Thursday, May 16, 2019

Wednesday, May 15, 2019

Awesome Con had a CIA presence

In DC, this is essentially a 'so-what, water is wet' story, but The Beat put a lot of effort into it, so...

CIA Sponsorship at AwesomeCon Creates Controversy (UPDATED)

Flugennock's Latest'n'Greatest: "DC Council: Give US a 'Fair Shot'!"

From DC's anarchist cartoonist, Mike Flugennock


"DC Council: Give US a 'Fair Shot'!"
http://sinkers.org/stage/?p=2727

Needless to say, we at DCMJ have some issues with the initial draft of DC Mayor Bowser's reforms to DC cannabis legislation – among them a prohibition on the free distribution of cannabis for advocacy purposes, restrictions on the cannabis "gifting economy" that's sprung up in DC in lieu of regulated legal sales, and the continued denial of access to the legal cannabis market for small-scale growers in DC.

I should be able to go to Eastern Market on Sundays and get a quarter of Capitol Hill Kush at the same place I get my tomatoes, apple cider and craft whiskey. DCMJ calls on the DC government to follow through on Mayor Bowser "fair shot" rhetoric and end the prohibition on the sale of cannabis by small-batch growers.

May 25: Cook Korean! Book Signing and Live Drawing at Femme Fatale DC

MAY 25

Cook Korean! Book Signing and Live Drawing at Femme Fatale DC

Tuesday, May 14, 2019

The Complete Trump Magazine

by RM Rhodes

One of the things I like to do at comic book conventions is hit the discount graphic novel bins. One of the treasures that I found at AwesomeCon was a beautiful hardback book about Trump magazine, published by Fantagraphics. You're probably thinking the same thing I thought of when I picked it up, but never fear, it's not that Trump. In this case, Trump magazine was a satirical collaboration between Harvey Kurtzman (of MAD magazine fame) and Hugh Hefner (of Playboy fame), published by Playboy in 1957.



There is an excellent essay by Denis Kitchen explaining the history of the times and Kurtzman's poor business choices that led to him working with Hefner. Kurtzman brought practically the entire MAD magazine bullpen with him, including Will Elder, Al Jaffee, and Jack Davis - a veritable murderer's row of brilliantly satirical artists. Unfortunately, a combination of economic woes for the publisher and Kurtzman's procrastinating perfectionism meant that only two issues of Trump were every published.



Fortunately for contemporary readers, this means that both full issues are published in the single book, along with annotations and accompanying back matter. The annotations are more than occasionally necessary, especially for readers who are not up on current events from six decades ago. Bits and pieces of what might have gone into the third issue also appear at the end of the book, along with a slew of speculation. Probably the most interesting of these is the flexagon template that Kurtzman was planning to publish as the centerfold.



The material in the two issues are immediately familiar to anyone who has ever read an issue of MAD magazine. There were parodies of popular ads, parodies of popular comics, parodies of popular movies, and a slew of satires. One of the movie parodies even ends on a note that the editors don't want to spoil the movie for people who haven't seen it yet. The only jokes that fall flat are the ones that depend on the reader's understanding of current events. The jokes that rely on age-old dilemmas without any explanation are still just as funny today as they were when they were written.



Because MAD was printed in black and white on sub-optimal paper with sub-optimal printers, the art had to be cruder. Leveling up to a better publisher meant that the artists had access to better paper quality and better printing technology and they took advantage of it. One of the parody ads was created with a scratchboard and had much more detail than something created for MAD would have had.



One interesting item in the first issue is a reprint comic from "60 year old cartoon" - a French artist named Caran d'Ache. The joke is solid imperialist humor without being racist, which means that in involves animal humor. It's interesting to run into a 120 year old comic in an archival edition of a 60 year old magazine.



Overall, the book is worth your while if you're like me - an avid fan of old comics-related anthologies, especially those from the middle of the last century with both an interesting backstory and a limited print run. If you don't have my specific interests and you just want to laugh at something named Trump that has nothing to do with the 21st century, you might like this collection as well.


__________________________________________________________

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 ex-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. 

Tom King interviewed about Batman

'Batman' Writer Tom King Teases Twist That Will "Change the Character for a Generation"

AOC comic book drops tomorrow

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez as a Super Hero? This Comic Book Thinks So

The representative from New York inspired a comic book anthology that arrives in stores on Wednesday.

A version of this article appears in print on May 14, 2019, on Page C2 of the New York edition with the headline: Yes: Truth, Justice and the American Way.


The Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and the Freshman Force comic from Devil's Due has several covers, including this one drawn by Tim Seeley and Josh Blaylock.(Devil's Due)

Monday, May 13, 2019

May 18: There’s a Story in Everything: Zinemaking & Comic Workshop

There's a Story in Everything: Zinemaking & Comic Workshop



Description

Learn to make zines, a universal form of self expression, with Smithsonian illustrator and comic artist Evan Keeling. This two-hour, hands-on workshop is based on the idea that everyone has a story to tell and can create their own zines and comics regardless of artistic ability. This event is co-produced with Lost Origins Gallery, which is currently presenting Action. Reaction, Action: Visualizing Fugazi, an exhibition exploring the impact of the band Fugazi. Curated by University of Maryland archivist John Davis, the exhibition features data visualizations by Carni Klirs, fliers, fanzines, letters, and photographs.

Event is limited to 15 people. Please RSVP


Date and Time

Sat, May 18, 2019

1:00 PM – 3:00 PM EDT

Add to Calendar

Location

Lost Origins Gallery

3110 Mount Pleasant Street Northwest

Washington, DC 20010

View Map

Troy-Jeffrey Allen talks to Sean Murphy about Batman

Sean Murphy's Got It Covered: Batman White Knight

by Troy-Jeffrey Allen

Trump goes MAD, Buttigieg shrugs

Alfred E. Neuman? Trump's nickname for millennial Pete Buttigieg shows generation gap

Some millennials, including Buttigieg, ask: Who?

Friday, May 10, 2019

George Booth's cartooning career started in DC

Mike Lynch talked to George Booth about his cartooning career starting in Washington, DC in the new Hogan's Alley magazine, and he's posted that excerpt here: http://mikelynchcartoons.blogspot.com/2019/04/my-interview-with-george-booth-in.html

June 1: Christopher Eliopoulos at the National Archives

The Write Stuff 2019

Embark on a quest to find the "Write" Stuff! You are invited to join award-winning authors and illustrators at the National Archives on Saturday, June 1st, 2019 to learn about the writing, illustration, and research that go into making a book.

The "Write" Stuff is FREE and open to the public! Aspiring authors and illustrators of all ages are encouraged to join the celebration of using research for storytelling. If you are unable to attend in person, you can stream the morning author conversations on YouTube and Facebook Live.

REGISTER HERE

This year, we are excited to be joined by L. M. Elliott (Hamilton and Peggy: A Revolutionary Friendship, Suspect Red), Christopher Eliopoulos (the Ordinary People Change the World series), Debbie Levy (I Dissent: Ruth Bader Ginsburg Leaves Her Mark, Soldier Song: A True Story of the Civil War, This Promise of Change: One Girl's Story in the Fight for School Equality), and Pamela M. Tuck (As Fast As Words Could Fly). The day will start in the McGowan Theater for the Author Conversations session where moderator Zachary Clark (of 826DC) will ask the authors about the role of research in their work. This will be followed by an audience Q&A session where you can ask your own questions and find out everything you want to know about writing and illustration!

After a break for lunch, the day will continue in the Boeing Learning Center. There, you will be able to meet with authors one-on-one, as well as staff from the National Archives and 826DC, so you can learn even more about research and writing. Join each featured author/illustrator in a spotlight workshop and choose from a selection of books by our special guests to purchase and have signed throughout the afternoon.

Mark your calendars for this incredible opportunity, and don't forget to register above! We are excited to see you there.

The "Write" Stuff Schedule:

11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. in the McGowan Theater (and streamed on YouTube and Facebook Live)

  • -Author Conversations and Q&A with audience

12:30 p.m. – 1:30 p.m. Lunch Break

1:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. in the Boeing Learning Center

  • -Purchase books, then chat with authors and illustrators as you get your books signed
  • -Participate in author spotlight sessions- including readings, workshops, and presentations
  • -Learn about research at the National Archives in our Learning Lab stacks
  • -Interact with staff from 826DC
  • -Thank authors/illustrators by leaving a note
  • -Engage in family friendly hands-on activities in the ReSource Room

Featured Authors

Christopher Eliopoulos began his career working for Marvel Comics and has worked on literally thousands of comics. He's written or illustrated comics including Cow Boy, Franklin Richards: Son of a Genius and Pet Avengers. He's the author/illustrator of a couple of graphic novels, Cosmic Commandos and Monster Mayhem and illustrates the Ordinary People Change the World series which is being adapted to a PBS animated show for children titled Xavier Riddle and the Secret Museum. 

Steve Geppi gave a recent commencement speech that's now online

The Post reviews Pokemon movie Detective Pikachu

Ryan Reynolds plays Pikachu in the new Pokémon movie. It's way better than it sounds. [in print as Ryan Reynolds playing Pikachu? Don't knock it till you see it].

May 18: Gordon Harris at Gaithersburg Book Fest


from his newsletter:

May 10, 2019

Gaithersburg Book Fest Next Sat.

Next Saturday, May 18, Gordon will be in Gaithersburg, Maryland from 10 am to 6 pm for their annual Book Festival.

He's got a few ashcans of his newest mini-comic left. Get 'em while they still have that hot-off-the-press scent. Sort of.

 
Facebook link
SPACE flyer art
 

Thursday, May 09, 2019

May 14: Mass Culture and The Elite: The Intersection of Popular Culture and the Fine Arts

Panel Discussion & Web Project Launch | Tuesday, May 14, 5:30 pm

Mass Culture and The Elite: The Intersection of Popular Culture and the Fine Arts

To what extent do elite culture and popular culture inform each other and shape one another? How do elements of culture shift back and forth between elite and popular? At what point did jazz music, for instance, cross over from a niche genre of popular music into a sophisticated and smart form of "high art"? How did comics transform from fleeting entertainment printed onto throwaway newspapers into an art form used for advanced narrative storytelling? When did the making and consumption of beer transition from unremarkable everyday routine to a "craft" as cosmopolitan as viticulture? How, why, and when does "culture" with a lowercase C become "Culture" with a capital C? Join the discussion, listen to jazz pianist Jon Ozment perform, chat with publisher Bill Campbell, and taste craft beer at the launch of The Elite and the Popular in the Arts on May 14.

Mass Culture and The Elite

Contact

Goethe-Institut Washington
1990 K St. NW, Suite 03
(entrance on 20th St. NW, lower level)
Washington, DC 20006, USA
Tel. +1 202 8474700
Fax +1 202 8474727
info-washington@goethe.de


Flugennock's Latest'n'Greatest: "Defending the Embassy, Defending Liberty"


Another viewpoint from Mike Flugennock, DC's anarchist cartoonist:
"Defending the Embassy, Defending Liberty"
http://sinkers.org/stage/?p=2724

A new low was reached this week when, at the direction of the US Secret Service, Potomac Electric Power Co. cut off the electricity to the Venezuelan Embassy in Washington, in an effort to force out members of Code Pink and other organizations there at the invitation of the staff defending the Embassy against a siege by thuggish supporters of the attempted putsch by US-backed fascist failson Juan "Guido" Guaidò.

This is in addition to ongoing attempts to prevent the delivery of food to the Embassy, ironically mirroring the economic warfare being waged against the people of Venezuela by the US Empire.

------------

"US cuts off power to Venezuelan Embassy with activists besieged inside", RT, 05.09.19
https://www.rt.com/usa/458837-embassy-blackout-activists-collective/

"24/7 Defense of Venezuelan Embassy", Code Pink
https://www.codepink.org/venezuela

The rest of Mark Fiore's winning RFK Award portfolio

The press release for the 2019 Robert F. Kennedy journalism award for editorial cartooning linked only to Mark Fiore's submission of his animated cartoons about the border crisis entitled "Family Separation in Cartoons." However, he also submitted one long-form and multiple single panel cartoons which contributed to his winning the award. I wrote to him today asking about them and he added the rest of his submission to his website. 




I encourage everyone to check them out and reflect on them.


May 18: Cartoonists at the Gaithersburg Book Festival

Gaithersburg Book Festival

Saturday  May 18, 2019 10am – 6pm

http://www.gaithersburgbookfestival.org/

Gaithersburg City Hall
31 South Summit Avenue
Gaithersburg, MD 20877

Malaka Gharib

Latest Title: I Was Their American Dream: A Graphic Memoir

Malaka Gharib is a journalist at NPR. She is the author of "I Was Their American Dream," a graphic memoir about being Filipino-Egyptian-American. She is the founder of The Runcible Spoon, a food zine, and the co-founder of the D.C. Art Book Fair. She lives in a rowhouse with her husband in Washington, D.C.

Facebook

Twitter: @MalakaGharib

Author Schedule:

Venue(s): Rachel Carson Pavilion

Presentation Start Time:4:15 pm

Presentation End Time:5:05 pm

Signing Time:5:15 pm

Author Website:https://www.npr.org/people/469106148/malaka-gharib


Alex Graudins

Latest Title:

Science Comics: The Brain: The Ultimate Thinking Machine

Alex Graudins is a a Rhode Island-based cartoonist and illustrator of "Science Comics: The Brain." She graduated from the School of Visual Arts' Cartooning program in 2016 and has since contributed comics to sites like The Nib and CollegeHumor. Alex loves drawing memoirs and YA fiction focusing on mental illness and friendship. But when she's not working, she challenges her social anxiety with improv comedy.

Twitter: @toonyballoony

Author Schedule:

Venue(s): Willa Cather Pavilion

Presentation Start Time:1:15 pm

Presentation End Time:2:05 pm

Signing Time:2:15 pm

Author Website:http://toonyart.com/


Gareth Hinds

Latest Title:

The Iliad

Gareth Hinds is a New York Times best-selling author and illustrator of critically-acclaimed graphic novels based on the classics, including "Beowulf," "The Odyssey," "POE: Stories and Poems," and now his most ambitious and epic book ever, "The Iliad." He also has illustrated picture books, such as "Gifts From the Gods," award-winning non-fiction such as "Samurai Rising," video games, museum exhibits, and more. Gareth is a recipient of the Boston Public Library's "Literary Lights for Children" award, and his books are excerpted in textbooks and used to teach the classics in English classrooms across the country.

Blog: Hindsight

Facebook

Pinterest

Twitter: @garethhinds

Tumblr: garethhinds

Author Schedule:

Venue(s): Ogden Nash Pavilion

Presentation Start Time:10:00 am

Presentation End Time:11:05 am

Signing Time:11:15 am

Andy Hirsch

Latest Title: Science Comics: Trees: Kings of the Forest

Andy Hirsch is a cartoonist and illustrator living in Dallas, whose current projects include several entries in the totally great "Science Comics" line from First Second Books, including "Dogs," "Trees" and "Cats."

Andy is the co-creator of "The Baker Street Peculiars," illustrator of the graphic novel "The Royal Historian of Oz" (a 2013 YALSA Great Graphic Novel for Teens), and contributor to the "Garfield," "Regular Show" and "Adventure Time" ongoing comic book series. His first solo graphic novel, "Varmints," was released in 2016.

Facebook

Instagram: @itsandyhirsch

Twitter: @ItsAndyHirsch

Author Schedule:

Venue(s): Willa Cather Pavilion

Presentation Start Time:1:15 pm

Presentation End Time:2:05 pm

Signing Time:2:15 pm

Author Website:https://aforandy.com/


Paul Noth

Latest Title:

How to Properly Dispose of Planet Earth

Paul Noth is a writer and artist whose cartoons appear regularly in The New Yorker and occasionally in other publications, including The Wall Street Journal. He was a regular guest writer for "Late Night with Conan O'Brien," for which he created the cartoon "Pale Force," and was an animation consultant for Saturday Night Live. He has also written for CBS's "The Late Late Show" and other television programs.  His latest book is "How to Properly Dispose of Planet Earth."

Twitter: @PaulNoth

Author Schedule:

Venue(s):Willa Cather Pavilion

Presentation Start Time:12:15 pm

Presentation End Time:1:05 pm

Signing Time:1:15 pm

Dave Roman

Latest Title: Astronaut Academy: Re-entry

Dave Roman is a cartoonist and full-time waffle enthusiast. He is the author/illustrator of the "Astronaut Academy" series (winner of Maryland's Black-Eyed Susan Book Award) and writer of the graphic novels, "Teen Boat! Race for Boatlantis" and "Agnes Quill: An Anthology of Mystery." He has contributed stories and art to "Goosebumps Graphix: Slappy's Tales of Horror," "Pluto is Peeved!" and "Nursery Rhyme Comics."

Dave is a graduate of the School of Visual Arts, a former editor at Nickelodeon Magazine and is currently series editor for First Second's "Science Comics" series of non-fiction graphic novels. He lives in New York City and draws a webcomic called Starbunny, Inc.

Facebook

Twitter: @yaytime

 Author Schedule:

Venue(s): Willa Cather Pavilion

Presentation Start Time:1:15 pm

Presentation End Time:2:05 pm

Signing Time:2:15 pm

Author Website:http://yaytime.com/