Mike's 1967 comics Christmas

by Mike Rhode

At Christmas in 1967, I was almost three years old. Here's a picture of me with some Disney coloring* book, which I don't recognize nor remember.

Thanks to Gene Kannenberg, I now know it's a coloring book, not a comic book as I assumed.

 

And here I am in January 1968 reading the Sunday comics.

That darn Foxtrot and Rick McKee

Letters to the Editor

The 'Netflix and chill' joke in 'FoxTrot' was funny but inappropriate [in print as It's hard to stay chill about this comic].

David Smith, Annandale

Washington Post January 30 2016, p. A17.

online at https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-netflix-and-chill-joke-in-foxtrot-was-funny-but-inappropriate/2016/01/28/9df4f41a-c476-11e5-b933-31c93021392a_story.html

Letters to the Editor

Bernie Sanders is not offering 'free money' [in print as There's no 'free money']

Claude Kacser, Rockville
Washington Post January 30 2016, p. A17.

online at https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/bernie-sanders-is-not-offering-free-money/2016/01/29/3c7b82b8-c461-11e5-b933-31c93021392a_story.html

Flugennock's Latest'n'Greatest: "Stop Digging, Mr. Mendelson!"

"Stop Digging, Mr. Mendelson!"
http://sinkers.org/stage/?p=1845

On January 4 the DC City Council, in a notorious cave-in to Mayor Bowser, quickly reversed its decision to end the ban on the smoking of marijuana in public establishments, setting the stage for the emergence of underground "smokeasies" for people unable to smoke in their own homes, such as poor tenants in Section 8 housing, or regular apartment tenants restricted by rental agreements.

DCMJ.org posted on January 5:
The January 4th Legislative Meeting of the DC Council was a rollercoaster. First the DC Council voted to #LetTheBanExpire, then the Mayor called members of the DC Council and told them to have a revote on the ban, and after the second vote the DC Council renewed the ban on social cannabis use…

Sounds like we lost, but we didn't. Here's why: the DC Council is going to amend the ban before it becomes permanent law. We believe the amended version will be less broad and carve out exceptions for adult use outside of private residences. In the meantime, nothing changes- the ban from 2015 is in place for at least 90 more days, but we now have the opportunity to fix the law before it becomes permanent, but we need everyone to step up their efforts and lobby the DC Council about the need to #AmendTheBan.
--

Mike Flugennock

Local papers on animation

Why sad movies make for kinder kids

[in print as Crying gain: Sad movies teach kids all the right feels].

By Kristen Page-Kirby
Express January 29 2016
https://www.washingtonpost.com/express/wp/2016/01/29/why-sad-movies-make-for-kinder-kids/

Oscar Nominated Short Films 2016: Animated Heavy topics are lightened by the whimsical possibilities of the form [in print as The Big Shorts].

By Noah Gittell
Washington City Paper January 29, 2016, p 25.
http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/articles/47861/oscar-nominated-short-films-2016-animated-reviewed-heavy-topics-are/

The Post on Kung Fu Panda and Oscar shorts

Oscar-nominated shorts come to E Street [in print as Short, but alternately sweet and serious].

By Michael O'Sullivan J
January 29, 2016, p. Weekend 29

online at https://www.washingtonpost.com/goingoutguide/movies/oscar-nominated-shorts-come-to-e-street/2016/01/28/9f5799d4-c08e-11e5-9443-7074c3645405_story.html

 

Chilean animator Gabriel Osorio's "Bear Story" is beautiful to look at, but was inspired by the abduction of the filmmaker's grandfather. (Bear Story)

'Kung Fu Panda 3': Welcome return of a bravehearted bumbler [in print as 'In a world with more pandas, this third film's a charmer].

By Sandie Angulo Chen
January 29, 2016, p. Weekend 27

online at https://www.washingtonpost.com/goingoutguide/movies/kung-fu-panda-3-welcome-return-of-a-bravehearted-bumbler/2016/01/28/6b6b2abe-bfb7-11e5-bcda-62a36b394160_story.html

In "Kung Fu Panda 3," Po, left, reunites with his father, Li. Po remains a charming bumbler — excited to learn, for example, that other pandas don't eat with chopsticks. (DreamWorks Animation)

New comics journalism newsletter from Josh Kramer

There's a new email newsletter in town.

Hi from Josh Kramer, Editor of The Cartoon Picayune. If you're a fan of my work or The Cartoon Picayune, you'll love The CoJo List, a new email newsletter dedicated to bringing you the best in nonfiction comics from around the internet. Please sign up!

E Street Cinema on Anomalisa animation

Filmmaker Letter: Anomalisa

http://www.landmarktheatres.com/anomalisa-filmmaker-letter

by Charlie Kaufman, co-director/writer/producer

The Express on Kung Fu Panda 3

'Kung Fu Panda 3′ uses technology to communicate emotion [in print as The 'Kung Fu Panda' balancing act].

By Kristen Page-Kirby
Express January 28  2016, p. 43.
online at https://www.washingtonpost.com/express/wp/2016/01/28/kung-fu-panda-3-uses-technology-to-communicate-emotion/

 

Po (left, voiced by Jack Black) and his dad Li (voiced by Bryan Cranston) are here to eat bamboo and kick butt. And they're all out of bamboo. (Fox)

1/29-2/3: OSCAR NOMINATED SHORT FILMS 2016: ANIMATION

E Street Cinema

http://www.landmarktheatres.com/washington-d-c/e-street-cinema/film-info/oscar-nominated-short-films-2016-animated

Don't miss this rare opportunity to see all five Academy Award nominees in the category of Best Animated Short and more! Program includes: "Historia de un Oso (Bear Story)" (Chile), in which an old, lonesome bear tells the story of his life through a mechanical diorama; Pixar Animation Studios' "Sanjay's Super Team" (USA), about a young, first-generation Indian-American boy whose love for western pop-culture comes into conflict with his father's traditions; "We Can't Live Without Cosmos" (Russia), in which two cosmonauts who are friends try to do their best in their everyday training life to make their common dream a reality; writer/director Don Hertzfeldt's "World of Tomorrow" (USA), in which a little girl is taken on a mind-bending tour of her distant future; and "Prologue" (UK), in which a small girl bears witness as warriors battle to death during the Spartan-Athenian wars of 2,400 years ago. Additional animated shorts will also be shown. (Note: "Prologue" contains mature content and will be shown last, so that parents and caregivers can usher children out of the theater if desired. Other shorts in the program are acceptable for kids of all ages.)

Sherman Lagoon's Jim Toomey has new cartoons online now

Jim Toomey has done animated public service announcements sponsored by Pew Trust. From their press release:

"Ocean governance. Even policy experts will admit it sounds pretty boring. But now those of us with less ocean savvy are in luck. 

 

The Pew Charitable Trusts has joined forces with cartoonist Jim Toomey—whose daily comic strip, Sherman's Lagoon, is syndicated in more than 250 newspapers in the United States—to animate terms like "ocean governance" and nine others that can sometimes be confusing.

 

And after hundreds of hours spent by Jim Toomey "Cartoon Crash Course" is live. The hope was to offer a fun way to engage our audiences about important marine topics that needed explaining.

 

You can watch all 10 new short films here: http://ow.ly/XDDs6

 

We hope you check out these humorous cartoons and come away with a better, more animated understanding of what it means to take care of our oceans."

Feb 4: Gareth Hinds at Takoma Library

Thursday, February 4

10:30 a.m. at Politics & Prose and 7:30 p.m. at Takoma Park Library (MD) - Gareth Hinds - Samurai Rising: The Epic Life of Minamoto Yoshitsune

Politics and Prose has a graphic novels reading group

Graphic Novels: This group reads graphic novels from independent to superhero comics, memoirs, fictions, and everything in between. Led by two P&P booksellers, this group strives for inclusivity, welcoming seasoned comic readers and others just starting out.

CLICK HERE FOR DETAILS

Tom King featured in Sunday's upcoming Post Magazine

Holy DC connection! A local comic book writer used to work for the CIA!

By KK Ottesen January 28 2016
https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/magazine/holy-dc-connection-a-local-comic-book-writer-used-to-work-for-the-cia/2016/01/27/3a4679a0-a98e-11e5-8058-480b572b4aae_story.html

Comic Riffs on Marvel's amputee Venom

Marvel gave its amputee superhero prosthetic legs — with the help of an Iraq War vet

By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog January 26 2016
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2016/01/26/marvel-gave-its-amputee-superhero-prosthetic-legs-with-the-help-of-an-iraq-war-vet/

Webcomic: 'First Time Parents'

Local cartoonist Chris Mararac is running an occasional web strip called "First Time Parents," which covers his and his wife's experiences being first-time parents. Below is one of the installments; click here for more.

Reprinted with permission.

Jan 30: Youth-facilitated panel: Exploring Historical Comics

Youth-facilitated panel: Exploring Historical Comics

National Museum of American History

1400 Constitution Ave NW, Washington, District of Columbia 20004

This event now takes place on January 30. Stay tuned for updated timing on that day. Apologies for the inconvenience!

Join us on January 30, 2016, for our youth-facilitated panel Exploring Historical Comics from 12:30pm-1:30 p.m. in Wallace H Coulter Plaza at the National Museum of American History featuring our Youth Civic Engagement Program teens, representatives from Hirshhorn's ARTLAB+, Rebecca Goldfield, author of "Captive of Friendly Cove" Troy Allen and Evan Keeling of District Comics and Andrew Aydin, author of "March Book 1" and "March Book 2" with a book signing following in 1 Center in front of the Lego American flag.

Comics writer Willow Wilson reviews a Koran

'American Qur'an' is an old/new masterpiece [in print as A Holy Book Remix].

By G. Willow Wilson
Washington Post January 24 2016, p. E12
https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/books/american-quran-is-an-oldnew-masterpiece/2016/01/21/c067c350-becd-11e5-9443-7074c3645405_story.html

That darn Mark Trail

Letters to the Editor

The saguaro cactus grows in the Sonoran Desert, not the Chihuahuan Desert [in print as 'A spine in the side of Mark Trail']

Casey Dowell, Alexandria

Washington Post (January 23, 2016): https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/the-saguaro-cactus-grows-in-the-sonoran-desert-not-the-chihuahuan-desert/2016/01/21/f3ce67d2-bed5-11e5-98c8-7fab78677d51_story.html

Ben Hatke receives an award

Little Robot receives Gryphon Award

Graduate School of Library and Information Science January 22, 2016
http://www.lis.illinois.edu/articles/2016/01/little-robot-receives-gryphon-award

The Post on Disney's mid-1990s movies

Researchers have found a major problem with 'The Little Mermaid' and other Disney movies

By Jeff Guo
Wonkblog January 25 2016
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2016/01/25/researchers-have-discovered-a-major-problem-with-the-little-mermaid-and-other-disney-movies/

Magic Bullet 12 cover peak

Here's a sneak peak of the cover image for Magic Bullet 12, which will be hitting the streets, soon.

We're excited to unveil a sneak peek of the next cover for "Magic Bullet"! Designed by Matt Rawson, this will be the twelfth issue of the newspaper, and features over thirty five different comic artists from around the area. It will be hitting the streets of the city in the last week of January and through February. Look for it in your favorite comic book stores, or check out www.magicbulletcomics.blogspot.com for an updated list of places that carry it.

DC cartoonist Dana Maier added to Go Comics site

I'm afraid I haven't been familiar with her before, but ComicsDC sends out congratulations. From their press release:

GoComics Introduces Four New Webcomics in January

More than 300 comic strips, panels and editorial cartoons are now available for daily and weekly reading online and via the free GoComics mobile app.

Kansas City, Mo. (January 25, 2016) — GoComics, a part of the Universal Uclick
syndicate family, is excited to announce the addition of four new features to its lineup of classic and new comic strips. Offering classic archives including Peanuts, Calvin and Hobbes, Garfield and Dilbert, and popular syndicated and webcomics such as The Argyle Sweater, Pearls Before Swine, Saturday Morning Breakfast Cereal and Jim Benton Cartoons, GoComics provides new, fresh and free content every day. All are available at GoComics.com or on the free GoComics mobile app on multiple platforms.

The Worried Well by Dana Maier

Dana Jeri Maier's comics provide useful advice, philosophical musings and spot-on witticisms. She shows us ourselves, not unkindly, as silly and vain and self-involved. Her cartoons feel very interior, a mind watching the world and muttering to itself. They're what that person standing by themselves at the party, not talking to anyone, pretending to look vaguely interested in nothing in particular, has been secretly thinking the whole time.

Dana Jeri Maier is an artist and cartoonist living in Washington, DC. She has exhibited widely throughout the DC Metro area and various street corners, if you know where to look. Maier's site-specific mural, Inscrutable Comic, is on permanent display at the Flashpoint Gallery in Washington, DC.

Read The Worried Well at http://gocomics.com/the-worried-well.

And John K is a friend of mine, so we'll point out his new strip too.

Dadding Badly by John Kovaleski

Dadding Badly documents one dad's experience of raising a miniature version of himself who can't talk, walk, forage for food or have any concept of proper bathroom habits.

John Kovaleski is a cartoonist and writer living somewhere above ground. He is the creator of the comic strip Bo Nanas, and a contributor to MAD Magazine. He is also a father of his own small human, who seems to be turning out OK so far. Fingers crossed.

Read Dadding Badly at http://gocomics.com/dadding-badly.

Flugennock's Latest'n'Greatest: "#DCBlizzard"

"#DCBlizzard"
http://sinkers.org/stage/?p=1838

I rather like the shoveling -- repetitive, relaxing, meditative. Big ol' mug of coffee, smoke a bowl, suit up, stomp on out there and just kinda get into it. Some of my neighbors are out shoveling, too, so everybody's taking a break and hanging out. Round 2 begins soon -- or soonish, seeing as it's 8:30 on Sunday morning as I write this...


--

Mike Flugennock

The Post on Chinese animation

He's having an animated baby. Scared, kids? [online as The Chinese smash-hit 'Monster Hunt' makes its way to the U.S.]

By Stephanie Merry Washington Post (January 22 2015): Weekend 26
https://www.washingtonpost.com/goingoutguide/movies/the-chinese-smash-hit-monster-hunt-makes-its-way-to-the-us/2016/01/21/0a490310-bbb5-11e5-829c-26ffb874a18d_story.html

Kremos books available from Lost Art Books

Joe Procopio has published two new, fine-looking books about the Italian cartoonist.

KREMOS: The Lost Art of Niso Ramponi — Volumes 1 & 2

Volume 1: Bodacious Black & White

Introduction by Mario Verger • Edited by Joseph V. Procopio

Volume 2: Curvaceous Color
Foreword by Jerry Carr • Edited by Joseph V. Procopio
He worked under numerous names—Kremos, Niso, Nys O'Ramp—but he occupies a singular space as Italy's cartooning Casanova, and he finally gets his due in this new two-volume set from Lost Art Books. From the mid-1940s through the early 1960s, Niso Ramponi's work was everywhere, from collaborating with friend Federico Fellini in Italy's animation industry to drawing newspaper strips to creating movie posters for Walt Disney. Ramponi made his name, however, in Italy's weekly satire magazines, for which he drew some of the world's prettiest "good girl" gag cartoons and covers for over a decade. Volume 1 collects over 200 of Kremos' bodacious black & white cartoons and illustrations, while Volume 2 adds 250 of his curvaceous color comics and covers to the set. Combined, these volumes offer a comprehensive overview of the maverick artist when he was at the height of his powers.

Vol. 1: $27.95 • 200 pp. • B&W • paper • ISBN: 978-0-9906932-3-9

Vol. 2: $34.95 • 260 pp. • Color • paper • ISBN: 978-0-9906932-4-6

AVAILABLE FOR IMMEDIATE SHIPMENT

- See more at: http://www.picturethispress.com/kremos-lost-art-of-niso-ramponi-volumes-1-2/#sthash.u3DzjX0Y.dpuf

Jan 22-24: Animore con in Baltimore?

AniMore 2016

Convention Schedule 2016

Hyatt Regency Baltimore

Welcome to AniMore, a convention to be held January 22-24, 2016.

Three days of cosplay, exhibitors, music, anime, gaming, and more. AniMore will be a fan-centric convention with fans getting the opportunity to cosplay, meet voice actors and other famous guests, and have a great time in the celebration of the love of anime, video games, and Japanese culture.

Pre-registration is available online, and gets you in at a discount. You can also register at the convention in person. We may expect to have an attendance cap, as our venue can only hold up to 2,500 attendees. (Though we know that we're much more likely to get about 1,000 attendees.)

Guests and events can be found on the guests and events pages.

One-time local collector Greg Reece profiled

WHAT'S YOUR BEST PRICE: Greg Reece
Art Cloos

Scoop January 22 2016
http://scoop.previewsworld.com/Home/4/1/73/1017?ArticleID=173812

"GR: I first saw them in 1972 on a spinner rack at a 7-Eleven in Gaithersburg, MD. I was instantly drawn to the vibrant art and incredible colors. They just blew me away!"

March 5: GARY LUCAS’ FLEISCHEREI

GARY LUCAS' FLEISCHEREI:
Music From Max Fleischer Cartoons

And now, for something different! Celebrating the release of the titular album–on Silver Spring based label Cuneiform–legendary guitarist Gary Lucas joins forces with Tony®- nominated singer and actress Sarah Stiles (Avenue Q, Hand to God) for a loving musical tribute to the swinging, jazzy soundtracks that adorned master animator Max Fleischer's surreal, wacky and Yiddish-inflected Betty Boop and Popeye cartoons of the 1930's.

Backed by the cartoons themselves, and the cream of NYC's jazz performers (Jeff Lederer on reeds, Rob Jost on bass, Rob Garcia on drums and Mingus Big Band's Joe Fiedler on trombone), Lucas and Stiles have a rare evening in store.

Get ready for a swirling melting-pot of jungle-band jazz, Tin Pan Alley torch songs, raucous vaudeville turns, and Dixieland mixed with a pinch of Klezmer.

SPOTLIGHT EVENING
Saturday, March 5, 8:30 pm
AFI Silver Theater
8633 Colesville Road
Silver Spring, MD

Julian Lytle talks to Warren Bernard

julian lytle:

Ignorant Bliss 34: A chat with Warren Bernard

Longboxes & 22's blog January 2016

http://longboxeson22s.tumblr.com/post/137784751817/julianlytle-so-i-had-the-pleasure-of-meeting

So I had the pleasure of meeting and talking to Warren Bernard, executive director of @spx and author of the book Cartoons for Victory. I met him at this past year's SPX and was kind enough to invite me over to his house to see his extensive collections of comics, cartoons, and books library then to talk to me for this here show. This might be the closest to an interview I've done so I hope you enjoy it. Check out the blog post to see some a pic of stuff from the visit and please check out @spx if you haven't and a link to the book.

The Post on Batman and Wonder Woman

Lynda Carter won't appear in the new Wonder Woman movie

[in print as Lynda Carter won't wear the golden lasso in 'Wonder Woman'

By Emily Heil January 21 2016, p. C2
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/reliable-source/wp/2016/01/20/lynda-carter-wont-appear-in-the-new-wonder-woman-movie/

How one Batman writer conquered the concern: 'What if everybody hates it?'

By David Betancourt
January 21 2016
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2016/01/21/how-one-batman-writer-conquered-the-concern-what-if-everybody-hates-it/

Ed Piskor, Michael Ramirez, and Gene Yang announced for National Book Festival in 2016

Update: Darrin Bell has also confirmed his attendance.

Sweet Sixteen: The 2016 National Book Festival Announced!

January 21, 2016 by Lola Pyne
http://blogs.loc.gov/national-book-festival/2016/01/sweet-sixteen-the-2016-national-book-festival-announced/

Many authors have already accepted the festival's invitations this year, and they include:

• Kwame Alexander, Newbery Medal winner
• Douglas Brinkley, prize-winning historian
• Christopher Buckley, author of such satirical works as "Thank You for Smoking"
• Newt Gingrich, former Speaker of the House and author
• Philip Glass, Pulitzer Prize-winning composer
• Annette Gordon-Reed, Pulitzer Prize winner
• Winston Groom, author of "Forrest Gump"
• Stephen King, best-selling, prize-winning author and literacy advocate
• James McBride, National Book Award winner
• Jon Meacham, Pulitzer Prize-winning historian
• Joyce Carol Oates, prize-winning author of more than 70 books
• Ed Piskor, alternative comics artist
• Michael Ramirez, two-time Pulitzer Prize winner
• Diane Rehm, NPR host and author
• Salman Rushdie, Man Booker Prize winner
• Stacy Schiff, Pulitzer Prize winner
• Bob Woodward, Pulitzer prize winner and author of 17 No. 1 best-sellers
• Luis Alberto Urrea, prize-winning author of "The Devil's Highway"
• Gene Luen Yang, Library of Congress National Ambassador for Young People's Literature

The National Book Festival poster will be designed this year by Yuko Shimizu, an illustrator based in New York City and an instructor at the School of Visual Arts. Her work has appeared on The Gap T-shirts, Pepsi cans, Visa card billboards and Microsoft and Target ads, as well as on book covers for Penguin, Scholastic and DC Comics. She has published work in the pages of The New York Times, Time magazine, Rolling Stone, The New Yorker and many other publications.

Big Planet Comics Bethesda 50% off all hardcovers

With the impending snow storm, 50% off all hardcovers starts today. Bethesda store only.

--
Joel Pollack
BIG PLANET COMICS

4849 Cordell Ave.
Bethesda, MD 20814

Ryan Holmberg's latest article

Here's a new one by the sometime Silver Spring resident.

Singing Our Own Song: Hayashi Seiichi vs. Sasaki Maki, 1969

BY Ryan Holmberg Jan 20, 2016
http://www.tcj.com/singing-our-own-song-hayashi-seiichi-vs-sasaki-maki-1969/

Animator Butch Hartman in The Post

Meet Butch Hartman, the magical animator behind 'Fairly OddParents'

As 10th season of "OddParents" premieres, Hartman works on beastly new Nickelodeon show.

[in print as Artist Butch Hartmans' 'FairlyOdd' career].

By Harrison Smith
Washington Post January 19 2016 C8

online at https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/kidspost/meet-butch-hartman-the-magical-animator-behind-fairly-oddparents/2016/01/15/87aa5f64-b56d-11e5-a842-0feb51d1d124_story.html

Towles' Captain America

D.C. mural artist Kelly Towles recently finished a commission of Captain American on a 12x12 wood panel using spray paint.

Posted with permission from Kelly Towles

Pope's Google doodle

Richmond, Va., illustrator/cartoonist Richie Pope did the Google doodle for Jan. 18, MLK Day.  Here's an article about it in today's Richmond Post-Dispatch.

2 new SPX videos both featuring local creators

SPX 2015 Panel - SPX Spotlight on Kathryn and Stuart Immonen

SmallPressExpo Jan 16, 2016

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V5yu-bWyvJg

The incredibly impressive Immonens are comics creators who have done it all! Kathryn Immonen has written for Marvel Comics (Runaways, Journey into Mystery) and Stuart Immonen has drawn for Marvel and DC (Ultimate Spider-man, All New X-men, Superman), as well as collaborating on the wonderfully written and gorgeously illustrated independent graphic novel "Moving Pictures" and their 2015 release "Russian Olive to Red King." In this panel they discuss the intricacies of their latest story, one that visits the wild haunts of the Northern wilderness and the lonely worlds inhabited by broken hearts. Moderated by Jim Dougan.

SPX 2015 Panel -Tasty Comics

SmallPressExpo

Jan 11, 2016
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WtOgNKM7rvk

What's more delicious than the devastatingly perfect combination of COMICS and FOOD?! This tasty panel chews on the delectable dilemma of portraying food and its importance in our lives in comic book form! Welcome chefs Robin Ha (Banchan), Jade Lee (Dumpling Zine), Eric Colossal (Rutabaga the Adventure Chef), and Jessi Zabarsky (I Want to Eat Everything). Moderated by Head Chef Lauren Jordan.

Flugennock's Latest'n'Greatest: "Free Gifts With Every Fill-Up"

"Free Gifts With Every Fill-Up"
http://sinkers.org/stage/?p=1834

If you managed to tear yourself away from the US media's 24/7 election shitshow for ten or fifteen minutes in the past month, you may have noticed that one of the biggest stories of the past month or two has been the reports of the Erdogan regime buying smuggled black-market oil from ISIS.

That's Turkey, ostensibly our ally, buying oil from ISIS, ostensibly our enemy. Just so we're straight on that.

And by the way, you know the current oil price slump is really hitting hard when even ISIS has to start offering free giveaway goodies with every fill-up.

-- Mike Flugennock

Paulina Ganucheau interview

Visit Another Castle with Andrew Wheeler and Paulina Ganucheau

January 2016
http://www.previewsworld.com/Home/1/1/71/977?articleID=173503

Charlie Hebdo at the Newseum

Charlie Hebdo at the Newseum
http://www.newseum.org/2016/01/11/charlie-hebdo-at-the-newseum/

On Jan. 8, the first Inside Media program of the year featured Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonists Ann Telnaes of The Washington Post and Signe Wilkinson of the Philadelphia Daily News talking about the role of political cartoonists in a free press, and how the deadly Charlie Hebdo attack, which killed five cartoonists at the magazine, has impacted their work.

Big Planet Comics Bethesda's January hardcover sale

Hardcovers are 40% off starting today.

--
Joel Pollack
BIG PLANET COMICS

4849 Cordell Ave.
Bethesda, MD 20814

Jan 16: Shane Davis at Third Eye Comics

 

at THIRD EYE ANNAPOLIS

Click here for event info on FACEBOOK.

Signing from 11am-1pm

More rare Richard Thompson art in Food News

http://richardspooralmanac.blogspot.com/2016/01/more-richard-thompson-in-food-news.html

Jan 29: Animezing - Princess Arete

Princess Arete |January 29, 2016 | Friday at 6:30PM Fantasy/Adventure | 2001 | 105 min | Unrated| In Japanese with English Subtitles Directed by Sunao Katabuchi | © ARETE PROJECT  Winner of the 1st Tokyo International Anime Fair Award for Excellence, 2002. Directed by protégé of Hayao Miyazaki, Sunao Katabuchi.   Confined to the castle tower by her father, the young princess Arete spends her days reading and gazing out her window. Although expected to stay there until a worthy suitor is found, the clever princess is unmoved by the hollow proposals of the knights who try to win her hand. More than anything, Arete yearns to see the world outside, and often sneaks away to explore the castle town.   One day a new suitor, the sorcerer Boax, promises to turn Arete into a "proper" princess in exchange for her hand in marriage. Using his magic, he enchants the princess and takes her away to his castle to be locked away in its tower. Arete soon realizes that there will be no rescue: if she wants to free herself, she must discover how to break his spell and escape on her own. Adapted from the English children's novel The Clever Princess by Diana Coles.         Recommended ages: 6+   - Women in Cinema -   Featuring Producer Eiko Tanaka   After participating in theatrical movies My Neighbor Totoro (1988) and Kiki's Delivery Service (1989) directed by Hayao Miyazaki, as a line producer at Studio Ghibli, Eiko Tanaka founded STUDIO4°C.   Tanaka has produced theatrical movies such as MEMORIES (1995), Spriggan (1998), MIND GAME (2004), Tekkonkinkreet (2006), Genius Party (2007), BERSERK trilogy (2012), and more. She has also co-produced many titles with foreign companies such as ANIMATRIX, BATMAN: Gotham Knight, the video game HALO, and the TV series THUNDERCATS. STUDIO4°C has been creating cutting edge visual works in various genre from theatrical movies, short films, music clips to commercials, and has received many film awards in and outside of Japan. The latest film harmony/ (2015) was released in theaters in November 2015 (Japan).   Taken from the fact that water is at its densest at 4°C, the company name represents STUDIO4°Cs creative manifesto: "Always create works that are dense with substance and quality." Eiko Tanaka  STUDIO4°C Co., Ltd.  President /Producer This event is free and open to the public, but registration is required. Click HERE to register. In the event of a cancellation, please contact us at jicc@ws.mofa.go.jp. Doors open 30 minutes before the program. No admittance after 7:00PM or once seating is full. Registered guests will be seated on a first come, first served basis. Please note that seating is limited and registration does not guarantee a seat. Interested in more great Japan-related activities in the area? Check out our upcoming area events page, updated three times a week, for a list of the latest events in the region. Presented at: THE JAPAN INFORMATION AND CULTURE CENTER 1150 18th Street NW, Suite 100 Washington DC, 20036 We are located near Farragut North on the Red metro line and Farragut West on the Orange, Silver, and Blue metro lines. There is after-business-hours street parking along 18th St NW and the surrounding area. There are also multiple parking garages on 18th Street NW and the surrounding area. Unfortunately, we are unable to validate these tickets.

JICC, Embassy of Japan | 1150 18th St., NW | Suite 100 | Washington | DC | 20036

The Post reviews Norm

Save the world? Start with the script

[online as 'Norm of the North' goes south, fast]

By Jen Chaney

Washington Post January 15 2016, p. Weekend 24
https://www.washingtonpost.com/goingoutguide/movies/norm-of-the-north-goes-south-fast/2016/01/14/a1ce30b4-b964-11e5-99f3-184bc379b12d_story.html

Feb 27: Disney Fantasia: Live in Concert at George Mason

Disney Fantasia: Live in Concert

featuring Czech National Symphony Orchestra
Ted Sperling, conductor

• February 27, 2016 at 8:00 pm

Concert Hall

Dancing hippos, ostriches, and alligators; frolicking mythical centaurs and unicorns; and one famous mouse dabbling in magic come to life with live music in this performance for all ages. Experience these animated Fantasia films as you've never experienced them before: accompanied by a full, live orchestra. Conceived as a concert work, Walt Disney's original legendary film Fantasia (1940) was considered a masterpiece when it was released and introduced generations to some of the most magnificent works of classical music as well as the most creative animation of the time. Now you can enjoy favorite scenes from this groundbreaking film and its popular sequel, Disney Fantasia 2000, with live music played by the Czech National Symphony Orchestra. Stunning imagery from Disney's unmatched animation studios appears on screen above the orchestra as Broadway and orchestra conductor, Ted Sperling leads it in famous works such as Tchaikovsky's The Nutcracker Suite, Beethoven's Pastoral Symphony, Resphigi's Pines of Rome, and Dukas's unforgettable The Sorcerer's Apprentice. "Fantasia…reminds us of the emotional storytelling power of classical music and the wide spectrum of beauty and characters that animation can provide." (Spinningplatters.com)

Presentation licensed by Disney Concert Library ©Disney.

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Pre-Performance Discussion: Member of the Company (Feb 27, 2016)

$60, $51, $36. 1 Free Student Ticket Available with Mason ID on February 16, 2016

Get Tickets

Jan 21-24: Pixar in Concert

Pixar In Concert

SuperPops

buy tickets

Thu, Jan 21, 2016 8:00 PM

Strathmore

buy tickets

Fri, Jan 22, 2016 8:00 PM

Meyerhoff

buy tickets

Sat, Jan 23, 2016 8:00 PM

Meyerhoff

buy tickets

Sun, Jan 24, 2016 3:00 PM

Meyerhoff

Constantine Kitsopoulos, conductor

For the first time, Pixar presents a compilation of the music and imagery from Pixar's 13 feature films, performed by the BSO SuperPops. Featuring visually stunning clips and memorable scores from all your favorite Pixar films including Toy Story, Up, A Bug's Life, Monsters, Inc., Cars, Finding Nemo, The Incredibles and more.

Kids pricing available for the Thursday and Friday performances.

The Post on a new tasteless Charlie Hebdo cartoon

New Charlie Hebdo cartoon suggests dead 3-year-old refugee Alan Kurdi would have become sexual attacker

By Adam Taylor

WorldViews blog January 13 2015

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/worldviews/wp/2016/01/13/a-new-charlie-hebdo-cartoon-portrays-dead-3-year-old-refugee-aylan-kurdi-as-a-sexual-attacker-in-germany/

A rare early work by Richard Thompson is online now

at http://richardspooralmanac.blogspot.com/2016/01/food-news-cover-of-cows-and-chickens.html

Cavna on comics and Congress

In the light of the Capitol, ambassadors illuminate the great power of graphic novels

By Michael Cavna January 8 2015
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2016/01/08/in-the-light-of-the-capitol-ambassadors-illuminate-the-great-power-of-graphic-novels/

DC Conspiracy's online store

You can buy DC Conspiracy comics and original art here.

The DC Conspiracy is a collection of Washington DC area comics creators. Our work runs the gamut from witty and literary works to action, the mystical, and just plain nonsense. This DC Conspiracy Distro is run by Rafer Roberts.

Jan 13: Gallery talk on cartoonist Anne Mergen

Martha Kennedy is at the Library of Congress speaking about "Anne Mergen (1906-1994), a wonderful editorial cartoonist at the Miami Daily News for over 20 years. Talk is at noon, this Weds. Jan. 13, in the Graphic Arts Gallery (behind the Gift Shop) on ground floor of Library's Jefferson Building."

Rafer Roberts interview in Previews

Rafer Roberts has an interview in Previews January 2016 issue. It's by his publisher, so I assume it'll be ok if I scan it and post it here.

Telnaes and Wilkinson on Washington Journal

First Anniversary of the Charlie Hebdo Attack

Ylan Mui

Washington Journal January 9, 2016
http://www.c-span.org/video/?402665-5/washington-journal-roundtable-first-anniversary-charlie-hebdo-attack

Ann Telnaes and Signe Wilkinson talked about the role of political cartoonists and the state of freedom of speech one year after the attacks on satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo's Paris headquarters. Topics included cartoonists as journalists; the role of editorial cartoonists in civic and political debate; and the First Amendment. They showed various cartoons and discussed their editorial intention and what topics and caricatures were acceptable. Topics included religious subjects and the controversy over Ms. Telnaes' Christmas cartoon of Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) and his children that was pulled by Washington Post.

Those darn black cartoonists

Letters to the Editor

There's one way The Post can support black cartoonists

Colin Jacobson, Alexandria

Marjorie Silverberg, Alexandria

Washington Post January 9 2016
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/theres-one-way-the-post-can-support-black-cartoonists/2016/01/08/30b9c536-b302-11e5-8abc-d09392edc612_story.html

Charlie Hebdo Attack and Press Freedom

January 6, 2016
http://www.c-span.org/video/?402821-1/discussion-freedom-press-charlie-hebdo-attack

The Newseum hosted a panel discussion commemorating the one-year anniversary of the terrorist attack on the Charlie Hebdo magazine headquarters in Paris. Panelists, including journalists and first amendment lawyers, discussed the impact of this attack on freedom of the press and other free expression rights. On January 7, 2015, Islamic extremists attacked the Charlie Hebdo headquarters killing 12 people. The magazine has published a 32-page special edition to mark the one-year anniversary of the attack. Caroline Fourest participated by Skype from France

Telnaes on Charlie Hebdo

Ann Telnaes spoke on Charlie Hebdo and cartooning today at the Newseum along with Signe Wilkinson. We'll link to the podcast of the event when it becomes available, but in the meantime, here's Ann's opinion piece from earlier in the week.

Charlie Hebdo, one year later

By Ann Telnaes
Washington Post January 7 2015
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/opinions/wp/2016/01/07/charlie-hebdo-one-year-later/

SPX 2013-2014 videos - Catching up

We haven't noted these yet at ComicsDC, but they all happened in our neighborhood.

SPX 2013 Panel - Liniers Q+A

SmallPressExpo

 May 26, 2015
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LupWAVSuFJ0

Liniers is among the most globally recognized cartoonists from Argentina, a nation with a strong cartooning tradition still largely unrecognized in the US. His diverse body of work includes formally experimental comics, painting and material for younger readers. For more than ten years, Liniers has drawn a hugely popular daily strip, Macanudo, for the Argentine newspaper La Nación. The Big Wet Balloon (TOON Books) is his first book to be published in the United States. Moderated by Bill Kartalopoulos.

2013 SPX Panel - Funding Comics Projects

SmallPressExpo

May 27, 2015
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F8jpYLteRE4

The rise of crowdfunding platforms such as Kickstarter has created new opportunities for funding comics projects while raising many questions about the issues surrounding network-based fundraising. Additionally, comics artists are increasingly seeking other sources of funding, from sponsorships to grants, to support their projects. Isaac Cates discusses these issues and more with T. Edward Bak, Box Brown, Marnie Galloway, and Spike C. Trotman.

SPX 2014 Panel - Eleanor Davis: How to Be Happy

SmallPressExpo

 Apr 3, 2015
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DzRvoW6DYVo

Eleanor Davis (How to be Happy) shares an autobiographical presentation that has something to do with finding truth in fiction and the strange passions inside an author/reader relationship. Moderator Tom Spurgeon (The Comics Reporter) follows Davis's presentations with questions about her work, and answers audience questions.

SPX 2014 Panel - Making Art for the Internet

SmallPressExpo

Apr 3, 2015
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zkZrh-wRN74

This panel considers different aspects of the process, problems and possibilities of making art for internet-based platforms. It includes questions of art-media, digital medium specificity, online platforms, audience, culture, and content. Bill Kartalopoulos leads a discussion featuring Sam Alden (It Never Happened Again), Emily Carroll (Through the Woods), Blaise Larmee (altcomics.tumblr.com), and Rebecca Mock (rebeccamock.tumblr.com).

SPX 2014 Panel - Jules Feiffer Q+A

SmallPressExpo

Apr 4, 2015
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NfA6NGaidw

Jules Feiffer has reinvented the comics form multiple times in his diverse and storied career. In 1956 Feiffer broke new ground with a truly modern comic strip intended for an adult audience in the pages of The Village Voice. In addition to his incisive comics, Feiffer has distinguished himself as a playwright, screenwriter, children's book author, and much more. His most recent books are the graphic novel Kill My Mother and the picture book Rupert Can Dance. He discusses these and more in conversation with Bill Kartalopoulos (Series Editor, The Best American Comics).

SPX 2014 Panel - Raina Telgemeier Q+A

SmallPressExpo

 Apr 3, 2015
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bk-KbmPZ6d4

Raina Telgemeier has distinguished herself among the leading American artists producing graphic novels for younger readers. Her autobiographical graphic novel Smile has spent more than two years on the New York Times Graphic Books bestseller list, and her follow-up, Drama, has won the Stonewall Book Award among other distinctions. She has recently published a sequel to Smile titled Sisters. Telgemeier discusses her work and her process with moderator Isaac Cates (Cartozia Tales, University of Vermont) in this special spotlight session.

SPX 2014 Panel - Lynda Barry Q+A

SmallPressExpo

Oct 24, 2014
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9_IU4v_oVo0

Lynda Barry changed the fate of North American comics with her pioneering comic strip, "Ernie Pook's Comeeks," which ran in alternative weekly newspapers for more than twenty years. Her celebrated books include, "One! Handed! Demon!," and, "What It Is," as well as the illustrated novel, "Cruddy." Ms. Barry is currently an assistant professor of art and Discovery Fellow at University of Wisconsin Madison. Her latest book is, "Syllabus: Notes from an Accidental Professor." In this SPX 2014 panel, Ms. Barry discusses her career and current work in conversation with Slate Culture Editor Dan Kois.

SPX 2014 Panel - Spanish Language Comics

SmallPressExpo

 Oct 27, 2014
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dPxb_dOSKnY

The world of Spanish-language comics from South America to Europe is examined in this SPX 2014 panel. Colombian comics editor Daniel Jiménez Quiroz (Revista Larva) discusses Colombian and South American comics and leads the discussion that includes Spanish comics critic Santiago Garcia, Colombian comics critic Pablo Guerra, and North American editor Scott O. Brown

SPX 2014 Panel - The Closed Caption Comics Legacy

SmallPressExpo

 Dec 18, 2014
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8yZTiSohH2I

In 2004 a group of students at the Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) formed the loosely-defined art group Closed Caption Comics, their collective activity centered around an eponymous comics anthology which ran for nine increasingly ambitious issues. Ten years later, the members of the group are productively focused on individual projects. Several of them discuss their common roots and current work, including Ryan Cecil Smith (S.F. #3), Molly Colleen O'Connell (Strip Mall, Poety Unlimited), Noel Freibert (Weird Magazine), and Conor Stechschulte (The Amateurs). Moderated by Brian Nicholson.

SPX 2014 Panel - Pro Tips: How Comics Get Reviewed

SmallPressExpo

 Dec 18, 2014
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9YrTitc-OM

How do comics get reviewed? What role do publicists, pitching and marketing plans play in determining coverage? What kind of coverage do editors prefer? To what extent is it possible to get a reviewer's attention, and how is that best accomplished? And how do individual critics evaluate work? Johanna Draper Carlson (Comics Worth Reading) investigates these questions and more with Brigid Alverson (School Library Journal), Michael Cavna (Washington Post), Dan Kois (Slate), Heidi MacDonald (Publishers Weekly), and Douglas Wolk (The New York Times).

SPX 2014 Panel - The Roots of Frémok: Yvan Alagbé and Dominique Goblet

SmallPressExpo

 Dec 18, 2014
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=owpqvfPEvfQ

Yvan Alagbé and Dominique Goblet are foundational figures in the poetic comics movement represented by the the avant-garde publishing house Frémok. Alagbé's work expresses in harsh lines and soft tones his narratives of mysterious desire and explosive cultural conflict, as in his most recent book, École de la misère. Goblet's work troubles the distinctions between fiction and autobiography, and between narrative comics and poetic image-making. Her new graphic novel Plus si entente was produced collaboratively with Kai Pfeiffer to test the possibilities of narrative within the comics form. Moderated by Bill Kartalopoulos.

SPX 2014 Panel - Micro-Press and Beyond

SmallPressExpo

 Apr 3, 2015
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fNA4ZDi0H2I

Robyn Chapman has been documenting the movement in comics towards very small publishing, otherwise know as micro-publishing. Robyn briefly shares findings from her upcoming publication (The Tiny Report: Micro-Press Yearbook 2013) and speaks with a range of publishers—from the micro-press to traditional small press—to discuss how they print, sell, and distribute their comics. Panelists include Chuck Forsman (Oily Comics), Keenan Marshall Keller (Drippy Bone Books), Justin Skarhus and Raighne Hogan (2D Cloud), and Anne Koyama (Koyama Press).

SPX 2014 Panel - Inkstuds Live: Michael DeForge, Simon Hanselmann and Patrick Kyle

SmallPressExpo

 Apr 3, 2015
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fiXyPNjIlcc

Inkstuds host Robin McConnell takes his popular comics-focused radio show on the road with special guest co-host Brandon Graham in tow, in a series of live Inkstuds programs. In Bethesda, Michael DeForge (Lose #6), Simon Hanselmann (Megahex), and Patrick Kyle (Distance Mover) will kick off their own book tour live on stage as McConnell and Graham's special guests.

SPX 2014 Panel - Comics Workshop presented by the Sequential Artists Workshop

SmallPressExpo

Apr 3, 2015
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z4KhhUkTsZk

Comics educators Josh Bayer and Sally Cantirino from the Sequential Artists Workshop (SAW) in Gainesville, FL, guide the audience through a complete cartooning exercise. A fun, educational creative workshop for everyone, from experienced cartoonists to those who have never drawn a panel of comics. No matter the age or experience level, attendees leave this workshop having drawn their own comic!

2014 Ignatz Awards

SmallPressExpo

 Apr 3, 2015
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TpjqLM98XS0

The 2014 Ignatz Awards Ceremony. The Ignatz Award, named for the character in the classic comic strip Krazy Kat by George Herriman, is the festival prize of the Small Press Expo. Since 1997 The Ignatz has recognized outstanding achievement in comics and cartooning. The Ignatz recognizes exceptional work that challenges popular notions of what comics can achieve, both as an art form and as a means of personal expression.

2014 WINNERS:

OUTSTANDING ARTIST
* Sam Bosma, Fantasy Basketball

OUTSTANDING ANTHOLOGY OR COLLECTION
* QU33R, Various (Edited By Robert Kirby)

OUTSTANDING GRAPHIC NOVEL
* This One Summer, Jillian Tamaki and Mariko Tamaki

OUTSTANDING STORY
* Brownout Biscuit from Octoups Pie: Dead Forever, Meredith Gran

PROMISING NEW TALENT
* Cathy G. Johnson, Jeremiah; Boy Genius; Until It Runs Clear

OUTSTANDING SERIES
* Demon, Jason Shiga

OUTSTANDING COMIC
* Wicked Chicken Queen, Sam Alden

OUTSTANDING MINICOMIC
* House of Women, Sophie Goldstein

OUTSTANDING ONLINE COMIC
* Vattu, Evan Dahm