Fan conventions are being postponed amid covid-19 concerns — but Comic-Con is still a go
Michael Cavna
Washington Post March 13, 2020
Friday, March 13, 2020
Herblock Prize ceremony and lecture cancelled
I received the following email today:
The Herblock Prize & Lecture event at the Library of Congress on April 6, 2020 has been cancelled.
Due to the closing of the Library of Congress and concerns over coronavirus The Herb Block Foundation decided that it is in everyone's best interest to cancel the event.
We will let you know if this event will be rescheduled or if we will see you in 2021.
The Post reviews Bloodshot
In 'Bloodshot,' Vin Diesel glowers and growls as a bionic assassin [in print as Vin Diesel glowers and growls as a comic book-inspired assassin]
Smithsonian Museums and National Zoo To Close March 14
As a public health precaution due to COVID-19 (coronavirus), all Smithsonian museums including the Freer Gallery of Art and Arthur M. Sackler Gallery and the National Zoo in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area and in New York City, will temporarily close to the public starting Saturday, March 14.
The health and safety of Smithsonian visitors, staff and volunteers is a top priority. We are closely monitoring the coronavirus situation and maintain ongoing communication with local health officials and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Due to the rapidly changing nature of the situation, we are not announcing a reopening date at this time and will provide updates on a week-to-week basis on our websites.
Follow the Smithsonian on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter for immediate updates @smithsonian.
In the meantime, we invite you to explore the Smithsonian's online resources by visiting www.si.edu and www.asia.si.edu for more information on virtual exhibitions, online collections and educational resources.
We appreciate your understanding at this time and we look forward to seeing you when we are able to reopen.
The health and safety of Smithsonian visitors, staff and volunteers is a top priority. We are closely monitoring the coronavirus situation and maintain ongoing communication with local health officials and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Due to the rapidly changing nature of the situation, we are not announcing a reopening date at this time and will provide updates on a week-to-week basis on our websites.
Follow the Smithsonian on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter for immediate updates @smithsonian.
In the meantime, we invite you to explore the Smithsonian's online resources by visiting www.si.edu and www.asia.si.edu for more information on virtual exhibitions, online collections and educational resources.
We appreciate your understanding at this time and we look forward to seeing you when we are able to reopen.
Thursday, March 12, 2020
March 22: (A Mini) Zine Fest @ Femme Fatale DC CANCELLED
A Message from Allie Anindita/@sanedoodles :
Hi everyone – I'm sorry to announce that this event is postponed for the time being. The other artists and I are putting our public health-hats on and agree that it is best to delay until the COVID-19 virus is contained in the DMV, for our health and yours. I will hopefully provide an update in early May as to if/when it's back on.
In the meantime, all of us will be sharing the zines and artwork on Instagram on the original date of the zine fest! Search #FFDCzinefest on Sunday, March 22 to check out the good stuff. You can also follow each of the artists for their usual content:
- Buah zine
- Dana Jeri Maier
- Heart Over Crown
- Liz at Large
- Marcella Draws
- Malaka Gharib
- Rachel Orr
- Robin Ha
- Ruth Tam
- sanedoodles
Stay healthy, and hopefully see you in a few weeks!
Library of Congress closed to visitors as of this evening
Library of Congress Announces Limited Access to Facilities until April 1
Out of an abundance of caution, all Library of Congress buildings and facilities will be closed to the public starting at 5 p.m. Thursday, March 12, until Thursday, April 1, 2020 at 8 a.m. to reduce the risk of transmitting COVID-19 coronavirus. Library employees, contractors, authorized visitors and other credentialed Capitol Hill staff will continue to have access to the buildings. During the closure, all Library-sponsored public programs are postponed or cancelled through the end of March.
Whenever possible, the Library will reschedule the public programs originally scheduled during the closure period. We will also provide regular public updates on the operating status of Library facilities.
Because the health and safety of Library employees and visitors is our first priority, the Library is carefully and continuously monitoring information from the Centers from Disease Control and Prevention, local area health departments, and our Federal partners so the Library can respond rapidly as conditions change regarding COVID-19 coronavirus.
The Library has increased cleaning of restrooms, public spaces and elevator lobbies, and has installed additional hand sanitizer stations.
The public can still access many Library resources through LOC.gov, Ask a Librarian and Congress.gov. If you are a user of the U.S. Copyright Office's services, submit your applications online, browse FAQs, and submit emails with questions through copyright.gov. You may also reach the Copyright Office by phone at (202) 707-3000.
More information about the Library of Congress' response to the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic can be found at: https://www.loc.gov/coronavirus/
The Library of Congress is the world's largest library, offering access to the creative record of the United States — and extensive materials from around the world. It is the main research arm of the U.S. Congress and the home of the U.S. Copyright Office. Explore collections, reference services and other programs at loc.gov; access the official site for U.S. federal legislative information at congress.gov. and register creative works of authorship at copyright.gov.
Wednesday, March 11, 2020
PR: Bad Idea Comics - Available at Third Eye - Pre-Order Now!
The idea behind the Bad Idea Comics is that they'll only ship their comics to a small number of stores in the US, and you can't get them any other way. I don't think they plan on collecting them either. Here's a story w/ details, but this might be the only place in the greater DMV to be able to get these. - Mike
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University of Maryland's Diamondback newspaper ceases print publication
He also linked to the Diamondback's own story about their string of hit cartoonists - Jeff Kinney, Frank Cho, and Aaron McGruder.
RIP Allen Bellman
by Bruce GuthrieAllen Bellman has died. The 96-year-old worked on Golden Age comics in the 1940s like Captain America, The Human Torch, Jap Buster Johnson, At the time, he worked for Timely Comics. Many of the characters were later relaunched by Marvel Comics in the 1960s.
I met him in 2016 when Mark Evanier talked to him for two panels at the San Diego Comic-Con. Captain America was especially huge back then -- it was Cap's 75th anniversary -- and I couldn't even get into one of panels. I'm sure he enjoyed the attention for something he had worked on 60+ years before.
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| Mark Evanier and Bellman |
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| Drawing in Guthrie's sketchbook |
Some other pictures.... The massive crowd waiting to get into the
Captain America @ 75 panel -- the one I gave up trying to get in.
His
hand with Captain America ring and nail polish.
And his wife Roz.
April 11: Laura Lee Gulledge’s New Graphic Novel Book Launch in Charlottesville
THE DARK MATTER OF MONA STARR, A NEW GRAPHIC NOVEL EXPLORING MENTAL HEALTH BY LOCAL AUTHOR, LAUNCHES AT THE BRIDGE PAI
CHARLOTTESVILLE,
VA (March 5th 2020) - The Bridge PAI will be hosting a book launch for
local author and artist Laura Lee Gulledge’s new YA graphic novel THE
DARK MATTER OF MONA STARR. (Abrams Books)
This event is the official launch party which will feature hands-on art activities inspired by the book as well as a station where guests can learn how to make their own self care plan. Plus there will be a live reading from the book, projected drawing videos, free door prizes, and celestial inspired cookies by Bowerbird Bakeshop. Drinks from Potter's Craft Cider and signed books will be available for purchase.
"I will also
be at Awesome Con May 1-3rd in Washington DC during my book tour.
Here's the book trailer in case you'd like to check it out: https://www.youtube.com/
LAURA LEE GULLEDGE is an Eisner Award nominated author, illustrator, and teaching artist. She is the creator of the YA graphic novels Page by Paige and Will & Whit in addition to her interactive book Sketchbook Dares: 24 Ways to Draw Out Your Inner Artist. Laura Lee also enjoys exploring comics journalism, interactive event production, contemplative dance, street art, and developing the Will & Whit DIY musical. She is based in Charlottesville and found online at whoislauralee.com.
#artnerlove
PR: BREATHTAKER gets a MUSIC VIDEO
March 11, 2020
For Immediate Release
Breathtaker Graphic Novel Gets a Music Video
Mark Wheatley expands on epic collaboration with Mark Hempel
Baltimore, Maryland – Not only does the long-awaited remastered edition of Mark Wheatley and Marc Hempel's acclaimed graphic novel, Breathtaker, finally have a scheduled 2020 release date from Titan Comics, it's accompanied by a brand new comic book, a museum-quality traveling exhibit, and now a music video as well. The video debuts on Diamond Comic Distributors' PreviewsWorld YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/user/PREVIEWSworld/featured on Thursday, March 12, and goes into wider release after that.
Wheatley and Hempel co-created the ground-breaking graphic novel and many other projects over the years, and as it turns out they're still breaking ground with new ideas associated with Breathtaker. As Titan gears up for the highly anticipated release of the graphic novel and a brand new comic book, the Breathtaker music video has just been released. Not only did Wheatley write and record the music, he also animated the music video.
"I love the possibility the Breathtaker track and music video represent: creatives leveraging technology (and their own talent) to spread their storytelling, in this instance beyond the pages of the original book but with the same impulses. Cinematic, lush, with tragedy lurking just below the surface, Breathtaker the song is the perfect companion piece to Wheatley and Hempel's visionary approach to Breathtaker the story, as well as a soaring, prog-rock anthem that stands on its own," said Feast of the Seven Fishes writer/director Robert Tinnell, whose own music video experience ranges from directing Paula Abdul's iconic "Straight Up" to rising alt-country singer Charles Wesley Godwin's "Coal Country."
"I have been recording music for longer than Breathtaker has existed," said Wheatley, "In fact I turned down offers from two major recording labels for multi-album contracts to concentrate on creating comics and illustration." Shortly after he began his first monthly comic book series, Mars (also created with Hempel), the demo tapes he had been submitting to the music industry for about five years finally resulted in offers from Capital and Columbia A&R reps.
Listed on page 369 in the March edition of PREVIEWS from Diamond Comic Distributors [item #MAR202123] is the remastered, hardcover Breathtaker collected edition, Breathtaker: Make Way For the Man #138 (with choices of the Marc Hempel cover [MAR202124] or the Michael Avon Oeming cover [MAR202124]), the first new Wheatley-Hempel collaboration in more than two decades.
The Breathtaker music video is a theme song for the graphic novel, running just slightly more than four minutes. Between the visuals, animation and the music, the tune introduces the extreme conflicting emotions that Chase Darrow, the Breathtaker, is faced with during the story of the graphic novel. From the lows of death, loss of love to the highs to be found in the power of new love. And after all, Breathtaker has always been about love, death, sex and power. In many ways, Breathtaker was a pinnacle of Hempel and Wheatley's earlier original collaborations. With innovative projects like Mars, Jonny Quest, Tarzan, and Blood of the Innocent already behind them, writer-artists Wheatley (Radical Dreamer, EZ Street) and Hempel (The Sandman: The Kindly Ones, Gregory) turned their attention to this project in 1990. They never dreamed they would revisit it and find the spark of new material in it 30 years later.
Their resulting creation, Chase Darrow, was a dynamic woman, sought after by many men, and seemingly lethal to all of them, causing them to age rapidly and die (though to be fair, they died happy). Originally serialized as a four-issue, Prestige format mini-series, Breathtaker became an highly-praised, best-selling trade paperback for DC's Vertigo imprint. And it contained story elements that lent itself perfectly to the new musical effort.
"I had really wanted to agree to release some albums of my music, but I had already signed contracts for monthly comic books. And that takes more than all your time. Over the years since I've worked on a few professional recording gigs, recording soundtracks for TV ads, radio, etc. But most of my music skills have been dedicated to presenting Insight Studios projects," Wheatley said.
Beyond the graphic novel and new comic from Titan, and the music video, Wheatley and Hempel's Insight Studios Group will mount the "Breathtaker Exhibition," which will initially appear at the Norman Rockwell Museum in Stockbridge, Massachusetts and at McDaniel College in Westminster, Maryland. The exhibition explores the creative and physical processes that were undertaken during the original production of the comic Breathtaker in the 1990s, as well as how the work was re-adapted, tweaked and in some cases reworked by the artists during the preparation stages for the Titan Comics re-release.
###
About Mark Wheatley
Mark Wheatley holds the Eisner, Inkpot, Golden Lion, Mucker, Gem and Speakeasy awards and nominations for the Harvey award and the Ignatz award. He is also an inductee to the Overstreet Hall of Fame. His work has often been included in the annual Spectrum selection of fantastic art and has appeared in private gallery shows, The Norman Rockwell Museum, Toledo Museum of Art, Huntington Art Museum, Fitchburg Art Museum, James A. Michener Art Museum and the Library of Congress where several of his originals are in the LoC permanent collection. He has designed for Lady Gaga, created set pieces for The Black Eyed Peas, contributed designs for ABC's Beauty and the Beast, and Square Roots, as well as Super Clyde, The Millers and 2 Broke Girls on CBS. Several of his original graphic novels have been optioned for motion pictures with Blood of the Innocent currently in pre-production. His most recent print projects include Songs of Giants, Doctor Cthulittle, Tarzan and the Dark Heart of Time, Swords Against the Moon Men, The Philip Jose Farmer Centennial Collection, Mine! and Wild Stars. Past creations include Return Of The Human, Ez Street, Lone Justice, Mars, Breathtaker, Black Hood, Prince Nightmare, Hammer Of The Gods, Blood Of The Innocent, Frankenstein Mobster, Miles The Monster, Skultar And Titanic Tales. His interpretations of established characters such as Tarzan, Dick Tracy, The Green Hornet, The Adventures Of Baron Munchausen, Jonny Quest, Dr. Strange, The Flash, Captain Action, Argus, The Spider, Stargate Atlantis, The Three Stooges, Doctor Who and Torchwood have brought them to life for a new generation of readers. He has written for TV, illustrated books, designed cutting-edge role-playing games, hosted a weekly radio program, and was an early innovator of the on-line daily comic strip form.
About Marc Hempel
In addition to his collaboration with Neil Gaiman on the climactic story arc "The Kindly Ones" in The Sandman, artist and writer Marc Hempel is also known for his critically acclaimed work with Mark Wheatley in the titles Breathtaker, Mars, and Blood of the Innocent. His own creations Gregory and Tug & Buster have been nominated for Harvey and Eisner Awards, and his humor anthology Naked Brain was named Best Comic Book in the Baltimore City Paper. Hempel's art has also appeared in Marvel Fanfare, Epic Illustrated, Heavy Metal, Jonny Quest, Tarzan the Warrior, Clive Barker's Hellraiser, Flinch, My Faith in Frankie, The Dreaming, Lucifer, and Disney Adventures. He has created advertising art for print and television, character design for HBO Animation, CD art for the Nashville band Swamp Rat, drew an episode of the online strip Munden's Bar for ComicMix.com, illustrated a 21-page story for Michael Chabon's The Escapist: Pulse-Pounding Thrills, and has contributed to both MAD magazine and Nickelodeon Magazine. Marc's range of work includes a full-page comic strip for the lavish hardcover, Little Nemo: Dream Another Dream, as well as art for SpongeBob Comics and the Planned Parenthood benefit book, Mine! He is the recipient of the Speakeasy Award and the Inkpot Award. Originally from the Chicago area, Marc currently resides in Baltimore, Maryland.
About Norman Rockwell Museum
Founded in 1969 with the help of Norman and Molly Rockwell, Norman Rockwell Museum is dedicated to the enjoyment and study of Rockwell's work and his contributions to society, popular culture, and social commentary. The Museum, which is accredited by the American Association of Museums, is the most popular year-round cultural attraction in the Berkshires. Norman Rockwell Museum is dedicated to education and art appreciation inspired by the legacy of Norman Rockwell. The museum preserves, studies and communicates with a worldwide audience the life, art and spirit of Norman Rockwell and the field of illustration. The museum is a gathering place for reflection, involvement, and discovery through the enjoyment of the artist's work. Norman Rockwell's unique contributions to art and society, popular culture and social commentary influence the museum's programs and interpretations.
About McDaniel College
McDaniel College, founded in 1867 and nationally recognized as one of 40 "Colleges That Change Lives," is a four-year, independent college of the liberal arts and sciences offering more than 70 undergraduate programs of study, including dual and student-designed majors, plus 25 highly regarded graduate programs. Its personalized, interdisciplinary, global curriculum and student-faculty collaboration develop the unique potential in every student. A diverse, student-centered community of 1,600 undergraduates and 1,400 graduate students, McDaniel offers access to the resources of Baltimore and Washington, D.C., and is the only American college with a European campus in Budapest, Hungary. www.mcdaniel.edu
Tuesday, March 10, 2020
Votes for Women anthology on Kickstarter
Teresa Logan says, "I have a couple of pages in 'Votes for Women,' an all-womxn anthology celebrating the 19th Amendment, which is currently on Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/allyshwed/votes-for-women-anthology"
Corcoran School republishes our Kelsey Mann interview
In case you missed it here -
Onward's story head Kelsey Mann really loves his job at Pixar
HilltopXDisney
Monday, March 09, 2020
Tom King at Fantom Comics pictures by Bruce Guthrie
Bruce Guthrie has put online his photographs of Tom King speaking with Julian Lytle at Fantom Comics this weekend.
Sunday, March 08, 2020
Cavna talks to Luckovich over ByeDon cartoon
This new Biden cartoon captures the shift in the Democratic race — and is now a bumper sticker
Michael Cavna
Washington Post March 7, 2020
https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2020/03/07/biden-cartoon-trump-byedon-luckovich/
Flugennock's Latest'n'Greatest: "DNC Doormat"
From Mike Flugennock, DC's anarchist cartoonist -
"DNC Doormat"
http://sinkers.org/stage/?p=2941
"Unlike Donald Trump, I do not consider Vladimir Putin a good friend…"
Sen. Bernie Sanders, 02.21.2020
Bernie beats Trump, my skinny old hippie ass. Dude bends the knee to McCarthyists, tripping out of his mind on the Russiagate Kool-Aid.
Meanwhile, Gropin' Joe Biden's cognitive decline is on full display,
just waiting to be exploited; Trump's all over it, but Sanders…? Nahh,
sonofabitch is as weak as herbal tea; Biden's deteriorating mental
state is like a loaded gun on the table, but Sanders is too much of a
pussy to pick the goddamn thing up and pull the trigger.
All Sanders wants to do it go along to get along. Christ, what a
candy-ass. Why is he so afraid to fight dirty? We're at war here, and
you don't win a war by fighting clean — you do it by back-stabbing,
sucker-punching, ambushing, truck-bombing. Just ask the Viet Cong.
It's pretty obvious at this point that Sanders isn't in it to win —
he's in it to waste the Left's time, to drain their time, energy and
life's blood, keep them from bolting the Party, screw them at the
Convention and leave them with nothing, just like four years ago.
---------------
"Sanders condemns Russian interference in 2020 elections", Politico 02.21.2020
https://www.politico.com/news/2020/02/21/bernie-sanders-condemns-russian-116640
"Obama offers a formal endorsement of Clinton; president also meets
with Sanders", Washington Post 06.09.2016
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/seeking-to-exit-on-his-own-terms-bernie-sanders-comes-to-washington-thursday/2016/06/09/0b252f10-2e39-11e6-9de3-6e6e7a14000c_story.html
"Sanders Stays in the Fight, Taking Issues to Convention", RT, 06.09.2016
https://www.rt.com/usa/345994-obama-bernie-clinton-elections/
"He's With Us", cartoon by Mike Flugennock, June 2016
http://sinkers.org/stage/?p=1979
"Vermont's Bernie Sanders: 'Sheepdog' for US Empire", Glen Ford, Black
Agenda Report via Vermont Independent, 06.16.2017
https://vermontindependent.net/vermonts-bernie-sanders-sheepdog-for-us-empire-black-agenda-report/
http://sinkers.org/stage/?p=2941
"Unlike Donald Trump, I do not consider Vladimir Putin a good friend…"
Sen. Bernie Sanders, 02.21.2020
Bernie beats Trump, my skinny old hippie ass. Dude bends the knee to McCarthyists, tripping out of his mind on the Russiagate Kool-Aid.
Meanwhile, Gropin' Joe Biden's cognitive decline is on full display,
just waiting to be exploited; Trump's all over it, but Sanders…? Nahh,
sonofabitch is as weak as herbal tea; Biden's deteriorating mental
state is like a loaded gun on the table, but Sanders is too much of a
pussy to pick the goddamn thing up and pull the trigger.
All Sanders wants to do it go along to get along. Christ, what a
candy-ass. Why is he so afraid to fight dirty? We're at war here, and
you don't win a war by fighting clean — you do it by back-stabbing,
sucker-punching, ambushing, truck-bombing. Just ask the Viet Cong.
It's pretty obvious at this point that Sanders isn't in it to win —
he's in it to waste the Left's time, to drain their time, energy and
life's blood, keep them from bolting the Party, screw them at the
Convention and leave them with nothing, just like four years ago.
---------------
"Sanders condemns Russian interference in 2020 elections", Politico 02.21.2020
https://www.politico.com/news/2020/02/21/bernie-sanders-condemns-russian-116640
"Obama offers a formal endorsement of Clinton; president also meets
with Sanders", Washington Post 06.09.2016
https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/seeking-to-exit-on-his-own-terms-bernie-sanders-comes-to-washington-thursday/2016/06/09/0b252f10-2e39-11e6-9de3-6e6e7a14000c_story.html
"Sanders Stays in the Fight, Taking Issues to Convention", RT, 06.09.2016
https://www.rt.com/usa/345994-obama-bernie-clinton-elections/
"He's With Us", cartoon by Mike Flugennock, June 2016
http://sinkers.org/stage/?p=1979
"Vermont's Bernie Sanders: 'Sheepdog' for US Empire", Glen Ford, Black
Agenda Report via Vermont Independent, 06.16.2017
https://vermontindependent.net/vermonts-bernie-sanders-sheepdog-for-us-empire-black-agenda-report/
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