Oct 25, Richmond: Discussing Contemporary Comics

Oct. 25, 7 p.m.

Modlin Center for the Arts at Richmond University

"Graphic Details: Discussing Contemporary Comics"

A panel discussion, moderated by Chris Pitzer of AdHouse Books, that includes Gabrielle Bell, Kim Deitch, Hope Larson and Anders Nilsen. A book-signing will follow.

Good line up - thanks to Matt Dembicki for the tip.

Oct 29: SPECIAL VIDEO SCREENING AND CONVERSATION WITH ARTIST SUN XUN

MOVING PERSPECTIVES: VIDEO ART FROM ASIA SPECIAL VIDEO SCREENING AND CONVERSATION WITH ARTIST SUN XUN   SUN XUN: FROM PAINTING TO ANIMATION Thursday, October 29. 7:00 PM Meyer Auditorium, Freer Gallery of Art Artist and filmmaker Sun Xun (b. 1980, Fuxin, China), whose videos are currently on view in "Moving Perspectives" at the Arthur M. Sackler Gallery, will screen several of his recent video works and discuss his creative process. A graduate in printmaking at the Hangzhou Academy of Fine Arts, Xun has gained considerable recognition for his drawings and complex animations. Composing hundreds of paintings and drawings on old newspapers, canvas, or entire blank walls, he then films his hand-drawn images to create densely layered works that evoke China's turbulent past. Clocks, magicians, words, insects and bleak industrial landscapes become characters flickering across the screen in dark allegories on the nature of historical consciousness and the passage of time. The screening and presentation will be followed by a conversation with Carol Huh, curator for contemporary Asian art at the Freer and Sackler Galleries. A translator will be present. No tickets required: seating is on a first-come, first-served basis. Seating begins at 6:30 p.m.   Click here to learn more about the Contemporary Asian Art Program at the Freer and Sackler Galleries.

1050 Independence Ave. SW 202.633.1000 Metro: Smithsonian www.asia.si.edu publicaffairsAsia@si.edu films | performances | talks | ImaginAsia | membership | shops

Michael Chabon is really, REALLY liked by NY Times

I like Michael Chabon. I've got almost all of his books, maybe all, most of them signed. Kavelier & Clay, except for a gratuitous homosexual rape scene, is one of the best novels about comics you'll ever find. I've even got a complete run of the spin-off Escapist comic books.

But the Times must like him better. They've run three stories on him in two days:

Parents Burning to Write It All Dow
By MALIA WOLLAN, October 18, 2009

First-Person Masculine
By DAVID KAMP, New York Times Book Review October 18, 2009

Boy to Man: Amazing Adventures
By MICHIKO KAKUTANI, October 19, 2009

By the way, Politics and Prose has signed copies of his new book. I bought one last night.

Post redesign?

Does anyone besides me think the new Post design looks like the Wall Street Journal?

Oh wait, that's where the new editor in chief came from (and I had to look that up on Wikipedia. It just really looks like the Journal). You know, if I wanted the WSJ, I'd buy the damn thing.

Wow, just what we needed - another makeover. I guess lifting the new magazine logo from the NY Times Style Mag gave them a taste for this. I can't wait to get out of the A section to see how small the comics are now.

Oct 31: Eduardo Sanchez at Beyond Comics

Meet the Director of Blair Witch Project
and writer of the new comic book
Blackbeard Legacy of the Pyrate King
Eduardo Sanchez

Beyond Comics
Saturday October 31st
1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Only at the Gaithersburg Store

<> Discounts <> Prizes <> 25 Cent Comics <>
<> Wear a Costume get a free comic book <>

Mr Media looks for Calvin and Hobbes too

Andelman, Bob. 2009.
Nevin Martell, LOOKING FOR CALVIN AND HOBBES comics historian: Mr. Media Radio Interview.
Original Air Date: 10/16/2009

Oct 20: Hajdu at Politics and Prose

Politics & Prose October 20, 2009 - 7:00pm
The music critic for The New Republic, Hajdu joins Wieseltier, the magazine’s literary editor, for a discussion of jazz, pop, movies, comics, and all manner of things cultural. In this wide-ranging collection of essays, as in his books The Ten-Cent Plague and Positively Fourth Street, Hajdu combines deep knowledge of popular art with its socio-historical context. Along with pieces on Elmer Fudd, Woody Guthrie, Ray Charles, and others, the book features a profile of Billy Eckstine which celebrates not just his talent but the daring presentation of sex appeal and black machismo that tested the limits of a racially-segregated country and transformed American music.

Location:
Politics and Prose
5015 Connecticut Ave. NW
Washington, D.C. 20008


Heroes and Villains: Essays on Music, Movies, Comics, and Culture (Paperback)
By Hajdu, David $17.95
ISBN-13: 9780306818332
Availability: On Our Shelves Now
Published: Da Capo Press, 10/01/2009

Cartoon reporting concept explained in Our Town

Today's Our Town explains the idea of using a cartoon drawing in reporting. I've got a bibliography of similar works I could post here if anyone wants to see it.

Did I link to last week's panel on the C&O Canal Boatride?

For those who like this type of thing, Politics and Prose has some remaindered copies of James Stevenson's excellent Lost and Found New York collection. These pages originally appeared in the NY Times.

Crumb features in Wash Post and NY Times

A book review - "An Artist Drew God & Saw That It Was Good," By Henry Allen, Washington Post Staff Writer, Sunday, October 18, 2009.

And an interview (you need to click through to the slide show) - "Sketching His Way Through Genesis," By ALLEN SALKIN, New York Times October 18, 2009.

Any readers bought this yet? I did not, under the assumption I was in no hurry to read it and it would be remaindered in a year. Did I err?

Tonight 5 pm - Karasik at Politics & Prose

Paul Karasik writes in

Just a head's-up that I will be coming to Politics & Prose on Sunday, October 18th to present "The Fletcher Hanks Experience". My first collection of stories by Maryland homeboy, Fletcher Hanks, netted an Eisner Award, and the second book, "You Shall Die By Your Own Evil Creation!" has been recently released. Together the two volumes comprise the Complete Works of the long forgotten cartoonist whom R. Crumb, himself, called, "a twisted dude"!
--
www.fletcherhanks.com

I've bought both volumes already.

Quick Reviews for Comics Due 10-21-09

QUICK REVIEWS FOR COMICS DUE 10-21-09
By John Judy

AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #609 by Marc Guggenheim, Marco Checchetto and Luke Ross.  The post- Clone Saga continues as we scratch our heads and wonder why everyone in the world hasn't figured out that Peter Parker is Spider-Man already.

ANGEL VS. FRANKENSTEIN ONE-SHOT written and drawn by John Byrne.  Should be listed as "Angelus vs. Frankenstein" but what are you going to do?  Read it!  For some reason Byrne is able to recapture his old comics magic when working on this character.  Recommended.

ARCHIE #602 by Michael Uslan and Stan Goldberg.  Archie and Veronica have twins!  Can a tummy-tuck be far behind?  Fun stuff from the land where they're all imaginary stories.

BATMAN: THE UNSEEN #2 of 5 by Doug Moench and Kelley Jones.  Oh, sure "skinless meat-man", go completely invisible! See if it helps.  Batman doesn't need to see your @$$ to kick it!

BLACKEST NIGHT: SUPERMAN #3 of 3 by James Robinson and Eddy Barrows.  In which we learn if a code against killing still applies when one's opponents are already dead.

BRAVE AND BOLD #28 by J. Michael Straczynski and Jesus Saiz.  Barry "The Flash" Allen meets the Blackhawks!  He runs at the speed of light!  They fly planes!  It's spectacle galore!

CHEW #5 by John Layman and Rob Guillory.  The conclusion of the first story-arc of this twisted work of genius.  A cop who gains psychic information from everything he eats.  Read it before Hollywood screws it up as a movie!  Recommended!

DARK AVENGERS #10 by Brian Michael Bendis and Mike Deodato.  You know trouble's a-brewing when all the main characters are on the cover looking up at you with fear and surprise.

EX MACHINA #46 by Brian K. Vaughan and Tony Harris.  Mayor Hundred's newest foe plans on killing everyone on the planet!  And you thought teacher's unions were tough!  Recommended.

HELLBLAZER #260 by Peter Milligan and Simon Bisley.  You would think by now London crime lords would know not to screw with John Constantine.  And you would be wrong…

INCREDIBLE HULK #603 by Greg Pak and Ariel Olivetti.  Hulk and Hulk-Boy duke it out with Wolverine and Wolver-Lad.  Also that back-up feature with the crazy alternate-future She-Hulk in Thundra's costume continues.  If you're looking for characters you want to see die horribly this is the book for you!

JUSTICE LEAGUE OF AMERICA #38 by James Robinson and Mark Bagley.  The new creative team begins this issue and it looks like some of the old guard won't be around much longer.  Gotta look!

MIGHTY AVENGERS #30 by Christos Gage, Dan Slott and Sean Chen. The Mighty, New, Dark, Young and Initiative Avengers all team up to hit someone!

SCALPED VOL. 5: HIGH LONESOME SC by Jason Aaron, R.M. Guera, Davide Furno and Francesco Francavilla.  Collecting issues #25-29, in which Agent Dash Bad Horse descends into the chaos of drug addiction in the wake of his mother's murder.  Best ongoing series being published today.  Highly recommended.

SPIDER-WOMAN #2 by Brian Michael Bendis and Alex Maleev.  The lady in the skintight bodysuit heads to a sleazy city to work for a group called "SWORD."  This does not sound at all porny.

THE STAND: SOUL SURVIVORS #1 of 5 by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and Mike Perkins.  Once again we join the best Stephen King comics adaptation ever, already in progress.  Recommended.

SUGARSHOCK ONE-SHOT by Joss Whedon and Fabio Moon.  A rock band battles in space!  This won an Eisner Award for Best Web Comic and is awesome in all the ways one expects from the guy who gave us Buffy, Angel, Firefly and Dr. Horrible.  Recommended.

THUNDERBOLTS #137 by Rick Remender and Mahmud A. Asrar.  Norman Osborn now has Luke Cage and Iron Fist as his personal assassins!  That guy…!

UNDERGROUND #2 of 5 by Jeff Parker and Steve Lieber.  It's noir suspense set in a cave!  You want edgy?  This is cave-noir edgy!  Recommended.

X-MEN LEGACY #228 by Mike Carey and Daniel Acuna.  Emplate is back and he wants to suck mutant bone marrow!  That guy…!

www.johnjudy.net

Nov 11: Metropolis at JICC

Metropolis to be screened at the Japan Information and Culture Center,  Embassy of Japan.

DC Anime Club in collaboration with Japan Information and Culture Center, Embassy of Japan Present screen Metropolis on
Friday November 13, 2009 6:30 pm at Lafayette Center III (Lower Level) 1155 21st Street, NW Washington, DC 20036 as part of inaugural showing for a new film series based on both Anime (Japanese Animation) and Manga ( Japanese Comics).

Kenichi and his detective uncle, Shunsaku Ban, leave Japan to visit Metropolis, in search of the criminal, Dr. Laughton. However, when they finally find Dr. Laughton, Kenichi and Shunsaku find themselves seperated and plunged into the middle of a larger conspiracy. While Shunsaku searches for his nephew and explanations, Kenichi tries to protect Tima (a mysterious young girl), from Duke Red and his adopted son Rock, both of whom have very different reasons for wanting to find her.
This event is free and open to the public. Reservations are required.

RSVP to jiccrsvpfall09@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.emb-japan.go.jp/jicc/index.htm or visit the DC Anime Club website at http://dcanimeclub.org.


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

Another Luna Brothers interview

The End of the Luna's THE SWORD ... Incommminngggg!
By Vaneta Rogers
Newsarama 15 October 2009

Tomorrow - Karasik at Politics and Prose

Paul Karasik writes in

Just a head's-up that I will be coming to Politics & Prose on Sunday, October 18th to present "The Fletcher Hanks Experience". My first collection of stories by Maryland homeboy, Fletcher Hanks, netted an Eisner Award, and the second book, "You Shall Die By Your Own Evil Creation!" has been recently released. Together the two volumes comprise the Complete Works of the long forgotten cartoonist whom R. Crumb, himself, called, "a twisted dude"!
--
www.fletcherhanks.com

I've bought both volumes already.

Scoop features Mark Zaid

ORIGIN ISSUE: Mark Zaid, Scoop October 16 2009, is on why he collects.

Zadzooks on superhero animation

"Zadzooks: Batman and Superman: Public Enemies, X-Men: The Animated Adventures" Joseph Szadkowski, Washington Times October 15, 2009.

OT: Tomi Ungerer in today's NY Times

Tomi Ungerer, a truly great cartoonist is profiled in today's paper so I'll put up a pointer to it - "A Perpetual Outsider With a Museum of His Own," By MICHAEL KIMMELMAN, October 15, 2009.

Comic Riffs' Herblock article also in today's hardcopy Post

A trimmed-down version of Cavna's Comic Riffs' article on Herblock is in today's paper - "Herblock, Through The Eyes Of History," By Michael Cavna, Washington Post Staff Writer, Wednesday, October 14, 2009.

Ian Sattler reminisces about being Big Planet prole

Ian, who used to write a good bit of the Big Planet Orbit newsletter even when he went Hollywood, is now a DC honcho and gave a shout out to the old home store at the Baltimore Comic Con. Another BP alum is Dan Nadel of Picturebox publishing fame.

Weldon on Matt Kindt

A Big-and-Tall Tale: See The Lovely, Haunting Images Of Matt Kindt's '3 Story'
by Glen Weldon
National Public Radio's Monkey See blog October 14, 2009