QUICK REVIEWS FOR COMICS DUE 02-20-08
By John Judy
ANGEL: AFTER THE FALL #4 by Joss Whedon, Brian Lynch, and Franco Urru. Believe it or not, there is yet another shock ending to come. T’would be so awesome to see on TV…
BOYS, VOL. 2: GET SOME SC by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson. Collecting issues #7-14 featuring the Tek-Knight and the Boys’ trip to Russia. NOT for kids, no way-no how, but still recommended.
BRAVE AND BOLD #10 by Mark Waid and George Perez. Untold tales from the Book of Destiny! Supes! Titans! Silver-Age fun galore! Recommended!
EX MACHINA #34 by Brian K. Vaughan and Tony Harris. Sure, Y THE LAST MAN is over, but we can still get our B.K. Vaughan fix here! This issue we see how an urban vigilante would be received by a real big city police department.
HULK #2 by Jeph Loeb and Ed McGuinness. Still no clue who the Red Hulk is but we do learn why Rick Jones can’t keep his shirt together.
IMMORTAL IRON FIST: ORSON RANDALL AND THE GREEN MIST OF DEATH 1-SHOT by Matt Fraction and Various Artists. Lots of great art and some very important context for what’s happening over in the regular title. Not absolutely essential to understanding the regular series but a huge help in getting past the more puzzling details.
JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #18 by Dwayne McDuffie and Ed Benes. JLA vs. Suicide Squad! So when you’re fighting a team called “Suicide Squad” is it appropriate to stand back and say “Okay, go ahead.”?
MAAKIES WITH WRINKLED KNEES HC by Tony Millionaire. Collecting two years worth of the cartoon adventures of Drinky Crow and Uncle Gabby, the hapless ape. Look, ya either get it or ya don’t.
MIGHTY AVENGERS #9 by Brian Michael Bendis and Mark Bagley. What happens when you invade a country that actually has WMDs? Doctor Doom elaborates on this subject.
MARVEL MASTERWORKS: ANT-MAN/GIANT-MAN VOL. 2 HC by Stan Lee, Larry Lieber, Carl Burgos, Don Heck, Steve Ditko, and Others. Collecting TALES TO ASTONISH #53-69 from the days before Hank Pym was a spouse-beating, depressive with multiple personality disorder. A must-have for all Human Top completists!
RUNAWAYS #29 by Joss Whedon and Michael Ryan. My admiration of the creative team notwithstanding this book was last seen in October of 2007 so it’s kind of hard to recall who’s doing what to whom. Fun stuff if you like “Back to the Future Meets Gangs of New York Meets X-Men.” And I kinda do…. Still, I’d like my own time machine so I could travel four months into the future to see how this all wraps up.
SPIRIT #14 by Sergio Aragones, Mark Evanier, and Mike Ploog. A new creative team on Eisner’s most famous creation! If anyone can follow Darwyn Cooke it’s these guys! Recommended.
ULTIMATE HUMAN #2 of 4 by Warren Ellis and Cary Nord. Ultimate Hulk fights Ultimate Iron Man. Yeah, that’s about it.
ULTIMATES 3 #3 of 5 by Jeph Loeb and Joe Madureira. The mystery of who killed Ultimate Scarlet Witch is overshadowed by the assertion that she and her brother were doing something that is illegal in most states. (Except maybe the Scarlet ones…) Even in the Spears Sisters Era we live in I would say this series is NOT for kids.
ZORRO #1 by Matt Wagner and Francesco Francavilla. The latest revival of the 1919 pulp character begins here! If you liked the Dynamite Entertainment take on the Lone Ranger you need to check this out. From the award-winning creator of GRENDEL.
www.johnjudy.net
Monday, February 18, 2008
Sunday, February 17, 2008
Silver Spring's Adventure House publishes comic strip biography
I ran into the publisher Adventure House at a con last weekend and talked to him for a while. In addition to the stunning Alex Raymond book pictured here, I've been buying his reprints of the Shadow regularly. Both the Shadow and Doc Savage have new material written by pulp historians Anthony Tollin and Will Murray. 
Adventure House also has a couple of pulp reprints relating to comic strips - pulp version of Tailspin Tommy #2 from January 1937 and Don Winslow of the Navy #2 from May 1937. I'm a big fan of comics novelizations, even though they're frequently so-so, and was quite please to be able to buy these. I bought this too - Uncovered: The Hidden Art of the Girlie Pulps - on sale for half-price!
Elk's Run interview
Elk's Run was edited by Arlington's Jason Rodriguez - here's a discussion of the book and an interview with the author from Comicon's The Pulse 02-14-2008 "FOR YOUR CONSIDERATION: Elk’s Run," by CHRIS BECKETT.
Zadzooks on Spider-Man's silly retcon
"Awesome art can't save Spider-Man from story," By Joseph Szadkowski, Washington Times, February 16, 2008. For those who don't read Spider-Man - the devil offered to save Aunt May's life in exchange for Spidey and Mary Jane's marriage - and they took the deal. Hah!
Drew Friedman artwork in Sunday's Post
The Style & Arts section, apparently flush with money after being merged, hired cartoonist and caricaturist Drew Friedman to do a color page for their Oscars coverage. Friedman's appeared in Heavy Metal, Entertainment Weekly and has two books on Jewish Comedians out from Fantagraphics now.
The Incredible Mr. Poe exhibit - new opening date
The Incredible Mr. Poe: Edgar Allan Poe in the Comics
An Exhibition
In 1941, Russian immigrant Albert Lewis Kanter tried to introduce young people in the United States to fine literature by incorporating the classics into something they were already reading—comic books. In 1944, “The Murders in the Rue Morgue” appeared in Kanter’s Classic Comics series, and ever since adaptations of both Poe and his works have been regular features in comic books and graphic novels, many of which will be on display April 24 to October 31 at the Edgar Allan Poe Museum in Richmond (www.poemuseum.org). Poe has even appeared as a comics hero himself alongside Batman and Scooby Doo.
M. Thomas Inge, Blackwell Professor of Humanities at Randolph-Macon College in Ashland, Virginia, and Poe Foundation trustee, has studied comic art for over forty years and published several books on the subject. His collection of comic books from childhood will form the core of the upcoming exhibition which is curated by Richmond artist Chris Semtner.
Also featured will be original artwork by such comic artists and illustrators as Rick Geary, Richard Corben, Gahan Wilson, Gris Grimly, Bill Griffith, and Patrick McDonnell, as well as proof sheets and original pages for some of the Classics Illustrated and other comic book versions loaned by collector Jim Vacca of Boulder, Colorado. An illustrated book and catalog will be available for purchase from the Museum Gift Shop with proceeds going to the Museum.
This will be the first exhibition ever devoted to the comic books and graphic narratives that have helped keep Poe’s name and works in the public eye for over sixty years. An opening reception will be held Thursday evening April 24, 7:00 to 10:00 p.m., with an Unhappy Hour, food, and music, free and open to the public. The Edgar Allan Poe Museum is located at 1914 East Main Street, Richmond, Virginia 23223, phone 804 648-5523. For more information contact Rebecca Jones at becca@poemuseum.org or call toll free 888 21EAPOE.
An Exhibition
In 1941, Russian immigrant Albert Lewis Kanter tried to introduce young people in the United States to fine literature by incorporating the classics into something they were already reading—comic books. In 1944, “The Murders in the Rue Morgue” appeared in Kanter’s Classic Comics series, and ever since adaptations of both Poe and his works have been regular features in comic books and graphic novels, many of which will be on display April 24 to October 31 at the Edgar Allan Poe Museum in Richmond (www.poemuseum.org). Poe has even appeared as a comics hero himself alongside Batman and Scooby Doo.
M. Thomas Inge, Blackwell Professor of Humanities at Randolph-Macon College in Ashland, Virginia, and Poe Foundation trustee, has studied comic art for over forty years and published several books on the subject. His collection of comic books from childhood will form the core of the upcoming exhibition which is curated by Richmond artist Chris Semtner.
Also featured will be original artwork by such comic artists and illustrators as Rick Geary, Richard Corben, Gahan Wilson, Gris Grimly, Bill Griffith, and Patrick McDonnell, as well as proof sheets and original pages for some of the Classics Illustrated and other comic book versions loaned by collector Jim Vacca of Boulder, Colorado. An illustrated book and catalog will be available for purchase from the Museum Gift Shop with proceeds going to the Museum.
This will be the first exhibition ever devoted to the comic books and graphic narratives that have helped keep Poe’s name and works in the public eye for over sixty years. An opening reception will be held Thursday evening April 24, 7:00 to 10:00 p.m., with an Unhappy Hour, food, and music, free and open to the public. The Edgar Allan Poe Museum is located at 1914 East Main Street, Richmond, Virginia 23223, phone 804 648-5523. For more information contact Rebecca Jones at becca@poemuseum.org or call toll free 888 21EAPOE.
Saturday, February 16, 2008
George of the Jungle in the Post on Sunday and Tuesday
The new animated George of the Jungle is the topic of "Back in The Swing: George's Jungle Hijinks Evolve for a New Generation," by Kathy Blumenstock, Washington Post Staff Writer, Sunday, February 17, 2008 in the TV week section.
Jay Ward's daughter Tiffany is interviewed about the new show and her father and will be answering questions Tuesday, Feb 19 at 1 pm on www.washingtonpost.com
Jay Ward's daughter Tiffany is interviewed about the new show and her father and will be answering questions Tuesday, Feb 19 at 1 pm on www.washingtonpost.com
Friday, February 15, 2008
Carl Barks exhibit at Geppi's Entertainment Museum
The Scoop newsletter's article Carl Barks in the Spotlight at GEM: "Scrooged!" has more detail on the new exhibit in Baltimore.
Feb 15-17 Anime in town
According to "All Fired Up for Anime," by Ellen McCarthy, Washington Post Staff Writer, Friday, February 15, 2008; Page WE33, there's a lot of anime in town this weekend. Once can go to:
ANIME AT THE KENNEDY CENTER Genius Party premieres, Friday and Saturday at 7:30. $25. Three-movie marathon, Sunday, with films at 11, 1:15 and 3:30. $15 each. 2700 F St. NW. 202-467-4600. http://www.kennedy-center.org
KATSUCON Friday-Sunday. Omni Shoreham, 2500 Calvert St. NW. Friday $25, Saturday $35, Sunday $20, three-day pass $50. No advance registration required. For a full schedule, visit http://www.katsucon.com.
More details on the Kennedy Center events can be found in yesterday's Express - "Welcome To Japan: 'Culture + Hyperculture'" by Christopher Correa, Express, February 14, 2008.
ANIME AT THE KENNEDY CENTER Genius Party premieres, Friday and Saturday at 7:30. $25. Three-movie marathon, Sunday, with films at 11, 1:15 and 3:30. $15 each. 2700 F St. NW. 202-467-4600. http://www.kennedy-center.org
KATSUCON Friday-Sunday. Omni Shoreham, 2500 Calvert St. NW. Friday $25, Saturday $35, Sunday $20, three-day pass $50. No advance registration required. For a full schedule, visit http://www.katsucon.com.
More details on the Kennedy Center events can be found in yesterday's Express - "Welcome To Japan: 'Culture + Hyperculture'" by Christopher Correa, Express, February 14, 2008.
Thursday, February 14, 2008
OT: Michael Barson on Love Comics
Recently my editor at the University Press of Mississippi tracked down Mike Barson so I could ask permission to use his 1984 interview with Harvey Pekar from Heavy Metal. I called Mr. Barson yesterday and had an enjoyable conversation with him about interviewing Harvey and his other work for Heavy Metal. He's been doing books on ephemera - most are available on Amazon - and today I saw this article on EW.com - "Boy loves girl, girl loves boy and other fables from the Golden Age of Love Comics," by Michael Barson. Check it out.
Wednesday, February 13, 2008
Comics articles in local media
"Undercover Brother: 'Incognegro'" by Darona Williams on February 13, 2008 is online at the Express website, but isn't in the paper.
Meanwhile the Capitol Hill paper has Mike Canning on Persepolis - "A most animated tale, but no cartoon," Hillrag (February 2008): 78.
Meanwhile the Capitol Hill paper has Mike Canning on Persepolis - "A most animated tale, but no cartoon," Hillrag (February 2008): 78.
Tuesday, February 12, 2008
Finding back issues of comics in DC UPDATED
A reader (!) wrote in asking for recommendations about back issue stores in the area. Here's an edited version of my replay and suggestions are welcome -
Very few back issue stores left - there's one in Vienna, VA - which is not the Big Planet Comics store there. According to Randy T in the comments, it's EG Comics, which is not on this this Google search, but is on Maple Ave in one of the strip malls. Aside from that - Barbarian Books in Wheaton - call first as they have odd hours and are closed on Monday I think, although they are close to a Metro. Maybe the closest.
Obviously I'm a fan of Big Planet - I go to the Bethesda store - but they're all good and they all have almost no back issues now (except for College Park - see Joel Pollack's comment below). Another good store is Fantom Comics in Tenleytown and Union Station, both locations right outside the metro. No back issues, or not many, though.
Most back issues turn up at the two local cons - the Capital Associates one is bigger and had a good selection of back issues when I was at it last Sunday.
Very few back issue stores left - there's one in Vienna, VA - which is not the Big Planet Comics store there. According to Randy T in the comments, it's EG Comics, which is not on this this Google search, but is on Maple Ave in one of the strip malls. Aside from that - Barbarian Books in Wheaton - call first as they have odd hours and are closed on Monday I think, although they are close to a Metro. Maybe the closest.
Obviously I'm a fan of Big Planet - I go to the Bethesda store - but they're all good and they all have almost no back issues now (except for College Park - see Joel Pollack's comment below). Another good store is Fantom Comics in Tenleytown and Union Station, both locations right outside the metro. No back issues, or not many, though.
Most back issues turn up at the two local cons - the Capital Associates one is bigger and had a good selection of back issues when I was at it last Sunday.
OT: The philosophical implications of Captain America
I was in a Borders recently with our man RT*, and saw the British magazine to the right and immediately scooped it up and rushed to the cash register. "Popular Culture and Philosophy" - who could resist? Inside is Major Todd A Burkhardt's article "Operation Rebirth: Captain America and the ethics of enhancement,"Philosophy Now (November / December 2007). Major Burkhardt, who teaches at West Point according to his bio blurb, asks, "...What would be the moral ramifications of creating a real Captain America? Is the intentional creation of super-soldiers by cell engineering morally permissible?"
After a review of the concepts of freedom and supreme evil, Burkhardt concludes that the creation of a super-soldier was moral for 1940. He leaves aside the issue of whether it would be today.
*Richard Thompson, cartoonist and bon vivant
Monday, February 11, 2008
Ann Telnaes interview on gender bias in editorial cartons
Ann Telnaes was interviewed for the story that appeared in the paper - "Drawing the line: Editorial cartoonists confront issues of sexism and racism when caricaturing the Democratic front-runners," by Pam Platt, Louisville, KY Courier-Journal February 10, 2008, but Ms. Platt also posted the interviews she did on their website.
And a tip of the hat to Alan Gardner's Daily Cartoonist blog for one of the links.
And a tip of the hat to Alan Gardner's Daily Cartoonist blog for one of the links.
Mike Imboden's Fist of Justice
Frederick, Maryland's Mike Imboden and his Fist of Justice comic book is profiled in "Frederick Writer Creates Comic Book Hero," Associated Press February 11, 2008. I picked up a couple of his books at a con late last year - he does some nice parody covers of early Marvel books.
Sunday, February 10, 2008
Government Comics on Internet Archive
A search for 'comic book' at the Internet Archive produces pdfs of some US Government comic book giveaways including Mr. Civil Defense Tells About Natural Disasters which has a Li'l Abner cover and Smash-Up at Big Rock with art by Mark Trail's Ed Dodd. There's also a Jack Chick and a Klan comic. I guess there are still some government giveaway comics although the only one coming to mind at the moment is PS Magazine - now with Joe Kubert artwork.
QUICK REVIEWS FOR COMICS DUE 02-13-08
QUICK REVIEWS FOR COMICS DUE 02-13-08
By John Judy
Remember: Nothing says “Happy Valentine’s Day” like an armload of comics! Right, honey? Honey…?
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #550 by Marc Guggenheim and Salvador Larroca. Jackpot! Menace! And maybe some more new characters with so-so names. It’s no “Doctor Octopus” is all I’m saying.
ASTRO CITY: THE DARK AGE SPECIAL #2 BEAUTIE by Kurt Busiek and Brent Anderson. The secret origin of Astro City’s own living doll, Beautie! We’ve been waiting years for this and so has she! Recommended!
BAT LASH #3 of 6 by Peter Brandvold, Sergio Aragones and John Severin. Necktie Party! How’s ol’ Bat gonna git outta this one?! Owl-hoots beware!
BLACK PANTHER #34 by Reginald Hudlin and Cafu. Featuring Skrull gangsters and frogs.
BOOSTER GOLD #0 by Geoff Johns, Jeff Katz, and Dan Jurgens. It’s official: This is the latest-shipping title ever!!! Ladies and Gentlemen: the Booster Gold/Zero Hour cross-over! In your face, Kevin Smith! Eat it, Ultimate Hulk/Wolverine #3! Miracleman #25? 1963 Annual? All is forgiven. You can come out now… Please?
BPRD: 1946 #2 of 5 by Mike Mignola, Joshua Dysart, and Paul Azaceta. Professor Bruttenholm teams up with the Russkies to find out what’s up with Project Vampir Sturm. Creepy Horrific hi-jinks from the House of Hellboy!
CAPTAIN MARVEL #3 of 5 by Brian Reed and Lee Weeks. Paintings and Skrulls.
DMZ #28 by Brian Wood and Riccardo Burchielli. The secret origin of Soames, New York’s most infamous eco-warrior!
DOOM PATROL ARCHIVES VOL. 4 HC by Arnold Drake and Bruno Premiani. Collecting issues #106-113 of “the strangest super-team of all.” No, the other one. Silver-Age, dinosaur-punching fun! Recommended.
FANTASTIC FOUR #554 by Mark Millar and Bryan Hitch. A new team and a new look for The World’s Greatest Comic Magazine! Very ultimate-y without feeling as wholly detached from the rich details of the mainstream Marvel Yoo. Recommended.
GHOST RIDER #20 by Jason Aaron and Roland Boschi. Okay, I know it’s Ghost Rider which is usually a title on par with its movie adaptation. However, this new arc is being written by the guy who writes SCALPED and SCALPED is completely awesome. That alone gets this issue a read. A very hopeful read….
GOON #21 written and illustrated by Eric Powell. The Priest’s unearthly kin would like a word with him.
NEW AVENGERS #38 by Brian Michael Bendis and Michael Gaydos. Jessica Jones turns herself in to The Law to protect her baby. Very “Juno” if “Juno” was a noir super-hero story without all the chipper pseudo-Canadian accents and West Wing-y banter. Okay, it’s Bendis so the banter is there. No getting around the banter. Sorry.
NEXT ISSUE PROJECT #1: FANTASTIC COMICS #24 by Many Twisted People. Okay, Booster and Company are off the hook. This one is the Latest Comic Ever by about 66 years. The last issue of FANTASTIC COMICS was on the stands in November of 1941. A little thing called “copyright expiration” kicked in and now anyone who wants to can publish all the characters contained therein, no harm, no foul. So brace yourself for a golden-age sized delight containing the new adventures of Samson, Stardust, Flip Falcon, Sub Saunders, Yank Wilson, and more! Marvel’s got THE TWELVE. Dynamite’s got that Alex Ross thing. Now it’s Image’s turn at bat, Gotta look!
SHOWCASE PRESENTS: ENEMY ACE, VOL. 1 SC by Robert Kanigher, Joe Kubert, John Severin, Howard Chaykin, Neal Adams, and wow, how do you even follow that? A must for fans of great comics, “war” or otherwise.
SUPERMAN #673 by Kurt Busiek and Peter Vale. Superman fights Insect Queen on the moon! And he’s got a bug’s head on the cover! What more can one ask?
WALKING DEAD #46 by Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard. Oh man, I hope they didn’t really kill Michonne last issue…. Not for kids. Must have.
WILL EISNER’S SPIRIT ARCHIVES VOL.24 HC written and drawn by Will Eisner. The final volume of Eisner’s most famous creation, collecting the weekly Spirit adventures up through the early 1950s. The cover art alone is worth it. Recommended with awe.
WOLVERINE #62 by Jason Aaron and Ron Garney. Best Wolvie story in quite a while from the author of SCALPED. Featuring Mystique and a seriously ruthless Scott Summers. It’s like he grew up on a reservation or something… Recommended.
WONDER WOMAN #17 by Gail Simone and Terry & Rachel Dodson. WW vs. evil Amazons and Nazis. Classic stuff, beautifully drawn and on time!
X-FACTOR #28 by Peter David and Pablo Raimondi. Finally free from the last Big X-Over, we learn who Madrox knocked up and what’s happening around Mutant-Town. Helpful x-slang to learn: “PAN = Pass As Normal. REM = You still have your horns, tentacles, weird brow ridges, but no friggin’ powers.” It’ll be on the test.
X-FORCE #1 of 6 by Christopher Yost and Clayton Crain. Wolverine, Warpath, Wolfsbane, and the Wolverine Tranny-Clone X-23. Cyclops has assembled a mutant murder squad to kill anyone he doesn’t like. Because that’s what heroes do. Do protect Freedom or something. Comes without poly-bags, trading cards, or a bucket. But it does have those highly collectable variant covers!
www.johnjudy.net
By John Judy
Remember: Nothing says “Happy Valentine’s Day” like an armload of comics! Right, honey? Honey…?
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #550 by Marc Guggenheim and Salvador Larroca. Jackpot! Menace! And maybe some more new characters with so-so names. It’s no “Doctor Octopus” is all I’m saying.
ASTRO CITY: THE DARK AGE SPECIAL #2 BEAUTIE by Kurt Busiek and Brent Anderson. The secret origin of Astro City’s own living doll, Beautie! We’ve been waiting years for this and so has she! Recommended!
BAT LASH #3 of 6 by Peter Brandvold, Sergio Aragones and John Severin. Necktie Party! How’s ol’ Bat gonna git outta this one?! Owl-hoots beware!
BLACK PANTHER #34 by Reginald Hudlin and Cafu. Featuring Skrull gangsters and frogs.
BOOSTER GOLD #0 by Geoff Johns, Jeff Katz, and Dan Jurgens. It’s official: This is the latest-shipping title ever!!! Ladies and Gentlemen: the Booster Gold/Zero Hour cross-over! In your face, Kevin Smith! Eat it, Ultimate Hulk/Wolverine #3! Miracleman #25? 1963 Annual? All is forgiven. You can come out now… Please?
BPRD: 1946 #2 of 5 by Mike Mignola, Joshua Dysart, and Paul Azaceta. Professor Bruttenholm teams up with the Russkies to find out what’s up with Project Vampir Sturm. Creepy Horrific hi-jinks from the House of Hellboy!
CAPTAIN MARVEL #3 of 5 by Brian Reed and Lee Weeks. Paintings and Skrulls.
DMZ #28 by Brian Wood and Riccardo Burchielli. The secret origin of Soames, New York’s most infamous eco-warrior!
DOOM PATROL ARCHIVES VOL. 4 HC by Arnold Drake and Bruno Premiani. Collecting issues #106-113 of “the strangest super-team of all.” No, the other one. Silver-Age, dinosaur-punching fun! Recommended.
FANTASTIC FOUR #554 by Mark Millar and Bryan Hitch. A new team and a new look for The World’s Greatest Comic Magazine! Very ultimate-y without feeling as wholly detached from the rich details of the mainstream Marvel Yoo. Recommended.
GHOST RIDER #20 by Jason Aaron and Roland Boschi. Okay, I know it’s Ghost Rider which is usually a title on par with its movie adaptation. However, this new arc is being written by the guy who writes SCALPED and SCALPED is completely awesome. That alone gets this issue a read. A very hopeful read….
GOON #21 written and illustrated by Eric Powell. The Priest’s unearthly kin would like a word with him.
NEW AVENGERS #38 by Brian Michael Bendis and Michael Gaydos. Jessica Jones turns herself in to The Law to protect her baby. Very “Juno” if “Juno” was a noir super-hero story without all the chipper pseudo-Canadian accents and West Wing-y banter. Okay, it’s Bendis so the banter is there. No getting around the banter. Sorry.
NEXT ISSUE PROJECT #1: FANTASTIC COMICS #24 by Many Twisted People. Okay, Booster and Company are off the hook. This one is the Latest Comic Ever by about 66 years. The last issue of FANTASTIC COMICS was on the stands in November of 1941. A little thing called “copyright expiration” kicked in and now anyone who wants to can publish all the characters contained therein, no harm, no foul. So brace yourself for a golden-age sized delight containing the new adventures of Samson, Stardust, Flip Falcon, Sub Saunders, Yank Wilson, and more! Marvel’s got THE TWELVE. Dynamite’s got that Alex Ross thing. Now it’s Image’s turn at bat, Gotta look!
SHOWCASE PRESENTS: ENEMY ACE, VOL. 1 SC by Robert Kanigher, Joe Kubert, John Severin, Howard Chaykin, Neal Adams, and wow, how do you even follow that? A must for fans of great comics, “war” or otherwise.
SUPERMAN #673 by Kurt Busiek and Peter Vale. Superman fights Insect Queen on the moon! And he’s got a bug’s head on the cover! What more can one ask?
WALKING DEAD #46 by Robert Kirkman and Charlie Adlard. Oh man, I hope they didn’t really kill Michonne last issue…. Not for kids. Must have.
WILL EISNER’S SPIRIT ARCHIVES VOL.24 HC written and drawn by Will Eisner. The final volume of Eisner’s most famous creation, collecting the weekly Spirit adventures up through the early 1950s. The cover art alone is worth it. Recommended with awe.
WOLVERINE #62 by Jason Aaron and Ron Garney. Best Wolvie story in quite a while from the author of SCALPED. Featuring Mystique and a seriously ruthless Scott Summers. It’s like he grew up on a reservation or something… Recommended.
WONDER WOMAN #17 by Gail Simone and Terry & Rachel Dodson. WW vs. evil Amazons and Nazis. Classic stuff, beautifully drawn and on time!
X-FACTOR #28 by Peter David and Pablo Raimondi. Finally free from the last Big X-Over, we learn who Madrox knocked up and what’s happening around Mutant-Town. Helpful x-slang to learn: “PAN = Pass As Normal. REM = You still have your horns, tentacles, weird brow ridges, but no friggin’ powers.” It’ll be on the test.
X-FORCE #1 of 6 by Christopher Yost and Clayton Crain. Wolverine, Warpath, Wolfsbane, and the Wolverine Tranny-Clone X-23. Cyclops has assembled a mutant murder squad to kill anyone he doesn’t like. Because that’s what heroes do. Do protect Freedom or something. Comes without poly-bags, trading cards, or a bucket. But it does have those highly collectable variant covers!
www.johnjudy.net
Saturday, February 09, 2008
April 25: The Incredible Mr. Poe: Edgar Allan Poe in the Comics
A new exhibit curated by long-time comics scholar Tom Inge will open in Richmond in the spring.
The Incredible Mr. Poe: Edgar Allan Poe in the Comics
An Exhibition
In 1941, Russian immigrant Albert Lewis Kanter tried to introduce young people in the United States to fine literature by incorporating the classics into something they were already reading—comic books. In 1944, “The Murders in the Rue Morgue” appeared in Kanter’s Classic Comics series, and ever since adaptations of both Poe and his works have been regular features in comic books and graphic novels, many of which will be on display April 25 to October 31 at the Edgar Allan Poe Museum in Richmond (www.poemuseum.org). Poe has even appeared as a comics hero himself alongside Batman and Scooby Doo.
M. Thomas Inge, Blackwell Professor of Humanities at Randolph-Macon College in Ashland, Virginia, and Poe Foundation trustee, has studied comic art for over forty years and published several books on the subject. His collection of comic books from childhood will form the core of the upcoming exhibition which is curated by Richmond artist Chris Semtner.
Also featured will be original artwork by such comic artists and illustrators as Rick Geary, Richard Corben, Gahan Wilson, Gris Grimly, Bill Griffith, and Patrick McDonnell, as well as proof sheets and original pages for some of the Classics Illustrated and other comic book versions loaned by collector Jim Vacca of Boulder, Colorado. An illustrated book and catalog will be available for purchase from the Museum Gift Shop with proceeds going to the Museum.
This will be the first exhibition ever devoted to the comic books and graphic narratives that have helped keep Poe’s name and works in the public eye for over sixty years. An opening reception will be held Friday evening April 25, 7:00 to 10:00 p.m., and there will also be an introductory lecture. All events are open to the public. The Edgar Allan Poe Museum is located at 1914 East Main Street, Richmond, Virginia 23223, phone 804 648-5523. For more information contact Rebecca Jones at becca@poemuseum.org or call toll free 888 21EAPOE.
The Incredible Mr. Poe: Edgar Allan Poe in the Comics
An Exhibition
In 1941, Russian immigrant Albert Lewis Kanter tried to introduce young people in the United States to fine literature by incorporating the classics into something they were already reading—comic books. In 1944, “The Murders in the Rue Morgue” appeared in Kanter’s Classic Comics series, and ever since adaptations of both Poe and his works have been regular features in comic books and graphic novels, many of which will be on display April 25 to October 31 at the Edgar Allan Poe Museum in Richmond (www.poemuseum.org). Poe has even appeared as a comics hero himself alongside Batman and Scooby Doo.
M. Thomas Inge, Blackwell Professor of Humanities at Randolph-Macon College in Ashland, Virginia, and Poe Foundation trustee, has studied comic art for over forty years and published several books on the subject. His collection of comic books from childhood will form the core of the upcoming exhibition which is curated by Richmond artist Chris Semtner.
Also featured will be original artwork by such comic artists and illustrators as Rick Geary, Richard Corben, Gahan Wilson, Gris Grimly, Bill Griffith, and Patrick McDonnell, as well as proof sheets and original pages for some of the Classics Illustrated and other comic book versions loaned by collector Jim Vacca of Boulder, Colorado. An illustrated book and catalog will be available for purchase from the Museum Gift Shop with proceeds going to the Museum.
This will be the first exhibition ever devoted to the comic books and graphic narratives that have helped keep Poe’s name and works in the public eye for over sixty years. An opening reception will be held Friday evening April 25, 7:00 to 10:00 p.m., and there will also be an introductory lecture. All events are open to the public. The Edgar Allan Poe Museum is located at 1914 East Main Street, Richmond, Virginia 23223, phone 804 648-5523. For more information contact Rebecca Jones at becca@poemuseum.org or call toll free 888 21EAPOE.
Zadzooks is Harvey Birdman videogame review
Voila - "Harvey Birdman tans, gets smiles amid justice," By Joseph Szadkowski, Washington Times, February 9, 2008. Nah, I don't really care either.
Wednesday, February 06, 2008
Bruce Guthrie's pictures of Clarendon's Mardi Gras Parade and the Richard Thompson float
Bruce Guthrie has a photoset of pre-Mardi Gras hijinks at the BonoTom Studio where the Richard Thompson-inspired
float for Clarendon's Mardi Gras parade was designed and built and then pictures of the float in action.
We can all get along!
Richard and I look on in stunned amazement.
Bonotom Studio made the buildings and everything.
float for Clarendon's Mardi Gras parade was designed and built and then pictures of the float in action.
We can all get along!
Richard and I look on in stunned amazement.
Bonotom Studio made the buildings and everything.
Feb 10 Comic convention this weekend
Capital Associates - Dunn Loring Fire Dept, Tysons Coverner, VA, 2148 Gallows Road. $3.00, 10am-3 pm - www.capicons.com for information.
Special guest - Pop Mhan
Special guest - Pop Mhan
Feb 7-17: Anime and manga at Kennedy Center
Repost!
From their website:
Manga & Anime
Manga is a sequential narrative Japanese comic. Anime is a unique animation style developed in Japan. Both are now internationally recognized forms of literary and visual art. Manga is one of the fastest growing segments of U.S. books—and anime films have gained a rapidly expanding fan base across the nation.
Manga Café and Reading Lounge
Enjoy a bite to eat while reading VIZ Media mangas, watching anime trailers, and viewing vintage robot toys. Manga author Robin Nishi will capture festival happenings in a daily drawing and conduct a free workshop.
* Feb 7 - 17, 2008
* South Gallery
Genius Party Premieres
Don't miss this unprecedented series of original films by Japan's top anime talents, who were each selected by Director and Genius Party Executive Producer Eiko Tanaka to create their dream projects.
* Feb 15 - 16, 2008
* Family Theater
* $25.00
Marathon of Anime Premieres
Don't miss this screening marathon featuring three new anime features: 5 Centimeters Per Second, The Piano Forest, and Appleseed: Ex Machina.
* Feb 17, 2008
* Family Theater
* $15.00
From their website:
Manga & Anime
Manga is a sequential narrative Japanese comic. Anime is a unique animation style developed in Japan. Both are now internationally recognized forms of literary and visual art. Manga is one of the fastest growing segments of U.S. books—and anime films have gained a rapidly expanding fan base across the nation.
Manga Café and Reading Lounge
Enjoy a bite to eat while reading VIZ Media mangas, watching anime trailers, and viewing vintage robot toys. Manga author Robin Nishi will capture festival happenings in a daily drawing and conduct a free workshop.
* Feb 7 - 17, 2008
* South Gallery
Genius Party Premieres
Don't miss this unprecedented series of original films by Japan's top anime talents, who were each selected by Director and Genius Party Executive Producer Eiko Tanaka to create their dream projects.
* Feb 15 - 16, 2008
* Family Theater
* $25.00
Marathon of Anime Premieres
Don't miss this screening marathon featuring three new anime features: 5 Centimeters Per Second, The Piano Forest, and Appleseed: Ex Machina.
* Feb 17, 2008
* Family Theater
* $15.00
Arlington's Steve Conley draws Star Trek
Arlington's Steve Conley is drawing Star Trek for IDW's Star Trek Year Four. They're up to six issues so far - Steve seems to be drawing about every other one and is doing some covers as well. The comic is based on the animated tv series, and has been good so far. Steve's name may be familiar from organizing the Small Press Expo, or his fun web comic / comic book Astounding Space Thrills.
Post on comic strip collective action
The Post has picked up on the February 10th collective protest by cartoonists of a darker shade of pale - "Cartoonists to Protest Lack of Color in the Comics," by Teresa Wiltz, Washington Post Staff Writer, Wednesday, February 6, 2008; C01. The protest is largely the idea of local cartoonist Corey Thomas who does 'Watch Your Head.'
I'm afraid I agree with the opinions that Gene Weingarten expressed in his chat update today, although I like Baldo and La Cucaracha well enough. Boondocks' McGruder's comments in the initial article are interesting too - unfortunately I don't think a lot of the college cartoonists are able to sustain their strip. I was a fan of Watch Your Head when the Post tried it out, but it's become a real one-note strip.
Chatalogical Humor by Gene Weingarten, Washington Post Staff Writer, Tuesday, February 5, 2008; 12:00 PM
Gene Weingarten: Here's an interesting piece in today's Style section, about a planned protest by cartoonists-of-color.
I sympathize with these guys, and many of them produce good strips that are victims of a de facto quota system. But there's a difficult truth that undercuts their argument. In devastating economic times, newspapers are (unwisely, I believe) ruthlessly squeezing the life out of their comics pages. So there is plenty of pandering going on in all directions -- a naked, desperate effort to appeal to every possible perceived constituency -- and that has nothing to do with racism. With limited space, there are quotas for everything. Believe me, the only reason newspapers run the painfully bad Prickly City is that they feel they need to offer a conservative voice on the page, to counterbalance the lefty Doonesbury, Candorville Nonsequitur, etc. The only reason newspapers run Dennis the Menace and Beetle Bailey and Classic Peanuts is to appeal to the oldsters who they believe would feel lost without these mild, mealy things. Family Circus is for very, very young readers, and preposterously stupid adults, and lovers of camp humor. This appeal-to-all-demographics impulse leaves very little room for ANYONE to break into a newspaper.
There is another factor undercutting their argument: For some, the despicable quota system has worked splendidly. The only reason The Post runs the weak Baldo is that the pandering alternative is the weaker La Cucaracha.
It's a pretty bad situation all around.
I'm afraid I agree with the opinions that Gene Weingarten expressed in his chat update today, although I like Baldo and La Cucaracha well enough. Boondocks' McGruder's comments in the initial article are interesting too - unfortunately I don't think a lot of the college cartoonists are able to sustain their strip. I was a fan of Watch Your Head when the Post tried it out, but it's become a real one-note strip.
Chatalogical Humor by Gene Weingarten, Washington Post Staff Writer, Tuesday, February 5, 2008; 12:00 PM
Gene Weingarten: Here's an interesting piece in today's Style section, about a planned protest by cartoonists-of-color.
I sympathize with these guys, and many of them produce good strips that are victims of a de facto quota system. But there's a difficult truth that undercuts their argument. In devastating economic times, newspapers are (unwisely, I believe) ruthlessly squeezing the life out of their comics pages. So there is plenty of pandering going on in all directions -- a naked, desperate effort to appeal to every possible perceived constituency -- and that has nothing to do with racism. With limited space, there are quotas for everything. Believe me, the only reason newspapers run the painfully bad Prickly City is that they feel they need to offer a conservative voice on the page, to counterbalance the lefty Doonesbury, Candorville Nonsequitur, etc. The only reason newspapers run Dennis the Menace and Beetle Bailey and Classic Peanuts is to appeal to the oldsters who they believe would feel lost without these mild, mealy things. Family Circus is for very, very young readers, and preposterously stupid adults, and lovers of camp humor. This appeal-to-all-demographics impulse leaves very little room for ANYONE to break into a newspaper.
There is another factor undercutting their argument: For some, the despicable quota system has worked splendidly. The only reason The Post runs the weak Baldo is that the pandering alternative is the weaker La Cucaracha.
It's a pretty bad situation all around.
Monday, February 04, 2008
Chabon endorses Obama
Chabon endorses Obama in "Obama vs. the Phobocracy," by Michael Chabon, Washington Post.com Monday, February 4, 2008; 12:00 AM. Chabon of course wrote The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier and Clay about an early comic book-creating duo. He lives in Maryland and is well worth reading as he works his way through reinvigorating literature via genre conventions.
Does anyone know if this appeared actually in the paper? I can't find it in mine.
Does anyone know if this appeared actually in the paper? I can't find it in mine.
John Kascht caricature videos on Wash Post site?
Did anyone know about these? I certainly didn't until the Journalista blog from Seattle pointed them out. There's seven up now - Obama, Clinton, Edwards, McCain, Guliani, Huckabee and Romney - each is slightly over 3 minutes.
More Berryman exhibit coverage
The Clifford Berryman exhibit that is opening later this week at the National Archives continues to generate press. You can see my post about the exhibit here.
And the previously mentioned article in the Washington Post:
"Caricaturing Campaigns: Exhibit of Cartoonist's Sketches Links Politics Then and Now," by Michael E. Ruane, Washington Post Sunday, February 3, 2008; C03.
and this one that snuck by me until today, "National Archives unveils political cartoons," By Johanna Neuman, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer, January 31, 2008.
Jennifer Rios of the Scripps Howard Foundation Wire wrote one too "After 60 years, political cartoons in exhibit remain relevant," - you can register for free to view it, or see it here.
And the previously mentioned article in the Washington Post:
"Caricaturing Campaigns: Exhibit of Cartoonist's Sketches Links Politics Then and Now," by Michael E. Ruane, Washington Post Sunday, February 3, 2008; C03.
and this one that snuck by me until today, "National Archives unveils political cartoons," By Johanna Neuman, Los Angeles Times Staff Writer, January 31, 2008.
Jennifer Rios of the Scripps Howard Foundation Wire wrote one too "After 60 years, political cartoons in exhibit remain relevant," - you can register for free to view it, or see it here.
Feb 5: Mardi Gras with Richard Thompson's imagination
Richard drew this sketch for a King Kong - Godzilla float for Clarendon's Mardi Gras parade, and it ready to roll. You can see his blog for more details (link at right), but be there on Tues eve at 8 pm to see the real thing.
Feb 28: Xxxholic and Tsubasa Chronicle Movies to be Screened at the JICC downtown
Xxxholic and Tsubasa Chronicle Movies to be Screened at the Japan Information and Culture Center, Embassy of Japan.
The Japan Information and Culture Center Embassy of Japan and DC Anime Club proudly present the screening of xxxholic and Tsubasa Chronicle Movies on Thursday Febuary 28, 2008 at 6:30 pm at the Japan Information and Culture Center Embassy of Japan 1155 21st Street, NW Washington, DC 20036-3308.
About xxxholic The Movie:
In the film, Yūko receives a request from a woman to help her back into her mansion which for some reason does not allow her to enter. Yūko says since Watanuki was the one who brought the client to her, Watanuki should be the one to grant her wish, and therefore brought along. Dōmeki is also brought along to help and Yūko attends not only to grant her client's wish but also because she is invited to the mansion where many famous collectors were also invited with the same letter. Inside the mansion are strange rooms and mysterious letters telling its guests what do to in place of a host. Though the collectors think up the theory of a mysterious auction being held like in an urban legend, it becomes apparent that something more sinister and mysterious going on. One after another, each collector disappears and a number of other strange occurrences happen during the night. The real reasons behind the invitations must be discovered in order for Yūko and company to get to the bottom of this mystery.
60Minutes
About Tsbussa Chronicles The Movie: In their continuing journey to find the feathers that are the fragments of Sakura's lost memory, Syaoran, Kurogane, Fay, and Sakura move through time and space with Mokona. Here, they visit the "Country of Birdcages," a seemingly peaceful country where people and birds live together, each person having a bird companion. After a boy named Koruri confuses Syaoran and Sakura for "bodyguards" and attacks them, they learn that the king of the country possesses a mysterious power. Princess Tomoyo, Koruri, and the other oppressed citizens, having had their birds taken from them, live in hiding within the forest. In order to take back Sakura's feather, Syaoran and the others stand up against the scheming king.
35Minutes
Both Movies are based upon the Manga by Clamp.
Both Movies will be shown in Japanese with English Subtitles.
This event is free and open to the public. Reservations are required.
RSVP to jiccrsvpwinter08@embjapan.org
Seating is limited and granted on a first come, first served basis.
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 taxed 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 Japan 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 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
March 5: Berg lecture on Columbia at LoC
Joseph E. Baker (ca.1837-1914), Columbia Demands Her Children, 1864. Lithograph. The quick details, and then the longer press release.
FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC
Where Have You Gone, Miss Columbia? American Identity and Uncle Sam’s Forgotten Partner: An Illustrated Lecture by Dr. Ellen Berg
SWANN FOUNDATION FELLOWSHIP WINNER, 2007-2008
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 5, 2008, AT 12 NOON
in Dining Room A, Madison Building, 6th Floor
Co-sponsored by the Swann Foundation for Caricature and Cartoon and the Prints and Photographs Division, the Library of Congress
Request ADA Accommodations five business days in advance at (202) 707-6362 TTY or “ADA@loc.gov” For further information, email swann@loc.gov or call Martha Kennedy at (202) 707-9115.
and the press release:
Miss Columbia, Favored National Icon, Featured in Swann Fellow’s Talk on March 5
Swann Foundation Fellow Ellen Berg will discuss depictions of Miss Columbia, her rise in the nineteenth century as a national icon of American ideals and subsequent fading away in the public eye, in a lecture at the Library of Congress on March 5.
Berg will present the lecture titled "Where Have You Gone, Miss Columbia? American Identity and Uncle Sam’s Forgotten Partner,” at noon on Wednesday, March 5, 2008, in Dining Room A on the sixth floor of the James Madison Building, 101 Independence Ave. S.E., Washington, DC.
Berg’s illustrated presentation is based on research conducted at the Library of Congress during her fellowship awarded by the Swann Foundation for Caricature and Cartoon. The Library administers the foundation. The lecture, sponsored by the foundation and the Library’s Prints and Photographs Division, is free and open to the public; no reservations are required.
A century ago, two symbols most often represented the United States as national icons: Miss Columbia stood for the ideals of the American people and Uncle Sam for the government. Although featured in hundreds of political cartoons between 1852 and 1952, Columbia, who was widely regarded as an embodiment of “liberty, social justice, and equality,” gradually disappeared as a symbol of our national conscience. Through an examination of representative cartoons, Berg will explore how changing portrayals of Columbia reflect parallel changes in ideas about American identity and feminine nationalism. She will draw upon the Library’s holdings which contain numerous portrayals of Miss Columbia created for a variety of publications and audiences.
Berg is an affiliate assistant professor in the department of history at the University of Maryland. She is also an associate fellow at the Rothermere American Institute, University of Oxford, where she was a postdoctoral fellow last year. She received a Ph.D. in American history from the University of California at Berkeley where she completed her dissertation entitled, “Citizens in the Republic of Childhood: Immigrants and the American Kindergarten, 1880-1920.” She is currently revising this dissertation for publication as a book, in addition to extending her research into Columbia’s role in American identity beyond the arena of political cartoons.
This presentation is part of the Swann Foundation’s continuing activities to support the study, interpretation, preservation and appreciation of original works of humorous and satiric art by graphic artists from around the world. The Swann Foundation’s advisory board is composed of scholars, collectors, cartoonists and Library of Congress staff members. The foundation customarily awards one fellowship annually (with a stipend of $15,000) to assist scholarly research and writing projects in the field of caricature and cartoon. Applications for the academic year 2008-2009 were due on Feb.15, 2008. More information about the fellowship is available through the Swann Foundation’s Web site: www.loc.gov/rr/print/swann/swannhome
or by emailing swann@loc.gov.
Sunday, February 03, 2008
OT: Call for Papers: Reading between the panels
This one's not about Washington, DC comics, but in the spirit of Team Comics and fostering study, I'm posting it at Dr. Collins' request.
Call for Papers: Reading between the panels
Edited by:
Can Yalcinkaya – canyalcinkaya@yahoo.com
Dr Steve Collins – scollins@scmp.mq.edu.au
Comic books have been often treated deridingly as a hybrid of art and literature, but ultimately a product of low culture. Works by artists, writers and scholars including Neil Gaiman, Alan Moore, Art Spiegelman, Frank Miller, Scott McCloud, Will Brooker and Danny Fingeroth have forced a reappraisal of the space occupied by comic books. Over the last two decades comic book stories have diverged from hero-centric mythologies to more broadly explore areas such as the full gamut of the human psyche, sexuality, and politics. Beyond the stories themselves, the comic industry and economy has expanded to encompass underground, adult and alternative productions as well lucrative movie adaptations. This issue of Scan Journal invites submission on areas dealing with comic books and graphic novels that include, but are not restricted to:
- Studies of narrative
- Visual aesthetic
- Analysis of specific titles or characters
- Comics and adaptations/derivatives
- Fan fiction
- Comic book histories
- Economics of the comic book industry
- Comics and new media, Web comics, micropayment systems such as Bitpass, digital comics on DVD
- Comic books and intellectual property, for example copyright assignments, the pirate trade in scanned comics
Abstracts should be emailed to the editors by no later than 31st March 2008.
Full articles will adhere to the submission guidelines for Scan Journal and be emailed as a Word document attachment to the editors by Friday 16th May 2008.
Submission guidelines can be found at http://scan.net.au/scan/about/about.html#journal
Call for Papers: Reading between the panels
Edited by:
Can Yalcinkaya – canyalcinkaya@yahoo.com
Dr Steve Collins – scollins@scmp.mq.edu.au
Comic books have been often treated deridingly as a hybrid of art and literature, but ultimately a product of low culture. Works by artists, writers and scholars including Neil Gaiman, Alan Moore, Art Spiegelman, Frank Miller, Scott McCloud, Will Brooker and Danny Fingeroth have forced a reappraisal of the space occupied by comic books. Over the last two decades comic book stories have diverged from hero-centric mythologies to more broadly explore areas such as the full gamut of the human psyche, sexuality, and politics. Beyond the stories themselves, the comic industry and economy has expanded to encompass underground, adult and alternative productions as well lucrative movie adaptations. This issue of Scan Journal invites submission on areas dealing with comic books and graphic novels that include, but are not restricted to:
- Studies of narrative
- Visual aesthetic
- Analysis of specific titles or characters
- Comics and adaptations/derivatives
- Fan fiction
- Comic book histories
- Economics of the comic book industry
- Comics and new media, Web comics, micropayment systems such as Bitpass, digital comics on DVD
- Comic books and intellectual property, for example copyright assignments, the pirate trade in scanned comics
Abstracts should be emailed to the editors by no later than 31st March 2008.
Full articles will adhere to the submission guidelines for Scan Journal and be emailed as a Word document attachment to the editors by Friday 16th May 2008.
Submission guidelines can be found at http://scan.net.au/scan/about/about.html#journal
New Yorker January 28, 2008 comic bits
Capturing the non-gag comics bits in the latest New Yorker -
1/28/08
#Swarte illo for Buying a Cure by Jerome Groopman, p. 39,
#In Calvin Tomkins’ Lifting the Veil, p. 58, artist John Currin says he was inspired to paint Old Master style pornographic paintings by the Danish Islam cartoon controversy, and returns to that point several times.
#Gerald Scarfe caricature of Benjamin Franklin for The Creed by Jill Lepore, p. 79.
1/28/08
#Swarte illo for Buying a Cure by Jerome Groopman, p. 39,
#In Calvin Tomkins’ Lifting the Veil, p. 58, artist John Currin says he was inspired to paint Old Master style pornographic paintings by the Danish Islam cartoon controversy, and returns to that point several times.
#Gerald Scarfe caricature of Benjamin Franklin for The Creed by Jill Lepore, p. 79.
Thompson continues to flee west, spotted in Hawaii
Gary Chun's interviewed Richard for "Off-kilter worlds collide: ‘Prickly City’ and ‘Cul de Sac’ debut," Honolulu Star-Bulletin (February 3). Note the original art for the story - collectors should immediately fly to Hawaii to buy a copy of the paper.And remember, a float based on Richard's sketch will be appearing in Clarendon's Mardi Gras Parade on Tuesday at 8 pm. Richard will be there and may be drawing permanent King Kong tattoos. Or he may not.
QUICK REVIEWS FOR COMICS DUE 02-06-08
QUICK REVIEWS FOR COMICS DUE 02-06-08
(Super-Wednesday!)
by John Judy
ABE SAPIEN: THE DROWNING #1 of 5 by Mike Mignola and Jason Shawn Alexander. The first solo adventure of Hellboy’s Pal: Abe Sapien! Looks beautiful.
THE BAKERS: BABIES AND KITTENS HC written and illustrated by Kyle Baker, the Greatest Cartoonist of All Time. Two cats are adopted into Kyle’s home against his wishes. Hijinks ensue. Beautifully drawn hijinks. Recommended.
BATMAN: FALSE FACES HC by Brian K. Vaughan and Many Talented Folks. Collecting the Bat-stories by the creator of Y THE LAST MAN and RUNAWAYS so you should probably knock down old people to get to this one. Or just do it for fun.
BIGGLES RECOUNTS THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN GN by Asso, Rideau, Chauvin, and Uderzo. A graphic recounting of some unpleasantness 68 years gone by the folks who brought you last year’s BIGGLES RECOUNTS THE FALKLAND ISLANDS WAR. Pip-pip!
BOYS #15 by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson. Wee Hughie visits The Legend to learn more about his partners. And poor little Starlight learns more about hers. NOT for kids EVER, but recommended.
BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #15 by Joss Whedon and Georges Jeanty. A done-in-one issue about girls gone bad and things of this nature. Enjoy!
CLANDESTINE #1 of 5 written and drawn by Alan Davis. An ancient race of hidden super-humans faces exposure after one of the kids goes and starts fighting crime! Stupid kid… Alan Davis always draws purty.
DETECTIVE COMICS #841 by Paul Dini and Dustin Ngyuyen. Featuring an insane cover and a fight with the new Ventriloquist!
DOKTOR SLEEPLESS #5 by Warren Ellis and Ivan Rodriguez. Mysteries unfold, sub-cultures collide, and creepy ambiguities get creepier. Or as Warren Ellis calls it: “Wednesday.”
INCOGNEGRO HC by Mat Johnson and Warren Pleece. Part-Mystery, Part-History describes this story of a light-skinned Northern black man passing for white (“going incognegro”) to investigate his brother’s arrest in the virulently racist Mississippi of early 20th century America. This already sound like a movie. Gotta look!
JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #12 by Geoff Johns, Alex Ross, and Dale Eaglesham. The new heroes and the old continue to gather as the KINGDOM COME Superman meets the legacy heroes of the Golden Age. A trivia smorgasboard with Ross covers!
KRAZY & IGNATZ: 1941-1942 RAGOUT OF RASPBERRIES SC by George Herriman. Fantagraphics does it again! This is the third volume of their reprint series collecting all the KRAZY KAT Sunday strips in full color. Includes an essay by critic Jeet Heer. Recommended.
NORTHLANDERS #3 by Brian Wood and Davide Gianfelice. Prince Sven the Viking gets busy with scheming, fighting, and all kinds of swordplay. This one’s becoming appointment reading. Highly recommended.
SCALPED #14 by Jason Aaron and R.M. Guera. Just when Agent Dash Bad Horse figures life on the Rez can’t get any worse somebody kills and scalps his mom. This ain’t “Billy Jack”, kids. Highly recommended.
SCALPED VOL. 2: CASINO BOOGIE SC by Jason Aaron and R.M. Guera. Your second remedial textbook if you’re just discovering THE BEST DARN COMIC EVER!!! “In your face, Watchmen!”
SUPERMAN/BATMAN SERIES 5 ACTION FIGURES including The Joker/Mr. Mxyzptlk 2-Pack, Power Girl, Supergirl, and “Green Super-Batman!” Based on the designs of Ed McGuinness.
TEEN TITANS YEAR ONE #2 of 6 by Amy Wolfram and Karl Kerschl. Aqualad must face his fears as the mentor heroes go nuts. Why must they always do that?
THE TWELVE #2 of 12 by J. Michael Straczynski and Chris Weston. Okay, let’s make it “The Eleven.” This appears to be the series about Golden-Age heroes in the modern world that’s doing it right. Great characterization, great art, the works. Unlike certain other “Projects” out there…
UNCANNY X-MEN #495 by Ed Brubaker and Michael Choi. Normally the X-Men go to the Savage Land when they (and their writers) need a vacation. Brubaker, however, makes it work. And Choi draws a mean Whateversaurus. No Space Opera. No Time Travel. No Mutant Jesus Baby. Recommended.
www.johnjudy.net
(Super-Wednesday!)
by John Judy
ABE SAPIEN: THE DROWNING #1 of 5 by Mike Mignola and Jason Shawn Alexander. The first solo adventure of Hellboy’s Pal: Abe Sapien! Looks beautiful.
THE BAKERS: BABIES AND KITTENS HC written and illustrated by Kyle Baker, the Greatest Cartoonist of All Time. Two cats are adopted into Kyle’s home against his wishes. Hijinks ensue. Beautifully drawn hijinks. Recommended.
BATMAN: FALSE FACES HC by Brian K. Vaughan and Many Talented Folks. Collecting the Bat-stories by the creator of Y THE LAST MAN and RUNAWAYS so you should probably knock down old people to get to this one. Or just do it for fun.
BIGGLES RECOUNTS THE BATTLE OF BRITAIN GN by Asso, Rideau, Chauvin, and Uderzo. A graphic recounting of some unpleasantness 68 years gone by the folks who brought you last year’s BIGGLES RECOUNTS THE FALKLAND ISLANDS WAR. Pip-pip!
BOYS #15 by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson. Wee Hughie visits The Legend to learn more about his partners. And poor little Starlight learns more about hers. NOT for kids EVER, but recommended.
BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #15 by Joss Whedon and Georges Jeanty. A done-in-one issue about girls gone bad and things of this nature. Enjoy!
CLANDESTINE #1 of 5 written and drawn by Alan Davis. An ancient race of hidden super-humans faces exposure after one of the kids goes and starts fighting crime! Stupid kid… Alan Davis always draws purty.
DETECTIVE COMICS #841 by Paul Dini and Dustin Ngyuyen. Featuring an insane cover and a fight with the new Ventriloquist!
DOKTOR SLEEPLESS #5 by Warren Ellis and Ivan Rodriguez. Mysteries unfold, sub-cultures collide, and creepy ambiguities get creepier. Or as Warren Ellis calls it: “Wednesday.”
INCOGNEGRO HC by Mat Johnson and Warren Pleece. Part-Mystery, Part-History describes this story of a light-skinned Northern black man passing for white (“going incognegro”) to investigate his brother’s arrest in the virulently racist Mississippi of early 20th century America. This already sound like a movie. Gotta look!
JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA #12 by Geoff Johns, Alex Ross, and Dale Eaglesham. The new heroes and the old continue to gather as the KINGDOM COME Superman meets the legacy heroes of the Golden Age. A trivia smorgasboard with Ross covers!
KRAZY & IGNATZ: 1941-1942 RAGOUT OF RASPBERRIES SC by George Herriman. Fantagraphics does it again! This is the third volume of their reprint series collecting all the KRAZY KAT Sunday strips in full color. Includes an essay by critic Jeet Heer. Recommended.
NORTHLANDERS #3 by Brian Wood and Davide Gianfelice. Prince Sven the Viking gets busy with scheming, fighting, and all kinds of swordplay. This one’s becoming appointment reading. Highly recommended.
SCALPED #14 by Jason Aaron and R.M. Guera. Just when Agent Dash Bad Horse figures life on the Rez can’t get any worse somebody kills and scalps his mom. This ain’t “Billy Jack”, kids. Highly recommended.
SCALPED VOL. 2: CASINO BOOGIE SC by Jason Aaron and R.M. Guera. Your second remedial textbook if you’re just discovering THE BEST DARN COMIC EVER!!! “In your face, Watchmen!”
SUPERMAN/BATMAN SERIES 5 ACTION FIGURES including The Joker/Mr. Mxyzptlk 2-Pack, Power Girl, Supergirl, and “Green Super-Batman!” Based on the designs of Ed McGuinness.
TEEN TITANS YEAR ONE #2 of 6 by Amy Wolfram and Karl Kerschl. Aqualad must face his fears as the mentor heroes go nuts. Why must they always do that?
THE TWELVE #2 of 12 by J. Michael Straczynski and Chris Weston. Okay, let’s make it “The Eleven.” This appears to be the series about Golden-Age heroes in the modern world that’s doing it right. Great characterization, great art, the works. Unlike certain other “Projects” out there…
UNCANNY X-MEN #495 by Ed Brubaker and Michael Choi. Normally the X-Men go to the Savage Land when they (and their writers) need a vacation. Brubaker, however, makes it work. And Choi draws a mean Whateversaurus. No Space Opera. No Time Travel. No Mutant Jesus Baby. Recommended.
www.johnjudy.net
Good Berryman article in Post
This article is good and has a bit more history on Berryman that I put in my earlier blog post. See "Caricaturing Campaigns: Exhibit of Cartoonist's Sketches Links Politics Then and Now," by Michael E. Ruane, Washington Post Sunday, February 3, 2008; C03.
Another Tom Toles letter
Overlooked Again
Washington Post (February 2, 2008): A13
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/01/AR2008020103008_3.html
Shame on Tom Toles for excluding Ron Paul from his humorous Jan. 24 "2008 Candidate Guide" and shame on The Post for letting him get away with it.
How could you regard Fred Thompson, who had dropped out, and Mike Huckabee as serious candidates but not Ron Paul, a Republican who has raised a lot of money and has many sincere, hardworking supporters? He is the only candidate who promises a genuine change in the death spiral of American politics.
Regardless of how you regard Paul's prospects, he deserved to be treated with the same disrespect as the other candidates in a political cartoon.
-- Gene Fellner
Washington Post (February 2, 2008): A13
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/01/AR2008020103008_3.html
Shame on Tom Toles for excluding Ron Paul from his humorous Jan. 24 "2008 Candidate Guide" and shame on The Post for letting him get away with it.
How could you regard Fred Thompson, who had dropped out, and Mike Huckabee as serious candidates but not Ron Paul, a Republican who has raised a lot of money and has many sincere, hardworking supporters? He is the only candidate who promises a genuine change in the death spiral of American politics.
Regardless of how you regard Paul's prospects, he deserved to be treated with the same disrespect as the other candidates in a political cartoon.
-- Gene Fellner
Saturday, February 02, 2008
SHOC: Ads from Liberty Magazine
A few scans of Liberty Magazine wandered my way lately, so I pulled some comics material out of them. First we have 3 comic strip ads of Ol' Judge Robbins for Prince Albert tobacco. The artist changes, but I can't tell who any of them are.
Liberty Magazine November 11, 1936
Liberty Magazine October 2, 1937
Liberty Magazine June 10, 1939. This issue has an unfortunate editorial about how there will be no war in Europe in 1939. Whoops.
This ad agency obviously thought Ripley had a good idea, so why not borrow it?
Liberty Magazine November 14, 1936
And this ad is the one that made me decide to put these up for the Secret History of Comics - Fontaine Fox's long-running Toonerville Folks / Trolley (1911-1955) advertising laxatives.
Liberty Magazine, Jun 10, 1939
Liberty Magazine November 11, 1936
Liberty Magazine October 2, 1937
Liberty Magazine June 10, 1939. This issue has an unfortunate editorial about how there will be no war in Europe in 1939. Whoops.This ad agency obviously thought Ripley had a good idea, so why not borrow it?
Liberty Magazine November 14, 1936And this ad is the one that made me decide to put these up for the Secret History of Comics - Fontaine Fox's long-running Toonerville Folks / Trolley (1911-1955) advertising laxatives.
Liberty Magazine, Jun 10, 1939
Matt Wuerker's Updates from the Toon o Sphere
Politico staff cartoonist Matt Wuerker did a couple of comics-referential cartoons lately. Here's the January 24th one that he emailed me - can you name all the original characters and the candidate being satirized?
The January 31st one isn't online yet, but is good too.
Comics of the Day blog rates the Post's comics
Richard Thompson sent over this link to the Comics of the Day blog- I'd say he's worried about appearing on it, but we all know the Post doesn't run the daily Cul de Sac! Actually as I look at the site more closely he's got a positive 3 rating - tied with Pickles. Better try harder, Richard.
Friday, February 01, 2008
Richard Thompson takes Utah
Here's an interview - "Cartoonist bringing popular 'Cul de Sac' family to Utah," By Dennis Lythgoe, Deseret Morning News, Feb. 1, 2008. I know we'll miss him here in Arlington. It seems like a sudden move, but I guess on reflection that I could see those Mormon tendencies.
Feb 5: Thompson's Mardi Gras float
Richard drew this sketch for a King Kong - Godzilla float for Clarendon's Mardi Gras parade, and it's being built. You can see his blog for more details (link at right), but be there on Tues eve at 8 pm to see the real thing.
Secret History of Comics courtesy of Warren Bernard
Here's another article by Warren Bernard on comic art in unlikely places:
SHOC Part 1,235,641
For this next installment of The Secret History Of Comics, here is a nice piece by Percy Crosby. This is from a football program for the October, 1935 game held between Navy and Notre Dame. Being close to Annapolis, Crosby did a few covers for their football games.
Now, he was not the only famous cartoonist to do college football program covers - Willard Mullin, The Dean of Sports Cartoonists did a lot, but did you know know that such luminaries of the cartoon field such as Ellison Hoover, John Held Jr., James Thurber and Milton Caniff all did football programs?
The length and breadth of the cartoonist contribution to the football program field would not have occurred if not for the efforts of Andy Moursund. His methodical and exhaustive research into the field of college football programs has turned this information up. I recommend going to his site to see the length and breath of the cartoon and illustration world that exists in the college football program arena. His site is now in browse/test mode, but soon you will be able to order poster reproductions of any of the program covers he has online.
Needless to say, some great unknown cartoonists and illustrators did work on these covers, and its a shame that no one, save Andy, has bothered to gather them up. No question, Andy has a great resource that hopefully will be a springboard for a more thorough treatment of the subject.
Now, to make things even more interesting, inside a lot of the programs were specialty cartoons and ads by cartoonists that appear nowhere else. The Crosby program has cartoons by Johann Bull and E. Simms Campbell as well as the ad you see here by James Thurber.
How many ads/cartoons are there buried in these programs? How much of comic history lies undiscovered in these programs? What does this type of work tell us about the length and breath of the work these cartoonists did and their impact on popular culture?
The SHOC series will never end.
SHOC Part 1,235,641
For this next installment of The Secret History Of Comics, here is a nice piece by Percy Crosby. This is from a football program for the October, 1935 game held between Navy and Notre Dame. Being close to Annapolis, Crosby did a few covers for their football games.
Now, he was not the only famous cartoonist to do college football program covers - Willard Mullin, The Dean of Sports Cartoonists did a lot, but did you know know that such luminaries of the cartoon field such as Ellison Hoover, John Held Jr., James Thurber and Milton Caniff all did football programs?
The length and breadth of the cartoonist contribution to the football program field would not have occurred if not for the efforts of Andy Moursund. His methodical and exhaustive research into the field of college football programs has turned this information up. I recommend going to his site to see the length and breath of the cartoon and illustration world that exists in the college football program arena. His site is now in browse/test mode, but soon you will be able to order poster reproductions of any of the program covers he has online.
Needless to say, some great unknown cartoonists and illustrators did work on these covers, and its a shame that no one, save Andy, has bothered to gather them up. No question, Andy has a great resource that hopefully will be a springboard for a more thorough treatment of the subject.
Now, to make things even more interesting, inside a lot of the programs were specialty cartoons and ads by cartoonists that appear nowhere else. The Crosby program has cartoons by Johann Bull and E. Simms Campbell as well as the ad you see here by James Thurber.
How many ads/cartoons are there buried in these programs? How much of comic history lies undiscovered in these programs? What does this type of work tell us about the length and breath of the work these cartoonists did and their impact on popular culture?
The SHOC series will never end.
Swann fellowship applications due in two weeks
Swann fellowship applications are due very soon, Friday, February 15, 2008. One of the few fellowships in the field, this $15,000 award supports scholarly research in caricature and cartoon. Applicants must be enrolled in an 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
Email swann@loc.gov or call 202/707-9115 with questions.
http://www.loc.gov/rr/print/swann/swann-fellow.html
Email swann@loc.gov or call 202/707-9115 with questions.
Thursday, January 31, 2008
Post censored Candorville two weeks ago
Earlier this week, Gene Weingarten revealed in his chat's poll that the Post censored January 19th's Candorville which joked about presidential assassination and illegal immigration.
His poll revealed that 73% of his readers thought it was the wrong decision with the other 27% split almost evenly in half over 'correct' and 'not sure.'
I of course, think it was wrong, WRONG, WRONG!
But -
Gene Weingarten: On the poll, this might surprise all of you, but I am not as sure as y'all are that The Post was wrong to pull that Candorville!
And I NEVER come down on that side.
This was a joke not only about assassination, but about the assination of a specific person. I would have had a serious taste question about that. I'm now second guessing myself a little, because so many of you did not.
and a later response that I agree with -
Washington, D.C.: The cartoon should have run because it expressed a sentiment that I think a lot of people are thinking/worried about but no one's saying it. I've only seen one interview with Obama that talked about security and even then it was very broad and he addressed it more broadly and they were off to the next question. I thought the illegal immigrant punchline was a perfect lampooning of where we're at as Americans right now.
Gene Weingarten: I'll buy that. Maybe.
and this one was way off base -
Candorville: The First Amendment and freedom of speech does not cover violence. The Post was right.
Gene Weingarten: Well, it wasn't ADVOCATING violence.
and a few more views -
London, UK : As an outsider you, as a country, can be a tad carefree with your presidents.
What Candorville seems to express is unspoken but not non-existant. The cartoon form is, and has always been, an ideal platform for such free speech.
Gene Weingarten: No one is questioning whether he is free to draw that strip. Of course he is. But newspapers do edit things for taste. It's not censorship, it's editing.
_______________________
Candorville: I read the strip you mention in today's poll last week online, not knowing that it had been cut from the print version of the Post, and I was surprised at it for the same reasons you mention. However, I don't think it's dangerous, and I think it is an important social commentary on the fact that racism and intolerance are still serious problems in American society. For that reason, I think the Post should have run it.
Gene Weingarten: Okay.
and -
Dogtown, Ark.: That Candorville was brilliant! Topical and poignant! What kind of maroon would think it offensive enough to pull from the comics page? Gene, it is your sacred duty to out this philistine so he/she may be duly ridiculed by the Chat.
Gene Weingarten: It was topical, though it was not a really original joke. It was a re-tooling of an old joke to fit a new topic.
and then -
Cambridge, Mass.: I would like to point out, as I'm sure many others already have, that the joke in the Candorville comic is a straight rip-off of a Dave Chapelle bit. Dave talks about how hard it would be to be the first black president and the likelihood of assassination, therefore he would only do it if his vice-president is Mexican, "for a little insurance. So everyone would just leave me and vice-president Santiago to our own devices." Great act by a native-D.C. comic.
Gene Weingarten: Dave was not the first to speculate on strategically having a terrible veep to make sure no one assassinates you. Those jokes were rampant during Dan Quayle's vice presidency.
Ok, after reading all the comments -- they were still wrong to drop it. It wasn't advocating assassination, so I think they just didn't want the outraged letters.
His poll revealed that 73% of his readers thought it was the wrong decision with the other 27% split almost evenly in half over 'correct' and 'not sure.'
I of course, think it was wrong, WRONG, WRONG!
But -
Gene Weingarten: On the poll, this might surprise all of you, but I am not as sure as y'all are that The Post was wrong to pull that Candorville!
And I NEVER come down on that side.
This was a joke not only about assassination, but about the assination of a specific person. I would have had a serious taste question about that. I'm now second guessing myself a little, because so many of you did not.
and a later response that I agree with -
Washington, D.C.: The cartoon should have run because it expressed a sentiment that I think a lot of people are thinking/worried about but no one's saying it. I've only seen one interview with Obama that talked about security and even then it was very broad and he addressed it more broadly and they were off to the next question. I thought the illegal immigrant punchline was a perfect lampooning of where we're at as Americans right now.
Gene Weingarten: I'll buy that. Maybe.
and this one was way off base -
Candorville: The First Amendment and freedom of speech does not cover violence. The Post was right.
Gene Weingarten: Well, it wasn't ADVOCATING violence.
and a few more views -
London, UK : As an outsider you, as a country, can be a tad carefree with your presidents.
What Candorville seems to express is unspoken but not non-existant. The cartoon form is, and has always been, an ideal platform for such free speech.
Gene Weingarten: No one is questioning whether he is free to draw that strip. Of course he is. But newspapers do edit things for taste. It's not censorship, it's editing.
_______________________
Candorville: I read the strip you mention in today's poll last week online, not knowing that it had been cut from the print version of the Post, and I was surprised at it for the same reasons you mention. However, I don't think it's dangerous, and I think it is an important social commentary on the fact that racism and intolerance are still serious problems in American society. For that reason, I think the Post should have run it.
Gene Weingarten: Okay.
and -
Dogtown, Ark.: That Candorville was brilliant! Topical and poignant! What kind of maroon would think it offensive enough to pull from the comics page? Gene, it is your sacred duty to out this philistine so he/she may be duly ridiculed by the Chat.
Gene Weingarten: It was topical, though it was not a really original joke. It was a re-tooling of an old joke to fit a new topic.
and then -
Cambridge, Mass.: I would like to point out, as I'm sure many others already have, that the joke in the Candorville comic is a straight rip-off of a Dave Chapelle bit. Dave talks about how hard it would be to be the first black president and the likelihood of assassination, therefore he would only do it if his vice-president is Mexican, "for a little insurance. So everyone would just leave me and vice-president Santiago to our own devices." Great act by a native-D.C. comic.
Gene Weingarten: Dave was not the first to speculate on strategically having a terrible veep to make sure no one assassinates you. Those jokes were rampant during Dan Quayle's vice presidency.
Ok, after reading all the comments -- they were still wrong to drop it. It wasn't advocating assassination, so I think they just didn't want the outraged letters.
Berryman exhibit at National Archives preview UPDATED
Thanks to my colleague Miriam (we bonded over stories of St. Elizabeth Hospital records), I got to see the new National Archives exhibit on Clifford Berryman today. Running for Office: Candidates, Campaigns, and the Cartoons of Clifford Berryman is open at the downtown branch from February 8 - August 17th. A formal review will appear in the fall issue of the International Journal of Comic Art, but here's some notes.
The exhibit was curated by Jessie Kratz and Martha Grove. They looked through the 2,400 pieces of artwork that the Senate was given after the cartoons were found in garbage bags in Berryman's daughter's house in the early 1990s. The curators looked through all of the drawings for cartoons that related to the campaign process. They divided the exhibit into sections: Throwing Your Hat in the Ring!, Narrowing the Field, Running for Congress, The Campaign, The Voter, Candidate William Jennings Bryan, The Homestretch and The Results Are In! I'd guesstimate that about 50 cartoon are displayed including a self-portrait with teddy bear. Berryman's lasting claim to fame, beyond being a professional cartoonist for 53 years, is drawing a bear cub that Teddy Roosevelt refused to shoot. The teddy bear became an icon of his drawings.
Berryman was a consummate professional. There's barely any visible underlying pencil or scraping out of unwanted lines. His characters are clearly recognizable, although more as portraits than caricatures as Warren Bernard pointed out. However, as Richard Baker, a Senate Historian noted in his introduction, Berryman "...combined a fine skill in caricaturing Senators with a gentle humor..." The gentle humor means that these cartoons are very gentle indeed, especially when compared to Nast and Oliphant at the opposing ends of Berryman's career.
Ahh, the lame duck!
Still, I like his work. His drawing of Roosevelt as Shakespeare's Hamlet is fantastic. Henry Ford was satirized as wearing a bathing suit, but refusing to dive into the 'presidential pool'. His elephant and donkeys symbols are excellent pen and ink works. His line is clear and easy to understand, even with his use of a massive amount of crosshatching.
The curators made a good selection of cartoons - most are still easily understandable. A reproduction of a front page of Washington's Evening Star shows how these cartoons would have appeared originally - far smaller, but on the front page of the paper. Berryman was considered the dean of Washington cartoonists, and a visit to this exhibit can show you why.
The exhibit has a small brochure, and a catalogue which appears very well done. Full of color reproductions, it's for sale at the Archives; gift shop. Remember that there's a program with Oliphant, Stephen Hess, Telnaes, Matt Davies and Clay Bennet on the evening of February 7th.
For a week from February 1, you can download the prefatory comments by the Archivist of the US, a historian of the Senate, the curator and Miriam here. I made the recording to help writing a review.
The exhibit was curated by Jessie Kratz and Martha Grove. They looked through the 2,400 pieces of artwork that the Senate was given after the cartoons were found in garbage bags in Berryman's daughter's house in the early 1990s. The curators looked through all of the drawings for cartoons that related to the campaign process. They divided the exhibit into sections: Throwing Your Hat in the Ring!, Narrowing the Field, Running for Congress, The Campaign, The Voter, Candidate William Jennings Bryan, The Homestretch and The Results Are In! I'd guesstimate that about 50 cartoon are displayed including a self-portrait with teddy bear. Berryman's lasting claim to fame, beyond being a professional cartoonist for 53 years, is drawing a bear cub that Teddy Roosevelt refused to shoot. The teddy bear became an icon of his drawings.
Berryman was a consummate professional. There's barely any visible underlying pencil or scraping out of unwanted lines. His characters are clearly recognizable, although more as portraits than caricatures as Warren Bernard pointed out. However, as Richard Baker, a Senate Historian noted in his introduction, Berryman "...combined a fine skill in caricaturing Senators with a gentle humor..." The gentle humor means that these cartoons are very gentle indeed, especially when compared to Nast and Oliphant at the opposing ends of Berryman's career.
Ahh, the lame duck!Still, I like his work. His drawing of Roosevelt as Shakespeare's Hamlet is fantastic. Henry Ford was satirized as wearing a bathing suit, but refusing to dive into the 'presidential pool'. His elephant and donkeys symbols are excellent pen and ink works. His line is clear and easy to understand, even with his use of a massive amount of crosshatching.
The curators made a good selection of cartoons - most are still easily understandable. A reproduction of a front page of Washington's Evening Star shows how these cartoons would have appeared originally - far smaller, but on the front page of the paper. Berryman was considered the dean of Washington cartoonists, and a visit to this exhibit can show you why.
The exhibit has a small brochure, and a catalogue which appears very well done. Full of color reproductions, it's for sale at the Archives; gift shop. Remember that there's a program with Oliphant, Stephen Hess, Telnaes, Matt Davies and Clay Bennet on the evening of February 7th.
For a week from February 1, you can download the prefatory comments by the Archivist of the US, a historian of the Senate, the curator and Miriam here. I made the recording to help writing a review.
Anthony Lappe talk at Library of Congress report and 2nd appearance later in the evening
Anthony Lappe, author of the graphic novel, Shooting War, spoke at the Library of Congress today at lunchtime. Lappe, an editor at Guerrilla News Network had been to Iraq as an embedded reporter and produced a film about his trip there (which is available on their website). He will also be appearing at Bourbon tonight at 9 pm.
Lappe returned from Iraq disillusioned with both bloggers and mass media and wrote this satirical graphic novel (which started as a film). In 2011, blogger Jimmy Burns, accidentally films a suicide bombing for his blog, and then parleys that fame into a reporting trip to cover the Iraq War. His blogger character Burns arrives in Iraq with no journalistic experience, but is mentored by Dan Rather who's reinvigorating his career at the front. Lappe noted later that Rather had sent a nice note about his appearance in the book, and that none of the actual people or references in the book objected.
The artwork is done on a computer, probably a Wacom tablet. Lappe found his collaborator, artist Dan Goldman by placing an ad on Craig's List. Although Goldman wasn't at the event, Lappe showed some of the artwork, and the process of arriving at a finished page. Goldman seems to draw the figures, then layer in a real photograph as background.He did point out that all of the logos had to be replaced by Goldman for the UK edition due to their differing laws.
The project first appeared on Smith Magazine and can still be seen at http://www.shootingwar.com although that version is different than the final book.
For the hardcore superhero fans, Lappe pointed out that he was influenced by Spider-Man when writing this. His character gains great power like Peter Parker (by being the only person to videoblog a terrorist event) and then tries to live up to that power while still being a normal guy. Not a comic book reader, Lappe was surprised that no reviewer had picked up that link.
In the Q&A period, Lappe noted that the main character may return as a tv series with a concurrent series of comic books. He also said that he had no editorial interference from Grand Central Books (formerly Warner Books), his co-author is working on a graphic story about the current election, and while he admires the work of Joe Sacco, he really didn't want to repeat his movie as a comic book. He also railed against the comic industry a bit, noting that while up for an Eisner at San Diego, he found very few works that addressed the war. He was asked about veterans views on the book - the talk was sponsored by an LOC vet group - and said that his friends who were veterans liked the book, but that might be just because they were his friends. However, he did change one character, a Lt. Colonel, and his reaction to the death of one of his soldiers, based on responses to the online story.
Obviously I bought a copy of the book and had it signed. I'm looking forward to reading it. More notes later as they occur to me.
Feb 7: Tracy Sugerman at Library of Congress
I don't know anything about his work, but Sara Duke is introducing him.
Public contact: Veterans History Project (202) 707-4916, vohp@loc.gov
WWII VETERAN AND ACCLAIMED ARTIST TRACY SUGARMAN
DISCUSSES MEMOIR, ILLUSTRATIONS AT LIBRARY ON FEB. 7
Award-winning author and illustrator Tracy Sugarman will give a visual presentation and discuss his new memoir, “Drawing Conclusions: An Artist Discovers His America,” at a special program at noon on Thursday, Feb. 7, in Dining Room A of the Library’s James Madison Building, 101 Independence Ave. S.E., Washington, D.C.
The event, co-sponsored by the American Folklife Center’s Veterans History Project and the Prints and Photographs Division, is free and open to the public. No tickets or reservations are required.
"Mr. Sugarman’s writings, drawings and video-recorded interviews comprise a rich collection in both the Library’s Veterans History Project and the Prints and Photographs Division, and we are honored that he will be here to talk about his book, which is an important addition to the historical record he has already shared with the American people," said Librarian of Congress James H. Billington.
Sugarman, a WWII naval officer, is a freelance artist and illustrator who, in a long and varied career, has covered the civil-rights struggle in the South, labor strikes, NASA rollouts, VISTA's work with Appalachian coal-miner families, and rehearsals of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and the Alvin Ailey Dance Group. His work has garnered recognition from the Society of Illustrators in New York and the Art Directors Club in Washington, D.C.
In 2000, Sugarman published “My War,” a reminiscence of his wartime experiences, which blended artwork, excerpts of letters home and memories of his days during wartime. Sugarman’s story was also included in “Voices of War,” a book published in 2004 by National Geographic and the Library, which features stories from the Veterans History Project collections. Sugarman’s wartime-era artwork is housed in the collections of the Prints and Photographs Division, and a watercolor from that collection is featured on the front of the VHP 2008 “Forever a Soldier” wall calendar.
Unequaled in their scope and richness, the collections in the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division currently include about 14 million photographs, drawings and prints from the 15th century to the present day. International in scope, these visual collections represent a uniquely rich fund of human experience, knowledge, creativity and achievement, touching on almost every realm of endeavor: science, art, invention, government, political struggle and the recording of history. For more information, visit www.loc.gov/rr/print/.
Wartime veterans are encouraged to come forward to record their experiences for the growing archive within the American Folklife Center’s Veterans History Project at the Library of Congress. Those interested can download a VHP Field Kit from the Veterans History Project Web site at www.loc.gov/vets/, request a kit via email at vohp@loc.gov or call the toll-free message line at (888) 371-5848.
Public contact: Veterans History Project (202) 707-4916, vohp@loc.gov
WWII VETERAN AND ACCLAIMED ARTIST TRACY SUGARMAN
DISCUSSES MEMOIR, ILLUSTRATIONS AT LIBRARY ON FEB. 7
Award-winning author and illustrator Tracy Sugarman will give a visual presentation and discuss his new memoir, “Drawing Conclusions: An Artist Discovers His America,” at a special program at noon on Thursday, Feb. 7, in Dining Room A of the Library’s James Madison Building, 101 Independence Ave. S.E., Washington, D.C.
The event, co-sponsored by the American Folklife Center’s Veterans History Project and the Prints and Photographs Division, is free and open to the public. No tickets or reservations are required.
"Mr. Sugarman’s writings, drawings and video-recorded interviews comprise a rich collection in both the Library’s Veterans History Project and the Prints and Photographs Division, and we are honored that he will be here to talk about his book, which is an important addition to the historical record he has already shared with the American people," said Librarian of Congress James H. Billington.
Sugarman, a WWII naval officer, is a freelance artist and illustrator who, in a long and varied career, has covered the civil-rights struggle in the South, labor strikes, NASA rollouts, VISTA's work with Appalachian coal-miner families, and rehearsals of the Boston Symphony Orchestra and the Alvin Ailey Dance Group. His work has garnered recognition from the Society of Illustrators in New York and the Art Directors Club in Washington, D.C.
In 2000, Sugarman published “My War,” a reminiscence of his wartime experiences, which blended artwork, excerpts of letters home and memories of his days during wartime. Sugarman’s story was also included in “Voices of War,” a book published in 2004 by National Geographic and the Library, which features stories from the Veterans History Project collections. Sugarman’s wartime-era artwork is housed in the collections of the Prints and Photographs Division, and a watercolor from that collection is featured on the front of the VHP 2008 “Forever a Soldier” wall calendar.
Unequaled in their scope and richness, the collections in the Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division currently include about 14 million photographs, drawings and prints from the 15th century to the present day. International in scope, these visual collections represent a uniquely rich fund of human experience, knowledge, creativity and achievement, touching on almost every realm of endeavor: science, art, invention, government, political struggle and the recording of history. For more information, visit www.loc.gov/rr/print/.
Wartime veterans are encouraged to come forward to record their experiences for the growing archive within the American Folklife Center’s Veterans History Project at the Library of Congress. Those interested can download a VHP Field Kit from the Veterans History Project Web site at www.loc.gov/vets/, request a kit via email at vohp@loc.gov or call the toll-free message line at (888) 371-5848.
March 5: Lecture at Library of Congress
ON March 5th at noon in the Madison building, Swann Fellowship winner Dr. Ellen Berg will speak on "Where Have You Gone, Miss Columbia? American Identity and Uncle Sam's Forgotten Partner." This should be good, although my uninformed opinion is that the Statue of Liberty simply subsumed Columbia.
More additions to the Rhode stash
Barbara of the Netherlands by way of Canada sent these faux Pez 'Klik' X-Men yesterday. Hoo-hah! Note the Taj Mahal in the background - site of the 4th low-budget movie?
Boy, they're just horrible, aren't they? Another great addition to the collection!
Boy, they're just horrible, aren't they? Another great addition to the collection!
Wednesday, January 30, 2008
3 post-World War 1 cartoons on flickr
The National Museum of Health and Medicine, from whence I draw a paycheck, has been putting pictures up on Flickr. Today one of the other archivists put up some shots she took of the Comeback, the post-WW1 Walter Reed Army Hospital Paper. So here are links to a semi-editorial cartoon
,
a sports comic strip
and an ad
.
Larger versions can be downloaded from the Flickr site - there are no download limits.
You can also see this somewhat out of date finding aid, Cartoons and Comics in the National Museum of Health and Medicine.
, a sports comic strip
and an ad
. Larger versions can be downloaded from the Flickr site - there are no download limits.
You can also see this somewhat out of date finding aid, Cartoons and Comics in the National Museum of Health and Medicine.
Monday, January 28, 2008
Feb 2: African cartoonist Issa Nyaphaga appears
Issa wrote in:
Please join us for a music / painting performance at the opening of Issa Nyaphaga's exhibition, "Mystic Forms" at Mount Rainier’s H&F Gallery on Rhode Island. Mount Rainier residents, Surabhi Shah, Deepak Shenoy, and Silver Spring resident Shareen Joshi will accompany with music and vocals Mount Rainier’s Issa Nyaphaga, while he performs improvisational live painting using the music for inspiration.
Date: Feb 2, 2007, Saturday
Venue: H&F Fine Arts Gallery, 3311 Rhode Island Avenue (next to Artmosphere), Mount Rainier, MD 20712, (301) 887-0080 (http://www.hffinearts.com/)
Reception: 5-8pm
Music/Painting Performance: 7-8pm
Performers:
Live Painting - Issa Nyaphaga (Mount Rainier, MD & Paris, France)
Tabla (Indian percussion instrument) - Deepak Shenoy (Mount Rainier, MD)
Vocals - Surabhi Shah (Mount Rainier, MD)
Vocals & Harmonium (Indian keyed instrument)- Shareen Joshi (Silver Spring, MD)
Presentation by Shivali Shah.
Check out this radio show about Issa.
Please join us for a music / painting performance at the opening of Issa Nyaphaga's exhibition, "Mystic Forms" at Mount Rainier’s H&F Gallery on Rhode Island. Mount Rainier residents, Surabhi Shah, Deepak Shenoy, and Silver Spring resident Shareen Joshi will accompany with music and vocals Mount Rainier’s Issa Nyaphaga, while he performs improvisational live painting using the music for inspiration.
Date: Feb 2, 2007, Saturday
Venue: H&F Fine Arts Gallery, 3311 Rhode Island Avenue (next to Artmosphere), Mount Rainier, MD 20712, (301) 887-0080 (http://www.hffinearts.com/)
Reception: 5-8pm
Music/Painting Performance: 7-8pm
Performers:
Live Painting - Issa Nyaphaga (Mount Rainier, MD & Paris, France)
Tabla (Indian percussion instrument) - Deepak Shenoy (Mount Rainier, MD)
Vocals - Surabhi Shah (Mount Rainier, MD)
Vocals & Harmonium (Indian keyed instrument)- Shareen Joshi (Silver Spring, MD)
Presentation by Shivali Shah.
Check out this radio show about Issa.
QUICK REVIEWS FOR COMICS DUE 01-30-08
QUICK REVIEWS FOR COMICS DUE 01-30-08
By John Judy
ACTION COMICS #861 by Geoff Johns and Gary Frank. Superman goes to the computer world of Colu and gets hacked by Brainiacs! Fortunately their ISP is Time-Warner Cable and Supes gets away during one of their daily outages.
AVENGERS INITIATIVE #9 by Dan Slott and Stefano Caselli. MVP was KIA and now it appears he’s PO’d. The body-count begins here. Recommended.
BATMAN #673 by Grant Morrison and Tony Daniel. A flash-back issue in which we finally learn what happened during that purification ritual in the cave last year. Cool.
BATMAN: THE MAN WHO LAUGHS HC by Ed Brubaker and Associates. Batman’s first encounter with the Joker as told by my new favorite scribe Ed Brubaker. Also collects DETECTIVE COMICS #784-786, guest-starring the Golden-Age Green Lantern, Alan Scott. Recommended.
BLACK ADAM: THE DARK AGE #6 of 6 by Peter Tomasi and Doug Mahnke. The final fate of Isis. One gets the feeling it ain’t gonna be good. The end of a powerful series that is probably too violent for younger fans of Captain Marvel and the Fawcett heroes.
BLACK SUMMER #5 of 7 by Warren Ellis and Juan Jose Ryp. More shootin’s and ‘splosions from the remaining Seven Guns in honor of the month issue #7 was supposed to ship, but didn’t. “Oh, Avatar….” Still recommended. Still not for kids.
CAPTAIN AMERICA #34 by Ed Brubaker and Steve Epting. A great week for Brubaker fans as Bucky does his first night out as The New Captain America! Only Brubaker could make this sort of thing cool.
DAREDEVIL #104 by Ed Brubaker and Michael Lark. More of the Bru-Meister as DD gets twisted tighter and tighter in his pursuit of Mister Fear. Guest-starring a significant Big Bad in the Marvel U.
FANTASTIC FOUR #553 by Dwayne McDuffie and Paul Pelletier. While I’m generally a fan of McDuffie’s writing this issue has two strikes against it: Time-travel and a lot of “Which one of us is lying?” dialogue. Still, in all a decent issue and a set-up for future story-lines.
GREEN LANTERN #27 by Geoff Johns and Mike McKone. “The Alpha Lanterns” continues as Johns explores how an unprecedented act of terror transforms an entity once renowned for its commitment to justice and higher ideals. Wonder what inspired him… Gutsy, imaginative stuff. Recommended.
MIGHTY AVENGERS #8 by Brian Michael Bendis and Mark Bagley. A Big Fight with Venomy symbiote things.
NARCOPOLIS #1 of 4 by Jamie Delano and Jeremy Rock. Guy in Utopia discovers that maybe all is not hunky-dory. From one of Vertigo’s Founding Fathers.
NEW AVENGERS ANNUAL by Brian Michael Bendis and Carlo Pagulayan. More Big Fights. Double-Sized!
PREVIEWS from Diamond Comics and Marvel. “The Future of Comics is in your hands!”
PROJECT SUPERPOWERS #0 by Jim Kruger, Alex Ross, and Stephen Sadowski. Best line of the week comes from artist Chris Weston: “Wow. The return of a team of long lost, Nazi-smashing golden age heroes... Why can't I get to draw something like that? Uh… Waitaminnit!” Okay, the deal appears to be that a bunch of Golden-Age heroes have entered the public domain. That means anyone can legally use them. The team from EARTH X and PARADISE X said “Why not us?” There is a preview up on Dynamite Entertainment’s website and it appears a sincere effort is going into making this comic something special. I didn’t care for this team’s earlier joint efforts, but I’m hooked on Golden-Age characters so this one’s a “Gotta Look!”
SPIDER-MAN WITH GREAT POWER #1 of 5 by David Lapham and Tony Harris. An untold slice of early Spider-Mania from a couple of super-cool creators. If you like STRAY BULLETS or EX MACHINA you need to read this comic!
SPIRIT #13 by Lotsa People. Special “Femmes Fatales” issue! You want this! Recommended!
Y THE LAST MAN #60 of 60 by Brian K. Vaughan and Pia Guerra. Final issue. End of story. Forty-eight pages. If you haven’t read this series go pick up the first trade collection and start. Thanks to Vaughan and his collaborators for one hell of a ride. Highly recommended.
www.johnjudy.net
By John Judy
ACTION COMICS #861 by Geoff Johns and Gary Frank. Superman goes to the computer world of Colu and gets hacked by Brainiacs! Fortunately their ISP is Time-Warner Cable and Supes gets away during one of their daily outages.
AVENGERS INITIATIVE #9 by Dan Slott and Stefano Caselli. MVP was KIA and now it appears he’s PO’d. The body-count begins here. Recommended.
BATMAN #673 by Grant Morrison and Tony Daniel. A flash-back issue in which we finally learn what happened during that purification ritual in the cave last year. Cool.
BATMAN: THE MAN WHO LAUGHS HC by Ed Brubaker and Associates. Batman’s first encounter with the Joker as told by my new favorite scribe Ed Brubaker. Also collects DETECTIVE COMICS #784-786, guest-starring the Golden-Age Green Lantern, Alan Scott. Recommended.
BLACK ADAM: THE DARK AGE #6 of 6 by Peter Tomasi and Doug Mahnke. The final fate of Isis. One gets the feeling it ain’t gonna be good. The end of a powerful series that is probably too violent for younger fans of Captain Marvel and the Fawcett heroes.
BLACK SUMMER #5 of 7 by Warren Ellis and Juan Jose Ryp. More shootin’s and ‘splosions from the remaining Seven Guns in honor of the month issue #7 was supposed to ship, but didn’t. “Oh, Avatar….” Still recommended. Still not for kids.
CAPTAIN AMERICA #34 by Ed Brubaker and Steve Epting. A great week for Brubaker fans as Bucky does his first night out as The New Captain America! Only Brubaker could make this sort of thing cool.
DAREDEVIL #104 by Ed Brubaker and Michael Lark. More of the Bru-Meister as DD gets twisted tighter and tighter in his pursuit of Mister Fear. Guest-starring a significant Big Bad in the Marvel U.
FANTASTIC FOUR #553 by Dwayne McDuffie and Paul Pelletier. While I’m generally a fan of McDuffie’s writing this issue has two strikes against it: Time-travel and a lot of “Which one of us is lying?” dialogue. Still, in all a decent issue and a set-up for future story-lines.
GREEN LANTERN #27 by Geoff Johns and Mike McKone. “The Alpha Lanterns” continues as Johns explores how an unprecedented act of terror transforms an entity once renowned for its commitment to justice and higher ideals. Wonder what inspired him… Gutsy, imaginative stuff. Recommended.
MIGHTY AVENGERS #8 by Brian Michael Bendis and Mark Bagley. A Big Fight with Venomy symbiote things.
NARCOPOLIS #1 of 4 by Jamie Delano and Jeremy Rock. Guy in Utopia discovers that maybe all is not hunky-dory. From one of Vertigo’s Founding Fathers.
NEW AVENGERS ANNUAL by Brian Michael Bendis and Carlo Pagulayan. More Big Fights. Double-Sized!
PREVIEWS from Diamond Comics and Marvel. “The Future of Comics is in your hands!”
PROJECT SUPERPOWERS #0 by Jim Kruger, Alex Ross, and Stephen Sadowski. Best line of the week comes from artist Chris Weston: “Wow. The return of a team of long lost, Nazi-smashing golden age heroes... Why can't I get to draw something like that? Uh… Waitaminnit!” Okay, the deal appears to be that a bunch of Golden-Age heroes have entered the public domain. That means anyone can legally use them. The team from EARTH X and PARADISE X said “Why not us?” There is a preview up on Dynamite Entertainment’s website and it appears a sincere effort is going into making this comic something special. I didn’t care for this team’s earlier joint efforts, but I’m hooked on Golden-Age characters so this one’s a “Gotta Look!”
SPIDER-MAN WITH GREAT POWER #1 of 5 by David Lapham and Tony Harris. An untold slice of early Spider-Mania from a couple of super-cool creators. If you like STRAY BULLETS or EX MACHINA you need to read this comic!
SPIRIT #13 by Lotsa People. Special “Femmes Fatales” issue! You want this! Recommended!
Y THE LAST MAN #60 of 60 by Brian K. Vaughan and Pia Guerra. Final issue. End of story. Forty-eight pages. If you haven’t read this series go pick up the first trade collection and start. Thanks to Vaughan and his collaborators for one hell of a ride. Highly recommended.
www.johnjudy.net
Sunday, January 27, 2008
New Thought Balloonists blog born at Politics and Prose
My friends Craig Fischer and Charles Hatfield, two of the best academic writers on comics, have started a new blog, Thought Ballonists. So far they've taken indepth looks at Shaun Tan, Carol Tyler, Fraction's Iron Fist and Chester Brown. I hadn't paid any attention to the Iron Fist relaunch, even though Craig was pushing it at ICAF. Charles emailed me today, "The idea of TB was born while waiting in line at P&P to get Oliphant's signature, and Craig mentioned Iron Fist to me then as well!" So I just ordered it from Big Planet.
Anyway, check out the blog twice-weekly.
Anyway, check out the blog twice-weekly.
And in Sunday's WaPost
Frazz references a classic comic - Charles Addams this time - much as Lio did last week.
Emily Flake makes what might be her first appearance, illustrating the Jobs section (note the article next to it on archivist Connie Potter with whom I used to work).
The Book World gives a brief mention to McSweeny's latest project, THE BOOK OF OTHER PEOPLE edited by Zadie Smith, a book which includes Clowes, Posy Simmonds and Charles Burns.
Sometimes comic book writer Paul di Filippo reviews science fiction books.
Jerry Beck's new history of Nickelodeon gets reviewed on the kid's page -
"Nick's History Is as Good as Goo; Text and interviews by Jerry Beck," by Scott Moore, Washington Post Sunday, January 27, 2008; Page M16
Emily Flake makes what might be her first appearance, illustrating the Jobs section (note the article next to it on archivist Connie Potter with whom I used to work).
The Book World gives a brief mention to McSweeny's latest project, THE BOOK OF OTHER PEOPLE edited by Zadie Smith, a book which includes Clowes, Posy Simmonds and Charles Burns.
Sometimes comic book writer Paul di Filippo reviews science fiction books.
Jerry Beck's new history of Nickelodeon gets reviewed on the kid's page -
"Nick's History Is as Good as Goo; Text and interviews by Jerry Beck," by Scott Moore, Washington Post Sunday, January 27, 2008; Page M16
Saturday, January 26, 2008
Zadzooks comic book reviews
In "Hulk is back on Earth and spoiling for a fight," By Joseph Szadkowski, Washington Times January 26, 2008, Zadzooks also reviews the Don Martin collection and The Wind in The Willows by Plessix. As I refuse to read most superhero comics today, I had no idea that the Hulk, when exiled to a foreign planet, reused the storyline of meeting and marrying a barbarian girl as had been done thirty years ago with Jarella and his sub-atomic kingdom. I can't imagine the story's better now either.
Film & TV Adaptations book continues to be available
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 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).
Friday, January 25, 2008
Persepolis finally opens in DC; newspapers take note
The Express ran an LATimes review, although they did publish this picture yesterday. The print version of the Onion has a review too.
The other local freebie, a paper that used to run comics, had "Oscar-nominated ‘Persepolis’ is beautiful to behold," by Sally Kline, The Washington Examiner Jan 25, 2008.
and another positive review is from another paper that used to run comics - "Menace, Anyone? Politics are a threat in Persepolis, but the danger's even more monstrous in Cloverfield," By Tricia Olszewski, Washington City Paper January 25, 2008: 42,
And in a paper that still runs comics, we find a bit harsher "Beautiful 'Persepolis' needs soul," By Kelly Jane Torrance, Washington Times January 25, 2008.
But we wrap up positively - "'Persepolis': A Stranger in Her Own Land: Film Deftly Animates Cultural Conflict in Iran," By Stephen Hunter, Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, January 25, 2008; Page C05.
The other local freebie, a paper that used to run comics, had "Oscar-nominated ‘Persepolis’ is beautiful to behold," by Sally Kline, The Washington Examiner Jan 25, 2008.
and another positive review is from another paper that used to run comics - "Menace, Anyone? Politics are a threat in Persepolis, but the danger's even more monstrous in Cloverfield," By Tricia Olszewski, Washington City Paper January 25, 2008: 42,
And in a paper that still runs comics, we find a bit harsher "Beautiful 'Persepolis' needs soul," By Kelly Jane Torrance, Washington Times January 25, 2008.
But we wrap up positively - "'Persepolis': A Stranger in Her Own Land: Film Deftly Animates Cultural Conflict in Iran," By Stephen Hunter, Washington Post Staff Writer
Friday, January 25, 2008; Page C05.
Cartoonist Drew Litton likes Cul de Sac
Sports and editorial cartoonist Drew Litton of the Rocky Mountain News on his blog post "Dan O'Dowd Takes Aim," from Thursday, January 24, 2008, says,
I recently discovered the work of Richard Thompson, who just launched a new strip called Cul De Sac. You can see it in the News everyday. I love seeing the work of cartoonists I'm unfamiliar with. I did a search in Amazon and found this treasure trove [Richard's Poor Almanac] of cartoons from the feature that Thompson draws for the Washington Post. Absolutely fantastic work.
I recently discovered the work of Richard Thompson, who just launched a new strip called Cul De Sac. You can see it in the News everyday. I love seeing the work of cartoonists I'm unfamiliar with. I did a search in Amazon and found this treasure trove [Richard's Poor Almanac] of cartoons from the feature that Thompson draws for the Washington Post. Absolutely fantastic work.
Feb 1: Jef Thompson painting exhibit opens
Odd Men and Industrials opens on February 1, from 6-9 pm in Baltimore at the Ottobar, 2549 North Howard St which Jef says is "close to the BMA. About 6 blocks south. 8 blocks north of Penn Station." Jef's worked at Big Planet Comics Bethesda for years, and has illustrated children's books, of which I have almost a complete set. You should all go and buy a painting. I'd be up for a car pool if anyone's interested.
Jan 31: Shooting War author at Library of Congress
Martha Kennedy reports:
The LCPA Veteran's Forum will host Anthony Lappe, author of the graphic novel "Shooting War," on Thursday, January 31, noon-1:00, Dining Room A, Madison Building, Library of Congress.
"Shooting War" began as an Eisner-nominated serialized web comic in May 2006. The book was expanded into a 192-page hardcover graphic novel, with new plot twists and "more Dan Rather than you can shake a dead armadillo at."
The novel takes place in Iraq in the year 2011. The protagonist, Jimmy Burns, dreams of becoming a war correspondent and soon finds himself in Baghdad.
Anthony Lappe served as an embedded correspondent in Iraq. He subsequently produced the award-winning Showtime documentary "Battleground: 21 Days on the Empire's Edge." He is the Executive Editor of GNN TV as well as a producer for MTV News and Fuse.
Anthony will show a short film as well as slides of illustrations from the book. Copies of the book will be available for purchase and signing at the event.
Further information contact David Moore 202-707-5034.
The LCPA Veteran's Forum will host Anthony Lappe, author of the graphic novel "Shooting War," on Thursday, January 31, noon-1:00, Dining Room A, Madison Building, Library of Congress.
"Shooting War" began as an Eisner-nominated serialized web comic in May 2006. The book was expanded into a 192-page hardcover graphic novel, with new plot twists and "more Dan Rather than you can shake a dead armadillo at."
The novel takes place in Iraq in the year 2011. The protagonist, Jimmy Burns, dreams of becoming a war correspondent and soon finds himself in Baghdad.
Anthony Lappe served as an embedded correspondent in Iraq. He subsequently produced the award-winning Showtime documentary "Battleground: 21 Days on the Empire's Edge." He is the Executive Editor of GNN TV as well as a producer for MTV News and Fuse.
Anthony will show a short film as well as slides of illustrations from the book. Copies of the book will be available for purchase and signing at the event.
Further information contact David Moore 202-707-5034.
Thursday, January 24, 2008
And a UK mention of this blog
European collector Wim Lockefeer, who does the excellent Ephemerist blog devoted to passing bits of cartoon art (to which I'll infrequently send a piece) mentioned ComicsDC today on his Forbidden Planet blog. Thanks, Wim!
OT: My buddy Darko Macan's 24-hour comic
Darko's in Croatia, which is about as far from DC as we've ranged so far, and he has posted a 24-Hour comic. It's wordless, essentially, and a 'funny animal' if attempted murder can be termed that. American comic readers might recall his works in American comics, especially Star Wars, Tarzan and Cable.
Bits from the papers
Today's Express had a review of Persepolis which wasn't online and one of the Swamp Thing TV series dvd - Stephen M Deusnef's "Swamp Thing: Up From the Muck," [Washington Post] Express (January 24 2008): E13 - which is.
The City Paper had a Big-Daddy-Roth-channeling cover by Pekar-collaborating Ed Piskor (who has a self-published book out now too) and another review of Persepolis - "Menace, Anyone? Politics are a threat in Persepolis, but the danger's even more monstrous in Cloverfield," by Tricia Olszewski, Washington City Paper January 25, 2008: 42.
The City Paper had a Big-Daddy-Roth-channeling cover by Pekar-collaborating Ed Piskor (who has a self-published book out now too) and another review of Persepolis - "Menace, Anyone? Politics are a threat in Persepolis, but the danger's even more monstrous in Cloverfield," by Tricia Olszewski, Washington City Paper January 25, 2008: 42.
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