Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Dec 6: DC Anime Club's Osamu Tezuka Marathon

DC Anime Club's Osamu Tezuka Marathon
A tribute to the God of Manga

The DC Anime Club, an organization whose purpose is to educate the Washington, DC community about East Asian culture through the art form known as Anime (Japanese animation) will host a Marathon of Anime Films based upon the Manga (Japanese Comics) works by Dr.Osamu Tezuka on December 6, 2008 from 2pm-5pm at the Martin Luthur King, Jr Memorial Library in 901 G St NW Washington, DC 20001 in Room A10. During the Marathon such anime as Phoenix , Kimba The White Lion and Black Jack and or course Tetsuwan Atom best known to American audience as Astroboy will be shown.

About Dr.Osmamu Tezuka:
Dr. Osamu Tezuka (手塚 治虫 Tezuka Osamu?, November 3, 1928 – February 9, 1989) was a Japanese manga artist, animator, producer and medical doctor, although he never practiced medicine. Born in Osaka Prefecture, he is best known as the creator of Astro Boy and Kimba the White Lion. He is often credited as the "Father of Anime", and is often considered the Japanese equivalent to Walt Disney, who served as a major inspiration during his formative years. His prolific output, pioneering techniques, and innovative redefinitions of genres earned him such titles as "the father of manga" and "the god of Manga." His grave is located in Tokyo's Souzen-ji Temple Cemetery.

About DC Anime Club:
DCAC was established in 2003 to introduce and educate people in the Washington, DC area about East Asian culture, through viewing and discussion of Japanese animation (also known as anime) and Japanese comics (manga). DCAC is a 501(c)(3) not for profit organization, contributions to DC Anime Club are tax deductible to the extent allowable under the law.

The club also works to provide a positive, alternative activity to the youth in the area by exposing them to foreign culture, encouraging artistic expression and creativity, and providing opportunities for participation in community activities and leadership.

In addition to our weekly meetings, the club holds an Annual Art Show, an Annual Costume fundraising event, and visits local schools to do presentations on anime. The club also works with the Smithsonian Freer Gallery and DC Asian Pacific American Film Festival on their anime screenings, and has helped locally promote performances for Japanese bands such as Puffy Ami Yumi and Pine am.

DC Anime Club was founded by Chris Wanamaker (President), Jules Chang (Vice President) and Craig Vaughn (Sgt in Arms) on Saturday June 5, 2003. We have a strong membership that continues to grow -- most of which are teenagers.

This program is free and open to the public. For more information please visit the DC Anime Club website at http://www.dcanimeclub.org or call DC Anime Club at 202 262 2083.

# # #

--
Christopher Wanamaker
DC Anime Club President
http://www.dcanimeclub.org
202 262 2083

Monday, November 24, 2008

Videogame animation voice actors featured in Post

See "The Voices of Video Games: Local Actors Give Life to the Elves and Villains Who Wander the Teeming Cyberspace Underworld," By Ashley Halsey III, Washington Post Staff Writer, Monday, November 24, 2008; B01, for a look at the least-appreciated part of animation.

VOA visits NoVA comics store

Voice of America visited the Northern Virginia comic book store NOVA Comics and Games in Springfield, Virginia, and talked to sales clerk Dave Weinberger who says, "Comics are too expensive for kids. And they’ve changed -- ". This show is to help non-English speakers, so it's a bit basic, but hey, before the Internet, you couldn't even hear VOA in America. Both John Lent and I have been on programs we've never heard.

Ember, Steve and Barbara Klein. 2008.
Batman, Spider-Man Face a Growing Crowd in Comics, Graphic Novels, Voice of America's Special English This Is America 24 November 2008.
http://www.voanews.com/specialenglish/2008-11-24-voa2.cfm

Richard Thompson's White House journalism pt2

He's dragging out the story on his blog. At least this time he's put up some sketches.

Blackhawk as sickbed reading, circa 1951

53-2024-1 GSW of lower femur (with comic)

Here's a picture from work that one of the assistant archivists brought to my attention today. This poor guy has a gunshot wound of his lower femur (with a Blackhawk comic book on the bed) during the Korean War, 1951.

QUICK REVIEWS FOR COMICS DUE 11-26-08

QUICK REVIEWS FOR COMICS DUE 11-26-08
By John Judy


(This week we are thankful for comics and not being a turkey at a Sarah Palin interview.)

BATMAN #681 by Grant Morrison and Tony Daniel. “Batman R.I.P.” wraps up here, leading into all kinds of stories in which Batman is not allowed to be technically alive and present. Don’t think about this too hard. Just go with it…

BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #19 by Joss Whedon and Karl Moline. Dark Willow, Fray, Time-Travel. Who doesn’t love time-travel stories? Only your evil alternate-future selves, that’s who!

CAPTAIN AMERICA #44 by Ed Brubaker and Luke Ross. Only Brubaker could make Batroc the Leaper versus Bucky a smashing good yarn. It’s miraculous really…

CREEPY ARCHIVES VOL.2 HC by Various Creators, including Archie Goodwin, Alex Toth, Al Williamson and many more! Collecting issues 6-10 of the classic horror mag! Originals are valued at over 500 bucks! Yours here for a lot less. Recommended.

DAREDEVIL #113 by Ed Brubaker and Michael Lark. And did I mention Lady Bullseye? I mean, whatever they’re feeding Brubaker I’ll take a case. This is the same guy who writes CRIMINAL, one of the best comics EVER! Take a gander.

GARTH ENNIS BATTLEFIELDS: NIGHT WITCHES #2 of 3 by Garth and Russ Braun. It’s Krauts versus Commies in this fact-based WWII adventure as things heat up between The Hun and the honeys! Boom!

GLAMOURPUSS #4 by Dave Sim. Gotta be honest, the only way to describe this book is “It’s a Dave Sim project.” Take it or leave it, CEREBUS fans.

HOLY SH*T: THE WORLD’S WEIRDEST COMICS HC by Paul Gravett and Peter Stanbury. Exactly what it sounds like, folks. Gotta look!

HULK #8 by Jeph Loeb, Frank Cho and Art Adams. Wendigos (“Wendigoes?”), Lady Liberators and a couple of Hulks. You want more, write your own HULK comic!

JSA KINGDOM COME SPECIAL: THE KINGDOM #1 by Geoff Johns and Fernando Pasarin. More Gog, but at least it’s Geoff Johns writing it. Plus, Starman finally comes clean about his mission, his insanity and his Commander Riker-looking beard. Okay, two out of three. Gotta look.

MARVEL MASTERWORKS ALL-WINNERS, VOL.3 HC by Various Creators. Collecting issues 9-14, currently valued at over ten grand in near-mint. Cheaper here. Lotsa Golden-Age ruckus guaranteed!

NORTHLANDERS #12 by Brian Wood and Ryan Kelly. The Vikings continue their tour of the Emerald Isle. Hijinks ensue. NOT for kids. Highly recommended.

PREVIEWS by Marvel and Diamond Comics. As if 2009 wasn’t looking good enough already!

SUPERMAN #682 by James Robinson and Renato Guedes. The 100,000 Kryptonian refugees start to figure out the INS can’t really do anything to them. Lou Dobbs goes into hiding.

THOR: MAN OF WAR #1 by Matt Fraction and Patrick Zircher. Thor and his dad have a fight. Hey, they’re both gods! It’s a Big Fight!

UMBRELLA ACADEMY: DALLAS #1 of 6 by Gerard Way and Gabriel Ba. If you liked the first Eisner-winning limited series you’ll love this. Featuring rampaging stone Presidents!

WALKING DEAD #55 by Robert Kirkman and Charles Adlard. Bi-weekly now? Does this mean the zombies are getting faster? Awesome! Not for kids.

WELCOME TO HOXFORD #4 of 4 writ and scribbled by Ben Templesmith. It’s the insane criminals versus the werewolves in their final battle. From the co-creator of FELL and 30 DAYS OF NIGHT, since you ask.

www.johnjudy.net

Sunday, November 23, 2008

Rees reminder

David "Get Your War On" Rees at Busboys and Poets in an hour. I'm definitely going, having just spent a grand to replace the washing machine that locked up this morning - I need a break from domesticity.

(However the new one is energy and water efficient).

Update - I went, and it was cool. Quotes, photos and a review of the book to come soon.

Saturday, November 22, 2008

Thanksgiving sale at Cards, Comics, & Collectibles

Got a postcard today for a Thanksgiving sale at Cards, Comics, & Collectibles in Reistertown, MD. Friday Nov 28-Sunday Nov 30, 20%-70% off things. Fri - 11-7:30, Sat 11-7, Sun 12-5. Call 410-526-7410 for details.

That darn Toles, continued


Disrespect for the President
Washington Post November 21 2008

The Nov. 18 "Obama ends torture" editorial cartoon by Tom Toles was tasteless and mean-spirited and reflected an angry and biased mind-set.

One may not like President Bush or agree with his agenda, but the U.S. president deserves the respect of all Americans. That includes The Post's editors and cartoonist.

-- Billups E. Lodge

California, Md.

Post obituary for Belgian former cartoonist and caricaturist

"Guy Peellaert; Belgian Painter Of Surreal Art, Album Covers," By Joe Holley and Adam Bernstein, Washington Post Staff Writers, Saturday, November 22, 2008; B04.

Zadzooks and Bennett's best

ZADZOOKS: Black Canary, General Obi-Wan Kenobi on shelves
Joseph Szadkowski
Washington Times Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Bennett's Best for the week of November 9
By Greg Bennett
Zadzooks Blog
POSTED November 17 2008

Advertisements using comics motifs

These would more properly go on my friend The Ephemerist's blog, but I'll stick them up here. A request for advertisements showing comics influences to use in teaching went up on the comix-scholars list recently. I tend to have a lot of clippings files on comics, and this was one that I could help with. Here's what I scanned for the request - a lot of these date from the 1990s because I was much better about getting things filed when I had no children and wasn't writing about comics.

comics ad - Wash Flyer 08-05
Watson Wyatt superhero motif ad, Washington Flyer magazine, May 1998.

comics ad - Superchecking Wash Post 96-09-29
1st National Bank of Maryland's Superchecking ad was obviously influenced by the Superman logo. Washington Post, September 29, 1996.

comics ad - Paramus Honda - Bergen Record 96-11-29
Paramus Honda ran a series of ads with a continuing comic strip in the Bergen [County, NJ] Record. This one is from November 29, 1996.

comics ad - Norton Utilities - Govt Computer News 95-09-04
Norton Utilities compared themselves to superheroes in this ad from Government Computer News, September 4, 1995.

comics ad - AOL Mailer
AOL's cd mailer went for the superhero ad motif.

comics ad - Commander in Chief - NYT 05-09-10
The "Commander in Chief" tv show ran several gag cartoon ads in both the Washington Post and the New York Times. This one is from the Times, September 14, 2005.

comics ad - Inova Hospital for Children - Wash Post 96-10-26
"Superhero Action Figures - They Really Exist" from Inova Hospital for Children, Washington Post, October 26, 1996.

comics ad - Mercury Tracer - Ent Week 96-09-06
Neal Adams' Continuity Associates Studio undoubtedly did this series of ads for the Mercury Tracer car that ran in magazines in 1996. This one is from Entertainment Weekly, September 6, 1996.

comics ad - Mercury Tracer

comics ad - 1st TN bank - Cookeville Herald Citizen 94-09-11
The 1st Tennessee Bank used a superhero comic strip ad, Cookeville Herald-Citizen, September 11, 1994.

comics ad - Kings Dominion - Wash Post 95-06-25
Paramount's Kings Dominion amusement park and MTV teamed up in this ad, Washington Post, June 25, 1995.

comics ad - Wash Post 98-01-17
An ad, probably done inhouse by an amateur cartoonist, for Fitzgerald Auto Malls, Washington Post January 17, 1997.

comics ad - Perry Ellis NYT06-02-06
Perry Ellis ad, New York Times, February 6, 2006. These panels were from a longer storyline.

comics ad - Perry Ellis NYT06-06-06
Perry Ellis ad, New York Times, June 6, 2006.

comics ad - Perry Ellis NYT06-06-30
Perry Ellis ad, New York Times, June 30, 2006.

comics ad - Balvenie - Wash Post 06-03-28
Balvenie whiskey ad, Washington Post March 28, 2006. These ran longer in the NY Times than the Post, and an earlier series is available on their website. A lot of these were about holidays.

comics ad - Balvenie - NYT 06-05-13
Balvenie whiskey ad, New York Times May 13, 2006.

comics ad - Balvenie - NYT 06-10-06
Balvenie whiskey ad, New York Times October 6, 2006.

Beeler's High School willing to claim him, now that he's a success

See Editorial cartooning: Bexley graduate national honoree, Columbus Dispatch Friday, November 21, 2008

Friday, November 21, 2008

Dave Gibbons on Comic Riffs

Like everyone else who wasn't busy interviewing Art Spiegelman on his book tour, Comic Riffs interviewed Dave Gibbons on his book tour - Betancourt, David. 2008. The Interview: "Watchmen's" Dave Gibbons. Washington Post Comic Riffs blog (November 20).

Unfortunately for all of you, I believe I bought Big Planet's last copy of Watching the Watchmen yesterday.

Local News and Reviews

A couple of local Bolt reviews, a surprise Wall-e review and a look at a Japanese cartoonist are in our local papers today:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/20/AR2008112003758.html
Disney's 'Bolt,' Picking Up Pixar's Trail
By Dan Kois
Special to The Washington Post
Friday, November 21, 2008; C01

http://www.dcexaminer.com/entertainment/Bolt_a_cute_tale_designed_for_younger_audiences_11_21.html
'Bolt' a cute tale designed for younger audiences
By Sally Kline
Washington Examiner Movie Critic 11/21/08


One Lovable 'WALLE,' Four Fantastic DVD Sets
By Jen Chaney
washingtonpost.com Staff Writer
Washington Post Friday, November 21, 2008; WE32

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/20/AR2008112003659.html
Kafka of the Cubicle
Japanese Cartoonist Chronicles the Indignities Endured by Young, Dutiful, Sad Office Drones
By Blaine Harden
Washington Post Foreign Service
Friday, November 21, 2008; A01

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Nov 23: David Rees at Busboys and Poets reminder

This Sunday! I'm planning on being there at the moment.

David Rees, creator of the infamous Get Your War On cartoon, will be making people laugh at Busboys and Poets (1025 5th Street, NW (5th and K), Washington DC) on Sunday, November 23, at 6pm.

Here's a recent audio interview -

Champion, Edward. 2008.
David Rees (BSS #248).
Bat Segundo Show (November 4):
http://www.edrants.com/segundo/david-rees/

Richard Thompson on his White House reporting

Richard's got part 1 of his covering a White House ceremony on his blog - it's hilarious.

Bolt review in City Paper

"Bolt and JCVD: Star Stuck: Two films take a smirking glimpse into the limitations of fame," By Tricia Olszewski, Washington City Paper November 19, 2008. If my daughter has any say in the matter, I'll be seeing this one.

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Dec 3: Kramer's Ergot 7 tour kicks off in Baltimore



Colin Solan, Senior Editor at www.comicartfans.com and www.comicbookconventions.com wrote in to point out that the extremely large anthology, Kramers Ergot 7 will be signed by some of the cartoonists in Baltimore. Sammy Harkham is the founder and editor of the anthology and I'm sure he'd appreciate people stopping in to buy the large, large book.

Kramers Ergot Book Tour Itinerary

Wednesday, December 3rd
7pm
Atomic Books
3620 Falls Rd
Baltimore, MD.
Sammy Harkham, Kevin Huizenga, John Pham, Ron Rege Jr.

Comic Riffs gets comments on Lee's medal

See "Plaudits Still Pour In for "Spider-Man's" Stan Lee," By Michael Cavna, November 19, 2008 for comments by Marvel writers Matt Fraction and Jeph Loeb. Reggie Hudlin, writer of the Black Panther chimed in yesterday.