Oct 29: Good Ol' Charles Schulz on TV

9 pm on Channel 22 and 10 pm on Channel 26 - for more details on the PBS American Masters documentary, see "Schulz: The Good and The Grief", By Megan Voelkel, Washington Post Staff Writer, Sunday, October 28, 2007; Page Y05.

I got to meet Mrs. Schulz this weekend - in fact I shared an elevator with her - but she was mostly talking with my buddy Charles. I couldn't call her Jean either, although she invited us too.

DC's own Pop Mhan at DC's Zuda Comics

Randy T. reports:

DC's own Pop Mhan is one of the competitors at DC's Zuda Comics webcomic competition thingie:

In anticipation of the launch of Zudacomics.com, DC Comics announced today the ten entries in the first ever Zudacomics.com competition. These webcomics are diverse in both their subject matter and tone, spanning a wide variety of genres— from horror to western to fantasy. Aspiring creators and comics fans alike will be invited to vote for one of the ten comics to continue as a regular web comic on the site. The competition winners will, in turn, receive contracts to create a year’s worth of their comic for the site.

“If Zuda Comics are to have common traits they’re quality and diversity”, said Ron Perazza, Director, Creative Services. “For this first competition we selected people from different creative fields, both within and outside of traditional comics, based on the strength of their concepts. It was a bit of a creative experiment but the results were fantastic. This is going be a tough competition!”

The first Zudacomics.com competition features the following webcomics:

.
.
.

Title: The Dead Seas
Writer/Artist: Pop Mhan
Summary: Legions of undead controlled by Necromancer warlords destroy life as we know it, plunging the Earth into a futuristic Dark Age. But it’s adventure and romance on The Dead Seas as a swashbuckling young pirate named Devin teams up with an adventurous crusader name Luna. Armed with the secret of Pandora’s Box, they set out to destroy the Necromancers and save the world.

Nov 11 Brad Meltzer in Rockville

Brad Meltzer's appearing on November 11th at 11:30 on Sunday at JCC of Greater Washington
6125 Montrose Rd., Rockville, MD.

QUICK REVIEWS FOR COMICS DUE 10-31-07

QUICK REVIEWS FOR COMICS DUE 10-31-07
(Happy Halloween!)
by John Judy

ACTION COMICS #858 by Geoff Johns and Gary Frank. It’s Frank’s first issue as we begin the epic “Superman and the Legion of Super-Heroes!” For legal reasons a certain “Boy of Steel” can no longer be officially acknowledged. Don’t ask. No really, don’t. They’re listening….

APOCALYPSE NERD # 6 of 6 written and drawn by Peter Bagge. A darkly comic mini from the creator of HATE. Disturbing fun. Why wait for the trade?

BATMAN #670 by Grant Morrison and Tony Daniel. “The Resurrection of Ras al Ghul” begins here! Guaranteed to be gross and kinky, Morrison-style!

BIFF BAM POW #1 by Evan Dorkin and Sarah Dyer. A too-infrequent comics release from the Dorkin-Dyer team, filled with humor, action, and old school comics madness! These guys are always worth a few shekels! Recommended!

BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER LONG WAY HOME SC by Joss Whedon and Georges Jeanty. The first collection of “Season Eight” from the giant hand at the swirling birth of the Buffy-verse himself! Recommended!

COUNTDOWN #26 by Everyone Who Was Available. Plus a bunch of COUNTDOWN cross-overs. If you’re anticipating a long wait for the Great Pumpkin you may want to collect them all. Or not.

CRIME BIBLE: THE FIVE LESSONS OF BLOOD #1 of 5 by Greg Rucka and Tom Mandrake. Who cares what this book is about? It’s called “THE CRIME BIBLE!” And it’s by Greg Rucka! Starring the new Question! This week’s Must-Have!

DAREDEVIL ANNUAL #1 by Ed Brubaker and Roy Allan Martinez. The return of the Black Tarantula (who’s actually Latino, but why split hairs?), plus DD gets the flu! If you’ve enjoyed DAREDEVIL these past few years this one will not disappoint! Recommended.

DC INFINITE HALLOWEEN SPECIAL #1 by Lotsa People. Thirteen tales of terror as told by the inmates of Arkham Asylum! Ya gotta look, right? Right? BOO!

ESSENTIAL WEREWOLF BY NIGHT, VOL.2 SC by Various Creators. Yeah, sure, why not?

IMMORTAL IRON FIST VOL.1 SC by Ed Brubaker, Matt Fraction, and David Aja. Collecting issues #1-6! Best Iron Fist ever! A sure-fire hit for all fans of quality martial arts epics. Recommended!

JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #10 by Geoff Johns, Alex Ross, and Dale Eaglesham. The team keeps growing, but the big “What If?” is wrapped up in last issue’s arrival of the future Superman from “Kingdom Come.” Very cool. Geek nirvana.

MARVEL MASTERWORKS: ATLAS ERA STRANGE TALES VOL.1 HC by Various Legends. Presenting horror comics as they were meant to be: 1951, Pre-Code, and fresh from the grave! Recommended for Halloween and all year round!

PERRY BIBLE FELLOWSHIP: TRIAL OF COLONEL SWEETO HC written and drawn by Nicholas Gurewitch. Award-winning cartoons from a guy being favorably compared to Rod Serling and Bill Watterson. Gotta look!

SHOWCASE PRESENTS TEEN TITANS VOL.2 SC by Bob Haney, Nick Cardy, Neal Adams and Others. Classic Silver-Age stories, fun for all ages, hilarious for those who were there back then. Recommended.

SPECIAL FORCES #1 of 6 written and drawn by Kyle Baker. The words “Kyle Baker” are all you need to hear to know that this one’s a mandatory purchase, but to sweeten the pot: It’s an Image mini about a group of differently-abled recruits for the Iraq war. Pulled straight from true headlines about our government recruiting the autistic and the criminal in time of war, this one goes where few but Mr. Baker dare to tread. Highly recommended!

X-MEN MESSIAH COMPLEX ONE-SHOT by Ed Brubaker and Marc Silvestri. The beginning of the latest fall-out from “House of M.” There’s a new mutant in the house and everybody wants to find it. Good premise. Let’s see the follow-up.

www.johnjudy.net

Nov 9: Roz Chast at Politics and Prose

7 pm for a new childrens' book.

Postcards review

Andrew Wheeler reviews Postcards in "GRAPHIC NOVEL REVIEW: Postcards edited by Jason Rodriguez" at Comicmix. Postcards was put together by DC's Jason Rodriguez.

Nov 8-9 PEN/Faulkner Presents: Graphic Novels Party and Program

Obviously - I'll be there.

Oct 26: Halloween at Geppi's Entertainment Museum

Superhero Halloween presented by Fathead and Geppi’s Entertainment Museum

Fathead launches Marvel and DC Characters inviting public to come as their favorite Hero


Who: Fathead®, the fast-growing sports and entertainment brand best-known for its life-size wall graphics, is partnering with The Geppi’s Entertainment Museum, voted the best non-art museum of Baltimore, to unveil the Fathead Heroes line. Superheroes will literally take over Camden Yard to help Fathead launch the Marvel and DC Comic characters just in time for holidays. Fans can see for the first time anywhere Fathead images of Superman, Batman, The Hulk, The Thing, Wolverine and of course 3 versions of Spiderman: The Movie.

Where: Heroes and doers of good are joining forces at Geppi’s Entertainment Museum. 301 W. Camden Street, Baltimore, MD 21201 410-625-7060 www.geppismuseum.com In celebration of Heroes Geppi Entertainment Museum will be free and open to the public.

When: Friday, October 26, 2007 from 5-10 PM. The perfect Pre-Halloween Festivity for the whole family

What: Parents, Kids, Heroes and fans alike are encouraged to participate in the excitement and wear the costume of their favorite Superhero. The Fathead Hero Celebration is open to the public and parking is free for anyone not flying in! Fathead images will be featured throughout the museum, complete with Tricks or Treats for the kids and goodies provided by Marvel and DC Comics, along with a few surprise guests. There will also be a contest for the best adult and child super duo, who will win their choice of Fathead Heroes. To get a sneak preview of our honorary super guests that will be on display, click on www.fathead.com.

About Fathead LLC: The Livonia, Mich-based company whose products are commonly referred to as Fatheads, has become the preferred home, personal and lifestyle décor purchase for sports and entertainment enthusiasts of all ages. The most popular Fathead product line consists of a colorful vinyl wall graphic of popular sports stars, NASCAR race cars and entertainment characters. Fathead LLC maintains license agreements with WMG, the NFL and PLAYERS INC., Collegiate Licensing Company, Licensing Resource Group, Inc., MLB, MLBPA, MLS, NASCAR, WWE. NBA Properties Inc, NHL and NHLPA, Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders, Lucasfilm, Ltd., Twentieth Century Fox Film Corporation, Time, Inc., Marvel Characters, Inc., Warner Bros., Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc., and Spider-Man 3, the Movie.

About Geppi’s Entertainment Museum: Located at Camden Yards in historic Camden Station, Geppi’s Entertainment Museum is only two blocks away from Baltimore's famous Inner Harbor attractions. Founded by Stephen A. Geppi, Owner of Diamond Comic Distributors - the largest English-language comic book distribution company in the world - Geppi's Entertainment Museum is the home of “pop culture with character,” an incredible trip through so many cherished childhood memories. We hope you’ll want to be part of the journey.

CONTACT: Melissa Geppi- Bowersox (410)625-7060
bmissy@geppismuseum.com
Brian Stevenson (734)386-5911
brianstevenson@fathead.com
Megan Tarsha (734)386-5924
megantarsha@fathead.com

The rest of Peter Bagge's DC trip

Readers may recall that I went to hear Mr. Bagge speak at Reason Magazine a few months ago. Apparently he also goes to booksignings.

Lat/KAL/Drew Rougier-Chapman Iconophobia panel article

A fairly good overview of the Lat/KAL/Drew Rougier-Chapman Iconophobia panel was published in "Panel talks about religious satire," by Husna Kazmirs, George Washington University Hatchet Reporter, 10/22/07.

QUICK REVIEWS FOR COMICS DUE 10-24-07

QUICK REVIEWS FOR COMICS DUE 10-24-07
By John Judy

ACTION COMICS #857 by Geoff Johns, Richard Donner, and Eric Powell. “Rats! It am Bizarro Justice League! That am terrible idea! Me will buy many copies to keep plastic bags in! Hello!”

DAREDEVIL #101 by Ed Brubaker and Michael Lark. It’s tough when your wife pushes somebody under a train in the middle of a crowded subway platform, especially when your best defense is “She was crazy on drugs, your honor.” This is s great book. Recommended.

DOKTOR SLEEPLESS #3 by Warren Ellis and Ivan Rodriguez. Given how impossible it is to usefully navigate Avatar’s website I’m tempted not to acknowledge this issue at all. But it’s Warren Ellis….

FLASH #233 by Mark Waid and Daniel Acuna. The Justice League takes the Flash’s kids into protective custody. Can K-Fed be far behind?

MARVEL MASTERWORKS NICK FURY VOL.1 HC by Stan Lee and the Mighty Marvel Bullpen. Collecting Nick’s super-spy adventures from the years before he was bald black man. Classic stuff. Recommended.

MOON KNIGHT #13 by Charlie Huston and Tom Coker. Huston’s final issue, a clever end to a run that too often depended on peeled-off faces and similar “grim-n-gritty” tropes.

SERENITY HC THOSE LEFT BEHIND by Joss Whedon Brett Matthews, and Will Conrad. Collecting the three-issue mini bridging the TV show and movie. Plus lotsa behind the scenes stuff. Browncoats take note!

SHE-HULK #22 by Peter David and Shawn Moll. Peter David’s maiden voyage on Marvel’s other green-skinned powerhouse. Previous author Dan Slott is a tough act to follow, but David shows real promise as he takes “Shulkie” in a new direction. Recommended.

SPIRIT VOL.1 HC written and drawn by Darwyn Cooke. Collecting the first six issues of Cooke’s impressive run on Will Eisner’s most famous gumshoe.

STREETS OF GLORY #2 by Garth Ennis and Mike Wolfer. This issue illustrates why Montana has never been a good place to live. Never.

SUPERMAN #669 by Kurt Busiek and Rick Leonardi. The search for the Third Kryptonian continues. Did anyone on that planet actually die?

THUNDERBOLTS #117 by Warren Ellis and Mike Deodato. Doc Samson, the gamma-powered psychiatrist has a look under Dark Speedball’s spikey hood. Great comic, highly recommended.

WALKING DEAD #43 by Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard. The Governor is back to make flesh-eating zombies seem like good neighbors. This is why Kirkman will be the only guy left standing once the zombie craze burns itself out. Highly recommended. NOT for kids.

X-FACTOR VOL.3 MANY LIVES OF MADROX SC by Peter David and Pablo Raimondi. Collecting issues 13-17 in which Madrox collects stray dupes and the team goes on the psychiatrist’s couch with the in-demand Doc Samson. Good stuff. Recommended.

X-MEN #204 by Mike Carey and Michael Choi. Featuring the final chapter of the “Endangered Species” back-up story in which Hank McCoy has a date.

Plus PREVIEWS from Marvel and Diamond.

www.johnjudy.net

March 31, 2008: Shakespeare and Manga

Words on Will: Shakespeare + Manga at the Folger Shakespeare Library, 201 East Capitol St, SE, Washington, DC 2003. It's $12.00 and you can buy tickets on their website, which reports:

Shakespeare meets manga, a stylized Japanese comic form, in four new editions of Macbeth, Hamlet, Julius Caesar, and Romeo and Juliet. Writer/adapter Adam Sexton, faculty member at Parsons The New School for Design, and the manga artists discuss their work on these unique and beautifully illustrated new works.

Dates & Times:
March 31, 2008 7:30pm

Location:
Folger Elizabethan Theatre

About Manga:
Manga can mean Japanese graphic novels or comic books, typically intended for adults, characterized by highly stylized art.

About the writer Adam Sexton :
Adam Sexton is author of Master Class in Fiction Writing and editor of the anthologies Love Stories, Rap on Rap, and Desperately Seeking Madonna. He has written on art and entertainment for the New York Times and the Village Voice, and he teaches fiction writing and literature at New York University and critical reading and writing at Parsons School of Design. He is a graduate of Columbia University and the University of Pennsylvania.

About the artist Yali Lin:
Yali Lin was born in southern China and moved to New York with her family in 1995. After earning her BFA in Cartooning from the School of Visual Arts in 2006, Shakespeare's Romeo & Juliet Manga Edition is her first book. She teaches Cartooning/Manga courses to young teens in Manhattan, NYC.

Nov 8 - PEN/Faulkner "Comics and Graphic novels in the classroom"

A pre-Nov 9th Graphic Novels PEN/Faulkner event will be held at Busboys and Poets Cafe, 1390 V St, NW, WDC featuring professors Marc Singer (Howard), Michael Wenthe (American) and me (not a professor) on "Comics and Graphic Novels in the Classroom." The dinner costs $22.50 and one can rsvp to 202-898-9063 or tpoole@penfaulkner.org. I think that Barry, Bechdel and Ware will be at this event as well as speaking the next day.

Comics Research Bibliography update October 22, 2007 citations

Another boring post! Here's the list that was sent to my Comics Research Biblio co-author today.

Abruzzese, Sarah. 2005.
Pop culture museum to open in Baltimore: Venture will display entrepreneur's collection of cartoons, toys and other memorabilia [Geppi’s Entertainment Museum].
Baltimore Sun (October 24)

Associated Press. 2007.
Sen. Leahy to appear in next Batman film.
Washington Examiner (August 20): 9

Belman, Felice. 2006.
Time to get serious about the funnies; Help us decide which comics to add, scrap.
Concord Monitor (December 31).
Online at http://www.cmonitor.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061231/REPOSITORY/612310327/1028/OPINION02

Booker. M. Keith. 2007.
‘May Contain Graphic Material’: Comic Books, Graphic Novels, and Film.
Praeger

Booker. M. Keith. 2006.
Drawn to Television: Prime-Time Animation from The Flintstones to Family Guy.
Praeger

Brady, Matt. 2007.
The Boys Ends At Wildstorm.
Newsarama (January 24): http://forum.newsarama.com/showthread.php?t=98812

Cart, Michael. 1991.
The cat with the killer personality [Felix].
New York Times Book Review (March 31)

Chaney, Jen. 2007.
The holiday necessity: ‘The Jungle Book’ is the answer to all your kid-gifting questions.
[Washington Post] Express (October 3)

Conan, Neal. 2007.
Goodbye, Captain America [Jeph Loeb interview].
National Public Radio's Talk of the Nation (July 9).
online at http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=11829311

Contino, Jennifer M. 2007.
Josie and Barbara Slate's Pussycats.
Comicon's The Pulse (June 15): http://www.comicon.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=36;t=006367

Contino, Jennifer M. 2007.
Bevard's Favorite Class At Ninja High School.
Comicon's The Pulse (June 14): http://www.comicon.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=36;t=006363

Contino, Jennifer M. 2007.
Steve Uy, Jakeem Thunder and Jsa Classified.
Comicon's The Pulse (June 15): http://www.comicon.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=36;t=006364

Contino, Jennifer M. 2007.
Christos Gage And The New Quasar.
Comicon's The Pulse (June 14): http://www.comicon.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=36;t=006362

Contino, Jennifer M. 2007.
Dustin Nguyen: Torturing Superman And Batman.
Comicon's The Pulse (June 13): http://www.comicon.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=36;t=006359

Contino, Jennifer M. 2007.
Schwartz And Wang's Meltdown: One Hot Comic.
Comicon's The Pulse (June 13): http://www.comicon.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=36;t=006358

Contino, Jennifer M. 2007.
Jedi Jason Hall's Clone Wars Adventures.
Comicon's The Pulse (June 12): http://www.comicon.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=36;t=006356

Contino, Jennifer M. 2007.
The Origins Of Wolverine With Daniel Way.
Comicon's The Pulse (June 12): http://www.comicon.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=36;t=006355

Contino, Jennifer M. 2007.
Teen Titans' Todd Nauck Go!
Comicon's The Pulse (June 11): http://www.comicon.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=36;t=006352

Cornwell, Lisa. 2007.
Cincinnati gets restored mural of city [Saul Steinberg].
Associated Press (June 16).
Online at http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070616/ap_on_re_us/steinberg_mural_1

Coville, James. 2006.
Tony Tallarico Interview.
Collector Times' Coville's Clubhouse (August): http://www.collectortimes.com/2006_08/Clubhouse.html

Cuti, Nicola. 1981.
In memorium – Wally Wood: 1927-1981.
Comics Scene (2): 12

Dixon, Glenn. 2007.
A hyphenate fanboy in exile: Junot Diaz shows the geek love in his first novel, ‘Oscar Wao’ [comic book influences].
[Washington Post] Express (September 6)

Flake, Emily. 2007.
These Things Ain't Gonna Smoke Themselves [smoking graphic novel].
Bloomsbury USA

Fleming, Thomas. 1902.
Around the Capital with Uncle Hank [caricatures by editorial cartoonist].
Thomas New York: Nutshell Publishing Co.

Flynn, John L. 2007.
101 Superheroes of the Silver Screen: A Compendium of Cinema's Costumed Crimefighters.
Maryland: Galactic Books

Fotos, Adam. 2007.
Comics writer McCloud to lecture at Krannert.
University of Illinois' Daily Illini (April 19).
Online at http://media.www.dailyillini.com/media/storage/paper736/news/2007/04/19/Diversions/Comics.Writer.Mccloud.To.Lecture.At.Krannert-2851919.shtml

Ree, Wayne. 2007.
[Kazu Kibuishi on Flight volume 4].
Diverging Comics (April): http://www.divergingcomics.org/main.php?id=kazukibuishi.html

Unknown. 2003?
An Interview with Flight Comics' Kazu Kibuishi
Diverging Comics: http://www.divergingcomics.org/main.php?id=flight.html


Friess, Steve. 2007.
Cartoon creator hopes reinventing 'For Better' is for the best.
USA Today (September 10).
Online at http://www.usatoday.com/life/books/news/2007-09-09-for-better-cartoonist_N.htm?csp=34

George, Richard. 2006.
Hollywood Invades the Comic Book Industry: Have directors and writers like Richard Donner, Joss Whedon and Kevin Smith been good to comics?
IGN (November 30): http://comics.ign.com/articles/748/748552p1.html

Glines, C.V. 1969.
Before the Colors Fade: Berlin Airlift Commander [military cartoonist Jake Schuffert].
American Heritage (October): 95

Griepp, Milton. 2007.
Jay Kennedy RIP; King Features Editor Dead at 50.
ICv2 (March 18): http://www.icv2.com/articles/news/10265.html

Groening, Matt. 2007.
Will and Abe's Guide to the Universe [Life In Hell].
New York: Harper

Harben, Jerry. 2007.
Videos help children with absent parent [educational psychiatric animation].
US Army Medical Department Mercury (August): 4

Becker, Pam. 2007.
Lynn Johnston isn't ready to call it quits.
Chicago Tribune (February 20).
Online at http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/chi-0702200180feb20,1,6284402.story?track=rss

Harrison, Eric. 2007.
For Better or for Worse creator slowing down, not retiring.
Houston Chronicle (January 30).
Online at http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ent/4508151.html

Heater, Brian. 2007.
Interview: Peter Kuper Pt. 1-2.
Daily Cross Hatch (August 28, September 18):
http://thedailycrosshatch.com/2007/08/28/interview-peter-kuper-pt-1/
http://thedailycrosshatch.com/2007/09/18/interview-peter-kuper-pt-2/

Heffernan, Virginia. 2007.
Television That's Rude, Crude, Hilarious and Only on the Web [internet animation].
New York Times (January 11)

Henderson, Amy. 2007.
Book Review – Walt Disney: The Triumph of the American Imagination by Neal Gabler.
Profile: Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery News (Spring / Summer): 11

Honeycutt, Kirk. 2007.
‘Ratatouille’ a masterful blend of ingredients.
Hollywood Reporter (June 17).
Online at http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070617/review_nm/film_ratatouille_dc_1

Kazmirs, Husna. 2007.
Panel talks about religious satire [International Comic Arts Forum, KAL, Lat].
George Washington University Hatchet (October 22).
Online at http://www.gwhatchet.com/news/2007/10/22/News/Panel.Talks.About.Religious.Satire-3046613.shtml


Kelly, John F. 1990.
Interview with George Pratt 6/2/1990.
CFA-APA fanzine (19; August 15)

Kelly, John F. 1990.
A short interview with Richard Corben.
CFA-APA fanzine (20; October 15)

Kelly, John F. 1990.
Interview with Pepe Moreno 7/27/1990.
CFA-APA fanzine (20; October 15)

Kelly, John F. 1990.
20 Questions: Interview with Charles Vess, 6/1/90
CFA-APA fanzine (20; October 15)

Kelly, John F. 1990.
20 Questions with S. Clay Wilson: April 22, 1990 Earth Day! Interview with S. Clay Wilson.
CFA-APA fanzine (20; October 15)

Kelly, John. 1991.
Interview with Will Eisner 10/13/1990.
CFA-APA fanzine (21; January 15)

Kelly, John. 1991.
Carrying on the Tradition: An Interview with Dave Stevens conducted 10/14/90.
CFA-APA fanzine (21; January 15)

Kelly, John and Ed Erkes. 1991.
Interview with Mark Schultz 4/7/91.
CFA-APA fanzine (23; August 15)

Amash, Jim. 1991.
Too much ado about ‘Alex’ [Toth interview].
CFA-APA fanzine (23; August 15)

Hitchcock, John. 1991.
Talking Comics: 20 Questions for Alex Toth [interview].
CFA-APA fanzine (23; August 15)

Kelly, John. 1991.
Interview with William Stout.
CFA-APA fanzine (24; October 15)

Fausto, Len. 1990.
Comicom’s Number 1 Fear Magazine [interview with ‘Tomb of Dracula’ inker Tom Palmer].
CFA-APA fanzine (20; October 15)

Pratt, George. 1991.
Hey, Joe! [on Joe Kubert].
CFA-APA fanzine (22; April 15)

Roberts, Charlie. 1991.
Charlie Roberts (Q:) interviewing Rick Marschall (A:).
CFA-APA fanzine (22; April 15)

Thingvall, Joel. 1998.
Curt Swan: A Super Artist and a Super Guy! [interview].
CFA-APA fanzine (47; Fall)

Rothschild, Benno G. Jr. 1998.
Quality and Quantity [interview of Bob Murphy, comic strip original art collector].
CFA-APA fanzine (47; Fall)


Parkhill, Cynthia. 1998.
Bill the Bee Man: Leach put the bee in Record-Bee [Bill Leach, EC fanzine editor and semi-pro].
Lake County Record-Bee (August 19): B1, 3

Tyler, Tim. 1998.
Weird, but in a cool way: Deer Valley’s Mr. Bill inspires art classes with talent, energy [Bill Leach, EC fanzine editor and semi-pro].
Ledger Dispatch (October 7)

Klimek, Chris. 2007.
Tomorrow’s heroes [Small Press Expo and Matt Dembicki].
Washington Examiner (October 13-14): 25

Lebovits, Susan Chaityn. 2007.
Artist draws on his childhood dreams [Paul Ryan].
Boston Globe (June 17)

Lin, Eric W. 2006.
Alum Sketches Future of Political Toons [Kevin KAL Kallaugher].
Harvard Crimson (October 26): http://www.thecrimson.com/article.aspx?ref=515282

Unknown. 2006.
The Masters Series: Jules Feiffer.
Art Daily (October 26): http://www.artdaily.com/section/news/index.asp?int_sec=2andint_new=17923

Maheras, Russ. 2007.
Steve Canyon and the Air Force celebrate 60 years of serving America [comic strip].
Army Times (September 24): 46-47

Maley, Don. 1969.
Hal Foster both lives and loves the days of Camelot.
Editor and Publisher (January 25): 15, 52

McCourt, Sean. 2007.
Legend of Stagger Lee told in graphic novel.
Santa Cruz Sentinel (February 18).
Online at http://www.santacruzsentinel.com/archive/2007/February/18/style/stories/05style.htm

McManus, Otile. 1977.
A Gorey master of the macabre.
Boston Globe (August ?)

Molitorisz, Sacha. 2003.
Comic genius: A file clerk created a superhero-free cult comic and became the subject of one of the movies of the year [Harvey Pekar and American Splendor].
Sydney Morning Herald (September 5)

Montagne, Renee. 2007.
Marvel Comics Kills Off Captain America.
National Public Radio's Morning Edition (March 8).
online at http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=7770294

McCall, Bruce. 2007.
Op-Art: The Price of Emission [cartoon].
New York Times (August 19)

McNary, Dave. 2007.
Mendes gets in Frank Miller's 'Spirit'; Actress joins Johansson, Jackson in cast.
Variety (August 22).
Online at http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117970627.html?categoryid=1236&cs=1

Mraz, Steve. 2005.
Sergeant in Afghanistan offers a comic 'Reality Check' [Bryan Dorman].
Stars and Stripes Mideast edition (October 21).
Online at http://www.estripes.com/article.asp?section=3D104andarticle=3D31554andarchive=3Dtrue

Mulholland, Tara. 2007.
Britain Embraces the Graphic Novel.
New York Times (September 5).
Online at http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/05/books/05comi.html?ex=1346731200&en=8e91a62ed1c70a27&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink

Murray, Noel. 2007.
Slugfest: Revisiting a cartoon sailor’s untamed early years [Popeye animation].
Onion (August 16): 20

Murray, Noel and Keith Phipps. 2007.
Whither Clarabelle Cow?: 6 Semi-Forgotten Disney Characters [expanded version online].
Onion (September 27): 14
Online at http://www.avclub.com/content/feature/whither_clarabelle_cow_11_semi

Nunley, Kate. 2006.
World-renowned editorial cartoonist takes up residence at UMBC [KAL].
Retriever Weekly (February 21).
Online at http://trw.umbc.edu/?module=displaystoryandstory_id=714andformat=html

Ontiveros, Roberto. 2007.
Austin Grossman's 'Soon I Will Be Invincible'; Austin Grossman's debut novel takes a serious look at the world of the Supervillain.
Austin American-Statesman (June 17).
Online at http://www.statesman.com/life/content/life/stories/books/06/17/0617grossman.html

Pekar, Harvey. 1988.
Melancholy Biely [The Dramatic Symphony and the Forms of Art by Andrei Biely book review].
Village Voice (February 2): 62

Pekar, Harvey. 2003.
What, Me Worry? Yes. 'American Splendor' Is One of the Most Celebrated Movies of the year, and Everybody Loves My Comic Again. But ... I dunno.
Austin Chronicle (September 5).
Online at http://www.austinchronicle.com/gyrobase/Issue/story?oid=oid%3A176265

Rose, Charlie. 2003.
A discussion about the film ‘American Splendor’ [interview includes Harvey Pekar].
Charlie Rose Show (August 19).
Online at http://www.charlierose.com/shows/2003/08/19/1/a-discussion-about-the-film-american-splendor

Ervin-Gore, Shawna. 2001.
Harvey Pekar [interview].
Dark Horse Comics: http://www.darkhorse.com/news/interviews.php?id=731

Ervin-Gore, Shawna. 1999.
Harvey Pekar [interview].
Dark Horse Comics: http://www.darkhorse.com/news/interviews.php?id=713

Zabel, Joe. 2005.
In Depth: The Harvey Pekar Interview.
Graphic Novel Review (January)
online at http://web.archive.org/web/20050610234120/www.graphicnovelreview.com/issue4/hpekar.php


Radford, Bill. 2006.
Comics legend's ideas live on [Jack Kirby].
Colorado Springs Gazette (June 11).
Online at http://www.gazette.com/display.php?id=1318324andsecid=17

Radford, Bill / Colorado Springs Gazette. 2006.
Veteran of comic strips just keeps on Rock-ing along [Joe Kubert].
Houston Chronicle (January 17)

Raskauskas, Ernest C. Sr.
Cartoonist Most Foul [letter to editor on Tom Toles].
Washington Post (September 1)

Robinson, Tasha. 2007.
Bill Willingham [Interview].
Onion AV Club.com (August 6): http://www.avclub.com/content/interview/bill_willingham

Robinson, Tasha. 2007.
Random Rules: James Kochalka [interview; longer version online August 7].
Onion (August 2): 14.
Online at http://www.avclub.com/content/feature/random_rules_james_kochalka

Robinson, Tasha. 2007.
Joss Whedon [interview; longer version online August 8].
Onion (August 2): 14.
Online at http://www.avclub.com/content/interview/joss_whedon

Rosenberg, Scott. 2007.
From screen to page: Comic writer Brian Michael Bendis puts ‘Halo’ down on paper.
Express (October 2): 17

Rosenberg, Scott. 2007.
Sincere intent to flatter: Jeffrey Brown's love of a toy spawned his need to satirize it.
Express (September 24): 22

Rosenberg, Scott. 2007.
Animal Attraction: 'Laika' tells the story of a four-legged pawn of Cold War politics [British cartoonist Nick Abadzis].
Express (September 27): E7.
http://www.readexpress.com/read_freeride/2007/09/animal_attraction_cold_war_politics_of_l.php

Rudick, Nicole. 2007.
Adrian Tomine, Graphic novelist / Cartoonist.
Believer (October): 42-51

Runyon, Damon. 1921.
Father of Krazy Kat admired as mild mannered genius [George Herriman].
Arizona Gazette (August 13).
scan online at http://www.robstolzer.com/misc/DamonRunyon-Herriman.jpg

Robertson, Campbell. 2007.
Monster, Meet Mermaid [Disney Little Mermaid musical based on cartoon].
New York Times (September 9).
Online at http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/09/theater/09robe.html?ex=1346904000&en=6ffb25525e9453b3&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink

Schillinger, Liesl. 2007.
Books of Style: Light 'Em if You Got 'Em [Emily Flake on smoking].
New York Times (August 19).
Online at http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/19/fashion/19books.html?ex=1345348800&en=96f0179e6a4acacd&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink

Schweier, Philip. 2007.
Interview: Diana Schutz [Dark Horse Comics editor].
Comic Book Bin (April 20): http://www.comicbookbin.com/schutz001.html

Snider, Mike. 2007.
‘The original American fantasy hero’ rides again: Conan the Barbarian is at the media gates.
USA Today (October 16)

Spiegel, Danny. 2007.
The Long Climb: Waiting until his thirties for pro comic work, Catwoman writer Will Pfeifer could finally reach the A-list with DC's mega-event Amazons Attack.
Wizard Univers.com (April 20): http://www.wizarduniverse.com/magazine/wizard/004348352.cfm

Scott, A. O. 2007.
Voila! A Rat for All Seasonings ['Ratatouille'].
New York Times (June 29).
Online at http://movies2.nytimes.com/2007/06/29/movies/29rata.html?ex=1340769600anden=8e5e08e83c7d6591andei=5124andpartner=permalinkandexprod=permalink

Sherman, Elisabeth. 1991.
Picture Robert Crumb wearing a French beret.
Davis Enterprise (February 17): C1-2

Sothern, Billy. 2007.
Taken by the Tide [animator Helen Hill].
New York Times (January 10)

Soukup, Elise. 2005.
Jesus a Graphic Rendering [‘Marked’ by Steve Ross; religion].
Newsweek (November 28): 12

Thomas, George M. 2003.
Harvey Pekar - Comedy Lies in Mundane Life.
Akron Beacon Journal (August 15)

Thompson, Richard. 2007.
Drawing a Funny Cartooon in 20 Easy Steps [comic strip].
Washington Post (October 7): M10

Thomson, Gus. 2007.
FoxTrot comic strip moves from daily to Sunday only; Cartoon is being replaced by The Elderberries.
Auburn Journal (January 1).
Online at http://www.auburnjournal.com/articles/2007/01/02/news/top_stories/03comics02.txt

Tinker, Emma. 2007.
Manuscript in Print: The Materiality of Alternative Comics.
Literature Compass 4 (4; July): 1169-1182

Tobin, Suzanne. 2007.
Meet the Comics Pages: Guy and Rodd, artoonists – ‘Brevity’.
Washington Post.com (August 24): http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/discussion/2007/08/22/DI2007082200651.html

Trudeau, Garry. 2005.
Behind the lines: Doonesbury cartoonist pulls duty getting to know soldiers and their problems to make strip authentic.
San Francisco Chronicle (October 23): E-1.
Online at http://sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=3D/c/a/2005/10/23/INGPIFACM=T1.DTL

Tymoski, John. 1990.
Comic caper: Dick Tracy and the case of the filched funnies [Museum of Cartoon Art].
Art and Auction (July-August): 16-18

Twiddy, David / Associated Press. 2007.
Comics heed the call: Comic books find new audience when released first on mobile phones.
[Washington Post] Express (September 10): 8

Unknown. 2007.
Teen's King painting to be unveiled today [the son of editorial cartoonist Chip Bok].
Akron Beacon Journal (May 3).
Online at http://www.ohio.com/mld/ohio/living/community/17171780.htm

Williams, Darona. 2007.
The Grimm reaper: Entrepeneur, rapper and graphic novelist Carey knows pain.
[Washington Post] Express (September 10): 19

Verzemnieks, Inara. 2005.
Drawn to the truth: Joe Sacco proves that a cartoonist can deal with war in Bosnia and the Middle East with a clear eye and a steady hand
Oregonian (October 23)

Ulaby, Neda. 2007.
Pulitzer-Winning Cartoonist Killed in Car Crash [Doug Marlette].
National Public Radio's All Things Considered (July 10).
online at http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=11854255&ft=1&f=1003

Unknown. 2007.
'Lio' replaces 'FoxTrot' comic beginning in Tuesday's Gazette.
Janesville Gazette (January 2).
Online at http://www.gazetteextra.com/gxcomic010207.asp

Unknown. 2007.
'Fox Trot,' a few other features are changing.
Henderson, KY Gleaner (January 2).
Online at http://www.courierpress.com/news/2007/jan/02/fox-trot-a-few-other-features-are-changing/

Unknown. 2006.
Spiegelman squeaks out: Cult comic artist behind `Maus' brings his graphic tales to Eugene.
Corvallis Gazette Times (February 23).
Online at http://www.gazettetimes.com/articles/2006/02/24/entertainment/columnists/night_rider/tenpas.txt

Watkins, Barbara. 2006.
Entrepreneur develops Catholic comic books.
St. Louis Review (February 24):
http://www.stlouisreview.com/article.php?id=10183

UPI. 1991.
The voice of Mickey Mouse silenced [animation; James MacDonald; Disney].
New York Post (February 7)

von Uthmann, Jorg. 2007.
Tintin's Creator Herge, Comic-Strip Master, Is Feted in Paris.
Bloomberg (January 2): http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601086andsid=aEpxzzDAR0k4

Walsh, Peter. 2007.
Political cartoonist exhibition at NAC [Steve Bell].
Norwich Evening News (April 11).
Online at http://www.eveningnews24.co.uk/content/GoingOut/story.aspx?brand=ENOnlineandcategory=WhatsOnandtBrand=ENOnlineandtCategory=WhatsOnanditemid=NOED11%20Apr%202007%2015%3A04%3A50%3A050

Weigel, David. 2007.
The Horrible Truth about Super-Science: Jackson Publick of The Venture Brothers on superheroes, satire and the ‘60s [animation interview].
Reason (July): 54-59

Unknown. 2005.
Manga cafes' new services changing geek image.
The Yomiuri Shimbun (November 22).
Online at http://www.yomiuri.co.jp/dy/national/20051122TDY04003.htm

Unknown. 2005.
Cartoonist Austin dies aged 70.
BBC News (November 21): http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/entertainment/4456488.stm

Unknown. 2005.
In praise of... Austin [obituary].
The Guardian (November 21).
Online at http://www.guardian.co.uk/arts/news/story/0,11711,1647084,00.html

Bell, Steve. 2005.
My lasting images of Austin, a cartoonist and friend.
The Guardian (November 21).
Online at http://www.guardian.co.uk/arts/news/story/0,11711,1647144,00.html

D'Arcy, David. 2005.
Art Spiegelman on Comics and Film.
Greencine (November 18): http://www.greencine.com/article?action=viewandarticleID=256

Unknown. 2005.
Poet, cartoonist, artist Marge Salin dies at 83.
Point Reyes Light (November 17).
Online at http://www.ptreyeslight.com/stories/nov17_05/salin_obit.html

Frankenhoff, Brent. 2007.
Market Beat Comics June 2007.
Comics and Games Retailer (187; October): 22-28

Frankenhoff, Brent. 2007.
Will Eisner Comics Industry Awards; How many of these winners are on yourshelves?
Comics and Games Retailer (187; October): 36-37

Frankenhoff, Brent. 2007.
Retailer Michael George charged with wife’s 1990 killing.
Comics and Games Retailer (187; October): 40

Boyle, Phil. 2007.
Defending a position: Behind the scenes of ComicsPro’s first position paper.
Comics and Games Retailer (187; October): 38

Field, Joe. 2007.
Business in Wonderland; A retailer’s view of Comic-Con International: San Diego.
Comics and Games Retailer (187; October): 30-31

Carrol, Mimi Cruz. 2007.
First impressions: You only get one chance to make one.
Comics and Games Retailer (187; October): 32-33

Powell, Chris. 2007.
Retailer rundown: Opportunities galore at San Diego [Comic-Con].
Comics and Games Retailer (187; October): 34-35

Lat interview from ICAF

See "Cartoons are forever, says Lat," New Strait Times October 21, 2007. It's some reporting from the Iconophobia panel at ICAF about the recent controversies over cartoons.

Regards From Serbia review

I helped with the book Regards From Serbia by Aleksandar Zograf. I provided the emails that make up part of the book, from the old Comix@ alternative comics list. Once an archivist - usually an archivist apparently. This is an interesting book and the review's got points spot on.

A couple o' Oliphant pictures

Lat, KAL and Drew Rougier-Chapman pictures

The three cartoonists spoke on Iconophobia at George Washington's Gelman Library for the International Comic Arts Forum. I'll try to post something more than pictures soon, but here they are.

Lat signing my books at ICAF.

Lat still signing my books at ICAF.

Newspaper clipping of Lat receiving an honorary doctorate.

Lat speaking at ICAF.

KAL's whiteboard drawing of his first victim at the International Comic Arts Forum.

KAL's whiteboard drawing of his first victim at the International Comic Arts Forum.

KAL's whiteboard drawing of his first victim at the International Comic Arts Forum.

Lat and editorial cartoonists Drew Rougier-Chapman and KAL at the International Comic Arts Forum.

Editorial cartoonist KAL signing his book while John Lent loiters, at the International Comic Arts Festival.

Editorial cartoonist KAL signing his book while John Lent loiters, at the International Comic Arts Festival.

Nov 9: PenFaulkner on comics REPOST

Lynda Barry, Alison Bechdel and Chris Ware - Nov. 9, 2007
PenFaulkner Reading series

Tickets are $15.00.

Graphic Novels
Lynda Barry, Chris Ware
Daniel Raeburn, Moderator
Friday, November 9, 8 p.m.

Held at the Aaron and Cecile Goldman Theater of the Washington, DC Jewish Community Center

Lynda Barry

Lynda Barry is a writer and cartoonist whose comic strip “Ernie Pook’s Comeek” celebrates its 30th year in print in 2007. She is the author of The Good Times are Killing Me, which she adapted into a long-running off-Broadway play. The New York Times called her second novel, Cruddy, “a work of terrible beauty.” She received the 2003 William Eisner Award for Best Graphic Album and an American Library Association Alex Award for her book One! Hundred! Demons! She lives and works in southern Wisconsin.

Alison Bechdel

Alison Bechdel’s comic strip Dykes To Watch Out For has become a countercultural institution since it began in 1983. The strip is syndicated in dozens of newspapers, translated into several languages and collected in a series of award-winning books. Utne magazine has listed DTWOF as “one of the greatest hits of the twentieth century.” And Comics Journal says, “Bechdel's art distills the pleasures of Friends and The Nation; we recognize our world in it, with its sorrows and ironies.”
Chris Ware

Chris Ware is the writer and cartoonist of the periodical The ACME Novelty Library. His other works include Jimmy Corrigan — the Smartest Kid on Earth, recipient of an American Book Award, the Guardian First Book Award, and L’Alph Art; The ACME Novelty Datebook Volumes 1 and 2; and Quimby the Mouse. His work has appeared in many national and international art exhibits, including the Whitney Biennial exhibit in 2002. He was recently awarded the Hoi Fellowship by the newly-formed United States Artists. A regular contributor to The New Yorker, Ware is currently at work on two longform graphic novels, Rusty Brown and Building Stories.


Daniel Raeburn is the author of the book Chris Ware. His essays have appeared in The Baffler, Tin House, and The New Yorker. His book about comic books, The Imp of the Perverse, is forthcoming. He teaches creative writing at the University of Chicago.

Zadzooks on Fantastic Four and Superman dvds

See Joseph Szadkowski, "Comic-book legends come to life on DVD," Washington Times October 20, 2007.

Oct 20: Kyle Baker at ICAF at LOC today

ICAF's been good, as usual this year. In two hours, the rest of the conference wraps up. Kyle Baker is speaking and he's always interesting. See you there?

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 20
1:00-2:30 Panel 7: Remembrance and nostalgia
Moderated by Marc Singer, ICAF Executive Committee
Jennifer Castel, “Nostalgia, Representation, and Identity in Art Spiegelman's In the Shadow of No Towers”
Pedro Pérez del Solar, “’A Führer’s day’: Comics and politics of memory in 1980s Spain”
Jason Buchanan, “A Superman without a World: Mourning, Melancholy, and Nostalgia in the Images of Post 9/11 Superman”
2:30-2:45 Break
2:45-3:45 Lent Scholarship Lecture: Orion Ussner Kidder, University of Alberta
3:45-4:00 Break
4:00-5:00 Guest Artist KYLE BAKER (USA)
5:00 Closing remarks

Administrivia - UPCOMING EVENT

Anyone know if blogger has a calendar function? In the meantime, GWU professor Phil Troutman pointed out that it's hard to find upcoming events especially after they've crawled off the main page. I agree with him so look below this for a new label - UPCOMING EVENT. If you click on that, you should get a new page with all the posts labelled with it.

Rob Tornoe on Oliphant

New Jersey's The Press of Atlantic City's editorial cartoonist Rob Tornoe emailed in, "I went to see Oliphant last night at Politics & Prose, and I put up a very brief description of it, as well as a couple of photos, on my blog, http://tornoe.blogspot.com."

Rob also linked to Bruce Guthrie's pictures - I'm in photo 248 so please feel free to come up and say hello at the next event. A few of us from the International Comic Arts Forum and Bruce went out for pizza after the signing.

I went too, and met a bunch of people I know there. I'm downloading my pictures now and will add them in later. I got there late, but Oliphant mainly was doing caricatures - just whipping them out in charcoal - of the presidential wannabees.

Rob's got two more sites:

http://www.pressofac.com - The Press of Atlantic City
http://www.politicsnj.com/tornoe

Oct 25: David Michaelis on Charles Schulz at Olsson's

David Michaelis will be discussing his new and controversial biography of Charles Schulz at the Olsson's on 418 7th St, NW at 7 pm. Bill Watterson highly recommended this and John Updike reviewed it as well. Unfortunately I'll be traveling to Ohio State for their comics symposium and will have to miss this.

Thanks to Ignatz-nominee Matt Dembicki for the tip!

ICAF announces presenter refused admission to US updated

Over on the blog of Marc Singer, ICAF chair, Marc and Ernesto Priego engage in a little back and forth with Priego writing in that he feels his visa problem was a normal paperwork snafu. One can make up one's own mind depending on how one feels about the government, but I think Charles Hatfield will be reading Priego's paper on Saturday.

Charles and I are off to ICAF now - if you're coming to the sessions, look us up.

Another finger puppet!!!!

SPX meant I couldn't get this mentioned on Saturday, but Richard Thompson caricatured Hilary Clinton as a finger puppet this week. I've made it and she's glaring at my house guests now.

Oh, and my daughter appeared in The Beat's photos

Here she is in the purple beret, with her friend Dagny, bracing Jeff Smith after his talk. Heidi MacDonald did the interview with him, and must have shot some photos afterwards. Dagny spotted the SPX bit in the Post and cajoled her dad into checking with me about going up there. Her dad shepherded them through Jeff Smith's talk whilst I hit the con floor.

Claire's also in some of Bruce Guthrie's photos which I linked to yesterday, also hanging with Jeff Smith. She does better at these things than I do.

Chris Pitzer and AdHouse Books

One of the interesting people I met at the Matt Wagner signing at Big Planet Comics was Chris Pitzer, publisher of AdHouse Books. He's got an absolutely lovely, and giant, James Jean art collection out now - the thing is enormous. Chris is based in Richmond - local enough for this blog! Check out his blog and publishing sites.

Nov 8-17: World Premiere of Tezuka-inspired play

Now this is different... Anyone want to go with me? I'm busy on the 8th at the Pen/Faulkner thing, but later in the month should be fine.

For Immediate Release
Contact: Joshua Speiser
Tel: 202.687.6933
js47@georgetown.edu


Georgetown University’s Theater and Performance Studies Program presents

Trees and Ghosts
Adapted and Directed by Natsu Onoda, from the Graphic Novels of Osamu Tezuka
WORLD PREMIERE!

November 8th - 10th, 14th – 17th at 8 pm; November 11th at 2pm

Trees and Ghosts is a groundbreaking, new play adapted from three short, relatively unknown graphic novels by manga pioneer Osamu Tezuka (1928-1989) who is revered in his native Japan as the “God of Manga.” Spirits, elements of nature and memories of World War II haunt each of the stories that make up this highly visual production which employs interactive video, on-stage drawing, and live taiko drums.

The second production in the 2007-2008 Hidden Histories Season of New and Unseen Works, Trees and Ghosts exemplifies the Theater and Performance Studies Program’s commitment to the development of new work. According to Professor Derek Goldman, Director of Georgetown University’s Theater and Performance Studies Program, “each of the four plays chosen this year – Fabulation, Trees and Ghosts, Wisconsin Death Trip and Stuff Happens - deals explicitly with the relationship between history ‘writ large’ and its more microcosmic, personal, and psychic reverberations.”

Adapter/director Natsu Onoda, Visiting Assistant Professor of Theater and Performance Studies, has been a fan of Tezuka since she could read. One of her treasured memories of her childhood is that of meeting Tezuka himself in sixth grade. As a young aspiring cartoonist, she visited Tezuka’s studio and showed him her work. Tezuka, known for his generosity for young fans, responded: “This is very good. Come back in three years, and, if you have made a progress, you should become a cartoonist.” Tezuka died two and a half years later. Since then, Onoda has adapted Tezuka’s work into live theater, published papers and given lectures on them, and is currently working on the first English-language book on his work, to be published from the University Press of Mississippi in late 2008. The three Tezuka stories Onoda has chosen to adapt to the stage have never before appeared in English translation.

The cast of talented Georgetown undergraduates received a one-week intensive training in taiko drumming by accomplished drummer Yoshihiko Fueki, a Nagoya-based taiko drummer who has been playing the taiko for fourteen years. Also assisting with the production is Belgian video and sound designer Ben Dierckx, a multimedia artist who uses custom interactive software and projection technology to create an altered visual palette that mimics dreams and hallucinations.

Tickets: $15 general, $12 faculty/staff/alumni/seniors, $7 students. To purchase, call 202.687.ARTS.

Trees & Ghosts (World Premiere)

Nov 8/07—Nov 17/07 Adapted & Dir by Natsu Onoda. A new multimedia production adapted from three short graphic novels by a Japanese cartoonist Tezuka Osamu, who is considered the inventor of manga (contemporary Japanese comics). The stories, all dealing with nature, spirits and World War II, come alive in this highly visual production using interactive video, live on-stage drawing, and live taiko drums. [PLEASE CALL FOR ACCESSIBLE SEATING OR GROUP RATES: 202-687-ARTS] Pic. ID req'd to pick up tix and for verification of purchase. Please arrive 30 minutes early to collect your tickets. The house is general seating.


--
Christopher Wanamaker
DC Anime Club President
http://www.dcanimeclub.org
202 262 2083

Tom Spurgeon memorializes SPX

Tom's posting links for what he calls "Collective Memory," a nice term. Since it's a local event, I'll just link to his Memory.

Boy, that "link to his Memory" sounded depressing, didn't it? It's not. As an archivist (professionally) and comics bibliographer (dilettante), it's very interesting to see how information sharing is evolving.

Oct 18: Oliphant at Politics and Prose

Thursday, October 18, 7 p.m.
PAT OLIPHANT
LEADERSHIP (Andrews McMeel, $19.95)
Pat Oliphant's newest collection of sharp-witted cartoons tackles Bush's tenure in office, taking him and other leaders to task. Oliphant, a Pulitzer winner, is the most widely syndicated political cartoonist in the world.

Unfortunately, I think ICAF will interfere and I won't be able to make it, but I called to order a signed copy. Also, I'll bet Thursday's Express has an interview with him since Scott Rosenberg did one last week.

The bookstore also has a bunch of signed Zippy books by Bill Griffith.

Politics & Prose Bookstore and Coffeehouse
5015 Connecticut Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20008
(202) 364-1919 or (800) 722-0790
Fax: (202) 966-7532


www.politics-prose.com
e-mail: books@politics-prose.com

Store Hours:

Monday-Saturday: 9 a.m.-10 p.m
Sunday: 10 a.m.-8 p.m.

Trudeau in town for Doonesbury Sandbox book promotion

See War Dispatches To 'Doonesbury'; Garry Trudeau Draws Soldiers to Blog" by David Montgomery, Washington Post Staff Writer, Wednesday, October 17, 2007; C01.

By the way, I can state for a fact that Walter Reed Army Medical Center blocks Blogger completely.

Also, Politics and Prose has some signed copies of:

Garry B. Trudeau, DOONESBURY.COM’S THE SANDBOX

Garry B. Trudeau, HECKUVA JOB, BUSHIE!

Garry B. Trudeau, THE LONG ROAD HOME

Garry B. Trudeau, THE WAR WITHIN

I just called and ordered mine.

Politics & Prose Bookstore and Coffeehouse
5015 Connecticut Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20008
(202) 364-1919 or (800) 722-0790
Fax: (202) 966-7532


www.politics-prose.com
e-mail: books@politics-prose.com

Store Hours:

Monday-Saturday: 9 a.m.-10 p.m
Sunday: 10 a.m.-8 p.m.

new Mike Flugennock editorial cartoon

DC's only (most likely) anarchist political cartoonist Mike Flugennock has posted a new piece. See the story and the art. The Fox News one to the left is from over the summer by the way.

And that reminds me - I should really mention Mike's site. It's great - I love his work.

Oct 27: Shoff Promotions Comic Book Show

Saturday, Oct 27, 10-3:30, Tysons Corner VA Holiday Inn Crown Plaza. Call 301-990-4929 or got to http://shoffpromotions.com for details. $3 fee.

Fantom Comics expands?

I hear that Fantom Comics, a good story in Tenleytown, is opening a second store in Union Station. Anyone got any details?

Zadzooks on toys

"She-Hulk's action plays outweigh sculpted look," by Joseph Szadkowski, Washington Times October 13, 2007.

Colonel America the zombie? Who buys this stuff?

Bruce Guthrie's pix of Richard Thompson and Small Press Expo

Bring me the head of Mr. Danders!
cake by Amy Thompson, photo by Bruce Guthrie. It was delicious.

Bruce Guthrie took a ton of SPX shots and has some online.

At Richard's talk at the Bethesda Writer's Center, Richard's the one in the sports coat, I'm wearing a black sweater and editorial cartoonist Jen Sorenson's in a leather coat, and then a short-sleeve yellow shirt. Be sure to notice the piles of original art Richard's handing around.

Bruce's SPX pics can be seen here and here. Note Richard Thompson introducing himself to Jeff Smith of 'Bone' fame for the sake of his daughters.

Toles anniversary

Dave Astor's reporting that Tom Toles has been syndicated for 25 years in "Anniversaries for Tom Toles and 'Cornered' Cartoonist" E&P October 16, 2007.

ICAF schedule

Ok, again - I'm going. Anyone else? I'll be there all three days.

THE TWELFTH ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL COMIC ARTS FORUM
Madison Building, Library of Congress, Washington DC
October 18-20, 2007

This schedule is subject to change.

ICAF is free and open to the public. No registration is necessary to attend.

All events will be held in the Mumford Room on the sixth floor of the Madison Building unless otherwise noted.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 18
9:00-9:15 Welcome and introduction
9:15-10:45 Panel 1: To and against type: Othering and stereotyping
Moderated by Stanford Carpenter, ICAF Executive Committee
Phillip Troutman, “Abolition Comix: Semiotics, Icon, Sequence, and Network in Anti-Slavery Visual Argument”
Jay Casey, “Advance and Be Criticized: A Reappraisal of the Portrayal of Friend and Foe by Overseas Soldier Cartoonists during the Second World War”
Frank Bramlett, “Camp, Sissies, and Queers in The Rawhide Kid”
10:45-11:00 Break
11:00-12:00 Panel 2: Political tensions in contemporary Asian cartooning
Moderated by Craig Fischer, ICAF Executive Committee
Todd S. Munson, “Anti-Chinese Rhetoric in Contemporary Japanese Manga”
Josette Mazzella di Bosco Balsa, “Political cartoonists in the historical context of Hong Kong after the Handover, 1997-2007”
12:00-1:30 Lunch
1:30-2:30 Panel 3: Sound and speech in comics
Moderated by Cecile Danehy, ICAF Executive Committee
Robert S. Petersen, “The Metamorphosis of Phylacteries”
C. W. Toph Marshall, “Diegetic Sound in Dave Sim’s Cerebus”
2:30-2:45 Break
2:45-3:45 Guest Speaker DR. IAN GORDON (Australia/Singapore)
3:45-4:00 Break
4:00-5:00 Art display in the Prints & Photographs Reading Room
Courtesy of the Swann Foundation for Caricature and Cartoon
Curated by Sara Duke and Martha Kennedy, The Swann Foundation
5:00-6:00 Display of drawings by Lat in the Asian Division Reading Room
Courtesy of the Library of Congress Asian Division
Curated by Kathryn Wellen, Library of Congress Asian Division

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 19
9:30-11:00 Panel 4: Comics in cultural institutions
Moderated by Arnold Blumberg, Geppi's Entertainment Museum
Poliana Irizarry and Joshua C. Roberts, “Beyond Leisure Reading: Garnering Support for Comics Scholarship from Your Academic Library”
John Jennings and Damian Duffy, “Remasters of American Comics: Sequential art as new media in the face of the transformative museum context”
11:00-11:30 Break
11:30-12:30

Panel 5: The theory and practice of comics studies
Moderated by Charles Hatfield, ICAF Executive Committee
Ernesto Priego, “The Tell-Tale Smell of Burning Paper: ‘Logic of Form’ and the Origin of Comics”
Benjamin Woo, “An Age-old Problem: Problematics of Comic Book Historiography”
Joseph Witek, “American Comics Criticism and the Problem of Dual Address”

Ernesto Priego is unable to present his paper at ICAF because he has been denied entry into the United States of America. The U.S. government has not renewed his visa, nor have they given him any explanation why he will not be allowed into the country. ICAF protests this refusal of entry, part of a recent and disturbing trend of excluding foreign scholars, as an infringement on academic freedom.
12:30-2:00 Lunch
2:00-3:30 Panel 6: Audiences and reception cultures
Moderated by Guy Spielmann, ICAF Executive Committee
Noriko Inomata, “The establishment of female manga readership in Japan and its circulation system: A comparison with the case of French market”
Ken Parille, “Jason and the Appropriators: Fashion, Photos, and the Comic”
José Alaniz, “Autobiography and Post-Soviet Russian Comics”
3:30-4:00 Break
4:00-5:00 Guest Artist LAT (Mohammed Nor Khalid) (Malaysia)
Introduced by John A. Lent, Temple University
5:00-7:30 Dinner
7:30-9:00 ICAF AND THE GEORGE WASHINGTON UNIVERSITY JOINTLY PRESENT:
Iconophobia: Comics, Politics, and the Power of the Image
A special event at the George Washington University’s Gelman Library featuring Lat, Kevin “KAL” Kallaugher, and Robert Russell
Co-sponsored by the Gelman Library, the GWU English Department, & the GWU Writing Program

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 20
1:00-2:30 Panel 7: Remembrance and nostalgia
Moderated by Marc Singer, ICAF Executive Committee
Jennifer Castel, “Nostalgia, Representation, and Identity in Art Spiegelman's In the Shadow of No Towers”
Pedro Pérez del Solar, “’A Führer’s day’: Comics and politics of memory in 1980s Spain”
Jason Buchanan, “A Superman without a World: Mourning, Melancholy, and Nostalgia in the Images of Post 9/11 Superman”
2:30-2:45 Break
2:45-3:45 Lent Scholarship Lecture: Orion Ussner Kidder, University of Alberta
3:45-4:00 Break
4:00-5:00 Guest Artist KYLE BAKER (USA)
5:00 Closing remarks

Beeler. Nate Beeler.

Nate's picture is grinning from the weird wrap-around advertising for their website that the Examiner put on today's papers. So, they pick the most interesting picture for the cover they can, to attract attention in a town with ohhh, five free papers, I think, and then put a wrap-around ad over it. Nate's on the back as part of The Examiner News Team and Partners. His shortcut is Cartoons.

He did have a good bash at Al Gore in today's paper.

Woodbridge's Luna Brothers

The interview is in "Luna brothers living by 'The Sword'" by JOSH EISERIKE, Potomac News Sunday, October 14, 2007.

Small Press Expo 2008 photos

Steve Hamaker and Claire

Steve Hamaker

Kevin Greenlee of Fantagraphics

Kim Deitch

Raina Telgemeier and Claire

Raina Telgemeier and Claire

Steve Hamaker, Bone colorist and Fish n Chips cartoonist

Matt Wagner and Big Planet Comics co-owner Greg Bennett

Voice of America - Indonesia doing interviews

Voice of America - Indonesia doing interviews

Roger Langridge, smiling even before I bought three pages of art from him

Kim Deitch, drawing a clown

Matt Wagner drawing in his new book, The Art of Matt Wagner

Jeff Smith congratulating and buying a book from an Ignatz nominee

Matt Wagner

Matt Wagner

Matt Wagner

Here are some pictures I took - higher resolution ones can be downloaded at http://www.flickr.com/photos/42072348@N00/. If I spelled anyone's name wrong, please let me know.

Pictures by Bruce Guthrie should be appearing here soon - http://www.digitalphalanx.com/graphlib.nsf/Last_45?OpenView&count=-1

Washington Post Writers Group editor Amy Lago interview

Click to"Episode 19 - The Amy Lago Show" by Brian Dunaway, on Comics Coast to Coast podcast, Thursday, 11 October 2007 to listen.

QUICK REVIEWS FOR COMICS DUE 10-17-07

QUICK REVIEWS FOR COMICS DUE 10-17-07
By John Judy

52 THE COMPANION SC by Various Folks. A hodge-podge of earlier stories featuring the stars of 52. For all of you who need to bone up on your Metal Men and Rip Hunter back-stories. A quirky kick.

52 THE COVERS HC by J.G. Jones. All 52 “52” covers along with thumbnail sketches and production notes. A must-have for all fans of great comic book cover art. Recommended.

THE ABYSS #1 of 4 by Kevin Rubio and Lucas Marangon. A little super-hero action from the writer of the on-line Star Wars spoof “Troops” and the artist of “Tag and Bink.” If you’re looking for something off the beaten path of established universes check it out.

ARMY @ LOVE VOL.1: THE HOT ZONE CLUB SC by Rick Veitch and Gary Erskine. Collecting the first story-arc of this controversial, subversive series. Lots of adult content. NOT for kids.

BOOKHUNTER GN written and drawn by Jason Shiga. A cool little indy about hard-boiled library police tracking down a stolen book in the means streets of Oakland circa 1973.

BOYS #11 by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson. The Boys go to Moscow. Not enough red ink in the world, ladies and gents. Not for kids, highly recommended.

BRAVE AND BOLD #7 by Mark Waid and George Perez. Wonder Woman and Power Girl team up to fight something. Excellent! What, you want more?

CAPTAIN AMERICA #31 by Ed Brubaker and Michael Lark. Bionic Bucky gets the treatment from Doctor Faustus, the most evil and fattest of the Marvel U shrinks. Fun stuff.

DEATH OF THE NEW GODS #1 of 8 written and drawn by Jim Starlin. As Dorothy Parker said upon hearing of the death of President Coolidge, “How could they tell?”

EX MACHINA #31 by Brian K. Vaughan and Tony Harris. Will Mayor Hundred kill the Pope? And what’s with the gorilla on the cover? Gorilla covers are awesome. Recommended.

JSA ALL-STAR ARCHIVES VOL.1 HC by All Kinds Folks. This one collects all the golden-age solo adventures of Johnny Thunder, Hour-Man, Atom, Dr. Mid-Nite, Mr. Terrific, Wildcat, and Red Tornado from the years 1940-1942. Buy this and laugh at all the back issue vendors at the next convention! Recommended!

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #14 by Dwayne McDuffie and Ed Benes. Injustice League, big fight, possible death. With chili-fries please.

MARVEL MASTERWORKS AVENGERS VOL.7 HC by Roy Thomas, John Buscema, Gene Colan, and Barry Windsor-Smith. A heck of a classic run here, collecting AVENGERS #59-68. For those of you keeping score, that’s the first Yellowjacket, the wedding of Giant-Man and the Wasp, Hawkeye becoming Goliath, and Ultron before he became a naked girl!
Recommended!

MARVEL ZOMBIES 2 #1 of 5 by Robert Kirkman and Sean Phillips. They’re back with the best opening line of the year! Highly recommended. NOT. FOR. KIDS.

MARVEL ZOMBIES HULK ACTION FIGURE. “Hulk is the hungriest one there is!!!”

MIGHTY AVENGERS #5 by Brian Michael Bendis and Frank Cho. The new improved naked girl Ultron is trying to launch nukes while the Sentry kicks his/her ass. Just write your Summer movie already, Bendis!

PENANCE RELENTLESS #2 of 5 by Paul Jenkins and Paul Gulacy. Dark Speedball reveals what’s up with his numbers obsession. It ain’t good. Rated “C for Creepy.”

SHAZAM MONSTER SOCIETY OF EVIL DELUXE HC written and drawn by Jeff Smith. All four issues collected here. “Yes, please!” Highly recommended.

UMBRELLA ACADEMY APOCALYPSE SUITE #2 of 6 by Gerard Way and Gabriel Ba. Yeah, it’s a comic written by the guy from My Chemical Romance, but it’s a really good one and it’s coming out on schedule! Definitely worth a look if you like your super-stuff a little twisted and dark. Recommended.

WOLVERINE ORIGINS #18 by Daniel Way and Steve Dillon. Daniel Way is the George Bush of comics. Steve Dillon must cry himself to sleep each night remembering what it was like to draw “Preacher.” That is all.

www.johnjudy.net

Express videography of Small Press Expo

Scott Rosenberg and Chris Porter of the Express walked around Saturday recording interviews. The first, with SPX head Karon Flage is online and more will be appearing here.

Comics Alliance, another DC-area blog CORRECTED

I think I got my blog listed with the Post tonight and also spotted a listing for John Anderson and Chris Dooley's Comics Alliance as being local too. We've never run into each other as far as I know though.

ICAF announces presenter refused admission to US FOLLOWUP

Tom Spurgeon's got a bit more back and forth with Marc Singer..

Come to ICAF this weekend and grill Marc for yourself!

JOHN DANIELS INTERVIEWS FRANK BEDDOR ON SEEING REDD

Our guest columnist returns as JOHN DANIELS INTERVIEWS FRANK BEDDOR ON SEEING REDD

First and foremost I want to thank you for taking the time to interview with me again.

The incredible sequel to the Looking Glass Wars is enthralling. Seeing Redd is the type of novel that could catapult you into literary history. Seeing Redd is the most awe-inspiring novel of the season.

How did it feel to see your book Seeing Redd which was just released on August 21st already topping the New York Times bestseller list?

Very, very satisfying. Having it at #4 on the NYT bestseller list the week it was released showed me that the momentum created by the Looking Glass Wars and Hatter M had carried readers to the next book and this was incredibly exciting.

How would you describe the atmosphere of Seeing Redd compared to the Looking Glass Wars novel?

Well…the dust has barely settled since the Alyssians trounced Queen Redd and she fled through the Heart Crystal to parts unknown. We return to a Wonderland in flux as the young queen Alyss attempts to rule a world she barely knows; a world where everyone is seeing Redd! Has Her Imperial Viciousness returned or it only black imagination? So in one word I would describe the atmosphere as TENSE in Seeing Redd. Book Two readers, assuming they have read book one, have already been introduced to Alyss and her Wonderland and many of the characters they will see again in Book 2. While LGW covered a 13-year period, Seeing Redd focuses on an adventure that takes place over a short period of time. There will be new characters introduced plus a heightened sense of immediacy as events and crisis follow in rapid order. Characters will again be traveling back and forth from Wonderland via the Pool of Tears but this time a new twist will be added as inhabitants of our world travel to Wonderland. These travelers are not exactly welcome as they are villains first introduced in the Hatter M comics. Much of the fun of the parallel story of Hatter M is crossing back and forth from different perspectives. While Hatter battled these villains on earth to save Imagination, Redd sees them in an entirely different light.


The depths of the characters portrayed in your novels are astonishing. Are there any characters returning from the Looking Glass Wars novel, and could you tell us some of the new characters in Seeing Redd?

Alyss and all the Alyssians return in full force for Seeing Redd as well as Redd and her murderous feline, the Cat. Villains introduced in the Hatter M comic mini-series will also re-appear in Seeing Redd as they join with Her Imperial Viciousness in the cause of Black Imagination. With regard to new characters, readers will be introduced to Boarderland and it’s alpha leader, King Arch, an avowed male chauvinist who loathes the idea of Queens ruling Wonderland. Aided by his henchmen, Ripkins and Blister, and the 21 warrior tribes, King Arch lays out his plan to dominate Wonderland like a master chess player. It comes quite naturally to Arch since Boarderland is a land of incessant gamers and gamblers. If you are a fan of anagrams, closely inspect the map included in Seeing Redd and see if you can decode the names of each of the 21 tribes. Hint: Each name is an anagram of a card or board game. Good luck!

Last time we interviewed I made a statement this could be a franchise in the making and this would be an incredible tale for a movie. How much is this in fruition?

I have completed the screenplays for the Looking Glass Wars and Hatter M. which I see as companion films. I am currently working on Book 3 of the trilogy and the screenplay for Seeing Redd. If I am fortunate enough to get the first two films produced then I would like to go on and produce the second two, which would create a 4 film series. In the franchise crazed studio world this amount of material has generated a lot of interest and excitement, however I’m holding out on making any deals. Currently, I have been having conversations with directors because the final and most important piece of the puzzle is my creative counterpart, the director who will take what I’ve created even further.

I first read Hatter M before the Looking Glass Wars; I have been a fan of your writings since 2005. How do you feel about the recognition you have received from all of the media and comic book reviewers?

I feel extreme gratitude for all the time and effort taken by these writers to get to know my work and help to articulate it to their readers. The positive feedback really helps by encouraging me to take the intuitive leaps that guide me with all of these projects. You think to yourself, “Oh man…is this too much?” But then you get this amazing feedback to go further and it just pushes you to keep trying for the high notes. It really is a collaborative effort on everyone’s part who enjoys the projects to keep them expanding and delivering what the LGW fans enjoy about the characters and their adventures.

Are you going to be coming to the east coast and doing any book signings or Comic -Cons, because you have loyal fans that would enjoy meeting a creative artisan as yourself?

I always try to do as many Comic Cons as I can physically and realistically fit in to my schedule because meeting the fans and talking about the work is truly ground zero for me. FRANK – ANY EAST COAST COMIC CONS SCHEDULED??????

Are you going to have a comic book about the Seeing Redd novel?

It is a definite possibility. If I were to do a ‘comic’ based on Redd I would want to do it in a similar fashion to how I created Hatter M which was created not as a comic book version of the character as readers were introduced to him in LGW, but as a stand alone series that is really an adjunct or extension of the novel. Through Hatter’s perspective readers are taken on an entirely different albeit connected adventure from what they have read in LGW. Redd’s comic book series would possibly be a prequel of the girl who would kill to become Queen or maybe an exploration of Wonderland when she ruled for 13 years where the four suit families were vying for power as they assemble their own armies.

How were the skeptics concerning you writing this fantastic story?

Debate is healthy. I welcome all forms of criticism and only ask that they read my books first.

As I read Chapter 32 in the book, I was so amazed how you incorporated our friend Mr. Dodgson. How does the Lewis Carroll society feel about you writing about their founder?

I have not had any direct contact with the venerable society, however, I believe via several anonymous posts to our forums that there may be a divisive ‘curiosity’ developing within the society and that some of the members have opened their imaginations to the possibility that there was much more to Lewis Carroll than history had recorded.

You have surrounded yourself in the company of some great artists in the past such as Ben Templesmith and Liz Cavalier. Now in this novel Seeing Redd you have artwork by Vance Kovacs, Stephan Martiniere, and Nate Barlow. How have the contributions of these artists helped in spreading the glow?

Working with the people you named (as well many, many others you did not) has been an alchemical explosion of creativity that has not only helped to spread the glow but since the very beginning has revealed that imagination glows brightest when the effort is collaborative.

Which is more demanding and fulfilling being a movie producer or being a writer?

Both are demanding and fulfilling, as is any job where something of value is accomplished. The difference I noticed most was that when you produce a movie you have to rely on other people on a daily basis while when writing it is solely up to you to deliver that day’s pages. When writing you stand, or fall, alone on each day’s work. This makes for an intense experience and your daily moods correspond to how well the writing is going which can turn you into a functioning manic/depressive.

Is there any advice you would give aspiring writers?

They always tell you to write what you know. I think this is boring advice. If you know it already where is the fun for you? I say go out and discover something you do not know but are incredibly interested in and write about that. At least you will have a good time doing it and if it is something you find fascinating chances are others will too or at least enough people to support your ongoing authorial efforts.

What would you like fans to go away with after reading "Seeing Redd"?

An intense desire to know what happens in Book 3.

As always, it has been a pleasure talking with you. Mr. Beddor, your creativeness and written artistry are that of a modern day genius. Thank you and the multitudes of creative artists that work with you to bring us the readers an incredible novel about the real Alyss of Wonderland.