Monday, October 11, 2010

Comics scholarship issue of the French web journal Transatlantica online now

Transatlantica 1 | 2010
American Shakespeare / Comic Books


There's an article I wrote a couple of years ago on the state of comics bibliography, but there's other good stuff in this French journal's look at American culture.

Sunday, October 10, 2010

Brainstorm Comics moves within Frederick, MD

Frederick comic store moves, doubles space
Associated Press
10/10/10

Truitt on Dapper Men and X-Force

'Dapper Men' descend upon New York Comic-Con
By Brian Truitt, USA TODAY October 8 2010

'Uncanny X-Force' swings into action against mutant terrorism
By Brian Truitt, USA TODAY October 6 2010

Right wing blogosphere notices Ted Rall interview

A few weeks ago I interviewed Ted Rall about his new manifesto prior to his local appearance.

The interview's being negatively noticed by the right now, although honestly, I think Rall's so far to the left that he's curving around to meet the right on this issue. I like Ted personally, but we're agreeing to disagree on this book.

Radical Cartoonist Ted Rall, Off the Deep End: New Book Calls for Violent Overthrow of the Government
By Tim Graham
Newsbusters.org's Tim Graham blog 10/09/2010

This next one misses the point that Rall's just calling for revolution of any sort, although he would prefer a Marxist one.

Is America Ready for a Marxist Dictator?
by Donald May
LubbockOnline.com's Mr. Conservative blog 2010-10-10

And I am ashamed to admit that Graham found a local interview that I missed -

Man Of Action: Ted Rall, 'The Anti-American Manifesto,' Buboys (sic) and Poets
Written by Express contributor Roxana Hadadi
Express September 27, 2010

Post ombudsman on censoring Non Sequitur

The ombudsman has issues with the Post not running the Non Sequitur comic strip last weekend.

Where was the 'Where's Muhammad?' cartoon?
By Andrew Alexander
Ombudsman
Washington Post October 10, 2010; A17

Why are some of the Post's Sunday comics colored pink?

It's a Breast Cancer awareness campaign thought up by Dan Piraro and done by King Features Syndicate. All of the strips can be seen at Cartoonists Care: The Sunday Funnies Pink Project. There's a link to donate to cancer charities from the main page.

Jef Mallett's kind words for Cul de Sac

"Today, my absolute favorite strip is called 'Cul de Sac.' I think it's only about three years old. It's by a guy named Richard Thompson and he's an absolute genius. He's in the Washington, D.C. area, but he's actually got roots in Michigan. He's absolutely brilliant and his strip is a thing of beauty."

The rest of the long interview is at -

Frazz is moving in: Comic strip with Michigan roots finds a new home in the Enquirer
Andy Fitzpatrick • The Enquirer • October 10, 2010

Friday, October 08, 2010

Matt Dembicki interviewed by Mark Ruffin

Here's another Capicons con interview by Mark Ruffin, DC Comic Books Examiner - DC Conspiracy's Matt Dembicki discusses graphic novel of Native American stories leads to the video Matt Dembicki re: Trickster, October 7th, 2010.

Library of Congress Swann Foundation Fellowships Available


Library of Congress
101 Independence Avenue SE
Washington DC   20540

October 8, 2010


Public contact: Martha Kennedy (202) 707-9115, mkenn@loc.gov

Swann Foundation Accepting Fellowship Applications
Foundation Supports Research in the Humorous Arts of Caricature and Cartoon

The Caroline and Erwin Swann Foundation for Caricature and Cartoon, administered by the Library of Congress, is accepting applications for its graduate fellowship for the 2011-2012 academic year.  Applications are due by close of business on Tuesday, Feb. 15, 2011, and notification will occur in the spring. 

The Swann Foundation seeks to award one fellowship annually (with a stipend of up to $15,000) to assist in continuing scholarly research and writing projects in the field of caricature and cartoon.  Depending on the number and quality of proposals, the advisory board may elect to make multiple, smaller awards.

A fellow is required to be in residence in Washington, D.C., for a minimum of two weeks, use the Library's extensive collections and deliver a public lecture at the Library on his or her work.  Each fellow must also provide a copy of his or her dissertation, thesis or postgraduate publication upon completion, for the Swann Foundation Fund files.

Guidelines and application forms are available through the Swann Foundation's website www.loc.gov/rr/print/swann/swannhome.html or by calling Martha Kennedy in the Prints and Photographs Division of the Library at (202) 707-9115.

To be eligible, an applicant must be a resident of the United States and a candidate for a master's or doctoral degree at a university based in the United States, Canada or Mexico.  The applicant must be working toward completion of a dissertation or thesis for that degree or be engaged in postgraduate research within three years of receiving an M.A. or a Ph.D.  Individuals who are not U.S. residents but who otherwise meet these academic qualifications may also apply and be considered for a fellowship, contingent upon their visa eligibility. 

The applicant's research must be in the field of caricature and cartoon.  There are no restrictions on the place or time period covered.  To encourage research in a variety of academic disciplines, any university department may oversee a project proposed for the fellowship, provided the subject pertains to caricature or cartoon art.

Requirements for the fellowship applications include a statement of qualifications, a one-page abstract of the proposed project, a project description that specifies research needs and a budget, two letters of reference and official transcripts.

The Swann Foundation Fellowship in Caricature and Cartoon is one of a small number of scholarly fellowships that provide direct support for continuing graduate research in the field.  It has supported groundbreaking research on caricature and cartoon that focuses on a variety of subjects and topics such as the Cold War; representations of race, class conflict and disease; and the early origins of caricature and political satire, and the cultural and social forces that have influenced the development of prominent cartoonists' work.  For a list of research projects, visit www.loc.gov/rr/rint/swann/swann-fellowslist.html.

The Caroline and Erwin Swann Foundation for Caricature and Cartoon is overseen by an advisory board composed of scholars, collectors, cartoonists and Library of Congress staff members.  The foundation's activities support the study, interpretation, preservation and appreciation of original works of humorous and satiric art by graphic artists from around the world.  New York advertising executive Erwin Swann (1906-1973) established the Swann Foundation for Caricature and Cartoon in 1967.

# # #

PR10-229
10/8/10
ISSN: 0731-3527

 

NPR's Monkey See blog's podcast on Superman

Pop Culture Happy Hour: Superman, Tim Gunn, And Other Everyday Heroes
by Linda Holmes
National Public Radio's Monkey See blog's Pop Culture Happy Hour (October 8 2010)

With Glen Weldon of course. And I'm now guessing that Linda Holmes must be in the area too?

Canadian profile of Jeff Kinney, former UMD cartoonist

The man behind the Wimpy Kid; Author Jeff Kinney struggles with the question of whether the children should grow up
By Katherine Monk, Postmedia News October 8, 2010

Former area comics reporter Scott Rosenberg on NY Comic con

Ahh, I miss the days when the Examiner had 3 pages of comics and Rosenberg and Truitt cranking out comic book stories...

New York Comic Con: Four Tips to Survive the Extravaganza
By Scott A. Rosenberg
AM NY October 7 2010

Ed Stein's Fresh Squeezed strip added to Fredericksburg paper

'Squeeze' more fun out of Sundays; New comic is 'Freshly Squeezed'
BY EDIE GROSS
Fredericksburg Free Lance-Star 10/8/2010

I think this should be a good strip. I really liked his previous one, Denver Square.

Comic Riffs on Davies lawsuit and Neufeld diplomatic trip

Political cartoonist MATT DAVIES named in candidate's multimillion-dollar lawsuit
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog October 8, 2010.

Davies won the Herblock award a few years ago.

State Dept. sends Katrina cartoonist JOSH NEUFELD to Mideast to 'showcase cultural freedoms'
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog October 8, 2010

Cul de Sac starts Batman homage UPDATED

Richard Thompson in Cul de Sac starts a Batman homage or parody or swipe today.

If you're not familiar enough with the superhero to see the whatchamacallit, click here.

Ok, apparently I wasn't the first to notice that. Richard mentioned it on his blog yesterday. BTW, it's his birthday.

Thursday, October 07, 2010

Xavier Xerexes reviews Bone's Tall Tales

Arlingtonian Xavier Xerexes reviewed Bone: Tall Tales yesterday.

Also, we met for coffee this week.

Oct 17: Beyond Comics says Zombies Needed: Appear in our new commercial!










Beyond Comics
Is Looking For Zombies
Zombies Needed
Beyond Comics will be filming our new commercial on Sunday October 17th in and around Frederick.

If you or someone you know wants to be a zombie for the commercial please let us know. Our goal is to have as many zombies as we can.

If you have your own zombie costume you can bring it. Otherwise plan to wear old clothes and we will zombiefy you.

We will be announcing shoot times by this weekend but it could be an all day event. We will specifically note times we need the most help.

Contact Jon at the Frederick store if you are interested.
jon@beyondcomics.com
301-668-8212

The new commercial will air during the Walking Dead television program on AMC.

Thanks,
Jon
Beyond Comics

Beyond Comics

Frederick Location

5632 Buckeywstown Pike
Frederick, MD 21704
(301) 668-8202

Wednesday, October 06, 2010

Sam and Lilah and Jim and Hyeondo at NY Comic Con

Jim Douganwrites in

Subject: SAM & LILAH at the New York Comic-Con! Original Art for Sale!
Hey everybody! This weekend (Friday, October 8 - Sunday October 10) is the New York Comic Con at the Jacob K. Javits Center (http://www.facebook.com/l/58a521vGz5W3-52FKfg64q47waw;www.newyorkcomiccon.com/), and in addition to many, many comic and pop culture luminaries, your humble SAM & LILAH creators, Hyeondo Park (http://www.facebook.com/l/58a52okiq5XHoNusjBp3YQqI3kg;www.hanaroda.net) and Jim Dougan, will be in attendance! Hyeondo is sharing Table Q3 in Artists' Alley with his friend Jack Forbes (http://www.facebook.com/l/58a526P9BazG9c89zax5TM1fgBg;thehebrewgod.com/), and selling all kinds of neat stuff, including his work on the manga adaptations of JULIUS CAESAR and HUCKLEBERRY FINN, and hopefully some copies of the ACT-I-VATE PRIMER and NO FORMULA.

But most important of all: for the first time, Hyeondo will be selling SAM & LILAH original art!!! All pages are for sale from $40 to $50, so come on down and take a look! You know you want to, but just in case, here's a taste of what's available (in this case, Chapter 3, page 1):

http://www.facebook.com/l/58a52tBsgD2pSTi667O2WKvdE5w;i5.photobucket.com/albums/y196/chatterbox_dc/hp_sl_i_03_01copy.gif

The map below tells you where to go! See you in New York!

http://www.facebook.com/l/58a52WgeAhckWeYtO33vdcn5qjg;i5.photobucket.com/albums/y196/chatterbox_dc/NYCC2010floorplan-revx.jpg

Mark Ruffin with 3 more Capicon interviews

Mark Ruffin, the DC Comic Books Examiner, started working the crowd of cartoonists at Capicons as I was leaving. He got his money's worth with some video interviews.

A short blurb Of werewolf and comics store: North Virginian speaks on webcomic at Capicon leads to Interview with Chris Flick at Capicon October 5th, 2010.

The Booga Fish artist and writer interviews from Capicon leads to Carolyn Belefski at Capicon October 6th, 2010.

DC Conspiracy member Rafer Roberts talks on anthology Magic Bullet leads to Rafer Roberts and the Magic Bullet October 6th, 2010.

I suspect there are more to come.

Tuesday, October 05, 2010

Capicon con covered by DC Comics ExaminerMark Ruffin

Mark Ruffin's got a short article and video up now -

Capicon revitalized as local keepsake event
Mark Ruffin
DC Comic Books Examiner October 4th, 2010

The video, at almost 10 minutes long, is interesting. At around the 2 minutes mark, the owners talk about setting up a local small press show.

And co-owner Laura Daugherty says that they're going to have more local cartoonists at the next show - "We're hosting Hero Initiative with John K. Snyder, III on December 5, along with John Gallagher, Steve Conley and Andre Campbell from Heritage Comics HSQ."