
By Craig Yoe, Sara W. Duke, Muhammad Yunus
$24.99
ISBN-13: 9781606991503
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Fantagraphics Books, 12/01/2009

Location:
Politics and Prose
5015 Connecticut Ave. NWWashington, D.C. 20008

Ocean City, MD cartoonist Jennifer Jurden launches green cartoon jcampaign

Cartoonist with Green Cartoon Side-Kick "Jurdy" Launches "GET GRINNING GET GREENING" Environmental Program at Schools for Earth Day.
OCEAN CITY, MD, April 10, 2010 /24-7PressRelease.

Jen Sorenson wins Social Justice Journalism award

She may have moved away from the East Coast, but perhaps we'll still see her at SPX. Meanwhile, here's the story of her award - Jen Sorensen, Cartoonist With Conscience, April 7, 2010 by Audrey Bilger.

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,

Brian Truitt's Kick-Ass interview

Meet Chloe Moretz, the precocious teen star of ‘Kick-Ass’
USA Weekend April 9th, 2010
Brian Truitt

I think the hard copy of this should be in tomorrow's Examiner.

Paul Fitzgerald's book on Will Eisner and PS mag nominated for Eisner award

Paul Fitzgerald's excellent book, Will Eisner & PS Magazine is up for an Eisner. One day I plan on writing a review of this - I got about 1/2 through it when the Christmas holidays intervened, but it's well worth getting. For more details see

Botetourt man gets nominated for Eisner comic industry award
Roanoke Times April 10 2010

Comics on the Rack, Quick Picks for Comics Due 04-14-10


COMICS ON THE RACK
Quick Picks for Comics Due 04-14-10
By John Judy
 
ACTION COMICS #888 by Greg Rucka, Eric Trautmann and Pere Perez.  Okay, so the whole Nightwing/Flamebird thing has been the most contrived, least interesting part of the "New Krypton" arc that got buried by BLACKEST NIGHT.  That said, it's wrapping up with a big fight against a Kryptonian god with Wonder Woman and the JSA helping out.  This also has a Captain Atom back-up feature you are not obliged to care about at all.  Enjoy!
 
BODYWORLD HC written and drawn by Dash Shaw.  A psychedelic sci-fi story about a plant that gives you telepathy when you smoke it.  Contains awkwardness.
 
BOOTH GN by CC Colbert and Tanitoc.  A graphic bio of our 16th President's murderer.  Too soon?
 
BRIGHTEST DAY #0 by Geoff Johns, Peter Tomasi and Fernando Pasarin.  To be sub-titled "Look Who's Back from the Dead and What They Are Doing About It."  Cool.  Gotta look.
 
CHEW #10 by John Layman and Rob Guillory.  Wrapping up the exotic mayhem of "International Flavor!"  Highly recommended.
 
DAREDEVIL #506 by Andy Diggle, Antony Johnston and Marco Checchetto.  DD begins to suspect somebody in the assassins guild he now leads may be untrustworthy. DD = Brains.
 
DAYTRIPPER #5 of 10 by Fabio Moon and Gabriel Ba.  This time out it looks like Bras is going to die a child.  Highly recommended.
 
DOC SAVAGE #1 by Paul Malmont and Howard Porter.  The Man of Bronze is back in fine pulp-action form!  Also features a JUSTICE, INC. back-up starring The Avenger!
 
EXCALIBUR VISIONARIES: WARREN ELLIS, VOL. 1 SC by Ellis and Various Artists.  The first time that nice Mr. Ellis got his hands on mutant superheroes the results were… well… this.  Reprinting issues #83-90 of that X-book nobody ever read.
 
FLASH # 1 by Geoff Johns and Francis Manapul.  Barry Allen's first job back as the Flash is protecting the lives of his arch-enemies, the Rogues!  No rush.  Recommended.
 
FLASH PROMO RINGS from DC.  Squirty, super-compacted speedster costume not included!  Ask your comic shop clerk for yours today!
 
IRON MAN: LEGACY #1 by Fred Van Lente and Steve Kurth.  Tony Stark hates it when you use his Iron Man tech for bad stuff like war and genocide.  Consequences ensue.
 
IRREDEEMABLE SPECIAL #1 by Mark Waid, Emma Rios, Paul Azaceta and Howard Chaykin.  A special issue focusing on better days with the Plutonian and his old pals the Paradigm.  New insights into how Tony went bad, plus a guest appearance by the pre-heroic Max Damage.  Highly Recommended.
 
KILL SHAKESPEARE #1 by Connor McCreery, Anthony Del Col and Andy Belanger.  What if Shakespeare's greatest heroes and villains all wanted to kill him?  And why wouldn't they?  Gotta look!
 
OTHER LIVES HC written and drawn by Peter Bagge.  An original graphic novel about self-loathing geeks with secrets, from the creator of HATE.  Highly recommended.
 
PUNISHERMAX #6 by Jason Aaron and Steve Dillon.  Two words: "Bullseye.  Max."  Recommended. Not for kids.
 
SECRET SIX #20 by Gail Simone and Jim Calafiore.  With his son missing Catman's got a whole lotta killing to do and no time to be nice about it.  Cool.
 
SIEGE: CAPTAIN AMERICA #1 by Christos Gage and Federico Dallocchio.  Cap and Bucky fight some dudes.
 
ULTIMATE COMICS ENEMY #3 of 4 by Brian Michael Bendis and Rafa Sandoval.  There really is an Ultimate Enemy.  Bendis tells us so.
 
UNWRITTEN #12 by Mike Carey and Various Artists.  A stand-alone issue with a distinct Wonderland vibe to it.  Recommended.
 
WOLFSKIN HUNDREDTH DREAM #1 of 6 by Warren Ellis, Mike Wolfer and Gianluca Pagliarini.  Wolfskin will attempt to leave the blood-soaked savagery of his past behind him and live a peaceful life of helping people.  Not for kids.
 
WOLVERINE WEAPON X, VOL. 1: THE ADAMANTIUM MEN SC by Jason Aaron and Ron Garney.  What if Blackwater mercenaries were given all the powers of Wolverine?  And what if Wolvie felt morally compelled to chop every one of those freaks into cat food?  From the thin collection of Wolverine Stories That Don't Suck.  Recommended.
 
WORLD WAR HULKS: HULKED OUT HEROES #1 by Jeff Parker and Humberto Ramos.  If you've been waiting your whole life to read the adventures of a hulked-out Deadpool then this is the one thing you can't miss!  Unlike kissing a girl…
 
 


Turkish illustrator Selcuk Demirel's return to Post

Back in the good old days of the '90s, Selcuk Demirel's cartoon illustrations appeared regularly in the Post's Book World. He's got a lovely cartoon in today's Real Estate section. It's not online of course.

Friday, April 09, 2010

Scoop has interview with DC Comicon founder

New Convention in Town: DC Comicon
Scoop April 9 2010

Truitt on Deadpool

Everybody loves Deadpool
By Brian Truitt, USA TODAY April 9 2010

OT: Dave Astor award news

David Astor writes in, "my weekly "Montclairvoyant" topical humor column for The Montclair (N.J.) Times just won (on April 8) both first and second place in the New Jersey Press Association's annual contest."

The link is below, with my awards listed in the second part of the "W-8" category.

http://www.njpa.org/njpa/better_newspaper_contest/2009/2009%20Editorial%20Results%20-%20Weekly.pdf

Post doesn't like Addams Family musical

Even with Neuwirth, Lane, 'Addams Family' musical can't live up to original
By Peter Marks
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, April 9, 2010; C02

and neither does the Times -

April 9, 2010
Theater Review | 'The Addams Family'
Buh-Da-Da-Dum (Snap Snap)

By Ben Brantley

Mark Ruffin interviewed Act-i-vate's Simon Fraser

A conversation with Simon Fraser
April 9, 2010
DC Comic Books Examiner
Mark Ruffin

Thursday, April 08, 2010

Steve Geppi's unsold home auctioned by bank

C'mon people - buy MORE COMICS!

Auction today for Geppi mansion
Green Spring Valley estate has outstanding mortgage debt of $3.25 million

By Lorraine Mirabella
Baltimore Sun April 8, 2010

May 15 - Trickster: Native American Tales: A Graphic Collection Signing

Event: Trickster: Native American Tales: A Graphic Collection Signing!

Start Time: Saturday, May 15 at 2:00pm
End Time: Saturday, May 15 at 4:00pm
Where: Big Planet Comics Vienna

To see more details and RSVP, follow the link below:
http://www.facebook.com/n/?event.php&eid=111988172162490&mid=228478fG40206d0eG17ff164G7&n_m=mrhode%40gmail.com

Weldon on comics and literacy (in the big picture)

It Pays To Enrich Your Nerd Power: What Kids Learn From Comics

by Glen Weldon

National Public Radio's Monkey See blog April 7 2010

- even more nerdy? His title is a play on Reader's Digest old feature, It Pays To Enrich Your Word Power.

Maryland's Villarrubia works on PBS film

Jose Villarrubia was digital artist for 'I.M. Pei: Building China Modern'

Posted 04.06.10 by mica communications

 

 

 

Wednesday, April 07, 2010

Comic Riffs pushes Cul de Sac to sell out

Cavna thinks it should be an animated tv series based on the new RingTales shorts.

The comments quickly turned surly due to the Post's iffy record of running the Sunday strip haphazardly, as well as not updating the e-version. Our Man Thompson also chimed in with his opinion, for what that is worth.

PR: 'Trickster' is now available

I'll be getting mine when it hits Big Planet.

From: Matt Dembicki

'Trickster' is now available at Amazon.com and hits other major and indie bookstores very soon (maybe even this week). It features 20 trickster tales as told by Native American storytellers and illustrated by some wonderfully talented indie comic artists. (It'll be getting a starred review in an upcoming edition of 'Booklist.')


Thanks, again.

Matt Dembicki


OT: Redniss in NY Times recently

Check this out - it's cartoon journalism on gay soldiers in WW2...

Op-Art | Lauren Redniss
Camouflaged in Plain Sight
April 5, 2010

... I really like her work.

Tuesday, April 06, 2010

That darn Toles, continued even more

Ummmm, doesn't the idea of less guns = less gun crimes ever occur to anyone? On the other hand, I guess if one thinks that editorial cartoons shouldn't be propaganda, one lives in a different world than I do. They're editorializing after all.

Propagandist cartoon draws on the District's gun laws
Washington Post Tuesday, April 6, 2010; A12

The April 1 editorial cartoon by Tom Toles seemed to imply that the 2008 Supreme Court ruling that forced the District to revamp its gun laws led to last week's shootings that left four people dead in Southeast Washington.

The only problem with Mr. Toles's blatant propaganda is that the still-restrictive gun laws make it impossible for law-abiding citizens to protect themselves. Does anyone think the suspects in the shootings owned guns legally?

Tom McAnear, Arlington

The return of Comic Postcards

Found some more comic postcards at a flea market this weekend.

Munson  postcard - drinking comics' 60325
Here's a Walt Munson. Munson was mentioned last time I did this, but with a bit of poking around I discover he was a successful sports cartoonist after he did postcards with collections of originals at Syracuse and Wichita. Also at Wichita are some Clifford Berryman originals as well as other cartoonists.

Breger  postcard - changin to hotel 609 89372
Dave Breger did a cartoon while in the Army during World War II, just like Bill Mauldin, but his Pvt. Breger was never as popular as Willie and Joe. After the war, his cartoon Dave Breger got out of the service too. Personally I'd like to see a collection of these strips.
Breger  postcard - welcome back 601 89364

When I read this card, I thought it was quite possibly the raunchiest comic postcard ever seen.

Faber postcard - part came in

I've no idea who Faber was. Asking around, I got several opinions - women say they don't get it. Men say they can't believe this postcard went through the mail. The mild interpretation - the man is basically complaining about seeing something like a repeat on television. The raunchy - he's saying he had nestled in between a pair of those legs last night and left his seed. Oddly enough, both women asked where the upper bodies of the chorus line were.

WEG postcard-10
Poster Coaster postcard #010 by WEG (William Ellis Green) the Australian sports cartoonist who died in 2008. I found 7 of the series of ten, and you can see the rest on my Flckr site.

WEG postcard-8
Poster Coaster postcard #008. The card is a type of blotting paper.

OT: Terry Witek's poetry on Slate, OR, Shilling for my friends

Check out Terry reading her poem, or read it yourself here.

Finally, I address iPad comics

I wasn't all that concerned about them actually, but my editor asked for an article - Shannon Gallant, John Gallagher, Matt Wuerker and Ann Telnaes ventured opinions for me - In D.C. and Industrywide, Will the iPad Save Comics and Kill Print? by Mike Rhode on Apr. 6, 2010.

Said editor, Jon Fischer, drastically cleaned up this article too and made it much more readable.

Small Press Expo tables are going, going, gone

SPX is reporting they are sold out of tables and have started a wait list.

Monday, April 05, 2010

Richard Thompson youtube interviews direct links

From Chris Sparks' ears to yours -

Richard Thompson and before Cul de Sac audio interview part 1
March 31 2010
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q39HC7EtRAA

Richard Thompson & Cul de Sac audio interview Part 2
April 1 2010
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tJxH-_a3o7w

jeditrue — April 01, 2010 — Part two explores the early years of Cul de sac, web comics and his editor.

Richard Thompson chats about Bill Watterson and deadlines part 3
jeditrue — April 02, 2010
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_GOTmhlc18

Richard Thompson chats about Bill Watterson writing the foreword to his first Cul de Sac collection and him dealing with deadlines and how easy ideas come to him.

Richard Thompson discusses Alice and Petey audio interview part 4
— April 03, 2010 —
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F-4y2xhYU9k

Richard goes into detail about the origins of Alice and Petey from Cul de Sac!

Richard Thompson discussing the Cul de Sac family and friends audio interview part 5
April 3 2010
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JtHSrFRafS4

Richard Thompson discussing more of the Cul de Sac gang part 6
April 4 2010
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DWKbtWHifEo

Richard Thompson on having Parkinsons disease and the future of Cul deSac ...part 7
From: jeditrue | April 04, 2010
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=903XlJk3yPA

In the last part of this long but entertaining interview Richard is talking about
Parkinsons and his plans for Cul de Sac. I hope you have enjoyed the interview. There will be more art drawing videos and a shorter interview this summer.

Cul de Sac to conquer world soon

Having abandoned his plan to conquer the Washington Post by single-handedly illustrating every section, Our Man Thompson has moved on to greener, or at least moving, pastures. According to his blog, three new Cul de Sac animations are out as is a 7-part interview on Youtube.

No wonder he won't answer my phone calls...

April 6: "Meet the Anime film $9.99 Director Tatia Rosenthal"

I'm unclear on when an Israeli-Australian film became anime, but, hey, it's free and you can ask her yourself.


FILMS
 
 
MEET THE FILMMAKER: TATIA ROSENTHAL
APRIL 6. 7 PM . MEYER
Israeli filmmaker Tatia Rosenthal introduces and discusses her ribald animated comedy featuring the voice of actor Geoffrey Rush as a grumpy. (Israel/ Australia/2008/78 min./ English)
 
This event is cosponsored by the Embassy of Israel. 
 

 
 

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 



 


Meet a Local Cartoonist: A Chat with Illustrator David Hagen

Online now at the City Paper -

Meet a Local Cartoonist: A Chat with Illustrator David Hagen

Library of Congress prints and photos website has a new look

The Library of Congress' Prints and Photos Division's website has a new look and address, with a list of media types in alphabetical order, so you can now scoot right to their 5 online cartoon collections which are all grouped under 'cartoon.'

Sunday, April 04, 2010

Ann Telnaes interview, but not by me

This one snuck up on David-Wasting-Paper blog a few weeks ago, but I've asked Ann to do my City Paper interview as well. David's got 105 interviews with cartoonists up, and I'm slowly working my way through them. He questions people from all types of cartooning it seems.

Ann Telnaes - Cartoonist Survey #95
March 12, 2010

Bennett's Best? Tardi and Ditko

Bennett's Best: It Was the War of the Trenches and Creeper
By Greg Bennett, Special to Zadzooks
Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Today in the New York Comics Times

The 'A' or front page section of today's NY Times has 3 comics-related articles.

The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund's Counsel has died -

Burton Joseph, Lawyer in First Amendment Cases, Is Dead at 79.
New York Times (April 2 2020).

Comics great Dick Giordano's obituary appeared in print.

And comics designer Chip Kidd working on revisiting a preppy book.

Comics on the Rack, Quick Picks for Comics Due 04-07-10

COMICS ON THE RACK
Quick Picks for Comics Due 04-07-10
By John Judy
 
AREA 10 HC by Christos N. Gage and Chris Samnee.  A brain-damaged cop has to catch a serial killer!  You had me at "brain-damaged."  Highly recommended.
 
AVENGERS: THE  ORIGIN #1 of 5 by Joe Casey and Phil Noto.  Tales told out of school from the earliest days of Earth's Mightiest Heroes!
 
BATMAN AND ROBIN #11 by Grant Morrison and Andy Clarke.  Dick and Damian, still fighting…  Plus bad guys.
 
THE BOYS #41 by Garh Ennis and Darick Robertson.  Comedies of Error generally don't get too ugly unless everyone involved has incredibly dangerous super-powers and is written by Garth Ennis.  Recommended.  Not for kids.
 
BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #34 by Brad Meltzer and Georges Jeanty.  Buffy and Angel are at it again.  Doin' stuff.  Maybe not for the youngsters.  Good fun though.
 
CAPTAIN AMERICA/BLACK PANTHER: FLAGS OF OUR FATHERS #1 by Chris Ungar and Chris Kipiniak.  It's a WWII adventure featuring Cap, Sgt. Fury and the Howling Commandos and the modern-day Black Panther's dad all gathered together to beat-up Nazis bad!  And that's good.
 
DOOM PATROL #9 by Keith Giffen and Matthew Clark.  Horrors!  The Gentrifiers have invaded!  Could be worse.  At least it's not The Developers or The House Flippers with their McMansions of Doom!
 
ELECTRIC ANT #1 of 5 by David Mack and Pascal Alixe.  An adaptation of a Philip K. Dick story about a normal happy guy who wakes up in a hospital with the doctors telling him he's really a robot.  Must. Have….
 
FLASH SECRET FILES AND ORIGINS 2010 #1 by Geoff Johns and Friends.  Flash facts!  Rogues!  Speed-forcings galore!  Recommended for those wishing to be in the know, Flash-wise!
 
HATE ANNUAL #8 written and drawn by Peter Bagge with extra material by James Whorton Jr.  It's another installment of Buddy Bradley's domestic adventures wrapped up with other miscellaneous Bagge materials and a guest piece by Whorton titled "Confessions of a Hardened Book Festival Attendee."   Highly recommended.
 
INVINCIBLE RETURNS #1 by Robert Kirkman and Various Artists.  Billed as a great jumping on point for first-time readers this one puts the I-Man back in his original threads and sets up "The Viltrumite War."  Call this one self-contained with room to grow.
 
JSA ALL-STARS #5 by Matthew Sturges and Freddie Williams II.  Stargirl gets lucky!  Sort of!  Big fights too!
 
MARKET DAY HC written and drawn by James Sturm.  The story of an Eastern European Jewish businessman in the early 1900s coming to grips with the new realities of the 20th century.  From the creator of GOLEM'S MIGHTY SWING.   Highly recommended.
 
MARVEL ZOMBIES 5 #1 of 5 by Fred Van Lente and Kano.  You know that guy who's always the last one to leave the party?  The one who just doesn't get that it's four in the friggin' morning and everyone else has gone home, like, a long time ago and no, the couch is not open for business?  He would love this book.  In fact, he probably wrote it.  (Kidding.  It's Fred Van Lente, who's awesome but jeez, come on already…)
 
NEW AVENGERS: LUKE CAGE #1 of 3 by John Arcudi and Eric Canete.  The Hero for Hire ditches his high-flying Avengers scene for South Philly and some vendetta-type head-busting.  Forecast cloudy with a strong chance of Awesome!
 
SHIELD #1 by Jonathan Hickman and Dustin Weaver.  In a gutsy bit of Marvel Yoo retconning SHIELD has been around a long, long time and boasted agents like Galileo, Isaac Newton and Imhotep.  This kind of requires a look.
 
SPARTA USA #2 of 6 by David Lapham and Johnny Timmons.  Godfrey McClaine has returned to Sparta with tales of yetis and an urge to run the joint.  But there's a new football hero who's not running that play.  Hijinks ensue.
 
SPIDER-MAN: FEVER #1 of 3 written and drawn by Brendan McCarthy.  An epic team-up with Doctor Strange featuring the psychedelic insanity that is McCarthy riffing on early Ditko!  Gotta look!
 
STEPHEN KING'S N #2 of 4 by Marc Guggenheim and Alex Maleev. Based on a Stephen King story about a mental patient whose insanity is contagious.  (Insert teabagger joke here.)  Recommended.
 
SUPERMAN: LAST STAND ON NEW KRYPTON #2 of 3 by James Robinson, Sterling Gates and Pete Woods.  Playing Devil's Advocate for a moment, if it's just you versus thousands of people with the power of Superman and you aren't defeated right away?  You deserve to win.  Go, Brainiac, go!
 
SUPERMAN: SECRET ORIGIN #5 of 6 by Geoff Johns and Gary Frank.  Parasite, Metallo and Luthor!  Oh my!  Highly recommended.
 
TURF #1 of 4 by Jonathan Ross and Tommy Lee Edwards.  A wild adventure set in prohibition-era New York involving rum-running gangsters, blood-sucking vamps and a man who fell to Earth.  So who wins in a dust-up between ETs, bootleggers and the un-dead?  You do!
 
ULTMATE COMICS X #2 by Jeph Loeb and Arthur Adams.  This comic was drawn by the great Art Adams.
 
UNCANNY X-MEN #523 by Matt Fraction and Mike Perkins.  Good mutants and bad ones are looking for Hope.  Aren't we all?
 
WOLVERINE WEAPON X #12 by Jason Aaron and Ron Garney.  Wolvie and Captain America mix it up with a whole bunch of Terminatored-out Deathlok cyborgs.  Plus time-travel. Don't try this at home, kids.  Recommended.
 
WORLD WAR HULKS #1 by Many People.  Tied in with FALL OF THE HULKS which has evidently concluded on "Earth-WTF."
 
 


Saturday, April 03, 2010

Cavna's Kells interview

The 'Riffs Interview: 'Secret of Kells' filmmaker TOMM MOORE
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog April 2, 2010

That darn Toles, continued some more

Today - a letter defending Toles from the earlier letters.

Up pastiche wins Washington Post Peeps contest

The story's in tomorrow's Magazine, or online:

For their winning diorama based on the Pixar flick "Up," Michael Chirlin and Veronica Ettle of Arlington constructed a miniature Victorian house from plywood and Popsicle sticks, and placed it atop salvaged mattress springs to give it an airborne quality."

April 6: '$9.99' animation filmmaker in town

The Post Magazine is reporting that Tatia Rosenthal who made the animated movie $9.99 will be at the Freer Gallery at 7 pm for a screening of the stop-action movie.

Friday, April 02, 2010

Former DC area comics writer Meltzer slagged by peers

Lindelof, Oswalt, other celebs gleefully trash author Brad Meltzer, USA Today's Pop Candy blog April 1 2010 - and for his birthday no less!

Brian 'Pickles' Crane visiting DC in April

In this article, "Sparks cartoonist celebrates 20th anniversary of 'Pickles' strip," By Guy Clifton, April 2, 2010, we hear "Later this month, [Brian Crane] and his wife will travel to Washington, D.C., to visit with officials from the Washington Post Syndicate and will travel to New Jersey for the National Cartoonists Society convention."

No word about what his plans are beyond this.

Secret of Kell's opens in DC, Hornaday doesn't like it

Movie review: In 'Secret of Kells,' vivid animation outweighs muddled narrative
By Ann Hornaday
Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, April 2, 2010; WE24

It's at Landmark's E Street Cinema downtown.

Wednesday, March 31, 2010

Washington Post's TR Reid on manga

I just finished reading Confucius Lives Next Door: What Living in the East Teaches Us About Living in the West by T. R. Reid (Random House, 2009), and while I love Reid when he is writing for the Post, I've got a few issues with his conclusions in this book. Or maybe even his starting premises.

But that's not the subject of this blog. Reid has 2 paragraphs on his favorite manga, coming after a discussion of Japan's view of America as crime-ridden:

While in Japan, I became a huge fan of mahnga, the ubiquitous comic-book magazines that sell tens of millions of copies every week. It seems to be conventional wisdom in the United States that Japan's "adult comic books" are routinely "adult" in the sense of being filthy, but this is not accurate. There are some filthy mahnga - so bad that stores won't carry them, and you have to buy them at vending machines. But the vast majority of Japanese comics are family fare. Some are funny, and some are serious novels - serial novels, really, like the one-chapter-per-month novels that Dickens and Thackeray used to write for Victorian magazines. I was particularly taken with the enormously popular weekly comic Section Chief Shima, about a junior executive named Shima Kosaku, who works for a giant electronics firm and fights a never-ending battle for truth, profits and the Japanese way.

In one extended episode, Section Chief Shima is dispatched to America to oversee his company's acquisition of a giant Hollywood movie studio (just like the acquisitions Sony and Matsushita had made in real life). One thing that deeply concerns the young executive is the possibility of a U.S. backlash if an Asian company buys a famous American firm (just like the reaction to the Sony and Matsushita purchases in real life). But an American-based executive tells Shima he need not worry: "The government won't be a problem, because we've already put a half-dozen ex-congressmen on the payroll, and they are lobbying for us." This exchange didn't bother me excessively, because it's probably what big companies actually do when they plan an acquisition. But it was disturbing to see what happened to Section Chief Shima personally during his stay in Los Angeles. When he sets out to see the beach, his rented Ford breaks down. When he tries to negotiate his business deal, an employee of the U.S. branch of his company sells corporate secrets to a competitor. When he walks outside his hotel, he's mugged on the sidewalk. Just your typical American business trip.

Our family grew increasingly angry at this depiction of a dirty, dangerous, dishonest America, partly because we found it hard to avoid, anywhere in Asia.
(p. 208-209)

So 11 years later, I have no idea if this remains a common occurrence in manga, or views of Japanese, or even if Shima was ever translated. Reid is a good writer and a keen observer though, so I'm sorry the Post lost him as a foreign correspondent. He heads their Rocky Mountain Bureau now.

Weldon on Scott Pilgrim movie

Glen Weldon invests more time than I'm willing to in this - Thirteen Ways of Looking at the Scott Pilgrim Movie Trailer. National Public Radio's Monkey See blog (March 31 2010).

Tom Toles, beyond the cartoon

It looks like Tom Toles began blogging last week about the issues he did his daily cartoon on. I think this is a new development, but I usually read him in the paper edition. I'm not sure what brought it on either, although I think it's a welcome development.

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

Anime Festival at Freer and Sackler Galleries, Saturday, April 3


Cherry Blossom

Celebrate the National Cherry Blossom Festival
at the Freer and Sackler Galleries, Saturday, April 3


Eighth Annual National Cherry Blossom Festival Anime Marathon
Meyer Auditorium, 11 AM - 7 PM



The Art of the Kimono: Trunk Show and Sale
Freer Gallery Shop, 10 PM - 5:30 PM


Traditional Japanese Tea Ceremony
Sackler Gallery, Sublevel 2, 1 & 3 PM

"Ideals of Beauty" Text-Message Scavenger Hunt
Freer Gallery, 1 - 3 PM


Curator-Led Tour of "Cornucopia: Ceramics from Southern Japan"
Freer, 1 PM


Curbside Cupcakes
Delicious cherry-blossom inspired cupcakes will be available for purchase, Freer Courtyard, 1 - 4 PM


SAVE THE DATE!
Islamic Art for Christian Patrons: The Painted Ceilings of the Cappella Palatina (Palermo, Sicily), circa 1140

Tuesday, April 13, Meyer Auditorium, 7 PM


Click here to take our survey!

We appreciate your interest in the Freer and Sackler Galleries and hope that you enjoy the exhibitions and programs that we offer. Please take less than five minutes to share more about yourself with us.



 find us on flickr                        become a fan                      follow @ FreerSackler 
 
 
 

PR: Capicons Show Sun, Apr. 18th

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

Dunn Loring Vol. Fire Dept.
2148 Gallows Road,
Dunn Loring, VA
10 am - 3 pm

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://sureshotcomics.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.

For more info, visit www.capicons.com

Become a fan on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Dunn-Loring-VA/Capicons-Comic-Book-Pop-Culture-Con/221236176794




Book reviews on Washington City Paper blog

The idea is to do these regularly...

International Ink: Hagar, Nemi, Little Nothings, and Lenore
Posted by Mike Rhode
Washington City Paper Arts Desk blog Mar. 30, 2010


PR: Submissions for The First Annual Small Press Expo Animation Showcase

More on the SPX animation newness.


Requesting Submissions for The First Annual Small Press Expo Animation Showcase

 

For Immediate Release                        

 Contact: Warren Bernard

                                                                      

Phone: 301-537-4615

                                                                      

E-Mail: warren@spxpo.com

Bethesda, Maryland; March 30, 2010 - The Small Press Expo (SPX), the preeminent showcase for the exhibition of independent comics, graphic novels and alternative political cartoons, announces a call for submissions to the First Annual SPX Animation Showcase. This showcase will be presented at this years Small Press Expo, to be held September 11 and 12 at the North Bethesda Marriott Convention Center, in Bethesda, Maryland.

With the proliferation of animation by both traditional animators and comics creators, SPX is providing a venue for SPX attendees  to see a wide variety of examples of this craft. There will be a series of set showings of cartoons throughout the two day SPX festival, which will reflect the myriad of different animation styles now dispersed across the Internet.

All submissions will be screened and final selections made by  a volunteer committee led by Angie Ottinger and Paul Nadjmabadi. The committee is comprised of the following members of the film and television community,:

           

    CATHERINE TABER, Actress

            Cat has lent her talents to numerous films, television shows, and video games including Star Wars: The Clone Wars (Padme), Final Fantasy 12 (Penelo), and the              upcoming Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker (Cecile).

            CHAD STRADERMAN, Animator / Graphic Designer

            Chad has worked on a variety of television shows as well as his own independent animation. His short, Pass It On, was shown theatrically at Spike & Mike's Sick &     Twisted Festival of Animation.          

            MONZUKI, Art Blog Curator

            Monzuki is a successful art blog whose mission is to "introduce Art and Design to stimulate your mind and awareness by presenting a platform for creative artists to     publicize  their talented artwork". (http://blog.monzuki.com)

            DANIEL STRANGE, Director

            Daniel is the director of the viral video "The Ballad of G.I. Joe" and episodes of the web series "Between Two Ferns With Zach Galifianakis." He currently has an     animated show in development with Fox.

            ANGIE OTTINGER, Writer / Producer

            Angie currently works in short-form and promo for television. Her short film, "The Donut King" screened at a variety of festivals, including the 2002 Sundance Film     Festival.

            PAUL NADJMABADI, Editor

            Paul has worked in post-production for a variety of television shows and promos. He has also worked on numerous projects as a director and cinematographer. 


For entering submissions to the First Annual SPX Animation Showcase, just follow a few easy rules:


1. Fill out a submission for at http://www.spxpo.com/spx-animation-showcase-2010.

2. Please limit submission entries to no more than 10 minutes run time.

3. Submissions are due by June 30, 2010.

4. Selections for the showcase will be announced by August 11, 2010, 1 month prior to SPX.

5. If you are interested in attending SPX or have questions about the SPX Animation Showcase, please send inquiries to spxanimation@spxpo.com.

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/.            

SPX will be held The North Bethesda Marriott Convention Center in Bethesda, Maryland, next to the White Flint Metro stop. Admission is $10 for a single day and $15 for both days.

  

ICAF postponed until 2011

30 March 2010

Announcement from The International Comic Arts Forum (ICAF)

The International Comic Arts Forum (ICAF), the foremost gathering for international comics studies and scholarship, has decided to postpone its annual conference for 2010 until 2011.  

The 2011 conference will observe the 15th Anniversary of ICAF, and the Executive Committee has concluded that postponing for the 2010 calendar year will allow the organization to plan for a large and special 2011 event.

Please stay tuned for more details soon.  For interested students and scholars, the CFP will be released later this year, as will more details on the 15th Anniversary Themes, Guests, and Special Events.

Please bookmark our website:
ICAF website:
http://internationalcomicartsforum.org

Any inquiries may be directed to Professor Cecile Danehy, Executive Committee Co-Chair, at cdanehy@wheatonma.edu

Tomorrow: Warren Bernard lecture on Herblock at LoC

Independent scholar Warren Bernard returns to the Library of Congress on Wednesday, March 31, to give a talk in conjunction with the Herblock! exhibition, "Declaration of Independence: Herblock: His Foes and His Editors". This event will take place in Dining Room A located on the 6th Floor of the Madison Building at noon.

Monday, March 29, 2010

Comics Riffs on Dick Giordano's death

Giordano was a great penciler and inker for DC Comics, who also became an editor there. Even if you've never read a comic book, you've seen his work because it's used on all kinds of licensed products.

RIP, Dick Giordano: Remembering a comics legend
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog March 29, 2010

Buzzboy’s John Gallagher interview up at City Paper site

Meet a Local Cartoonist: A Chat with Buzzboy's John Gallagher

Posted by Mike Rhode on Mar. 29, 2010
http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/artsdesk/books/2010/03/29/meet-a-local-cartoonist-a-chat-with-buzzboys-john-gallagher/

Sunday, March 28, 2010

Comics on the Rack, Quick Picks for Comics Due 03-31-10



COMICS ON THE RACK
Quick Picks for Comics Due 03-31-10
By John Judy
 
ASTRO CITY: THE DARK AGE BOOK FOUR #3 of 4 by Kurt Busiek and Brent Anderson.  In the last issue before the big wrap-up The Pale Horseman makes his debut.  Imagine if the Ghost Rider were really scary….  Recommended.
 
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #627 by Roger Stern and Lee Weeks.  What could possibly pound the bejeebers out of the Juggernaut and why is Spidey sticking around to find out?
 
BLACKEST NIGHT #8 of 8 by Geoff Johns and Ivan Reis.  The double-sized grand finale in which all the colors come together and Sinestro sports a new look!  Highly recommended.
 
THE CREEPER BY STEVE DITKO SC by Ditko and Associates.  If you like Ditko and one of his wilder creations, it's all here for you!  "Beware the Creeper!"
 
DETECTIVE COMICS #863 by Greg Rucka, Jock and Cully Hamner.  In which "things do not end well."  My kinda comic!  Recommended.
 
FANTASTIC FOUR #567 by Jonathan Hickman and Dale Eaglesham.  The FF's on the moon and the Inhumans are… where?
 
INCORRUPTIBLE #4 by Mark Waid and Jean Diaz.  Will newly reformed Max Damage go back to his evil ways if it's for a good cause?  A true head-scratcher.  Highly recommended.
 
IRON MAN: EXTREMIS HC by Warren Ellis and Adi Granov.  Collecting that story where Tony Stark caught a virus from that nice Mr. Ellis.  Recommended.
 
JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #43 by James Robinson and Mark Bagley.  When archers go bad…
 
KEVIN SMITH'S GREEN HORNET #2 by Smith and Jonathan Lau.  The old Green Hornet just ain't what he used to be.  Fortunately his kid is waiting in the wings.  This Kevin Smith comic is coming out on time and is thus highly collectible!
 
PREVIEWS by Diamond and Marvel Comics.  See what your Summer vacation holds in store(s)!
 
RASL #7 written and drawn by Jeff Smith.  It is so hard waiting for the trade collections of this book.  That's why I don't even try.  Highly recommended.
 
SHE-HULK: SENSATIONAL #1 by Peter David, Brian Reed , Iban Coello and little John Byrne thrown in for seasoning.  Celebrating 30 years of that character who can lift tractor-trailers easier than she can carry her own book.  Good times!
 
TERMINATOR 2029 #1 by Zack Whedon and Andy MacDonald.  Ladies and gentlemen, Mr. Kyle Reese!
 
WONDER WOMAN #42 by Gail Simone and Nicola Scott.  A Big Bad from Diana's past rolls in.  Fortunately the Green Lantern Corps is already there.
 
X-MEN: SECOND COMING #1 by Craig Kyle, Chris Yost and David Finch. Cable returns to the present with little Hope.
 
 


This week's Zadzooks and Bennett's Best reviews

Zadzooks: Halo Wars: ODST and Construct-A-Buzz reviews
Joseph Szadkowski
Washington Times March 27, 2010

Bennett's Best: Simpsons/Futurama and The Guild
By Greg Bennett, Special to Zadzooks
Washington Times Zadzooks blog March 27, 2010

Bennett's Best: Bronx Kill and American Vampire
By Greg Bennett
Washington Times Zadzooks blog March 21, 2010

Comic Riffs interview for Dragon Trainers in print too

Reprinted from Comic Riffs -

Cavna, Michael. 2010.
'Dragon' directors are flying in the face of fearsome 3-D technology
Washington Post (March 28): E5.