Sunday, October 21, 2018

Nexus - Comic Shopping in Reykjavik

by RM Rhodes

One of my great pleasures in life is visiting comic book stores in other countries when I am travelling. I recently went to Reykjavik and went out of my way to visit the local comic book store Nexus. Nexus is towards the outskirts of the city, away from the commercial city center. In fact, it's actually surrounded by apartment buildings and it comes across as a place where locals spend time. 

Next door to the store proper are a couple of empty storefronts that are well-lit and filled with tables where people can come and sit and play board games, Magic, or RPGs. A bit of online research tells me that child and adolescent psychologist Soffía Elín Sigurðardóttir opened an outreach center of sorts called Nexus Noobs, where pretty much anyone under 25 can come twice a week to play games and so forth in a deliberately curated safe space.


Not pictured: Darth Vader
The shop itself is more or less like a department store for geek and nerdy material. The article I linked to above describes Nexus as a "premiere hub for all things geek," which is very accurate. Comics take up one section, videos are in another, Funko Pops have an equally large section, and there are a variety of smaller sections packed into the back of the store. The fantasy and science fiction selection is excellent, and their Star Wars section had map books I'd never seen before, and I try to keep track of those when they come out. 

There was a place to purchase paints and miniatures, along with brushes and other painting materials. There was a cosplay section. A section filled with board games. A section of RPG books. And a whole corner dedicated to Taschen books, LBQT materials, healthy sex ed books, and erotic material. And doormats by the front door. If there was some kind of pop culture thing that they did not have, I am fairly sure that they would be willing to order it for you.
Register and main entrance - check out the giant corner of Funko on the right
They had everything in there, and the stuff they had was of higher quality than one would get from a comparable place in any random place in the States. If the price of importing is more or less the same, then it makes sense to bring over better quality material. There was some work in Icelandic, but the vast majority of the material in the store was in English. Not a lot of people speak Icelandic, but the vast majority of the population of Iceland can read English.
All the comics
The comics on offer were very interesting. The usual amount of Marvel and DC was present, but there was strong lean towards the Image/Humanoids/Fantagraphics material as well. There were some shelves of manga, but indie graphic novels in the "we've moved past superheroes" mode are winning out. In contrast, the only European work present was the stuff printed in English for the American market. I vaguely recall a shop in Reykjavik that I visited during a previous visit that was more European-oriented, but that was early November 2016 and a lot of things happened that month.
All the books (with concerned employee)
The store itself was within easy walking distance of the Reykjavik city center (everything is within walking distance of the city center), but it has a very different vibe than the tourist shops that demand the attention of tourists. Earlier I mentioned that Nexus is a place that seemed to be more focused on the locals and I think that really is the target demographic. That's not to say that they are unfriendly to people they don't recognize - they were perfectly happy to take my cousin's money.

Having spent time in the overly touristy commercial city center of Reykjavik, I can absolutely understand why the locals would want a place that caters to their needs and interests. Most Americans don't really have any insight into how accessible their version of pop culture is to people whose first language is not English. Nexus was a good reminder that people in a marginalized language group will do whatever they have to in order to participate in the global pop culture conversation.

If I was living in Reykjavik and I needed a place to go to feel like I was not alone in my nerdcore tendencies, I would be at Nexus once a week, just to walk around and enjoy the feeling of being catered to.

__________________________________________________________

Why is this here? It's a long story. Mike Rhode first introduced himself to me when I first started vending at SPX. Over the years, we've talk to each other at Comic conventions around the DC area and never quite get around to sitting down for lunch. 

When I moved to Arlington two years ago, I didn't realize that Mike lived within a mile of my building. Nor did I realize that he lived next door to my girlfriend's friend from college. We also discovered, by accident that we work two buildings away from each other, because we work in adjacent organizations. The world is a very small place, sometimes. 

It really feels that way when I run into Mike at the local farmer's market. Naturally, that's when I pitch him article ideas. I'm reading the entire run of Heavy Metal in public (in blog format) because I happen to own the entire run of Heavy Metal. This means that I'm engaged in an ongoing study of the magazine. In addition, I have a diverse and idiosyncratic reading list that tends towards the weird corners of comics history. Sometimes one circumstance or another results in long articles that I don't really have anyplace to put. Mike has been gracious enough to let me publish them here.

In summary: this is an article about comics from someone in the DC area. 






Friday, October 19, 2018

A 'lost' Newseum book and exhibit of New Yorker cartoons (in 2007)

Every once in a while, you run across something you've never seen. Such as this New Yorker-related book:


Fortunately, there's usually someone else to ask. In this case, I turned to Michael Maslin, New Yorker cartoonist and historian, and writer of the excellent Ink Spill blog.



I have stumped Michael before, notably with a book of New Yorker cartoons collected for a celebration of George Washington University's president Stephen Trachtenberg. He's got a copy of that now though...


To this one, he wrote back, "Wow, completely new to me! Great find!"


I complained from a bibliographic point of view about the book having a completely different second title page.


Michael cut back to the chase, noting the useful information, "Also of interest in the intro is that some of the cartoons were exhibited. So both the book and the exhibit were under my radar," and he continued, "This is exactly why the Spill was created (one of the main reasons anyway): to catch things like that. The stuff that tended to slip by, known only to the folks that were part of it," also summing up why ComicsDC exists as well.

Now I have to find a second copy for him, and a third for Michigan State's Comic Art Collection...

In unrelated news, at the same library sale, I found a copy of the only Gary Larson-signed Far Side book that I've ever seen:



Reader, I bought it.

Arlington County fire department uses Peanuts-style teaching


  
Other beagles agree.


Dead Reckoning's 2019 books listed on ICv2

NPR's Weldon reviews Sabrina tv show

'Chilling Adventures Of Sabrina' Is Wicked, Good

Nov 2: Animezing!: Metropolis


Come to the JICC to enjoy a FREE Japanese anime film!
Come to the JICC to enjoy a FREE Japanese anime film!
JICC Logo
Animezing!: Metropolis
Animezing!: Metropolis
The JICC celebrates the 90th anniversary of Osamu Tezuka with a special screening of Metropolis!
Based on the classic comic created by revered manga artist and animator Osamu Tezuka (Astroboy), written by anime legend Katsuhiro Otomo (Akira) and directed by Rintaro (Galaxy Express 999)
Metropolis is an ultra-modern utopia built with robot labor and teeming with a diverse populace. On the surface, the city bustles with excitement, but underground, the poor and destitute dream of revolution. With hopes of putting an end to the robot labor blamed for stealing human jobs, shadowy political figures prepare for an imminent and inevitable clash.

Meanwhile Detective Ban and his nephew, Kenichi, arrive in pursuit of a scientist wanted for human-rights violations. Even as they scour the city, the powerful Duke Red has enlisted the very scientist they seek to design a robot in the image his deceased daughter. Will a secret faction of anti-robot vigilantes succeed in destroying this new breed of machine?

In Japanese with English subtitles | Rated PG-13 | 108 min | 2001 | Directed by Rintaro
Registration required
You are invited to
Friday, November 2nd, 2018
from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM (EDT)
Japan Information & Culture Center, Embassy of Japan
1150 18th Street Northwest
Suite 100
Washington DC 20036 US
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
This event is free and open to the public, but registration is required.
In the event of a cancellation, please contact us at jicc@ws.mofa.go.jp.

Program begins at 6:30PM.
Doors open 30 minutes before the program. No admittance after 7:00PM or once seating is full.

Registered guests will be seated on a first come, first served basis. Please note that seating is limited and registration does not guarantee a seat.

The JICC reserves the right to use any photograph/video taken at any event sponsored by JICC without the expressed written permission of those included within the photograph/video.
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Thursday, October 18, 2018

PR: Anime USA 2018 - Final Newsletter Before Con



Anime USA 2018: Final Newsletter Before Con
View this email in your browser
Click here, enter code NEWS2018 and get 15% off a regular/silver 3 day membership.

A 20th Anniversary Celebration of the
Past, Present and Future of Our Fandom.

October 19th - 21st, 2018

Guidebook

Restaurants  Moe Pass 

Host Club Manga Library

 

 

Guidebook

Our 2018 Guidebook schedule is online and ready for viewing. Just go to the Apple/Google Play store, download the Guidebook app, search for Anime USA, select Anime USA 2018 and take a look at everything we have to offer this year. Please note that there may be some minor programming changes between now and the start of the con. We can't wait to see you!
Online Schedule can be found here: http://animeusa.org/anime-usa-2018-schedule/


Restaurants
Want to know where to eat while you're at Anime USA 2018? Have a hankering for something specific? Check out our list of nearby bars, coffee shops, and restaurants at Click here for more information


Moe Pass
After the success of our new reservation system in 2017, My Cup of Tea Maid Café has decided to bring MoePass+ back for 2018!. The lines for the Cafe have been getting progressively longer; and why shouldn't they? Our hard-working maids go above and beyond to give their Masters and Princesses the best experience they can! We hate to turn away anyone looking to enjoy our Maid Café, so we've returned with a way for you to guarantee a seat, skip the lines and get some really neat perks in the process!

MoePass+ works like a flexible reservation system. At both the Maid Café Meet & Greet on Thursday evening, and at the café itself starting Friday morning, you can purchase a MoePass+ and select the time period you'd like to come back and be seated at the Café. The passes cost $8.00 for just about any party size, and come with the following benefits:

The pass is good for a full hour, so if you choose a 1:00PM time slot, you can arrive any time up until 1:59PM, go right to the MoePass+ line, and you'll be seated next! This way, if there's a panel you want to finish up, or if you're stuck in an autograph line, you don't have to worry about losing your spot. Once you're seated, your MoePass+ card will get stamped, entitling you to get one free picture and game (an $8.00 value). You're free to keep your pass as a souvenir! Purchasing a MoePass+ for either Friday or Saturday will also give you priority seating to our NEW Sunday Maid Cafe hours (No MoePass+ reservations will be taken for Sunday this year). Make sure to save your pass, and show it to the hostess at the door so you can be seated and enjoy a great meal to wrap up your convention experience properly!

There are only 4 MoePass+ spots available for every 30 minute window, so if you're really eager to get a good spot at the café this year, make sure to show up to the Maid Café Meet & Greet on Thursday night! If you can't make it on Thursday, just head to the Café at any time, and a hostess will gladly take care of your reservation.

Host Club
Club Ikemen Paradise
Announcing one of our newest services of the year: SPEED DATING! 
What: Essentially a pass to let you skip the line! 
How: There are two ways that you can purchase these passes: First find a host/hostess at the Meet and Greet on Thursday! (11 pm at panel 2).
If you can't make it, no worries! We will be selling them friday night at the front desk (until they sell out)
Information: Price: $3/person
The hours that these passes will be sold by are: 7pm-10pm. YOU MUST be there by the time stated or else your pass will be forfeited.
We are only offering 9 tables per hour, so make sure you get yours fast!
You may also request which team you would like to serve you. 


Manga Library
The Carolina Manga Library is a 501(c)(3) organization that was formed for the express purposes of promoting literacy through graphic novels. They operate a traveling library that sets up at conventions and other shows to provide free access to their collection of over 5000 manga, American graphic novels, newspaper comic strips, and artbooks. Carolina Manga Library staff run the library and operate all days of the convention. They pride themselves on having actual certified librarians on staff who are well trained in reader's advisory services. The Carolina Manga Library has been a guest a many conventions since their conception in 2013, including Ohayocon, Matsuricon, and Anime Central.
Hours of Operation: Friday- 12pm-10pm | Sat- 10am-10pm | Sun- 10am-3pm 



This is just a small part of everything we have in store for you this weekend. See you soon at Anime USA 2018!
 
Click here to Register Now!

Memberships

Regular: $66
Silver: $88
Sponsor: $150
Join Anime USA
Hotel
 
Anime USA's host hotel is the Washington Marriott Wardman Park.

Rooms are $177 a night plus tax.

There will be a non-refundable $50 deposit for each room.

 
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s

The Post on South Park's long life.

How 'South Park' became the ultimate #bothsides show [in print as Should 'South Park' grow up?]

Wednesday, October 17, 2018

Nov 1-2: Slovenian comics in DC

From Izar Lunaček, via Small Press Expo director Warren Bernard:

The first days of November will see a double hit of Slovenian comics descend on Washington DC. On Thursday 1st at 7PM, Nejc Juren and Izar Lunaček will swing by Big Planet Comics to talk about and sign their book Animal noir, a comic thriller about a giraffe detective in a world of lion politicians and hippo mobsters that came out with IDW last year, and on the 2nd the same guys will open an exhibition on the vivid history of their own country's comics scene at the Slovenian embassy on California street. Admission to both events is free and food and drinks might be served. Come on, come all, it'll be wonderfully fun!