Wednesday, August 05, 2009

Carla Speed McNeil wins Eisner award

I don't really pay attention to the awards coming out from the San Diego Comic-Con so I missed this piece that local artist Carla Speed McNeil won an Eisner for her formerly-print comic Finder. Here's the award citation:

Best Digital Comic

Finder, by Carla Speed McNeil

 Thanks to Jeff at Big Planet Comics for the tip!


Shawn Martinbrough on Luke Cage

Shawn Martinbrough talks about his Luke Cage artwork at Black Superhero Luke Cage Ignites Marvel Comics, by Lynette Holloway, Black Voices Jul 31st 2009. The article says he lives in Washington and NY - I thought he'd left the area, but I guess not completely.

Tuesday, August 04, 2009

Ponyo swag at Japanese Information and Culture Center

At the recent Lupin III screening at the Japanese Information and Culture Center, the JICC gave out Ponyo hangers and sticker books. Darn, what a missed opportunity! Jim C did give me his copy of the sticker book though which is now safely filed under Miyazaki as I await Ponyo's release.

Catching up with Kevin Rechin

I was lucky enough to stop in to the studios of portrait painter Seth Haverkamp* and cartoonist Kevin Rechin tonight. Kevin shared quite a few of his current projects with me - he's been busy. He's doing the search-a-picture for Highlights Magazine, a book for Klutz on exploding household objects that comes out in October, Orkin ties (doing bugs for them like the great Jack Davis), Country magazine cartoons illustrating the 'good' old days, and truly odd towel animal illustrations for Currents magazine, the official magazine for Carnival Cruise. Kevin's work is both funny and lovely - he's a dab hand with watercolor. He had some absolutely beautiful sketches of Ireland from a recent trip there too - you could practically smell the sheep. Check out his website, and enjoy.

*Seth's work is lovely too, but he's not a cartoonist.

Feiffer exhibit closes this weekend

If you haven't seen it, the Feiffer exhibit at American University closes this weekend. Here's our earlier post with the information. I'm not going to make the show, but if there's a brochure, I'd appreciate getting one.

Monday, August 03, 2009

Richard Thompson caricatured in Lio

Here's Richard's blog post about being in Sunday's Lio.

Animator Dina Babbitt's obituary in Post

It's in today's Metro section. However, it's a LA Times wire story that's not online, so here's the New York Times version - the animator had become well-known in the past year for attempting to reclaim paintings she did in a death camp. See Dina Babbitt, Artist at Auschwitz, Is Dead at 86 By BRUCE WEBER, August 2, 2009.

Baltimore's Tim Kreider in the NY Times and NPR on surviving attempted murder

Tim Kreider, whose cartoons appeared in the Baltimore City Paper until the beginning of this year, has been blogging for the NY Times. Here's links to 3 of the 4 articles (I linked to the 4th some weeks ago). The first story begins "Fourteen years ago I was stabbed in the throat."

Reprieve
By Tim Kreider
New York Times' Happy Days blog June 2, 2009

A Note from Tim Kreider
By Tim Kreider
New York Times' Happy Days blog June 4, 2009

Averted Vision
By Tim Kreider
New York Times' Happy Days blog August 2, 2009

And here's Tim on NPR (which ends by noting he's working on a 3rd collection of his cartoons - yay! The first two are available from Fantagraphics):

Conan, Neal. 2009.
Cartoonist Has Happy Year After Eluding Murder.
National Public Radio's Talk of the Nation (June 16).
online at http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=105481759

Fourteen years ago, cartoonist and author Tim Kreider was stabbed in the throat. He survived, and after his "unsuccessful murder," he wrote in a blog post for the New York Times, he wasn't unhappy for an entire year.

Kreider talks about how getting a second chance has altered his perspective on life.

Aug 3: Fantastic Four in Crystal City

Crystal Screen - Superheroes

Join the Crystal City BID for 21 weeks of Superheros! On Monday nights from May 4, 2009-September 21, 2009, Crystal City will be protected by Batman, Spiderman, Superman, and many others. Each night will also have special giveaways, sponsors, and other activities.

Date(s):
May 4, 2009 - September 21, 2009

Location:
18th and Bell Street - Courtyard Across from Crystal City Metro Station & Marriott Hotel

Event Fee:
Free

Hours:
Movies begin at sundown

Description:
Join the Crystal City BID for 21 weeks of Superheros! On Monday nights from May 4, 2009-September 21, 2009, Crystal City will be protected by Batman, Spiderman, Superman, and many others. Each night will also have special giveaways, sponsors, and other activities. Check back here for more information.

CRYSTAL KID BONUS: Since it gets dark later in the summer and movies often start past bedtime, the BID has partnered with Crystal City Sports Pub to rebroadcast each movie at 3:30 PM on the 3rd Floor of CCSP on the Wednesday following the outdoor showing, starting May 6. Bring your kids and a blanket and enjoy the fabulous surround network of TVs.

Festival Rules: Patrons can bring their own picnics as long as they abide by city and festival rules. Low-backed chairs and blankets are allowed, but grills, umbrellas, and pets are prohibited.


Schedule

August 3, 2009 - Fantastic Four
August 5, 2009 - Fantastic Four - at CCSP
August 10, 2009 - Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer
August 12, 2009 - Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer - at CCSP
August 17, 2009 - Batman
August 19, 2009 - Batman - at CCSP
August 24, 2009 - Batman Returns
August 26, 2009 - Batman Returns - at CCSP
August 31, 2009 - Batman Forever
September 2, 2009 - Batman Forever - at CCSP
September 7, 2009 - Batman & Robin
September 9, 2009 - Batman & Robin - at CCSP
September 14, 2009 - Batman Begins
September 16, 2009 - Batman Begins - at CCSP
September 21, 2009 - Batman: The Dark Knight
September 23, 2009 - Batman: The Dark Knight - at CCSP

Sunday, August 02, 2009

QUICK REVIEWS FOR COMICS DUE 08-05-09

QUICK REVIEWS FOR COMICS DUE 08-05-09
By John Judy


ABSOLUTION #1 of 6 by Christos Gage and Roberto Viacava. John Dusk is a super-hero who decides to stop playing nice. Moral quandaries ensue.

AGENTS OF ATLAS #9 by Jeff Parker and Dan Panosian. Jimmy Woo has to fight his ex-girlfriend and her killer robot. Don’t we all?

ALL-WINNERS COMICS #1: 70th ANNIVERSARY SPECIAL by Karl Kesel and Steve Uy. “Old Soldiers Never Die” especially at the House of Ideas! Zombies in Times Square! Who could tell? Fun stuff!

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #601 by Mark Waid and Mario Alberti. America’s favorite redhead is back and I don’t mean Danny Bonaduce! “Face it, Tiger, you hit the continuity problem jackpot!” (But it’s Waid so it’ll be fine.)

ASTRO CITY: THE DARK AGE BOOK THREE #4 of 4 by Kurt Busiek and Brent Anderson. Those Williams brothers are in a heap o’ trouble. Recommended.

BLACK PANTHER #7 by Reginald Hudlin, Jonathon Maberry and Will Conrad. The all-new, all-pretty Black Panther takes the reins now that everyone wants to mess with a Wakanda weakened by battle. Poor, dumb everyone. You think they would have learned….

BOYS #33 by Garth Ennis and Darick Robertson. The cold war between the Boys and the supes just keeps getting hotter. Not for kids. Recommended.

BUFFY THE VAMPIRE SLAYER #27 by Jane Espenson and Georges Jeanty. Having stranded her Slayer-Submarine in the mountains of Tibet, Buffy must now place her fate in the hands of a werewolf. But it’s cool because it’s Oz and he’s, y’know, cool. We love Jane Espenson on this book and so do you. Highly recommended.

CAPTAIN AMERICA REBORN #2 of 5 by Ed Brubaker and Bryan Hitch. The good guys and the bad guys race to get to Steve Rogers who is, unbelievably I know, NOT DEAD ANYMORE! Okay, who had “2 years, 5 months” in the pool? You in the Hulk sweatshirt? Right, you get the gift certificate, dinner for two at Wendy’s and our undying respect and love. But we’re all winners here, right? Get it? “ALL-WINNERS?” I’m here all week, folks…

DOOM PATROL #1 by Keith Giffen, Matthew Clark, J.M. DeMatteis and Kevin Maguire. The all-new adventures of DC’s favorite freaks! And if that ain’t enough you also get a back-up feature of the original Rock ‘Em, Sock ‘Em Robots, Doc Magnus and the Metal Men! Gotta look!

FINAL CRISIS AFTERMATH: RUN #4 of 6 by Matthew Sturges and Freddie E. Williams II. “Trashy humor and unnecessary violence… property damage and hideous disfigurement…!” Okay! Recommended!

GHOST RIDERS: HEAVENS FIRE #1 of 6 by Jason Aaron and Roland Boschi. Johnny Blaze and Danny Ketch have to save the Anti-Christ to save the world. And wouldn’t that be a great catch-phrase for a network TV show?

HULK #13 by Jeph Loeb and Ed McGuinness. Wicked Norman Osborn sends Ares the God of War to puzzle out the identity of the Red Hulk (or “Rulk” if you must), although any fanboy who hasn’t figured this one out after last issue’s Ego the Living Planet-sized clue really needs to hang up their purple pants and go back to Komics Kindergarten. Or become a story editor at Marvel.

IRREDEEMABLE #5 by Mark Waid and Peter Krause. A little number from the author of KINGDOM COME about a good guy going bad. Really horrifyingly good. Recommended.

IRREDEEMABLE, VOL. 1 SC by Waid and Krause. The first four issues collected for you latecomers. Recommended.

JUSTICE LEAGUE: CRY FOR JUSTICE #2 of 7 by James Robinson and Mauro Cascioli. Hal and Ollie’s splinter group of pre-emptive butt-kickers gets their game on. Watch out, evil-doers! Here comes Congorilla and the blue Starman!

POLITICAL POWER #1: COLIN POWELL by Wey-Yuih Loh, Matt Flyer and Vinnie Tartamella. A little something different, a biography in comics form about a man who might have been President if he hadn’t been a Republican.

RED CIRCLE: THE HANGMAN #1 by J. Michael Straczynski, Tom Derenick and Bill Sienkiewicz. The first of the old Archie heroes gets relaunched here! He hangs people! Sometimes. Other times he prevents it. It evens out mostly. OK, honestly this one’s gonna be a tough sell, but it has The Great Straczynski at the keyboard so that’s a big plus.

SECRET SIX #12 by Gail Simone and Nicola Scott. The gang fights Wonder Woman.

SUPERMAN: WORLD OF NEW KRYPTON #6 of 12 by Greg Rucka, James Robinson and Pete Woods. Someone gets shot on New Krypton. But everyone there’s bulletproof, so what’s the harm?

WALKING DEAD, VOL. 10: WHAT WE BECOME SC by Robert Kirkman and Charles Adlard. Collecting WD #55-60 in which the survivors of the zombie plague begin their trek to Washington D.C. and safety. Boy, if they only knew… Recommended. Not for kids.

WARREN ELLIS FRANKENSTEIN’S WOMB GN by WE and Marek Oleksicki. That nice Mister Ellis takes on Mrs. Shelley and her lad. Not for kids.

WEDNESDAY COMICS #5 of 12 by Various Creators. By now you’re either in love with this Newspaper Comics Section of the Gods or you’re not. If you’re not you can stop reading this now.

www.johnjudy.net

Fwd: Matt Dembicki's 'Xoc' #1 available

Matt Dembicki's got a new comic out - here's the info...


From: Matt Dembicki <threecrowspress@gmail.com>


Hi, folks

Just wanted to drop a note that my new mini, Xoc #1, is available (see attachment for cover). It's about the journey of a great white shark across the Pacific and its encounters along the along. If you liked my book Mr. Big, you'll probably like this. Xoc (pronounced "Shock") is more intense and has a stronger message. 

If you'd like to buy a copy, the book is $2 (includes shipping). Let me know if you're interested and I'll e-mail my mailing address for checks or my PayPal account for e-orders.

Thanks for your time!
Matt


Comics Riffs has some Zits news

Check out Cavna's scoop on Zits here. It's news so big he had to break it on Sunday.

AAEC's Cartoons for the Classroom features Berryman's lame duck

The AAEC's Cartoons for the Classroom feature, which links editorial cartoons to the news for students, uses Clifford Berryman's lame duck cartoon from the National Archives this week.

Brodner beer and Obama illo in today's Post

Steve Brodner has nice caricature buried in the Outlook section.

Saturday, August 01, 2009

DC Comic Books Examiner: Comic/Pop Culture-con and Dog Day sales


Tyson's Corner Comic-con Sunday, Aug. 2, Capital Associates hosts the Comic Book & Pop Culture Convention. Held at the Dunn Loring Volunteer Fire Dept., the 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. comic-con's admission is $3.00 dollars. In addition to a large ... Read more »


DC Comic Books Examiner, Mark Ruffin


Mark Ruffin, a reader of comics for over twenty years, is a freelance writer who tirelessly generates awareness for the Non-Fraternity Conversation and Write-up on Comic Books. Contact Mark here.


 


Dallas McKennon, Disney animation voice, obituary in Post

Dallas McKennon, Gave Voice to Many Animated Characters
By Lauren Wiseman
Washington Post Staff Writer
Saturday, August 1, 2009

Baltimore Comic-Con Ticket Sales at Upcoming Shows

Baltimore Comic-Con Tickets Now Available!

 
Baltimore, Maryland - August 1, 2009 - Tickets can now be purchased for the 2009 Baltimore Comic-Con in person or online.  Tickets to the Baltimore Comic-Con, taking place on Saturday, October 10th and Sunday,  October 11th at the Baltimore Convention Center, will be available in person at our store, in person at shows around the country, and on-line.
 
Cards, Comics, and Collectibles, our retail store, participates in comic-book conventions all over the country, and sells tickets to the Baltimore Comic-Con during our visits.  The first show to offer in-person sales of tickets to the Baltimore Comic-Con will be this Sunday, August 2nd at the Capital Associates Comic Convention in Tyson's Corner, VA.  Additionally, we will be exhibiting at Wizard World Chicago Comic-Con (Booth 1610), taking place August 6-9, 2009.
 
In addition to meeting us at you local comic book convention, ticket purchases can be made through Ticketmaster. 
 
For Saturday Tickets, click here!
For Sunday Tickets, click here!
For Weekend (2-Day) Tickets, click here!
 
As in prior years, you can also purchase your ticket at our retail location Cards, Comics, and Collectibles, located at 100A Chartley Dr., Reisterstown MD 21136.  The store hours are M-T: 12pm-6:30pm, W: 2pm-7:30pm, T-F: 12pm-7:30pm, Sa: 11am-7pm, Su: 12pm-5pm.   
 
Please take advantage of the chance to purchase tickets early.  If you attended the show last year, you know that we are continuing to grow in size, which resulted in lines both Saturday and Sunday morning of the show.  On-site ticket sales are limited by logistics and convention center resources.  By purchasing your ticket early, you can avoid having to wait in line to purchase tickets.  Instead of standing in another line, you will be able to come on in and meet your favorite artists, writers, and creators!
 
About The Baltimore Comic-Con
The Baltimore Comic-Con is celebrating its 10th year of bringing the comic book industry to the Baltimore and Washington D.C. area. With a guest list unequaled in the industry, the Baltimore Comic-Con will be held October 10-11, 2009. For more information, please visit www.baltimorecomiccon.com.
 
About The Harvey Awards
The Harvey Awards are one of the comic book industry's oldest and most respected awards. With a history of over 20 years, the last 4 in conjunction with the Baltimore Comic-Con, the Harveys recognize outstanding achievements in over 20 categories. They are the only industry awards nominated and selected by the full body of comic book professionals. For more information, please visit www.harveyawards.org.
  

Friday, July 31, 2009

Science Idol cartoon contest underway again

The Union of Concerned Scientists is running its annual editorial cartoon contest now. There are 12 cartoons to choose from.

Baltimore Comic Con tickets go on sale at Aug 2 Capital Associates con

Our co-blogger and BCC pr man tells me that tickets will go on sale at the Capicons show at the Dunn Loring fire dept this Sunday. Here's the Capicons info:


*******************************************************************
- FREE Admission – YES, FREE Admission for the Sun, Aug 2 show. Bring all your friends and it won’t cost a penny to get in the door, which means MORE money to buy comics!

- If you receive a postcard in the mail before the show, PLEASE BRING POSTCARD TO THE SHOW. This will ensure that you continue to receive postcards in the future.


*******************************************************************

Our next Tysons Corner Monthly Comic & Pop Culture Show will be on Sun, Aug 2 at the Dunn Loring Volunteer Fire Department. The show is open to the public from 10 am - 3 pm. Admission for this month’s show is FREE.

Buy, sell and trade: gold, silver age and new comics; Magic and other gaming cards; non sport cards; videos and DVDs; anime; Horror; Sci-Fi; figures, toys; Star Wars and Star Trek memorabilia; original artwork, posters, T-shirts/clothing and various other comic related items.

Vendors confirmed for this show, including LOTS of new vendors!!
21st Century Sandshark Studios
All-American Comics
Bear Butt Comics
Cards Comics & Collectibles
Doug Cheshire
Comics to Astonish
Michael Creager
Everyday Comics
FANDATA
Steve Frederick
Donald Gehl
Jamie Hicks
Tim Larson
Mendez
Jim Montgomery
Outpost Station
Silver Fox Comics
TNT Comics
Vindictive Apparel
Welcome Back Comics
Zeno's Books
...and more!

The Dunn Loring Volunteer Fire Department (directions – please see below) has a 70-space parking lot. Plus, there is a school behind the fire department with hundreds of parking spaces that are rarely used on the weekends.

To get to the Dunn Loring Volunteer Fire Department (located about 20 minutes west of Washington, D.C.). Take I-495 (DC/Capital Beltway) to Exit 47A (Rt 7 West). Go 1/2 mile, Take a Left on Gallows Rd and proceed 1 mile to 2148 Gallows Rd.

Or visit our website for detailed directions and Mapquest directions:
http://www.capicons.com/directions_dlvfd.htm

Venue Address:
Dunn Loring Volunteer Fire Department
2148 Gallows Road
Dunn Loring, VA 22027

Also, if you receive a postcard reminder for the event, PLEASE BRING THE POSTCARD TO THE SHOW. This will ensure that you continue to receive postcards in the future.

If you do not receive a postcard before the show and would like this reminder, please visit our website and sign up for our mailing list:
http://www.capicons.com/contact_customer.htm

Or print out the following form, complete it and bring it to the next show:
http://www.capicons.com/door_prize_entry_form.htm

If you have any other questions, please visit our website:
http://www.CapiCons.com

Thursday, July 30, 2009

Weldon, Cavna on San Diego Comic-Con

"Comic-Con: The Post-Mortem," by Glen Weldon, National Public Radio's Monkey See blog July 29, 2009.

Michael Cavna had a few quotes from 3 of my favorite cartoonists, including Our Man Thompson. The other two are Keith Knight and Stephan Pastis.