Local cartoonist RM Rhodes interviewed at SPX

Local cartoonist RM Rhodes was video interviewed at SPX.

Rhodes and I are planning on having a conversation about the difference between sequential and comic art. We'll let you know when we do...

Comic Riffs previews new Library of Congress exhibit

Looks good!

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS opens masterful 'Timely and Timeless' exhibit today to celebrate comic art
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog September 15 2011
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/comic-riffs/post/library-of-congress-opens-timely-and-timeless-exhibit-today-to-celebrate-comic-art/2011/09/13/gIQAqMA9UK_blog.html

Note that local cartoonists Ann Telnaes and Matt Wuerker are included.

OT: New book from Brian Biggs

My buddy Brian Biggs has largely forsaken comics for children's books, and he has a new one out - "Everything Off-gasses".  No, no, it's really "Everything Goes On Land" and I've ordered mine.

Read an article about it here:

In New Series from Balzer + Bray, Everything Goes
By Sally Lodge
Sep 15, 2011
http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-book-news/article/48685-in-new-series-from-balzer--bray-everything-goes.html

NPR's Monkey See on the Lion King in 3-D

Lapin, Andrew.  2011.

'The Lion King' In 3-D: All Part Of The Corporate Circle Of Life.

National Public Radio's Monkey See blog (September 15): http://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2011/09/15/140497693/the-lion-king-in-3-d-all-part-of-the-corporate-circle-of-life

Truitt on ... yawn... another new Spider-Man

Miles Morales begins reign as star of 'Ultimate Spider-Man'
By Brian Truitt, USA TODAY September 14 2011
http://www.usatoday.com/life/comics/story/2011-09-14/Miles-Morales-begins-reign-as-star-of-Ultimate-Spider-Man-series/50397868/1

Reading Spider-Man = literacy

Rockville mentoring program gears up for 17th year
By Alison Bryant
Washington Post September 14 2011
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/rockville-mentoring-program-gears-up-for-17th-year/2011/09/13/gIQA58UpRK_story.html

SPX Alex Robinson panel online at TCJ.com

TCJ Talkies
Alex Robinson & Ten Years of Box Office Poison
BY Mike Dawson Sep 14, 2011
http://www.tcj.com/alex-robinson-10-years-of-box-office-poison/
http://tcj.com/audio/TCJTalkies_11_AlexRobinson.mp3

New comics by local guys out today

Frank Cho's 50 Girls 50 (IMAGE) wraps up its first miniseries with a disturbing cover by Cho, and teases his new dinosaur comic at the end.

G. I. Joe 170 (IDW) is drawn by Shannon Gallant.

Weldon suckered by merchandising team-up

Your Mind Cannot Handle the Arrant Awesomeness Of This Comic Book Cover

by Glen Weldon

National Public Radio's Monkey See blog (September 14, 2011)

http://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2011/09/14/140459789/your-mind-cannot-handle-the-arrant-awesomeness-of-this-comic-book-cover

October 7: 'Piled Higher and Deeper' movie coming to DC area

Jorge Cham's webcomic is now a movie, and the details are covered in this article -  PHD Comics, Coming to a Theater Near You. Wired.com's Wired Science blog (September 13 2011): http://www.wired.com/wiredscience/2011/09/phd-comics-movie/

According to the movie's website it will be at both University of Maryland College Park and Georgetown University on October 7th.

PR: Spy vs. Spy is back! Win free swag from the Spy Museum and Catalog Spree

This rolled in recently:

Remember the Spy Vs. Spy comic strip and animated series from when you were a kid? That beloved pair of conniving black and white spies who were constantly trying to one-up each other?

Now you can relive all the fun – and the mischief – with the line of Spy vs. Spy books, accessories and apparel available through the Spy Museum Store. To celebrate the availability of this Spy vs. Spy merchandise, the Spy Museum is offering comic fans everywhere a chances to win some of the gear in a sweepstakes exclusively hosted by Catalog Spree, the free catalog shopping app on the iPad.

The sweepstakes offers up two $50 Spy Museum Store gift cards and ends at 11:59 p.m. PT on October 9th. For a valid entry, you must go to Catalog Spree Facebook Page and fill out the online entry form. Each entrant may enter only once. Entrants are not required to make any purchases from Sponsor or pay any fees to Sponsor to participate in the Sweepstakes. For more official rules, please visit: http://catalogspree.com/spy-rules.

To enter, please visit Catalog Spree's Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/catalogspree?sk=app_181335378572390 or download the app at www.catalogspree.com and click on the "Dare to Enter" banner above any International Spy Museum catalog.

PR: The 2012 Economist Wall Kalendar and other Kal news

From: kevin Kallaugher

I have some news for you that I hope you will find of interest.

I am pleased to announce the new Economist wall calendar is at the printers! This is very exciting. The artwork has been 6 months in the making and I believe this year's product is the best one yet.

That Darn Toles, redux

Letter to the Editor
Our lefthanded president
Washington Post September 10 2011
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/our-lefthanded-president/2011/09/08/gIQAP5szFK_story.html

Tom Toles, in his caricatures of public figures, often is spot on, but his depiction of President Obama making a golf swing in his Sept. 7 cartoon was inaccurate. The president is known to be a "southpaw," and his clubs are made to reflect that. Unless Toles's image was intended to be a mirror image, Obama's swing and club were both inaccurate.

R. Lance Gardner, Arlington

Michael Auger featured in Gazette

Gaithersburg artist isn't 'tooning' around
Newspaper featuring local comics distributed around town
by Cody Calamaio, Staff Writer
September 12 2011
http://www.gazette.net/article/20110912/ENTERTAINMENT/799999735/1020/gaithersburg-artist-isn-t-tooning-around&template=gazette

SPX article at Comics Worth Reading

SPX 2011: Quick Thoughts and Mini Reviews
 by Johanna Draper Carlson on September 11, 2011
http://comicsworthreading.com/2011/09/11/spx-2011-quick-thoughts-and-mini-reviews/

Comic Riffs on the fairness of Doonesbury

THE RIFF: Must a cartoon like 'Doonesbury' really be 'fair'?
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog September 13 2011
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/comic-riffs/post/the-riff-must-a-cartoon-like-doonesbury-really-be-fair/2011/09/13/gIQArvPuPK_blog.html

SPX covered at Publishers Weekly

Small Press Expo Gets Bigger Despite Earthquake
By Heidi MacDonald and Calvin Reid
Sep 13, 2011
http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/book-news/comics/article/48662-small-press-expo-gets-bigger-despite-earthquake.html

PR: Fantom Comics Early Closing Tomorrow, Wednesday, September 14th

Just a quick head's up: Union Station is closing the West Wing of the station at 5pm sharp on New Comic Book Day tomorrow, Wednesday, September 14th.   So please be sure to pick up your books before 4:30pm, to be safe. Or on Thursday, when we'll be back to our regular schedule once again.   Thank you for your patience, and very sorry for the inconvenience. Union Station - 50 Massachusetts Avenue NE | Washington, DC 20002 | 202-216-9478 www.fantomcomics.com

Voice of America on webcomics

Sidestepping Newspapers, Comics Go Online
Artists earn income from online ads, merchandise sales
Faiza Elmasry | Washington, D.C.
Voice of America September 12, 2011
http://www.voanews.com/english/news/usa/arts/Sidestepping-Newspapers-Comics-Go-Online-129662013.html

I love Danielle Corsetto's Girls with Slingshots.

Donna Lewis comments on 9-11 comic strip project

Down in the comments section -

My feelings on Comics and 9/11
by Alan Gardner
Daily Cartoonist September 11, 2011
http://dailycartoonist.com/index.php/2011/09/11/my-feelings-on-comics-and-911/

Here's an earlier post I had about this topic with comments from local cartoonists.