Monday, December 17, 2018

Reprising Flugennock's Latest'n'Greatest: "...or Democracy Gets It!"

A cartoon repeat, but with new commentary, from Mike Flugennock, DC's anarchist cartoonist.

"...or Democracy Gets It!"
http://sinkers.org/stage/?p=2646

In case you haven't noticed, the smell of 2020 is already in the air – on Twitter, the Left-punching Donut accounts are out punching the Left, the Sanders-punching Donuts are out punching Bernie, and they're all out pimping the Democratic Party because... democracy. Basically, if you're not voting Democratic, you hate Democracy™.

The Donuts are all real gung-ho for the exercise of democracy n'shit, but then when you actually vote your values, like vote Green or  Socialist or something – that is, actually participate in friggin' democracy – they get their panties in a twist because you didn't vote for the goddamn Democrat, even though the Democrat in the race also sucked on toast.

Saturday, December 15, 2018

Gypsy Omnibus review

by RM Rhodes

During the late 1990s and early 2000s, Heavy Metal ran six stories by Thierry Smolderen and Enrico Marini. The first of these, titled The Gypsy Star, was an immediate hit and was followed by the rest of the series over almost the course of a decade.

The art was the obvious draw of the story. Realistic, with an obvious manga influence, Marini could provide a cartoon flip to his line when it was necessary. The color scheme usually balanced a very orange red and a cool blue. The sequential storytelling was often clever and made for a compulsively readable feature.


The main character is called The Gypsy in the first series and Tsaigoi thereafter. He drives his eighteen wheel truck across a futuristic highway that spans the world. Sometimes he’s with his sister, sometimes he’s with other family members, and sometimes he’s alone. It’s a Mad Max setup with an unfortunate ethnic label and none of the pesky fuel shortage limitations.

Tsaigoi is an enthusiastic participant in capitalism. All of the stories are about him driving his truck through a problem area and getting caught up in local events, to his dismay. In every case, the stakes of the story are commercial in nature. And when it is called for, Tsaigoi will strap on his guns and take the fight to the people standing in the way of him getting his product to his customers.

Easily the best of these stories is a yarn about a caper in Germany during the final World Cup game between Germany and France. Germany loses badly due to a penalty shot 45 seconds into the game. Much comedy is made from this state of affairs and, in the end, Tsaigoi’s commercial instincts prove to be very very solid.


Tsaigoi is also a lover. I’m happy to report that every one of his sexual encounters (roughly one per story) is consensual. There is one problematic scene with a parapalegic woman, and one of the main characters is introduced by showing him running away from a giant man who wants to rape him. The way the character is drawn, he could be anywhere from a boy to his early teens. For the most part, though, it’s wholesome entertainment.

It is not difficult to find out what issues of Heavy Metal these originally appeared in, nor is it difficult to purchase them. The new Omnibus Edition of the six stories is, however, a much nicer product than the random handful of issues. It’s a hardback edition with a very nice slipcase. The extras are nice as well – a map of the world, showing the route of the highway, along with several pages of production art and sketches. It's the first thing I've seen from Insight Comics and its a handsome debut. The European edition must have recently been published.



The only real flaw in the production of the Omnibus is the title of the introduction. Dan Panosian remembers Gypsy from the pages of Heavy Metal and references a catchphrase saying that the main character utters when he is surprised or frustrated – “Dracu!” Except in the new translation for this edition, Dracu has been printed as Dracs.

Printed together like this, it is easy to see how well Marini’s art matured over the course of the series. The early stories have a sketchier aspect to the line weights, but the later stories are much more confident. The color got better as well – it’s almost as if the technology improved during the same period as the original publication.

Gypsy is a pretty solid action adventure comic. The creators did their best in the later stories to lean into the skid on the problematic name, but they were stuck with it. If you can get past that, you should be able to relax into the ultraviolence and over the top slapstick of it all. And if you can do that, there is a good chance you'll be very entertained indeed.

__________________________________________________________

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, December 14, 2018

The Post on the business of the Spider-Man animated movie

'Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse' could change the game for Hollywood's two biggest genres [in print as Animated 'Spider-Man' movie could be a game changer].

Dec 15: Mohammad Sabsaaneh art at Palestine Ctr (DC) gathering & live auction!





From their email list:
Dear friends--

This is just a quick reminder that we're joining with our friends at DC's Palestine Center/Jerusalem Fund to invite you to a festive gathering that will take place this Saturday, 3 pm - 5 pm, in their lovely space at 2425 Virginia Ave NW, near Washington DC's Foggy Bottom metro. The gathering will feature live music and yummy light eats-- along with an auction of some of the linocuts by Mohammad Sabaaneh that have been hung at their gallery since mid-November. 

Bring your family and friends to enjoy friendship and fun at a key inflection point in our nation's (and our city's) history!
If by chance you can't make it on Saturday, remember that you still have a chance to see Mohammad's work at the Jerusalem Fund Gallery today and tomorrow, between 9:30 am and 5 pm.
When the exhibition of Mohammad's linocut prints opened at the gallery three weeks ago, it attracted this review from "ComicsDC" blogger/critic Mike Rhode, who said that his favorite works were two larger pieces, "She carries remembered worlds" and "Resisting settler colonialism everywhere".

His assessment of these pieces: "Both evoke a strong sense of place and purpose."

You can see a lovely 42-minute video of Mohammad's discussions with Bro Russell at the exhibition's opening event, here.

The proceeds from Saturday's auction will be divided three ways, with equal portions going to the Jerusalem Fund's humanitarian projects in Palestine, Just World Ed's public-education projects here in the United States-- and one, of course, going to the artist himself!

I'm hoping to see many friends, old and new, at the auction/gathering! I am also eager to share the news about what JWE has achieved over the past year-- and what we have planned for the year ahead.

One of our most important 2019 projects will be starting December 27: A 22-day informational campaign about the legacy of "Operation Cast Lead", the deadly, 22-day assault that Israel flung against the overwhelmingly civilian population of Gaza exactly ten years ago.

Stay tuned for more details of our #CastLeadPlus10 campaign, much of which will be conducted online-- on Twitter and other platforms.

Meantime, I'll hope to see you at Saturday's gathering. It's probably good if you can pre-register, here. (And be sure to tell your friends about it, too!)

Stay well--

Helena.


Jan 9-10: Brad Meltzer in the area

#1: Author Brad Meltzer (Justice League of America, Identity Crisis, Green Arrow) appears in conversation with Josh Mensch at Politics and Prose Bookstore on Wednesday, January 9, 2019 at 7:00 PM to present his new non-fiction book, The First Conspiracy: The Secret Plot to Kill George Washington.http://www.conventionscene.com/2018/12/07/dc-the-first-conspiracy-signing/

#2: Meet Brad Meltzer- Washington, DC

· Hosted by Brad Meltzer

#3: Author Brad Meltzer appears at Barnes & Noble on Thursday, January 10, 2019 at 7:00 PM to sign his new non-fiction book, The First Conspiracy: The Secret Plot to Kill George Washington.http://www.conventionscene.com/2018/12/11/va-the-first-conspiracy-signing/

Thursday, December 13, 2018

DC's Forensic Sciences Dept does a comic book annual report

For Its Annual Report, One D.C. Agency Got Comically Creative

The D.C. Department of Forensic Sciences designed its annual report to look like a comic book, including four characters representing different agency tasks. From right: Cecil Ruya, Nya Veridas, Justin Gyeong, and Kati Sloan.

Dueling Tariff Man comic strips in major metropolitan newspapers

Last week, the Washington Post ran:

The amazing adventures of Tariff Man!
by Ellis Rosen
Washington Post (December 9): Outlook 2

Today, the NY Times ran their version:

Tariff Man: An Origin Story

Illustrations by Paul Hoppe

The New York Times (December 13 2018
online at https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/12/12/business/economy/tariff-man-origin-story.html

AFAIK, neither is by a regular comic strip artist either.

Is it something in the water?

Gallery Al-Quds Artist Talk with Mohammad Sabaaneh

Gallery Al-Quds Artist Talk with Mohammad Sabaaneh

Robert "Bro" Russell
In this talk, world renowned Palestinian cartoon artist Mohammad Sabaaneh is informally interviewed by Robert "Bro" Russell, Executive Director of the Cartoonists Rights Network International.

Dec 15: Mohammad Sabsaaneh art at Palestine Ctr (DC) gathering & live auction!


From their email list:
Dear friends--

This is just a quick reminder that we're joining with our friends at DC's Palestine Center/Jerusalem Fund to invite you to a festive gathering that will take place this Saturday, 3 pm - 5 pm, in their lovely space at 2425 Virginia Ave NW, near Washington DC's Foggy Bottom metro. The gathering will feature live music and yummy light eats-- along with an auction of some of the linocuts by Mohammad Sabaaneh that have been hung at their gallery since mid-November. 

Bring your family and friends to enjoy friendship and fun at a key inflection point in our nation's (and our city's) history!
If by chance you can't make it on Saturday, remember that you still have a chance to see Mohammad's work at the Jerusalem Fund Gallery today and tomorrow, between 9:30 am and 5 pm.
When the exhibition of Mohammad's linocut prints opened at the gallery three weeks ago, it attracted this review from "ComicsDC" blogger/critic Mike Rhode, who said that his favorite works were two larger pieces, "She carries remembered worlds" and "Resisting settler colonialism everywhere".

His assessment of these pieces: "Both evoke a strong sense of place and purpose."

You can see a lovely 42-minute video of Mohammad's discussions with Bro Russell at the exhibition's opening event, here.

The proceeds from Saturday's auction will be divided three ways, with equal portions going to the Jerusalem Fund's humanitarian projects in Palestine, Just World Ed's public-education projects here in the United States-- and one, of course, going to the artist himself!

I'm hoping to see many friends, old and new, at the auction/gathering! I am also eager to share the news about what JWE has achieved over the past year-- and what we have planned for the year ahead.

One of our most important 2019 projects will be starting December 27: A 22-day informational campaign about the legacy of "Operation Cast Lead", the deadly, 22-day assault that Israel flung against the overwhelmingly civilian population of Gaza exactly ten years ago.

Stay tuned for more details of our #CastLeadPlus10 campaign, much of which will be conducted online-- on Twitter and other platforms.

Meantime, I'll hope to see you at Saturday's gathering. It's probably good if you can pre-register, here. (And be sure to tell your friends about it, too!)

Stay well--

Helena.


Wednesday, December 12, 2018

Editorial Cartoon by artleytoons

My cartoon on the ineffective dialogue between Trump, Pelosi and Schumer in the recent meeting on border wall funding.
    —Steven G. Artley, artleytoons

click on image for larger view

©2018 Steven G. Artley • artleytoons • ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Tuesday, December 11, 2018

New book from Vanessa Bettencourt, formerly of Alexandria


Buy Now
Aion just got his wings, but they're not a reason to celebrate. Instead, he decides it's time to leave his home to find his place in the world.

Everything goes according to plan until the spiders arrive and kidnap his best friend, forcing him to cross the forbidden paths of the Wild Lands, on a daring adventure into the Lost Valley.

Aion will not journey alone. He will find loyal companions in Tulerul, the pigeon with a few secrets, Valia, a young spider who dreams of becoming a legendary beetle warrior, and many among the Lost Valley Tribes fighting the enslavement of the spiders and their great mysterious Monster. Join an epic journey of little bugs with mighty courage.

GW Magazine on Chris Burnhan's Batman


Life After a Dark Knight

Comic book artist Chris Burnham, BA '00, spent two years drawing Batman. It wasn't as glamorous as he imagined, but it led somewhere big: making a comic with 'Walking Dead' creator Robert Kirkman.

Story by Matthew Stoss
Photos by Kent Nishimura

Pat Oliphant at WHHA Holiday Book Fair yesterday

by Bruce Guthrie

I went to the White House Historical Association's Holiday Book Fair. 

I was there for two people -- Pat Oliphant and Peter Waddell -- and both were there.  (Another artist who was there, John Hutton, was also drawing Presidents so it was interesting to have three different artists with three totally different approaches to drawing presidents.)
 
He wasn't drawing anything other than his Punk character.  I asked him how he felt not doing much drawing in the age of Donald Trump and he said that he didn't enjoy drawing Trump.  He said that it was hard to draw a caricature of someone who was already a caricature. Living in New Mexico now, he noted he was afraid the event was going to be cancelled due to the predicted snow storm. 

During the 3-ish hours I was there, [local cartoonists] Al Goodwyn and Joe Sutliff came by.


Pat Oliphant and Susan Conway

Pat Oliphant and Al Goodwyn

Pat Oliphant and Joe Sutliff




 
__,_._,___

Comic Riffs on Nick Anderson's five-year-long drawing of a Bush obituary cartoon

A cartoonist finally finished his tribute to George H.W. Bush — by working with the paper that fired him

Comic Riffs reviews new Spider-Man animated movie

'Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse' is a stunning animated achievement that lives up to the hype

Jan 16: DC Anime Club To Host Free Screening of Dragonball Super The Movie Broly


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Chris Wanamaker, (202) 262 2083 president@dcanimeclub.org

DC Anime Club To Host Free Screening of Dragonball Super The Movie Broly

THIS EVENT IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE.
DC Anime Club will be hosting a free screening of Dragonball Super The Movie Broly on January 16, 2019 7pm at Georgetown 14 3111 K St NW, Washington, DC 20007 in Auditorium 14. Doors open at 6pm. This event will be by Nerds for Nerds. Seating is on a first come first serve basis so please arrive as early as possible. Cosplay(Costume play) is encouraged as long as you do not wear a mask or bring any prop weapons. All Attendees have to do is show up and enjoy the movie.

 ABOUT Dragonball Super The Movie: Ultimate destruction is coming! Goku and Vegeta face off against legendary Super Saiyan Broly in an explosive battle to save the world.

Nearest Subway Station: Foggy Bottom GWU METRO STATION Subway
Station(Blue Line)
This event is free and open to the public.

For more information please contact:
president@dcanimeclub.org.
(202) 262-2083 (phone)

Be sure to follow DC Anime Club on the following sites.

Website: www.dcanimeclub.org
Facebook Fanpage  https://www.facebook.com/DCAnimeClub/
Facebook Group page https://www.facebook.com/groups/DCAnimeClub/
Twitter https://twitter.com/DCAnimeClub
Meetup https://www.meetup.com/DC-Anime-Club/


About DC Anime Club:

DCAC was established in 2003 to introduce and educate people in the Washington, DC area about East Asian culture, through viewing and discussion of Japanese animation (also known as anime) and Japanese comics (manga).  DCAC is a 501(c)(3) not for profit organization, contributions to DC Anime Club are taxed deductible to the extent allowable under the law.

The club also works to provide a positive, alternative activity to the youth in the area by exposing them to foreign culture, encouraging  artistic expression and creativity, and providing opportunities for participation  in community activities and leadership.

In addition to our bi-weekly meetings, the club holds an Annual Art  Show, an Annual Costume fundraising event, and visits local schools to do presentations on anime. The club also works with the Smithsonian Freer Gallery and DC Asian Pacific American Film Festival on their anime screenings, and has helped locally promote performances for Japanese bands such as Puffy Ami Yumi and Pine am. DC Anime Club was founded by Chris Wanamaker (President), Jules
Chang (Former Vice President) and Craig Vaughn (Vice President) on  Saturday June 5, 2003. We have a strong membership that continues to grow -- most of  which are teenagers.

Cavna's comics journalism on The Post's first woman journalist

Monday, December 10, 2018

GW Magazine on Chris Burnhan's Batman

Life After a Dark Knight

Comic book artist Chris Burnham, BA '00, spent two years drawing Batman. It wasn't as glamorous as he imagined, but it led somewhere big: making a comic with 'Walking Dead' creator Robert Kirkman.

Story by Matthew Stoss
Photos by Kent Nishimura