Wednesday, November 14, 2018
New local fandom book - Tales from the DMV
I often... well, every other week... get a book promo in the mail. I'm way behind on reviewing them, but I've got good intentions.
I don't want to wait to mention this latest book:
TALES FROM THE DMV: The Origins of Comic Book Fandom in Washington D.C., Maryland, and Virginia: True Tales of Carl Bridgers' Barbarian Book Shop, ... & the Yancy Street Gazette (Volume 1)
It's a self-published (through Amazon) history of local fandom and I see a lot of familiar faces and places just on the cover. There was no press release with it, and I hadn't heard anyone talking about it before, but I think it's probably of interest to the hardcore ComicsDC audience. Big Planet Comics in Bethesda has a couple of copies I'm told.
Here's the Amazon description:
Featuring over 500 pictures, TALES FROM THE DMV: THE ORIGINS OF COMIC FANDOM IN WASHINGTON D.C, MARYLAND, AND VIRGINIA showcases firsthand stories from comic book fans of the 1930s through the 1970s, who tell what it was like being a comic collector in the hobby's earliest days: the first comic book stores, the first conventions, and, best of all, the other fans. Be amazed as you read about the Muller brothers and Carl Bridgers and Ted White and Fred von Bernewitz buying comics off the stands in the 1930s, 1940s, and 1950s. Read about the first comic stores in the DMV: Central Books, which opened in D.C. in the 1940s and burned to the ground in the 1968 riots; Carl and Janice Bridgers' Barbarian Book Shop - which opened in 1969 and still operates today as the longest-surviving comic book store in the world; Geppi's Comic World, a chain of eight stores that began in 1974; and Joel Pollack's Big Planet Comics, which has been open for over thirty years. Coverage and pictures of all the early conventions in the DMV are provided as well: Gary Groth and Michael Catron's Metro Cons, Mark Feldman and John Taylor's Maryland Funnybook Festivals, and the University of Maryland's Minicons. Presented also is Bernie Wrightson's early life in Baltimore before he became a world-famous artist, with pictures of him from the early days along with an unedited interview from 1969 and over twenty pieces of his earliest art -- and this includes his very first published art ever, in addition to art he drew for THE BALTIMORE SUN in the 1960s, and the very first story he ever illustrated (the 12-page "Michael Clayton of Galvan" from NOZDROVIA #1), and that story is reprinted in its entirety for the first time. Just as amazing are the publications produced by DMV fans. While in junior high in Virginia, Gary Groth began his 15-issue run of FANTASTIC FANZINE (all issues pictured), and in its pages he gained the skills needed to eventually create THE COMICS JOURNAL, the world's most prestigious professional comic-related publication. Also presented are the complete cover galleries and fanzine careers of Mark Feldman (I'LL BE DAMNED) and Doug Fratz (COMICOLOGY) and the Yancy Street Gang (YANCY STREET GAZETTE), which consisted of Steve Zeigler; Jan Bertholf; and Amy, Jane, and John Hoecker - all of whom were in high school when they created the most popular Marvel fanzine of the 1960s and whose Marvel fan club ranked second in membership only to Marvel's own MMMS fan club at the time. Told here also are the spectacular visits by DMV fans Ted White and Fred von Bernewitz to the EC offices in the 1950s and the visit by Joel Pollack and Al Allenback to the Marvel offices in 1968 to pitch the idea of the first African-American super hero to Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. Their comic, created in 1968 and submitted to Marvel, is published in its entirety (17 pages) for the first time. Presented in this book also is the untold story of Hal and Jack Schuster, two kids from Maryland who formed Irjax Enterprises, a publishing empire and comic book distribution network. In addition, this book traces Steve Geppi's rise to prominence: from his beginnings in Baltimore to his time as a convention dealer and the opening of his first comic book store in 1974 and to the theft of his collection in 1977, and, most importantly, how he became a sub-distributor for the Schusters' Irjax Enterprises, whose company he eventually purchased and transformed into what is now Diamond Comic Distributors, the world's largest distributor of comic books. If that were not enough, the book concludes with a wild firsthand account of a group of Woodward High School students attending the premiere of STAR WARS on opening night at the Uptown Theater on May 25, 1977, an amazing, true story that shows how STAR WARS changed everything. All of these events happened in the DMV, but they are all events that had national significance and that changed the world of comic books and comic fandom forever.
Tuesday, November 13, 2018
Editorial Cartoon by artleytoons
My cartoon with the Hemingwayesque title, "The Snowflake in the Rain." concerns the embarrassing conduct (surprise, surprise) by our extreme leader at the Armistice centenary commemoration (click on image for larger view).
—Steven G. Artley, artleytoons |
| ©2018 Steven G. Artley • artleytoons • ALL RIGHTS RESERVED |
The Post's Act Four on Stan Lee
Thank you, Stan Lee, for She-Hulk, a superhero who is beautiful when she's angry
Michael Uslan on Stan Lee for Smithsonian
A Letter to Stan Lee, Comic Book Legend, Written by One of His Biggest Fans
Movie producer and instructor Michael Uslan eulogizes his hero and mentor, whose superheroes taught him countless life lessons
Betancourt on Stan Lee
Stan Lee called his fans 'true believers.' But Stan the Man was the truest believer of all.
Monday, November 12, 2018
PR: Inaugural Issue of The Incredible Hulk Comic Book From 1962 to be Auctioned Thursday
A Silver Spring, MD auction house has sent out this press release. Local news!
Inaugural Issue of The Incredible Hulk to be Auctioned by Huggins & Scott
LOS ANGELES, November 12, 2018 –A high-grade issue of The Incredible Hulk #1 from May 1962 will be auctioned by Huggins & Scott Auctions from November 2- November 15. Interested bidders may participate in the auction online.
This first issue is considered one of the most valuable and prestigious comics of the Silver Age. Marvel Comics published the inaugural issue of the Incredible Hulk in May 1962, which was part of an enormous resurgence of super-hero comics in the early 1960's. This comic book earned a Universal Grade of 8.5 from the leading comic book grader CGC.
The consignor read this 56-year old Hulk Comic once as a youth and kept it in storage since 1962. Well known to be a super tough comic to find in upper grades, this high-demand pivotal issue continues to show astonishing sale price increases, reaching a Fair Market Value of $175,000 in recent years for the few known examples that have been graded at the 8.5 level.
The popularity of the Incredible Hulk comic series led to Marvel Studio producing a superhero film The Incredible Hulk in 2008. The film starred Edward Norton as Bruce Banner/Hulk. Mark Ruffalo replaced Norton as the Hulk in the 2012 film The Avengers. Ruffalo reprised the Hulk role in Avengers: Age of Ultron and Avengers: Infinity War.
The comic book is estimated to sell between $125,000 to $175,000.
Additional information on the comic book can be found at https://hugginsandscott.com/cgi-bin/showitem.pl?itemid=32004
About Huggins & Scott Auctions
Huggins and Scott, based in Silver Spring MD and founded in 2002, is a leading catalog auction company specializing in sports and Americana collectibles. The company was founded by current president Bill Huggins, who has been in the collectibles business since 1976 when he opened his baseball card store. Specializing in vintage sports and non-sports cards, autographs, memorabilia, and a wide range of collectibles for every level of collector, Huggins and Scott runs four online Masterpiece Auctions per year.
The Post on the passing of Stan Lee
Stan Lee, creator of superheroes, dies at 95
Stan Lee became one of pop culture's greatest showmen — by making fans feel like part of the club
Comic Riffs on Blitt's latest New Yorker cover
The New Yorker's cover is a tribute to the women and people of color elected to Congress
RIP, Stan Lee.
RIP, Stan Lee.
Many years ago my not-yet-wife Cathy stood in line on a rainy day at Crown Books on K St NW in DC and got a book signed for me.
Sunday, November 11, 2018
The Post on the animation movie business
In epic rumpus, Hollywood's animation sector looks to sort its royalty from its minions [in print as Hollywood's animation sector sorts its royalty from its minion]
Saturday, November 10, 2018
Editorial Cartoon by artleytoons
Meanwhile, back at the Border, an invasion ensues... (click on image for larger view).
—Steven G. Artley, artleytoons |
| ©2018 Steven G. Artley • artleytoons • ALL RIGHST RESERVED |
Friday, November 09, 2018
Nora Krug author of the book Belonging
... Is speaking now at Politics and Prose Union Market. The book is about German identity after World War II.
Is XKCD's climate change comic the only one Congress can see?
So it's rumored. Check out @neurovagrant's Tweet: https://twitter.com/neurovagrant/status/1059963185124573184?s=15
Tonight: Nora Krug at Politics and Prose at Union Market
Nora Krug - Belonging: A German Reckons with History and Home — in conversation with the Washington Post's Nora Krug — at Politics and Prose at Union Market
Friday, November 9, 2018 - 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.
Like Art Spiegelman's Maus, Krug's graphic memoir centers on events she experienced at one remove, by inheritance—and that for that reason may have marked her all the more deeply. A member of the second generation of Germans born after World War II, Krug draws on letters, photos, flea-market artifacts, and archival materials for a powerful exploration of Heimat, the place that first forms us. Now an award-winning artist and member of the faculty of the Parsons School of Design, Krug researched her grandparents' role in the Third Reich, and her sifting of layers of history is as vital a story as what she discovered. Krug will be in conversation with Washington Post "Book World" writer and editor Nora Krug.
Click here for more information.
Politics and Prose at Union Market 1270 5th Street NE Washington DC 20008
Former Washingtonian Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa profiled in NYT
He Makes Archie Deep and Sabrina Dark. Meet Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa.
A version of this article appears in print on Nov. 11, 2018, on Page AR1 of the New York edition with the headline: Meet Archie's Best Pal, Roberto
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/11/08/arts/sabrina-riverdale-roberto-aguirre-sacasa.html
Nov 16: Lights: Skin & Earth Signing!
NOV 16 Lights: Skin & Earth Signing!
Public
· Hosted by Fantom Comics
In conjunction with LIGHTS' concept album SKIN & EARTH, the indie pop musician has published a comic based off of the album!
Come through to Fantom Comics to get a copy signed and meet LIGHTS at our store before they perform later at their concert at The Anthem!
Come through to Fantom Comics to get a copy signed and meet LIGHTS at our store before they perform later at their concert at The Anthem!
Friday, November 16, 2018 at 12 PM – 2 PM - Fantom Comics2010 P St NW, 2nd Floor, Washington, District of Columbia 20036
The Post reviews the latest Grinch
You'd have to be a Scrooge to resist the new animated 'Grinch' [in print as Resisting this one would be sheer Scroogery].
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