Weldon's 2011 best comics

The Best Comics of 2011. Yep.
by Glen Weldon
National Public Radio's Monkey See blog (December 22, 2011)
http://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2011/12/22/144068495/the-best-comics-of-2011-yep

and a bonus list -

Kois, Dan.  2011.
Best Books Of 2011: Six Graphic Novels That Will Draw You In.
NPR.org (December 21): http://www.npr.org/2011/12/21/142899602/six-graphic-novels-that-will-draw-you-in

Wimpy Kid lawsuit wire article in yesterday's Post

'Wimpy Kid' Battles Trademark-Eating Zombies in Court

By Tim Kenneally at TheWrap

Reuters Dec 21, 2011

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/12/22/idUS205992784420111222

Truitt on Batman and Memorial

The Court of Owls takes wing vs. the Dark Knight in 'Batman'
By Brian Truitt, USA TODAY December 19 2011
http://www.usatoday.com/life/comics/story/2011-12-19/Batman-comic-series/52061716/1

Chris Roberson builds a fantasy world for IDW's 'Memorial'
By Brian Truitt, USA TODAY December 21 2011
http://www.usatoday.com/life/comics/story/2011-12-21/Memorial-fantasy-comic-series/52141052/1

Post on GE's 1950s science comics

Teaching STEM: The GE Comics series
General Electric faced the challenge of getting young people interested in the sciences back in 1953. Its solution? Comic books.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/on-innovations/teaching-stem-the-ge-comics-series/2011/12/20/gIQAFDNF9O_gallery.html#photo=1

Magic Bullet #3 reviewed

Here at Panel Patter.

Carla McNeil's artwork on Dark Horse Christmas card

See it here.

Local papers on Tintin movie

'Tintin' character has a head full of it
By: Kelly Jane Torrance  Washington Examiner December 21 2011
http://washingtonexaminer.com/entertainment/movies/2011/12/tintin-has-head-full-it/2020021

So-So 'Tintin': Spielberg film's charm is all on the surface.
By Ann Hornaday
Washington Post Dec 21, 2011
http://www.washingtonpost.com/gog/movies/the-adventures-of-tintin,1161918/critic-review.html

KAL profile online

Kal [Cartoonist]
Malibu Magazine December 15, 2011
http://www.malibumag.com/site/article/kal_cartoonist/

Jiminy Cricket poster in National Library of Medicine

I found this tonight while looking up safety posters for another reason. The National Library of Medicine, just north of the city in Bethesda, has a massive poster collection with a lot of cartoons and cartoonists represented, but I haven't seen this one before.

Publishers Weekly on Buzz Boy

New Buzz Boy Graphic Novel Out in Print, the Web, on iPad
By Calvin Reid
Dec 18, 2011
http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-book-news/article/49926-new-buzz-boy-graphic-novel-out-in-print-the-web-on-ipad.html

Franklin Booth bookplate

Illustrator Franklin Booth's bookplate "This Book Is A Part Of The Library Of =" printed in "Textbook of General Zoology", 3rd ed. by Curtis And Guthrie, New York: John Wiley, 1938.

Somewhat off-topic, but I ran across a book with a bookplate by the great American illustrator Franklin Booth, a favorite artist of Joel at Big Planet Comics, so I threw it on the scanner. You can find a high-resolution color image here and a b&w one here if you'd like to print them out for use in your own books.

Cable ad campaign becomes a comic strip

This week's Washington City Paper had a surprising two-page comics insert. It's an ad for Comcasts xfinity service done in comic strip format, and based on their Slowskys turtle tv campaign. Here's the strip - the back was just advertising verbiage.

Truitt on Batgirl

Batgirl rebounds from controversy to newfound popularity
By Brian Truitt, USA TODAY December 12 2011
http://www.usatoday.com/life/comics/story/2011-12-12/Batgirl-comics-story/51830078/1

USA Today's best comics of the year

Webcomics and nostalgia top the best graphic novels of 2011
By David Colton, John Geddes and Brian Truitt, USA TODAY December 16 2011
http://www.usatoday.com/life/comics/story/2011-12-16/best-graphic-novels-2011/52007490/1

Comic Riffs' quote of the year

BEST QUOTES OF 2011: From Gaiman to Watterson, the Year in Comic Riffs
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog December 17 2011
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/comic-riffs/post/best-quotes-of-2011-from-gaiman-to-watterson-the-year-in-comic-riffs/2011/12/13/gIQAlkfozO_blog.html

Keith Knight visits MLK memorial

Keith Knight may gave visited the  Martin Luther King memorial after SPX like he planned - his Knight Life characters are there today -  (or they may be at a Las Vegas facsimile, based on the strip from the day before).

Post on Mo Willems play

'Bunny' audience doesn't hold back
By Stephanie Merry
Washington Post Dec. 16, 2011
http://www.washingtonpost.com/gog/performing-arts/knuffle-bunny-a-cautionary-musical,1220015/critic-review.html

Mo Willems is a children's book author in this case, but he's also a cartoonist.

Comic Riffs on Eduardo Barreto's death and Anderson's Berryman Award

EDUARDO BARRETO, RIP: Remembering the beauty and boldness of the great 'Teen Titans' & 'Judge Parker' artist
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog December 16 2011
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/comic-riffs/post/eduardo-barreto-rip-remembering-the-panache-of-the-brilliant-teen-titans-and-judge-parker-artist/2011/12/16/gIQAnNEKyO_blog.html

2011 BERRYMAN AWARD: Houston Chronicle's Nick Anderson 'humbled' by win
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog December 16 2011
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/comic-riffs/post/2011-berryman-award-houston-chronicles-nick-anderson-humbled-by-win/2011/12/16/gIQA6gQUyO_blog.html#pagebreak

Tintin merchandising invasion begins

Here's 3 pictures from the Bailey's Crossroads' World Market. I was hoping for more traditional Tintin stuff.

The Hill talks to political cartoonists about Presidential candidates

Political cartoonists rooting for Gingrich

By Judy Kurtz - 12/15/11

 http://thehill.com/capital-living/in-the-know/199561-political-cartoonists-root-for-a-gingrich-white-house

 

Post on Alvin and the Chipmunks movie

 These rodents won't go away
By Sean O'Connell
Washington Post Dec. 16, 2011
http://www.washingtonpost.com/gog/movies/alvin-and-the-chipmunks-chipwrecked,1161884/critic-review.html

New animation from Joe Sutlff

Joe Sutliff writes in,

 

"I have  been a fan of live action and animation since I was a kid, and recently I got a chance to create some of my own. Working with Big Picture, Inc., I was the "star" (from the elbow out) of six animations on that most entertaining of topics, "80 Day Hiring Practices for the Air Force Civilian Service." I've posted the first one for your entertainment pleasure (be sure to get popcorn) at http://joesutliff.com/ACSvideos.html.

 

Flight anthology contributor from Woodbridge, VA

Randy Tischler's pointed out Reagan Lodge's Ars Militaria blog at http://reaganlodge.blogspot.com/ Lodge describes himself as being from "Woodbridge, VA, United States, "and his blog as "Imagery and words by a former comic book artist and illustrator, currently serving in the U.S. Marine Corps as a Combat Photographer."

Berryman award goes to Nick Anderson

The 2011 Clifford K. & James T. Berryman Award for Editorial Cartoons Winner: Nick Anderson, The Houston Chronicle 

http://nationalpress.org/awards/winner/nick-anderson/

 

Clifford Berryman was the dean of Washington cartoonists, and worked for the Washington Star for many years. The award named for him and his son is given annually in Washington.

Post obituary for Joe Simon appears

Joe Simon, co-creator of the Captain America comics, dies at 98
By T. Rees Shapiro,
Washington Post December 16, 2011
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/joe-simon-co-creator-of-the-captain-america-comics-dies-at-98/2011/12/15/gIQADjarwO_story.html

 

Truitt on Wolverine

'Wolverine' 300 begins end of Jason Aaron's run next month
By Brian Truitt, USA TODAY December 15 2011
http://www.usatoday.com/life/comics/story/2011-12-15/Wolverine-issue-300/51982392/1

Comic Riffs on Joe Simon's death and Big Nate's expansion

JOE SIMON, RIP: Remembering the legendary 'Captain America' co-creator, who has died at 98
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog December 15 2011
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/comic-riffs/post/joe-simon-rip-remembering-the-legendary-captain-america-co-creator-who-has-died-at-98/2011/12/15/gIQAWTvMwO_blog.html#pagebreak

'BIG NATE's' BIG NEWS: Best-selling kids' feature launches its first app [Exclusive]
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog December 15 2011
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/comic-riffs/post/big-nates-big-news-best-selling-kids-feature-launches-its-first-app-today-exclusive/2011/12/14/gIQAYN8tvO_blog.html#pagebreak

Truitt on Spider-Man's next story arc

Spider-Man goes to the 'Ends of the Earth' in March
By Brian Truitt, USA TODAY December 14 2011
http://www.usatoday.com/life/comics/story/2011-12-14/Amazing-Spider-Man-comic-news/51911282/1

Post blog on early Jim Henson animation

Early Jim Henson cut-paper animation found
By Maura Judkis
Washington Post Arts Post blog December 14 2011
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/arts-post/post/early-jim-henson-cut-paper-animation-found/2011/12/14/gIQAONtwtO_blog.html

Zadzooks' holiday gift guide

Zadzooks' Gift Guide: Comic book- and cartoon-themed gift ideas
By Joseph Szadkowski
The Washington Times December 14, 2011
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/dec/14/zadzooks-gift-guide-comic-book-cartoon-gifts/

Team Cul de Sac stamp #4 now available

Joe Sutliff's special Hanukah drawing of the Otterloop children and friend scan now be purchased at Zazzle, as of just a few minutes ago. Joe says, "I was baking dreidles for the Sunday school when I had this idea, so I just drew it."

Barbara Dale's TCDS stamp #2 went out on my Christmas cards today.

Truitt on Archie & Cable

Archie rekindles a former romance beginning in March
By Brian Truitt, USA TODAY December 12 2011http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
http://www.usatoday.com/life/comics/story/2011-12-12/Archie-comics-story/51827338/1

Cable targets the Avengers in Marvel's 'X-Sanction' series
By Brian Truitt, USA TODAY December 14 2011
http://www.usatoday.com/life/comics/story/2011-12-14/Avengers-X-Sanction-comic-series/51908496/1

Comic Riffs on IDW and comiXology's digital deal

IDW's NEXT BIG STEP: comiXology-powered apps and 'same day digital'
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog (December 14 2011)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/comic-riffs/post/idws-next-big-step-comixology-powered-apps-and-same-day-digital/2011/12/13/gIQAavV6tO_blog.html

Steve Jobs comic biography illo'd by Washingtonians

Although it sounds like a Frankentstein-type job as it is "...illustrated by a team of designer/illustrators from JESS3, a Washington DC Design, illustrations and data visualization firm..."

 

For more details:

 

John Wiley to Publish Graphic Biography of Steve Jobs

By Calvin Reid

Dec 02, 2011

http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/book-news/comics/article/49720-john-wiley-to-publish--the-zen-of-steve-jobs---a-graphic-biography-.html

 

Truitt on Star Wars

The Empire gets a secret agent in new 'Star Wars' series
By Brian Truitt, USA TODAY December 13 2011
http://www.usatoday.com/life/comics/story/2011-12-13/Star-Wars-secret-agent-comic-series/51880832/1

Results of Tom Toles cartoon contest

Click through to GOP Frankenstein Cartoon Caption Contest for the Toles cartoon contest results.

Meanwhile, Frank Cho is doing the cover for Avengers vs X-Men #0.

Comic Riffs follows up on plagiarism chat

MY BIAS: Is a newsroom's political cartoonist a 'journalist'? A Poynter chat sheds light

By Michael Cavna

'Finding Nemo' cartoon slides into real-life

For species in 'Nemo,' real risks [online title: The reality of 'Finding Nemo's' marine life]
By Juliet Eilperin,
Washington Post December 13, 2011, pA2
http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/the-reality-of-finding-nemos-marine-life/2011/12/12/gIQAw0QYqO_story.html

Hagen's Duckpin of Excellence

I am now the proud owner of Fat Bat by David Hagen - see it here at http://hagenillustration.blogspot.com/2010/05/fat-bat.html

 

As David wrote to me when he once again reminded me that I had said I wanted to buy it, "The organizer said I had the most public votes for favorite artist from Artomatic@Frederick which meant a lot to me. I love my public!" See David and the award at http://hagenillustration.blogspot.com/

I've got 2 Hagen originals now.  I wonder if I can get his Team Cul de Sac original at auction next summer for a trifecta.

CARTOONS & PLAGIARISM: Live chat today @ 3 pm

Chat today at 3 with @washingtonpost Comic Riffs blogger Michael Cavna & Poynter's @kellymcb on cartoon plagiarism: http://www.poynter.org/latest-news/top-stories/155774/live-chat-today-should-editorial-cartoonists-follow-same-ethical-guidelines-as-journalists/

Michael Cavna
Style Section & "Comic Riffs"
The Washington Post
Washingtonpost.com/comicriffs
Facebook.com/comicriffs
Twitter.com/comicriffs

Dec 15: Al Jaffee in town

Authors Out Loud: Mary-Lou Weisman & Al Jaffee Washington DCJCC

Mary-Lou Weissman - author, Al Jaffee- illustrator
Al Jaffee's Mad Life: A Biography
Thursday, December 15, 7:30 pm
$10, $8 Members/Seniors/Students

At 89, iconic American cartoonist Al Jaffee remains MAD magazine's oldest and most prolific contributor. Behind Jaffee's trademark dark humor lurks an even darker story of a childhood spent between two alien worlds, Lithuania and America. Mary-Lou Weisman tells the off-kilter life story of the man who countless fans know and love as the inventor of MAD's "fold-ins" and "Snappy Answers to Stupid Questions."

Al Jaffee's Mad Life is illustrated by more than 65 original four-color original drawing by the master himself.

Mary-Lou Weisman is a journalist and author whose books include My Baby Boomer Baby Book, Traveling While Married, and Intensive Care: A Family Love Story.

Al Jaffee is an award-winning cartoonist whose work has appeared in more 440 issues of MAD magazine.

"Al Jaffee's Mad Life lays bare in harrowing yet often riotous detail how a Southern boy, twice uprooted by his mother to Lithuanian shtetls on the eve of World War II, grew up to become a tireless satirist for some of America's cheekier magazines."
-The New York Times

"It's an unnerving biography with a moving graphic novel hidden inside it."
-Art Spiegelman, author of MAUS

Partner: 16th Street J's Ann Loeb Bronfman Gallery Off the Wall series

Date: Thursday, December 15, 2011
Time: 7:30 PM - 9:00 PM
Address:
1529 16th Street, NW
Washington, DC 20036
United States

If you'd like to attend this event you can purchase tickets online.

Post runs Robinson obituary

Jerry Robinson, co-creator of the Joker, Batman's nemesis, dies at 89
By Michael Cavna,
Washington Post December 12 2011
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/jerry-robinson-co-creator-of-the-joker-batmans-nemesis-dies-at-89/2011/12/09/gIQAe9A0lO_story.html

Truitt on Jerry Robinson, Artifacts and GI Joe

Comics historian Jerry Robinson, creator of the Joker, dies
By Brian Truitt, USA TODAY December 8 2011
http://www.usatoday.com/life/comics/story/2011-12-08/jerry-robinson/51745168/1

'Artifacts' aims to build Top Cow's readership
By Brian Truitt, USA TODAY December 5 2011
http://www.usatoday.com/life/comics/story/2011-12-05/artifacts-top-cow/51662486/1

IDW reveals a new and 'utterly ruthless' Cobra Commander
By Brian Truitt, USA TODAY December 6 2011
http://www.usatoday.com/life/comics/story/2011-12-06/GI-Joe-comics-Cobra-Commander/51679676/1

Habibi is Washington Examiner's best graphic novel

The best books of 2011

 The Washington Examiner December 11 2011

Marcela Valdes picks the top 10 books of 2011 for The Washington Examiner.

"Habibi"

Craig Thompson. Pantheon, $35 (672p)

Humorous, heart-breaking, and visually stunning, Thompson's graphic novel tells the epic love story of two Middle Eastern slaves. Intended for grown-ups, this book contains some nudity, but it's real daring lies in the way it braids together the religious tales of both Islam and Christianity.

That darn Toles redux

Violence on the editorial page

Washington Post December 9 2011

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/violence-on-the-editorial-page/2011/12/04/gIQAEbX9iO_story.html

Is there to be no end to Post editorial cartoonist Tom Toles's use of violence in an attempt to make political points? In recent days, I have seen the Republican elephant with a shovel about to murder the Democratic donkey looking stupidly into a grave (dug by whom?) [Nov. 28], a European beer drinker committing suicide (maybe) as he falls unaware to his certain death [Dec. 1] and finally Newt Gingrich getting ready to blow himself up as would a suicide bomber [Dec. 4]. Isn't there a less violent, more positive way to express political points?

As I get older (I'm 67) and turn away from violence and created drama and toward God and brotherly love, I am looking elsewhere than The Post for inspiration.

Mike Thompson, Hollywood, Md.

Truitt on Everlast

Chad Michael Murray ventures from Hollywood to 'Everlast'
By Brian Truitt, USA TODAY December 9 2011
http://www.usatoday.com/life/comics/story/2011-12-09/chad-michael-murray-everlast/51767038/1

Dec 11: KAL at the Walters in Baltimore

Details here at Kal's blog. He's a great public speaker, and will also be signing books and his new calendar.

Big Planet's Greg Bennett's band Jet Age plays tonight

Here's the Post review of the new cd (save me one, Greg) and they're playing in Northwest DC tonight (Dec 9) at 10 pm at the Comet Ping Pong restaurant (next door to Politics and Prose):

Information:202-364-0404

Price:$10

Comet Ping Pong

5037 Connecticut Ave. NW
Washington, DC

Cavna on editorial cartoonist plagiarism

NEWSROOM PLAGIARISM: Why are cartoonists treated so differently from their journalistic brethren?
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs December 9 2011
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/comic-riffs/post/newsroom-plagiarism-why-are-cartoonists-treated-so-differently-from-their-journalistic-brethren/2011/12/09/gIQA8pBHiO_blog.html

Weldon on the genius of Carl Barks

The Derring-Do of Donald Duck: Recolored. Restored. Really Great.

by Glen Weldon

National Public Radio's Monkey See blog December 9, 2011

http://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2011/12/09/143340903/the-derring-do-of-donald-duck-recolored-restored-really-great