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Wednesday, September 07, 2011
PR: The 2011 Top Shelf Massive $3 Sale
September 9: Cartoonists at U of MD
University of Maryland this Friday, September 9, 2011 from 1-3PM.
Bleeding the Narrative: Comics in Art and Culture
Panelists: Jim Rugg, Robert Ullman, Monica Gallagher, Alexis E. Fajardo, Carolyn Belefski
The University of Maryland is in College Park, MD, 20742. The roundtable will be in the Michelle Smith Collaboratory for Visual Culture, which is on the 4th floor of the Art-Sociology Building.
Open to the public.Griff the Invisible reviewed in City Paper, Onion
by Alison Willmore
http://www.avclub.com/articles/griff-the-invisible,60576/
By Tricia Olszewski
http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/articles/41410/griff-the-invisible-reviewed-yet-another-film-about-a-wannabe/
Jen Sorensen interview online at City Paper
by Mike Rhode on Sep. 7, 2011 http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/artsdesk/books/2011/09/07/meet-an-spx-cartoonist-a-chat-with-jen-sorenson/
DC Conspiracy’s SPX plans
I was able to check in with members of the co-op DC Conspiracy about their SPX plans - the biggest of which is debuting the free newspaper tabloid comic Magic Bullet #3.
Carolyn Belefski says Curls Studio will be at SPX - Table F3B.
CDC: Can you tell us a little about your books that you'll have with you at SPX?
CB: Curls Studio will have some of the latest Curls comic strips and new prints. In addition, we will have our comic books Kid Roxy, Black Magic Tales, and The Legettes available for purchase. We have a Black Magic Tales story in the free issue of Magic Bullet #3, which will be premiering at SPX and I will be doing sketch commissions.
CDC: You've attended the Small Press Expo in the past - do you have any thoughts about your experience?
CB: I've been attending SXP since 2004 and Curls Studio has been exhibiting since 2006. SPX is always a great gathering of folks interested in discovering new stories. There are books available at SPX that you wouldn't be able to find anywhere else. Some are rare, some are limited edition, and others are so fringe that they may not be available at mainstream bookstores. The beauty of SPX is exploring the show floor and finding books that interest you. SPX shows people there's a comic out there for everyone.
CDC: What are you looking forward to buying or seeing or doing for this year's event? Or who do you want to see, to catch up on old times, or to have a fangirl experience?
CB: I am looking forward to hanging out at the table with Jim Coon and Joe Carabeo and saying hi to Raina Telgemeier, Katie Omberg, and the DC Conspiracy group. Most of all I am excited about the chocolate fountain after the Ignatz Awards.
Andrew Cohen writes in, "I'll be at SPX this year (table W7), with three new books:
- Dr. W #1 and #2, continuing the formalist anarchy
- Porter Black: Murder Under Midnight Suns, a satirical crime comic written by Art Haupt
- Surrealia: Chapter One, a kids' book for adults, written by writer/composer Billy Lopez.
"Every year, I always think about how I'd like to take a break from the table to go and see some of the panels and discussions, and every year I fail to find a spare hour or two to do so. I hope I can change that track record, this year!"
R.M. Rhodes says, "I will be at SPX."
CDC: Can you tell us a little about your books that you'll have with you at SPX?
RMR: I've got the two new graphic novels in the Oceanus Procellarum series this year - Books 4 & 5. The whole series allowed me to do make a large-scale structure. Book 1 was the prequel. Book 2 was the main book. Book 3 was the sequel. Book 4 is the anthology of short stories based on the characters we've met so far. Book 5 is the apocrypha.
I even put together a sampler for the series that I'll be selling for a much lower price as a "gateway comic." If you like the sampler, you'll probably like the series as a whole. If not, then you're only out a few dollars.
CDC: You've attended the Small Press Expo in the past - do you have any thoughts about your experience?
RMR: SPX is a fantastic event. The staff is great to work with and the audience is always enthusiastic. The creative energy in the room from all of the passionate creators is very refreshing and almost tangible. It's the local show for those of us who live in the DC metro area and I wouldn't miss it for the world.
CDC: What are you looking forward to buying or seeing or doing for this year's event? Or who do you want to see, to catch up on old times, or to have a fanboy experience?
RMR: I always enjoy browsing the Fantagraphics table, even though they take all of my money. I enjoy catching up with the Trees and Hills group from Vermont - Dan Barlow and I always end up having really interesting conversations. I've gotten to know some other creators over the years - SPX is where I first met the Timony brothers, for example. I'm also going to try and catch up with some of the people I talk to online - Darryl Ayo is at the top of my list. And there are some people from the DC Conspiracy that I really only see at shows when we're working - John Bintz and his fiancee Meredith, for example.
Jamie Noguchi also answered my interview questions –
CDC: Can you tell us a little about your books that you'll have with you at SPX?
JN: I'm debuting my first book, Back to the Grind: A Yellow Peril Collection. It collects the first year of the web comic along with some bonus strip commentary. And anyone who picks it up at the show will get a QR code that will give them access to digital versions of the book which includes a detailed explanation of how I did the cover painting.
CDC: If you've attended the Small Press Expo in the past - do you have any thoughts about your experience?
JN: Last year was the first time exhibiting at the show and I had a blast. Since I didn't have my book ready, I borrowed an iPad to show off my comics. Got a lot of people to come by and swipe through and actually had some pretty good conversations about digital comics. The show also convinced me that I needed to work my butt off to get my first book ready for this year.
CDC: What are you looking forward to buying or seeing or doing for this year's event? Or who do you want to see, to catch up on old times, or to have a fanboy experience?
JN: I'm pretty excited because this year, Super Art Fight has been booked to perform after the Ignatz awards! We're all huge comic nerds and to get the chance to participate in SPX as part of programming is just too cool. I've also never experienced the famed Chocolate Fountain so I'm looking forward to that.
From Evan Keeling, we find out, "The books I'm premiering at the show are…
Nancy Boy - 12 page preview - If Veronica Mars is a teenage Sam Spade, Nancy Boyle is the teenage version of Richard Stark's Parker. One girl. One hockey stick. Nine circles of suburban hell.
Everything sucks for Nancy. Parents suck. High school sucks. This town sucks. So when the only person in her life ever to show her kindness is attacked and robbed, Nancy does the one thing she knows how to do: Fight back.
Nancy punches her way through an opulent but disturbed gated community as she searches for a stolen crystal owl. On her quest, she'll get a few bruises, but give out many more to the people who piss her off.
And God help you if you piss off Nancy Boyle.
Fifinella Color Special - This is a collection of the 3 strips I've done for the Magic Bullet newspaper presented in color and oversized.
Tales from the District - A collection of the web comic I used to do for Brightest Young Things with the writer of Nancy Boy Jason Griffenhagen, about real life stories of people in DC
Early Adaptors Case Files: D-Bags of Ill-Repute - A slightly beefed up version of the Chester Gould influenced drawings that I premiered last year.
I will also have CrumbSnatchers and am waiting on reprint copies of the DCC anthologies and maybe some other random goodies.
This is my 6th year tabling at SPX and probably my 12th year going to SPX (maybe more). I have a great time at the show and love picking up new comics and roaming the aisles to see what people are doing.
I always like catching up with folks that I have met at other shows or previous SPXs and it's always good to hang around with the rest of the DCC crew. The main thing I'm excited for is finding new work that I haven't seen before and hopefully introducing my work to some folks who haven't seen it before.
Matt Dembicki answered my questions too:
CDC: Can you tell us a little about your books that you'll have with you at SPX?
MD: I will have the Eisner-nominated Trickster, Brewmaster's Castle (a favorite among D.C.-area historians) and Xoc, which are the last of the minis before Oni publishes the book next summer. My son, Adam (6), will have two new mini-comics—Jailbreak! and The Never-Ending War.
CDC: You've attended the Small Press Expo in the past - do you have any thoughts about your experience?
MD: I've attended since 2002 as an exhibitor. SPX offers a wonderfully creative and inspiring atmosphere. Besides picking up some wonderful books, I get to catch up with old friends and make new ones.
CDC: What are you looking forward to buying or seeing or doing for this year's event? Or who do you want to see, to catch up on old times, or to have a fanboy experience?
MD: I'm always drawn toward the Top Shelf and AdHouse tables for bigger ticket items. For minis and self-published works, I enjoy strolling around and see what catches my eye. There are always a ton of goodies. The Ignatz Awards nominees are always a good place to start.
Rafer Roberts speaks for the DC Conspiracy as a whole before concentrating on his books:
Things we will be debuting at SPX this year:
Magic Bullet #3 - Magic Bullet is a free semi-annually published comic newspaper focused on presenting the work of independent and underground cartoonists, with a bias towards DC artists. Each artist is encouraged to take advantage of the larger canvas to cut loose and experiment and to push themselves and the medium.
Contributors:
Bill Ellis, Matt Dembicki, Dominic Vivona, Kevin Czapiewski, Danielle Corsetto, Jonathan Case, Kevin Panetta & Mike Short, Matt Sheean, Rafer Roberts, RM Rhodes & Evan Keeling, Jake Warrenfeltz, Art Hondros, Art Haupt & Andrew Cohen, Adam Dembicki, Joe Carabeo & Carolyn Belefski, Eric Gordon, Jeff McClelland & Jeff McComsey, Scott White, Dale Rawlings, David W. Ryan, Troy Jeffrey-Allen, David Dean & Jay Payne, Adam Umak & Michael J. Auger, JT Wilkins, Michael Brace, Kyle Kaczmarczyk & Helaine Crawford, Michael May & Jason Copland
Plastic Farm #20 - This issue includes:
Chapter 28: Oh, Injury. Art by Mal Jones. The most heart-wrenching love story ever told by one of the stranded travellers.
Chapter 29: Some Other Shit That Happened During Freshman Year. Written and drawn by Rafer Roberts. Chester Carter's tales of his freshman year in college get closer to concluding and a long-absent fan-favorite makes its return.
Chapter 30: People's Choice (part 5). Art by Matt Dembicki. The cannibal farmers raise the stakes.
Written and (mostly) drawn by Rafer Roberts, Plastic Farm follows the life of a man named Chester and his slow descent into complete insanity and chronicles how that madness reshapes the world around him. Chester has had a rough childhood, has a magic cowboy that rides a dinosaur living inside of his head, and is now, late in life, sitting in a nameless airport bar during a blizzard telling his life story to a group of people who really couldn't care less.
Thoughts about SPX:
This will be my 9th time exhibiting at SPX and it seems to get better every year. This year it seems like the organizers have doubled their efforts in terms of promoting the event and in making the event itself as cool as possible. Personally I'm excited by the fact that I will be receiving a Nerdlinger Award at Atomic Books' pre-SPX extravaganza on the Friday night before the show, and I look forward to showing that sucker off all weekend.
Mostly, SPX is the most social of the comic shows I go to. In addition to being able to hing out with my local friends that I don't see enough of in the first place, it is also great to see all of my out-of-town friends as well. The central location of the after-parties, and the fact that most of the exhibitors stay in the same hotel, makes SPX as much a party as book selling event.
Troy Allen also sent in answers to my questions:
CDC: Can you tell us a little about your books that you'll have with you at SPX?
TA: Yep. Bamn #3, the third installment of our nerds vs. jocks battle royale, will be making its appearance at the Small Press Expo.
Also, the Magic Bullet newspaper (which is very free) will be available to the public starting with SPX. It features a ton of local artist doing single-page comics, including Boogie Monster by David Dean and myself. It's a running conversation between two hipsters inside a comic shop, essentially. Hopefully, it will offend someone.
CDC: If you've attended the Small Press Expo in the past - do you have any thoughts about your experience? If you haven't, what're you expecting? What are you looking forward to buying or seeing or doing for this year's event? Or who do you want to see, to catch up on old times, or to have a fanboy/girl experience?
TA: I had a back and forth on my podcast about whether or not being a geek/fanboy is cool and acceptable. We disagreed on most of it but the one thing we did agree on is that it has to be fringe to remain cool. To me, that's what SPX is. It's fringe, it's the bad kid who smokes in the school bathroom, it's where comic books become grunge or punk. it is French New Wave. It is the cool kids club. Hollywood can pick up the superheroes --- I think that's good for the industry --- but indie comics and indie creators need to exist as our connection to what made comics great in the first place: their odd, outsider status. SPX embodies that and I look forward to being reminded of that every year in Bethesda.
Dale Rawlings surprises me by noting, "I have not been interviewed for City Paper (I'm fixing that – MR) and I'll be at SPX with the DC Conspiracy crew."
I'll have my mini comic Skidoo with me, Issues 1-3 of of Down And Out On Planet Earth, my 4 issue series, Liquid Revolver, a graphic novel written by Matt Dembicki and I illustrated a chapter, and the newest issue of Magic Bullet.
I was at the very first SPX in 1994 and each year I'm always surprised at how much SPX has grown since its start. I'm looking forward to meeting Chester Brown at this year's SPX as his Ed the Happy Clown was a big influence on me in the 90's.
My best fanboy experience was meeting Will Eisner in a hallway at SPX in 2000 and giving him a copy of my comic. Another great SPX experience was around 97 or 98 where I was in Connie's suite ( Quentin Tarrantino's mom who came out to SPX several years in a row in the early years) with a bunch of the artists after the Ignatz. Ivan Brunetti was passing around a sketchbook that he carried to collect portraits of himself from the other artists. And it comes around to me so I start sketching. And Ivan Brunetti... Now you've seen his work, right? The guy who does cartoons like Schizo and Haw. Horrible Horrible Cartoons is watching over my shoulder and recoils in horror and starts laughing going "oh my god!" at my portrait of him. I was immensely proud to elicit that response from him.
PR: Craig Thompson's HABIBI Debuts at SPX 2011 to Benefit CBLDF!
Craig Thompson's HABIBI Debuts
at SPX 2011 to Benefit CBLDF!
The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund is proud to host Craig Thompson at this year's Small Press Expo, and to premiere his eagerly awaited graphic novel HABIBI! Through a special arrangement with Random House, a benefit preview edition of 100 signed & numbered copies of the graphic novel will be available to donors who contribute $100 or more to the CBLDF at SPX. These copies will be available on a first-come, first served basis when the show opens on Saturday, September 10. In addition to this rare preview, the CBLDF is also auctioning off lunch at SPX with Craig and #1/100 from this preview edition on eBay starting on Tuesday, August 30th, and ending on Thursday, September 8th. Bid on this exciting auction now!
Craig Thompson says, "It's very exciting to be able to launch HABIBI at SPX in a way that gives back to the CBLDF. I got my start in small press comics, and have always been supportive of the CBLDF. Being able to help out in this way, and to appear at the show with HABIBI feels like a homecoming."
Sprawling across an epic landscape of deserts, harems, and modern industrial clutter, HABIBI tells the tale of Dodola and Zam, refugee child slaves bound to each other by chance, circumstance, and love. We follow them as their lives unfold together and apart; as they struggle to make a place for themselves in a world fueled by fear and greed.
At once contemporary and timeless, HABIBI gives us a love story of astounding resonance; a parable about our relationship to the natural world, the cultural divide between the first and third worlds, the common heritage of Christianity and Islam, and the magic of storytelling.
This is a rare opportunity to spend time with one of the great modern cartoonists, and receive an extremely limited edition of what is sure to be the biggest graphic novel event of 2011.
All proceeds from this auction will immediately benefit the First Amendment legal work of the CBLDF.
Big interview with Craig Thompson up at City Paper
I was fortunate to be in the PR queue for Craig Thompson's Habibi book, so I got to read it (I recommend it) and talk to him for a half hour.
Check it out at
Meet an SPX Cartoonist: An Interview With Craig Thompson
Posted by Mike Rhode on Sep. 7, 2011 at 9:15 am
PR: Events at SPX to benefit Comic Book Legal Defense Fund and the SPX Graphic Novel Gift Program
For Immediate Release: Contact: Warren Bernard
Bethesda, Maryland; September 6, 2011 - The Small Press Expo (SPX), the preeminent showcase for the exhibition of independent comics, graphic novels, and alternative political cartoons, is pleased to announce two fundraising events that will occur at the 2011 festival.
Roz Chast original cartoons
New Yorker cartoonist Roz Chast, known for her single-panel cartoons, illustration work and children's books, will draw and sell original cartoons at the SPX signing table. Proceeds will be divided equally between SPX's new Graphic Novel Gift Program and the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund. Pen and ink drawings will be $25 and watercolor drawings $50; Ms. Chast will be drawing on Saturday, 1:30-3:30PM and 5-6:30PM, and on Sunday from Noon-1:30PM. Additionally, books will be available for purchase at the signing table from our good friends at Politics & Prose.
Jeff Alexander Memorial Benefit Auction
The Comic Book Legal Defense Fund and the organizers of SPX are proud to honor the memory of former SPX Executive Director Jeff Alexander by launching an annual benefit auction in his name. Jeff Alexander was a friend to the small press community, both as a cartoonist and an organizer of SPX and the Ignatz Awards. He passed away earlier this year.
The first annual Jeff Alexander Memorial Benefit Auction includes pieces from Jeff's personal collection that he donated to the CBLDF. Additional contributions have been donated by the SPX community, including Keith Knight, Raina Telgemeier, Jeffrey Brown and many more.
At the time of this release, items available for auction include:
Hannibal King - Eyes Only page
Charles Vess - Bone Prequel: Rose page signed by Charles Vess and Jeff Smith
Tony Millionaire - Billy Hazelnuts page
Pete Sickman Garner - Hey Mister page
Roger Langridge - The Pest in the Vest (Homage to Dr Seuss) page
Billy Tucci - Shi: Heaven and Earth, issue 4, page 25
Jeffrey Brown - CBLDF Year In Review page
Molly Crabapple - Mermaid
Chynna Clugston-Flores pin-up
Jonathan Ames & Dean Haspiel - Portrait of Ames screen print 5/5
Peter Bagge - Pizza Scholar pencil drawing
Camilla D'Errico - Caverns pin-up
Bill Morrison - Simpsons pin-up
Jeffrey Brown - Emerald City Comic-Con ad original art
Ray Fawkes painting
Jim Mahfood & David Mack painting
Additional pieces have been pledged and will be added as their images are received.. More information, including images of all items, is available at http://cbldf.org/.
The auction will happen Saturday, September 10, 2011 at 4:30 at SPX. Internet bids will be accepted by emailing charles.brownstein@cbldf.org before Saturday afternoon at 1 PM ET.
Comic Book Legal Defense Fund is a non-profit organization dedicated to the protection of the First Amendment rights of the comics artform and its community of retailers, creators, publishers, librarians, and readers. The CBLDF provides legal referrals, representation, advice, assistance, and education in furtherance of these goals. For more information please visit http://www.cbldf.org.
For further information on the Small Press Expo Library Gift Program, please visit http://www.spxpo.com/graphic-novel-gift-program or contact Warren Bernard at warren@spxpo.com.
SPX will be held Saturday, September 10 from 11am-7pm and Sunday, September 11, 12-6pm at The North Bethesda Marriott Convention Center in Bethesda, Maryland. Admission is $10 for a single day and $15 for both days.
Tuesday, September 06, 2011
Meet SPX's Executive Director Warren Bernard
Small Press Expo Executive Director (and infrequent blogger here) Warren Bernard answered some questions about this year's convention for me...
CDC: How’d you personally get into comics?
WB: When I got my tonsils out in 2nd Grade, my parents bought me a Superman comic. It has been downhill ever since and I am waiting to hit bottom....
CDC: How is SPX different than a standard comics con?
WB: Well, to be Clintonian about it, depends on your definition of 'standard'. There are two different standards in the comics world, one is the SDCC, Baltimore Comiccon, Heroes Con etc world of the super hero comic and the other is the SPX, MOCCA, TCAF, Stumptown, etc indie/self published comic.
But regardless of which standard you apply, the main difference is, we have the most fun. ;-)
CDC: How many years has it run, and how many years have you been a part of it?
WB: SPX started in 1994, I started as a volunteer in 2002. Staring about 2004 I began to handle the PR duties, last year was the Assistant Exec Director and this year, well, the whole enchilada is now mine.
CDC: How many people are you expecting?
WB: 2500-3000 or more!!
CDC: Any cartoonists you are particularly proud of having come? Favorite guests of past years?
WB: Well, I have to admit, Roz Chast and Jim Woodring this year are the two that I have to pinch myself to be sure I am not dreaming that they are coming. In terms of past years, Joost Swarte, Will Eisner and Harvey Pekar are the three that will always stand out in my pantheon of SPX Guests.
CDC: How fast did the tables sell out? Are you sold out?
WB: Tables sell out in like 3-4 weeks and we have been wait listed since February 1st. So you really have to move fast to get a table!!!
CDC: Is there anything special about this year not mentioned yet?
WB: Well, no real last minute surprises, but the both the SPX Collection at the Library of Congress and the SPX Graphic Novel Gift Program, comprise a major shift for us, taking SPX from being a festival to widening our responsibilities into becoming an institutional foundation of the indie comics world.
The Small Press Expo takes place 11 am–7 p.m. Sept. 10 and noon–6 p.m. Sept. 11 at the Bethesda North Marriott Hotel & Conference Center, 5701 Marinelli Road, Bethesda. $10-$15.
Truitt on Detective Comics relaunch
By Brian Truitt, USA TODAY September 5 2011
http://www.usatoday.com/life/comics/story/2011-09-05/Tony-Daniel-makes-history-with-Detective-Comics-No-1/50263336/1
PR: 2011 National Book Festival presents new Graphic Novel pavilion
Now in its 11th year, the Library of Congress' National Book Festival is taking place Sept. 24-25 making this the first-ever, two-day festival. This extra day has allowed the Library to invite even more authors and create specialized pavilions, like the Graphic Novel Pavilion, which will be featured on Sunday the 24th. This annual celebration of reading and literacy is co-chaired by President and Mrs. Obama and features over 100 renowned authors, presenting their works and signing books.
The Graphic Novel Pavilion will host five popular novelists:
· Richard Thompson- author of the syndicated comic strip, Cul de Sac and winner of the 2011 Reuben Award for Outstanding Cartoonist.
· Kazu Kibuishi- writer and illustrator of the Amulet series.
· Allen Say- former Caldecott medalist will present his new work, Drawing from Memory.
· Rachel Renee Russell- author and illustrator of the Dork Diaries series.
· Eric Wright- author and illustrator of the Frankie Pickle series.
When: September 24-25, 2011
9/24: 10:00a.m. – 5:30p.m.
9/25: 1:00p.m. – 5:30p.m.
Where: The National Mall between 9th and 14th Streets
Washington, D.C.
Visit www.loc.gov/bookfest for additional information
Carolyn Belefski profiled at Fairfax Connection
Drawn to the Web: Comic strip artist Carolyn Belefski finds a home and an audience on the Internet.
By Michael O'Connell
Fairfax Connection September 06, 2011
http://www.connectionnewspapers.com/article.asp?article=354019&paper=63&cat=104
Oh, and Michael interviewed me for this too, to get a feeling for the state of comics.
Meet a Visiting SPX Cartoonist: A Chat with Jennifer Hayden
The Washington City Paper blog is a bit backed up with a bunch of interviews I've gotten for SPX so I'll run some with friends here. I met Jennifer Hayden at Baltimore Comic Con in 2010, and we talked about webcomics and her plans to draw a comic about her breast cancer. As you might expect, Jennifer's not your typical 20-something young cartoonist. According to her biography on ACT-I-VATE, "is a politically incorrect mother of two. She lives in a barn in New Jersey with her husband, two kids, three cats and the dog. As a child, she spent every summer sprawled on the couch, reading the Archies. Now that wise investment is paying off."
CDC: What type of comic work or cartooning do you do?
I do autobiographical comix. My first book of comix, Underwire, just came out from Top Shelf. It started life as a webcomic on ACT-I-VATE.com. Meanwhile, I've started posting another webcomic called S'Crapbook on www.onlytheblogknowsbrooklyn.com, and I'm finishing a graphic novel about my life and my experience with breast cancer which will be published by Top Shelf as well.
CDC: What work are you best-known for?
JH: I guess I'm known for my work in Underwire, the personal rantings of a middle-aged woman with a husband and teenagers. Although some people have seen bits of the other book I'm working on, about my breast cancer, which is a much heavier project.CDC: How do you do it? Traditional pen and ink, computer or a combination?
I never went to art school, so I draw with the same tools I used as a teenager: a Rapidograph pen on Bristol smooth paper. Now, though, I use Photoshop to scan the panels, which I create individually, and to arrange them on pages for print purposes (they stay individual panels in my webcomix.)
CDC: Can you tell us a little about your books that you'll have with you at SPX?
JH: I'll be debuting my new book Underwire. Top Shelf did a beautiful job publishing this baby--softcover with French flaps, and a gorgeous book and cover design by Chris Ross. It's eighty pages, with twenty-two of the webcomic strips, plus seventeen new pages of comix and art made exclusively for this book. I'll also be selling a new minicomic, with a collection of strips from my new webcomic S'Crapbook, currently running on www.onlytheblogknowsbrooklyn.com.
CDC: If you've attended the Small Press Expo in the past - do you have any thoughts about your experience?
JH: My first SPX was last year--I went to help out at Dean Haspiel's table, selling his new book Cuba--and I had such a blast. It's so much more sane, quiet and comfortable than New York Comic Con and even MoCCA, two conventions I've attended in New York City for the past few years. I couldn't get over how easy it was to talk with my favorite cartoonists. They were all there! I was literally wandering around in heaven. And this year: Roz Chast? Diane Noomin? Will my head just explode? Possibly.
CDC: What are you looking forward to buying or seeing or doing for this year's event? Or who do you want to see, to catch up on old times, or to have a fangirl experience?
JH: I look forward to having my first book out, that's for sure. (I am thinking of fashioning a paper crown that says "comix princess" and wearing it all weekend.) I also am seriously looking forward to being on a panel on Sunday called "Images of The Body", moderated by Craig Fischer, with Robyn Chapman (Hey 4-Eyes!, Make), Gabby Schulz (Monsters), and Jen Vaughn (Don't Hate, Menstruate! Heavy Flow), about "the ethics, erotics and extremes involved in representing the external experience of the body." Naturally I have a long shopping list of books I can't wait to get my hands on, from Top Shelf and some other publishers, and I'll be catching up with friends and swooning over some longtime idols. And then, of course, there's the smorgasbord of minicomics...
CDC: What's your favorite thing about the DC area? Least favorite?
JH: I was at the convention most of the time last year, so I didn't much of DC. I understand the traffic can be a bear, and this year should be challenging, with all the commemorative stuff going on in the city.
CDC: What monument or museum do you like or wish to visit when you're in town?
JH: I'd love to see the Smithsonian someday.
CDC: What do you think will be the future of your field?
JH: I haven't really been in this field long enough to say. What excites me is the prospect of graphic novels growing in this country as a literary form--to takehttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif on more aspects of traditional and experimental fiction, and use art to blow out the cobwebs. I think there's huge room for growth in this direction, and I can't wait to see what happens.
CDC: Do you have a website or blog?
JH: Yes. http://www.goddesscomix.blogspot.com/ and http://www.jenniferhayden.com/.
The Small Press Expo takes place 11 am–7 p.m. Sept. 10 and noon–6 p.m. Sept. 11 at the Bethesda North Marriott Hotel & Conference Center, 5701 Marinelli Road, Bethesda. $10-$15.
Mike Dawson's pre-SPX interview online now
by Mike Rhode on Sep. 6, 2011
Monday, September 05, 2011
Frank Cho teaser art from Marvel
The one with the red non-face is the Red Skull's daughter Sin and thus the bad guy, and the other is the Valkyrie, the good guy.
It's amazing that you can get only one's face, and not the rest of one's body burnt off...
Comic Riffs on Ariana Huffington comic book
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs Blog September 3 2011
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/comic-riffs/post/arianna-huffington-writer-of-new-bio-comic-book-sums-her-up-with-one-word-survivor/2011/09/01/gIQAPSbryJ_blog.html#pagebreak
Zadzooks on videogame Rage's comic book
By Joseph Szadkowski
The Washington Times September 4, 2011
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2011/sep/4/zadzooks-rage-comic-books/
Sunday, September 04, 2011
Frank Cho interview at Newsarama
By Lucas Siegel, Newsarama 02 September 2011
http://www.newsarama.com/comics/frank-cho-guns-dinos-interview-110902.html
USA Today on Epoch, Luther Strode, and Spider-Man
By Brian Truitt, USA TODAY
http://www.usatoday.com/life/comics/story/2011-08-30/Top-Cow-unleashes-an-Epoch-supernatural-series/50191756/1
The strangely wonderful world of 'Luther Strode'
By Brian Truitt, USA TODAY September 1 2011
http://www.usatoday.com/life/comics/story/2011-09-01/The-strangely-wonderful-world-of-Luther-Strode/50218762/1
Marvel's amazing Spider-team rolls with the punches
By Brian Truitt, USA TODAY August 30 2011
http://www.usatoday.com/life/comics/story/2011-08-30/Marvels-amazing-Spider-team-rolls-with-the-punches/50195148/1
PR: The Digital Revolution Starts Now at Fantom
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Mark Wheatley interview
Mark Wheatley on The Spider: Burning Lead for the Walking Dead, and His Renewed Love of Painting
By Bill Baker, Columnist
July 19, 2011
http://www.themortonreport.com/arts/comics-the-spider-versus-the-original-iron-man/
Saturday, September 03, 2011
Truitt on Untold Tales of Comic Industry film project
By Brian Truitt, USA TODAY September 1 2011
http://www.usatoday.com/life/comics/story/2011-09-01/Comic-creator-turns-documentarian-for-Untold-Tales/50221988/1
Post reviews superhero movie Griff the Invisible
By Michael O'Sullivan
Washington Post Sep 02, 2011
http://www.washingtonpost.com/gog/movies/griff-the-invisible,1210232/critic-review.html
Team Cul de Sac featured in Asheville newspaper
Written by Jason Sandford
Asheville Citizen-Times Sep. 2, 2011
http://www.citizen-times.com/article/20110903/NEWS/309030035/Asheville-man-rallies-comic-artists-raise-money-Parkinson-s-research
Cul de Sac pics up new paper
Casa Grande Dispatch September 2, 2011
http://www.trivalleycentral.com/articles/2011/09/02/casa_grande_dispatch/valley_life/doc4e6108bcbccf5672384000.txt
Friday, September 02, 2011
Griff the Invisible superhero movie reviewed in Washington Examiner
'True Blood' actor is anything but invisible in sweet indie [Griff the Invisible].
By: Kelly Jane Torrance
Washington Examiner (September 2 2011): http://washingtonexaminer.com/entertainment/2011/09/true-blood-actor-anything-invisible-sweet-indie
Thursday, September 01, 2011
Sept 24: Warren Bernard in Seattle for Drawing Power
NPR on DC's DCnU reboot
by Glen Weldon
National Public Radio's Monkey See blog August 31, 2011
http://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2011/08/31/140081349/tap-click-slide-the-ambitious-dc-comics-reboot-arrives-er-downloads
Several DC Comics Go Back To Issue No. 1
Melissa Block
National Public Radio's All Things Considered August 31, 2011
http://www.npr.org/2011/08/31/140093549/several-dc-comics-go-back-to-issue-no-1
http://pd.npr.org/anon.npr-mp3/npr/atc/2011/08/20110831_atc_15.mp3
Meet a Visiting SPX Cartoonist: A Chat With Keith Knight
Meet a Visiting SPX Cartoonist: A Chat With Keith Knight
by Mike Rhode on Sep. 1, 2011
Matt Wuerker's 9-11 cartoons displayed at ToonSeum
Too Soon?: A cartoon retrospective of 9/11 and panel discussion at ToonSeum
Press Release
TOONSEUM
945 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh PA 15222
Too Soon?: A Cartoon Retrospective of 9/11
An exhibition featuring comic strip and editorial cartoon reflections on and responses to 9/11.
Sunday, Sept. 11, 2011, marks the 10th anniversary of one of the darkest days in American history. It was also marks a day of remarkable bravery and courage. In honor of the occasion, the major comic syndicates have rallied their cartoonists to dedicate their strips on that day to those who lost their lives in the terrorist attacks.
All the participating comic strips will also be appearing in the September 11th, 2011 Sunday comics pages across the country. these iconic strips, all illustrating the Remembering 9/11 theme, demonstrate a wide range of response from patriotic to deeply emotional.
With the help of King Features, The ToonSeum in Pittsburgh, along with the Newseum in Washington, D.C., the Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art in New York City, and the Cartoon Art Museum in San Francisco will host special exhibits featuring the cartoonists' commemorative works. Each museum will have a different selection of 15 original strips from Beetle Bailey to Mutts.
The ToonSeum will expand upon this exhibit by displaying editorial cartoons that ran shortly after 9-11. These powerful and sometimes controversial pieces were created by editorial cartoonists from the three areas hit by the terrorists: New York, Washington, D.C. and Pittsburgh (Shanksville, flight 93). Garry Trudeau of Doonesbury fame and alternative cartoonist Ted Rall represent New York, Matt Wuerker of Politico represents Washington, D.C. and Pittsburgh Post-Gazette cartoonist Rob Rogers represents the Pittsburgh area.
The exhibition will run from September 10th-September 25th.
As part of the exhibition the ToonSeum will also present a panel discussion on September 9th, entitled "Too Soon?: Humor, Art and Media in a Post-9/11 World."
The panel will discuss the aftermath of the 9/11 terrorist attacks and the effect it had on humor, art and the media. Everyone from artists to comedians to cartoonists struggled to find their way in the days and weeks following the devastating and tragic events of 9/11. Was it OK to laugh? Was it OK to criticize those in power? Or was it too soon?
The panelists include former Warhol director Tom Sokolowski, WDVE Morning
Show host Jimmy Krenn, nationally-syndicated alternative cartoonist Ted
Rall, and nationally-syndicated Post-Gazette editorial cartoonist Rob Rogers.
The panel will be moderated by Chris Potter, editor of The Pittsburgh City Paper
Panel will take place September 9th, 7pm at Bricolage Theater.
Event is free to attend by donations are welcome and reservations are
encouraged. Tickets at www.toosoon.eventbrite.com
The Exhibition and panel are made possible through the generous support of
the R K Mellon Foundation.
September 9th, 2011, 7 PM
Bricolage Theater
937 Liberty Ave
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
Exhibit Preview
September 9th, 2011, 5pm-7pm
ToonSeum
945 Liberty Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15222
Toonseum.org
For press interviews or images
contact joe@toonseum.com
Joe Wos
412-232-0199
Local cartoonists and the 9-11 comic strip
Donna Lewis of "Reply All":
Yes. :-)
USA Today has a preview panel here and they included a panel of mine. :-) (very honored).
Richard Thompson of "Cul de Sac":
No, I didn't do one. I couldn't find a graceful way of putting a 9-11 comment into the small world of Cul de Sac that didn't diminish the commentary and the strip. The one cartoon on 9-11 that's stayed with me over the last decade is a Tom the Dancing Bug from a few weeks after the actual event. It's here. I couldn't offer anything as eloquent as that. For what it's worth I'm going to post three old cartoons I did on 9-11 on my blog.
Gene Weingarten, writer of "Barney & Clyde":
Yep, we have one.
Kevin Rechin, artist of "Crock" could not be reached for comment.