April 16: Ben Katchor

Ben Katchor
Date:     Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Time:     7:00 PM
image     The first cartoonist to receive a MacArthur Fellowship reveals the ways urban planning and architecture influence and reflect cultural values in his new graphic narrative, Hand-Drying in America.

Here are window-ledge pillows designed expressly for people-watching and a forest of artificial trees for sufferers of hay fever. The Brotherhood of Immaculate Consumption deals with the matter of products that outlive their owners; high-visibility construction vests are marketed to lonely people as a method of getting noticed.

A master at twisting mundane commodities into surreal objects of social significance, Katchor reveals a world similar to our own—lives are defined by possessions, consumerism is a kind of spirituality—but also slightly, fabulously askew. This surrealist handbook for the rebuilding of society in the twenty-first century ensures that you will never look at a building, a bar of soap, or an ATM the same way.

Katchor is the author of The Cardboard Valise, The Jew of New York and Julius Knipl, Real Estate Photographer: The Beauty Supply District.

Admission:    

Tickets are $12 or receive 2 FREE tickets with the purchase of the book through Sixth & I ($30). Tickets and books can be purchased online or by calling TicketFly (877.987.6487). There is a $1.50 fee per ticket for phone orders. Doors open at 6:00 pm

See KAL on WYPR, WJZ and MPT (for 11 more months)

Bienstock, Andy.  2013.
Kal Kallaugher.
WYPR's The Signal (January 18).
online at http://www.wypr.org/podcast/11813-kal-kallaugher

Kevin “Kal” Kallaugher has been poking fun at political leaders since the days of Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher. As he marks 35 years as an editorial cartoonist, he joins us to talk about his favorite subjects, his new book, and the resilient art of the political cartoon.

Schuh, Mike.  2013.

Cartoonist For Baltimore Sun Gets A ‘Kickstart’ On New Project [KAL].

WJZ (January 24).

Online at http://baltimore.cbslocal.com/2013/01/24/cartoonist-for-baltimore-sun-gets-a-kickstart-on-new-project/ and http://baltimore.cbslocal.com/video/8227036-cartoonist-for-baltimore-sun-gets-a-kickstart-on-new-project/

Salkin, Jeff.  2013.
A colorful career drawn mostly in black ink.
Maryland Public Television's Direct Connection (January 28).
online at http://video.mpt.tv/video/2332142889

The video expires a year from the filming date.

Seth MacFarlane in today's Examiner

In today's Washington Examiner (February 22, p. 20), there's an Associated Press interview by Sandy Cohen, in which Seth MacFarlane is asked about doing both his animation voice work and his Academy Award presenter jobs.

The article is also excerpted in the Express, which leaves out the animation question.

Truitt on Batman, Superman and JLA

'JLA' features the world's 'most dangerous' superheroes: Writer Geoff Johns pieces together disparate, diverse individuals for a new DC Comics supergroup.
Brian Truitt, USA TODAY February 18, 2013
http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/2013/02/18/justice-league-of-america-comic-book-series/1921207/

Orson Scott Card's Superman comic causes a furor: Fans and retailers call for boycotts due to the acclaimed writer's stance on gay issues.
Brian Truitt, USA TODAY February 14, 2013
http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/2013/02/14/orson-scott-card-superman-comic-book/1918059/

'Batman/Superman' showcases meeting of DC Comics icons: Greg Pak and Jae Lee's upcoming series finds the two heroes at the beginning of their careers.
Brian Truitt, USA TODAY February 21, 2013
http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/2013/02/21/batman-superman-comic-book-series/1935817/

Comic Riffs on the Reuben Award nominees

2013 REUBEN AWARD FINALISTS: Creators of 'Baby Blues,' 'Pearls Before Swine' and 'Pickles' nominated
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog February 21 2013
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/comic-riffs/post/2013-reuben-award-finalists-creators-of-baby-blues-pearls-before-swine-and-pickles-nominated/2013/02/21/0f2ddbae-7c4c-11e2-9a75-dab0201670da_blog.html#pagebreak

Weldon on homosexual characters in comic books

Beyond Visible: LGBT Characters In Graphic Novels

  by Glen Weldon

February 20, 2013

 http://www.npr.org/2013/02/20/172133247/beyond-visible-lgbt-characters-in-graphic-novels

The Post reviews Lynda Barry's Freddie Stories

'Comeek' relief from cartoonist Lynda Barry 

By Douglas Wolk,  

Washington Post February 20, 2013, p. C3 

http://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/books/the-freddie-stories-by-lynda-barry/2013/02/19/9bdc4d8e-7606-11e2-aa12-e6cf1d31106b_story.html

May 6: O'er Yonder, a D.C. library event

Nekisha Durrett will exhibit O'er Yonder, a project inspired by the graphic novels in the collection at Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library. O'er Yonder opens May 6 and runs through June 8 with an opening reception on Tuesday, May 7 from 5-7pm.

 

More info at http://e2.ma/message/o2iie/cpwuy

Dean Haspiel, the Small Press Expo and minicomics in the Library of Congress

TITLE: Independent Comix Art & Mini-Comix: Dean Haspiel & the Small Press Expo
SPEAKER: Dean Haspiel, Warren Bernard
EVENT DATE: 09/14/2012
http://www.loc.gov/today/cyberlc/feature_wdesc.php?rec=5709
http://www.loc.gov/today/cyberlc/transcripts/2012/120914sgp1200.txt

FORMAT: Video + Captions
RUNNING TIME: 45 minutes
TRANSCRIPT: View Transcript (link will open in a new window)

DESCRIPTION:

A discussion by comics creator Dean Haspiel on the new Small Press Expo (SPX) collection of the Serial & Government Publications Division. The collection of mini-comics -- "small in size but impressive in cultural impact" -- will contain, among other worthy selections, past and future Ignatz Award nominated works.

Speaker Biography: Emmy award winner and Eisner Award nominee Dean Haspiel created BILLY DOGMA, illustrated for HBO's "Bored To Death," received a residency at Yaddo, was a Master Artist at the Atlantic Center for the Arts, and teaches comic book storytelling (MoCCA & The Society of Illustrators). Haspiel has written and drawn many superhero and semi-autobiographical comix, including Spider-Man, Batman, X-men, The Fantastic Four, Godzilla, Mars Attacks, Creepy, American Splendor, Michael Chabon's The Escapist, and collaborations with Harvey Pekar (The Quitter), Jonathan Ames (The Alcoholic), Inverna Lockpez (Cuba: My Revolution), Tim Hall (The Last Mortician), Stan Lee, and Jonathan Lethem. Dean also helped pioneer personal webcomics with the invention of ACT-I-VATE, Next-Door Neighbor for SMITH Magazine, Street Code for Zuda/DC Digital, and was the editor of COMIX BLOCK for Cousin Corinne's REMINDER.

Speaker Biography: Warren Bernard is executive director of the Small Press Expo and editor, with Rick Marschall, of "Drawing Power: A Compendium of Cartoon Advertising 1870s-1940s."

Win a signed copy of District Comics

Matt Dembicki: Win a signed copy of 'District Comics'

matt-dembicki.blogspot.com

PR: Warrenfeltz's Villains Galore autographed pre-sale starts...

Jacob Warrenfeltz 12:14pm Feb 19 Villains Galore autographed pre-sale starts today at the DC Conspiracy Distro! Check it out! Villains Galore #1 from DC Conspiracy Distro dcconspiracy.storenvy.com By Jacob Warrenfeltz 32 pages, Color cover, B&W interior What happens when villains retire? Meet...

Whats new at Game On! Comics this week

Game On! Comics Weekly Digest Come  Visit Us! February 19th, 2013 In this issue :: New Titles this Week :: Game Nights  Dear Mike,       February Sale All In-Store Graphic Novels 25% Off!  Excludes Sale items       Justice League of America #1 is out tomorrow!   We have ALL 53 variants of this new DC title!  There is a variant for every US State.  PLEASE let us know if you want a specific state because our quantities are limited! (See our Review below)     Upcoming Events Game On! Comics Comic Book Club Friday February 22, 2013 from 7:00 PM to 8:00 PM EST Come join us at Game On! Comics for our monthly comic book club! Every month we will discuss comics. For the first few months we will focus our efforts on Aspen Comic's new 10 for 10 series.  This week we discuss: Legend of the Shadow Clan.  Everyone who registers and attends gets a free copy of the comic!  Please click the link to register to join the club!        Game On! Comics has teamed up with Aspen Comics this year!   What does this mean?  Well for starters, for next months title, Shrugged 2, we will have our very OWN variant!!     What??  Yes, Game On! Comics will actually be drawn into the cover!  In addition, Aspen will be sending out either the creator or the artist of Shrugged to our store for a store signing!!  AND it will only be $1!  I know!!!!!  Awesome, right!!  In addition, Jirni,  will be Aspen's April $1 comic.  We will be doing an event for that too!   More details on all of this to come.   Last week Aspen released Legend of the Shadow Clan, the first of 10 new comics to come out this month.  We, unfortunately, do not have many copies of this title so please let us know if you want a copy!  For only a dollar it's a no-brainer.  TOTALLY worth it.   Please do not forget to add Legend of the Shadow Clan, Shrugged, Jirni, all Aspen 10 for 10's to your sub list.        Don't forget to sign up for a free Comixology account!      Game On! Comics is now working with Comixology!  What does this mean for you?   You can manage your subscription list online.  You can add or delete comics from your Game On! subscription list either at Comixology or by simply sending us an email. Our store will get credit any time you buy digital comics online How do you sign up?  It's free and easy.   Click here to create your account and create your sub list:   Create your Pull List    First create an account, then click on the Store Locator, type in our zip code 22180, and choose Game On! Comics as "your store".   How to sign up for the store to get credit for digital comic purchases?  Simply buy comics from our digital Comixology store front page:  Game On! Comics digital Store Front               Game On! Comics Loyalty Members: Please remember that while we will hold comics for you every week and give you the discounts/perks, we do ask that you pick up your comics at least once per month.  Please help us out by coming in at least once per month or by communicating with us about any delays  Thanks!!              New Comic Book titles this week 2-19-13   Best Discounts in the area--Not just a slogan, we really do have the best price discounts when you become a Game On! Comics Loyalty Member!  Details here:  Loyalty Membership     NOVA #1   Readers have caught glimpses of the new Nova, Sam Alexander, in comics includingAvengers vs. X-Men and the Ultimate Spider-Man cartoon, but are about to learn a lot more about the budding hero - he's set to star in his own ongoing series tomorrow, from the creative team of frequent collaborators Jeph Loeb and Ed McGuinness.      Action Comics #17 Alpha: Big Time #1 Avengers #6 Baltimore: Widow & The Tank 1-Shot Batman Beyond Unlimited #13 Batwoman #17 Bionic Woman #8 Birds Of Prey #17 Black Beetle: No Way Out #2 Borderlands Origins #4 (L) BPRD 1948 #5 (L) Captain America #4 Captain Marvel #10 Catwoman #17 Chasing The Dead #4 (L) Conan The Barbarian #13 Crossed Annual 2013 #1 Daredevil #23 Dark Avengers #187 Dark Horse Presents #21 DC Universe Presents #17 Deadpool #5 Dejah Thoris & Green Men Of Mars #1 Fables #126 Fever Ridge: Macarthur Jungle War #1 G.I. Joe #1 Godzilla #10 Green Lantern #17 Green Lantern Corps #17 Green Lantern: New Guardians #17 Happy #4 (L) Harbinger #9 Hellblazer #300 Hellraiser: Dark Watch #1 Hollows #3 Indestructible Hulk #4 Jericho Season 4 #2 JSA Liberty Files: The Whistling Skull #3 Judge Dredd #4 Justice League #17 Justice League Of America #1 Justice League Of America's Vibe #1 Kill Shakespeare: Tide Of Blood #1 Knights Of The Dinner Table #195 Legion Of Super Heroes #17 Locke & Key: Omega #3 Lord Of The Jungle #13 Mind Mgmt #8 Morbius, The Living Vampire #2 Nightwing #17 Nova #1 Number 13 #3 Red Hood And The Outlaws #17 Revival #7 Saga #10 Savage Wolverine #2 Scam #3 Shadow: Year One #1 Sherlock Holmes: Liverpool Demon #2 Spawn #228 Spider, The #9 Star Trek #18 Star Trek: Countdown To Darkness #2 Supergirl #17 Superior Spider-Man #4 Sword Of Sorcery #5 Thief Of Thieves #12 Thor (Marvel Films) Adaptation #2 (L) Thor: God Of Thunder #5 TMNT Ongoing #19 Ultimate Comics Ultimates #21 Vitriol The Hunter #1 Wolverine Max #4 Womanthology: Space #5 Wonder Woman #17 Wonderland #8 X-Factor #252 X-O Manowar #10     ALL AGES COMICS, COLLECTIONS AND GRAPHIC NOVELS   Adventure Time #13 Betty & Veronica #264 Life With Archie #27 Mermin HC Vol 1 My Little Pony Micro Ser.: Twilight Sparkle #1 Popeye Classics #7 Simpsons Comics #199 Young Justice #25     STATUES AND ACTION FIGURES   Batman: Arkham City Ser 4 AF: Nightwing Marvel Select Venom AF     BACK IN STOCK   Black Beetle: No Way Out #1 Fury Max #9 Superior Spider-Man #3 Ultimate Comic      Game Nights    Sunday Nights, 5pm-9pm        Wednesday Nights 7-11pm Magic the Gathering       Casual Play and booster Draft.   Sunday Afternoons, 12:30pm     Come check out Kaijudo on its new day, Sundays!! Brand new card based game by the makers of Magic the Gathering.  Geared to be a little easier than MTG.  Want to try it out?  Come on Sundays, weekly demos.      Friday Night, 7pm  Booster Draft Tournament--$15  Gatecrash!  Win promo cards and boosters from Gatecrash!     Saturdays 4-7pm Heroclix--Batman         Heroclix at Game On! Comics this Saturday, February 23rd, at 4 p.m., The Winter of the Bat continues! Build a 600 point Silver Age team, all characters should share a team ability or keyword. No Colossal figures, no Feats or BFC's; Vehicles, Utility Belt, Infinity Gauntlet, and other special objects are allowed. Special stipulation will be announced at the beginning of the tournament. Each week adds cumulative points for another territory, Join your Gang and compete to claim it! Lord of the Rings/Hobbit, but without the special Epic Action rules that accompany them. Gears of War, and HALO figures can be used for this event with the Grenade rules. Assassins Creed figures are eligible. Prize support from other venues which has not been given out yet at Game On! Comics is not eligible for play. For our venue, Modern Age is defined as anything from the Secret Invasion set forwards unless otherwise specified. Constructed Teams with characters who all possess the same Team Ability on their dials gain an extra 10% on their build total. Using Unicorns, Polar Bears, or Dinosaurs as objects is not required but is encouraged.     Prizes for 1st, 2nd, and Fellowship!      Congrats to last weeks winners:    1st:  2nd:  Fellowship:           Comic Review     Justice League of America #1            First of all, every state has it's own variant cover!  And we have ALL of them!   Amanda Waller has asked Col. Trevor to put together a new team.  This team is put together to take down the real Justice League in case they ever go bad.  So, the team has some of the other great DC heroes. Martian Manhunter Catwoman Katana The new Green Lantern Vibe Stargirl and Hawkman Each one was picked for their ability to take out each individual Justice League member.  The govt would control this new League instead of the other "rogue" version with their headquarters in the sky.   This first issue basically goes into the detail of how they are going to recruit the new members.     Great new title from DC!   $3.99 $150 for every variant! (only one set in stock)      Thank you so much for your support of our new comic and game shop.  We look forward to taking care of all of your comic and game needs.   Don't forget to go on yelp.com and write a review about us too!!     Please tell your comic/game friends about our shop, we would appreciate their business.       Please visit our Facebook page and "Like" us!!      Please tell your friends about us, we would love their business!     Follow us on Twitter too!     Dave, J.R., and Louis Game On! Comics www.GameOnComics.com 703-242-3838 info@gameoncomics.com   25%  Off  All In Store Graphic Novels Can not be used in conjuction with any other discount. Offer Expires: 03/01/13

Game On! Comics | 310 Dominion Rd. NE | Vienna | VA | 22180

Wertham papers in Library of Congress add fuel to 60-year old battle

 If video killed the radio star, psychiatrist Fredric Wertham did the same for comic books. His papers in the Library of Congress have been recently opened, and Carol Tilley wrote article about his research methodology that's getting some big media attention.

Scholar Finds Flaws in Work by Archenemy of Comics

By DAVE ITZKOFF

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/20/books/flaws-found-in-fredric-werthams-comic-book-studies.html

and

How one man’s lies almost destroyed the comics industry

Annalee Newitz
Io9 February 19 2013
http://io9.com/5985199/how-one-mans-lies-almost-destroyed-the-comics-industry

March 1: Oblivion Island anime at JICC

Animezing 2013 Oblivion Island ©2009 Fuji Television Network / Production I.G. / Dentsu / Pony Canyon.  Friday, March 1st @ 6:30 pm Current Exhibit:  Nippon Through My Eyes: Japan as Seen by American Students  Now - March 12, 2013  Monday - Friday  9:00am - 5:00 pm   Our Location: JICC, Embassy of Japan 1150 18th St., NW Suite 100 Washington, DC 20036   Driving directions    16-year-old Haruka has lost the cherished magic mirror she received from her mother who passed away years ago. On her quest for the mirror, she meets a strange masked creature named Teo, who leads her to a magical world called Oblivion Island, the home of lost toys and treasures. As Haruka and Teo embark on an adventure through this strange land, they must contend with the island's greedy and sinister ruler, who wants the mirror's power for himself! Oblivion Island: Haruka and the Magic Mirror, the winner of the 2010 Japan Academy Prize Award of Excellence, will take viewers of all ages on a magical, colorful journey through a beautifully-realized world. Its eye-popping blend of state-of-the-art computer animation with Japanese folklore will delight both children and adults. Come join Haruka on her adventure, and discover the secrets of Oblivion Island!  English | G | 100 minutes | 2009 | Directed by Shinsuke Sato This event is free and open to the public, but registration is required. Please note that seating is limited and registration does not guarantee guests a seat. Registered guests will be seated on a first come, first served basis.   Doors open at 6:00pm. No admission or re-entry after 7:00pm Register Now!

JICC, Embassy of Japan | 1150 18th St., NW | Suite 100 | Washington | DC | 20036

Barnes + Noble suggests...

At the Seven Corners' Barnes and Noble bookstore this weekend, I bought some Green Lantern novels (an old failing of mine) and in addition to a receipt, I got a slip labelled "You May Also Like..." with some other Green Lantern books, and a couple of superhero novels. I didn't particularly need the recommendations, but it's nice to see them trying harder.

Weldon on Superman's new writer and homophobia

Man Of Tomorrow: Superman, Orson Scott Card And Me
by Glen Weldon
All Things Considered February 17, 2013
http://www.npr.org/2013/02/17/172229592/man-of-tomorrow-superman-orson-scott-card-and-me
http://pd.npr.org/anon.npr-mp3/npr/atc/2013/02/20130217_atc_06.mp3

Win a signed copy of District Comics

Matt Dembicki: Win a signed copy of 'District Comics'

matt-dembicki.blogspot.com