Thursday, January 10, 2013

Jan 16: Comic book & thriller writer Brad Meltzer at Politics & Prose

Why should you care? On his website, Meltzer writes:

 In this case, it began with a government employee who told me that I needed to come to a secret museum that almost no one knew about.  Naturally, I was suspicious, so I asked him what they had at this so-called museum.  Then he told me:  We have pieces of Abraham Lincoln's skull, the bullet that killed him, and even the bones of John Wilkes Booth, if you want to see them.

I take issue with the 'so-called' and 'secret' - the Medical Museum's been open to visitors since the 1860s.

Brad Meltzer - The Fifth Assassin

Jan 16 2013 7:00 pm
Jan 16 2013 8:00 pm
Meltzer's latest D.C. thriller features Beecher White, hero of The Inner Circle, as he untangles a plot to kill the president—a plot that goes back to the very first presidential assassination. Researching the four successful attempts on the lives of chief executives, White discovers a long-running conspiracy.

The Fifth Assassin (Hardcover)

$27.99
ISBN-13: 9780446553971
Availability: Coming Soon - Available for Pre-Order Now
Published: Grand Central Publishing, 1/2013

District Comics on The Post's best books list

District Comics is on The Post's Best Books About Washington list.

Bill Day's 'Fund a political cartoonist for a year' needs you

As I've noted, Bill won the Washington-based Robert Kennedy Journalism award a couple of years back, and I've contributed to this campaign.

 
  • Our fundraising campaign to pay a salary to brilliant, unemployed cartoonist Bill Day is now in its final stretch. With only 16 days left in our campaign, we really need your help to get to the goal of a $35,000 for Bill, to keep him drawing cartoons and avoid foreclosure on his house! Bill is an important cartoonist, we can't afford to lose him! Please help!

    Bill filmed a short video of his own, where he talked a bit about the history of political cartoons and their importance in the growth of our society. It would be a shame to lose Bill's unique voice in our increasing homogenized media environment.

    I've been struck by some of the heartwarming comments posted by people who have already donated to Bill's campaign. "Bill Day is a brilliant political voice and I hope others will join in to keep that voice heard," a donor named Gerald wrote.

    Another donor named Jean commented, "Support Bill Day – he is a national treasure! He helps us see into the heart of things in a way no one else does." I couldn't agree more.

    For everyone that already donated – thank you! Please share this campaign again with your friends, co-workers, enemies – anyone you can think of!

    Not only would you be helping to keep our dwindling profession alive, there are some really great perks still available for donors – everything from signed prints of Bill's work to an actual original piece of Bill Day artwork, suitable for framing.

    And thank you all for your generosity and commitment to political cartoons!

    - Daryl

    (Video attached: We still have $5,000 to go to save Bill Day! )


Tuesday, January 08, 2013

Jan 16: Frank Cho appearance for new Wolverine comic

Savage Wolverine #1 Release Party with Frank Cho at Cards, Comics & Collectibles

 

From the Store that Brings You the Baltimore Comic-Con...

 

REISTERSTOWN, MD - January 7, 2013 - Cards, Comics & Collectibles, the official retailer and news source for the Baltimore Comic-Con, is happy to announce that superstar artist Frank Cho will be signing in-store on Wednesday, January 16, 2013 from 4:00 - 7:30 for their Savage Wolverine #1 Release Party.

 

Savage Wolverine, which is being written and drawn by Cho as a part of the Savage Wolverine #1Marvel NOW! initiative, is an all-out adventure story which finds the title character awaking on the shores of a mysterious and dangerous island off the coast of the Savage Land.

 

Cho's body of work at Marvel includes such titles as New Avengers, Mighty Avengers, Shanna the She-Devil, New Ultimates, X-Men: Schism, and Avengers vs. X-Men. He is also well-known for his creator-owned series, Liberty Meadows and his work on Jungle Girl for Dynamite Entertainment.

 

"We couldn't be happier to have Frank in the store to celebrate the release of Savage Wolverine #1," said Marc Nathan, owner of Cards, Comics & Collectibles and show promoter of the Baltimore Comic-Con. "Frank is a long-time friend of both the store and the Baltimore show and every time he signs here, it's a big treat for all of our customers!"

 

Everyone in attendance will receive a free Liberty Meadows 2013 calendar. In addition, one lucky customer will walk away with an original sketch on the blank cover variant of Wolverine #300 by Frank! Refreshments will be served all day, and other surprises will take place throughout the evening.

 

Cards, Comics & Collectibles is located at 100A Chartley Drive, Reisterstown, MD. For more information, please visit cardscomicscollectibles.com, our Facebook page, or call 410-526-7410.

Kids Post on the New Fantasyland

Tales as old as time get new scenery: The New Fantasland makes it easier for kids to meet Disney royalty [online title: Meet Ariel and Belle at Disney World's New Fantasyland].
By Becky Krystal,
Washington Post January 8 2013: C10.
online at

Sunday, January 06, 2013

Marvel Comics & Williams-Sonoma - together again & on sale!


These pictures were taken last night at the Williams-Sonoma kitchen store in Clarendon in Arlington. You can get a lot of baking equipment to make your Marvel Comics characters, and it's on sale! And so are the Iron Man, Captain America and Hulk spatulas - I got Iron Man! $3.99!

Photos courtesy of Claire Rhode.

2013-01-05 20.05.49

2013-01-05 20.06.24

2013-01-05 20.07.17

Schoolhouse Rock anniversary today at Kennedy Center

'Schoolhouse Rock!' 40th Anniversary Sing-along
Where: Kennedy Center Millennium Stage, 2700 F St. NW
When: 6 p.m. Sunday
Info: Free; 202-467-4600; 800-444-1324; http://kennedy-center.org

Articles on it are:

When 'Rock' schooled us: A capital 40th: Cartoon lessons will come to life with songwriter at singalong [online as 'Schoolhouse Rock' gets a singalong salute for its 40th anniversary]
By Monica Hesse,
Washington Post January 5 2012
http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/schoolhouse-rock-at-40/2013/01/04/0679e738-5699-11e2-a613-ec8d394535c6_story.html

'Schoolhouse Rock!' ready to ring in 40 years
Emily Cary
The Washington Examiner January 6, 2013
http://washingtonexaminer.com/article/2517578#.UOmVnncS-sd


Saturday, January 05, 2013

Bethesda Magazine article on Big Planet Comics

The January issue of Bethesda Magazine has a giant article on Big Planet Comics. It's not online, but here's a teaser image.

Friday, January 04, 2013

SPX gives $10K to Comic Book Legal Defense Fund

SPX Contributes $10,000 To CBLDF, Raising A Total of $25,000 For Free Speech!
By Charles Brownstein
January 2, 2013

Jan 5: Jonathan Luna at 3rd Eye Comics

THIS SATURDAY 1/5/13 SIGNING FROM 11AM to 1PM

First 15 in Line Receive a Special Limited Edition Bookplate Produced For this Event
 


Welcome to 2013, Third Eye!

We're kicking the NEW YEAR off with one of our most anticipated signings, featuring special guest JONATHAN LUNA, co-creator of IMAGE favorites like THE SWORD, GIRLS, and ULTRA. 

Jonathan has decided to make us the final stop on his signing tour for his new IMAGE graphic novel, STAR BRIGHT AND THE LOOKING GLASS.

We've been big fans of Luna for a long-time, and his work on stuff like THE SWORD (imagine a gorgeous, ultra-violent comic that reads like KILL BILL meets HIGHLANDER), and GIRLS (picture NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD but instead of zombies, it's legions of beautiful women), has kept us hooked. 

His newest project, STAR BRIGHT AND THE LOOKING GLASS, is a stunning new graphic novel that is a MUST-READ for fans of FABLES, MOUSE GUARD, STUFF OF LEGEND, and so on. It's a fantastic all-ages, modern fantasy that really delivers the kind of compelling storytelling, and unique approach that Luna is known for.

He decided to make us his final stop on the tour, and folks, lets help him bring his signing tour to a great conclusion!
What is STAR BRIGHT & THE LOOKING GLASS?

STAR BRIGHT AND THE LOOKING GLASS is a stunning, modern fantasy tale that will grab a hold of you and not let go. This gorgeous graphic novel is a must for fans of series like FABLES, MOUSE GUARD, STUFF OF LEGEND, FINDING GOSSAMYR, and more.
 
When STAR BRIGHT, a forest maiden, encounters an evil sorceress who steals her beauty, she must embark on a dangerous journey to retrieve it. 
 
This stunning 9x12" graphic novel is not just a compelling story, but it's a gorgeous book. It looks like a giant storybook, with a fantastic embossed cover, and heavy paper stock for the pages. 
 
Luna brings his unique ability for bringing new ideas to classic genres, like seen in THE SWORD, and GIRLS, to the classic fairytale set-up, and it really is an incredible read.
 
Folks, you know we're big on only bringing some of the best in for signings, and trust us: Luna has a real classic-in-the-making with STAR BRIGHT here. Don't miss your chance to get this gorgeous graphic novel signed.
 
OTHER WORKS BY JONATHAN LUNA
THE SWORD
  
THE SWORD may be our favorite of Luna's projects, now complete (running a total of 4 trade paperbacks worth), with it's ultra-violent visuals, and it's modern spin on classic mythology.
 
This series reads a lot like KILL BILL by way of HIGHLANDER, as it showcases a young girl who finds out her father is really a centuries-old keeper of a mystical Sword that has the ability to lend immortality, heal the sick, and most importantly: kill demigods. 
 
Now, a powerful trio of beings who are the original children of a higher power, are hot on the trail of the item that can kill them. 
 
But, with her family slaughtered, and nothing left, our young heroine has one desire: REVENGE. She's going to hunt these beings down before they find her, and she's going to kill each and every one of them.
 
Visually, and story-wise: this book is stunning. We highly recommend snagging a copy of the first trade paperback, THE SWORD VOL.1 FIRE this Saturday and having Jonathan sign it for you. You won't be sorry. One of our all-time favorites!
 

OTHER PROJECTS BY JONATHAN LUNA
GIRLS
     
Another of our favorites by Jonathan is the survival horror / sci-fi series GIRLS, which ran for four trade paperbacks worth as well. This incredibly well-written, and gorgeously illustrated maxiseries delivered one of the coolest takes we've seen on survival horror... ever. 

Imagine NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD, but with beautiful women instead of zombies, raiding the town. 

In GIRLS, Ethan Daniels is your typical bachelor, until one night he picks up a beautiful woman who's seemingly lost on the side of the road. She makes a pass at him, and well, the next morning, there's 10 more women who look identical to her hatching out of giant eggs in Ethan's bathroom.

From there, these women attempt to murder every human woman in the town, all the while trying to convince the men of the town to help them keep the cycle going. 

And, from there, things get really interesting as paranoia divides the men and women of the town into two groups, and all hell breaks loose, while the military makes it's way to the town.

Another great read from Jonathan and his brother Joshua, make sure you give this one a look at the signing as well!

OTHER PROJECTS BY JONATHAN LUNA
ULTRA

And, here's the series that first turned us onto Jonathan Luna and his brother Joshua Luna. Folks, ULTRA is one of the slickest, most kick-ass takes we've seen on super heroines. It's so well-written, so well put together, and so damn entertaining, it's ridiculous. 

This stand-alone trade paperback, collects all 248+ pages of ULTRA, which is the tale of Pearl Penalosa aka ULTRA. Pearl's a workaholic, she's earned a legion of loyal fans, a great career, and a perfect life as one of the premiere superheroes in Spring City. 

But the line between law enforcement and celebrity blurs a bit too much here, and a chance encounter with a mysterious fortune-teller opens her world to new, and unusual possibilities.

Great dialogue, great storytelling, a must for fans of stuff like POWERS, THE BOYS, IRREDEEMABLE, etc. You'll love this book.

BE ONE OF THE FIRST 15 IN LINE FOR OUR SIGNING WITH JONATHAN LUNA AND RECEIVE A FREE STAR BRIGHT & THE LOOKING GLASS BOOK PLATE CREATED ONLY FOR THIS EVENT & LIMITED TO JUST 15!
We're really excited about the giveaway we've got for the signing this Saturday. Jonathan put together 15 bookplates custom for our signing with him, each one signed and numbered by Luna, which we'll be giving to those of you who're among the first 15 lined up for the signing.

These are well-crafted, gorgeous bookplates, and a really a cool, one-of-a-kind giveaway. Very rad. Make sure you get here early to grab your's!

Click here for the FACEBOOK event info!

Okay, Third Eye Faithful, we wanna start the new year with a bang, and you know you guys are what helps keep us pumped about doing these awesome events! 

We cannot wait to begin announcing some of the stuff we've got planned for Spring! 

Please make a trip out to see us this Saturday, so we can make this THE best stop on Jonathan's STAR BRIGHT tour. :) We're totally stoked to get to share this great event with you.

Comic Riffs on webcomics awards

NCS changes award rules to increase recognition of excellent webcomics
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog January 4 2013
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/comic-riffs/post/ncs-changes-award-rules-to-increase-recognition-of-excellent-webcomics/2013/01/04/18aae298-5628-11e2-a613-ec8d394535c6_blog.html#pagebreak

Chinese political cartoonist Kuang Biao locked off web, reports The Post

Chinese Political cartoonist Kuang Biao has been locked off web, reports The Post.
 

China's 'weibo' accounts shuttered as part of Internet crackdown [in print as Chinese activists' microblogging accounts are shut down, p. A7]

By Keith B. Richburg,

Washington Post January 4, 2013

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/chinas-weibo-accounts-shuttered-as-part-of-internet-crackdown/2013/01/03/f9fd92c4-559a-11e2-89de-76c1c54b1418_story.html

 
This blog has samples of his cartoons -
 

The political cartoons that maybe got their artist shut down on Chinese social media

Posted by Max Fisher

Washington Post's WorldViews blog January 3, 2013

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/worldviews/wp/2013/01/03/the-political-cartoons-that-maybe-got-their-artist-shut-down-on-chinese-social-media/

Disney cartoon featuring Tim Gunn in today's Examiner

From 'Runway' to royalty: Gunn expands his mentoring to Disney. [Sofia the First animation]
Samantha Critchell / Associated Press
Washington Examiner (January 4 2013): 26
 

Thursday, January 03, 2013

Advertise in the new Magic Bullet comic

Advertise in the new Magic Bullet comic, and help pay for the publication of the next issue of this Washington-based comic newspaper. 

Ohio's Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum

Here's a nice interview about Ohio State University's Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum. I send extra copies of comics to them (as well as Michigan State and the Library of Congress) and just donated to their capital campaign.

Tom Spurgeon
CR Holiday Interview #15 -- Jenny E. Robb
January 3, 2013
http://www.comicsreporter.com/index.php/cr_holiday_interview_18_jenny_robb/

Comic Riffs on “Dotter OF Her Father’s Eyes”

Historic Costa Book win for graphic work: 'Dotter' co-author calls it 'long overdue recognition' for graphic novels
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog January 3 2013
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/comic-riffs/post/historic-costa-prize-win-for-graphic-work-dotter-co-author-calls-it-long-overdue-recognition-for-graphic-novel/2013/01/03/f99efd9a-55e0-11e2-bf3e-76c0a789346f_blog.html#pagebreak