Meet Transmetropolitan, Punisher & The Boys artist Darick Robertson this Saturday

Meet DARICK ROBERTSON, the legendary artist of TRANSMETROPOLITAN, THE BOYS, HAPPY!, PUNISHER: BORN, and now BALLISTIC! First 25 in line receive a very special FREE Gift. Limit of 6 Items Signed Per Trip Through the Line. You can go through the line as many times as you like though!    11AM-1PM   First 25 In Line Receive a Limited Edition Free Full-Size Fine Art Print Limited run of 25 printed! at THIRD EYE ANNAPOLIS Hello Third Eye Faithful! I have to personally say -- this may be one of the signings I've been most excited for.. EVER. Why, you're asking? 'Cause Darick Robertson pretty much defined the LOOK of comics for me growing up in the '90s and early '00s.  Many of my favorite series were illustrated by Robertson, including his ground-breaking work on TRANSMETROPOLITAN with WARREN ELLIS, his incredible run of THE BOYS with GARTH ENNIS, and his grave portrayal of Frank Castle in PUNISHER: BORN.  Now, he's got a brand new series called BALLISTIC, from the totally rad upstart publisher BLACK MASK STUDIOS, and we're so pumped to be able to have him as one of our guests here at Third Eye. Darick's flying in all the way from Los Angeles for this special event, and we've told him: no one does it like Third Eye fans do it. We'd be honored to have you guys all come out in force, and join us for what is going to be a legendary Third Eye signing!  Read on for more information on Darick's works, why we're so pumped to have him out, and for information on the series he's celebrating the recent release of, BALLISTIC. A Modern Comics Master. If you love East Of West, Saga, Revival, and Walking Dead.. then you need to read these books!   It's kind of odd to say this, because it's become pretty much the norm to have a ton of exciting and diverse genres being well-represented in the world of comics, but 15 years ago... this was not so much the case.  There were only a handful of creators who were really doing truly innovative things outside of Marvel and DC, and Darick Robertson was one of the trailblazers.  We're going to talk about his legendary works, as well as a couple of ones you may not be aware of, and tell you why you gotta make sure you make this rare East Coast appearance by a modern legend. First off, let's start with THE BOYS:   The BOYS is one of the best takes on superheroes gone bad that we've ever seen, and with it being written by one of our favorites, GARTH ENNIS, we had to take this chance to turn you guys onto such an awesome series. Set in a real-world setting of what superheroes could end up like, the Boys showcases a class of capes and tights fellows who hire themselves out as private defense courtesy of the Vought Corporation, and are extremely terrible individuals.  While some are more awful than others, and some aren't really that bad, the general jist is that the lifestyle of being a god or goddess among normal people has twisted these individuals into careless, and sometimes depraved individuals.  Enter The Boys, a secret CIA squad, composed of individuals who've had their lives destroyed in the crossfire of superhero battles. They have a personal stake in their work, and their work is to keep a leash on the capes and tights so they don't become too big for the CIA to control. Of course, the members of the Boys are revealed to have flaws themselves, and as we witness their bloody crusade against the Capes, we're shown a fascinating look at how a world with superheroes could really turn out. Not for the faint of heart, the Boys is by far the most graphic, and violent thing that Garth Ennis has written since his work on PREACHER, but just like PREACHER, there's a very strong story and compelling cast of characters underneath the shock, that make this book a must-read. We'll have plenty of copies of the series in stock this Saturday for you to snag and get signed by series artist, DARICK ROBERTSON.   Darick Robertson's most recent hit was the IMAGE mini-series HAPPY! with all-star writer GRANT MORRISON (BATMAN INCORPORATED, THE INVISIBLES, WE3).  In HAPPY!, Robertson delivers some of his sharpest work since the Boys, as he and Morrison tell the tale of NICK SAX -- a corrupt, intoxicated ex-cop turned hit-man, adrift in a stinking twilight world of casual murder, soulless sex, eczema and betrayal.  With a hit gone wrong, a bullet in his side, the cops and the mob on his tail, and a monstrous child killer in a Santa suit on the loose, Nick and his world will be changed forever... how? By a tiny blue horse called Happy.  Again, this one packs in the ultra-violence, and delivers a sharply humorous, yet strangely sweet take on the world of organized crime and invisible friends that happen to be magic horses. We've got plenty of the single issues as well as the trade paperback in stock for you to check out this weekend's signing!   One of the best PUNISHER runs we've ever read was Garth Ennis's PUNISHER MAX series, which spanned over 10 trades, as well as a couple of incredible spin-offs. However, our favorite part of PUNISHER MAX, may be it's stand-alone prequel story, BORN, which takes us back into the earliest years of Frank Castle.  Before his family was murdered. Before his life was destroyed. In the jungles of Viet Nam, we see that Castle had a demon in him that saw justice and brutal bloodshed as one in the same.  With mounting casualties and a rising anti-war sentiment, America's time in Vietnam is coming to a close. Yet in the isolated Valley Forge Firebase on the Cambodian border, Captain Frank Castle is one of the few soldiers still committed to the fight against the enemy.  With dwindling reserves, Castle must stand against an impending Viet Cong attack that threatens to wipe out the entire American platoon.  To survive the battle, what grim decision must he make that will forever alter the course of his life?  From the writer of THE BOYS and PREACHER, Garth Ennis, and our guest, DARICK ROBERTSON, we're shown the horrors that made the Punisher who he is. If you're even just a little bit of a Punisher fan, pick up a copy of this guy on Saturday, and have Darick sign it for ya!   One of the most influential, and legendary comics of the modern age, TRANSMETROPOLITAN is one of my all-time top five, and Darick's work on this series really defined what a good sci-fi comic looked like in the '90s and '00s.  Written by WARREN ELLIS (Planetary, Authority, etc.), and illustrated by Robertson, Transmet takes a Hunter S. Thompson analogue, rips him straight out of Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, and drops him straight into the 23rd century. Transmet combines black humor, life-threatening situations, and moral ambiguity to look into the gonzo mind of an outlaw journalist and hte world he seeks to destroy.  After years of self-imposed exile from a civilization rife with degradation and indecency, cynical journalist Spider Jerusalem is forced to return to a job he hates and a city he loathes.  Working as an investigative reporter for the newspaper the Word, Spider attacks the injustices of his surreal 23rd Century surroundings.  Spider ventures into the dangerous Angels 8 district, home of the Transients -- humans who have decided to become Martians through cosmetic surgery. But Spider's interview with the Transients' leader gets him a scoop he didn't bargain for, and sets him on a path to the next Presidential Election. Folks: this series was incredible, available in trade paperback, and 9 volumes deep, TRANSMET is one of the all-time greats, and we really cannot recommend it enough. If you're a fan of just plain great comics; pick up a copy of volume 1 at our signing this Saturday.  Click here to RSVP on FACEBOOK. Make sure to check out Darick Robertson's new series, BALLISTIC, this Saturday at the signing! And, of course, the reason we've got Darick coming in the first place, is to celebrate his most recent project: BALLISTIC from the impressive new publisher BLACK MASK STUDIOS.  This madcap sci-fi buddy adventure about a wanna-be bank robber and his best friend, Gun, a drug-addicted, foul-mouthed, living gun, marks Darick Robertson's return to the hard sci-fi worldbuilding of his classic TRANSMETROPOLITAN, with a little of the Boys' ultra-violence mixed in. We loved the first issue of this series, as writer ADAM EGYPT MORTIMER crafts a really compelling debut story, and Darick delivers his best work yet, bringing the world of BALLISTIC to life. Loaded with bizarre ideas and psychedelic imagery, this is a lush, layered futuristic world that immerses you in the story right from the get-go.  Mortimer and Robertson tell a story where talking guns seem the norm, and buildings are made of techno-organic material. If you've ever read the Rudy Rucker WARE Tetralogy, the way that tech is viewed here, is very reminiscent. We cannot wait for issue #2, and we highly recommend snagging yourself a copy of #1 to get signed by Robertson. Click here to RSVP to the event on FACEBOOK. Be One of the First 25 In Line & Get a FREE Limited Edition Print Exclusive to this Event! We've got Darick coming all the way from California for this event, and with this being his only East Coast appearance in support of the book -- we really wanted to do something special for you guys.  We'll have a special fine art print ( which may or may not be the picture above ) available as a free giveaway for the first 25 of you who line up for the signing! Click here to RSVP on FACEBOOK.

Third Eye Comics | 2027A WEST ST | Annapolis | MD | 21401

The Post reviews Kick-Ass 2

'Kick-Ass 2' both celebrates and bemoans casual screen violence
By Ann Hornaday,
Washington Post August 16 2013
http://www.washingtonpost.com/goingoutguide/movies/kick-ass-2-both-celebrates-and-bemoans-casual-screen-violence/2013/08/14/1cfba850-0438-11e3-88d6-d5795fab4637_story.html

PR: 3 Reasons Why You Should Come to AnimeUSA 2013

Hey fellow Otaku! Are you looking for a way to meet other geeks while having fun? Check out Anime USA 2013 from September 13–15. Anime USA, affectionately referred to as "AUSA" by fans, is an annual three-day fan-hosted gathering taking place at the Washington Marriott Wardman Park. Here are three reasons you should check it out!

1. Theme! Each year, Anime USA selects a theme for the event. This year's theme is "A Journey Back to Edo Japan". This theme provides a great opportunity for anime fans who don't know much about Japanese history to learn about this significant period and see how modern Japan was shaped. Popular anime series, such as Samurai Champloo, are based in the Edo Period. Throughout the weekend, Anime USA will host a variety of cultural demonstrations, performances and activities. For more advanced fans, Anime USA will be bringing in expert panelists to focus on specific issues of Edo culture and history.

2. Anime USA is friendly and welcoming to all! Time and time again, Anime USA's fans have told them that their favorite thing about event is the friendliness of the staff. Anime USA is managed by a group of all-volunteer fans that love what they do. Anime USA has a big roster of Guests of Honor, such as popular voice actors and Japanese musicians. Anime USA provides a small, intimate settings for fans to meet their favorite voice actor or band. For those looking to mingle, Anime USA offers plenty of space to hang out at locations like the Host Club and Maid Café.

3. Anime USA offers high quality programming and entertainment! There's always something to do without all the waiting at Anime USA. Anime USA offers:

●     5 video rooms with a wide range of subbed, dubbed, blu-ray and live action programming

●     5 normal panel rooms featuring lectures and discussions on a variety of topics

●     A dedicated educational and Edo period discussions, learning sessions, and interactive demonstrations.

●     A whole library of manga for reading

●     An artist show, vendors market, and artists market

●     Free concerts featuring domestic and Japanese bands

For the gamers out there, Anime USA hosts plenty of table top, board gaming, arcade, console, LAN, and rhythm game sessions.

Anime USA takes pride in giving each attendee an awesome experience, full of one-on-one conversations, unique entertainment, and interactions with the Guest of Honor. Learn more by checking out http://www.animeusa.org. Even if you only go for one day, you'll have a great time!

Aug 23-25: Intervention Con

  It's Kind of Like Woodstock for Geeks! Fans and Creators come together at
Intervention: The Premier Showcase of Online Creativity this August 23-25,
2013 in Maryland

Internet + Convention = Intervention: The Premier Showcase of Online
Creativity. Featuring Webcomics, Blogs, Podcasts, Videos, Makers, and more.
Many guest speakers and interactive events are planned for 2013; founders
mark 4th year of intervening, inspiring, and empowering digital creators.

ROCKVILLE, MD — July 15, 2013 – Intervention, a visionary combination of
educational conference, art exhibition, and gaming convention returns to
Rockville, MD this Aug. 23-25, 2013 for it's fourth year. It's goal? To
Intervene and Inspire the whole family to take advantage of what they can
do with creativity and technology. Many guest speakers will attend – and,
in keeping with the convention's focus all of the guests are creators who
have made a name for themselves by using the Internet to build their fan
base.

New guest speakers include Mark Frauenfelder, the founder of the incredibly
popular online site BoingBoing and Editor-in-Chief of MAKE magazine;
Ex-Disney / Nickelodeon animator Raul Aguirre, Jr. also joins the event
this year from the Man vs. Art podcast; Paul Sabourin of the music group
"Paul and Storm" will be on panels and workshops; and Pete Abrams of the
popular webcomic Sluggy Freelance returns along with numerous other art and
comics professionals.

The event's co-founder, Onezumi Hartstein, said, "[co-founder] James
Harknell and I wanted to put together an event that would empower people to
take control of their lives by going DIY with the internet and to showcase
those who have done so already. We feel that the internet is the present
and the future. This is the event for the internet generation." After
successful runs in 2010, 2011, and 2012 this year will mark Hartstein's
fourth time organizing the event.

The convention features educational content, children's programming, board
gaming, video gaming, vintage arcade cabinets, an extensive Artist Alley /
Vendor Room, live action roleplaying, musical performances, and plenty of
giveaways. As in past years, there will be a charity auction to benefit the
Electronic Frontier Foundation, an international non-profit digital
advocacy group that helps to defend civil liberties in the digital space.

Tickets for Intervention 2013 can be bought at
http://www.interventioncon.com/register  for the pre-registration price of
$40 for the full weekend. They may be purchased in advance or at the door
for $45.

See more at:  http://interventioncon.com/get-involvedpress/press/

Aug 16-Sept 12: Gaiman's Neverwhere in theater

 

 

Neil Gaiman's Urban Fantasy Neverwhere

 

Atlas Performing Arts Center, at Linden Ct NE (1333 H St. NEWashington, DC 20002)

 

 

Enter a hidden world that lurks below the London city streets, where fallen angels, monsters and magic are real and an ordinary businessman can become a hero. Based on the cult classic novel by sci-fi and fantasy master Neil Gaiman, Neverwhere is the story of Richard Mayhew, whose mundane life is changed forever when he encounters a young woman in distress named Door. His attempt to help her leads him to the parallel world of London Below, where all kinds of fantastic creatures make their home. On the run from deadly assassins, Richard and Door must make their way across the deadly darkness of Night's Bridge and through the weird and wonderful communities of London Below in search of the Angel Islington, who will help them ... for a price. Rorschach Theatre's production brings Gaiman's metropolitan wonderland to brilliant and colorful life on stage at the Atlas Performing Arts Center.

Phil Nel recommends Cul de Sac

BARNABY: The Greatest Comic Strip You've Never Read
by Zack Smith, Newsarama 09 August 2013
http://www.newsarama.com/18635-barnaby-the-greatest-comic-strip-youve-never-read.html

I've read the WWII strip, and recommend it. Phil Nel, one of the
editors of the current volume, recommends Cul de Sac at the end of the
article.

Announcing SPX 2013 Ignatz Award Nominees

Small Press Expo Announces the Ignatz Award Nominees for SPX 2013 For Immediate Release:         Contact: Warren Bernard                                                 Phone: 301-537-4615                                                 E-Mail: warren@spxpo.com Bethesda, Maryland; August 15, 2013 - The Small Press Expo (SPX), the preeminent showcase for the exhibition of independent comics, graphic novels and alternative political cartoons, is pleased to announce nominees for the seventeenth annual presentation of the Ignatz Awards, a celebration of outstanding achievement in comics and cartooning. The Ignatz, named after George Herriman's brick-wielding mouse from his long running comic strip Krazy Kat, recognizes exceptional work that challenges popular notions of what comics can achieve, both as an art form and as a means of personal expression. The Ignatz Awards are a festival prize, the first of such in the United States comic book industry. The nominees for the ballot were determined by a panel of five of the best of today's comic artists, Lisa Hanawalt, Jason Shiga, Dustin Harbin, Damien Jay and Sakura Maku, with the votes cast for the awards by the attendees during this years SPX. The Ignatz Awards will be presented at the gala ceremony hosted by New Yorker cartoonist Liza Donnelly and is to be held on Saturday, September 14, 2012 at 9:30 PM. This year the Ignatz Awards gala ceremony will be sponsored by our friends at comiXology and their self-publishing portal Submit, more information on Submit can be found at https://submit.comixology.com. Additional information on the nominees and previews (as available) can be found at http://www.spxpo.com/ignatz-awards-2013. SPX will be held Saturday, September 14 from 11AM to 7PM and Sunday, September 15, noon-6PM at The North Bethesda Marriott Convention Center in Bethesda, Maryland. Admission is $10 for a single day and $15 for both days. For further information on the Ignatz Awards, the nominees or to request an interview, please contact Warren Bernard at warren@spxpo.com. For more information on the Small Press Expo, please visit http://www.spxpo.com. Outstanding Artist Lilli Carre for Heads or Tails Michael DeForge for Lose #4 Miriam Katin for Letting It Go Ulli Lust for Today is the Last Day of the Rest of Your Life Patrick McEown for Hair Shirt Outstanding Anthology or Collection Freddie Stories by Lynda Barry Heads or Tails by Lille Carré Peter Bagge's Other Stuff by Peter Bagge Stark #1 by Tusen Hjartan Very Casual by Michael DeForge Outstanding Graphic Novel The Property by Rutu Modan Susceptible by Genevieve Castree Today is the Last Day of the Rest of Your Life by Ulli Lust When David Lost His Voice by Judith Vanistendael You'll Never Know Vol. 3: A Soldier's Heart by Carol Tyler Outstanding Story "Arid" (Secret Prison #7) by Tom Hart Birdseye Bristoe by Dan Zettwoch "The Carnival" (Heads or Tails) by Lilli Carre Gold Star by John Martz "Neighbors" (Stark #1) by Joanna Hellgren Promising New Talent Sam Alden for  Hawaii 1997 & Haunter Nathan Bulmer for Eat More Bikes Philippa Rice for Looking Out Diana Thung for August Moon Angie Wang for "The Teacup Tree" (Secret Prison #7) Outstanding Series The Hive by Charles Burns Lose by Michael DeForge Madtown High by Whit Taylor Pope Hats by Ethan Rilly Prison Pit by Johnny Ryan Outstanding Comic Hyperspeed to Nowhere 2: Return to Entropy by Lale Westvind The Life Problem by Austin English Looking Out by Philippa Rice Pope Hats #3 by Ethan Rilly St. Owl's Bay by Simon Hanselmann Outstanding Minicomic The End of the Fucking World: Part 16 by Charles Forsman Il Cammino Delle Capre by Kris Mukai and Zachary Zezima Hawaii 1997 by Sam Alden Layaway by Joseph Lambert Powdered Milk Vol. 10: The Man Who Could Not Read by Keiler Roberts Outstanding Online Comic Bird Boy by Annie Szabla - http://bird-boy.com/ Haunter by Sam Alden - http://studygroupcomics.com/main/haunter-part-1-by-sam-alden/ Gabby's Playhouse - Ken Dahl/Gabby Schulz - http://www.gabbysplayhouse.com/ July Diary by Gabrielle Bell - http://gabriellebell.com/2012/07/01/july-diary-day-one/ SuperMutant Magic Academy by Jillian Tamaki - http://mutantmagic.com/ Copyright © 2013 Small Press Expo, All rights reserved. You are receiving this e-mail as a result of your being on our long standing press release list. Our mailing address is: Small Press Expo P.O. Box 447 McLean, VA 22101

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 15, 2013

Contact:

 

Joe Procopio, joseph.procopio@lostartbooks.com, (240) 643‐8714

Matt Baker’s

Canteen Kate collected for first time

in volume one of new series debuting at Small Press Expo 2013

Lost Art Books revives important African American artist’s seminal 1950s work

SILVER SPRING, MARYLAND—Picture This Press, a publishing house devoted to the graphic arts, will release the first volume in a planned three book set devoted to golden age “good girl” artist

Matt Baker. As part of the ongoing Lost Art Books imprint, The Lost

Art of Matt Baker: The Complete Canteen Kate

will debut in paperback and hardcover formats at this year’s Small Press Expo on September 14-15 in Bethesda, Maryland.

Every Canteen Kate story ever published—22 in all—is collected for the first time in

The Lost Art of Matt Baker, Volume 1,

judiciously restored

and enlarged 20 percent over their original published size. A rich introduction by veteran comics writer Steven

Ringgenberg

provides insightful historical and biographical context, and a bonus gallery spotlights Baker’s skills as a cover artist.

Best of all, Baker and his good

-time gal bring you weapons‐grade guffaws as well as art that will leave you eager to see more from

this master draftsman.

Matt Baker is considered by comics historians and aficionados to be the preeminent “good girl” artist working in the medium during the 1940s and 1950s. But beyond his gift for drawing some of the most beautiful women in comics, Baker’s accomplishments include

two firsts: (1) he is the medium’s

first important African American comics artist, and (2) he drew in 1950 what has been argued was

the

first graphic novel, It Rhymes with Lust.

Baker honed his skills through the 1940s for several comics publishers, but his tremendous talents came to fruition at St. John Publications, where his realistic style was showcased in western, mystery, and especially romance comics. But regardless of the comics’ genre, one quality emerged in whatever Baker drew: his naturalistically gorgeous women. During this prolific period in his career, this master of "good girl" art latched onto one of St. John’s only recurring characters, Kate of

Canteen Kate. Baker drew every installment of the candid wartime cutie, from her premiere in

Fightin’ Marines (1951) to her final bow in Anchors Andrews (1953).

Unlike the jingoistic comics typically published during the Korean War,

Canteen Kate tales were designed to be morale‐boosting screwball fun. Without radically changing his style, Baker managed to make Kate equal parts comely and kooky in a series of stories that leaned heavily on silly hijinks in a military mess hall. Volume 2 in

 

The Lost Art of Matt Baker series will collect his entire output for the Wartime Romances comic, and Volume 3 will

provide a sampling of his best war, western, and suspense stories. Both of those volumes are slated for a 2014 release. Volume 1 of the series is available now for pre

 

‐order directly from the publisher (www.LostArtBooks.com) and from Amazon.com, and will ship

in mid

‐September immediately after the Small Press Expo.

Details

The Lost Art of Matt Baker, Vol. 1: The Complete Canteen Kate

160 pages • 8 ½ x 11” • full color • paperback and hardcover editions

ISBNs:

978‐0‐9829276‐6‐3 (hardcover), 978‐0‐9829276‐8‐7 (paperback)

About

Picture This Press

is dedicated to broadening the appreciation and awareness of artists who work in the fields of illustration,

cartooning, graphic arts, photography, and poster design. Picture This Press founder Joseph Procopio and co

‐publisher Ellen Levy

have a combined 35 years of publishing experience as writers, managing editors, and publications directors for a variety of

organizations.

Lost Art Books

the flagship series from Picture This Press, collects and preserves the works of illustrators and cartoonists from the

first half of the 20th century. Too many of these artists have gone underappreciated for too long, with much of their work uncollected or unexamined for decades, if at all. The Lost Art Books series aims to preserve this cultural heritage by re

‐introducing these artists to new generations of working artists, historians, and admirers of things beautiful.

Links

Pre-order and sample art page:

http://tinyurl.com/pegt8qz

Lost Art of Matt Baker

book trailer on Vimeo: http://vimeo.com/lostartbooks/mattbaker

Home page:

www.LostArtBooks.com

Facebook group:

http://tiny.cc/2uw2i

Interview with the publisher in the
Washington City Paper: http://tiny.cc/47nl4

Chicago Reader on Rep. Lewis's March

John Lewis's long march
With the help of illustrator Nate Powell, a civil rights legend's memoirs become a striking graphic novel.
By Dominic Umile
Chicago Reader August 4 2013
http://www.chicagoreader.com/chicago/congressman-john-lewis-nate-powell-march-memoir/Content?oid=10515381

Game On! Comics Summer's Deal

A message from Game On! Comics         Promotion starts Aug 13, 2013 and ends Aug 31, 2013 Game On! Comics 310 Dominion RD NE, Vienna, VA, 22306 (703) 242-3838 | louis@gameoncomics.com | gameoncomics.com 0987226555

Game On! Comics | 310 Dominion RD NE | Vienna | VA | 22306