Tuesday, September 09, 2014
Going down to Lima, going to Peru
Teaching environmental issues through comics: I'll be in Lima, Peru, Sept. 15-17 and in Cusco, Peru, Sept. 17-18 (courtesy of the U.S. State Department) talking with students and teachers, and judging with Nicolás Tarnawiecki a national environmental comics contest. It's part of a national preparation for the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Lima in December.
"I would not pursue comix as a career": An Interview with Dean Haspiel
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| Rhode and Dean Haspiel |
Mike Rhode: What type of comic work or cartooning did you do?
Dean Haspiel: My comix run the gamut between semi-autobiographical to superhero to psychedelic romance. I hopscotch between mainstream and alternative comix. I've collaborated with Harvey Pekar, Jonathan Ames, Inverna Lockpez, Jonathan Lethem, Stan Lee, Mark Waid, J.M. DeMatteis, Gabe Soria, and lots of other writers. I also write some of the stuff I draw.
How did you do it? Traditional pen and ink, computer or a combination?
If you could, what in your career would you do-over or change?
I would not pursue comix as a career. I would write and draw comix on the side - for the fun of it. My day job would be a mail man, cook, and/or paramedic.
What work are you best-known for?
Harvey Pekar's The Quitter, The Fox, and Billy Dogma
What would you like to do or work on in the future?
I would like to pursue creator-owned comix, including more Billy Dogma, The Red Hook, and semi-autobio comix. I would also like to draw more Fantastic Four; especially The Thing (and bring back Marvel Two-In-One), and I'd like to tackle Jack Kirby's O.M.A.C.
What do you do when you're in a rut or have writer's block?
Dean Haspiel: My comix run the gamut between semi-autobiographical to superhero to psychedelic romance. I hopscotch between mainstream and alternative comix. I've collaborated with Harvey Pekar, Jonathan Ames, Inverna Lockpez, Jonathan Lethem, Stan Lee, Mark Waid, J.M. DeMatteis, Gabe Soria, and lots of other writers. I also write some of the stuff I draw.
How did you do it? Traditional pen and ink, computer or a combination?
I draw traditional pencil, ink and erasers. LOTS of erasers. Recently, I've been digitally inking my pencils and I sometimes color and letter digitally, too.
When (within a decade is fine) and where were you born?
I was born in 1967 at New York Hospital. I grew up in Manhattan and moved to Brooklyn over 17 years ago.
What was your training and/or education in drawing? Do you have fine art training?
I went to Music & Art High School. In my senior year (1985), M&A married Performing Arts and became La Guardia High School. I went to SUNY Purchase a couple of years later where I studied art and film. I also assisted cartoonists Bill Sienkiewicz, Howard Chaykin, and Walter Simonson in 1985, which helped me train for making comix.
Who are your influences?
Howard Chaykin, Walter Simonson, Jack Kirby, Alex Toth, Will Eisner, C.C. Beck, Steve Ditko, Frank Miller, Bill Sienkiewicz, John Byrne, Mike Zeck, Ron Wilson, Chester Brown, Mike Mignola, John Romita Jr., Frank Quitely, Baru...
When (within a decade is fine) and where were you born?
I was born in 1967 at New York Hospital. I grew up in Manhattan and moved to Brooklyn over 17 years ago.
What was your training and/or education in drawing? Do you have fine art training?
I went to Music & Art High School. In my senior year (1985), M&A married Performing Arts and became La Guardia High School. I went to SUNY Purchase a couple of years later where I studied art and film. I also assisted cartoonists Bill Sienkiewicz, Howard Chaykin, and Walter Simonson in 1985, which helped me train for making comix.
Who are your influences?
Howard Chaykin, Walter Simonson, Jack Kirby, Alex Toth, Will Eisner, C.C. Beck, Steve Ditko, Frank Miller, Bill Sienkiewicz, John Byrne, Mike Zeck, Ron Wilson, Chester Brown, Mike Mignola, John Romita Jr., Frank Quitely, Baru...
If you could, what in your career would you do-over or change?
I would not pursue comix as a career. I would write and draw comix on the side - for the fun of it. My day job would be a mail man, cook, and/or paramedic.
What work are you best-known for?
Harvey Pekar's The Quitter, The Fox, and Billy Dogma
What would you like to do or work on in the future?
I would like to pursue creator-owned comix, including more Billy Dogma, The Red Hook, and semi-autobio comix. I would also like to draw more Fantastic Four; especially The Thing (and bring back Marvel Two-In-One), and I'd like to tackle Jack Kirby's O.M.A.C.
What do you do when you're in a rut or have writer's block?
I type. I read. I watch movies and TV. I take showers. Lots of showers where my mind wanders.
What do you think will be the future of your field?
What do you think will be the future of your field?
While franchise companies continue to Maim, Rape, Murder, Die, Resurrect, Rinse & Repeat 75-year old icons on a quarterly basis, creator-owned comix will yield more original ideas and characters for other mediums to exploit. No longer will the question be "What if we made this comic into a movie" but more "When will this comic be made into a movie." It's cheaper to beta-test new intellectual property via comix before producing it as something served over easy for lazy readers who don't have the attention span or the imagination to actually read and fill in the gaps between the panels. Meanwhile, rebellious creators will continue to explore the virtues and innovate the art of comix despite competing with the more popular story delivery systems.
Do you have a website or blog?
http://deanhaspiel.com/
Do you have a website or blog?
http://deanhaspiel.com/
Another comics picture from the Library of Congress
- Title: [Child lying on floor with comic books]
- Date Created/Published: [no date recorded on caption card]
- Medium: 1 photographic print.
- Reproduction Number: LC-USZ62-59651 (b&w film copy neg.)
- Rights Advisory: Rights status not evaluated. For general information see "Copyright and Other Restrictions..." (http://lcweb.loc.gov/rr/print/195_copr.html).
- Call Number: SSF - Comic books, strips, etc. [item] [P&P]
- Repository: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA
- Notes:
- Photo by Acme Newspictures
- This record contains unverified, old data from caption card.
- Caption card tracings: Photog. Index; Comic strips...; Children Reading; Shelf.
Tip from Sara Duke. Peter Sattler identified the comics as Captain Marvel Adventures #69; Action Comics 106 (March 1947 cover); Wonder Woman 21 (Jan/Feb 1947); Crack Comics #47 (the BEEZY story); Funny Folks #6 (Feb/Mar 1947); Flash Comics #8; and Jo-Jo Comics #5.
Monday, September 08, 2014
Small Press Expo Announces First Time Guests Brandon Graham, Emily Carroll, Jules Feiffer and Lynda Barry
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Team Cul de Sac 2013 drink and draw at Baltimore CC (UPDATED)
Dawn Griffin is revealed as the artist of this piece.
1942 photo of child reading Superman comics found in Library of Congress.
New York, N.Y. Children's Colony, a school for refugee children administered by a Viennese. German refugee child, a devotee of Superman
- Title: New York, N.Y. Children's Colony, a school for refugee children administered by a Viennese. German refugee child, a devotee of Superman
- Creator(s): Collins, Marjory, 1912-1985, photographer
- Date Created/Published: 1942 October.
- Medium: 1 photographic print.
- Summary: Photograph shows a boy reading a Superman comic book.
- Reproduction Number: LC-DIG-ds-04108 (digital file from original)
- Rights Advisory: No known restrictions on publication.
- Call Number: FSA/OWI COLL - D 364 [item] [P&P]
- Repository: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division Washington, D.C. 20540 USA http://hdl.loc.gov/loc.pnp/pp.print
Thanks to Sara Duke for the tip. Craig Yoe identified it as Superman #19.
Comic Riffs on the Harvey Awards
2014 HARVEY AWARDS: Broadway producer's 'Fifth Beatle' yields 'humbling' twin wins [+FULL WINNERS LIST]
By Michael Cavna Washington Post Comic Riffs blog September 7 2014
Sunday, September 07, 2014
Sept 12: Box Brown at Library of Congress
Serial and Government Publications Division presents:
How to Make Comics Every Day and Still Be Alive
Join us to hear Box Brown discuss his publishing imprint Retrofit Comics, how running it helps him as a cartoonist, how he created his recent graphic novel "Andre the Giant: Life and Legend," and how illustrating is related to cartooning at the third annual Small Press Expo (SPX) talk sponsored by the Serial & Government Publications Division. Brown's comics have been featured in Mad Magazine and his illustrations have been on Wired.com. His web and print comic Everything Dies was named a notable comic of 2011 in the Best American Comics Anthology and was honored with two Ignatz Awards. There will also be a display of Retrofit Comics from the Division's SPX Collection.
Friday, September 12th, 12 noon -1pm
West Dining Room
6th Floor, Madison Building
Library of Congress
Sponsored by the Serial and Government Publications Division
For further information contact: Georgia Higley ghig@loc.gov or Megan Halsband mhals@loc.gov
Please request ADA accommodations five days in advance at (202) 707-6362 or ada@loc.gov.
Impressions and photos of Baltimore Comic-Con day 3, Sunday
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| Gerhard and the Little Nemo book from Locust Moon |
My daughter and I cruised around and I got my Team Cul de Sac book signed by Rob Harrell and Jay Fosgitt. I saw two other Little Nemo-related modern items (by Fosgitt and Joel Gill) - it's odd how the character is making a comeback.
Here's some shots. A few additional pictures can be seen on Flickr.
One joy for me was meeting Fred Hembeck and getting a Shadow sketch for him. I've loved his skewed take on comics history for thirty years.
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| Little Nemos by Gill and Fosgitt |
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| Mike Rhode and Dean Haspiel |
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| Denis Kitchen and Fred Hembeck |
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| Rafter Roberts covers X-O Man-o-War |
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| Big Planet Comics owners Peter and Jared |
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| Fulcrum's Jess Townsend with books edited by local cartoonist (and ComicsDC'r) Matt Dembicki |
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| Andy Runton's booth babe, AKA "Mom" |
Saturday, September 06, 2014
‘Thunder and the House of Magic’ reviewed by The Post
This cat can't catch a break [online as 'Thunder and the House of Magic' movie review: An animated throwback mashup].
By Mark Jenkins
Washington Post September 5 2014
Comic Riffs on Mike's Place
EXCLUSIVE FIRST LOOK: ‘Mike’s Place’ will render the tale — and toll — of fatal Tel Aviv bombing in graphic-novel form
By Michael Cavna Washington Post Comic Riffs blog September 5 2014http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2014/09/05/exclusive-first-look-mikes-place-will-render-the-tale-and-toll-of-infamous-tel-aviv-bombing-in-graphic-novel-form/
Friday, September 05, 2014
Baltimore Comic-Con's new day 1 - Friday
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| Don Rosa did a sketch for Team Cul de Sac fundraising. |
The space is bigger than last years, and in the building closer to Camden Yards. It throws one off a bit as it's really downstairs, ticket sales are upstairs, and the arrangement isn't the same. You'll find big name cartoonists on both edges with dealers in the middle and artists alley flanking to the right, furthest from the entrance.
The show on Friday was slow, but pleasant as one could walk right up to cartoonists. I ran into organizer Marc Nathan who told me they pre-sold 13x as many tickets for Saturday as they did for today. So expect a crowd tomorrow.
As usual, I had a great time. This is a good show - still small enough to enjoy, but with plenty of dealers and guests. I'm worn out from day 1.
More photos on Flickr.
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| Shannon Gallant was already looking to a higher power by Friday evening. |
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| The Mighty Fred Hembeck! |
Thursday, September 04, 2014
Small Press Previews
Jared Smith of Big Planet Comics (which co-publishes Retrofit Comics) has started a new Tumblr site called Small Press Previews that provides a glimpse at new small press/independent comics coming out, along with prices, specs and ordering information.
Sept 5: Baltimore Comic-Con Drink and Draw 2014 fundraiser for Team Cul de Sac
Baltimore Comic-Con Drink and Draw 2014
- at 6:00pm - 9:00pm
- Show Map
Help raise money to fight Parkinson's while having a great time, meeting amazing cartoonists and picking up some fantastic art!
Rafer Roberts' "Nightmare the Rat" Kickstarter campaign
Nightmare the RatPosted by Rafer Roberts ♥ Like |
 Hi Everyone, Just a quick update to let you all know about the new Kickstarter I have launched for NIGHTMARE THE RAT.  NIGHTMARE THE RAT follows the adventures of a mischievous little monster who preys upon the populace of Hell City by stealing their teeth. The comics have appeared in the Washington DC based comics newspaper MAGIC BULLET since the first issue, and can also be found online as a weekly webcomic.  I need your help to print a collection of every NIGHTMARE THE RAT comic strip to date. This 28-page collection will be printed oversized (10.5"x16") on good old fashioned newsprint with color sections and bonus comics and art. The collection itself is designed to look like a special edition of the Hell City Times The collection itself is designed to look like a special edition of the Hell City Times As an added bonus, peppered throughout the collection will be some brand new artwork, pinups, fake ads, and a BRAND NEW NIGHTMARE THE RAT comic drawn specifically for this collection. |
DC-area cartoonists at this weekend's Baltimore Comic Con
My apologies to anyone I miss, but here are the wider DC-area cartoonists at this weekend's Baltimore Comic Con that I recognize:
- Jason Axtell - in Artist's Alley
- Marty Baumann – Saturday and Sunday only
- Darrenn Canton
- Jerry Carr
- Jo Chen – Saturday and Sunday only
- Frank Cho
- Steve Conley
- Matt Dembicki - at Fulcrum Publishing
- John Gallagher
- S.L. Gallant
- Ben Hatke
- Marc Hempel
- Tom King
- Greg LaRocque
- Carla Speed McNeil
- Pop Mhan
- Chris Otto
- Rafer Roberts
- John K. Snyder III
- Mark Wheatley
Sept 20-21: THE INTERGALACTIC NEMESIS: ROBOT PLANET RISING at Artisphere
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THE INTERGALACTIC NEMESIS: ROBOT PLANET RISINGSAT SEP 20 / 8PM / SUN SEP 21 / 2PM / SEC A $25 / SEC B $20Don't miss the second installment in the live-action graphic novel series.More | Buy Tickets Invite your friends via Facebook. |
The Express on ‘Marvel Universe Live!’
'Marvel Universe Live!' arrives at Verizon Center and Patriot Center. What is it? We'll explain [in print as Super smashup: 'Marvel Universe Live!' promises a stunt-filled battle royal & Comic book characters have issues too]
By Kristen Page-Kirby Express September 4 2014, p. 28-29
Comic Riffs on the death of Stan Goldberg
RIP STAN GOLDBERG: Hall of Fame artist (Marvel, Archie) was 'great cartoonist' and 'great friend'
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog September 3 2014
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