Steve Conley Kickstarts his BLOOP Webcomic Graphic Novel at the Baltimore Comic-Con

Steve Conley Kickstarts his BLOOP Webcomic Graphic Novel at the Baltimore Comic-Con    BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - August 23, 2012 - Cartoonist and friend of the Baltimore Comic-Con Steve Conley (Star Trek, Escapist, Astounding Space Thrills) has launched a Kickstarter campaign to help produce the first print collection of his webcomic graphic novel BLOOP.  http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/steveconley/bloop-part-one-deluxe-oversized-hardcover   BLOOP is the all-ages story of a little green space monkey who is looking to find the perfect tree. Along the way, he makes some friends and finds that not only his tree but the entire planet is threatened by robots bent on tearing the world apart.   Attendees of the Baltimore Comic-Con will be able to see preview art from the book and a Baltimore Comic-Con exclusive print will be available.   In addition to being an accomplished cartoonist (Steve has won an Eagle Award and received nominations for the both the Eisner and Harvey Awards), Steve has been a longstanding contributor to the Baltimore Comic-Con since its very first year. Steve designed the Baltimore Comic-Con's initial logo and helps with the design and graphics of the show to this day. Steve's space monkey BLOOP was even the mascot of the Baltimore Comic-Con for a few years.   Steve has been a good friend to the Baltimore Comic-Con and we hope you'll take a look at his Kickstarter and consider backing it.   The Kickstarter launched on August 14, 2012 and will run until 8pm ET on September 17, 2012.   The BLOOP collection will showcase the first chapter of the story and will be a giant 10 inches x 15 inches. The book will have a case-bound, hardback cover with a golden foil stamp and a full-color, wraparound dust jacket. The interior will be 28-pages of full-color printing on thicker, 100# satin text paper.     The KICKSTARTER URL: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/steveconley/bloop-part-one-deluxe-oversized-hardcover   THE BLOOP WEB SITE: http://bloopstree.com/     This year's confirmed guests for the show including: Guest of Honor, Stan "The Man" Lee (Saturday only!); Neal Adams (First X-Men, Baman:  Odyssey); Jason Adams (Sculptor); Josh Adams (Doctor Who, Sherlock); Dave Aikins (SpongeBob and Dora the Explorer children's books illustrator); Ken Bald (Golden Age Timely/Marvel Artist); Marty Baumann (Pixar artist); Brian Bolland (Dial H, Cover Story: The DC Comics Art of Brian Bolland); Tom Brevoort (Avengers); Harold Buchholz (Archie Comics); Mark Buckingham (Fables, Doctor Who); Jim Calafiore (Secret Six); Frank Cammuso (Knights of the Lunch Table, Otto's Orange Day); Greg Capullo (Batman, Spawn); Richard Case (Artist Alley Comics, Doom Patrol); Tommy Castillo (Grimm Fairy Tales); Bernard Chang (DC Comics Presents, War of the Green Lanterns); Jo Chen (Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season Eight - Saturday only!); Sean Chen (Steel, Avengers Academy, Voltron); Jim Cheung (Avengers vs. X-Men, AVX VS., Spider-Men);Cliff Chiang (Wonder Woman); Frank Cho (Avengers vs. X-Men, Liberty Meadows); Mike Choi (Fantastic Four, Demon Knights, Captain Atom); Steve Conley (Bloop webcomic www.bloopstree.com); Amanda Conner (Before Watchmen:  Silk Spectre); Geof Darrow (Shaolin Cowboy); Lar deSouza (Looking For Group, Least I Could Do); Todd Dezago (Perhapanauts); Dan Didio (O.M.A.C.); Eryk Donovan (SEQAPUNCH anthology, 'Ringo Scholarship Recipient); Joe Eisma (Morning Glories); Garth Ennis (The Shadow, Hellblazer, Preacher, The Boys); Rich Faber (Roboy Red); Ray Fawkes (One Soul); Joshua Hale Fialkov (I, Vampire, Echoes, Last of the Greats); David Finch (Batman:  The Dark Knight); Anthony Fleecs (In My Lifetime); Francesco Francavilla (The Black Beetle, Swamp Thing, Captain America and Black Widow); Franco (Tiny Titans, Superman Family Adventures); John Gallagher (Buzzboy); SL Gallant (G.I. Joe); Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez (Batman, Superman, Wonder Woman); Bryan J.L. Glass (Mice Templar); Jimmy Gownley (Amelia Rules!); Dan Green (Amazing Spider-Man, Wonder Woman, Legion of Super-Heroes); Randy Green (Artist Alley Comics, Witchblade); Brad Guigar (Evil Inc.); Gene Ha (Justice League); Larry Hama (G.I. Joe, Wolverine, The 'Nam); Cully Hamner (Action Comics); Scott Hanna (Green Lantern Corps); Dean Haspiel (Billy Dogma, ACT-I-VATE, Trip City); Eric Henson (Perhapanauts : Danger Down Under); Greg Horn (Max Payne, Avengers DK, Avengers Academy); Jason Horn (Ninjasaur); Jamal Igle (KISS, Supergirl, The Ray); Chris Ivy (Hero Comics, Army of Darkness); J.G. Jones (Wanted, Doc Savage); Justin Jordan (Shadowman), Chris Kemple (Artist Alley Comics, Negative Burn); Denis Kitchen (Kitchen Sink Press); Barry Kitson (Captain America, Iron Man, Fantastic Four); Roger Langridge (Snarked, Popeye, The Muppets, Thor the Mighty Avenger); Greg LaRocque (Web of Spider-Man, The Avengers, Legion of Super Heroes); Erik Larsen (Savage Dragon); Janet Lee (Return of the Dapper Men); Norman Lee (Uncanny X-Men, New Mutants, Wolverine and the X-Men); Jeff Lemire (Sweet Tooth, Justice League Dark, Animal Man, Essex County); Paul Levitz (DC Comics, Legion of Super Heroes); Joe Linsner (Dawn); David Mack (Kabuki); Kevin Maguire (World's Finest); Mark Mariano (Happyloo); Laura Martin (Avengers vs. X-Men, Captain America, 100 Penny Press: The Rocketeer); Ron Marz (Artifacts, Voodoo); Bob McLeod (DC Comics Presents: Wonder Woman); Carla Speed McNeil (Finder); Pop Mhan (Gears of War, Blank, Ender's Game); Mark Morales (Avengers vs. X-Men); Dave Nestler (Salem's Daughter: The Haunting, Grimm Fairy Tales); Jamar Nicholas (Leon: Protector of the Playground); Cary Nord (X-O Manowar, Conan); Jimmy Palmiotti (All-Star Western); Dan Parent (Archie, Veronica, Kevin Keller); Dan Parsons (Star Wars artist); Andrew Pepoy (Fables, The Simpsons, Simone & Ajax); David Petersen (Mouse Guard); Brandon Peterson (Uncanny X-Men, Ultimates Comics Ultimates); Khoi Pham (X-Men); Paul Pope (THB, Adventure Time); Eric Powell (The Goon); Brian Pulido (Lady Death); Frank Quitely (All Star Superman, Batman & Robin); Mike Raicht (Stuff of Legend, Infestation: G.I. Joe, Dark Shadows); Tom Raney (Suicide Squad, Incredible Hulk, Avengers Academy); Joe Rivera (Daredevil); Paolo Rivera (Daredevil); John Romita, Jr. (Avengers Vs. X-Men); Don Rosa (Uncle Scrooge); Craig Rousseau (Perhapanauts, Marvel Super-Heroes); Joe Rubinstein (Agent Marc Sanders, Green Hornet Golden Age Remastered); Andy Runton (Owly); Christophe Ryder (Dames in the Atomic Age); Scott Christian Sava (The Dreamland Chronicles); Alex Saviuk (STAN LEE's MIGHTY 7); Stuart Sayger (Infestation 2: 30 Days of Night One-Shot); Matteo Scalera (Secret Avengers, Irredeemable, Valen the Outcast, Wolverine & the X-Men); Louise Simonson (Rocketeer Adventures, Power Pack); Walter Simonson (Thor, Legion of Super-Heroes, Avengers); Ryan Sohmer (Looking For Group, Least I Could Do); Scott Snyder (Batman, Severed, Swamp Thing); John K. Snyder III (Zorro Rides Again); Nicky Soh (LIQUID CITY, 'Ringo Scholarship Recipient); Mark Sparacio (Liberty Girl, Omega Paradox, Jonah Hex); Jim Starlin (Infinity Gauntlet, Dreadstar, Captain Marvel); Brian Stelfreeze (ICE); Roger Stern (Hulk Smash Avengers, The Captain America Corps); Paul Storrie (Twisted Journeys, Sheena: Queen of the Jungle); Karl Story (Buffy the Vampire Slayer Season 9); Peter Tomasi (Batman and Robin); Herb Trimpe (G.I. Joe, Wolverine); Tim Truman (Hawken, Grimjack); Billy Tucci (A Child Is Born, Shi); Fred Van Lente (Archer & Armstrong), Robert Venditti (X-O Manowar, Surrogates); Neil Vokes (Flesh And Blood, The Dark Forest); Dave Wachter (Night of 1000 Wolves); Matt Wagner (Tower Chronicles, Mage, Grendel); Mark Waid (Daredevil, Incorruptible, Irredeemable); Matt Webb (Flesh and Blood, John Byrne's Next Men, Zombie Tales); Matt Wieringo ('Ringo Scholarship Fund); Rich Woodall (Artist Alley Comics, Johnny Raygun); Bernie Wrightson (Frankenstein); Kelly Yates (Dr. Who: A Fairytale Life, Amber Atoms); Thom Zahler (Love and Capes); Chrissie Zullo (Cinderella, Fables).   In the coming weeks, look for more announcements from the Baltimore Comic-Con. We are looking forward to highlighting our guests, the Harvey Awards, industry exclusives, and programming. The latest developments can always be found on our website, Twitter, and Facebook pages.   This year's Baltimore Comic-Con will be held September 8-9, 2012. Convention hours are Saturday 10 AM to 6 PM and Sunday 10 AM to 5 PM. The ceremony and banquet for the Harvey Awards will be held Saturday night, September 8th.   Please take a moment to help us spread this message using the social media links embedded, reposting, or retweeting!   Contact Information Please use the following e-mail addresses to contact the Baltimore Comic-Con: press@baltimorecomiccon.com - for any general press inquiries or to be added to our PR distribution promoter@baltimorecomiccon.com - for requesting exhibitor, publisher, and Artist Alley applications registrar@baltimorecomiccon.com - for inquiries about submitted registrations harveys@baltimorecomiccon.com - for the Harvey Awards ceremony and banquet general@baltimorecomiccon.com - for general Baltimore Comic-Con inquiries   About The Baltimore Comic-Con The Baltimore Comic-Con is celebrating its 13th year of bringing the comic book industry to the Baltimore and Washington D.C. area. With a guest list unequaled in the industry, the Baltimore Comic-Con will be held September 8-9, 2012. For more information, please visit www.baltimorecomiccon.com. About The Harvey Awards The Harvey Awards are one of the comic book industry's oldest and most respected awards. With a history of over 20 years, the last 7 in conjunction with the Baltimore Comic-Con, the Harveys recognize outstanding achievements in over 20 categories. They are the only industry awards nominated and selected by the full body of comic book professionals. For more information, please visit www.harveyawards.org.

Peter Dunlap-Shohl on Team Cul de Sac

PD-S is another cartoonist who suffers from Parkinson's disease, and was an early contributor to Team Cul de Sac...

A "Heart-on-His-Sleeve-Southerner" Does Serious Damage to my Cynical Side

Peter Dunlap-Shohl
August 23, 2012

http://offandonakpdrag.blogspot.com/2012/08/a-heart-on-his-sleeve-southerner-does.html

Catching up with Comicsgirl

Here's a list of local stories that Eden 'Comicsgirl' Miller caught on her blog's DC Area Scene that I missed (I have no excuses):

District Comics: Interview with Tom Allen
Michael Cowgill
August 12, 2012
http://abstractgarageblog.blogspot.com/2012/08/district-comics-interview-with-tom-allen.html

Interview with Matt Dembicki, creator of Xoc!
Drew McCabe
– August 5, 2012
http://comicattack.net/2012/08/mattdembickiinterview/

SDCC: Interview with Matt Dembicki
Angela Jones
July 2012?
http://www.theouthousers.com/index.php/features/117029-sdcc-interview-with-matt-dembicki-2.html

Interview with Michael Auger   
Kristina Law
Interior Design and Style Jun 27, 2012
http://www.designstyleguide.net/community/interview-michael-auger/

As summer sizzles, College Park store owners see business fizzle
Shop owners eager to see return of UM students in the fall
Holly Nunn, Staff Writer
The Gazette June 5 2012
http://www.gazette.net/article/20120605/NEWS/706059971/1124/as-summer-sizzles-college-park-store-owners-see-business-fizzle&template=gazette

A Conspiracy of their own
Lance Heflin
MoCoVox News June 26, 2012
http://www.mocovox.com/2012/06/26/a-conspiracy-of-their-own/

comic artist Rafer Roberts
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=252994221479253

Superheroes mean super business for Annapolis shop
By SHANTEÉ WOODARDS, Staff Writer
Capital Gazette June 4, 2012
http://www.capitalgazette.com/news/business/superheroes-mean-super-business-for-annapolis-shop/article_da0ce20f-2d69-59e9-89a4-0b0fa59ae52f.html

The Post reports The Simpsons stamps undersold

Simpsons stamps wasted $1.2 million for Postal Service, report says [in print as Inspector general to Postal Service, D'oh! $1.2 million wasted on overproduction of 'The Simpsons' stamps, report says, p. B4]
By Angela Grieling Keane / Bloomberg News
Washington Post August 22, 2012
http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/simpsons-stamps-cost-postal-service-12-million-in-waste/2012/08/21/1a7442d2-ebb5-11e1-a80b-9f898562d010_story.html

RC Harvey appreciates Richard Thompson and Team Cul de Sac's 93%

On Richard Thompson and Cul de Sac
BY R.C. Harvey Aug 22, 2012   
http://www.tcj.com/on-richard-thompson-and-cul-de-sac/

Meanwhile, Team Cul de Sac's money has flowed in and we're a mere $3,300 from meeting the goal... which reminds me, I owe some money to the campaign.

Monkey See on DC Comics next so-so idea

IM, IM, IM Superman: Morning-After Texts Between Superman, Wonder Woman
by Glen Weldon
August 22, 2012
http://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2012/08/22/159756428/im-im-im-superman-morning-after-texts-between-superman-wonder-woman

Gazette on Rafer Roberts and his exhibit

Exhibit peeks into psyche of underground comic book artist
VisArts hosts underground comics exhibit by Rafer Roberts of Hagerstown
by Virginia Terhune Staff writer
Gazette.net August 22 2012
http://www.gazette.net/article/20120822/ENTERTAINMENT/708229862/1265/exhibit-peeks-into-psyche-of-underground-comic-book-artist&template=gazette

'Fever Dreams'
When: through Sept. 8
Where: VisArts, 155 Gibbs St. (in Rockville Town Square), Rockville
Tickets: Free
For information: 301-315-8200
www.visartscenter.org

hattip to Matt Dembicki for the link

Panel Patter on District Comics signing and SPX

Rob McMonigal has posted some pictures and his impression of the District Comics at One More Page bookstore event. I still need to do so.

He's also been doing a nice set of informative posts on Small Press Expo attendees.

USA Today on Hypernaturals and I, Vampire

Hypernaturals' writers build a sci-fi world of their own
By Brian Truitt, USA TODAY August 20 2012
http://www.usatoday.com/life/comics/story/2012-08-20/Hypernaturals-comic-book-series/57170628/1

'I, Vampire' series puts a stake in its status quo
By Brian Truitt, USA TODAY August 20 2012
http://www.usatoday.com/life/comics/story/2012-08-20/I-Vampire-comic-book-series/57163086/1

PR: New Comic Book Kickstarter from Fredericksburg, VA

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

CONTACT: 

CHARLIE MCELVY

XION STUDIOS 

540-324-9466

charlie@xionstudios.com

http://www.WatchGuardComic.com

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/watchguard/watchguard-teen-force-5

Comicbook Heroes Need Your Help to Make History!

Fredericksburg, VA, August 13th, 2012  -  A new comic book universe is about to launch. New heroes. New villains. An entirely new universe of adventures. But, the heroes need you to join in and rid the universe of scum and villainy.

Xion Studios will be publishing two pilot issues in one 'flip book' formatted comic, featuring characters from author Charlie McElvy's award-winning "The WatchGuard Sourcebook", which is now available on Amazon.com and from local gaming stores. This popular gaming sourcebook is the first of its kind to make the leap from superhero role-playing game device to comic book. Never before has a superhero supplement been published solely as a comic book, and this endeavor is designed to produce not one, but two comic book stories in one double-sized publication.

Xion Studios has created a Kickstarter campaign to see this off. Kickstarter is a popular crowd-funding vehicle, wherein users can make pledges to projects they deem worthwhile, essentially investing in the project, and they are often rewarded for their participation if the project is successfully funded by the end of its campaign. This campaign is designed to off-set printing, production, and marketing costs, as well as support the artistic efforts to produce such high-quality work as found in today's popular comic books.

ABOUT XION STUDIOS

Essentially a remote comic and art studio, Xion Studios has published founder/creator Charlie McElvy's "The WatchGuard Sourcebook" to popular acclaim and awards. Nominated "Fan-Favorite Publisher" for the gaming industry's ENNIE Awards in 2012, Xion continues to pursue high-quality, approachable products for a large demographic. This will mark Xion's first foray into producing comic books.

- END -

Charlie McElvy:
Xion Studios | WatchGuard | @deviantart

contact:
charlie@xionstudios.com
540-324-XION | aim - cMack454
 
WatchGuard @deviantart | WatchGuard on twitter | WatchGuard on Facebook | Teen Force 5 on Facebook
 

Cartoonist Curtis and fan Fischer on Cul de Sac's end

"He Was a Good Man ... "
by Stacy Curtis
August 20 2012
http://stacycurtis.blogspot.com/2012/08/a-photo-i-snapped-of-richard-while-i.html

Hail Richard Thompson and Cul de Sac!
By: Craig Fischer
Heroesonline blog August 17, 2012
http://www.heroesonline.com/blog/2012/08/17/hail-richard-thompson-and-cul-de-sac/

Donald in pre-World War 2 US Navy yearbook

I'm not an expert in Disney history, but most people know the company helped America's war effort in World War II by designing logos for units, and making training films. At work, I've stumbled across this pre-war (to America at least) example of the Naval Air Station Pensacola Florida yearbook The Flight Jacket 1940, which was compiled for the training class for new pilots. At some point in the next few months, the yearbook will be transferred to the more appropriate Navy Department Library in the Washington Navy Yard which appears to need a copy. In the meantime, one can see scans of the famed Duck here.

PR: An Unconventional Graphic History of Washington, DC

For Immediate Release Press Release | www.fulcrumbooks.com | 800-992-2908 A graphic anthology featuring lesser-known stories about our nation's capital A well-rounded collection of stories with something for everyone. --Kirkus Reviews An Unconventional Graphic History of DC Denver, CO (8/20/2012)--What would the history of our capital city sound like from the perspective of a Vietnam veteran or the trumpeter at JFK's burial? A collection of many such perspectives, District Comics: An Unconventional History of Washington, DC features a cast of the citys most captivating and colorful characters--from printers and police officers to pandas and punks. And, of course, a few politicians. This recently released graphic anthology tours some of DCs lesser-known moments, with stops along the way for a duel, a drink in the Senate speakeasy, a shoe shine, and much more. Inspired by the kind of quirky stories that are only discovered in conversations with locals and longtime residents, District Comics includes more than twenty stories you might otherwise never hear.  Illustrated and authored by forty talented contributors, the anthology features stories by Scott O. Brown, award-winning Man of Comics and Harvey nominee; Chad Lambert, five-time Howard E. Day Memorial Award finalist and writer for Kung Fu Panda and Megamind; Jim Ottaviani, creator of The New York Times best seller Feynman; and many more talented writers and artists. Matt Dembicki is the founder of the D.C. Conspiracy, a comic creators collaborative in Washington, DC. Hes the editor of the Eisner-nominated and Aesop Prize-winning Trickster: Native American Tales, A Graphic Anthology and has also won acclaim for his nature graphic novels, Mr. Big and Xoc. For a list of contributors and more information, visit www.matt-dembicki.blogspot.com. September 2012 | Paperback | US $24.95 | ISBN: 978-1-55591-751-7 | 8 x 8 | 256 pages | COMICS AND GRAPHIC NOVELS | Full color throughout For ordering information: Fulcrum Publishing, Inc. | 4690 Table Mountain Dr., Ste. 100 | Golden, CO 80403 toll-free 800-992-290 | fax 800-726-7112 Follow Fulcrum Publishing

Theater J blog revisits The History of Invulnerability

Here's a nice blog post with art by local cartoonists on the Jerry Siegel / Superman play, The History of Invulnerability by Shirley Serotsky, the play's director.

Game On! player wins Heroclix World Championship!

Heroclix News Dear Mike, Alex Avila wins Heroclix World Championship on August 20th!   Alex has been recently playing at Game On! and he will be by tomorrow night to talk about his championship team and experience at Gen Con!   Before our 7pm tournament on August 21st, come hang out and meet Alex.  He can even sign your Wasp, Morgan Le Fay, and Scarlet Witch game cards (his game winning team)!     After winning the last chance qualifier yesterday, newcomer, Alex Avila storms through the World Championship; going undefeated in both days of competition! In the finals, he faced off against 2010 World Champion and 2012 Origins Champion, George Massu!         Please forward this email to your friends so that everyone can stay in the loop! Chaos War Event! August 25th, 4pm       Heroclix at Game On! Comics Saturday, August 25th, at 4 p.m., Booster Chaos! Purchase two boosters from the venue and build a team with the complete contents of one of them. Anything can (and probably will) happen!        1st and 2nd Prize and Fellowship:   Spiderman LE 104   SPECIAL VIP MEMBER TOURNAMENT Tuesday, August 21st, 7pm Yes, you are seeing this correctly!  The prize for this event is the Apocalypse LE Convention figure!   This figure sells for over $100 on eBay.    BUT, you can only play in this Tournament IF you are a VIP Game Member.  And it's FREE if you are a Member!!  One of the perks to being a Game On! Comics VIP Game Member is that we will have special events that only Members can attend and this is the first one!  We are going to do something different for this tournament though.  EVERYONE will have a chance to win this figure.  Every person that plays will get one raffle ticket.  Then at the end of the tournament we will randomly choose one winner.  That person will win the Apocalypse figure!  We will have a prize for first place too.   If you are not a VIP member its not too late!!  Just become a member by August 21st and you can play.   Come into the store to become a member.  It's only $25 per year.  With membership you get 10% off all game items (like Heroclix), never pay tournament fees, special events just for members, and your own box at Game On! to store anything at the shop.     The build will be a 300 Point team, Modern Rules,  No Feats, No BFCs, No special objects (Including the Infinity Gauntlet).     Important Dates     Current Set         DC Justice League New 52   August 29th  Marvel and DC Heroclix 10th Anniversary           Sincerely,   Game On! Comics www.GameOnComics.com 703-242-3838 Quick Links Website Membershjp Club Game Nights Blog % Off No coupon.  Offer Expires: 2 Weeks prior to set releasing

Game On! Comics | 310 Dominion RD NE | Vienna | VA | 22180

Local cartoonist George Mercer passes away (UPDATED)

GEORGE DANIEL MERCER (Age 88) 
Published in The Washington Post on August 15, 2012
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/washingtonpost/obituary.aspx?pid=159182597

The death notice says he was "Cartoonist for the Baltimore Afro-American newspaper" and that he designed nine stamps.


D.D. Degg spotted the story and provided the following notes: 


His design for the 12-cent Freedom of Conscience "Torch" stamp as mentioned in the above obituary:
http://arago.si.edu/index.asp?con=1&cmd=1&tid=2029043

The single sample of his cartooning I could find:
http://kasmakes.tumblr.com/#23740534024

Allan Holtz' American Newspaper Comics lists his comics as:
SOLID SENDERS July 4, 1942 - at least December 11, 1943 panel
RICKEY October 17, 1942 - May 8, 1943 (pantomime strip)
ARLINE'S CAREER November 7, 1942 - May 8, 1943 strip
(retitled ARLENE'S CAREER March 20, 1943 - on)
The above three weekly comics were in the Baltimore Afro-American

After his hitch in the U.S.Army (May 10, 1943 - 1946?) Mercer did a couple more comics.

FRANTIC STEIN 1947 weekly strip
PEEWEE 1947 weekly panel
Holtz says these two may have been offerings from Continental Features, a 1940s syndicate for black newspapers possibly based out of the New York Amsterdam News.

"Down to Earth: Herblock and Photographers Observe the Environment" Opens Sept. 22

Library of Congress
101 Independence Ave. SE
Washington DC   20540

August 20, 2012

"Down to Earth: Herblock and Photographers Observe the Environment"
Opens at Library of Congress on Sept. 22

Throughout his 72-year career, Herblock, the award-winning cartoonist at the Washington Post, revealed a concern and passion for the environment.  His cartoons, along with photographs on environmental issues by 12 American photographers, will be showcased in a new exhibition at the Library of Congress.

"Down to Earth: Herblock and Photographers Observe the Environment" opens on Saturday, Sept. 22 in the Graphic Arts Galleries on the ground level of the Thomas Jefferson Building, 10 First St. S.E., Washington, D.C.  Free and open to the public from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Saturday, the exhibition closes on Saturday, March 23, 2013.

The exhibition will offer new perspectives with which to observe the planet.  The cartoons and photographs on display are compelling compositions, because their creators intended to provoke reaction and inspire change.

The inspiration for "Down to Earth" comes from Herbert L. Block (1909-2001), commonly called Herblock, and his long-standing support for protecting the environment.  A four-time Pulitzer Prize winner, Herblock was the chief editorial cartoonist at the Washington Post, where he worked for more than 55 years.

The exhibition features 15 Herblock cartoons and 17 photographs.  Although the visual techniques used in photography and cartooning differ, both types of media can address such themes as the spread of toxins, water pollution, the negative effects of oil drilling, global warming, deforestation, exploitation of wetlands and overconsumption.

Sam Kittner's photographs vividly document the outrage of demonstrators in Louisiana over toxic-waste dumping.  Other images are more subtle, such as Olaf Otto Becker's beautiful image of a blue river in Greenland that shows the effects of global warming and acid rain.

Herblock's cartoons rely on humor, irony and sarcasm.  One of the drawings on display, from 2001, shows two businessmen smoking cigars and looking at oil derricks on the Alaskan landscape.  It is titled "We Could Compromise and Paint Them Green."  Another drawing, created in 1998, shows a beleaguered man, seen through the heat waves of a blazing sun.  He is carrying a coat on one arm and is holding up a newspaper with the headline "Environmental Groups Warn of Global Warming."  It is titled "All Right, All Right – I Believe It."

An online version of "Down to Earth" will be available on Saturday, Sept. 22, at http://myloc.gov/Exhibitions/herblock-down-to-earth/.

"Down to Earth" is located in one of the three exhibition spaces of the Graphic Arts Galleries.  The other spaces are the Swann Gallery and the Herblock Gallery.  Currently in the Herblock Gallery is "Herblock Looks at 1962: Fifty Years Ago Today in Editorial Cartoons," which will rotate in 10 new cartoons from 1962 on Saturday, Sept. 22.

Three gallery talks about "Down to Earth" are scheduled in October.  At noon on Wednesday, Oct. 3, and at noon on Wednesday, Oct. 17, curators Sara Duke and Carol Johnson will talk about the works featured in the exhibition.  At noon on Thursday, Oct. 11, photographer Robert Coppola will talk about his work.

Most of the photographs displayed in "Down to Earth" are part of the Kent and Marcia Minichiello Collection at the Library of Congress, which contains 350 contemporary works by more than 20 American photographers.  The collection presents ongoing environmental issues through the lens of some of the most renowned American photographers working today, such as Terry Evans, Frank Golhke, Sam Kittner, John Pfahl and Victor Landweber.  Kent and Marcia Minichiello, Washingtonians committed to the environment, collected 27 in-depth photographic projects by these photographers and others.  The Minichiellos donated the collection to the Library in 2001.

The Herb Block Foundation donated a collection of more than 14,000 original cartoon drawings and 50,000 rough sketches, as well as manuscripts, to the Library of Congress in 2002, and has generously continued to provide funds to support ongoing programming.

The Library has been collecting original cartoon art for more than 140 years.  It is a major center for cartoon research with holdings of more than 100,000 original cartoon drawings and prints. These works, housed in the Prints and Photographs Division, span five centuries and range from 17th-century Dutch political prints to 21st-century contemporary comic strips.

The Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division includes approximately 14.4 million photographs, drawings and prints from the 15th century to the present day.  International in scope, these visual collections represent a uniquely rich array of human experience, knowledge, creativity and achievement, touching on almost every realm of endeavor: science, art, invention, government and political struggle, and the recording of history.  For more information, visit www.loc.gov/rr/print/.

# # #

PR12-155
8/20/12
ISSN:  0731-3527

David Astor's "Comic (and Column) Confessional" book published

My friend David Astor just sent me this note about his new book which I'm looking forward to. David was THE go-to-guy for covering comic strip syndicates for over two decades. He's forgotten more about comic strips than I'll ever know (as the cliche goes):

The memoir I wrote about my twenty-five years at Editor & Publisher magazine has been published (Xenos Press, Chicago).

The part-humorous Comic (and Column) Confessional -- which has endorsements from Gary Larson ("The Far Side"), Lynn Johnston ("For Better or For Worse"), Mort Walker ("Beetle Bailey"), and others on its back cover -- includes anecdotes about cartoonists, material about changes in the syndication and media worlds, personal stuff, and much more (including many references to Washington Post and Washington Post Writers Group people).

Interested readers  could order a signed copy of the book directly from me (by emailing me at dastor@earthlink.net) or order via Amazon:

http://www.amazon.com/Comic-and-Column-Confessional/dp/1105792862/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1344814598&sr=8-1&keywords=Comic+%28and+Column%29+Confessional

The just-posted listing has several temporary errors, including the wrong publication year(it's 2012 not 2008) and the wrong publisher (Xenos not Lulu; the book is not self-published). But the book can still be ordered via Amazon despite the errors.

Since leaving E&P, I've worked as a Huffington Post blogger; my pieces about books (http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dave-astor) have drawn more than 2,000 "fans" and many hundreds of comments since 2011. I also write an award-winning weekly humor column for The Montclair (N.J.) Times and serve on the board of the National Society of Newspaper Columnists.

Photos are a 1992 shot I took of Herblock at a National Cartoonists Society Reuben weekend in D.C., a 1986 shot I took of Lynn Johnston holding the Reuben Award she received in Washington's National Press Club for "For Better or For Worse," and a 1988 shot I took of Berkeley Breathed ("Bloom County"/Washington Post Writers Group) at the AAEC convention in Milwaukee.

TODAY! DC Comics history graphic novel anthology signing

One More Page Books in Arlington, Va., will hold the official launch signing of District Comics: An Unconventional History on Washington, D.C. on Sunday, Aug. 19, from 3-5 pm. About 20 contributors (writers and artists) will be there. Artist Kevin Rechin and I did a story on the Civil War's Army Medical Museum, and we'll be there.

 

Editorial cartoonist Clay Jones fired by Fredericksburg paper

Mahalo And Farewell
By Clay Jones on August 17th, 2012
Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star
http://blogs.fredericksburg.com/toontalk/
http://blogs.fredericksburg.com/toontalk/2012/08/17/hasta-la-vista/

Alan Gardner of the Daily Cartoonist caught the story - a sadly common one now.