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Monday, May 31, 2010

Cavna on Reuben awards

Michael Cavna's got the story of who actually won what award here -'Bizarro' creator Dan Piraro named Cartoonist of the Year at Reuben Awards
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Staff Writer
Monday, May 31, 2010; C04

June 1: Superheroes special report on ABC's 2020

There's a little bit at the following link, including "Watch the full story on "SuperHumans!" a special edition of "20/20" Tuesday, June 1 at 10 p.m. ET"

Superhero Obsession: Why We Love Fantasy
From Jesus to Hercules to Superman and Iron Man, All Cultures Have Own Mythic Heroes
By JON MEYERSOHN
May 31, 2010

Sunday, May 30, 2010

Dan Piraro, not Richard Thompson, wins Rueben


Hogan's Alley sent out an email last night saying that Dan Piraro has won the National Cartoonist Society's Rueben Award.  Piraro's been nominated multiple times, but hadn't won until this year.

Which probably means Richard will have to rent the tux and go win it next year, since the same is true for him now.

Trickster review in Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel

Graphic artists illustrate American Indian tales in 'Trickster'
By Jim Higgins
Milwaukee Journal Sentinel May 29, 2010

The City Paper will have more Trickster cartoonist interviews this week too.

Saturday, May 29, 2010

The New York comics Times

Couple of things I saw while reading the paper this morning -

Itzkoff, Dave. 2010.
Flintstones Cereal Maker Rocked by Lawsuit From Hulk Hogan.
New York Times' Arts Beat blog (May 28); New York Times (May 29): C2.

On Marmaduke -

Barnes, Brooks. 2010.
Producer Is a Friend to Comic Animals.
New York Times (May 29): C1, 8.

But their weekly graphic novel sales list is still online only -
Graphic Books
May 27, 2010

Comics on the Rack, Quick Picks for Comics Due Thursday (NOT Wednesday) 06-03-10

COMICS ON THE RACK
Quick Picks for Comics Due Thursday (NOT Wednesday) 06-03-10
By John Judy
 
ADVENTURE COMICS #12 by Paul Levitz and Kevin Sharpe.  The legendary LEGION scribe takes Superboy back to the future for an untold tale of the LSH.  And check out the classic costumes on the cover!
 
AVENGERS PRIME #1 of 5 by Brian Michael Bendis and Alan Davis.  Let's hope Bendis trims the dialogue enough to leave room for all the great art!  Recommended!
 
BLACKSAD, VOL. 1 HC by Juan Diaz Canales and Juanjo Guarnido.  Collecting the first three stories of John Blacksad, cat detective!  These stories took top critical honors in Europe and are so good they almost won awards over here in 'Murika!  Highly recommended.
 
BRIGHTEST DAY #3 by Geoff Johns and His Band of Renown.  So for some folks coming back from the dead ain't all peaches and cream…
 
CAPTAIN AMERICA/BLACK PANTHER: FLAGS OF OUR FATHERS #3 by Reginald Hudlin and Denys Cowan.  Cap and the Panther start smacking down Nazis side-by-side!
 
ELECTRIC ANT #3 of 5 by David Mack and Pascal Alixe.  The twists keep coming in this awesome adaptation of Philip K. Dick's sci-fi/noir brain-bender!  Recommended.
 
FREAKANGELS, VOL. 4 SC by Warren Ellis and Paul Duffield.  Collecting the latest adventures of twelve strange children in a form you can hold in your hands and kill bugs with.  Recommended.
 
A GOD SOMEWHERE GN by John Arcudi, Peter Snejbjerg and Bjarne Hansen.  Veteran super-scribe Arcudi gives his take on "What if someone really got super-powers?"  Gotta look.
 
HAWKEYE AND MOCKINGBIRD #1 by Jim McCann and David Lopez.  For the serious fan of the avenging archer and his not really dead wife.  In this one they're taking on the Phantom Rider and Crossfire because… ya gotta start slow?
 
HERCULES: TWILIGHT OF A GOD #1 of 4 written and drawn by Bob Layton.  A Layton HERCULES is always worth a read.  Fun stuff.
 
IRREDEEMABLE #14 by Mark Waid and Diego Barreto.  Modeus has the Plutonian dancing on a string, doing stuff that's even more twisted and evil than he'd normally be doing anyway.  Recommended but not for kids.
 
IZOMBIE #2 by Chris Roberson and Michael Allred.  If Nancy Drew ate brains to stay alive she'd be iZombie!  More female empowering than "Sex and the City 2" and only half as revolting!  Recommended for older teens and up!
 
JONAH HEX: NO WAY BACK HC by Justin Gray, Jimmy Palmiotti and Tony DeZuniga.  An in-depth adventure with the legendary bounty hunter just in time for him to get Brolin-ized for the big screen!  Exciting!
 
JSA ALL-STARS #7 by Matthew Sturges and Freddie Williams II.  A farewell to Damage, the Black Lantern who didn't return to life.  There is also a back-up story of which we shall no longer speak…
 
JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #39 by Bill Willingham and Jesus Merino. 
It's hard to go wrong with the JSA fighting Nazis.  Sure, Roy Thomas managed it a few times but it wasn't easy…  Glorious traditional stuff.
 
MOUSE GUARD: LEGENDS OF THE GUARD #1 of 4 by Various Creators.  A series of tales told competitively among mice.  Gaiman-esque!
 
MOVING PICTURES GN by Kathryn and Stuart Immonen.  A struggle between a museum curator and an SS officer over art treasures and other stuff.  No capes.
 
RED HOOD: LOST DAYS #1 of 6 by Judd Winick and Pablo Raimondi.  Filling in some background on Jason Todd, the second Robin, mostly hipping us to how he became such a murderous rat.
 
SERENITY: FLOAT OUT ONE-SHOT by Patton Oswalt and Patric Reynolds.  Three tales of the late, lamented Hoban "Wash" Washburne from the Joss Whedon series "Firefly."  Written by the brilliant actor/comedian Patton Oswalt, so yeah, you need this.
 
THE STAND: HARDCASES #1 of 5 by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and Mike Perkins.  The heroes were getting tiresome.  How about we focus on the bad guys and crazies left behind after the most entertaining apocalypse Stephen King ever wrote?  Recommended.
 
STEPHEN KING'S N #4 of 4 by Marc Guggenheim and Alex Maleev.  The final issue as the madness contagion threatens to spread through "a journalist with millions of readers!"  I always knew Perez Hilton would be the death of us all….
 
SUPERMAN/BATMAN ANNUAL #4 by Paul Levitz and Renato Guedes.  A trippy jaunt into the future world of "Batman Beyond" where the new Batman gets called to duty in Metropolis.  What could go wrong?
 
TORCH #8 of 8 by Mike Carey, Alex Ross and Patrick Berkenkotter.  Yet another final issue in which we learn whether the original Human Torch lives or dies.  Again.
 
X-MEN FOREVER GIANT-SIZE #1 by Chris Claremont and Mike Grell.  This one's of interest to Fans of a Certain Age because it's a big fight between the Xs and the Shi'ar Imperial Guard.  The IG were a blatant rip-off, I mean "homage", to the Legion of Super-Heroes over at DC and one of the major artists on LEGION was Mike Grell.  Finally, just to be thorough, the late Dave Cockrum, co-creator of the ALL-NEW X-MEN, was also a major part of the LEGION redesign in the seventies.  It's a huge Nerd Milestone is what I'm saying.  Gotta look.
 


Friday, May 28, 2010

Weingarten's co-author on Clowes

Gina Barreca, who has collaborated with Gene Weingarten on his column in the Washington Post Magazine, looks at the recent Dan Clowes cover for the New Yorker - Is There a Doctorate in the House? Chronicle of Higher Education blog May 21, 2010.

PR: Sun, June 6 Capicons Comic Book & Pop Culture Con

Capicons Comic Book & Pop Culture Con
http://capicons.com

Our Biggest Show Yet!
Sunday, June 6, 2010
10 am - 3 pm

Dunn Loring Volunteer Fire Dept.
2148 Gallows Rd. Dunn Loring, VA 

Admission: $2! FREE for children under 10
$1 of each paid admission will be donated to The Hero Initiative

Special Guest:
Michael J. Hayde author of FLIGHTS OF FANTASY: The Unauthorized but True Story of Radio & TV's "Adventures of Superman" www.michaeljhayde.com

Also Featuring:
Cover Artist and Inker
Tim Dzon (Marvel Comics Presents, Avengers West Coast, Hawkeye, GI Joe, etc.)
http://tim-dzon.deviantart.com/

Artist/Publisher
Andre Campbell, Heritage Comics HSQ
http://heritagehsq.tripod.com/v2/index.html

Artist/Publisher Dan Nokes, 21st Century Sandshark Studios
http://21sandshark.com/

Chameleon Creations' Writer/Publisher Radi Lewis (The Children of the Phoenix)
http://www.thechildrenofthephoenix.com/

- Model Maker Extraordinaire Dave Wilson,
- Cartoonist Ali Gee


Free Parking! Fabulous door prize drawings!

The show is open to the public from 10 am - 3 pm. 40+ Tables. Buy, sell and trade...Gold, Silver, Bronze Age comics; Indie & Modern comics, Publishers & Creators, TV & Movie Collectibles. Non-sport cards; Videos and DVDs; Horror/Sci-Fi; figures, toys; Star Wars and Star Trek memorabilia; original artwork, posters, T-shirts/clothing and various other comic related items.

=============================================================
Directions to DLVFRD:
=============================================================
Take I-495 (DC/Capital Beltway) to Exit 47A (Rt. 7 West). Go 1/2 Mile, Left on Gallows Rd. 1 mile to 2148 Gallows Rd

Metro: Take Orange Line to Dunn Loring Metro Station--We're 1.35 miles from the Metro stop and on both the Fairfax Connector and Metro Bus lines. Visit www.wmata.com to plan your trip to our show.

=============================================================
Capicons is on Facebook!
=============================================================
Become a fan on Facebook, and keep on top of show updates.
http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Merrifield-VA/Capicons-Comic-Book-Pop-Culture-Con/221236176794?ref=ts

=============================================================
Capicons 2010 Dates
Sun. June 6
Sun, Aug. 1
Sun. Oct. 3
Sun. Dec. 5
=============================================================

To book a table, be added to our mailing list, request flyers, or for more info about our show, email info@capicons.com.

PR: Stan Lee, Others Among Wash Post's Judges for Cartoonist Contest UPDATED

Here's some PR from the Post on their cartoon contest. One might also note that the area's crack cartoonist, Richard Thompson, whose career has been tightly intertwined with the Post, and who is up for a Rueben Award this weekend, is also a judge. One might.:

 

Today The Washington Post announced the final list of celebrity judges who will critique the work of the finalists of America's Next Great Cartoonist Contest.

Stan Lee, Stephen Pastis, Jerry Scott and Garry Trudeau are among the judges. For the complete list, visit Comic Riffs:

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/comic-riffs/2010/05/final_judges_list_washington_p.html

For more on the contest which looks to help a budding cartoonist launch their career, go here: http://views.washingtonpost.com/cartoonist/

Submissions are due June 4!

 



I just went to the Post website and see that there's a bunch of other judges they didn't list in the PR too - Lalo "La Cucaracha" Alcaraz, Darrin "Candorville" Bell, Mike "Penny Arcade" Krahulik, Hilary "Rhymes with Orange" Price, Tom "that darn" Toles, Gene "theoretical Barney & Clyde" Weingarten and Signe "Family Tree" & Pulitzer-winner Wilkinson.

Thursday, May 27, 2010

Heroes Con, Or Stuck Inside of Charlotte with the Cul de Sac Blues Again

Richard and I will be motoring down to Heroes Con next Thursday - I think this is pretty much a go since the schedule posted today says:

June 5 Saturday

3.00 PM

IN CONVERSATION | Richard Thompson
Room 206
Reuben Award -nominated Richard Thompson is widely hailed as one of the most talented cartoonists working today. From his strip Cul de Sac to his Richard's Poor Almanac humor strip to his illustrations for the New Yorker, the Washington Post, and more, he's a fascinating creator. Tom Spurgeon sits down to talk with Richard in this informal conversation.


Presumably I'll be the table monkey and miss it again.

Shannon "G.I. Joe" Gallant is also going down from DC. My buddy Craig Fischer's doing his thing again too.

Ann Telnaes photo from visiting Pixar


Ralph Eggleston, Ann, Bob Scott at Pixar

After our brief mention of Bob Scott yesterday, Ann Telnaes wrote in and sent this picture, noting "Ralph Eggleston and Bob Scott were classmates of mine at CalArts.   I was in SF a couple of months ago and stopped by for a tour."

Pixar animator Bob Scott likes Telnaes and Cul de Sac

Nickel, Scott.
A Nickel's Worth blog May 25, 2010
 
Read the interview, but here's the two quotes relevant to ComicsDC:
 
Of the more recent strips my favorites are DIAMOND LIL, CUL DE SAC, KISKALOO, CITIZEN DOG and  MONTY.
 
And Ann Telnaes does a great job with the  animated versions of her political cartoons.
 
 

Wednesday, May 26, 2010

Bill Day's RFK Journalism award

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Bill Day, winner of the 2010 RFK Journalism award for editorial cartooning.

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Bill Day, winner of the 2010 RFK Journalism award for editorial cartooning, with 2010 Herblock award winner Matt Wuerker.

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Bill Day, winner of the 2010 RFK Journalism award for editorial cartooning, with 2010 judges Sara Duke and Mike Rhode.

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Post cartoonist contest adds Stan Lee as judge

The Post's America's Next Great Cartoonist contest run by Michael Cavna added Stan Lee as a judge. This may be Our Man Thompson's chance to pitch his Spider-Man / Cul de Sac cross-over idea! Ernesto and Dr. Octopus!

Marvel posters at National Library of Medicine

Some times you're looking for something in a library (alcoholism posters) and up pops a surprise like these six posters from Marvel in 1987 on the dangers of drinking to excess.

Here's the links to the images and the catalogue information:

http://ihm.nlm.nih.gov/images/A26073  - Storm

http://ihm.nlm.nih.gov/images/A26074 - Iron Man

http://ihm.nlm.nih.gov/images/A26072 - Firestar and Iceman

 

RFK Journalism award given to Bill Day tonight

Editorial cartoonist Bill Day will receive the RFK Journalism Award for cartooning tonight at George Washington University. I'll be in the audience and should have photos tomorrow.

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Webcomic con coming to DC in September.

This PR arrived over the e-transom today -

Intervention: Your Online Life, In Person. A Convention with Webcomics, Videos, Music, and You - September 10-12 2010 at the Hilton Washington DC. http://www.InterventionCon.com

Intervention is a convention for the independent comics, art, and music creators. The con was started by webcomic creator Onezumi Hartstein (http://www.Onezumi.com) and web developer James Harknell (http://www.AWSOM.org). This goal is to bring together different independent creators to party, educate, and appreciate the opportunities the Internet gives to all of us.

Intervention will have awesome webcomics geek-related programming and gaming all day and night from Friday through Sunday. There will be one dance party where the audience can assist the DJ in making live music and one NYC-style dance party. In addition to the Artist's Alley/Vendor Room over 30 webcomic and New Media experts will attend. The con is still being planned. Discussion is being held on the Intervention forum: http://interventioncon.com/forum/

City Paper comics reviews

International Ink: Back to the Future

Posted by Mike Rhode on May. 25, 2010.
 
This week I look at The Atomic Knights, the Legion of Super-Heroes and Oh My Goddess!

Monday, May 24, 2010

June 5: DC Anime Club’s Gundam Day

Press Release

DC Anime Club’s Gundam Day

DC Anime Club invites all Giant Robot fans to Gundam Day on Saturday June 5, 2010 2pm-5pm at the Martin Luther King, Jr Memorial Library, 901 G St NW Washington, DC 20001 in A5 on the A Level of the Library.

For those of you who are unfamiliar Gundam is a Japanese Animated metaseries by the Animation Studio in Japan Sunrise.

Gundam Day will consist of the following activities:

Model kit construction where attendees will learn how to build their own Gundams.

Attendees are encouraged to bring their own model kits.

An Marathon of the Japanese Animated Series Gundam Wing will be screened during Gundam Day.

An Anime Swap Meet will be included as part of Gundam Day.
Have anime dvd’s or Japanese Comics you don’t want anymore?
Come to the Anime Swap Meet and trade with fellow anime enthusiast who no longer.

We hope to see you there.

This event is free and open to the public.
Ages 13 and up.

For more information please visit the DC Anime Club website at http://dcanimeclub.org.

June 1: Swann Fellow's lecture on Turkish cartoonists

From Martha Kennedy at the Library of Congress -

Swann Fellow Yasemin Gencer presents her public lecture, "Cartooning Progress: Secularism and Nationalism in the Early Turkish Republic (1922-28)" at noon on Tuesday, June 1, in Dining Room A on the sixth floor of the Madison Building.

Gencer will discuss how cartoons of this era had the power to create, shape and project a new Turkish national identity based on European models. She will look at cartoons that highlight reforms initiated during the early years of the Turkish Republic. In one such image, for example, an automobile made of Latin letters speeds past a camel composed of Arabic letters, demonstrating how the cartoonist combines text with visual metaphor to underscore the benefits of changing the official alphabet. Such cartoons from 1922-28 illustrate many reforms aimed at secularizing the nation.

Comics on the Rack, Quick Picks for Comics Due 05-26-10


COMICS ON THE RACK
Quick Picks for Comics Due 05-26-10
By John Judy
 
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #632 by Zeb Wells and Chris Bachalo.  Holy jeez, did the Lizard really eat his own kid?  Turn the page…  Recommended, but not for the easily creeped out.
 
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN ANNUAL #37 by Kurt Busiek and Patrick Olliffe.  A flashback tale of when Spidey met Captain America for the very first time!  Some villainous shmoes get a-pummeled, you bet!
 
BATMAN: THE RETURN OF BRUCE WAYNE #2 of 6 by Grant Morrison and Frazer Irving.  The original Dark Knight is fighting his way back from the dawn of time!  This issue he's fighting Puritans!  Go!  Go!  Go!
 
BRAVE AND BOLD #34 by J. Michael Straczynski and Jesus Saiz.  The Legion of Super Heroes meets the Doom Patrol in a contest to see whose series can get canceled faster!
 
CHIMICHANGA #2 of 3 written and drawn by Eric Powell.  The monstrous "Chimichanga" joins the circus!  From the creator of THE GOON.  Highly recommended!
 
CHOKER #3 of 6 by Ben McCool and Ben Templesmith.  The murder rate in Shotgun City continues to rise even as Choker's hopes dwindle.  Recommended.
 
DAZZLER #1 by Jim McCann and Kalman Andrasofszky.  Because for some fanboys PET AVENGERS just isn't enough…
 
DCS GREATEST IMAGINARY STORIES VOL. 2 SC by Bill Finger, Sheldon Moldoff and Others.  Collecting the best of the Batman "imaginary stories" from the 60s and 70s by Batman's uncredited co-creator, Bill Finger.  Good for all ages.
 
DOC SAVAGE THE MAN OF BRONZE SC by Many Creators.  This volume collects the entire series originally published by Marvel in 1972 adapting four of the Doc Savage pulps from the 1930s.  Neat stuff.
 
FANTASTIC FOUR #579 by Jonathan Hickman and Neil Edwards.  Reed Richards has had enough of your guff and is bringing the huge, Kirby-dotted hammer down!  For your own good.  Excelsior!
 
GREEN LANTERN #54 by Geoff Johns and Doug Mahnke.  In which we learn how the various spectra of Lanterns are adjusting to their new home on Earth.  Check out the cover.  Recommended.
 
THE GUILD #3 of 3 by Felicia Day and Jim Rugg. Will seeing her boyfriend kissing a dude finally get Cyd to wake up?  Will her on-line game quest involve getting a life?  These are the days of our lives…  Recommended.
 
INCORRUPTIBLE #6 by Mark Waid and Horacio Domingues.  Newly reformed bad guy Max Damage goes on a rescue mission that leaves you wondering if Max hasn't gone as crazy with the hero gig as his arch-foe the Plutonian has with the villainy.  Great, unpredictable stuff.  Recommended.
 
INVINCIBLE GENE COLAN HC edited by Clifford Meth and drawn by Gene Colan.  A tribute book and retrospective of one of comics greatest illustrators, featuring analysis from such creators as Stan Lee, Neil Gaiman and many others lucky enough to have worked with Gene the Dean.  Highly recommended.
 
JUSTICE LEAGUE: GENERATION LOST #2 by Keith Giffen, Judd Winnick and Joe Bennett.  Maxwell Lord is back and screwing with the lives of the former JLI.  This series is turning out surprisingly well, maybe because the original creative team has been broken up, thus leading to less of the "Bwah-ha-ha" stuff that stopped being funny back in the 80s.
 
KEVIN SMITH'S GREEN HORNET #4 by Kevin Smith and Jonathan Lau.  The old Hornet is dead and now it's up to Kato to get the new one up to speed.  There's bad guys need to pay!
 
NORTHLANDERS #28 by Brian Wood and Leandro Fernandez.  The final chapter of the epic "Plague Widow."  Recommended.
 
PREVIEWS by Marvel and Diamond Comics.  Stuff in the future you can actually look forward to!  How great is that?
 
SCALPED #38 by Jason Aaron and R.M. Guera.  An issue set in the Vietnam War starring a character we finally get to know a little better.  Always highly recommended.
 
SECRET AVENGERS #1 by Ed Brubaker and Mike Deodato.  Hey, if I had Moon Knight on my team I'd keep it a secret too.  It's Brubaker and he makes stuff like this work.
 
THANOS IMPERATIVE: IGNITION #1 by Dan Abnett, Andy Lanning and Brad Walker.  I believe this is a one-shot that Thanos insists you set fire to.  A "burn after reading" thing, if you will.
 
THOR #610 by Kieron Gillen and Doug Braithwaite.  Thor dukes it out with his insane cyborg clone.  As if the sane ones aren't bad enough…
 
THUNDERBOLTS #144 by Jeff Parker and Kev Walker.  Luke Cage is now a parole officer for the worst villains on the planet.  If they want to see daylight they need to get their good behavior points from Mr. Cage.  It's almost as if it would be Suicide to be on this Squad!  Hey….  Gotta look!
 
ULTIMATE COMICS ENEMY #4 of 4 by Brian Michael Bendis and Rafa Sandoval.  So it turns out this is the concluding chapter of Part One of a three-part trilogy which means, according to my public school math, we have eight more issues comprising two more mini-series to go until this story is finished.  Recommended for people with money, patience and a desire to see if Ultimate Ben Grimm blows up real good.
 
WEDNESDAY COMICS HC by Many Cool Creators.  An oversized edition collecting all the glorious hits and misses of last year's Great Experiment.  If you don't find something to love in these pages you haven't looked hard enough.  Recommended.
 
WOLFSKIN: HUNDREDTH DREAM #2 of 6 by Warren Ellis, Mike Wolfer and Gianluca Pagliarani.  The prehistoric berserker travels north to chew bubblegum and fight monsters.  And bubblegum hasn't been invented yet!  Not for kids.
 
WOLVERINE WEAPON X #13 by Jason Aaron and Ron Garney.  Wolvie and Captain America have to take out a Deathlok army from the future without completely mucking up the timestream.  And they'd like fries with that.  Recommended.
 
WONDER WOMAN #44 by Gail Simone and Nicola Scott.  WW must thrash it out with her evil alien warlord cousin.  And, believe it or not, next issue is #600!  Just accept it!
 
 


Saturday, May 22, 2010

9 Chickweed Lane's post-war nookie

In a great extended flashback, Edna's grandmother has been telling of her World War II adventures as a femme fatale, who fell in love both with a German POW who taught her to sing better, and the American officer who sent her in. The American vanished during the invasion of France, but the Austrian has surface in New York, singing in the opera. The two have found each other and ... clenched hands have resulted.

This is the third example of sexuality that Brooke McEldowney has shown in his strip. Our notes on number one is here and number two is here.

Friday, May 21, 2010

Reason on the Danish Islam cartoons controversy again

I don't link to Reason often enough, although they're based in DC, because I think of them as a nationwide publication (as do they, I'm sure). Here's an editorial of interest -

And The Winner of The Everybody Draw Mohammad Contest is...
Nick Gillespie & Matt Welch | May 20, 2010

Cartoons, cartoons every where

Here's some pictures from 16th St, NW in DC today:

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Pom The Antioxidant Superpower ad in a bus stop.

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Shrek Forever After ad on a bus.

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Marmaduke the movie ad at a bus stop. The original comic strip is by Brad Anderson, a longtime gag cartoonist.

Matt Wuerker's very excellent hat and the Funny Times

As requested by no less than Richard Thompson, here are pictures from the recent Funny Times subscriber party in Arlington, which featured the first Irving Award presented to Matt Wuerker. The Irving Award is named in honor of publisher Ray Lesser's father, and his large collection of trophies, that Ray intended to regift, but never quite got around to. I'd like to thank Ray for making me welcome, and to note that I retroactively became a subscriber, especially since the magazine supports our local cartoonist Matt.

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The party.

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Matt and the hat.

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Cartoonists Matt Wuerker, Bill Brown and Joe Sutliff.

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Ray Lesser presenting the first Irving Award to Matt.

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Matt admiring his award.

Lots more pictures are here.

Post on Pakistan response to Draw Mohammed day

Pakistan blocks YouTube a day after shutdown of Facebook over Muhammad issueBy Karin Brulliard
Washington Post Foreign Service
Friday, May 21, 2010; A08

and some commentary from yesterday:

Drawing Muhammad respectfully
By guest bloggers Kelsey Sheridan and Saleha Mallick
Washington Post’s On Faith blog May 20, 2010

Thursday, May 20, 2010

That darn Toles


Cartoon draws unfair comparisons to the Middle East

Washington Post Thursday, May 20, 2010

If the goal of Tom Toles's May 17 cartoon comparing the division of Jerusalem with Alexandria's retrocession to Virginia was intended to trivialize the issue and distort history, he succeeded. The U.S. Congress willingly agreed to Alexandria's request to return to Virginia, which was based on economic factors and lack of representation in Congress.

In contrast, Jews have lived in Jerusalem all but two times since the days of King David, and one of these times is when Jordan ruled East Jerusalem from 1949 to 1967 and prevented Jews, regardless of nationality, from praying at the most sacred places. To compare the division of Jerusalem with the Alexandria retrocession is beyond political cartoon license -- it is really outrageous.

Beth Marcus, Washington


Cavna article on 'Everybody Draw Muhammad Day,' an accidental provocation

By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, May 20, 2010; C04


InTHEIR TURN: 12 top cartoonists offer their take on 'Draw Muhammad Day' the Riffs blog has longer quotes from the cartoonists Michael interviewed.

 
The cartoonist who started the idea has since disavowed it:
 


But Over the Hedge and Mark Fiore both did rather different interpretations.

Wednesday, May 19, 2010

Bamn goes to the classroom

Here's Troy Allen's report on visiting a Prince George's County school for Career Day - Career Day and ECBACC, May 19, 2010. Very cool of them.

Naif Al-Mutawa, creator The 99 comic series, was in DC recently

Naif Al-Mutawa, creator The 99 comic series, was in DC recently...
and we missed him. You can read an interview about his experiences here -

Comic book saving the world from stereotypical rhetoric, By Marriam Mossalli, Palestine Note blog May 18 2010

My pictures of the 2010 Herblock Award

100_9893 Wuerker accepting Herblock prize
Matt Wuerker making his acceptance speech.

100_9899 George Stevens Herblock lecture
George Stevens Jr. speaking about his Herblock film while Frank Swoboda looks on.

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Richard Thompson and Rob Rogers.

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Michael Cavna and Kevin Rechin.

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Nick G's friend from Greece and Richard Thompson.

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Kevin Rechin, Nick's friend from Greece and the back of Nick's head.

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Nick Galifianakis with his friend from Greece and Richard Thompson (in the red tie) in the background.

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Matt Wuerker's contemplating the uses to which the award may be put.

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Everyone wants a picture of Matt with his award.

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Richard Thompson - not ALL of those drinks were his.

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Kevin Rechin's STILL contemplating the award.

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Kevin Rechin's now got it all - the award, the girl, the cheesy grin. It's better not to ask questions.

Fantom Comics: Our Pentagon City Mall shop will be Closing

This just came across the e-transom from Fantom Comics-

Opening a shop in the Pentagon City Mall (PCM) was a fabulous opportunity to try a hand at a very high end mall. The one wrinkle in our short-term lease was that if another business wanted the spot for a full-term lease, we would have to match their offer or leave.

This happened the week before Free Comic Book Day. Unfortunately, the cost of matching would have meant doubling our monthly rent, which, at this early point in our tenure at PCM would have been impossible.

Thus, it is with very much regret that we announce our last day at PCM will be May 31st.

To all of our PCM customers, we at Fantom want to thank you for your patronage. We love the spot, had a lot of fun, and had hoped to serve you there for many years to come.

I would also like to point out that our Union Station store is still open and running strong, and we hope to see you there!

best,
Matt Klokel

Pentagon City Mall - 1100 South Hayes Street | Arlington, VA 22202 | 703-415-2094
Union Station - 50 Massachusetts Avenue NE | Washington, DC 20002 | 202-216-9478

Post reviews Feiffer's biography

Memoirs [Feiffer].

By Michael Lindgren

Washington Post May 19, 2010; C04

 

OT: Library Journal likes Walter Reed Hospital book I worked on


In my other life, I work with historic documents and photographs - one book I worked on was just highlighted by the Library Journal:
 

Digital Dreams and Dashboards: Notable Government Documents 2009

By David N. Griffths -- Library Journal, 5/15/2010

The entire article is worth reading, but here's the book's blurb -

Walter Reed Army Medical Center Centennial: A Pictorial History, 1909–2009. ed. by John R. Pierce & others. Borden Inst. 2009. 279p. illus. maps. SuDoc # D104.2:W17/8. GPO Stock # 008-000-01020-0. ISBN 978-0-9818228-3-9. $35.

The Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, DC, and its predecessor, Walter Reed General Hospital, have treated millions of active and retired personnel from every branch of the military. This collection of photographs and text pays tribute to the center's legacy.

 
 

Tuesday, May 18, 2010

Marc Singer on teaching Morrison and Quitely's We3

Week 13: Grant Morrison and Frank Quitely, We3 - in which we return with Marc to the hallowed halls of Howard University...

...where he wraps it all up - The class brought just as much passion to the course as I did, right up to the very end, and I probably didn't need to worry about flagging attentions in the final weeks.

BTW, this is an excellent graphic novel and a moving story.

Host your own Herblock exhibit

from a posting on the Museum-L listserve

Herblock’s Political Cartoon Panel Exhibitions
Available for use in classrooms, museums, libraries, and organizations.

The Herb Block Foundation presents four panel exhibitions displaying reproductions of the work of legendary Washington Post editorial cartoonist Herbert Block, famously known as “Herblock.”

The goal of these exhibitions is to promote Herblock’s efforts to defend the rights and freedoms of Americans through his political cartoons. Prepared by Curator Harry L. Katz, these exhibitions can be used for teaching or promoting the American topics that reflect Herblock’s passions- Education, Democracy, Civil Rights and the Presidency. Together all four present a fascinating history of Herblock’s 72 year career.

No rental fee is required- only the shipping fees via Fedex or UPS are charged. The panels come in cases that are easy to move, set up and store.

A seven minute DVD, Herblock: The Man Behind the Cartoons and illustrated brochures come with the exhibitions.

For information on scheduling visit

www.herblockexhibitions.org or email loretta@elyinc.com

Cavna on the economics of Little Orphan Annie

Good interview here with the Steve Tippie of the Tribune Media Services syndicate - "Why canceled 'LITTLE ORPHAN ANNIE' is really seeing her final 'tomorrow'..." By Michael Cavna, Washington Post Comic Riffs blog May 17, 2010.

Joe Azar's Herblock award photos

Cartoonist Joe Azar sent these pictures of Matt Wuerker's Herblock award dinner over to me last month.


Herblock award winner Matt Wuerker's cartoons on display in the Library of Congress.


Wuerker surrounded by admirers.


Joe Sutliff, Nick G's date, Nick Galifianakis, Matt Wuerker and the previous year's winner Pat Bagley.


ComicsDC blogger Mike Rhode, apparently wondering what kind of seafood he just accidentally ingested.


Nick Galifianakis napping on Mike Rhode's shoulder as the speeches continued into the buffet.


Kevin Rechin may be getting ideas...

Trickster graphic anthology signing

There were a LOT of cartoonists at the Trickster anthology launch at Big Planet Comics yesterday. I only got to talk to a few of them, but I'm going to run a series of Chat with a Cartoonist talks over at the City Paper with them over the next month. The book looks very good - it's published by Fulcrum, a specialist in American Indian books, but a newcomer to comics. I did buy a piece of art from Jacob Warrenfeltz of Takoma Park - the story he drew was about a trickster rabbit and two buffaloes.

Trickster: Native American Tales: A Graphic Collection at Big Planet Comics in Vienna, Va., Sat., May 15, 2010 for a signing. In attendance: Matt Dembicki, Andrew Cohen, Evan Keeling, Chris Piers, Jacob Warrenfeltz, Mike Short, Jerry Carr, Rand Arrington and Scott White.

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Matt Dembicki on left, Rand Arrington on right, Chris Piers in center.

101_0157
(left) Mike Short, (right) Evan Keeling. Coincidentally, the piece of art I bought is the one between the two of them with the cardboard arrow pointing at it.

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(left) Andrew Cohen, (right) Stephen Loya (not in book).

Comics on the Rack, Quick Picks for Comics Due 05-19-10


COMICS ON THE RACK
Quick Picks for Comics Due 05-19-10
By John Judy
 
AGE OF HEROES #1 of 4 by Kurt Busiek, Dan Slott, Leonard Kirk and Many More!  A mixed bag of hero tales set in the post-Osborn era.  Strong creative teams and a new status quo require a look from the discerning fan-person.
 
AMERICAN VAMPIRE #3 by Scott Snyder, Stephen King and Rafael Albuquerque.  The Yankee vamps start staking out their territory among the euro-trash bloodsuckers!  Great fun! Recommended!
 
ATLAS #1 by Jeff Parker and Gabriel Hardman.  The time-tossed heroes of the 1950s are back in the saddle looking to find out what's up with the 3-D Man!  Is he also in IMAX?  Gotta look!
 
ATOMIC KNIGHTS HC by John Broome and Murphy Anderson.  Collecting a bunch of Silver-Age madness from the old STRANGE ADVENTURES series about a bunch of armored guys who protect folks after the apocalypse.  Cool.  And timely.
 
AVENGERS #1 by Brian Michael Bendis and John Romita Jr.  There's yet another team of Avengers on the scene so of course Kang the Conqueror's gotta roll in.  Contains Wolverine.
 
BRIGHTEST DAY #2 by Geoff Johns, Ivan Reis and Many Others.  Quite a few folks, good and bad, are back from the dead.  Some other folks, good and bad, aren't happy about it.  Mysterious stuff.  Gotta look.
 
CAPTAIN EASY, VOL. 1: SOLDIER OF FORTUNE HC written and drawn by Roy Crane.  Beginning as a character in the daily strip "Wash Tubbs" Captain Easy became America's first adventure comic strip, influencing all those to come.  This volume from Fantagraphics collects the complete Sunday newspaper strips from 1933-1935.
 
DC UNIVERSE: LEGACIES #1 of 10 by Len Wein, Joe and Andy Kubert and J.G. Jones.  A veteran scribe and artists take us through the current history of the DCU, starting with the dawn of the Mystery Men of World War II.
 
EX MACHINA #49 by Brian K. Vaughan and Tony Harris.  It's the next to last issue of the series as it all comes down to Mayor Mitchell Hundred, the Great Machine, to save the world.  Of course he's gotta do it the hard way.  Highly recommended.
 
EXECUTOR HC by Jon Evans and Andrea Mutti.  A guy who hasn't seen his high school sweetheart in years is named her executor after her mysterious death.  Cue ominous music.  Recommended.
 
GALACTA: DAUGHTER OF GALACTUS #1 by Adam Warren and Hector Sevilla Lujan.  For the absolute hardest of hardcore, soap-abstaining, never been kissed Marvel Zombies there's this.
 
GARTH ENNIS BATTLEFIELDS #6 of 9 by Ennis and Carlos Ezquerra.  As we learned last issue, war becomes much less fun when you start accidentally greasing civilians. The conclusion of "The Firefly and His Majesty."  Recommended.
 
GARTH ENNIS BATTLEFIELDS, VOL. 4: HAPPY VALLEY SC by Ennis and PJ Holden.  Believe it or not, incinerating an industrial area in WWII Germany actually involves certain moral problems.  There's people living there, you see.  Highly recommended.
 
GIRL COMICS #2 of 3 by Many Creators with Double X Chromosomes.  An anthology of female creators working on female Marvel superheroes. Neat stuff.
 
HELLBLAZER #267 by Peter Milligan and Giuseppe Camuncoli.  The world seems to have turned against John Constantine.  In other news, the sun came up in the east.
 
INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #26 by Matt Fraction and Salvador Larroca. Hey, this would make a good movie!  Someone tell Marvel!
 
JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #45 by James Robinson and Mark Bagley.  Supergirl and Power Girl duke it out.  "Hawt!"
 
LEGION OF SUPER HEROES #1 by Paul Levitz and Yildiray Cinar.  The legendary Legion scribe returns to the fold, giving the 31st century's greatest heroes another shot at glory.  This one involves a certain green ring that does stuff.
 
ORIGINS OF MARVEL COMICS #1 by Various Quite Talented Creators.  Origin stories of your favorite characters re-told by your favorite creators.  Great stuff for new readers.  Recommended.
 
RESCUE #1 by Kelly Sue DeConnick and Andrea Mutti.  Pepper Potts is NOT Iron Maiden.  She's Rescue.  Coulda been worse.  She coulda been Iron Supplement.
 
SCALPED #1 by Jason Aaron and R.M. Guerra.  If you want to turn on a newbie or a filthy unbeliever to the adventures of Dash Bad Horse, the baddest numchuk-wielding, undercover junkie ever to boomerang back to The Rez, this is your chance to do it for the low price of one measly buck.  Do it!  Highly recommended.
 
SCALPED, VOL. 6: THE GNAWING SC by Jason Aaron and R.M. Guerra.  Collecting issues #30-34, this story-arc features a huge amount of murder and mayhem even by SCALPED standards.  Red Crow mixes it up with the Hmong gangsters and Dash goes on a rampage of his own.  It's beautiful, raw and absolutely not for kids.  Highly recommended.
 
THE SPIRIT #2 by Mark Schultz and Moritat with a back-up story by Harlan Ellison and Kyle Baker.  Yeah, I'm getting it for the back-up too.  No choice.
 
ULTIMATE COMICS AVENGERS 2 #2 by Mark Millar and Leinil Yu.  So we've seen a gray Hulk, a green Hulk, a red Hulk and even a blue Hulk.  Now, thanks to Millar we are finally seeing a black Hulk!  When he calms down he turns into Michael Jackson.  (Too soon?)
 
WALKING DEAD #72 by Robert Kirkman and Charles Adlard. Michone attends her first DC area cocktail party.  With her sword…  Recommended, not for kids.
 
WALLY GROPIUS HC written and drawn by Tim Hensley.  Imagine an adult Richie Rich who has to marry a sad girl or lose all his money.  Yes, it's the plot to the movie "Arthur" but that was a long time ago so let's have at it!
 
WEATHERCRAFT HC written and drawn by Jim Woodring.  This is the first full-length graphic novel from Woodring.   It stars Manhog, a supporting character from his earlier FRANK comics, on a hero's journey to enlightenment and redemption.  So that's nice.
 
X-FACTOR #205 by Peter David and Valentine DeLandro.  Strong Guy has to fight Baron Mordo.  My hand to god, it's true…
 
X-MEN LEGACY #236 by Mike Carey and Greg Land.  An impenetrable dome makes San Francisco a prison, especially if your mortgage is underwater!  Somebody call Bart and Homer!
 
ZATANNA #1 by Paul Dini and Stephane Roux.  The DCU's most famous femme fatale in fishnets gets her own title!  Magic galore!  "Ehs sklat sdrawkcab!  Kool attog!"
 


Saturday, May 15, 2010

Brad Meltzer pictures

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Brad Meltzer and the infamous Buffy #34 sex issue.

I got a few shots of Brad Meltzer's booksigning a few days ago. He's a darn amusing speaker and you can hear most of what he said at this signing on his appearance earlier that day at Elliot in the Morning.

Friday, May 14, 2010

Emily Flake cover contest over at City Paper


Jon's wondering what Emily Flake's City Paper cover girl is listening to. Tell him and you get to choose from his office's cultural detritus.

May 16: Kids World Cinema - animation at the Goethe

Kids World Cinema: Films from Germany, Latvia and the UK
Sunday, May 16, 2-4 pm

Three children's films - The Magic Flute (Die kleine Zauberflöte), Bear Is Coming! (Karu Tuleb! Lacis Nak!), and Lost and Found - are followed by craft activities. Ages 6+. RSVP here.

The Magic Flute (Die kleine Zauberflöte)
Germany, 1997, DVD, 63 min., German with English subtitles, Director: Curt Linda
Over a period of four years, Curt Linda, champion of animated film, and his young team created a hand-drawn little treat of carefully created pictures animated onto imaginative backdrops.

Bear Is Coming! (Karu Tuleb! Lacis Nak!)
Latvia, 2008, DVD, 16 min., no dialogue, Director: Jānis Cimermanis
A brilliant short from festival favorite: a Latvian bear suddenly appears on a neighboring Estonian island and three young friends must get him back before he is captured by the hunter.

Lost And Found
UK, 2008, DVD, 24 min., English, Director: Philip Hunt
One person is lost, one person is found; which one is which? A beautiful animation narrated
by Jim Broadbent and inspired by the book by Oliver Jeffers.

Aug 14: Society of American Archivists on curating cartoons

Unfortunately you have to register for the whole Society of American Archivists conference and not individual sessions.

SESSION 508 - Perspectives on Cartoons: Art, Archival Objects, Assets
Aug 14, 2010
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM

Instructors/Speakers
Andrew Farago (Chair)
Curator/Gallery Manager
Cartoon Art Museum

Susan Kline
Assistant Librarian/Cartoonist Archivist
Syracuse University

Jon Michaud
The New Yorker

Description
Cartoons have been used to entertain, persuade, and provide political and social commentary. In the past decade, interest in cartoons has grown. Scholars have begun to use them to gain insight into American culture and this visual genre itself is the subject of inquiry. Each speaker offers a perspective on working with the visual form of cartoons that is unique to their institution, taking into account who their users are.

Comic Riffs on continuing Danish Islam Cartoon controversy

'Danish Islam Cartoon' is my shorthand for this long ongoing mess which has metastastized several times, including involving a provacteur Swedish cartoonist and 'South Park', both of which are the subject of this article -

'Muhammad cartoonist' Lars Vilks undaunted after new attack [UPDATED]By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog May 12, 2010.

Trickster interview at City Paper with booksigning tomorrow

Trickster: Matt Dembicki on His Cartoon Anthology of Native American Stories, by Mike Rhode on May. 14, 2010 - click thru to read the interview.

The signing's at Big Planet Vienna at 2-4 pm and I plan to be there.

Steve Brodner on WETA tonight

Richard Thompson sent this in (locally it's on WETA at 9 pm tonight, and probably the other PBS stations as well):

Need to Know
by Steve Brodner

Friday night ... marks our first appearance on PBS' new weekly news magazine show, Need to Know. Director Gail Levin and I have been working with the same great crew from the Naked Campaign films in '08: Asterisk Studios (Richard O'Connor, Brian O'Connell, Christina Capozzi Riley), Ben Shapiro, DP.

This week: Hamid Karzai and his visit to DC. He's not easy to pin down, but we're here to do the tough ones. Here's hoping this adds some color and content to the show. And that it perhaps gives TV some ideas about how to use narrative art.

May 17: "Hey Girl" comic book soundtrack performed live


Erin McCarley writes in about her cool project and upcoming performance:

“Hey Girl!” is a comic that myself and a friend created that we also recorded a soundtrack for. (Kinda like the Sesame Street records I had as a kid that had follow along maps). Anyways, we are going to perform the soundtrack live for the first time and we are pretty excited about it.

The show info is:

Monday, May 17th.
8:30 pm, all-ages $8
The Black Cat
1811 14th Street NW
Washington, DC

You can see more info about the comic here:

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/artsdesk/music/2008/12/08/hey-girl-comic-book7/ and http://www.dischord.com/release/hg01/7-w-comic

I just ordered mine from Dischord.

Emily Flake covers the City Paper

Emily Flake's done the cover for this week's City Paper and you can glimpse it here. She also did the illo for The Gig Chill.