Catching up with Keith Knight before SPX

by Mike Rhode

Michael Cavna, Keith Knight and Lalo Alcaraz

Keith Knight is one of my favorite cartoonists and one of the hardest working men in comics. His 7-day strip Knight Life appears in the Washington Post (only on Sundays, boo!). He does another panel each week called (Th)ink). And his first 1-page multi-panel, The K Chronicles, is still running. You can see them all at http://www.kchronicles.com/

Keith was in town last weekend for the National Book Festival (link to my pictures) and we started chatting until he had to go on stage. He's had a lot of changes in his life in the past year or so. First read my 2011 interview with Keith.

MR: Why did you move to North Carolina from California? How's that working out? 

KK: One of my first comic strip slideshows was in the Research Triangle of North Carolina (Raleigh, Durham, Chapel Hill)..I had such a great time and really enjoyed the area..so it was always in the back of my mind...Then my mom moved down to South Carolina from Boston, so there's that...  Affordability was also a huge factor.  The boys have a yard to run in...

MR: What's the story behind your NAACP award?

K: I was recognized, along with a number of other activists, for my cartoon slideshow about police brutality.  It's not really an award, just recognition.

MR: You're taking on the serious topic of police violence against black people in more ways than just drawing a cartoon. Can you tell us about that, and why you feel the need to do so?

 
KK: I felt like a slideshow of 20 years of my police brutality cartoons would be a good way to engage audiences to ask why these incidents continue unabated.  I was really frustrated drawing yet another cartoon after Ferguson. I used to say to myself, "I hope this is the last time I have to draw one of these." Clearly, it never is.

And this Shaun King quote really resonated with me: "LISTEN: If you ever wondered what you would do if you were alive in the Civil Rights Movement, NOW IS THE TIME to find out." 

MR: Your children are bi-racial, you live in a progressive part of NC, and you've chosen to home-school them. Why?

KK:  A number of reasons, but the biggest being that we felt it was a doable. The amount of resources the Research Triangle offers to secular folks who decide to home-school is incredible.  Classes for home-schoolers are held at libraries, the Y,  the university..There's even a homeschooling store near our place.

Keith's sign language interpreter kept cracking up.

MR: You've told me that your business model has been changing from sales of books to sales of prints, and that you're doing better at art shows than you do at comic cons. Can you expand on that?

KK: Comic book conventions give folks a chance to get their fantasy on, so I can understand how they don't want to be confronted with the ugly reality of some of the stuff I do.  To balance things, I've been doing comics celebrating some of the people I've looked up to who have recently passed.  Folks like Julian Bond, Maya Angelou, and Nelson Mandela. I do their portraits, along with some of their quotes.  They go over really well in non-comic book settings.  Sometimes it's better being the one cartoonist at an art show, than one of 500  at a comic book convention.

MR: Keith returns to DC next weekend for the Small Press Expo. I can't recommend his work highly enough.

Meet a Local Cartoonist: A Chat with Jerry Gaylord

Jerry Gaylord & Brian Turner at ANS Sci-Fi & Comic Con,   May 11, 2013.

Jerry Gaylord can be found at many local cons on the Maryland side of town, along with his colleagues at Identity Comics Studios, one of whom is his wife Penelope. After self-publishing his book, TheFranchize Vol I: Start Up Capital, Gaylord penciled BOOM!'s Fanboys vs. Zombies. That title has been cancelled at #20 and he's moving onto Loki: Ragnarok and Roll.

What type of comic work or cartooning do you do?

I draw mostly super hero or action/ adventure comics.

How do you do it? Traditional pen and ink, computer or a combination?

I work both traditionally and digitally. It really depends on my mood and how much time I have for the project.

When (within a decade is fine) and where were you born?

I was born in Washington, DC in 1980.

Why are you in Washington now? What neighborhood or area do you live in?

Right now I live about an hour outside of DC on Maryland's eastern shore. I've lived in and around the DMV all my life.

What is your training and/or education in cartooning?

For the most part I'm a self-taught artist. I've known I wanted to work in comics since I was just a little boy.

Who are your influences?

Jerry & Penelope Gaylord and Brian Turner

My biggest influences are Jose Luis Garcia Lopez, Ryan Ottley, Joe Mad, Sean Galloway, Penelope Gaylord and Bryan Turner.

If you could, what in your career would you do-over or change?

If I could do anything over it would probably be to have gone to a good art school. It would have gotten me further faster.

What work are you best-known for?

Right now I am best known for being the artist on Fanboys vs Zombies for Boom! Studios.

What work are you most proud of?

I'm pretty proud of being nominated for a Harvey Award (for Most Promising New Talent) this year.

What would you like to do or work on in the future?

I would love to work on Superman at some point and I'm looking forward to doing more creator-owned work.

What do you do when you're in a rut or have writer's block?

I either take a day off or if time is a factor, I just grit and fight through it.

What do you think will be the future of your field?

I think the future is in creator-owned works. I think more and more artists will be working on their own projects.

What's your favorite thing about DC?

That's easy... it's home.

Least favorite?

Another easy one... traffic.

What monument or museum do you like to take visitors to?

I love the Air and Space Museum.

How about a favorite local restaurant?

Mike's Grill in Springfield, VA.

Do you have a website or blog?

thefranchizelive.com  and identitycomics.com

Milestones: African-Americans in Comics, Pop Culture and Beyond opens at GEM

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 20, 2013                CONTACT:    Tatiana EL-Khouri

                                                                                                Creative Force Group

                                                                                                424.645.7570/ info@milestonestheshow.com

                                                                                                Geppi's Entertainment Museum

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                410.625.7060/gem@milestonestheshow.com

           

GEPPI'S ENTERTAINMENT MUSEUM MOUNTS HISTORICAL EXHIBITION OF AFRICAN-AMERICAN POP CULTURE

MILESTONE MEDIA'S MICHAEL DAVIS CURATES A MULTIMEDIA EXHIBIT SHOWCASING HISTORIC AFRICAN-AMERICAN COMIC BOOK SUPERHEROES

November 18, 2013 (Baltimore, Maryland): Geppi's Entertainment Museum President Melissa Geppi-Bowersox announced the Museum's collaboration with Inkpot Award recipient Michael Davis of Milestone Media on a historical exhibit featuring numerous artistic examples of African-Americans' contribution to pop culture throughout America's cultural revolution.  

The invitation-only opening night gala has been set for Friday, December 13, 2013 from 7pm- 10pm. The exhibit will officially open to the public on December 14^th and run through April 2014. "We are thrilled to be showcasing such an extraordinarily diverse collection of artistic pieces in so many different mediums within the Museum," comments Melissa Geppi-Bowersox. "There are some truly amazing comics, designs, drawings, paintings and programming that have been set for this exhibit, and Geppi's Entertainment Museum is proud to be the sole exhibitor for such a terrific group of artists." 

Milestones: African-Americans in Comics, Pop Culture and Beyond will feature not only the work of mainstream Black creators, but also the work of those who are considered outside the mainstream and even some who actively avoid the spotlight. Milestones "offers many different examples of profound contributions to the comic book medium by showcasing the vital roles that Black superheroes have played in shaping the unique narrative thread of so many ongoing narratives," comments Marvel Comics Editor-in-Chief Axel Alonso.  "The true beauty of this exhibit is the moment when race and color become obsolete, and you see the creative genius of the amazing worlds established that are mainstream." Not only will the exhibit focus on the comic and art world; it will also be dedicated to the internet market, today's newest medium. Says actor/producer Orlando Jones (currently starring on the hit FOX TV show Sleepy Hollow):

"African-Americans have made an indelible mark on the pop culture and entertainment landscape in front of the camera, behind the scenes, on the stage and in the recording booth. Although not as widely known, this is equally true in the world of comic books, where a renaissance of Black writers and artists are creating new characters and telling unique stories that are reaching larger audiences than ever before. As a lifelong comic book nerd, it's my greatest pleasure to showcase the art from my digital graphic novel Tainted Love within the Milestones exhibit at Geppi's Entertainment Museum. This labor of love has enabled me to bring together some of my favorite artists who are leading the charge in creating increased diversity within the industry."

Adds director/producer/comics writer Reggie Hudlin (Django Unchained): "If comics are modern mythology, then Black participation and representation is crucial. The Milestones exhibit will document on paper those dreams through the years and give all Americans a chance to see them up close."

The exhibit will offer patrons a full spectrum of Black historical contributions made throughout comic book and graphic novel history. "From movies to film, from music to art, from graphic novels/comic books to TV, and from politics to sports, all aspects of America's pop culture contain different aspects of the African-American viewpoint," says Exhibit Curator and Milestone Media co-founder Michael Davis.  "America has changed, and the attitudes about Black people and their limitless creativity touch, embrace, or lead all aspects of culture."

"I'm especially excited that young people of color will see themselves represented in so many different ways," added Tatiana EL-Khouri, Co-Curator. "This show may well influence future careers in comics, and perhaps even fine art. We have significantly made enormous strides to find a place within society, and I'm so excited to be in these times where we are now being nationally recognized in every field. In so many ways, African-American culture has always been a part of pop culture, and curating this exhibit will be one of the most significant things that I do in my lifetime."

Adds Museum President Melissa Geppi-Bowersox, "Honestly, this is exactly what Geppi's Entertainment Museum is all about. Our focus on American pop culture really showcases one of the youngest nations in the world and shines a light on our history as well as our contributions to the international community. Milestones: African-Americans in Comics, Pop Culture and Beyond is a very important part of the fabric which makes up our country.

"With America being a dominant force in the world, we strive to continue with our exhibits highlighting every aspect of American culture—and will continue to be the leading museum in America showcasing not only who we are, but where we came from and where we're going."

For more information visit: www.MilestonesTheShow.com

Local cartoonist George Mercer passes away (UPDATED)

GEORGE DANIEL MERCER (Age 88) 
Published in The Washington Post on August 15, 2012
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/washingtonpost/obituary.aspx?pid=159182597

The death notice says he was "Cartoonist for the Baltimore Afro-American newspaper" and that he designed nine stamps.


D.D. Degg spotted the story and provided the following notes: 


His design for the 12-cent Freedom of Conscience "Torch" stamp as mentioned in the above obituary:
http://arago.si.edu/index.asp?con=1&cmd=1&tid=2029043

The single sample of his cartooning I could find:
http://kasmakes.tumblr.com/#23740534024

Allan Holtz' American Newspaper Comics lists his comics as:
SOLID SENDERS July 4, 1942 - at least December 11, 1943 panel
RICKEY October 17, 1942 - May 8, 1943 (pantomime strip)
ARLINE'S CAREER November 7, 1942 - May 8, 1943 strip
(retitled ARLENE'S CAREER March 20, 1943 - on)
The above three weekly comics were in the Baltimore Afro-American

After his hitch in the U.S.Army (May 10, 1943 - 1946?) Mercer did a couple more comics.

FRANTIC STEIN 1947 weekly strip
PEEWEE 1947 weekly panel
Holtz says these two may have been offerings from Continental Features, a 1940s syndicate for black newspapers possibly based out of the New York Amsterdam News.

March 4: Howard University comics symposium

Kyle Baker, William H. Foster visit Howard University

 

Comics artist Kyle Baker (Nat Turner, Truth: Red, White & Black, Birth of a Nation) and scholar William H. Foster III (Looking for a Face like Mine) will visit Howard University for "Comics on Campus," a symposium held in the Blackburn Auditorium from 3:00 to 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, March 4. Baker and Foster will discuss the history and production of graphic novels, recent landmark works, and the unique opportunities and challenges that face African American cartoonists. The event is sponsored by the Department of English with support from the Fund for Academic Excellence. For information please contact Prof. Marc Singer at msinger@howard.edu. The event is free and open to the public.

The Blackburn Auditorium is inside the Blackburn University Center, between 5th and 6th streets NW and above Howard Place. It's on the main quad at the top of campus. Here's a document with driving and Metro directions to Blackburn.

Here's an interview from last week with Dr. Foster - Full Color Fun With Dr. William Foster, Scoop (February 26 2010).

Comic postcards

For some reason, comic postcards generate even less interest among comic art fans than greeting card cartoonists, who, like Sandra Boynton demonstrated conclusively recently by winning a National Cartoonists Society award, at least may break out to a larger audience.

Here's a selection of postcards I picked up at a flea market this weekend. Some are barely worthy of the 25 cents I paid for each, but they are a part of the history of comics.

This one says it's from C.T. Busy Person's Comics - 10 Subjects. The CT is the company Curt Teich of Chicago. Unfortunately I don't know who the artist is.



This gag is by G.A. Devery or GAD, no. 59 in his "Fun Cards by GAD" series, from 1956.



A 1963 advertising card from the Hilton Hotels International's Queen Elizabeth in Montreal. The card is from The Beaver Club restaurant. The cartoon is "Specialty dishes from the Beaver Club Menus as seen by the Montreal artist Jeff."



Walt Munson signed a few of the cards I saw - for some reason I picked up this one which isn't very interesting. The back says it's in "Series M Army Comics - 10 Subjects" and it's postmarked 1942. Munson's name seems to ring a bell...



This unattractive stereotypical card 's lacking any information, but it was mailed in 1957 from Tampa, FL to Dickerson, Md.


The prevalence of MAD's Alfred E. Neumann images has never really interested me, but here's three for Craig Yoe.


1960 postmark from Colourpicture Publishers, Boston. Mad and Alfred E. are well-established by this point, so the publisher's probably jumping on the bandwagon.

Same card, different coloring. Postmark appears to be 1964.



Bob Petley of Phoenix, Arizona drew and published this card, circa 1963.