"Best Comics Scholarship 2006" by Beth Davies-Stofka, at Broken Frontier (January 8, 2007) mentions a few bits related to Comics in DC. Of the International Journal of Comic Art of which I'm pleased to be the exhibitions and media reviews editor, she says, "IJOCA remained the best bargain in 2006, charging only $30.00 for an individual subscription." She also singles out former Big Planet Comics employee Dan Nadel’s book Art Out of Time and The Library of Congress' exhibit and book Cartoon America as deserving notice.
Actually, I've seen just about everything on her list, and concur with her recommendations and conclusions, and hopes for 2007.
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
Washington comics blogger Marc Singer
My friend Prof Marc Singer recently returned to DC to take a post in the English Dept. at Howard University. Marc's been writing a blog for years at I am NOT the Beastmaster. (I never thought he was, having no idea what movie he's referencing). Marc's one of the organizers of the annual International Comic Arts Festival -- an annual event that I enjoy immensely and which I believe just changed its name again.
Marc's got a very literate blog, as one would expect from an English Professor, and this post on Eric Reynold's anthologyMome was singled out today by Tom Spurgeon's Comic Reporter for good reason I think (although I reserve my opinion of Mome, because Eric's a friend too, and I only have one issue that I haven't read yet. Mea culpa.) Marc's also done some excellent posts on Grant Morrison which are worth tracking down.
Beyond our focus, his post on Casino Royale is excellent too - perhaps because he's seems sympathetic to the first Timothy Dalton movie, which I enjoyed as it returned Bond to being a stone-cold killer -- the rationale behind the 'double 0'.
3rd in a series of posts on DC comics-types.
Marc's got a very literate blog, as one would expect from an English Professor, and this post on Eric Reynold's anthologyMome was singled out today by Tom Spurgeon's Comic Reporter for good reason I think (although I reserve my opinion of Mome, because Eric's a friend too, and I only have one issue that I haven't read yet. Mea culpa.) Marc's also done some excellent posts on Grant Morrison which are worth tracking down.
Beyond our focus, his post on Casino Royale is excellent too - perhaps because he's seems sympathetic to the first Timothy Dalton movie, which I enjoyed as it returned Bond to being a stone-cold killer -- the rationale behind the 'double 0'.
3rd in a series of posts on DC comics-types.
Catching up on the weekend Post - Richard's Poor Almanack
Scoop! Richard Thompson changed the way he spells his strip!
Ok, that's not much of a scoop, but the strip "Comic Strip Previews for 2007" is a really good one.
Boy, everybody hates Anthony, don't they?
So, anybody besides me actually cut out and make the fingerpuppets that he draws? I made Sorry Santa today, during a dull moment (rare! I promise!) at work. Unfortunately, it looks as though the Post only links to the most recent panel so you'll have to dig through the two-week old recycling to make yours.
Ok, that's not much of a scoop, but the strip "Comic Strip Previews for 2007" is a really good one.
Boy, everybody hates Anthony, don't they?
So, anybody besides me actually cut out and make the fingerpuppets that he draws? I made Sorry Santa today, during a dull moment (rare! I promise!) at work. Unfortunately, it looks as though the Post only links to the most recent panel so you'll have to dig through the two-week old recycling to make yours.
Catching up on the weekend Post - Dilbert on torture
One of the oddest editorials in recent memory appeared in the Sunday's Post Outlook section -
"I'm Tortured by Doubt" by Scott Adams, Sunday, January 7, 2007; Page B01. Fortunately, he doesn't make us wait, but puts his conclusion in the first paragraph: "Lately I've moved from "pretty certain" to "doubtful" about the effectiveness of torture." Whew, that's a relief from the suspense.
He's also got some fun free wallpapers on his site, and that's where the illo for this post came from.
Monday, January 08, 2007
Keith R.A. DeCandido on Pierce Askegren
Yesterday's Post obituary on Askegren led to Tom Spurgeon posting a link to Keith R.A. DeCandido's blog entry on the local superhero writer. DeCandido edited the line of stories for Marvel that Askegren was writing.
Sunday, January 07, 2007
Pierce Askegren obituary in today's Post
The local writer of prose superhero stories for Marvel got a larger obituary today - A Technical Writer's Alter Ego: Engaging Comic Book Novelist By Louie Estrada, Washington Post Staff Writer, Sunday, January 7, 2007; C06. The print version has a nice picture.
Saturday, January 06, 2007
Jan 10 12 noon - Eisner talk at Library of Congress
Bob Andelman scoooped me on this in his Spirited Life newsletter (you'll be hearing from me, Martha):
Gallery Talk on Will Eisner at Library of Congress, Jan. 10
Did you know that the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., has original art by Will Eisner?
Martha Kennedy of the Prints and Photographs Division will discuss the work of graphic novelist Will Eisner on Wednesday, January 10 at noon in the “American Treasures” exhibition at the Library of Congress’ Jefferson Building, the Southwest Gallery of the Great Hall, which is on the second floor.
“We were able to acquire a group of drawings of his from a short story in City People Notebook,” Kennedy tells the Eisner eNewsletter. “We were interested in acquiring examples and we had limited funds, so Will gave us the original drawings for the story ‘Collision.’ During the gallery talk, I’m going to talk about five of the eight drawings and give a brief biography of Will Eisner. The talks are informal and are given by curators. I’ll talk about the three stories within the story in this piece and talk about his enormous significance in the field of comic art.”
If you decide to go, don’t be late; the talk will only last about 20 minutes, with time for questions afterward.
“Its not a footnoted academic paper,” Kennedy says. “But it’s something I’ve been wanting to do for a while. I wanted to convey a sense of Eisner’s importance. The gallery talks are a nice, informal way of letting the public and the Library of Congress staff itself know more about these wonderful treasures we’re able to add to the collection.”
And yes, Kennedy is an Eisner fan.
“We were able to bring him in twice to talk,” she says. “The first time as a part of a panel and the second to talk about the graphic novel. It was such a pleasure to work with him.”
For more information, please call: 202-707-9203.
Gallery Talk on Will Eisner at Library of Congress, Jan. 10
Did you know that the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., has original art by Will Eisner?
Martha Kennedy of the Prints and Photographs Division will discuss the work of graphic novelist Will Eisner on Wednesday, January 10 at noon in the “American Treasures” exhibition at the Library of Congress’ Jefferson Building, the Southwest Gallery of the Great Hall, which is on the second floor.
“We were able to acquire a group of drawings of his from a short story in City People Notebook,” Kennedy tells the Eisner eNewsletter. “We were interested in acquiring examples and we had limited funds, so Will gave us the original drawings for the story ‘Collision.’ During the gallery talk, I’m going to talk about five of the eight drawings and give a brief biography of Will Eisner. The talks are informal and are given by curators. I’ll talk about the three stories within the story in this piece and talk about his enormous significance in the field of comic art.”
If you decide to go, don’t be late; the talk will only last about 20 minutes, with time for questions afterward.
“Its not a footnoted academic paper,” Kennedy says. “But it’s something I’ve been wanting to do for a while. I wanted to convey a sense of Eisner’s importance. The gallery talks are a nice, informal way of letting the public and the Library of Congress staff itself know more about these wonderful treasures we’re able to add to the collection.”
And yes, Kennedy is an Eisner fan.
“We were able to bring him in twice to talk,” she says. “The first time as a part of a panel and the second to talk about the graphic novel. It was such a pleasure to work with him.”
For more information, please call: 202-707-9203.
Friday, January 05, 2007
Jan 7 - Animation festival - Norman McLaren restored REPOST
Norman McLaren Restored
Premiere of new 35 mm prints
January 7 at 4:30 p.m., National Gallery of Art
Brilliant Scottish-born Canadian animator Norman McLaren (1914–1987) perfected many of the techniques that became the standard of animation art. Often imitated, McLaren's work during the 1930s and 1940s for the National Film Board of Canada and Britain's GPO film unit was legendary. Eleven of his classic short films — including Begone Dull Care (1949), Neighbours (1952), A Chairy Tale (1957), Pas de deux (1968), Synchromy (1971), Blinkity Blank (1955), and Hen Hop (1942) — have now been restored by the National Film Board of Canada to their original 35 mm format. Viewed in these spectacular new prints, McLaren's films demonstrate cinema's close affinity with painting and music — a concept that was one of this artist's main preoccupations. (total running time 85 mins.)
Premiere of new 35 mm prints
January 7 at 4:30 p.m., National Gallery of Art
Brilliant Scottish-born Canadian animator Norman McLaren (1914–1987) perfected many of the techniques that became the standard of animation art. Often imitated, McLaren's work during the 1930s and 1940s for the National Film Board of Canada and Britain's GPO film unit was legendary. Eleven of his classic short films — including Begone Dull Care (1949), Neighbours (1952), A Chairy Tale (1957), Pas de deux (1968), Synchromy (1971), Blinkity Blank (1955), and Hen Hop (1942) — have now been restored by the National Film Board of Canada to their original 35 mm format. Viewed in these spectacular new prints, McLaren's films demonstrate cinema's close affinity with painting and music — a concept that was one of this artist's main preoccupations. (total running time 85 mins.)
Jan 6: Animation festival in Frederick
Ninety minutes of classic Looney Tunes will be shown at the Cartoon Festival at the Weinberg Center for the Arts in Frederick, MD the Frederick Herald-Mail is reporting, along with these details:
WHAT: Cartoon Festival
WHEN: 2 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 6.
WHERE: Weinberg Center for the Arts, 20 N. Patrick St., Frederick, Md.
COST: $6 for adults; $4 for children.
MORE: Tickets are available at the box office and at the door. Go to www.weinbergcenter.org for box office hours and for more information.
Thursday, January 04, 2007
Tom Toles profile online
Tom Spurgeon of The Comics Reporter picked this one up today -
"Post's Toles Skewers Bush for Breakfast" By Harry Jaffe
"Post's Toles Skewers Bush for Breakfast" By Harry Jaffe
Wednesday, January 03, 2007
Washington Examiner's political gossip column notices Marvel's Civil War
In their Yeas and Nays column, Jeff Dufour and Patrick Gavin of the Washington Examiner for January 3, 2007 have "Spider-Man lassos White House in his web."In their opinion, Marvel's current Civil War storyline draws obvious links to the current actual war in Iraq.
Monday, January 01, 2007
Emily Flake covers Washington City Paper
The December 29th issue of the City Paper has a cover and interior illustrations by Emily Flake. I think she's Baltimore based. The paper carries her strip, Lulu Eightball.
The Year According to Toles
The Post did run the annual compilation page in the Dec. 31 Outlook section. Unfortunately, I can't find it online so if you're reading this and aren't local, you'd better call a friend in the area before recycling day.
Judge Parker artist changes
Alan Gardner checked into the changing artists on the Judge Parker strip. Eduardo Baretto had taken over the strip in the spring, but lately different artists have been appearing. This isn't a strip I read reguarly, although I like Baretto's art - an Ecuadoran, he's worked on the Shadow for DC .A similar situation was happening with Prickly City, but Scott Stantis was known to have scheduled surgery and replacement cartoonists. Alan's story about Baretto can be read here - Chaos ensues, order restored in Judge Parker serial (UPDATED), Daily Cartoonist, Dec 29, 2006
Washington Post adds Pooch Cafe to replace Foxtrot
So I think Paul Gilligan has done a very rare thing - he's in 3 papers in one city. He appears to be running in the Washington Examiner again as of this week. Perhaps writing into ComicsDC is a luck generator (see his comment in my earlier post on the Examiner dropping comics).
NOTE TO COMICS READERS
Washington Post
Monday, January 1, 2007; Page C10
"Pooch Cafe" by Paul Gilligan debuts today on the comics pages, because Bill Amend, the creator of "FoxTrot," has chosen to discontinue daily publication of his strip. The Post will continue to publish "FoxTrot" each Sunday. Today, "Out of the Gene Pool" is not running today to allow room for this note, but it will be back tomorrow in its usual spot.
As always, we appreciate reader feedback. You can call our comics hotline at 202-334-4775, e-mail http://comics@washpost.com or write Comics Feedback, The Washington Post, 1150 15th St. NW, Washington, DC 20071.
NOTE TO COMICS READERS
Washington Post
Monday, January 1, 2007; Page C10
"Pooch Cafe" by Paul Gilligan debuts today on the comics pages, because Bill Amend, the creator of "FoxTrot," has chosen to discontinue daily publication of his strip. The Post will continue to publish "FoxTrot" each Sunday. Today, "Out of the Gene Pool" is not running today to allow room for this note, but it will be back tomorrow in its usual spot.
As always, we appreciate reader feedback. You can call our comics hotline at 202-334-4775, e-mail http://comics@washpost.com or write Comics Feedback, The Washington Post, 1150 15th St. NW, Washington, DC 20071.
Tuesday, December 26, 2006
DC-based comics interviewer Chris Shields & cIndy Center
Chris Shields runs cIndy Center, a podcast that frequently deals with comics. DC-based Chris interviews cartoonists (as well as other types of artists) and releases the interviews as podcasts on a regular basis. You can subscribe to Chris's podcast through itunes or sign up at his website.
Recent interviews of cartoonists include Mark Millar, Fred Hembeck (a real favorite of mine), and Zak Smith (the artist who illustrated Pynchon's Gravity's Rainbow sort of as a graphic novel).
2nd in a series of profiles on local comics bloggers.
Recent interviews of cartoonists include Mark Millar, Fred Hembeck (a real favorite of mine), and Zak Smith (the artist who illustrated Pynchon's Gravity's Rainbow sort of as a graphic novel).
2nd in a series of profiles on local comics bloggers.
Sunday, December 24, 2006
Matt Diffee at Politics & Prose covered in Post
Although it happened a couple of weeks ago, Peter Carlson's coverage of Matt Diffee's booksigning for the Rejection Collection of New Yorker cartoons is in the paper today.
Also, the Travel section has an article on the Saul Steinberg exhibit in NYC and says the show will be in DC at American Art in the spring. And the Style Invitational Contest a few weeks ago was about comic strip writing and the winners are announced.
Finally, the Year in Editorial Cartoons in the last page of the Outlook section; presumably Toles' Year will be next week.
Also, the Travel section has an article on the Saul Steinberg exhibit in NYC and says the show will be in DC at American Art in the spring. And the Style Invitational Contest a few weeks ago was about comic strip writing and the winners are announced.
Finally, the Year in Editorial Cartoons in the last page of the Outlook section; presumably Toles' Year will be next week.
Jan 7 - Animation - Norman McLaren Restored
My buddy Rick Banning just called me with this film information from the National Gallery of Art.
Norman McLaren Restored
Premiere of new 35 mm prints
January 7 at 4:30 p.m.
Brilliant Scottish-born Canadian animator Norman McLaren (1914–1987) perfected many of the techniques that became the standard of animation art. Often imitated, McLaren's work during the 1930s and 1940s for the National Film Board of Canada and Britain's GPO film unit was legendary. Eleven of his classic short films — including Begone Dull Care (1949), Neighbours (1952), A Chairy Tale (1957), Pas de deux (1968), Synchromy (1971), Blinkity Blank (1955), and Hen Hop (1942) — have now been restored by the National Film Board of Canada to their original 35 mm format. Viewed in these spectacular new prints, McLaren's films demonstrate cinema's close affinity with painting and music — a concept that was one of this artist's main preoccupations. (total running time 85 mins.)
Norman McLaren Restored
Premiere of new 35 mm prints
January 7 at 4:30 p.m.
Brilliant Scottish-born Canadian animator Norman McLaren (1914–1987) perfected many of the techniques that became the standard of animation art. Often imitated, McLaren's work during the 1930s and 1940s for the National Film Board of Canada and Britain's GPO film unit was legendary. Eleven of his classic short films — including Begone Dull Care (1949), Neighbours (1952), A Chairy Tale (1957), Pas de deux (1968), Synchromy (1971), Blinkity Blank (1955), and Hen Hop (1942) — have now been restored by the National Film Board of Canada to their original 35 mm format. Viewed in these spectacular new prints, McLaren's films demonstrate cinema's close affinity with painting and music — a concept that was one of this artist's main preoccupations. (total running time 85 mins.)
Thursday, December 21, 2006
Local superhero novelist Pierce Askegren dies
The Post carried obituary for him today. I hadn't realized he lived in Northern Virginia in Annandale when I read Scoop's obituary last week.
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