Feb 8: Clifford Berryman's Running for Office exhibit opens at National Archives

Running for Office: Candidates, Campaigns, and the Cartoons of Clifford Berryman

Introduction

The exhibit “Running for Office: Candidates, Campaigns, and the Cartoons of Clifford Berryman,” which opens in the Lawrence F. O'Brien Gallery of the National Archives Building in Washington, DC, February 8, 2008, and runs through August 17, 2008. The exhibit features 42 original pen-and-ink drawings including all of the cartoons seen here. Timed to coincide with the Presidential primaries and the 2008 campaign season, the exhibit highlights both specific and timeless aspects of the American campaign and election process.

The cartoons, drawn by renowned cartoonist Clifford K. Berryman, illustrate campaigns beginning with the candidates’ decision to run for office and ending with the ultimate outcome of the election. Although many political procedures have changed, these cartoons show that the political process has remained remarkably consistent; Berryman’s cartoons from the early 20th century remain relevant today.

All of these cartoons appeared on the front page of Washington newspapers from 1898 through 1948. They are part of a collection of nearly 2,400 pen-and-ink drawings by Berryman. In 1992, in honor of former Senate Majority Leader Mike Mansfield, the Charles Engelhard Foundation purchased the drawings and donated them to the U.S. Senate.

Feb 7: Oliphant, Telnaes, Davies and Bennett at National Archives

A tip from Bruce Guthrie... I'll try to be there.

The Center for the National Archives Experience is pleased to present programs in celebration of our new exhibit "Running for Office: Candidates,Campaigns, and the Cartoons of Clifford Berryman" which opens February 8 in the Lawrence F. O'Brien Gallery.

Thursday February 7 at 7pm
William G McGowan Theater
Running for Office: Cartooning and Politics
Join moderator Stephen Hess, Distinguished Research Professor of Media and Public Affairs at the George Washington University and co-author of Drawn & Quartered: the History of American Political Cartoons, as he welcomes four Pulitzer Prize-winning political cartoonists: Pat Oliphant, the most widely syndicated political cartoonist in the world; Ann Telnaes, freeland editorial cartoonist with CartoonArts International/NY Times Syndicate and Women's eNews; Matt Davies, editorial cartoonist for the Journal News, Westchester NY; and Clay Bennett, editorial cartoonist with the Chattanooga Times Free Press. The panelists will discuss their work, what inspires and motivates political cartoons, and how these cartoons effect the political
community and the public.

OT: My buddy Marc at Viz needs an editor in San Francisco

Actually, I thought this WAS Marc's job...

Senior Editor, Magazines - VIZ Media - Anime Manga (north beach / telegraph hill)
Reply to: jobs@viz.com
Date: 2008-01-09, 7:09AM PST
http://sfbay.craigslist.org/sfc/wri/533365969.html

We are looking for a Senior Editor to join our Magazines Division.

SUMMARY
The Senior Editor oversees editorial and design for an assigned magazine in the Magazines Department of VIZ Media, which publishes a variety of materials originally published in Japan. The Senior Editor will ensure that the assigned magazine and magazine-related products maintain the company's position in the marketplace, and ensure that the company's publications reflect the VIZ Media strategy, and
maintain an engaged readership through the following duties:

PRINCIPAL DUTIES
1. Sets the tone and style of the magazine editorial.
2. Manages the schedules and production of a professional team of editors and designers who produce magazines.
3. Works closely with Managing Editor and Managing Editor's Design team to ensure timely production of magazines.
4. Responsible for enforcing deadlines regarding editorial, design, and production work.
5. Recruits, hires, and sets fees for freelancers assisting with editing and design work related to production (includes writers, photographers, illustrators, etc.).
6. Supervises the work of a Lead Designer and an Editor (Associate or Assistant) in the Magazine staff and has significant input into measurement of staff performance. Effectively utilizes the staff and provides support so that department goals can be achieved. Helps manage their workload.
7. Remains actively involved in writing, editing, and rewriting of magazines.
8. Represents magazine at industry events.
9. Mediates and helps to resolve disputes between editorial and design staff and with other departments.

In addition to these typical responsibilities, performs other activities as assigned.

MINIMUM ABILITY, SKILL AND KNOWLEDGE REQUIREMENTS
• Magazine publishing experience REQUIRED.
• Previous experience with manga, comics, and/or gaming industries REQUIRED.
• Ability to successfully manage and lead a cutting-edge editorial operation for successful comics and book publisher.
• Ability to correctly identify needed improvements in editorial strategies, scheduling, and production strategies.
• Ability to speak and write effectively in English, and to interact with culturally diverse clients and staff.
• Ability to speak, read, and write Japanese preferred.
• Ability to utilize Microsoft Word and the Internet.
• Ability to manage staffs and work effectively in a small organization with an emphasis on teamwork.
• Ability to assess the quality of writing, editing, copy-editing, and design work.
• Ability to interact with culturally diverse clients, service providers and staff.
• Ability to work legally in the United States.
• Ability to live in/commute to the SF Bay Area.

MINIMUM PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE, TRAINING, AND EDUCATION
• 1-2 years of management experience preferred.
• 2-3 years of experience in delivering increasingly responsible management and leadership to editorial operations required.
• 3-5 years of experience in delivering high quality editorial services related to magazines, comic books, and/or trade books required.
• Equivalent of Bachelor's Degree in Creative Writing, Journalism, English, or related fields from an accredited college or university, or equivalent, with a record that demonstrates suitable preparation for this position.

SUPERVISORY RESPONSIBILITIES
This position supervises the work of others, including the staff of each assigned magazine.

WORKING ENVIRONMENT/MINIMUM PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS
Primarily works in an office environment, requiring the following activity: lifting and carrying materials, weighing up to 25 pounds, kneeling, bending. Approximately 75% of time spent on the job may involve use of a video display terminal and telephone. Must be able to safely operate a motor vehicle to perform tasks related to job duties.

As part of a multi-media entertainment company, employees may be subjected to work-related images including content such as: sexually explicit images, nudity, and graphic violence. Employees should be willing to work with this type of content. VIZ Media does not condone the viewing of this content where not work-related.

OTHER INFORMATION
Employees must adhere to all applicable VIZ Media policies and procedures. Regular and predictable attendance is required.
Willingness and ability to work non-standard business hours, such as nights and weekends, on an as-needed basis is required. Employees must be able to cope effectively with deadlines and multiple demands.

TO APPLY
Please send your cover letter, resume, AND salary requirements. Please specify "Senior Editor" when applying.

By e-mail (NO ATTACHMENTS!!!) to jobs@viz.com
NO PHONE CALLS!!!

COMPANY/PRODUCTS
Headquartered in San Francisco, CA, VIZ Media, LLC (VIZ Media) is one of the most comprehensive and innovative companies in the field of manga publishing, animation and entertainment licensing of Japanese content. Owned by three of Japan's largest creators and licensors of manga and animation, Shueisha Inc., Shogakukan Inc., and Shogakukan Production Co., Ltd. (ShoPro Japan), VIZ Media is a leader in the publishing and distribution of Japanese manga for English speakingaudiences in North America and a global licensor of Japanese animation.

The company offers an integrated product line including, magazines such as SHONEN JUMP and SHOJO BEAT, graphic novels, videos, and DVDs, and develops and markets animated entertainment from initial production, television placement and distribution, to merchandise licensing and promotions for audiences and consumers of all ages.

VIZ MEDIA OFFERS
A competitive salary and an excellent benefits package including:
• Health (including chiropractic/acupuncture), Dental, and Vision insurances
• Life insurance, short-term and long-term disability insurance
• 401(k) plan
• Paid personal time off (PTO) — 17 days per year to start!
• Paid holidays — average 11 days/year
• Partially paid gym membership
• Flex-time
• Full-time casual dress policy

* Principals only. Recruiters, please don't contact this job poster.
* Please, no phone calls about this job!
* Please do not contact job poster about other services, products or commercial interests.

Articles in Post's hardcopy

There was a wire service obituary - "Joyce Carlson, Disney Animator," Washington Post Wednesday, January 9, 2008; Page B06

and an article on the recent trends in Indian animation -
"In India, Gods Rule The 'Toon' Universe: Hindu Myth a Fount of Superheroes," by Rama Lakshmi, Washington Post Foreign Service, Wednesday, January 9, 2008; A11

OT: Comics artists in the New Yorker

Years ago, I used to borrow the New Yorker from the library and go through it looking for the new wave of comic book artists that Mouley and Spiegelman were using. Eventually I started reading it and then subscribing. I'm still subscribing, but fell out of the habit of reading the issue as it arrived - a major error since piles of them now lurk around the house. To try to keep up, I'll post the comic artists who are not gag cartoonists here each week. The new issue has:

1/14/08
#Rutu Modan illo, "27 Dresses," directed by Anne Fletcher and
starring Katherine Heigl, opens Jan. 11, p. 18,
#Philippe Petit-Roulet illustration for Rarely Available, p. 38,
#JC Duffy cartoon, "I've got a gun," p. 64.

Telnaes animation on Post website

The Washington Post has put an Ann Telnaes editorial animation on their website for the first time, although a UK newspaper site has been running them for a while. Check out Bill and Hill now!

Comics Research Bibliography update January 4, 2008 citations

Berge, Paul / QSyndicate. 2007.
2007 The Year in Cartoons [gay editorial cartoons].
Washington Blade (December 28): 22-23

Cohen, Alex. 2007.
Politicians Are Best as Rubber, Cartoonist Insists.
National Public Radio's Day to Day (December 12).
online at http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=17151862

Fudge, Tom. 2007.
Cartoonist Steve Breen on the Top Political Stories of 2007.
National Public Radio and KPBS's These Days (December 18).
online at http://www.kpbs.org/news/local;id=10486

Gross, Terry. 2003.
Illustrator Marjane Satrapi.
National Public Radio's Fresh Air (June 2).
Online at http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1283520

Hockenberry, John. 2007.
Episode Two: Redesigning the Election: Election Splendor [Harvey Pekar interview].
WNYC's Billion Dollar President (December 18).
online at http://www.billiondollarpresident.org/2007/12/18/episode-two-redesigning-the-election/ and http://audio.wnyc.org/billiondollarpres/billiondollarpres121807g.mp3

Hockenberry, John. 2007.
Harvey Pekar Talks Politics.
WNYC's Billion Dollar President website (December 18): http://www.billiondollarpresident.org/2007/12/18/harvey-pekar-talks-politics/

Inskeep, Steve. 2007.
Story of Growing Up in Revolutionary Iran [Satrapi on Persepolis].
National Public Radio's Morning Edition (December 25)
online at http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=17597762

Mann, Brian. 2008.
'Max and Pinky' an Adorable Dynamic Duo [children’s book influenced by Calvin and Hobbes by Maxwell Eaton].
National Public Radio's All Things Considered (January 3).
online at http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=17809602

Mondello, Bob. 2007.
Short Takes: 'Persepolis'.
NPR.org (December 24): http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=17590198

Moore, Scott. 2007.
A novel idea for a comic [Gene Luen Yang interview].
Washington Post (October 25)

Nocenti, Annie. 2007.
Reading Comics: How Graphic Novels Work and What They Mean, by Douglas Wolk; Need More Love: A Graphic Memoir, by Aline Kominsky Crumb [review].
Print (November / December)

Kartalopoulos, Bill. 2007.
Rodolphe Töpffer: The Complete Comic Strips, compiled, translated, and annotated by David Kunzle; Father of the Comic Strip: Rodolphe Töpffer, by David Kunzle [review].
Print (September / October)

Canemaker, John. 2007.
The Animated Man: A Life of Walt Disney, by Michael Barrier [review].
Print (September / October)

Robertson, Campbell and Brooks Barnes. 2007.
Disney Wonders if a Mermaid Can Follow a Trail Blazed by a Lion [theater].
New York Times (December 20).
Online at http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/20/theater/20disn.html?ex=1355893200&en=557463a542560c88&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink

Rosenberg, Scott. 2007.
Mmm …Spider-Pig on DVD: ‘The Simpsons Movie’ is green on disc, in more ways than one.
Express (December 19): 15

Takahashi, Rumiko and Stephen Ayres (trans.). 2005.
The Art of InuYasha (2nd Edition).
San Francisco: Viz Media

Unknown. 2008.
Editorial: Comic Books in the Classroom
New York Times (January 3).
Online at http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/03/opinion/03thu4.html?ex=1357102800&en=8eda1e28b28bf0b7&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink


Woodall, Bernie. 2007.
‘Fantastic Four’ surfs to No. 1 spot at box office.
Reuters (June 18).
Online at http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070618/film_nm/boxoffice_dc_6

Garry, Joan. 2007.
The source of my super powers; I have a greater sense of purpose because I am gay [comic book as fundraiser].
Washington Blade (December 14): 21.
Online at http://www.washblade.com/2007/12-14/view/columns/11733.cfm

Andersen, Kurt. 2007.
Persepolis and Iran: Marjane Satrapi
Public Radio International and WNYC 's Studio 360 (December 21).
online at http://www.studio360.org/episodes/2007/12/21

Brooks, Anthony. 2007.
'The War' Neglects Latino Stories, Cartoonist Says [Baldo’s Hector Cantu].
National Public Radio's Talk of the Nation (September 24).
Online at http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=14658074

Ehrenreich, Ben. 2007.
Comic Genius? Before there was even a comic book to adapt, 'Cowboys and Aliens' had a movie deal [Platinum Comics].
New York Times Magazine (November 11).
Online at http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/11/magazine/11wwln-cowboys-t.html?ex=1352350800&en=b40a849873288532&ei=5124&partner=permalink&exprod=permalink

Gopoian, Rebecca and David Heatley. 2007.
The Creche [autobiographical religious comic strip].
New York Times (December 23)

Horn, Maurice. 1976.
The Comics: a cultural history [filmstrip].
Pleasantville, NY: Educational Audio Visual

McLaughlin, Jeff. 2005.
Comics as Philosophy.
University Press of Mississippi

McLaughlin, Jeff. 2007.
Stan Lee: Conversations.
University Press of Mississippi

Wertham, Fredric. 1953.
What Parents Don’t Know About Comic Books.
Ladies Home Journal (November)


Charras, Pierre and Chantal Montellier. 1982.
Le sang de la commune [graphic novel on French revolutionary communes].
Paris : Futuropolis

Ross, Steve. 2005.
Marked [religious graphic novel retelling the Bible’s Gospel of Mark].
New York: Seabury Books

Wallace, William N. 1978.
Willard Mullin Dies; Cartoonist Created 'Bums'; 'Sports Cartoonist of Century'.
New York Times (December 22)

Smith, Red. 1978.
Looking Back With Willard Mullin; Sports of The Times.
New York Times (July 1)

Durso, Joseph. 1971.
Mullin Hangs Up Brushes and Board After 10,000 Sports Cartoons.
New York Times (January 10): S3

Unknown. 1963.
Mullin to Be Honored At Boxing Writers' Fete.
New York Times (December 29)

Lardner, John and Willard Mullin (ill.). 1947.
It Beats Working.
Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott Co.

Michaels, Dave. 2007.
Remebering Willard Mullin and the Lost Art of Sports Cartooning.
Illustration (20; Fall): 46-56

Mitchell, Jerry and Willard Mullin (ill.). 1964.
The Amazing Mets.
New York: Grosset & Dunlap

Palmer, Joe H. and Willard Mullin (ill.). 1954.
This Was Racing.
New York: A. S. Barnes & Co

Unknown. 1959.
Cartoonists Honored; Creator of 'Gasoline Alley' and Others Cited Here [National Cartoonists Society].
New York Times (April 22)

Unknown. 1962.
Luncheon Is Planned By Cartoonists Society [National Cartoonists Society].
New York Times (October 21)

Unknown. 1972.
Cartoonists Will Honor Paige at Dinner Jan. 25 [National Cartoonists Society].
New York Times (January 16): S5

Rossen, Jake. 2008.
Superman vs. Hollywood: How Fiendish Producers, Devious Directors, and Warring Writers Grounded an American Icon.
Chicago Review Press.

Scivally, Bruce. 2007.
Superman on Film, Television, Radio and Broadway.
McFarland

Lunning, Frenchy (ed.). 2007.
Mechademia: Networks of Desire, Vol. #2 [anime and manga].
University of Minnesota Press

Lunning, Frenchy and Thomas LaMarre. 2007.
Introduction: Art Mecho.
Mechademia vol. 2: Networks of Desire.
University of Minnesota Press

Shamoon, Deborah. 2007.
Revolutionary Romance: The Rose of Versailles and the Transformation of Shojo Manga.
Mechademia vol. 2: Networks of Desire.
University of Minnesota Press

Toku, Masami. 2007.
Shojo Manga! Girls’ Comics! A Mirror of Girls’ Dreams.
Mechademia vol. 2: Networks of Desire.
University of Minnesota Press

Aquila, Meredith Suzanne Hahn. 2007.
Ranma 1/2 Fan Fiction Writers: New Narrative Themes or the Same Old Story?
Mechademia vol. 2: Networks of Desire.
University of Minnesota Press

Kotani, Mari and Thomas LaMarre (trans.). 2007.
Doll Beauties and Cosplay.
Mechademia vol. 2: Networks of Desire.
University of Minnesota Press

Vincent, Keith . 2007.
A Japanese Electra and Her Queer Progeny.
Mechademia vol. 2: Networks of Desire.
University of Minnesota Press

Miyao, Daisuke. 2007.
Thieves of Baghdad: Transnational Networks of Cinema and Anime in the 1920s.
Mechademia vol. 2: Networks of Desire.
University of Minnesota Press


Mizuno, Hiromi. 2007.
When Pacifist Japan Fights: Historicizing Desires in Anime.
Mechademia vol. 2: Networks of Desire.
University of Minnesota Press

Bolton, Christopher. 2007.
The Quick and the Undead: Visual and Political Dynamics in Blood: The Last Vampire.
Mechademia vol. 2: Networks of Desire.
University of Minnesota Press

Rauch, Eron. 2007.
Bridges of the Unknown: Visual Desires and Small Apocalypses.
Mechademia vol. 2: Networks of Desire.
University of Minnesota Press

Long, Margherita. 2007.
Malice@Doll: Konaka, Specularization, and the Virtual Feminine.
Mechademia vol. 2: Networks of Desire.
University of Minnesota Press

Hiroki, Azuma with Yuriko Furuhata and Marc Steinberg (trans.). 2007.
The Animalization of Otaku Culture.
Mechademia vol. 2: Networks of Desire.
University of Minnesota Press

Drazen, Patrick. 2007.
Sex and the Single Pig: Desire and Flight in Porco Rosso [Miyazaki anime] .
Mechademia vol. 2: Networks of Desire.
University of Minnesota Press

Perper, Timothy and Martha Cornog. 2007.
The Education of Desire: Futari etchi and the Globalization of Sexual Tolerance.
Mechademia vol. 2: Networks of Desire.
University of Minnesota Press

Ortega, Mariana. 2007.
My Father, He Killed Me; My Mother, She Ate Me: Self, Desire, Engendering, and the Mother in Neon Genesis Evangelion.
Mechademia vol. 2: Networks of Desire.
University of Minnesota Press

Hairston, Marc. 2007.
Fly Away Old Home: Memory and Salvation in Haibane-Renmei.
Mechademia vol. 2: Networks of Desire.
University of Minnesota Press

Kuge, Shu. 2007.
In the World That Is Infinitely Inclusive: Four Theses on Voices of a Distant Star and The Wings of Honneamise.
Mechademia vol. 2: Networks of Desire.
University of Minnesota Press

Lunning, Frenchy. 2007.
Between the Child and the Mecha.
Mechademia vol. 2: Networks of Desire.
University of Minnesota Press

Benzon, William L. 2007.
Godzilla’s Children: Murakami Takes Manhattan [exhibit review] .
Mechademia vol. 2: Networks of Desire.
University of Minnesota Press

Allison, Brent. 2007.
Anime: Comparing Macro and Micro Analyses.
Mechademia vol. 2: Networks of Desire.
University of Minnesota Press

Robbins, Trina. 2007.
Crazy Rabbit Man: Why I Rewrite Manga.
Mechademia vol. 2: Networks of Desire.
University of Minnesota Press

Ruh, Brian. 2007.
Brain-Diving Batou.
Mechademia vol. 2: Networks of Desire.
University of Minnesota Press

Perper, Timothy and Martha Cornog. 2007.
Lurkers at the Threshold: Saya and the Nature of Evil.
Mechademia vol. 2: Networks of Desire.
University of Minnesota Press

Bolton, Christopher. 2007.
UAAAAA! Trashkultur! An Interview with MAK’s Johannes Wieninger.
Mechademia vol. 2: Networks of Desire.
University of Minnesota Press

Lunning, Frenchy (ed.). 2006.
Mechademia vol 1: Emerging Worlds of Anime and Manga.
University of Minnesota Press

Lunning, Frenchy and Christopher Bolton. 2006.
Anifesto [editorial].
Mechademia vol 1: Emerging Worlds of Anime and Manga.
University of Minnesota Press

Allison, Anne. 2006.
The Japan Fad in Global Youth Culture and Millennial Capitalism.
Mechademia vol 1: Emerging Worlds of Anime and Manga.
University of Minnesota Press

Wong, Wendy Siuyi. 2006.
Globalizing Manga: From Japan to Hong Kong and Beyond.
Mechademia vol 1: Emerging Worlds of Anime and Manga.
University of Minnesota Press

Napier, Susan. 2006.
The World of Anime Fandom in America.
Mechademia vol 1: Emerging Worlds of Anime and Manga.
University of Minnesota Press

Winge, Theresa. 2006.
Costuming the Imagination: Origins of Anime and Manga Cosplay.
Mechademia vol 1: Emerging Worlds of Anime and Manga.
University of Minnesota Press

Wolf, Mark J.P. 2006.
Assessing Interactivity in Video Game Design.
Mechademia vol 1: Emerging Worlds of Anime and Manga.
University of Minnesota Press

Takayuki, Tatsumi with Christopher Bolton (trans.). 2006.
Mori Minoru’s Day of Resurrection.
Mechademia vol 1: Emerging Worlds of Anime and Manga.
University of Minnesota Press

Looser, Thomas. 2006.
Superflat and the Layers of Image and History in 1990s Japan.
Mechademia vol 1: Emerging Worlds of Anime and Manga.
University of Minnesota Press

Toshiya, Ueno with Michael Arnold (trans.). 2006.
Kurenai no metalsuits, “Anime to wa nani ka/What is animation” .
Mechademia vol 1: Emerging Worlds of Anime and Manga.
University of Minnesota Press

LaMarre, Thomas. 2006.
The Multiplanar Image.
Mechademia vol 1: Emerging Worlds of Anime and Manga.
University of Minnesota Press

Levi, Antonia. 2006.
The Werewolf in the Crested Kimono: The Wolf-Human Dynamic in Anime and Manga.
Mechademia vol 1: Emerging Worlds of Anime and Manga.
University of Minnesota Press

Kotani, Mari. 2006.
Metamorphosis of the Japanese Girl: The Girl, the Hyper-Girl, and the Fighting Beauty.
Mechademia vol 1: Emerging Worlds of Anime and Manga.
University of Minnesota Press

Perper, Timothy and Martha Cornog. 2006.
Revolutionary Girl Utena: Manga and Anime Citations.
Mechademia vol 1: Emerging Worlds of Anime and Manga.
University of Minnesota Press

Perper, Timothy and Martha Cornog. 2006.
In the Sound of the Bells: Freedom and Revolution in Revolutionary Girl Utena.
Mechademia vol 1: Emerging Worlds of Anime and Manga.
University of Minnesota Press

Benzon, William L. 2006.
The Song at the End of the World: Personal Apocalypse in Rintaro’s Metropolis.
Mechademia vol 1: Emerging Worlds of Anime and Manga.
University of Minnesota Press

Bullough, Vern. 2006.
The Influence of Manga on Japan - Adult Manga: Culture and Power in Contemporary Japanese Society, by Sharon Kensella [review].
Mechademia vol 1: Emerging Worlds of Anime and Manga.
University of Minnesota Press

Drazen, Patrick. 2006.
The Shock of the Newtype: The Mobile Suit Gundam Novels of Tomino Yoshiyuki.
Mechademia vol 1: Emerging Worlds of Anime and Manga.
University of Minnesota Press

Hairston, Marc. 2006.
The Yin and Yang of Schoolgirl Experiences: Maria-sama ga miteru and Azumanga Daioh.
Mechademia vol 1: Emerging Worlds of Anime and Manga.
University of Minnesota Press

Ruh, Brian. 2006.
Historicizing Anime and Manga: From Japan to the World - Manga: 60 Years of Japanese Comics, by Paul Gravett; Watching Anime, Reading Manga: 25 Years of Essays and Reviews, by Fred Patten [reviews].
Mechademia vol 1: Emerging Worlds of Anime and Manga.
University of Minnesota Press

Ollie, Michelle. 2006.
Interview with Lindsay Cibos.
Mechademia vol 1: Emerging Worlds of Anime and Manga.
University of Minnesota Press

Gibson, Mel. 2007.
The Tale Of One Bad Rat: the child alone and the alternative and substitute family.
In Bradford, C & Coghlan, V (eds.), Expectations and Experiences: Children, Childhood & Children's Literature.
Lichfield, Pied Piper Press

Gibson, Mel. 2007.
Graphic Novels In The Curriculum.
Learning and Teaching Scotland

Gibson, Mel. 2007.
"Wham! Bam! The X-Men Are Here": The British Broadsheet Press and the X-Men Film and Comic Revisited.
In: Comics into Films, Gordon, I, Jancovich, M & McAllister, M (eds.)
University Press of Mississippi: 101-115

Gibson, Mel. 2007.
"What is this mango, anyway?" Manga and younger readers in Ireland and Britain.
INIS. The magazine of Children's Books
Ireland, Dublin: CBI: 10-15.

Gibson, Mel. 2007.
Manga and younger readers in Britain. Some initial observations.
IBBYLink: British Section Newsletter
London: IBBY

Gibson, Mel. 2006.
Mehr als eine Heldin - das Motiv der Clique im britischen Mädchencomic von 1950 bis 1980.
In Diekmann, S & Schneider, M (eds.) Szenarien des comic: Helden Und Historien Im Medium Der Schriftbildlichkeit.
Berlin: SuKuLTuR

Gibson, Mel. 2003.
'You can't read them, they're for boys!' British Girls, American Superhero Comics and Identity'.
International Journal of Comic Art 5 (1; Spring)

Gibson, Mel. 2003.
‘What became of Bunty?' The emergence, evolution and disappearance of the girls' comic in post-war Britain.
In Bearne, E. and Styles, M. (eds.) Art, Narrative & Childhood.
Trentham Books.

Feb 10: Black cartoonists work a theme

See "Black Cartoonists Plan Feb. 10 Comics-Page Action," by Dave Astor, E and P Online January 8, 2008. Several of these strips are published in the Post including Candorville and Watch Your Head. Curtis by Ray Billingsly is also in the Post, but not mentioned in the article.

Film & TV Adaptations book STILL available

In spite of election mania driving paper prices sky high, Film & TV Adaptations of Comics - 2007 edition by Rhode and Vogel is available for order.

149 pages long, it's a listing of the thousands of adaptations to film and television of hundreds of comic strips and books. Worldwide, it includes the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Russia, the Netherlands, Senegal, India, Turkey, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, and Australia among others. Cross-referenced by cartoonist and translated titles, it includes a bibliography and index.

You can buy it via Lulu.com for $12.99 (plus shipping) or $3.00 for a pdf download at http://www.lulu.com/content/1677433.

This is not a book that you can sit and read - it's a reference book, and one that might spark a bit of curiosity. Lulu will let you see a preview, and here's a sample section of late additions from the Errata page:

Titles of strips samples:

Suramu Danku [Slam Dunk] (Takehiko Inoue)
Suramu Danku (Japan: Toei Animation, 1993-1996; 101-episode anime tv series)
4 DTV anime movies (Japan: Toei Animation, 1994-1995)

Oldboy (Nobuaki Minegishi)
Oldboy (South Korea 2003)

Scary Godmother (Jill Thompson)
The Scary Godmother, Vol. 2: The Revenge of Jimmy (USA 2005; animated DTV movie)

Wulffmorgenthaler (Mikael Wulff and Anders Morgenthaler)
Wulffmorgenthaler? (Denmark 200?; tv series)

Cartoonists cross-reference sample:

Eliot, Jan (Stone Soup cartoonist)
Oregon Art Beat Episode# 915 - Illustrator Jan Eliot (Oregon Public Broadcasting, 2008; segment on January 10, 2008 tv show)


Bibliography samples:

• Ehrenreich, Ben. 2007. “Comic Genius? Before there was even a comic book to adapt, 'Cowboys and Aliens' had a movie deal [Platinum Comics],” New York Times Magazine (November 11).
• Kohanik, Eric / CanWest News Service. 2008. “Painkiller Jane comic-book heroine,” Saskatoon Star-Phoenix (January 5).
• Takahashi, Rumiko and Stephen Ayres (trans.). 2005. The Art of InuYasha (2nd Edition), San Francisco: Viz Media.
• Unknown. 2008. “New cartoon series in ‘Wiener Zeitung’: Danish duo ‘Wulffmorgenthaler’ to feature daily on the new English page,” Wiener Zeitung (January 4).

Big Monkey Comics profiled

See "Washington’s Big Monkey Encourages Debate," by Laurel Maury, PW Comics Week January 8, 2008.

Check out Weds. Post website

Apparently a well-known local cartoonist will have some animation running there. Somewhere.

Additional information suggests the editorial / opinion page. So will it be Toles? Telnaes has beaten him on the animation front, although hers appear an ocean away in London, although beaming them back to the US takes seconds, I guess.

QUICK REVIEWS FOR COMICS DUE 01-09-08

QUICK REVIEWS FOR COMICS DUE 01-09-08
By John Judy

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #546 by Dan Slott and Steve McNiven. Okay, Spider-Fans, I know a lot of you are out there licking your wounds (gross!) after Mephisto Quesada brought back Harry Osborn and un-did yet another decade or so of continuity. So buy SCALPED already! It’ll put hair on ya! (Ahem.) Beyond that, I offer these words of comfort: “Dan Slott.” Dan Slott can write anything in any circumstance and find real character-based humor and drama even in the most forsaken realms. He made SHE-HULK work. Think what he can do with Spidey. And he’ll be doing it three times a month. This week’s “Gotta-Look.” Recommended.

BAT LASH #2 of 6 by Peter Brandvold, Sergio Aragones, and John Severin. There’s bears! Bears drawn by the great John Severin! Recommended!

BOYS #14 by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson. C’mon, you know you have to look. The crazy Russian hero “Love Sausage” is back in costume. His tight, tight costume… Recommended, but Not for Kids or those who already teeter on the brink of madness.

BPRD: 1946 #1 of 5 by Mike Mignola, Joshua Dysart, and Paul Azaceta. Okay, this one sounds like a lot of fun! The early days of the BPRD, when they were still mopping up after the ratzis and the mysterious “Project Vampir Sturm.” A must for Hellboy/Mignola fans!

BPRD VOL. 7 GARDEN OF SOULS SC by Mike Mignola, John Arcudi, and Guy Davis. Collecting the whole series featuring Abe Sapien, steampunk cyborgs, and a mummy!

BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER OMNIBUS VOL. 3 SC by Various Creators. Collecting BUFFY #1-8 (original series), “Play with Fire”, and “Spike and Dru.”

CONAN: THE BLOOD-STAINED CROWN AND OTHER STORIES SC by Kurt Busiek, Fabian Nicieza, Bruce Timm, John Severin, Tim Truman, and Others. Collecting a series of “done-in-one” stories by some of the heaviest-hitting talent in the comics biz. Worth a look even if you don’t usually read CONAN.

ESSENTIAL CAPTAIN AMERICA VOL. 4 SC by Lotsa People including Steve Gerber, Tony Isabella, Herb Trimpe, and Frank Robbins. Collecting issues #157-186. Werewolves, Nomad, Yellow Claw, Secret Empire, X-Men, Namor, Dr. Faustus, and the Falcon, of course. Enjoy!

GOON #20 written and drawn by Eric Powell. The Goon and Franky fight tartish harpies! “Mmmm, tartish harpies…”

HULK #1 by Jeph Loeb and Ed McGuiness. Hulk’s red. Darkstar and Red Guardian aren’t dead. Doc Samson is short-tempered and appears to be having trouble pounding the Red Guardian into paste, which says to me at least one of them is a Skrull. Plus, the return of an old friend who was not dead last time I looked.

JLA CLASSIFIED #50 by Roger Stern and John Byrne. A couple of veteran creators team up again, this time for a JLA story that’s half-fight, half-mystery.

JSA PRESENTS STARS AND STRIPES VOL. 2 SC by Geoff Johns and Lee Moder. Collecting issues #9-14 of the series that launched Johns’ career. Neat stuff.

JUDGE DREDD COMPLETE CASE FILES VOL. 9 SC by John Grant, Alan Wagner, and Various Artists of Note. The latest volume for fans with reinforced bookshelves.

MIGHTY AVENGERS #7 by Brian Michael Bendis and Mark Bagley. The entire population of New York has been transformed into murderous, flesh-eating Venom creatures. “How could they tell?” – Dorothy Parker.

NEXTWAVE AGENTS OF H.A.T.E. VOL. 2: I KICK YOUR FACE SC by Warren Ellis and Stuart Immonen. Collecting issues #7-12. You know you want it. Recommended.

SALVATION RUN #3 of 7 by Bill Willingham and Sean Chen. Also known as “Planet Luthor!” Featuring the world’s naughtiest talking monkey! And it ain’t George Bush! (Okay, technically it is.)

SCALPED #13 by Jason Aaron and R.M. Guera. The casino’s been open less than 24 hours and Agent Dash Bad Horse’s mom has been murdered. This is the week you put that stupid WOLVERINE comic that hasn’t been good since Rucka left back on the rack and start reading SCALPED. Not for kids. Consistently, highly recommended. Find out why.

SHOWCASE PRESENTS: ROBIN, THE BOY WONDER VOL. 1 SC by Lotsa People, including Gardner Fox Neal Adams, Gil Kane, and Everyone Else. It’s a whole lotta Robin, folks.

SPIRIT #12 written and drawn by Darwyn Cooke. It’s Cooke’s last issue before a fill-in and then the new team of Mark Evanier, Sergio Aragones, and Mike Ploog take over! This one features the return of Sand Sarif. Recommended and already missed.

STUDENTS FOR A DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY GN by Harvey Pekar, Gary Dumm, and historian Paul Buhle. A non-fiction account of the rise and fall of one of the most ambitious and controversial activist groups of the 1960s. For grown-ups and interested parties. Very well-timed publication. Recommended.

SUPERMAN #672 by Kurt Busiek and Peter Vale. Insect Queen is on the Moon and on the move! It’s Insect Queen! Recommended!

TEEN TITANS: THE LOST ANNUAL by Bob Haney, Jay Stephens, and Mike Allred. The original Teen Titans: Robin, Wonder Girl, Kid Flash, Speedy, and Aqualad go on a mission in space to rescue President John F. Kennedy! Featuring a cover by the great Nick Cardy! (I kind of love this comic…) Highly recommended.

THE TWELVE #1 of 12 by J. Michael Straczynski and Chris Weston. You remember all those great 1940s Timely heroes who weren’t in the Invaders of the Liberty Legion? Yeah, me neither. But Straczynski does and Chris Weston’s drawing them! A great read that embraces the weirdness of the Golden Age. Recommended.

WOLVERINE #61 by Marc Guggenheim and Howard Chaykin. Howard Chaykin created AMERICAN FLAGG and is a terrific artist.

X-FACTOR #27 by Peter David and Scot Eaton. Part Eleven of “Messiah Complex” which means it’s almost over.

YOUNGBLOOD #1 by Joe Casey and Derec Donovan. It is, of course, wrong to shoplift comics for the express purpose of setting them on fire in a ditch… But this one has a character saying “Yo! Wassup!” in 2008!!! And its sales would enrich Rob Liefeld!!! No, it’s still wrong. Always wrong, no matter what. Don’t shoplift.

www.johnjudy.net

Former DC resident writing for Marvel

See "ROBERTO AGUIRRE-SACASA ON YA PRESENTS #3," by Benjamin Ong Pang Kean, Newsarama January 2, 2008.

DC Anime Club and JICC to bring Anime/Live Action Movies to Washington, DC.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Chris Wanamaker, (202) 262 2083 president@dcanimeclub.org

DC Anime Club and JICC to bring Anime/Live Action Movies to Washington, DC.

The DC Anime Club and the Japanese Information and Culture Center (JICC) will collaborate to bring more Anime and Live Action Screenings to Washington, DC at the Japanese Information and Culture Center located at Lafayette Center III 1155 21st Street, NW Washington, DC 20036- 3308. The screenings will be held every fourth Thursday of the month at 6:30pm starting January 24, 2008. Screenings will include but will not be limited to the following:

Love Com, xxxholic The Movie, Tsubassa Chronicals The Movie and One Piece Movie
8.

This program is free and open to the public. For more information please visit the Japanese Information and Culture Center website at http://www.us.embjapan.go.jp/jicc/ or visit the DC Anime Club website at http://dcanimeclub.org.


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.

About Japanese Information and Culture Center:
The Japan Information and Culture Center (JICC) is the cultural and public affairs section of the Embassy of Japan in Washington D.C. Our primary role is to promote better understanding of Japan and Japanese culture by providing a wide range of
information, educational services and programs to the public. The area we serve includes Washington D.C., Maryland and Virginia. Other Japanese Consulates provide services in areas outside of our jurisdiction. The JICC is located on the lower level of the glass-enclosed Galleria at Lafayette Centre III in downtown Washington, D.C. Its facilities include a research library, a 152-seat auditorium, and a 1,500-square-foot exhibition gallery where a wide variety of events
sponsored by the JICC are hosted throughout the year.

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

AU prof and comics writer Wenthe interviewed

Michael Wenthe, who teaches comics at American University and does minicomics is interviewed along with his collaborator Isaac Cates. See "For Your Consideration: Satisfactory Comics #6 & 7, and A Treatise upon the Jam," by Chris Beckett, Comicon's The Pulse (January 3, 2008).

OT: Dave Cockrum fundraising

Got this in the mail today. Dave and his wife Paty gave me hours of entertainment with the Legion and X-Men, among others, so here's the appeal:

I am helping Dave Cockrum's widow sell his personal comics collection-- Golden & Silver Age books, his X-Men file copies, etc. For more information, please visit my site.. And please be kind enough to note this at *your* blog and pass along the info to help Dave's widow.

Clifford Meth

Film & TV Adaptations book available

I got the proof copy and reviewed it today, so now Film & TV Adaptations of Comics - 2007 edition by Rhode and Vogel is available for order.

149 pages long, it's a listing of the thousands of adaptations to film and television of hundreds of comic strips and books. Worldwide, it includes the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Russia, the Netherlands, Senegal, India, Turkey, China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Japan, and Australia among others. Cross-referenced by cartoonist and translated titles, it includes a bibliography and index.

You can buy it via Lulu.com for $12.99 (plus shipping) or $3.00 for a pdf download at http://www.lulu.com/content/1677433.

This is not a book that you can sit and read - it's a reference book, and one that might spark a bit of curiosity. Lulu will let you see a preview, and here's a sample section of late additions from the Errata page:

Titles of strips samples:

Suramu Danku [Slam Dunk] (Takehiko Inoue)
Suramu Danku (Japan: Toei Animation, 1993-1996; 101-episode anime tv series)
4 DTV anime movies (Japan: Toei Animation, 1994-1995)

Oldboy (Nobuaki Minegishi)
Oldboy (South Korea 2003)

Scary Godmother (Jill Thompson)
The Scary Godmother, Vol. 2: The Revenge of Jimmy (USA 2005; animated DTV movie)

Wulffmorgenthaler (Mikael Wulff and Anders Morgenthaler)
Wulffmorgenthaler? (Denmark 200?; tv series)

Cartoonists cross-reference sample:

Eliot, Jan (Stone Soup cartoonist)
Oregon Art Beat Episode# 915 - Illustrator Jan Eliot (Oregon Public Broadcasting, 2008; segment on January 10, 2008 tv show)


Bibliography samples:

• Ehrenreich, Ben. 2007. “Comic Genius? Before there was even a comic book to adapt, 'Cowboys and Aliens' had a movie deal [Platinum Comics],” New York Times Magazine (November 11).
• Kohanik, Eric / CanWest News Service. 2008. “Painkiller Jane comic-book heroine,” Saskatoon Star-Phoenix (January 5).
• Takahashi, Rumiko and Stephen Ayres (trans.). 2005. The Art of InuYasha (2nd Edition), San Francisco: Viz Media.
• Unknown. 2008. “New cartoon series in ‘Wiener Zeitung’: Danish duo ‘Wulffmorgenthaler’ to feature daily on the new English page,” Wiener Zeitung (January 4).

Post letter on shrinking comics

Shrunk!
Washington Post Saturday, January 5, 2008; Page A15

Regarding the recent changes to the Comics pages:

Why not just eliminate the comics altogether? That would be far more humane than shrinking them to the extent that you have. Many readers, children included, have less than perfect eyesight; many of us now need magnifying glasses to read your comics. Our family has always enjoyed "Slylock Fox" together, but none of us can now "find the six differences" in the shrunken panels. This is almost sadistic and an affront to readers paying to subscribe to material we are now unable to read.

-- C. Randall Williams

City Paper's Faustian bargain?

Did the City Paper's editors make a Faustian bargain? This week's issue again has no strips beyond local Classen's -- but it does still have new artwork by Ullman and Belschwender! Was the trade the cost of the syndicated strips vs the original spot illos?

Zadzooks on toys again

"Comic-book characters take action as figures," by Joseph Szadkowski, Washington Times January 5, 2008.

In this week's free papers

The City Paper has a surprise review of Frederik Peeters' Blue Pill, in which he discusses having AIDS. The online version is shaky now, but pick up the paper or try the link later.

Also, the Onion has its best comics list - six in the newspaper and more online. See "The Best Comics Of 2007," by Noel Murray, Keith Phipps, Tasha Robinson, Onion January 3, 2008.

Richmond's Chris Pitzer interviewed

Chris runs Adhouse Books in Richmond and has published some lovely stuff recently including books on Paul Pope and James Jean. Chris is a regular at SPX which is where I got to know him better this year, especially at the underattended Matt Wagner signing at Big Planet comics. He publishes absolutely gorgeous books. Check out Tom Spurgeon's "CR Holiday Interview #8: Chris Pitzer," Comics Reporter (January 4 2008).
Then go buy those two books in particular.

OT: Allan Holtz's Strippers Guide

On his Daily Cartoonist site, Alan Gardner put a link to Allan Holtz's Strippers Guide project. For years, Allan's been doing research on comic strips and in the 1990s he had a subscription cd service where you could buy a cd of his research. It was a great resource and I'm glad to see an update is going to be coming along. Click on the video and let him know what you think. Nobody has more information on obscure strips than Allan and I still use the earlier version regularly.

Oct 4-5: Small Press Expo

Announcing Small Press Expo (SPX) To Be Held October 4th and 5th, 2008

For Immediate Release
Contact: Warren Bernard
Phone: 301-537-4615
E-Mail: webernard@spxpo.com

Bethesda, Maryland; January 3, 2008 - Small Press Expo announces that its yearly festival of alternative comics, graphic novels and political cartoonists will be held Saturday, October 4th and Sunday, October 5th, 2008. The Expo will be once again be held at the Marriott Bethesda North Hotel & Conference Center, where we are pleased to announce that the 2009 Small Press Expo will also be held.

By popular demand, SPX 2008 is shifting its exhibition hours to a Saturday-and-Sunday show. The show will be open to the public Saturday from 11:00 am to 7:00 pm and Sunday from noon to 6:00 pm. Admission prices remain the same they have been for the last few years at $8/day, $15 for both days.

"The show has grown over the years to the point where we really need both days of the weekend to let exhibitors sell their comics," said Executive Director Karon Flage. "This makes it easier for attendees to come to the show and see what all of our creators and publishers have to offer."

Exhibitor registration is now open through the SPX web site at http://www.spxpo.com, where registration forms and guidelines can now be downloaded.

More information on guests, panels and other SPX information will become available in the succeeding weeks.

For further information, please contact Warren Bernard at webernard@spxpo.com.

SPX, a non-profit organization, brings together more than 300 artists and publishers to meet their readers, booksellers and distributors each year. Graphic novels, political cartoon books and alternative comics will all be on display and for sale by their authors and illustrators.

SPX culminates with the presentation of the 12th Annual Ignatz Awards for outstanding achievement in comics and cartooning. The Ignatz is the first Festival Prize in the US comic book industry, with winners chosen by balloting during the SPX.

SHOC: Hoiman & Douglas Aircraft

Warren Bernard contributes a Secret History of Comics bit to start off the new year right:

The first scan shows the cover of the book called "Hoiman", below it is the paper wrap around that was fortunately intact. This is because nowhere in the book itself is there any reference to where this stuff was published, which the wraparound says was for the Douglas Aircraft Plant in Chicago, IL.

Douglas Aircraft at this time had its main plants out in California, some others in Oklahoma, there were 7 total Douglas plants in operation during World War II. Now the question is, were these cartoons just done for only the in house mag for the Chicago plant? Did the other plants also use "Hoiman"? If not, what cartoons did they use? And who is Phil Brown? What else did he do? Where there other "Hoiman" books? How long did "Hoiman" run? Was "Hoiman just for Douglas Aircraft, or did other manufacturers also use the cartoons?

The Secret History of Comics does not give its secrets up easily...

Comics journalist Scott Rosenberg heading to NYC

Scott who has written many a comics story for the Examiner and then the Express reports, "I’m leaving for New York to become an assistant editor for amNew York, the largest circulated newspaper in Manhattan. It’s a free daily commuter, just like Express. The circulation is more than 300,000. But my byline will still be showing up in Express as a freelancer, hopefully covering comics still, but definitely still writing."

Best of luck in the New Year, Scott, although I'll miss running into you at Big Planet.

more Red Meat in DC

Apparently the Red Meat strip by Max Cannon will also be carried in the Onion starting this week. Or only in the Onion, if the City Paper really dropped its strips.

More bad news from City Paper?

The December 28th issue doesn't have any comics in it, except for local cartoonist Ben Classen's Dirt Farm. Unfortunately, I'm afraid this will carry into the new year as a cost-cutting measure. The Blade seems to be having similar issues, and certainly hasn't realized that Bechdel's gone back to bi-monthly for Dykes to Watch Out For, if they're even still running it.

On the positive side, they did hire Harvey Pekar-collaborator and nice guy Ed Piskor to do an illustration.

So the new year may bring far less reason to pick up two of the local free papers...

Local comic book contender John Reed

photo by Darrow Montgomery for the City Paper.

Catching up on some reading before the new year, I see John Reed of Alexandria was featured in "Shock and Draw: Jon Reed is suddenly a rising star in the world of superhero comics," by Josh Eiserike, Washington City Paper December 21, 2007. Reed is competeting in a Comic Book Idol contest.

Something to do on Jan 1

At the Renwick Gallery near the White House, the exhibit "Going West! Quilts and Community" has a Comics Quilt, circa 1935, with a bunch of comics characters sewn into it. It's on loan from the Stuhr Museum of the Prairie Pioneer.

Another option would be the Uncle Scrooge and Carl Barks show that opened right before Christmas at Geppi's Entertainment Museum. I plan on seeing that in January myself.

Jan 1: Big Planet's New Year's Day sale

Bethesda's Joel P reports: Tuesday, January 1st, from 12-5. Everything in the store 20% OFF!

Jan 19: 3rd annual D.C. Counter Culture Festival

Cartoonist Matt Dembicki writes, The D.C. Conspiracy will hold its third annual D.C. Counter Culture Festival at Dr. Dremo's on Sat., Jan. 19. It'll be especially meaningful because Dremo's will close the following week. (I've been fillin' my pint glass there since it opened in 1993. It's a local institution.) For a list of vendors (comics, crafts, wares, etc.), bands and other entertainment (tribal bellydancers, freak show, etc.), visit www.dcconspiracy.com. There's no admission fee.

I'm going to try to make it this year!

Richard Thompson covers Post Magazine

See his blog for the story. I'm behind on reading the paper again which is why this post is a day late, but I'm looking forward to seeing this.

Comics Research Bibliography updated

My co-author John Bullough updated our Comics Research Bibliography over the holidays. We went from 18,500 citations to 23, 880 in our neverending battle to aid research on comic art. I don't check the email account listed on the site anymore due to literally thousands of pieces of spam, but feel free to post comments and suggestions here.

QUICK REVIEWS FOR COMICS DUE FRIDAY 01-04-08

QUICK REVIEWS FOR COMICS DUE FRIDAY 01-04-08
By John Judy

(NOTE: Comics are once again delayed two days because of the holidays. Happy New Year!)

30 DAYS OF NIGHT, VOL. 8: RED SNOW written and drawn by Ben Templesmith. Y’know, at first I was going to snark about how the vampires’ current prey seems to be dead horses, but then I noticed this was by the guy who drew the first “30 Days” series. This one’s set in Russia circa 1941 and looks very much worth a read. Recommended.

BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #10 by Joss Whedon and Georges Jeanty. Willow and the Buffster meet a demon while Dawn confides to Xander how she “filled out” and then some. Recommended.

DOCTOR SOLAR MAN OF THE ATOM VOL. 4 HC by Various Creators. This volume collects issues #23-32 of the original series, plus a guest-shot in “Occult Files of Dr. Spektor #14”, thus completing the entire Silver-Age run of this early Gold Key/Wilson hero.

DOKTOR SLEEPLESS #4 by Warren Ellis and Ivan Rodriguez. It was solicited for October of last year and sucks a lot less than the Avatar Press website which sucks quite a bit. Featuring a variant wrap-around cover and a 1-in-15 variant cover, which is the sure sign of a great (and highly collectable!) comic.

END LEAGUE #1 by Rick Remender and Mat Broome. From the creator of “Fear Agent” comes this new series about the last superheroes on earth and their quest for the hammer of Thor. Good thing mythological figures are public domain, eh? This one has a preview up on YouTube. Worth a look.

ESSENTIAL POWER MAN AND IRON FIST VOL. 1 SC by Lotsa People including Chris Claremont and John Byrne. “It’s so dark… I can barely make it out… is it…the Bottom of the Barrel?! What’s it doing up there?”

GRAVEL #0 by Warren Ellis & Mike Wolfer and Raulo Caceres. Okay, it’s “co-written” by Ellis which historically means the soggy cocktail napkin was handed to the interns to decipher and a room full of lemurs to type up. That said, it has a rave from Garth Ennis in which he says “It’s like someone made a comic just for me.” That and the art by “Crecy” co-creator Raulo Caceres elevate this to a must-read for the week. Recommended.

NORTHLANDERS #2 by Brian Wood and Davide Gianfelice. Prince Sven the Viking is back home and looking to square accounts with the uncle who’s taken all his stuff. It’s like “Hamlet” if Hamlet had less depression, more A.D.D., and no mommy issues. Recommended, but not for kids.

OMEGA THE UNKNOWN #4 of 10 by Jonathan Lethem and Farel Dalrymple. An interesting series featuring a new take on the classic Steve Gerber cult hero. Possibly it will read more smoothly in trade but for now it’s a good read for those who like a slow build.

PATH OF THE ASSASSIN VOL. 8: SHINOBI WITH EXTENDING FISTS SC by Kazuo Koike and Goseki Kojima. From the guys who gave us “Lone Wolf and Cub”, it’s more stuff like that! For ages 18 and over!

POWERS VOL. 11: SECRET IDENTITY SC by Brian Michael Bendis and Mike Avon Oeming. Collecting issues #19-24 featuring the adventures of two homicide cops in a world of super-heroes and trademark Bendis patter.

PRIDE OF BAGHDAD SC by Brian K. Vaughan and Niko Henrichon. Finally in soft-cover for all us cheapskates out here in Comicsville! From the gifted creator of “Ex Machina”, “Y the Last Man”, and “Runaways” this is the story of four lions who escape from the Baghdad Zoo after a 2003 bombing raid. Highly recommended unless you live in San Francisco. (Too soon?)

TEEN TITANS: YEAR ONE #1 of 6 by Amy Wolfram and Karl Kerschl. Pretty much what it says, notable for the vaguely manga look to the art and the scripting being done by the writer of the animated Titans series. Worth a look.

THUNDERBOLTS #118 by Warren Ellis and Mike Deodato. Dark Speedball beats up his shrink. Super-heroes are about the wish-fulfillment, kids…

ULTIMATE HUMAN #1 of 4 by Warren Ellis and Cary Nord. Finally a comic book about Chuck Norris! From now on there are no comic shops. There are only Chuck Norris shops! (Actually it’s about Iron Man fighting the Hulk. Don’t tell Chuck.)

UNCANNY X-MEN #494 by Ed Brubaker and Billy Tan. Hockey goalies dream of being padded like this latest X-crossover. Just remember: It’s this comic that helps make “Criminal” possible. (C’mon, you bought all the others….)

www.johnjudy.net

Zadzooks on Satchel Paige

A review of James Sturm's new book, among others at "Double Paige narrative looks at baseball, racism," By Joseph Szadkowski, Washington Times, December 29, 2007. He also looks at a Daredevil collection and JG Jones' 52 covers.

Persepolis snubbing DC?

Anyone have any idea if we're going to get this? It opened in a lot of the rest of the country on Christmas day, but I've seen nothing about it being in DC.

Bits from the Examiner

Today's paper has The Best of Beeler 2007 in it, 5 cartoons. I don't think I agree w/ the editor's choices, but check it out and see what you think.

Also, Sam and Max was a comic book back in the day, and it was selected as the year's #1 videogame on page 21.

Dec 28: Big Planet Vienna CBLDF fundraising party

Randy T sends along this missive

Just a reminder we are closed on Christmas, and will be getting new books on FRIDAY this week because of the holiday. So we’ll be open 11-7 Wed and Thurs, but 11-8 on Friday when the new comics come in.

PLUS: We will also be hosting a special party Friday from 5 to 8 pm for the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund. The Fund is a non-profit that supports the First Amendment and raises money and legal assistance for comic book creators and retailers who are unfairly targeted by people who often think that “comics are just for kids.”

Their website is http://www.cbldf.org if you want to read more about some of the outrageous cases they’ve had to fight against.

CBLDF members will get an additional 10% off anything they buy during the party, and the first 50 members will also get a free gift bag with lots of limited stuff, and Big Planet will donate 10% of the proceeds during that time to the fund. (You can also sign up to be a member during the party - a yearly membership is only $25.) Plus, the party will be hosted by former Big Planet Vienna manager, and now CBLDF Fundraising Manager, Elizabeth Schreck!


Have a good break, and see you all later this week!

Jared Smith

bigplanetvienna@verizon.net

Big Planet Comics - Vienna

http://www.bigplanetcomics.com

Zadzooks last minute gift ideas

See "Superheroes on alert to rescue procrastinators," By Joseph Szadkowski, Washington Times December 22, 2007

Comics bits in Sunday's Post

The undersung greeting card cartoonist gets a piece in the Jobs section - see
"They Wish You a Merry Christmas Card: Writers and Artists by The Thousands Craft Holiday Greetings," By Vickie Elmer, The Washington Post, Sunday, December 23, 2007; K01

and it turns out there really is something in Cinderella's castle in Disney World. See "At Disney World, a Real Cinderella Story," by Eve Zibart, Washington Post Sunday, December 23, 2007; Page P05

Weingarten on Post's comics shenanigans

In his December 18th Chatalogical Humor chat, Gene Weingarten said,

"Yes, I hate the new Sunday comics squeeze, too. It's bad and I hate it. And I hate that Weekend is losing Tom The Dancing Bug, one of the few remaining strips with a brain.

Hate, hate, hate."

with reader responses of an outpouring of love for Tom the Dancing Bug, and:

Hate, Hate, Hate: Opus has been shrunk to one quarter of its original size. Need reading glasses......

Get down to comics and smack the individual responsible!

Gene Weingarten: They don't listen to me.

and:

Washington, D.C.: Tom the Dancing Bug is going away?! I'd cancel my subscription if I had one. I certainly won't get another subscription now. I had been considering going Friday through Sunday only, but not anymore. What's going in his space? More crap to entertain the dozen kids in the area who don't watch tv nonstop?

Gene Weingarten: I dunno. I am upset.

and:

Bethesda, Md.: Why is Weekend dropping Tom the Dancing Bug? That's the smartest strip around. Can't they move it to Outlook or somewhere else? Should we riot?

Gene Weingarten: I would never personally endorse a riot. In fact, inciting to riot is a crime. So I would never personally endorse RIOTING. But some action is in order short of rioting.

and:

Tom the Dancing Bug:...is available Thursday on Salon.com -- in color no less.

Gene Weingarten: Noted. Boy, I hate posting this. DON'T READ THE POST, READ SALON!

QUICK REVIEWS FOR COMICS DUE FRIDAY 12-28-07

QUICK REVIEWS FOR COMICS DUE FRIDAY 12-28-07
By John Judy

(NOTE: Friday, not Wednesday, this week for comics. L)

ACTION COMICS #860 by Geoff Johns and Gary Frank. There’s mad doings in the future with the Legion of Super-Heroes! Recommended for anyone who needs more time-travel continuity to keep up with! From the powerhouse scribe of the JSA!

AL WILLIAMSON READER VOL. 1 SC by Al Williamson. A great collection of stories and art from a comics and fantasy illustration legend. Recommended.

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #545 by J. Michael Straczynski and Joe Quesada. It’s the final chapter in which Spidey must sell his marriage to the Devil. Note to younger fans: If you see anyone laughing in the comics stores this week it means they are, or have been, married.

AVENGERS INITIATIVE #8 by Dan Slott and Stefano Caselli. The first batch of recruits are about to graduate even as a new bunch is coming in. Humor and adventure mix perfectly in what is probably the best series to come out of Marvel’s “Civil War.” Recommended.

BATMAN #672 by Grant Morrison and Tony Daniel. There’s a Third Batman out there killing cops! Hmmm, maybe he’s tight with the Third Kryptonian over in the Super-books? Nah, not going there. And who’s the second Batman in all this? Gotta look.

BLACK PANTHER #33 by Reginald Hudlin and Francis Portella. Lotsa great fights on the Skrull Gangsta World in which it becomes apparent that Skrulls have almost no imagination. It’s like a world of Rob Liefelds who can shape-shift…

BRAVE AND BOLD #9 by Mark Waid and George Perez. The Book of Destiny has been opened! Looks like someone’s not waiting for the movie! Recommended for everyone who loves the Silver-Age as much as Waid. Try it, whipper-snappers! It’s good for ya! (Cough, wheeze, hack…)

CAPTAIN AMERICA #33 by Ed Brubaker and Steve Epting. Winter Bucky versus Iron Man! With a final panel we all knew had to come. Good stuff!

CAPTAIN MARVEL #2 of 5 by Brian Reed and Lee Weeks. Okay, I’ll admit it: I am completely stumped at what Marv sees in the old painting. Guest-starring Ms. Marvel and an old painting.

CRIME BIBLE: FIVE LESSONS OF BLOOD #3 of 5 by Greg Rucka and Matthew Clark. “The Lesson of Greed” guest-starring Vice-President Cheney and the Haliburton Gang! Buy every copy, because no one else deserves this comic but you! Recommended.

DAN DARE #2 of 7 by Garth Ennis and Gary Erskin. The pilot of the future is back on the job, Ennis-style! Imagine “War Story” set in space. Recommended.

DAREDEVIL #103 by Ed Brubaker and Michael Lark. DD actually stands for “Down and Dirty” as Matt Murdock fights his way to Mr. Fear and the cure to his wife’s madness. Recommended.

DAREDEVIL BY FRANK MILLER OMNIBUS COMPANION HC by Frank and Friends. If Miller breathed on it before it hit the newsstands it’s probably in here. From the glory days before Miller went Hollywood/Nuts, back he still recognized the word “No.” Recommended.

GIANT SIZE AVENGERS SPECIAL #1 by Lotsa People. It’s 55 pages, plus re-prints!

GREEN LANTERN #26 by Geoff Johns and Mike McKone. The GL Corps gets a shake-up with the arrival of the Alpha Lanterns. Intriguing….

HELLBLAZER #239 by Andy Diggle and Leonardo Manco. Refugees from Sudan are bearing a package for one known only as “The Laughing Magician.” Wonder who that could be? Leads into a three-parter marking the 20th anniversary of this flagship Vertigo title. Recommended.

LEGION OF SUPER-HEROES #37 by Jim Shooter, Francis Manapul, and John Livesay. Wow, nevermind the story in the book. The real “gotta-look” is Jim Shooter returning to the title he first wrote back in the mid 1960s when he was thirteen years old. Wow.

MARVEL ZOMBIES 2 #3 of 5 by Robert Kirkman and Sean Phillips. It takes a slugger like Kirkman to make good zombies scare you more than bad zombies. Not for kids but otherwise recommended.

MARVEL MASTERWORKS: GOLDEN-AGE HUMAN TORCH VOL. 2 HC by Bill Everett, Carl Burgos, Basil Wolverton, and Mickey-friggin-Spillane! Golden-Age epics from 1941-42, collecting HT #5-8. Torch versus Sub-Mariner versus Hitler and…GAH!! Just read it while your brain pops and sizzles to the classic excellence contained herein! Highly recommended!

MARVEL MASTERWORKS: AMAZING SPIDER-MAN VOL.5 HC by Stan Lee and John Romita Sr. Collecting Spidey #41-50, plus Annual #3. This one has the first appearance of future Mrs. Spidey, Mary-Jane Watson. “Face it, Tiger…”

PUNISHER #53 by Garth Ennis and Goran Parlov. Okay, after the last page of the previous issue you know this one’s gonna be savage, out of control mayhem, right? Not for kids, highly recommended.

SATCHEL PAIGE: STRIKING OUT JIM CROW HC and SC by James Sturm and Rich Tommaso. A fictionalized account of the legendary ball-player’s life, from his early days to the peak of his career in the Negro Leagues. Highly recommended, as are all of Mr. Sturm’s other works. A preview is available online at www.cartoonstudies.org

SHOWCASE PRESENTS: THE BRAVE & THE BOLD: BATMAN TEAM-UPS VOL. 2 SC by Dennis O’Neil, Bob Haney, Neil Adams, Nick Cardy, Jim Aparo, and more. Collecting B&B #88-109. Crack cocaine for Silver-Agers. Fun stuff for all ages. Recommended.

STEVE RUDE: ARTIST IN MOTION HC by Steve Rude and John Fleskes. Limited to 1000 copies this book explores the work and philosophy of a master illustrator who still considers himself an “art student.” If you haven’t treated yourself to anything wonderful lately, now is the time. Highly recommended.

THOR #5 by J. Michael Straczynski and Olivier Coipel. The return of a character who’s been through some changes. If I were Thor I would be having some serious oogies after this issue. Pretty art.

ULTIMATE POWER #9 of 9 by Jeph Loeb and Greg Land. They promise it’s ending this week, hopefully with a big ol’ fight!

ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN #117 by Brian Michael Bendis and Stuart Immonen. This is the final battle between Ultimate Spidey and Ultimate Gobby! For now! Honest! I wonder who wins?

X-MEN #206 by Mike Carey and Chris Bachalo. Okay, so now we know the Mutant Killer Jesus Baby is cute and has the super-power to make Cable mute. Also there’s a mutant-eating dog loose who really needs someone to go Old Yelller on him. And could anyone on the X-teams who isn’t a traitor, please raise your hand? Are they only taking the stupid telepaths now?

Plus, PREVIEWS by Diamond and Marvel. The future is now!

www.johnjudy.net

AP article on growing acceptibility of comics in Express

The Express has an AP article on comics courses featuring quotes by Carol Tyler.

Richard Thompson's HeroesCon invite

Noted Arlington cartoonist Richard Thompson is among the recently announced guests for Charlotte, NC's HeroesCon.

My next project

Earlier this year, I posted this Film & TV Adaptations of Comics list here, and attempted to update it on the fly. That didn't work all that well, so I'm going to self-publish it through Lulu.com later this month. It's all-revised (anyone know anything about Jewel of the Gods, a possible South African comic) and with a new index will be over 130 pages long. It's a listing of basic information for comic strips, comic books, manga/anime, pirated characters, fan films and the like. Details to follow.

Wash Post apparently doesn't get any favorable letters about comics

Or doesn't run them if it does. In "Your Pique Grows While Your Comics Shrink"
Saturday, December 15, 2007; Page A19, the two letters about the comics read:

My family's peaceful, serene ritual of reading the Sunday morning paper together is in jeopardy. You see, it works this way: My wife gets the front page first, I get the Business section first and the two kids split the Sunday comics. Then the sections are exchanged. Everybody is happy.

Now, in one fell swoop, The Post threatens the very tranquility and quality family time that we've come to cherish every weekend. Whose featherbrained idea was it to "combine the two comics sections into one convenient section"? Convenient for whom? Now our Sundays will be filled with bickering, battling and brawls as my wife and I will be relegated to mediating the battle for the single comics section.

-- Eric Fremont
Fairfax

The Post has made a major error by reducing to squint-size the comics we readers have come to love.

I do not exaggerate when I say that I have had to buy a large magnifying glass to figure out what in the world is going on with the many characters I know so well. And before you dismiss this as the grump of an old fogey, consider that my eyesight is 20/20.

-- Wes Pedersen
Chevy Chase

OT: Metropolitan Museum of Art commissions Sorel

Edward Sorel's done an ad for them, "Home is Where the Art Is." The New York Times had a black and white print of it on the 14th and online there's a teeny-tiny version.

Washington Times on Disney DVDs

See "Media Room" Washington Times December 14, 2007 By Kelly Jane Torrance. She discusses the complete Donald Duck shorts dvds as well as Oswald the Rabbit. Did you know that Disney traded an ABC sportscaster for the return of the Oswald rights a few years ago?

QUICK REVIEWS FOR COMICS DUE 12-19-07

QUICK REVIEWS FOR COMICS DUE 12-19-07
By John “Support the WGA!” Judy

Wishing you and yours a Super Saturnalia and a Fine Festivus!

ACTION PHILOSOPHERS VOL.3 GIANT-SIZED THING SC by Fred Van Lente and Ryan Dunlevey. The final trade (for now!) of this great series collecting issues 7-9 for a well-deserved spot on your bookshelf. Funny, informative, and highly recommended.

ANGEL: AFTER THE FALL #2 by Joss Whedon, Brian Lynch, and Franco Urru. Okay, Urru’s art isn’t terribly appealing to me but it’s great to see these characters again and the first issue laid the groundwork for an amazing “New Season” of adventures. Recommended for all Whedon addicts and fans of the “Angel” ensemble.

DETECTIVE COMICS # 839 by Paul Dini and Don Kramer. Wrapping up the whole Ras al Ghul resurrection thing. Honest.

EX MACHINA #33 by Brian K. Vaughan and Tony Harris. Mayor Hundred finally meets the Pope and learns how volatile a mix religion and politics can be! (Don’t tell Huckabee, Romney, and the kids. They’re fun to watch.) Always recommended.

GRENDEL: BEHOLD THE DEVIL #2 of 8 written and drawn by Matt Wagner. A bloody return for Wagner’s signature character, an amoral super-human crime-boss/novelist who pretty much can kill anyone who gets in his way. And he does! Thus, the mystery is: “Who is stalking the most dangerous man in the city?” Recommended.

HELLBLAZER: BLOODLINES SC by Garth Ennis, Steve Dillon, and Friends. Collecting a number of devilishly good tales from issues 49, 52-55, and 59-61 in which JC gives the First of the Fallen what fer! Among the best runs this series has ever had. Recommended.

IMMORTAL IRON FIST #11 by Ed Brubaker , Matt Fraction, and David Aja. There are intrigues a-plenty as “Capital Cities of Heaven” keeps the action coming on every level. Very enjoyable, great art, no doubt to be one heck of a trade edition. Read it now anyway. Recommended.

INCREDIBLE HULK #112 by Greg Pak, Fred Van Lente, and Khoi Pham. So while they’re figuring out how the new Red Hulk thing is gonna work we get to watch Hercules and the smart Asian kid dance with SHIELD. Has a nice Steranko tribute cover by Arthur Adams.

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #16 by Dwayne McDuffie and Joe Benitez. Okay, ya remember that girl-Flash from the Tangent Universe of the nineties? Well, I do, not that I’m proud of it or anything. Anyway, she’s here and it looks like some of the other Tangent kids are along for the ride. Could be worse. Could be those “Just Imagine Stan Lee Creating…” characters. Thanks, Multi-verse!

MIGHTY AVENGERS #6 by Brian Michael Bendis and Frank Cho. Lots of wacky, Ultron-smashing action and the Sentry discovers an ominous new power. Plus, The “Bendis-Thought Balloon” romance continues!

MARVEL MASTERWORKS RAWHIDE KID, VOL. 2 HC by Stan Lee, jack Kirby, and quite a few other impressive folks. Collecting RAWHIDE # 26-35 from the days before the Kid was out of the closet! Fun for all ages!

NEW X-MEN #45 by Christopher Yost, Craig Kyle, and Humberto Ramos. Okay, I’ll be honest, I never read this book and have no idea if it’s great or typical X-fare. I mention it only because supposedly we can learn what happened in last week’s X-FACTOR here. And that, Virginia, is why everyone loves big cross-overs! Do as you see fit.

SHE-HULK #24 by Peter David and Shawn Moll. She-Hulk is living in a trailer park with a Skrull. So that’s one accounted for…

SPECIAL FORCES #2 of 6 written and drawn by Kyle Baker. The beautifully drawn second chapter in Baker’s dark satire of our military’s darker policy of recruiting the mentally and emotionally unfit for duty. If Baker had made this up it might be offensive. Sadly, the truth behind the fiction can only leave us grateful that some in the comics community are addressing it. Highly, highly recommended.

SUPERMAN #671 by Kurt Busiek and Peter Vale. Insect Queen is back! What? You want more? It’s Insect Queen!

WALKING DEAD VOL.3 HC by Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard. The deluxe edition collecting issues 25-36. NOT for kids. Kirkman continues some of the most interesting Universe creation that doesn’t involve super-heroes. Recommended for those who like their horror dark and thoughtful.

WOLVERINE FIREBREAK ONE-SHOT by Mike Carey and Scott Kolins with a back-up story by Macon Blair and Vasilis Lolos. Two done–in-one Wolvie shorts, both of which are a lot better than what’s being done in his two regular titles lately. Good reads.

WOLVERINE ORIGINS #20 by Daniel Way and Steve Dillon. To all the kids out there who worry that having no discernable talent whatsoever may be an impediment to writing comics professionally, Daniel Way provides hope.

www.johnjudy.net

Tom Toles' favorite Washington space

Actually I really agree with him on this, although I have a lot of favorite spaces. It's the bonsai collection at the Botanic Gardens - see "Conversation Pieces" by Michael O'Sullivan, Washington Post Staff Writer, Friday, December 14, 2007; Page WE25. The Daumier pieces he mentions are actually sculptures in the National Gallery of Art's West building in the ground floor sculpture area.

South African fine art animator William Kentridge

Kentridge is speaking at the Kennedy Center tonight, right now. So you're missing that. But you can read this article about him in today's Express - Glenn Dixon's "African Elegies: William Kentridge's animated films move into the concert hall," Express (December 13 2007).

OT: Interesting comic book contest

I got an email today from a Simon & Schuster marketer, asking me to mention her new project here. While I'd like to think I'm not for sale (cheaply), the novelty of the idea appealed to me. Accordingly, here's Leah Wasielewski on the contest:

I’m a marketing manager at Simon & Schuster, and I’m working on an exciting new blockbuster novel by N Y Times bestselling author, Matthew Reilly. Titled The 6 Sacred Stones, this is the sequel to 7 Deadly Wonders. Reilly is redefining the thriller for the 21st century with novels that rival video games and Hollywood blockbusters for pulse-racing, non-stop action.

We have a fantastic contest I’d love to share with you. It’s called our "Create a Comic Book for 6 Sacred Stones Contest"—in it, consumers are invited to create comic books based on chapter 1 of the book (we have a free excerpt online). In order to be eligible to enter, entrants must create a comic book that is no longer than 20 pages.

One Grand Prize will be awarded: Winning comic submission will be included in the mass market edition of 6 Sacred Stones to be published in January 2009.

Here is the full set of rules: http://www.simonsays.com/content/feature.cfm?tab=1&feature_id=6256

Perhaps some of our DC-area creators will enter - it's probably a good bit of publicity for the winner. I haven't heard of anything like this before, and I think it's showing the growing popularity of comics. I'd be glad to hear from anyone about that they think.

Zippy a tounge-in-cheek Crumb homage?

Today's Zippy was about the joy of tape-dispensing machines - the same subject that Robert and Aline Crumb did a comic on in the New Yorker's putative cartoon issue a few weeks ago. My guess is it was a tip of the Zip to the Crumbs.

American U Prof Wenthe's graphic novel class

Michael got a press release yesterday. I'd take his course if I could.

http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/536090/
Source: American University
Released: Mon 10-Dec-2007, 12:50 ET

Graphic Novels Reach Academia

Newswise — Graphic novels, comic books’ grown up counterpart, have gained popular appeal in the last five years thanks to blockbuster Hollywood movies based on graphic novels like 300, Sin City, Ghost Rider and V for Vendetta. Now they have a place in academia. American University literature professor Michael Wenthe has brought the medium to the Department of Literature with a course titled, "The Graphic Novel."

“This definitely is a time when comics in general, and graphic novels as a species of them, have found a lot more general acceptance,” said Wenthe, who also creates comics along with graduate school friend Isaac Cates. “It would not have been nearly as easy to teach such a course 10 years ago, in part because there’s been an explosion of really good material in the last 10 years, but also because the wider public discourse about comics has gotten a lot more nuanced.”

An expert in medieval literature, Wenthe introduces students to the literary characters in graphic novels that find their roots in medieval literature and even the works of Shakespeare. The class has 13 required books including Jimmy Corrigan—the Smartest Kid on Earth by Chris Ware, a 380-page exploration of the bleak life of a middle-aged man and his family’s 100-year history of withdrawal and loneliness. Also required are Alison Bechdel’s graphic memoir Fun Home, Joe Sacco and Christopher Hitchens’ journalistic Safe Area Gorazde: The War in Eastern Bosnia, Lynda Barry’s award-winning 100 Demons, and the complex City of Glass, written in part by Paul Karasik, who visited the class.

No longer relegated to the ever-ridiculed comic book store, graphic novels delve deeper into the human experience, rarely feature a superhero and are now popping up with regularity in libraries and book stores. Many graphic novels have even garnered major literary prizes, including the American Book Award. Wenthe is not the only academic teaching the virtues of comic books. Wake Forest University Sociologist Saylor Breckenridge has researched the subject, studying the relationship between comic books and popular culture.

Wenthe was trained in medieval literature at Duke, Harvard, Oxford, and Yale. His primary research interest – aside from graphic novels – involves international literature of King Arthur, and his current book project has the working title Arthurian Outsiders: The Dynamic of Difference in the Matter of Britain.

American University (www.american.edu) is a leader in global education, enrolling a diverse student body from throughout the U.S. and nearly 150 countries. Located in Washington, D.C., the university provides opportunities for academic excellence, public service and internships in the nation’s capital and around the world.

OT: John Lent interview

My friend John Lent was interviewed about the International Journal of Comic Art earlier this year by Steve Black, a librarian at the College of St. Rose. Black's transcribed the interview and put it online.

Nate Beeler featured in Cagle newsletter

As we mentioned, Nate Beeler of the Examiner is now syndicated by Cagle. Today was the second time he was the featured cartoonist in Cagle's email newsletter.

Feb 15: Swann Fellowship in Caricature and Cartoon

Applications for the Swann Fellowship in Caricature and Cartoon are due Feb. 15, 2008. The Swann Foundation makes an annual award of up to $15,000 to support scholarly graduate research in caricature and cartoon. Applicants must be enrolled in an accredited M.A. or Ph.D program in a university in the U.S., Canada, or Mexico. Access guidelines and application at:
http://www.loc.gov/rr/print/swann/swann-fellow.html
Contact Martha Kennedy with questions at 202/707-9115 or email swann@loc.gov

Martha H. Kennedy
Assistant Curator, Popular and Applied Graphic Art
Prints and Photographs Division
Library of Congress

Christmas decorating with Richard's Poor Almanack

Saturday's Post had another fun 'do-it-yourself' panel by Richard Thompson. So I cut out the Christmas Curmudgeons and decorated my computer at work.(click on picture for larger version and for extra credit, find Michael Kahn lurking in the background)

The panel didn't come with a manger or anything so I had to make my own tree. Richard discussed the genesis of the panel on his blog - read the comments.

I think he should sponsor a contest for the best decorating scheme.

Marvel might have an image problem

Every once in a while, a Washington Times comes to hand and I read the comics and editorial cartoons. Here's one by Combs of Tribune Media Services that struck me today.
Perhaps most people wouldn't notice it, but as you can see the skull on the kid's shirt is clearly the Punisher's emblem.
The average non-comics reader would probably have heard of the two failed movies, the second with John Travolta, but the Punisher's been around since the early 1970s. He's from the time when Dirty Harry was in the theaters and The Destoyer and The Executioner were in men's novels.

I have no idea if this is drawn from life and some mass murderer really wore a Punisher t-shirt, or if the artist just liked the image, or what, but it seems like Marvel might end up with some image problems if cartoons like this one continue.

Mike Dirda goes "Snap Ploobadoof" for Don Martin

See his review, "The cartoonist who made Mad magazine truly mad for more than 30 years" By Michael Dirda, Washington Post Book World Sunday, December 9, 2007; Page BW11.

(Actually that's the sound of Wonder Woman's bra opening)

Smithsonian curator wrote comics

See "A Local Life: Silvio A. Bedini: Collector and Scholar Pried Loose History's Secret Gems," By Patricia Sullivan, Washington Post Staff Writer, Sunday, December 9, 2007; Page C07. Anyone know any more about these?

NoVA's Luna Brothers interview and Zadzooks

See Luna "Brothers Hone Storytelling Acumen on Sword," by Matthew McLean, December 4, 2007

and today's Zadzook's column is "Paranormal forays in 'Bleach,' 'X-Files' DVDs," By Joseph Szadkowski, Washington Times December 8, 2007.