Friday, December 18, 2015
Comic book store is more than POW! BONK! BAM!
The Post reviews the non-Star Wars cartoon opening this weekend
'Alvin and the Chipmunks' sequel takes a familiar route
By Caitlin Moore December 18 2015https://www.washingtonpost.com/goingoutguide/movies/alvin-and-the-chipmunks-sequel-takes-a-familiar-route/2015/12/17/4c0cdd96-a2a9-11e5-b53d-972e2751f433_story.html
Review: 'Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip' Features a Trip to Miami
A version of this review appears in print on December 18, 2015, on page C8 of the New York edition with the headline: Review: 'Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Road Chip' Features a Trip to Miami.
Thursday, December 17, 2015
Holiday cheer, superhero style
Catching up: The Post talked to Kelly Sue DeConnick this fall
'Bitch Planet's' Kelly Sue DeConnick on prison movies and nudity in art
Act Four blog October 22 2015
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/act-four/wp/2015/10/22/bitch-planets-kelly-sue-deconnick-on-prison-movies-and-nudity-in-art/
'Bitch Planet' creator Kelly Sue DeConnick on football, prison labor and patriarchy
By Alyssa RosenbergAct Four blog October 23 2015
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/act-four/wp/2015/10/23/bitch-planet-creator-kelly-sue-deconnick-on-football-prison-labor-and-patriarchy/
Free Star Wars comic at Third Eye Comics in Annapolis today.
Dec 20: Charlie Brown Christmas concert at National Gallery of Art
- Eric Mintel Quartet featuring Central Bucks High School-West Chamber Choir
December 20 at 3:30
West Building, West Garden Court- http://www.nga.gov/content/ngaweb/calendar/concerts/seventy-fourth/eric-mintel-quartet-featuring-central-bucks-west-high-school-cho.html
http://www.nga.gov/content/dam/ngaweb/calendar/concerts/pdfs/ngaconcerts-74-12-20.pdf
Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of A Charlie Brown Christmas.
City Paper notices Big Planet Vienna's ultimatum
How to Get Banned For Life From Big Planet Comics
Posted by Matt Cohen on December 16, 2015http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/artsdesk/film/2015/12/16/how-to-get-banned-for-life-from-big-planet-comics/
Wednesday, December 16, 2015
Jan. 30: Exploring Historical Comics
Jason Rodriguez on public radio
http://www.gpb.org/on-second-thought/episodes/386
https://soundcloud.com/onsecondthought/full-show-december-16-2015
"And there's a long standing connection between activism and art. Art has been used in social and political movements throughout history to inspire change. Now, a creative anthology takes a stand against violence at the hands of law enforcement. It's called "Artists Against Police Brutality" and features a collection of comic strips, flash fiction, and essays from artists and writers across the country. The proceeds from the book go to The Innocence Project. Host Celeste Headlee speak with Jason Rodriguez, who edited the anthology, and Georgia artist Melanie Stevens about art's role in the Black Lives Matter movement."
Marc Nobleman on Bill Finger's contributions to Batman
The creators of Batman and Superman have an incredible story to tell; Marc Tyler Nobleman brings attention to comic book writers and artists who went unrecognized [in print as Superhero creators get origin stories]
By Mary QuattlebaumWashington Post December 16 2015
https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/kidspost/the-creators-of-batman-and-superman-have-an-incredible-story-to-tell/2015/12/15/cb3f99b0-a023-11e5-8728-1af6af208198_story.htmlIf you go
7400 Arlington Road, Bethesda, Maryland.
Comic Riffs on Charlie Hebdo book
From beyond grave, Charlie Hebdo editor's last manifesto preaches against hate
Washington Post Comic Riffs December 16 2015
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2015/12/16/from-beyond-grave-charlie-hebdo-editors-last-manifesto-preaches-against-hate/
Tuesday, December 15, 2015
Library of Congress puts Book Festival 2015 videos online
Title: Stephan Pastis: Book Fest 15
Speaker: Stephan Pastis
Event Date: 2015/05/09
Running Time: 55 minutes
Title: Graphic Novels Panel 1: Book Fest 15
Speaker: Keith Knight ,Lalo Alcaraz ,Scott Stantis
Event Date: 2015/05/09
Running Time: 55 minutes
Speaker: Diane Noomin,Miss Lasko-Gross,Trina Robbins
Event Date: 2015/05/09
Running Time: 50 minutes
Title: Cece Bell: Book Fest 15
Speaker: Cece Bell
Event Date: 2015/05/09
Running Time: 32 minutes
Title: Jennifer Holm: Book Fest 15
Speaker: Jennifer L. Holm
Event Date: 2015/05/09
Running Time: 28 minutes
Title: Peter de Sève: Book Fest 15
Speaker: Peter de Sève
Event Date: 2015/05/09
Running Time: 43 minutes
March vol. 2 makes 'best of' list
The Good Comics for Kids 2015 Gift Guide
by Brigid Alverson
Good Comics for Kids blog December 15, 2015
http://blogs.slj.com/goodcomicsforkids/2015/12/15/the-good-comics-for-kids-2015-gift-guide/
Monday, December 14, 2015
Meet a Local Cartoonist: A Chat with Gil Rivera
Gil Rivera was selling prints of his comic book art concepts this past weekend at a holiday bazaar in Arlington. I took the opportunity to ask him to fill out our usual questionnaire.
What type of comic work or cartooning do you do?I do sequential art (i.e. storyboards, comic books, and character designs).
How do you do it? Traditional pen and ink, computer or a combination?
Traditional pencil and ink, then scanned into the computer and then colored with Adobe Photoshop.
When (within a decade is fine) and where were you born?
I'm a late 70's kid, born in Laredo, TX, but raised in San Antonio.
Why are you in Washington now? What neighborhood or area do you live in?
My wife is active duty Air Force, so she plucked me out of Hollywood once we got married and now we reside in Alexandria, VA.
What is your training and/or education in cartooning?
Most of my training is self taught, however, now I'm enrolled at the Art Institute of Pittsburgh for Graphic Design. I graduate in 12 weeks.
Who are your influences?
So many, but to name a few: Will Eisner, Walt Simonson, Joe Mad, Bernard Chang, Ken Lashley, Todd McFarlane and so many others.
If you could, what in your career would you do-over or change?
Start earlier, right out of high school. Ignored the haters.
What work are you best-known for?
Storyboards for the "Theory of a Deadman" band's music video.
What work are you most proud of?My current comic book "Nite Stalker."
What would you like to do or work on in the future?
A live-action Nite Stalker Trilogy.
What do you do when you're in a rut or have writer's block?
Talk to my writing partner Christopher Paul Campbell, CEO of Dead Light Films, a long-time friend and colleague, and bounce ideas around. Youtube all my favorite artists for inspiration.
What do you think will be the future of your field?I think we are the future now. Comics are really starting to explode with all the new movies. The next step is to get the young kids back to reading the books or maybe creating their own comics.
What local cons do you attend? The Small Press Expo, Intervention, or others? Any comments about attending them?Since we are new in town, we just starting looking at all the upcoming conventions and shows. I would like to attend all of them if I can.
What's your favorite thing about DC?
All the history, museums, monuments, and the Metro.
Least favorite?
The cold.
What monument or museum do like to take visitors to?
The Udvar Hazy Air and Space Museum.
How about a favorite local restaurant?
Faccia Luna in Old Town Alexandria.
Do you have a website or blog?
Under Construction as we speak.
Sunday, December 13, 2015
Visiting the Guadalajara International Book Fair
I visited Mexico Nov. 30 through Dec. 4 thanks to the U.S. State Department, which invited me as a guest of the Guadalajara International Book Fair (FIL), the largest book fest in Latin American and second largest in the world, bringing some 750,000 visitors over its two weeks. Usually the first thing I do at book fairs is walk around the expo floor to get a feel for the show and gauge the interest in comics. Not surprisingly, Star Wars, Marvel Comics and manga dominated the comics presence. But I was pleasantly surprised to see some fairly high exposure for indie comics, including Peter Kuper's new graphic novel Ruins. There were several local comics shops and distributors at the show, as well as larger publishers and distributors featuring comics. Below are a few photos of those booths.
Friday, December 11, 2015
Flugennock's Latest'n'Greatest: "Speakeasies, Then And Now"
"Speakeasies, Then And Now"
http://sinkers.org/stage/?p=1818
From the latest post at DCMJ.org:
"Even though Initiative 71 legalized cannabis, it cannot be consumed anywhere in DC other than in a private home. This is because, the week after Initiative 71 took effect, the DC Council passed emergency legislation (Act 21-149) that banned marijuana consumption at any bar, nightclub, bingo hall, or private venue in Washington, DC. Without any pressing reason, the Mayor and the DC Council severely restricted our rights as cannabis consuming adults..."
Yeah, that's right, fellow Washingtonians. You can legally drink at an alcohol bar, you can legally smoke cigars at a cigar bar, but if you want to smoke weed communally in a similar setting, you'll have to open a speakeasy -- unless the DC City Council stops doing Congress' dirty work, and Act 21-149 is allowed to expire on January 15 next year.
Library of Congress' Swann Foundation is accepting fellowship applications
The Swann Foundation for Caricature and Cartoon, administered by the Library of Congress is accepting applications for its graduate fellowship, one of the few in the field, for the 2016-2017 academic year. Deadline for applications is February 15, 2016. For criteria, guidelines, and application forms, please see:
http://www.loc.gov/rr/print/swann/swann-fellow.html
Please email swann@loc.gov or call (202) 707-9115 if you have questions.