Violence isn't funny, even in comics [Letters to the Editor, in print as Made irrelevant by time].
Bob Boxwell, Lusby
Sunday, February 11, 2018
That darn Beetle Bailey
Violence isn't funny, even in comics [Letters to the Editor, in print as Made irrelevant by time].
Troy-Jeffrey Allen interviews for Black History Month
BHM Spotlight: An Interview With Creator Bryan Edward Hill
by Troy-Jeffrey Allen
Feb 05, 2018
BHM Spotlight: An Interview With Writer Sheldon Allen
by Troy-Jeffrey Allen
Feb 09, 2018
https://previewsworld.com/Article/207246-BHM-Spotlight-An-Interview-With-Writer-Sheldon-Allen
BHM Spotlight: An Interview With YouNeek's Roye Okupe
by Troy-Jeffrey Allen
Feb 07, 2018
https://previewsworld.com/Article/207197-BHM-Spotlight-An-Interview-With-YouNeeks-Roye-Okupe
Saturday, February 10, 2018
Comic Riffs talks to Tomine
How parenthood opened a profound creative door for cartoonist Adrian Tomine
Tomine will appear today, Feb 2, at 6 pm; Washington's Politics & Prose at the Wharf, 70 District Square SW; moderator: Linda Holmes of NPR's Pop Culture Happy Hour.
Friday, February 09, 2018
Review: Adrian Tomine's Killing and Dying
by Mike Rhode If I had to come up with a quick descriptive word for Adrien Tomine's work (and I just did), I think I'd pick "astringent." Tomine's a master of a cool thin line with a flat color palette, and his stories are often about people you'd prefer to avoid IRL. Tomine will be in town at Politics and Prose talking with Linda Holmes about Killing and Dying, his 2015 collection of his Optic Nerve comic book now available in paperback.
I'm reviewing the book now, even thought I bought it at 2015 at the Small Press Expo, because Drawn & Quarterly sent me a comp copy, and I don't want them to think it was unappreciated. Also, because in spite of my description above, I like his work. There are six stories in the book, all obviously by Tomine, but all different from each other as well.
Tomine is one of the group of formerly alternative 1980's cartoonists such as Daniel Clowes and Chris Ware who've hit the big time, and whose work is now instantly recognizable, as they're doing regular covers for the New Yorker and publishing graphic novel collections on a regular basis. This is a far cry from when they all were part of the small press scene being published in 'floppies' by Fantagaphics Books. Amazingly, those who've stayed in the field have largely remained true to the aesthetic they developed in their early works.
Tomine's first story, "...Horticusculpture" is purposely constrained to appear to be a weekly comic strip telling the story of a man growing old while attempting to convince the world that his new plant/sculpture hybrid is art. Six "strips" in black & white mimic a daily, while the full page Sunday is in color. Someone more academically-minded could theorize about the appeal of old-fashioned comic strips for alternative comic book cartoonists; among others, Daniel Clowes did a whole book using this motif, as did Bob Sikoryak who cast his net of influences a bit wider in his book on Apple. In the end, Tomine's story is about a man who's largely a failure personally and professionally, but is redeemed in the very last panel by his family's love.
"Amber Sweet" is a story of a modern-day mistaken identity in that a college student is a doppleganger for a porn actress. This coincidence ruins her life until the two of them finally meet. "Go Owls" is a cautionary tale which of a woman letting a man assume control over her life under the guise of protecting her. "Translated, from the Japanese" could easily have appeared in the New Yorker. No people are shown in the story, just scenes from traveling on plane, but again it's another story about human loneliness and failure in relationships.
Local cartoonist Dana Maier told me yesterday that "Killing and Dying" is her favorite story in the book, but I had to dash off before we discussed it. We may have that conversation here, if I can convince her to. A part of another dysfunctional family, a teenage girl wants to try standup comedy, and her mother agrees while her father thinks it's a mistake. Tomine has put several twists in the story, so that's all I'll reveal. Finally, "Intruders" is from the point of view of a failed veteran who breaks into the apartment he used to live in during the day, attempting to recapture his happier past, while providing no trace of himself in the present.
Tomine's cool, cerebral stories won't be to everyone's taste, but they're definitely worth sampling and this is a good collection to start with. He's grown to be an assured artist and writer, and will continue to be part of the graphic novel 'canon' for years to come.
---
Adrian Tomine - Killing and Dying — in conversation with Linda Holmes — at Politics and Prose at The Wharf
Saturday, February 10, 2018 - 6 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Now
available in paperback, this collection of six graphic stories shows
the impressive range of Tomine’s narratives and his expressive use of
line, color, and half-tones. Especially adept at capturing the nuances
of character and emotion, Tomine, author/artist of Shortcomings and Scenes from an Impending Marriage,
is one of the most literary of graphic storytellers. Many of the pieces
here chart the turbulent arcs of relationships in which the partners
are angry, disoriented, or both. In one variation on these themes, the
title story focuses on a fourteen-year-old aspiring stand-up comic. As
her mother praises her and her father criticizes her, the three work to
deny the greater tragedy that is about to befall the family. Tomine will be in conversation with Linda Holmes, writer and editor for NPR’s entertainment and pop-culture blog, Monkey See.
Click here for more information.
Politics and Prose at The Wharf 70 District Square SW Washington DC 20024Comics Riffs on Annie animation awards and the new Trump cartoon
Annie Awards go to 'Coco' and Kobe Bryant's 'Dear Basketball,' making them Oscar favorites
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2018/02/05/annie-awards-go-to-coco-and-kobe-bryants-dear-basketball-making-them-oscar-favorites/
On Stephen Colbert's new Trump cartoon series, the president has shades of Homer Simpson
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog
Townson professor interviews Dan Raeburn
"Therapy Is an Imitation of Writing": An Interview with Daniel Raeburn
FEBRUARY 8, 2018
https://lareviewofbooks.org/article/therapy-is-an-imitation-of-writing-an-interview-with-daniel-raeburn/#!Thursday, February 08, 2018
Tim Kreider at Politics and Prose
The former Baltimore City Paper cartoonist is reading from his new non-cartoon book at Politics and Prose.
Feb. 13: Opening reception for "Black Power: Comic Art by Sean Damian Hill"
The opening reception for "Black Power: The Art of Sean Damian Hill" is February 13, 6:30-8 pm, University of the District of Columbia: Gallery 42. Building 42, Room A-12. The show is in celebration of Black
History Month and features images of African-Americans in Comics.
Wednesday, February 07, 2018
Julian Lytle interviews Whit Taylor
Ignorant Bliss 66: Talking shop with Whit Taylor
http://thejulianlytle.com/podcast/IGxWhit.mp3PR: JK Snyder III's Fashion In Action - preorder through Diamond
|
Tuesday, February 06, 2018
Laurie Halse Anderson and Emily Carroll
Are at Politics and Prose original bookstore right now for the launch of the Speak graphic novel and fundraising for RAINN.
Clay Jones animates his cartoons on a new YouTube channel
You can read his blog post at
Introducing Clay TV - https://claytoonz.com/2018/02/05/introducing-clay-tv/
Introducing Clay TV - https://claytoonz.com/2018/02/05/introducing-clay-tv/
Monday, February 05, 2018
Magic Bullet 16 hits the streets on Friday
From editor Andrew Cohen -
We're excited to present the first look at the cover for MAGIC BULLET 16, with artwork from Hannah Dean! Look for this issue to be hitting the streets starting Friday, February 9, and continuing through the rest of the month. This issue features over thirty artists, and we're proud to present them as they appear in the table of contents:
Art Hondos
Bizhan Khodabandeh
Carlos Torres
Troy-Jeffrey Allen and Matt Rawson
Bozo
G.R. Lear
Maria Sweeney
Mike Brace
Bruce Fasick
John Kinhart
Lillie J. Harris
Evan Keeling and Matt Rhodes
Hobbes Holluck and Mike Cowgill
Matt Dembicki
Carolyn Belefski and Joe Carabeo
Jonathan Burrello
Jason Axtell
Paul Zdespski
Mark Lindblom
Chad Lambert and Jeff McComsey
Chris Mararac
Jake Warrenfeltz
Rafer Roberts
Eric Gordon and Jeremy Rosenstein
David Ross and Seyoung Park
Digo Salazar
Hannah Dean
Teresa Logan
Jeff McClelland and Ian Chase Nichols
Rob Ciesielski
Jon Poliszuk
Stephanie Butto and Evan Keeling
Chris Artiga-Oliver
Richard Jones
Andrew Cohen
Carl Yonder
Gareth Bentall
John Watkins-Chow
Jim Keefe on Annapolis' Bud Grace retiring
Bud Grace Retiring – Piranha Club Comes to an End
February 5, 2018Feb 6: Emily Carroll at Politics and Prose
Tuesday, February 6 at 7 p.m.
The novel, Speak, a National Book Award finalist, is now available in graphic form, illustrated by Emily Carroll. It is the story of a girl, Melinda, who becomes an outcast at Merryweather High after a traumatic summer experience. Though friendless and withdrawn into isolation, Melinda finds solace in art class. Through art, she is able to come to terms with what happened to her – and is able to find her voice. Compelling illustrations breathe new life into this resonant classic and its powerful message. This is part of the Can We Talk About This event series. (Ages 15+)
This event is in partnership with RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network), the nation's largest anti-sexual violence organization. Information about RAINN will be available and customers may choose to donate a portion of their purchases to RAINN the evening of the event.
This event is free to attend with no reservation required. Seating is available on a first come, first served basis.
In the Children & Teens Department at
Politics and Prose Bookstore
5015 Connecticut Avenue NW
Washington DC 20008
Flugennock's Latest'n'Greatest: "The Distrust, It BUUURRRNNNSS"
From Mike Flugennock, DC's anarchist cartoonist:
"The Distrust, It BUUURRRNNNSS"
http://sinkers.org/stage/?p=2381
For something that's supposed to be a such a big ol' hot, sloppy bucket of nothing, the infamous Nunes Memo sure has the Democrats screeching about how it's sowing "distrust" of institutions like the FBI. Yep, Liberals love them some FBI now, just like ol' Phil Ochs said -- 10 degrees to the left of center when things are good, 10 degrees to the right when it affects them personally.
Now, as someone who's been involved in Left activism and activist media for nearly 40 years and knows the FBI's history of disrupting and suppressing popular movements, I can tell you for free that I don't need some babbling memo from a GOP Congresscritter to make me fervently distrust the goddamn FBI. Really, folks, let's get serious, here. They have a history.
Between this drooling love for the State and feverishly trying to rehabilitate George W. Bush, I'd say the Democrats are pretty well cracked.
"The Distrust, It BUUURRRNNNSS"
http://sinkers.org/stage/?p=23
For something that's supposed to be a such a big ol' hot, sloppy bucket of nothing, the infamous Nunes Memo sure has the Democrats screeching about how it's sowing "distrust" of institutions like the FBI. Yep, Liberals love them some FBI now, just like ol' Phil Ochs said -- 10 degrees to the left of center when things are good, 10 degrees to the right when it affects them personally.
Now, as someone who's been involved in Left activism and activist media for nearly 40 years and knows the FBI's history of disrupting and suppressing popular movements, I can tell you for free that I don't need some babbling memo from a GOP Congresscritter to make me fervently distrust the goddamn FBI. Really, folks, let's get serious, here. They have a history.
Between this drooling love for the State and feverishly trying to rehabilitate George W. Bush, I'd say the Democrats are pretty well cracked.
Saturday, February 03, 2018
Trump's ABC on Book TV
https://www.c-span.org/video/?440199-2/trumps-abc
Trump's ABC
Washington Post editorial cartoonist, Ann Telnaes, talked about and showed drawings from her book, Trump's ABC
Megan Halsband talks about the Library of Congress' comic book collection
Episode 3: The Bureaucracy Episode!
Jer Thorp
Artist in the Archive podcast January 30, 2018
https://artistinthearchive.podbean.com/e/episode-3-the-bureaucracy-episode/
https://artistinthearchive.podbean.com/mf/download/bjcjts/loc-pod-ep3c.mp3
https://artistinthearchive.podbean.com/e/episode-3-the-bureaucracy-episode/
https://artistinthearchive.podbean.com/mf/download/bjcjts/loc-pod-ep3c.mp3
In this episode Jer dives into what makes the Library of Congress tick. He'll take you along on a tour of the acquisitions process, and he'll speak to 45 year LOC veteran Beacher Wiggins about how the library and it's operations have changed over a half century. Jer also talks to the Library's comic book curator to get some insight into how that collection is growing and evolving, and to the Veteran's History Project about their efforts to document the experiences of veterans past and present.
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