Saturday, July 04, 2020

Tom King writes the American Way for Superman

Cavna on the latest political cartoon controversy

How a newspaper cartoon with a swastika-wearing Trump roiled a Florida community

Alexandra Bowman talks to India's "Wade" animation directors



"Wade" Co-Directors on Discussing Climate Change Through 2D Animation https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5nNKLXQZkK4&t=1s

"Wade" Co-Directors on Animation Inspiration, Production, and Self-Distribution https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vWWjJfPMxlk&t=2s

"Ghost Animation" Co-Founders on Creating an Animation Studio, and Animating for Amazon and Google https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=13X3_mGkGI8&t=2s


From the press release -
Upamanyu Bhattacharyya and Kalp Sanghvi's 'Wade' addresses the dangerous sea rising levels in Kolkata, India



Upamanyu Bhattacharyya and Kalp Sanghvi's Wade addresses the importance of climate change by focusing on the dangerous sea rising levels in India. This stunning animation will be screening online as part of Annecy International Animated Film Festival in June and Palm Springs International Shortfest also in June where it will be competing for the Best of the Festival Award and Best Animated Short.

In an imagined future where Kolkata is rendered unlivable by rising sea level, things take a dark turn when a family of climate change refugees are ambushed by a tiger in the flooded streets.

Co-director Upamanyu Bhattacharyya is an animator, filmmaker, comic artist and illustrator. Upamanyu co-directed the highly acclaimed short film Wade with Kalp Sanghvi. As a founding partner of Ghost Animation in Kolkata, he has worked on a wide range of animation and illustration projects for clients including Google, Amazon, and Penguin. Bhattacharyya worked on the title sequence for acclaimed director Mani Ratnam's film OK Kanmani, storyboarded his other film Kaatru Veliyidai and has also worked with Academy Award winning composer A.R. Rahman to create storyboards for his VR project Le Musk.  Currently, he is finishing his work on his next solo animated short Ten, a dark comedy about the mass exodus from Bangladesh in 1971 and is developing his animated feature City of Threads, set in Ahmedabad in the 1960's.

Co-director Kalp Sanghvi is also an animation filmmaker and illustrator who co-founded Ghost Animation in Kolkata in 2015. He has worked on various animation and illustration projects for clients including Amazon and Sony Entertainment India. Kalp has worked on title sequences for feature films including acclaimed director Umesh Shukla's 102 Not Out, featuring Amitabh Bachchan & Rishi Kapoor. 
He is developing his first animated series Rajbari: The Ancestral House, a fantasy family drama set in Kolkata and working on an animated short film about tiger conservation in collaboration with the Wildlife Trust of India called Remains.

Wade has currently applied to over 60 festivals and its selections so far include 
Palm Springs International Short Fest, Brooklyn Film Festival (Best Film, Audience Award), ITFS Stuttgart, Krakow Film Festival, Animayo Film Festival (Best Art Direction) and OFF Odense International Film Festival.

This film screened online as part of the Annecy International Animated Film Festival on June 15th to June 30th and won the "City of Annecy" Award and at Palm Springs International ShortFest on June 16th to June 22nd.

Editorial Cartoon by Steve Artley

Recent Cartoon (click on Image for larger view)

"Saint Putingrad"
©2020 Steven G. Artley • artleytoons • all rights reserved

Friday, July 03, 2020

Editorial Cartoon by Steve Artley

Reprise of a 2014 Cartoon following Redskins owner declaring there will be no name change, It uses the famous 1911 sculpture by James Earl Frazier on the shameful treatment and ultimate defeat of Native Americans — (click on Image for larger view).


"End of the Scale"
©2020 Steven G Artley • All Rights Reserved

New Kickstarter from Rafer Roberts



Nightmare the Rat Strikes Again!


Nightmare the Rat Strikes Again!

The second tabloid-sized Nightmare the Rat collection, an homage to early 1900s comic strips, printed like an actual newspaper!

by Rafer Roberts


Story

My name is Rafer Roberts. You may (or may not) know me from such comics as GRUMBLE (from Albatross Funnybooks), MODERN FANTASY (from Dark Horse Comics), HARBINGER or ARCHER AND ARMSTRONG (from Valiant Entertainment), or the internet-famous THANOS AND DARKSEID: CARPOOL BUDDIES OF DOOM. But, right now, I'm here to tell you about NIGHTMARE THE RAT.

NIGHTMARE THE RAT is a mischievous little monster who preys upon the populace of Hell City by stealing their teeth. I began drawing his comics in 2010 and released a collection in 2014. Since then, I've been working diligently to complete Nightmare's tale. That day has finally arrived.

This Kickstarter is meant to raise the funds to publish the second, and final, NIGHTMARE THE RAT collection. 

NIGHTMARE THE RAT - The NEW collection!

About the collection:

NIGHTMARE THE RAT is an homage to early 1900s comics and the collected editions reflect that influence. This 32-page collection will be printed oversized (10.5"x16") on good old-fashioned newsprint with bonus comics and a sketchbook. It's the same format as the first collection, so they'll look great together! 

Put them side-by-side! They look great together!

This second collection completes Nightmare's tale, concluding with a finale that might be the most messed-up thing I've ever drawn. It is creepy and hilarious and unlike any other comic you have ever read.

Seriously. What the hell is this about?

Nightmare the Rat is a demon who steals people's teeth, forcibly sometimes.

His nemesis is a tiny owl named Morningbreath who poops in people's mouths.

The mayor and his goon squad are always trying to take Nightmare down!

Also, there's a cult and some kind of apocalyptic prophecy???

You can currently read most of Nightmare's adventures online, however, the collected editions are the intended reading experience. 


Baltimore's David Plunkert interviewed by Steve Heller


The Daily Heller: A Commingle of David Plunkert’s Line and Collage

Steven Heller
June 30 2020
https://www.printmag.com/post/the-daily-heller-a-commingle-of-david-plunkert-s-line-and-collage

Malaka Gharib's coronavirus cartoon for the New Yorker

How to Guilt People Into Wearing a Face Mask

Thursday, July 02, 2020

Goodwyn Cartoons 7/3/20

Goodwyn Cartoons 7/3/20 is Al Goodwyn's latest newsletter.

Bianca Xunise in The Lily

It's not my job to absolve your white guilt

It should not take our deaths for people to realize our worth

It's not my job to absolve your white guilt

Flugennock's Latest'n'Greatest: "So Over Quarantine"

From Mike Flugennock, DC's anarchist cartoonist -

"So Over Quarantine"
http://sinkers.org/stage/?p=3016

All across the US, the economy is "reopening". Despite new cases hitting a new record, cities all over the country are beginning to re-open bars and restaurants so that selfish, pasty-assed, whiny, non-mask-wearing America can go out and be served by people working with little or no adequate protection for crap wages and crap benefits  — or often, no benefits at all. In my own hometown of Washington DC, we're currently in Phase II of Pretending It's Over And Everything Is OK.

      "Bruh, if your waiter looks like this, that means you need to take your bourgeoisie ass home and learn to cook until this thing is over"

             —Benjamin P. Dixon @BenjaminPDixon on Twitter, 07.01.2020

Cavna on protest and mask editorial cartoons

How cartoons are chronicling the battle between mask wearers and Trump

Is Tom King writing a Watchmen sequel?

Bleeding Cool thinks he is.

Will Tom King and Jorge Fornés' Watchmen Comic Be Announced Soon?

Dave Whamond influenced by Richard Thompson

Wednesday, July 01, 2020

Cinema Rex animation interview parts 3-5 online now

"Cinema Rex" Co-Directors on Telling a Story through a Child's Eyes (Interview Part 3/5)

Jul 1, 2020

We sat down with Mayan Engelman and Eliran Peled, co-directors of the upcoming 2-D animated film and recent winner of the Canal + Youth Award at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival, "Cinema Rex," to talk about how to tell a story from the perspective of a child--particularly a ten-year-old. 

"Cinema Rex" Co-Directors on Creating Films and Characters for a Wide Audience (Interview Part 4/5)

Jul 1, 2020

We sat down with Mayan Engelman and Eliran Peled, co-directors of the upcoming 2-D animated film and recent winner of the Canal + Youth Award at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival, "Cinema Rex," to talk about how they have created a story and characters with the goal of appealing to children as well as viewers of all ages.

"Cinema Rex" Co-Directors on the Future of Movie Theaters Post-COVID (Interview Part 5/5)

Jul 1, 2020
We sat down with Mayan Engelman and Eliran Peled, co-directors of the upcoming 2-D animated film and recent winner of the Canal + Youth Award at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival, "Cinema Rex," to talk about what they envision for the future of the movie theater in light of COVID-19.


Co-Directors Mayan Engelman and Eliran Peled on Personal and Historical Storytelling in "Cinema Rex"

Co-Directors Mayan Engelman and Eliran Peled on Personal and Historical Storytelling in "Cinema Rex"

Alexandra Bowman.

We sat down with Mayan Engelman and Eliran Peled, co-directors of the upcoming 2-D animated film and recent winner of the Canal + Youth Award at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival, "Cinema Rex," to talk about how they are using their personal stories to adapt historical events into an animated film. Hosted and edited by Alexandra Bowman.

Pop Mhan Comix has a new YouTube Channel

Local cartoonist Pop Mhan has started a tutorial channel on YouTube and has about fifteen videos online now at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCipchgDgYFXKCkfXtIBwkOQ

"Cinema Rex" Co-Directors on Animation vs. Live-Action Filmmaking

"Cinema Rex" Co-Directors on Animation vs. Live-Action Filmmaking

Alexandra Bowman

We sat down with Mayan Engelman and Eliran Peled, co-directors of the upcoming 2-D animated film and recent winner of the Canal + Youth Award at the Annecy International Animated Film Festival, "Cinema Rex," to talk about storytelling in live-action vs. animation and how they have navigated the Israeli film market. Hosted and edited by Alexandra Bowman. "The Hilltop Show" is Georgetown University's political comedy webseries and talk show. If you get your news from us, you have our condolences. Buy Hilltop Show merch here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FA...

Steve Geppi returns to leading his companies

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

A Message from Steve Geppi

 

(BALTIMORE, MD) — (July 1, 2020) —

Good Morning, 

Today I am announcing an organizational change that will help us lean even further into the many opportunities to elevate our industry, our business and our brands in this fast-moving and evolving marketplace. 

Effective immediately, I am reassuming the role of President, Geppi Family Enterprises (GFE), in addition to my position as Chairman & CEO. Stan Heidmann will be departing the organization. I thank him for his contributions and wish him all the best in his future endeavors.  

As you know, I have a strong history of growing and leading this organization for several decades and I am energized about our next phase. I am supported by an exceptionally talented executive leadership team with deep expertise and an unwavering commitment to our industry as well as by the incredible teams they have built. I am proud and privileged to work with such amazing people. 

Under my guidance, the executive leadership team will support a comprehensive strategic review to position the enterprise for future growth. I feel a tremendous responsibility to our employees and the industry, and I fully intend to set all Geppi Family Enterprise brands on a path for robust growth. I am confident we have the right leadership with talented teams in place and I see enormous opportunities for GFE. 

You will be hearing more from me in the coming weeks as I am committed to keeping you all informed and involved. Be well, and I hope you find some time this holiday weekend to relax and recharge. Thank you for your continued support. I appreciate all you do. 


Image
Steve Geppi
Chairman, President & CEO
Geppi Family Enterprises 

 

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ABOUT GEPPI FAMILY ENTERPRISES (GFE) Geppi Family Enterprises (GFE) has served as the nexus of comics and pop culture since 1982. GFE is comprised of 11 brands in the US and the UK, including Diamond Comic Distributors and Alliance Game Distributors. GFE provides a multi-channel platform of publishing, marketing and fulfillment services, coupled with an unparalleled global distribution network for retailers, publishers and vendors. What started as one man's hobby, with a single warehouse and 17 retail customers, has evolved into the Geppi Family Enterprises of today: the largest distributor of English language comics, graphic novels and pop culture related merchandise worldwide.

Tuesday, June 30, 2020

PR: NBC News and Upshot Studios Partner on New Digital Comic Series - Covid Chronicles

This has nothing to do with comics in the DMV, but I read all 3 and thought the quality was impressive, so I'm posting the PR here - Mike


In partnership with Upshot Studios, an imprint of AWA, NBC News THINK has published "Covid Chronicles" – a weekly comic series featuring true stories from frontline workers, those battling coronavirus and tales of hope around the globe. Read each new volume weekly at NBCNews.com/THINK

 

Covid Chronicles, Vol. 1-3

 

Read them all:

 

 

In partnership with Upshot Studios, an imprint of AWA
Written by Ethan Sacks
Art by Dalibor Talajić
Lettering and production by Bosung Kim

 


 

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