Pat Oliphant's thoughts on Richard Thompson in 2004

Andrews McMeel has put Pat Oliphant's introductory comic strip from the 2004 collection of Richard's Poor Almanac online. Oliphant compared Richard to Michelangelo which probably made him squirm, but grin.

His next book was blurbed by Bill Watterson, which shocked him, since he knew Pat, but not Bill.

Comic scholar John Lent on Richard Thompson's last books

"Scratchy sketchbook drawings, doodlings, exquisite caricatures and humorous paintings": Reviewing Richard Thompson's last books

by John A. Lent, publisher and editor-in-chief of the International Journal of Comic Art.
International Journal of Comic Art blog August 10, 2016
http://ijoca.blogspot.com/2016/08/scratchy-sketchbook-drawings-doodlings.html

This review will appear in print in the Spring/Summer 2016 IJOCA issue later this summer.

Richard saw all three of the books reviewed here, and approved them. - MR

The Horn Book interview on March vol. 3

Five questions for John Lewis, Andrew Aydin, and Nate Powell

August 8, 2016 by Elissa Gershowitz

From the August 2016 issue of Notes from the Horn Book.

http://www.hbook.com/2016/08/authors-illustrators/interviews/five-questions-for-john-lewis-andrew-aydin-and-nate-powell/

Maré Odomo on her new book from Retrofit / Big Planet Comics

An Interview with Maré Odomo

BY Annie Mok Aug 10, 2016        

http://www.tcj.com/mare-odomo/

Montgomery Sentinel article on Eric Gordon's 'Creeps'

Local artist sees Metro riders as zombies
By  Kathleen Stubbs

TAKOMA PARK – Local artist Eric Gordon said he sees a semblance of zombies, or what he likes to call “creeps,” in riders of the D.C. Metro and he sketches them when he uses public transit. 

Gordon said he couldn’t take full credit for the idea of depicting riders as akin to zombies or creeps.

Read the full article.

'Jesus 2016' up for a Drunk Duck Award

Local cartoonist Dale Rawlings’ political webcomic Jesus 2016 is a finalist for the 2016 Drunk Duck Awards—presented by the webcomics site The Duck Comics—in three categories: Best Philosophical/Political Comic, Most Deliciously Offensive and Best Overall Comic Strip. (With categories like that, you know it’s gotta be good. :) 

Oct 8: Richard Thompson, Cartoonist and Illustrator -- A Tribute

Richard Thompson, Cartoonist and Illustrator -- A Tribute

Richard Thompson, creator of the comic strip Cul de Sac, passed away from complications of  Parkinson's disease this summer. Learn more about this Reuben Award-winning artist through a screening of the 2014 documentary The Art of Richard Thompson and a presentation on Thompson's background and accomplishments by one of the late cartoonist's friends.

Saturday, October 8, 2016
1:00 p.m.

Mt. Pleasant Regional Library
1133 Mathis Ferry Road
Mt. Pleasant, SC 29464
843.849.6161
http://www.ccpl.org

Donna Lewis' Reply All tribute to Richard Thompson

http://www.gocomics.com/replyall/2016/08/08

Aug. 7: Comic Logic bartends for a good cause

Join the staff from Comic Logic (a comics shop in Ashburn, Va.) as they guest bartend 6-11 p.m. on AUG. 7 at the Ashburn Pub (whose owner Kevin Bednarz also owns the shop) to raise awareness for www.girlpower2cure.org, an organization to raise awareness for Rett Syndrome. There will be raffle prizes, including passes to see the new Suicide Squad movie, as well as a cosplay contest and other giveaways. 

Cavna on March vol. 3

Rep. John Lewis's new 'March: Book Three' rises to the historic occasion

[in print as It's the very height of epic, August 7 2016, p. E11]

By Michael Cavna
August 3 2016

https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/books/rep-john-lewiss-new-march-book-three-rises-to-the-historic-occasion/2016/08/03/63355a0e-57fb-11e6-831d-0324760ca856_story.html

That darn Steve Sack

Letters to the Editor

Where are 'Je suis Bamako' and 'Je suis Ouagadougou'? [in print as Je suis Eurocentric].

Cecilia Op de Beke, Falls Church

Washington Post August 6 2016, p. A11

online at https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/where-are-je-suis-bamako-and-je-suis-ouagadougou/2016/08/05/b3028424-58de-11e6-8b48-0cb344221131_story.html

The Post's Letter page on Richard Thompson

Letters to the Editor

'Cul de Sac' creator Richard Thompson, a charming man who made charming art [in print as A charming creator of charming art].

Lewis Sorley, Potomac

Washington Post August 6 2016, p. A11

online at https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/cul-de-sac-creator-richard-thompson-a-charming-man-who-made-charming-art/2016/08/04/4cdadbba-58ed-11e6-8b48-0cb344221131_story.html

More from The Post on Suicide Squad

Margot Robbie on becoming Harley Quinn and 'the most unpleasant thing I've ever done'

By David Betancourt
Washington Post Comic Riffs August 4 2016
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2016/08/04/margot-robbie-on-becoming-harley-quinn-and-the-most-unpleasant-thing-ive-ever-done/

Sorry, 'Suicide Squad,' but fighting evil with evil is a bad idea [in print as And down we go: Fighting evil with evil is a scary idea].

By Kristen Page-Kirby
Express August 5 2016, p. 29

online at https://www.washingtonpost.com/express/wp/2016/08/05/suicide-squad-shows-fighting-evil-with-bad-is-often-not-good/

Aug 6: Kim and Kim creators at Third Eye Comics

Tom King's Sheriff of Babylon is 'best retelling' of Iraq war

The Best Retelling of the Iraq War Story Is a Comic Book

By Scott Beauchamp

August 4 2016
http://www.vulture.com/2016/07/sheriff-of-babylon-comic-book-iraq-war.html

Dana Maier remembers Richard Thompson

RIP Richard Thompson
Dana Jeri Maier
August 4, 2016
http://www.danajerimaier.com/writing/rip-richard-thompson

Flugennock's Latest'n'Greatest: "Gold Star Mother"

From Michael Flugennock, DC's anarchist cartoonist...

"Gold Star Mother"
http://sinkers.org/stage/?p=2019

So, about a week or so ago, The Donald queefed out yet another classic Tourette's outburst about how he "sacrificed" during the Iraq War by "employing thousands and thousands of people" in response to remarks at the Democratic Convention by Khizr Khan, father of Army Capt. Humayun Khan, killed in Iraq in 2004, about how The Donald "sacrificed nothing" for his country.

The Democrats, always on the lookout for an issue to exploit, started up a good old-fashioned flag-waving contest, yelling to anyone who'd listen about patriotism and sacrifice. Gotta give 'em credit, though; they managed to find the perfect non-issue to distract the media from all the leaks of DNC emails detailing their campaign of fraud and deception against Bernie Sanders' campaign for the Democratic Presidential nomination. And, it's always good to see that Liberals love Muslims -- as long as they're willing to die for the Empire.

And speaking of sacrifice, I'm guessing Chelsea was too busy studying to become a hedge fund manager to do any sacrificing.

Jacket and M4 Carbine Ensemble by Giorgio Armani, $100b.

NPR on Suicide Squad

Pop Culture Happy Hour: Getting Punchy With 'Jason Bourne' And 'Suicide Squad'

Glen Weldon

Pop Culture Happy Hour August 5, 2016
http://www.npr.org/sections/monkeysee/2016/08/05/488722597/pop-culture-happy-hour-getting-punchy-with-jason-bourne-and-suicide-squad
http://pd.npr.org/anon.npr-mp3/npr/pchh/2016/08/20160804_pchh_307.mp3

The Unsung Heroine Who Helped Shape 'Suicide Squad' [Kim Yale].

Neda Ulaby
 All Things Considered August 4, 2016

http://www.npr.org/sections/monkeysee/2016/08/04/488680942/the-unsung-heroine-who-helped-shape-suicide-squad
http://pd.npr.org/anon.npr-mp3/npr/atc/2016/08/20160804_atc_the_unsung_heroine_who_helped_shape_suicide_squad.mp3
http://www.npr.org/templates/transcript/transcript.php?storyId=488680942

Fanzine and fine artist John Fantucchio has died

Fantucchio's art, possibly for Gary Groth's first Metro Con

It's being reported on Facebook that Arlington's John Fantucchio passed away yesterday, August 4th, at age 78. He was at Virginia Hospital Center after suffering a stroke.

Big Planet Comics founder Joel Pollack writes, "John Fantucchio was my mentor when I was 16. He taught me about the great strip artists Alex Raymond and Hal Foster, as well as illustrators such as Maxfield Parrish, N.C. Wyeth, and Howard Pyle. I'm happy that we rekindled our friendship in the last five years."

Joel noted that Fantucchio's influence wasn't limited to him. "John's nephew, Rick Lowell, owns Casablanca Comics, Maine's coolest comics stores!, in Portland, ME, and counts John as a mentor, as well." Fantucchio eventually left the fan community and made a name for himself as a fine artist.

Joel took me to meet John, who coincidentally lived right around the corner from Richard Thompson, and we had a great time looking at his paintings and his collectibles. John had a fondness for the Shadow just like me. He wasn't all that interested in revisiting his fanzine days, so we never did an interview, but he does have several mentions on ComicsDC, mostly about his later career.

John is survived by his wife Mary.

PR: SPX 2016 Announces International Guests Tom Gauld, Cyril Pedrosa, Aimée de Jongh and Pascal Girard

For Immediate Release Contact: Warren Bernard Email: warren@spxpo.com Small Press Expo Announces International Special Guests Tom Gauld, Cyril Pedrosa, Aimée de Jongh and Pascal Girard for SPX 2016 Bethesda, Maryland; August 4, 2016 Media Release - Small Press Expo is proud to announce Tom Gauld, Cyril Pedrosa, Aimée de Jongh,  and Pascal Girard as Special Guests for SPX 2016. Small Press Expo is honored that all of these international creators are appearing at the festival for the very first time, This is in additon to previously announced special guests Daniel Clowes, Lisa Hanawalt, Jeffrey Brown, Trina Robbins, Charles Burns, Jaime & Gilbert Hernandez, Sarah Glidden Carol Tyler, Jim Woodring, Drew Friedman, Ed Piskor, and a rare festival appearance by Joe Sacco. Tom Gauld is reknown comic creator, designer and illiustrator. He has weekly comic strips in The Guardian and New Scientist, as well as having his work published in The New York Times and The Believer. In addition to his graphic novels Goliath and You're All Just Jealous of My Jetpack, he has designed a number of book covers, as well as a can for Diet Coke. This fall he releases Mooncop from Drawn & Quarterly. Gauld lives and works in London. Cyril Pedrosa studied animation design at the Gobelins, a Parisian school dedicated to careers in the moving image. He went on to work on Disney animated feature films such as The Hunchback of Notre Dame and Hercules. A rising star in graphic storytelling, his unique work is a product of his animation background combined with his literary influences of Borges, Marquez and Tolkien. His moving journal of going back to his family roots, Portugal, is a bestseller. NBM will release Pedrosa's latest, Equinox  this September. Aimée de Jongh is an award-winning animator, comic artist, and illustrator from the Netherlands. She has since created work for children's books, TV shows, music videos, and art installations, alongside numerous comic book series. Her animated film Aurora was screened widely in the Netherlands and Janus, a video installation she created with the L.A.-based artist Miljohn Ruperto, was exhibited at the Whitney Museum of American Art. The Return of the Honey Buzzard, her first graphic novel, won the Prix Saint-Michel and is published in English by SelfMadeHero. Pascal Girard was born in Jonquière, Quebec, Canada, in 1981. He began filling his notebook with drawings on his very first day of school and never stopped. Since he was unable to rid himself of this habit, he naturally decided to make it his career. Girard is the award-winning author of Nicolas, Bigfoot, Reunion, and Petty Theft. He lives in Montreal. In September 2016, Girard is releasing an expanded hardcover edition of his first book Nicholas published by Drawn & Quarterly. In the next few weeks, SPX will announce more guests, the 2016 Ignatz nominees and a full slate of programming. SPX 2016 takes place on Saturday and Sunday, September 17-18, and will have over 650 creators, 280 exhibitor tables and 22 programming slots to entertain, enlighten and introduce attendees to the amazing world of independent and small press comics. Small Press Expo (SPX) is the preeminent showcase for the exhibition of independent comics, graphic novels, and alternative political cartoons. SPX is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit that brings together more than 650 artists and publishers to meet their readers, booksellers, and distributors each year. Graphic novels, mini comics, and alternative comics will all be on display and for sale by their authors and illustrators. The expo includes a series of panel discussions and interviews with this year's guests. The Ignatz Award is a festival prize held every year at SPX recognizing outstanding achievement in comics and cartooning, with the winners chosen by attendees at the show. As in previous years, profits from the SPX will go to support the SPX Graphic Novel Gift Program, which funds graphic novel purchases for public and academic libraries, as well as the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund (CBLDF), which protects the First Amendment rights of comic book readers and professionals. For more information on the CBLDF, visit their website at http://www.cbldf.org. For more information on the Small Press Expo, please visit http://www.smallpressexpo.com.