Nov. 22: Super Art Fight in Rockville

For its 2013 finale, Super Art Fight makes its debut at VisArts in Rockville, Md., on Nov. 22. Doors open at 8 p.m.; tickets are $15. It's open to all ages.

Nov 21: Cartoons & Cocktails annual auction

On November 21, Cartoons & Cocktails, the annual fundraising auction of editorial cartoons, takes place in the National Press Club on 14th St, NW.

AV Club reviews Steven Universe

Steven Universe S1 / E3-4

By Oliver Sava 

November 11, 2013

Http://Www.Avclub.Com/Articles/Steven-Universe,105415/

Caro returns to Hooded Utilitarian

Caroline Small on Critic-Practitioners

Our new header!

Our new header is done by blog co-author and cartoonist Matt Dembicki!

Nov 14: Satire and Paper Money talk at Library of Congress

"The Art of Paper Money": New Research at The John W. Kluge Center—Dispatch November 7, 2013

 

New Research at The John W. Kluge Center 

Topic: The Art of Paper Money
Scholar: Amanda Lahikainen, Kluge Fellow 

November 7, 2013 

What roles have artists and printmakers played in the normalization of paper money?

Art historian Amanda Lahikainen, Kluge Fellow at The John W. Kluge Center, is researching the responses of British artists and printmakers to the introduction of paper money in England while at the Kluge Center.

Lahikainen has spent the past six months as a scholar-in-residence at The John W. Kluge Center at the Library of Congress. She is looking at the ways in which print artists in England satirized the introduction of paper money and the ways in which art may have helped enable paper money to become normalized in society more broadly. 

"Satire responds to important events. One of those important events was the increased use of paper money in England in 1797," Lahikainen says. "Prime Minister William Pitt declared paper money the de facto currency. Suddenly, people could no longer bring credit instruments to the bank and exchange it for gold. The result was great unease and distrust."

British satirists responded with grotesque and scatological imagery deriding the new system. Some produced imitation, satirical bank notes that challenged the trust in the new currency. A few supported the new instruments. But in all cases, Lahikainen says, the work of satirists helped to normalize a paper money system backed by trust and not by bullion. 

"Even when they're mocking the currency, they're also helping people grow more accustomed to it," Lahikainen says. "This early period of paper money offers an important glimpse into how the process of naturalization took place—a naturalization we take for granted today." 

Among the satirists Lahikainen is researching is little-known engraver John Luffman. Luffman began printing satirical bank notes in 1803, and his notes were re-printed in 1818. The Library of Congress has one of the preeminent collections of satirical banknotes in the world, including Luffman's.

Lahikainen recently shared examples of British satirical bank notes with researchers at the U.S. Department of the Treasury. "They were unfamiliar with this tradition, and it was wonderful to hear their responses," she says. "We then spoke about the definition of money more broadly. It was a great discussion." 

Lahikainen is in residence at the Kluge Center through December. 

Upcoming Events with Amanda Lahikainen 

Graphic Satire, Paper Money and the Art of Engraving in Britain, 1797-1821
with Amanda Lahikainen, Kluge Fellow 
Thursday, November 14 at 12:00 pm in room LJ-113
Amanda Lahikainen, Assistant Professor of Art History at Aquinas College, on the connections between art and money, and how graphic satires and satirical banknotes reflected and helped produce the changing cultures of paper money and engraving in England.

Nov 19: Rep. John Lewis at National Press Club book fair

5015 Connecticut Avenue NW Washington DC 20008 (202) 364-1919 (800) 722-0790 Monday-Saturday: 9 a.m.-10 p.m. Sunday: 10 a.m.- 8 p.m. Modern Times Coffeehouse  opens daily at 8 a.m.   Tuesday, November 19, 5:30-8:30 p.m. at National Press Club  529 14th Street NW, 13th Floor Metro: Metro Center The 36th Annual Book Fair & Author Night is an opportunity to mingle with an incredible group of acclaimed and bestselling authors while you shop. You can discover the ideal gift for a book lover of any age and pick the brain of the author as he or she signs it. Plus, the event is a fundraiser supporting the National Press Club's Journalism Institute, which provides training, resources, and scholarships for the next generation of journalists, and their partner The Seed School, which helps under-served students prepare for college. Wrap up your holiday shopping early and give to a great cause, all in one fun night.     Featuring more than 90 authors, including: Congressman John Lewis, March Tickets are currently on sale, or you can purchase at the door. 1 ticket = $10; $5 for members All books must be purchased at the book fair.  to purchase.

'Smithsonian' list includes Wonder Woman

The November 2013 issue of Smithsonian magazine includes 101 objects "that made America," from the Smithsonian's collection. Included on the list: Wonder Woman comics (1941).

Washington Times on Ms. Marvel being Muslim

EDITORIAL: Heroic and politically correct

Washington Times editorial
To sum up the paper's argument on Ms. Marvel being a teenage Muslim girl: "Marvel Comics insists that it won’t evangelize for Islam, but the comic book industry promotes eerie lifestyles."

Rep. Lewis' March on Rachel Maddow

Rachel Maddow   |  November 07, 2013

Civil rights history illustrated in new book

Congressman John Lewis and his co-authors of the bestselling graphic novel "March" talk with Rachel Maddow about telling the story of the civil rights movement.

http://video.msnbc.msn.com/rachel-maddow/53494780/#53494780

Loya's Splotch Monster Island shop

Cartoonist/artist Steve Loya today launched his online Splotch Monster shop, dubbed Splotch Monster Island, is up and running. (Steve is the scheduled cover artist for Magic Bullet #8, coming out in spring 2014.)

Courtesy of Steve Loya

Even more on The Post dropping Get Fuzzy

The unwelcome loss of 'Get Fuzzy'

Erin Lourie, Silver Spring

Anne Ritchie, Alexandria

Shelley Bond, Fairfax

Roger M. Allen, Takoma Park

Rachel Griffith, Washington

Greg Friedmann, Ashburn

Leonard Keifer, Gaithersburg

  Washington Post November 9 2013

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/dont-mess-with-our-get-fuzzy/2013/11/08/7f5a5fe8-466c-11e3-95a9-3f15b5618ba8_story.html

More 'Terrible' in the works

Scott Mills (writer) and Art Hondros (artist) are working on the second chapter of their online comic Terrible: Tsar Ivan IV, which is about Ivan the Terrible. Here is the first panel of the second chapter.

Courtesy of Scott Mills and Art Hondros

Dropping 'Get Fuzzy' continues to rattle around The Post

MAILBAG: What Post readers are saying about the 'Get Fuzzy' drop...

By Michael Cavna

Washington Post Comic Riffs blog November 8 2013
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/comic-riffs/post/mailbag-what-post-readers-are-saying-about-the-get-fuzzy-drop/2013/11/08/150a3f64-48ba-11e3-b6f8-3782ff6cb769_blog.html

Comic Riffs interviews Rich Stevens

Millennials & the Economy: The Nib's latest webcomic has all the answers in 6 easy steps [Q+A]

By Michael Cavna

Washington Post November 7 2013
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/comic-riffs/post/millennials-and-the-economy-the-nibs-latest-webcomic-has-all-the-answers-in-6-easy-steps-qa/2013/11/07/9049a920-47e9-11e3-a196-3544a03c2351_blog.html#pagebreak

Eric Gordon's drawings from Cartoonists Draw Blood

Cartoonist Eric Gordon has posted a bunch of the cool portraits he did for folks who donated blood during the Cartoonist Draw Blood blood drive last weekend. Check out his blog.

Photo courtesy of Eric Gordon

D.C. Conspiracy meet up this Sunday

The D.C. Conspiracy, the local comics collaborative that publishes the comics newspaper Magic Bullet, is getting together this Sunday for few drinks and some drawing at Buffalo Billards at Dupont Circle at 5:30 pm-ish. All are welcome!

WaPo article on cartoonists' blood drive

Besides juice and cookies, blood donors at D.C. drive received cartoonists’ original art

Washington Post

By Bettina Lanyi

“Elizabeth Brewer was pleased with the sketch of her dog — an ink-drawn caricature of the real thing, based on an iPhone photo she showed cartoonist Jake Warrenfeltz. “I’m going to frame it,” she said, “and hang it on the wall.”

Jacob Warrenfeltz draws a sketch.

Photo courtesy of Carolyn Belefski

NPR reviews Jeff Smith's 'RASL'

Noir Storytelling And Art Thievery In Living Color In 'RASL'
By Etelka Lehoczky
"Smith's dark tale of a dimension-jumping scientist, whose name is pronounced "razzle," is relayed in a jaggy style that couldn't be more different from that of the artist's Pogo-esque epic Bone."

The Post reviews the new Thor movie

'Thor: The Dark World' movie review

Loki and Thor cut a deal. (Jay Maidment)

By Michael O'Sullivan, 

Washington Post November 8 2013

http://www.washingtonpost.com/goingoutguide/movies/thor-the-dark-world-movie-review/2013/11/06/d18d290a-4638-11e3-bf0c-cebf37c6f484_story.html

Flugennock's "Carpetbagger Defeats Teabagger"

"Carpetbagger Defeats Teabagger!"
http://sinkers.org/stage/?p=1404

A political analyst interviewed on The Daily Show late last week referred to the two major party candidates for Governor of Virginia as the worst candidates he'd ever seen, remarking that Virginia voters were being asked to choose between "cancer and a heart attack". That summed it up perfectly, if you ask me.

So it was that this past Tuesday, Virginians chose former Donkeycratic Party honcho and Clinton money man Terry McAwful -- uhh, MacAuliffe -- over Tea Party loon Ken Cuccinelli to occupy the Governor's mansion... not that it'd make any difference in the long run, except for those of you concerned only about your uteruses.

God, I hate democracy.

________________________________________________________________
Mike Flugennock, flugennock at sinkers dot org
Mike's Political Cartoons: dubya dubya dubya dot sinkers dot org

Interviews with Rep. John Lewis and Jonathan Luna

Q&A with Rep. John Lewis on his graphic memoir 'March: Book One'

By SCOTT A. ROSENBERG

amNewYork November 6 2013
http://www.amny.com/urbanite-1.812039/q-a-with-rep-john-lewis-on-his-graphic-memoir-march-book-one-1.6393781

Jonathan Luna and Sarah Vaughn Talk Robots & Love In 'Alex + Ada'

Interview by – Big J and Jorge Solis

 November 07, 2013
http://bloody-disgusting.com/news/3263725/exclusive-interview-jonathan-luna-and-sarah-vaughn-reprogram-science-fiction-with-alex-ada/

Comic Riffs on Marvel's new 'television' series

Marvel, Netflix reach deal for 4 new superhero series, including 'Daredevil,' 'Luke Cage'

By Michael Cavna

Washington Post Comic Riffs blog November 7 2013
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/comic-riffs/post/marvel-netflix-reach-deal-for-4-new-superhero-series-including-daredevil-luke-cage/2013/11/07/837650c4-47d3-11e3-a196-3544a03c2351_blog.html

Off-topic - Comic Book Legal Defense Fund

CBLDF: First Responder to Censorship

By Calvin Reid

Nov 01, 2013

http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/comics/article/59821-cbldf-first-responder-to-censorship.html I'm a member!

11/9: Jonathan Luna and Sarah Vaughn at Third Eye Comics

This Saturday, join us for our ALEX + ADA #1 release party with JONATHAN LUNA (Girls, Ultra, The Sword) & Sarah Vaughn.

 

 

Sounds: Thee Oh Sees - Floating Coffin

Sights:   American Horror Story!

Tastes: Nando's!

 

Rob Steibel's latest TCJ column online now

"Who the Hell Was the Conscious and Clever Brains Behind the Marvel Phenomenon?"

BY Robert Steibel Nov 6, 2013
http://www.tcj.com/who-the-hell-was-the-conscious-and-clever-brains-behind-the-marvel-phenomenon/

The Post reviews UK comics collection

Comics review: 'The Best of Milligan & McCarthy'

By Douglas Wolk, 

Washington Post November 6 2013

http://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/books/comics-review-the-best-of-milligan-and-mccarthy/2013/11/05/84f6574c-4327-11e3-a751-f032898f2dbc_story.html

More from The Post on dropping Get Fuzzy

Why The Post pulled 'Get Fuzzy'

By Donna Peremes, 

Washington Post November 6 2013

http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/why-the-post-pulled-get-fuzzy/2013/11/05/9dbce728-4647-11e3-bf0c-cebf37c6f484_story.html

Tonight: The Simpsons and Their Mathematical Secrets at the Smithsonian

The Simpsons and Their Mathematical Secrets Evening Lecture Wednesday, November 6 - 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. http://smithsonianassociates.org/ticketing/tickets/reserve.aspx?performanceNumber=227130

Tickets Login $20 Member   0  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10  $25 Gen. Admission

Marge: Now I know you haven't liked some of my past suggestions, like switching to the metric system.

Grampa: The metric system is the tool of the devil!  My car gets 40 rods to the hogshead, and that's the way I likes it!

-From The Simpsons episode "A Star Is Burns"

The fictional show writers on 30 Rock weren't exactly the smartest collection of scribes. But step into the real-life writers' room of The Simpsons and you're likely to find a comedy genius or two—literally. That show's writing team of David X. Cohen, Al Jean, Jeff Westbrook, and Stewart Burns all have various advanced degrees in mathematics, physics, and other sciences. 

The iconic series has injected morsels of number theory into episodes since its first season—in fact, there are so many mathematical references in the show and its sister program Futurama that they could form the basis of a university course. Simon Singh's new book, The Simpsons and Their Mathematical Secrets (Bloomsbury), takes a close look at all the math among the laughs in the show. Drawing on many memorable episodes from "Bart the Genius" to "Homer3," Singh uncovers intriguing and meaningful mathematical concepts, ranging from the mathematics of pi and the paradox of infinity to the origin of numbers and even profound problems that haunt today's mathematicians. In the process, he illuminates key moments in the history of mathematics—and "The Simpsons"—and introduces us to show's brilliant writing team. It all adds up to some very brainy fun.

Singh is the author of Fermat's Enigma, The Code Book, and The Big Bang. Copies of his book will be available for signing.

Little Golden books exhibit at Smithsonian includes Little Lulu

Bruce Guthrie has pointed out that there's a Little Golden Books exhibit at Smithsonian's Museum of American History and it includes Little Lulu book. Bruce's photographs can be seen here.

In case you're wondering about the tissues - licensing deal. Marge drew a LOT of magazine ads with Little Lulu needing Kleenex tissues.

Nov 10: Team Cul de Sac at Moving Day fundraiser

 

A moving walk to benefit the Parkinson Foundation of the National Capital Area and the National Parkinson Foundation.

Team Cul de Sac is participating in Moving Day  and needs your support.

Date: Sunday, Nov. 10, 2013

Time: 8:30 a.m.                 

Location: Nationals Park

Distance: Gentle 2 miles

Steven Universe reviewed by AV Club

TV Review: Steven Universe

by Erik Adams November 4, 2013

http://www.avclub.com/articles/steven-universe,105068/

Nov. 9: King at Game On! Comics

Tom King, author of A Once Crowded Sky, will be at Game On! Comics and Games in Vienna, Va.,  Saturday from 12-3 p.m. Here is a neat video promoting the book that I don't recall seeing before.

PR: Southern Maryland Comic-Con is THIS SATURDAY!

Friend on Facebook Follow on Twitter Forward to a Friend Card Gaming at Southern Maryland Comic-Con! High Tide Games will be hosting Magic The Gathering & Fluxx Tournaments through out the day at Southern Maryland Comic-Con! Check out the event page for more details right here! Important Info Southern Maryland Comic-Con THIS SATURDAY, Nov. 9 10 am - 6 pm Capital Clubhouse 3033 Waldorf Market Pl Waldorf, Md 20603 Admission is $10 at the door or online at: www.somdcon.com/tickets Kids 10 & Under FREE Our Friends' Upcoming Events: "I Know That Voice" with John DiMaggio Friday, November 8 http://press.org/events/voice Washington, DC Shoff Comics & Sports Card Show! Saturday, December 7th http://shoffpromotions.com Tysons Corner VA Dead Body Road #1 Release Signing with Justin Jordan Saturday, December 14th http://www.thirdeyecomics.com Annapolis, Maryland Awesome Con 2014 April 18-20, 2014 http://awesomecondc.com Washington, DC

Southern Maryland Comic-Con is THIS SATURDAY!  Guest Update Unfortunately, Olivia Olson had to cancel her appearance at the Southern Maryland Comic-Con. So, we called up our friend, voice acting legend Jim Cummings, and he agreed to come to Waldorf on short notice! Jim has appeared in almost 400 roles, and is often associated with Disney. He is best known for voicing Darkwing Duck, Tigger, Pooh, the Tasmanian Devil, Urdnot Wreav from Mass Effect, and Dr. Robotnik from Sonic the Hedgehog. He has performed in numerous animated Disney and DreamWorks movies including Aladdin, The Lion King, Antz, The Road to El Dorado, Shrek, and The Princess and the Frog. He has also provided voice-over work for video games, such as Kingdom Hearts, Icewind Dale, The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, Baldur’s Gate, Mass Effect 2, Star Wars: The Old Republic, World of Warcraft: Mists of Pandaria, and Splatterhouse. Jim is one of the most talented voice actors in the world. Schedule 10am - Doors Open 11am - Fluxx & Magic: The Gathering Tournaments (run all day) 12pm - TBA 1pm - Q&A with Jim Zub, writer of Samurai Jack and Skullkickers 2pm - Q&A with Jim Cummings, legendary voice actor 3pm - Carolyn & Joe Show Podcast 3pm - Kids Costume Contest 4pm - Insane Ian Concert 4:30 - Costume Contest Kids Remember, kids 10 and under get in FREE! We will also have all-day kids art stations, kids superhero training obstacle course, a kids costume contest, and more!! Tickets are on sale now at somdcon.com/tickets. Jim Zub! Jim Zub is also coming to Southern Maryland Comic-Con! We are so psyched about our Samurai Jack exclusive, we were (somehow) able to talk the writer of the Samurai Jack comic book, Jim Zub, into coming to the con! This is huge! You may also know Jim from his Image Comic, Skullkickers. We will also have Samurai Jack cover artist Bryan Turner from Identity Comics Studio at the con, they will both sign your bo

Comic Riffs talks to Steven of 'Steven Universe'

'STEVEN UNIVERSE': Monday night's new Cartoon Network show spotlights strength of Maryland-sprung sister-brother team

By Michael Cavna

Washington Post Comic Riffs blog November 4 2013
http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/comic-riffs/post/steven-universe-monday-nights-new-cartoon-network-show-spotlights-strength-of-maryland-sprung-sister-brother-team/2013/11/03/ec3b0928-4504-11e3-bf0c-cebf37c6f484_blog.html#pagebreak

Those darn editorial cartoons and Close to Home comic strips

Letter to the Editor: Reinforcing the stereotype of engineers and mathematicians

Washington Post November 2 2013
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/reinforcing-the-stereotype-of-engineers-and-mathematicians/2013/11/01/4b8d1a96-418c-11e3-b028-de922d7a3f47_story.html

On Oct. 26, The Post published a Free for All letter on how the media should better portray engineers and mathematicians.

Two pages later, it published a Drawing Board cartoon that reinforces the stereotype.

I guess it will take some time for media habits to change.

Nick Isaacs, Reston

Letter to the Editor: 'Close to Home' strip crossed a line

Washington Post November 2 2013
http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/close-to-home-strip-crossed-a-line/2013/11/01/98e83390-4004-11e3-b028-de922d7a3f47_story.html

I generally enjoy John McPherson's "Close to Home," but the Oct. 25 edition crossed the line between funny and inappropriate that comic artists frequently tread. With several recent news stories documenting teen suicides as a result of cyber-bullying, this is certainly no laughing matter.

Thomas V. Berry, Alexandria

The Post on Rebecca Sugar

'Steven Universe' creator Rebecca Sugar is a Cartoon Network trailblazer

By Michael Cavna, 

Washington Post November 2 2013

http://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/tv/steven-universe-creator-rebecca-sugar-is-an-idealistic-trailblazer/2013/11/01/fe622da2-4338-11e3-a751-f032898f2dbc_story.html

Today: The Dog Show

Telegraph in Charlottesville, Va., is holding a reception today for its new round of prints, this one focused on dogs called "The Dog Show." The six featured artists are:

• Ian Andersen
• Jordan Canales
• William Glick
• Rebecca Tobin
• Caitlin Rose Boyle
• Daniel Bressette

Next month's new prints--dubbed "Face Value"--will feature small-format portraits.

 

Art by Ian Andersen

 

The Post on two wildly-different comics-related movies

'Blue Is the Warmest Color' movie review: A vivid coming-of-age romantic drama

By Ann Hornaday, Washington Post November 1 2013

http://www.washingtonpost.com/goingoutguide/movies/blue-is-the-warmest-color-movie-review-a-vivid-coming-of-age-romantic-drama/2013/10/30/e72ea18c-4190-11e3-a624-41d661b0bb78_story.html

Owen Wilson, Amy Poehler give voice to Thanksgiving-themed 'Free Birds'

By Stephanie Merry, Washington Post November 1 2013

http://www.washingtonpost.com/goingoutguide/movies/owen-wilson-amy-poehler-give-voice-to-thanksgiving-themed-free-birds/2013/10/30/110ec93a-3fdb-11e3-a751-f032898f2dbc_story.html

Carolyn Belefski interview online

NYCC 2013 Carolyn Belefski

by Tom Racine

talltaleradio  Oct 31, 2013

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=inS9Hq8o2RA

"Curls" artist Carolyn Belefski talks about her comic, her very cool comics magazine "The Magic Bullet," The Washington DC area comics scene and more!

Teresa Logan interview online

NYCC 2013 Teresa Logan

by Tom Racine

talltaleradio  Oct 31, 2013

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CpjzqezonL8&feature=youtu.be

Laughing Redhead Studios very own Teresa Roberts Logan talks about her work and influences at the New York Comic Con!

Herblock documentary picked up by HBO

'HERBLOCK' FILM: 'Black & the White' docu lands deal, airdates with HBO

By Michael Cavna 

Washington Post October 31 2013

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/comic-riffs/post/herblock-film-black-and-the-white-docu-lands-deal-airdates-with-hbo/2013/10/31/5fdde3b2-4255-11e3-a751-f032898f2dbc_blog.html