Wednesday, August 21, 2019

DCist on new e-mag which may feature cartoonists.

This Digital Magazine Will Focus On D.C.'s 'Underground Culture'

Lori McCue

DCist Aug 20, 2019

https://dcist.com/story/19/08/20/this-digital-magazine-will-focus-on-d-c-s-underground-culture/

Josh Kramer is working with them.

Comic book fan helps subway passenger

On the Red Line, a would-be superhero leaps into action [in print as Hero moment: Batman superfan springs to action].

By Kery Murakami

Express (August 20 2019): 8

online at https://www.washingtonpost.com/express/2019/08/15/red-line-would-be-superhero-leaps-into-action/

Tuesday, August 20, 2019

PR: Small Press Expo Announces Programming Schedule for SPX 2019

For Immediate Release

Contact: Eden Miller

Email: press@smallpressexpo.com

Small Press Expo Announces Programming Schedule for SPX 2019

Bethesda, Maryland - August 20, 2019

Media Release - Small Press Expo is pleased to announce the Programming Schedule for SPX 2019. SPX is continuing the festival's established tradition of rich, thought provoking programming featuring leading comics artists and critics in conversation. As in previous years, the Programming Schedule features 22 sessions with two simultaneous tracks on both Saturday and Sunday, September 14 and 15.

See Raina Telgemeier, Eleanor Davis, Keith Knight, Chris Ware and Emily Carroll, along with all of the other Special Guests, in a wide variety of engaging panel discussions as part of SPX 2019.

In addition to the program panels, there are also 14 workshops with Special Guests and exhibitors being conducted by Pittsburgh-based Comics Workbook, you can sign up for the workshops here.

Visit the SPX 2019 Website for the Complete Programming Schedule

Here are some highlights:

Chris Ware And Eddie Campbell In Conversation: Chris Ware (Rusty Brown) and Eddie Campbell (The Goat Getters) are not only two of the most accomplished cartoonists in the world, they are also experts on its history. Moderator Craig Fischer (Appalachian State University) will join them in a wide-ranging conversation about comics' roots, their current work, being a cartoonist in Chicago, and whatever else strikes their fancy.

Jaime Hernandez and Katie Skelly In Conversation: Jaime Hernandez (Love And Rockets) and Katie Skelly (My Pretty Vampire, Maids) are known for their pulp roots, drawing beautiful & fashionable women, and creating memorable characters that have a profound impact on their readers. Rachel S. Miller (Ohio State University) will join them in a discussion delving into their unique drawing styles, inspirations, and shared cultural fascinations.

Racial Illiteracy: Harvey, Glyph and Inkpot award-winning indie cartoonist Keith Knight crashes SPX with an all-new slideshow addressing America's Racial Illiteracy. Using comix, story-telling, and humor, ye olde Gentleman Cartoonist gets to the heart of the matter when it comes to America's biggest problem. Tea will be served.

Libraries And Comics: Past, Present, And Future: Over the past twenty years, libraries and the comics industry at all levels have been working together to forge bonds that have benefited both. Comics and graphic novels have become a huge draw for libraries, who also use their resources for comics festivals and workshops. Libraries have become an essential client for publishers at all levels, emerging as a crucial part of their bottom line. Critic Chris Mautner explores the evolving nature of this relationship with Kathy Schalk-Green (of the American Library Association), Megan Halsband (from the Library of Congress), Jacq Cohen (representing Fantagraphics Books), and cartoonist Raina Telgemeier (award-winning and best-selling author of Smile, Drama, Sisters and her newest book, Guts).

Queer Science Fiction And World Building: Science fiction has long been used as a means to address any number of society's ills through the use of alien settings and advanced technology. Many cartoonists address queer-specific issues in the way that they actually create the foundations of their worlds. Critic and publisher Carta Monir will moderate Hannah Templer (Cosmoknights), Rosemary Valero-O'Connell (What Is Left), Shing Yin Khor (Salvage Station No. 8), and Alison Wilgus (Chronin) as they discuss how their settings create explicitly and implicitly relate queer themes.

Birthing Stories: There have been a number of extraordinary comics published about pregnancy and motherhood in recent years. Carol Tyler (Late Bloomer, Soldier's Heart) blazed the trail in this regard thirty years ago, and she will moderate an all-star assemblage of cartoonists to discuss the experience of giving birth. Join Lucy Knisley (Kid Gloves), Marnie Galloway (Slightly Plural), Meghan Turbitt (Laughter Birth), Lauren Weinstein (Mother's Walk), and Rachel Masilamani (We Conceive) as they offer a wide variety of perspectives on their own birthing stories.

Small Press Expo (SPX) is the preeminent showcase for the exhibition of independent comics, graphic novels, and alternative political cartoons. SPX is a registered 501(c)3 nonprofit that brings together more than 650 artists and publishers to meet their readers, booksellers, and distributors each year. Graphic novels, mini comics, and alternative comics will all be on display and for sale by their authors and illustrators. The expo includes a series of panel discussions and interviews with this year's guests.

The Ignatz Award is a festival prize held every year at SPX recognizing outstanding achievement in comics and cartooning, with the winners chosen by attendees at the show.

As in previous years, profits from the SPX will go to support the SPX Graphic Novel Gift Program, which funds graphic novel purchases for public and academic libraries. For more information on the Small Press Expo, please visit http://www.smallpressexpo.com.

Small Press Expo

P.O. Box 5704

Bethesda, Maryland

20824

www.smallpressexpo.com

Email: press@smallpressexpo.com

STAY CONNECTED

Small Press Expo | P.O. Box 5704, Bethesda, MD 20824

Editorial on Latuff editorial cartoon by DC writer

The Left Can No Longer Excuse Its Anti-Semitism
Izabella Tabarovsky
Forward August 19 2019

https://forward.com/opinion/429787/the-left-can-no-longer-excuse-its-anti-semitism/

Izabella Tabarovsky is a writer in Washington, DC. She works at the Kennan Institute of the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars.

Sept 14: Jen Wang at East City Bookstore

At 3 pm.

Catching up with Cavna on Spiegelman, Peanuts, Harvey Awards

Art Spiegelman says his Marvel book introduction was killed over Trump joke

By Michael Cavna

Washington Post August 19 2019

https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2019/08/19/art-spiegelman-says-his-marvel-book-introduction-was-killed-over-trump-joke/

New York Comic Con's Harvey Award nominations show streaming services gaining ground

By Michael Cavna

Washington Post August 14 2019

https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2019/08/14/new-york-comic-cons-harvey-award-nominations-show-streaming-services-gaining-ground/

How Woodstock — the bird — was inspired by the 1969 music festival [in print as A bird of peace amid the dogs of war].

By Michael Cavna

Washington Post (August 17 2019): C1, 2

online at https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2019/08/15/how-woodstock-bird-was-inspired-by-music-festival/

The story behind the fake Mad magazine and TV Guide covers in 'Once Upon a Time ... in Hollywood' [in print as The deep reservoir of prop fictions in 'Once Upon a Time']

By Michael Cavna

Washington Post August 18 2019, p. E3

Online at https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2019/08/08/story-behind-fake-mad-magazine-tv-guide-covers-once-upon-time-hollywood/

The Post's obituary for animator Richard Williams

Richard Williams, Oscar-winning animator behind 'Who Framed Roger Rabbit,' dies at 86 [in print as Oscar winner created 'Roger Rabbit'].

By Harrison Smith

Washington Post (August 20 2019): B6

online at https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/richard-williams-oscar-winning-animator-behind-who-framed-roger-rabbit-dies-at-86/2019/08/19/27433cc4-c28c-11e9-b5e4-54aa56d5b7ce_story.html

The Post on Pokemon in DC

Yes, people are still obsessed with Pokémon — and this is their Super Bowl [in print as Catching Pokemon - and feelings]

By Lisa Bonos

Washington Post (August 20, 2019): C1, 2

online at https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/yes-people-are-still-obsessed-with-pokemon--and-this-is-their-super-bowl/2019/08/19/b18ed542-c1eb-11e9-b5e4-54aa56d5b7ce_story.html

Monday, August 19, 2019

Aug 31: Comics at the Library of Congress Book Festival

Sorted by appearance time.

Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm Presentation 9:30 am - 9:55 am EDT
Children's Purple Stage

Jennifer L. Holm and Matthew Holm Book Signing Line No. 6 10:30 am - 11:30 am EDT
Book Signing Lines 6-10

Juana Medina Presentation 10:40 am - 11:05 am EDT

Children's Purple Stage

Jim Ottaviani Presentation 11:00 am - 11:45 am EDT
Science

Cece Bell Presentation 11:50 am - 12:15 pm EDT
Children's Green Stage

Jim Ottaviani Book Signing Line No. 13 12:30 pm - 1:30 pm EDT
Book Signing Lines 11-15

Juana Medina Book Signing Line No. 23 12:30 pm - 1:30 pm EDT
Book Signing Lines 20-23

Cece Bell Book Signing Line No. 11 1:30 pm - 2:30 pm EDT

Book Signing Lines 11-15

Raina Telgemeier Book Signing Line No. 19 1:30 pm - 2:30 pm EDT
Book Signing Lines 16-19

Shannon Hale and LeUyen Pham Presentation 2:10 pm - 2:35 pm EDT
Children's Green Stage

Ngozi Ukazu Presentation 2:15 pm - 2:50 pm EDT
Teens

Fabien Cousteau Presentation 2:20 pm - 2:45 pm EDT
Children's Purple Stage

Fabien Cousteau Book Signing Line No. 5 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm EDT
Book Signing Lines 1-5

Matt Phelan Presentation 3:30 pm - 3:55 pm EDT

Children's Purple Stage

Ngozi Ukazu Book Signing Line No. 3 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm EDT
Book Signing Lines 1-5

Shannon Hale and LeUyen Pham Book Signing Line No. 11 3:30 pm - 4:30 pm EDT
Book Signing Lines 11-15

Raina Telgemeier Presentation 4:00 pm - 5:00 pm EDT
Main Stage

Jarrett J. Krosoczka Book Signing Line No. 8 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm EDT
Book Signing Lines 6-10

Matt Phelan Book Signing Line No. 2 4:30 pm - 5:30 pm EDT
Book Signing Lines 1-5

Rainbow Rowell and Faith Erin Hicks Presentation 4:50 pm - 5:30 pm EDT
Teens

Rainbow Rowell and Faith Erin Hicks Book Signing Line No. 5 6:30 pm - 7:30 pm EDT
Book Signing Lines 1-5

Editorial Cartoon by Steve Artley

"Fortune Kooky" (click on Image for larger view)

Sunday, August 18, 2019

Cul de Sac comic strips and books auctioned to save bookstore

Several thousand dollars were raised today through auctions of Richard Thompson's Cul de Sac original art, books, and other works,to assist One More Page Bookstore in paying an unexpected large tax bill.

As the bookstore faced a Draconian tax increase, books Richard had signed before his death, along with 2 strips newly donated by Amy Thompson, sold to fans of the cartoonist, including one strip to local cartoonist Daniel Boris. A quick calculation is that Richard provided about $2600 in sales or 12.5% of the auction proceeds (but check the math before quoting me).

One More Page was dear to Richard, hosting him for their first booksigning (before the store had even opened), for his first Cul de Sac collection. After he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, the store held fundraisers for Team Cul de Sac to raise money for the Michael J. Fox Foundation. Richard passed away just barely over three years ago.

The store's auction site described the original art as such:

American illustrator and cartoonist Richard Thompson was best known for his syndicated comic strip Cul de Sac. Richard received the Reuben Award for Outstanding Cartoonist of the Year in 2010. We are huge fans of Richard's work and were thrilled when he agreed to do an event at OMP when we first opened. Over the years, he was a invaluable supporter, promoting OMP and signing countless books to be shipped to fans worldwide.

Richard's wife, Amy, generously donated this original artwork of a panel of Cul de Sac ("Trick or Treat" panel #111031), his strip which focused on a four-year-old girl, Alice Otterloop, and her daily life at preschool and at home. Cul de Sac was published in more than 70 newspapers by the fall of 2007 and was distributed nationally as both a daily and Sunday strip by Universal Press Syndicate.

Bill Watterson, created of Calvin and Hobbes, praised Thompson's work:

"I thought the best newspaper comic strips were long gone, and I've never been happier to be wrong. Richard Thompson's Cul de Sac has it all—intelligence, gentle humor, a delightful way with words, and, most surprising of all, wonderful, wonderful drawings."

"Cul de Sac's whimsical take on the world and playful sense of language somehow gets funnier the more times you read it. Four-year-old Alice and her Blisshaven Preschool classmates will ring true to any parent. Doing projects in a cloud of glue and glitter, the little kids manage to reinterpret an otherwise incomprehensible world via their meandering, nonstop chatter. But I think my favorite character is Alice's older brother, Petey. A haunted, controlling milquetoast, he's surely one of the most neurotic kids to appear in comics. These children and their struggles are presented affectionately, and one of the things I like best about Cul de Sac is its natural warmth. Cul de Sac avoids both mawkishness and cynicism and instead finds genuine charm in its loopy appreciation of small events. Very few strips can hit this subtle note."