Richard Thompson exhibit in Columbus, OH

An excellent exhibit of Arlington, VA's Richard Thompson, curated by Caitlin McGurk, opened this past Friday. It's at Ohio State University's Billy Ireland Library and Musum. I was lucky enough to attend the opening, and largely forgot to take pictures!

Richard had a good time though, and other cartoonists and members of his family attended, as well as over 400 people whose names I didn't catch. Oh yeah, there's an also an exhibit by some guy named Watterson in the next room over.

Here's a few I pictures I did take, all of Richard and his friends ...

Box Brown interviewed on BPC podcast

The Big Planet Comics podcast interviews comic booker Box Brown about wrestling and his upcoming graphic novel about Andre the Giant. (BPC co-publishes Brown's Retrofit Comics line of monthly floppies.)

Image: Box Brown

That darn Prickly City

Letter to the Editor: Too much politics in ‘Prickly City’ for the comics page

Washington Post March 22 2014

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/too-much-politics-in-prickly-city-for-the-comics-page/2014/03/21/c8faa3d4-ae1c-11e3-b8b3-44b1d1cd4c1f_story.html 

Film projects from local cartoonists John Dorsey and G.E. Gallas

G.E. Gallas is looking to fund her film:

Death Is No Bad Friend

A short film about Robert Louis Stevenson (Treasure Island, Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde) in San Francisco and on Mount Saint Helena.

John Dorsey, author of the minicomic 2080:Rad City, writes in about his finished film:

I'm the writer & director for "Beard Guy" a short comedy shot entirely in the DMV region using local talent & companies: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5Xp2c42dk4

Beard guy is a screwball comedy about office stereotypes. Inspired by a Reddit it was filmed during the winter when Film Sets are typically shut down, leaving industry professionals out of work. We filmed Beard Guy, using a Red Epic camera (same camera they used House of Cards)

Bottom-line - we're pretty proud of how this short film turned out,

'Aquabats' in Silver Spring on May 10

The surf-rock-band-turned-TV-show-stars Aquabats are coming to the Filmore in Silver Spring, Md., on May 10 as part of their 20^th anniversary tour.  (I figure, they are based on comics and cartoons—and I love their show—so I oughtta mention it.)

Comic Riffs on Hellboy

Mike Mignola: As Hellboy turns 20, creator celebrates having been at ‘exact right place at the exact right time’

• By David Betancourt

• Washington Post Comic Riffs blog

  March 20 2014

• http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2014/03/20/mike-mignola-as-hellboy-turns-20-creator-celebrates-having-been-at-exact-right-place-at-the-exact-right-time/
  

Awesome Con spreads its cloak

Guinness record in sights for D.C. comic book convention

Jeff Clabaugh

Broadcast/Web Reporter- Washington Business Journal March 19, 2014

http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/news/2014/03/19/guinness-record-in-sights-for-d-c-comic-book.html

'Panels in Frames' opening

Some photos from Friday's opening of the 'Panels in Frames' comics art exhibit at 505 North in Frederick, Md., courtesy of Steve Loya and Rafer Roberts, just two of the comics creators whose work was on display. Others include local cartoonists Matt Rawson, Andrew Cohen, Jason Axtell, Teresa Roberts Logan, Danielle Corsetto, Martin Graff, Laura McClure and Monica Gallagher. The exhibit runs until April 11.

'Omega' on street patrol

“Omega” is the superhero persona of a D.C.-area comics creator who recently moved to Seattle. He’s been working on a comics-related project with Seattle superhero Phoenix Jones, but it looks like he’s now joined Jones’ group, which calls itself the Rain City Superhero Crime Fighting Movement. The group patrols the streets of Seattle--mainly the bar areas after they close--and have drawn the ire of local police, who warn that the group's actions can have consequences, both physical and legal. Check out Omega’s Facebook page for photos, videos and other updates.

'Lumberjanes' signing at BPC on April 26

Big Planet Comics in Vienna welcomes Brooke Allen (who lives in D.C. now) and Grace Ellis on April 26 from noon to 2 p.m. for a signing of the first issue of their new series Lumberjanes (Boom! Studios), where five friends go to camp together for the summer, only to find there are lots of monster there. "Rad teenager girls kicking some monster butt!" say BPC.

Art by Brooke Allen

French graphic novel "Polina" reviewed by Economist blogger in DC

Pictures of delight: Graphic novels and ballet

 by B.D. | WASHINGTON, DC

Prospero blog Mar 20th 2014,

http://www.economist.com/blogs/prospero/2014/03/graphic-novels-and-ballet

Comic Riffs on Eleanor Davis' Google Doodle

SPRING EQUINOX: Artist Eleanor Davis on the joy (and learning curve) of creating today’s ‘blob lady’ Google Doodle

BY MICHAEL CAVNA

March 20 2014

 http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2014/03/20/spring-equinox-artist-eleanor-davis-on-the-joy-and-learning-curve-of-creating-todays-blob-lady-google-doodle/

Rat Queen prints at Big Planet Comics College Park

We just got in a set of prints for the Rat Queens signing in College Park, Sunday April 6! This will be a signed set by Kurtis and Roc. Get one of your favorite character: Hannah, Violet, Dee, or Betty, or collect all 4!

https://www.facebook.com/events/271319973032756/

We just got in a set of prints for the signing! This will be a signed set by Kurtis and 

Bill Watterson and Richard Thompson exhibit opens in Columbus, OH tomorrow

Caitlin McGurk of the Billy Ireland Library at Ohio State University says:

Here is the new and exclusive interview with Richard Thompson and Bill Watterson, taking the internet by storm on our blog:

http://library.osu.edu/blogs/cartoons/2014/03/20/new-interview-calvin-hobbes-creator-bill-watterson-and-cul-de-sac-creator-richard-thompson-talk-libraries-comics-and-the-creative-process-with-ohio-state/

 

The two images are from a clever brochure for advertising artists that Bono Mitchell recently gave me. Can you figure out which section of the cover Richard did?

New interviews with Watterson and Thompson

The Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum at Ohio State University releases a new interview with Calvin & Hobbes creator Bill Watterson and Cul de Sac creator Richard Thompson two days before it opens expositions featuring work by both cartoonists.

New Captain America movie poster

New Jim Steranko-inspired promotional poster for the upcoming Captain America movie, which is largely set in D.C.

March featured in Lansing

Graphic history:‘One Book, One Community’ chooses graphic novel memoir of civil rights activist for 2014

by Bill Castanier

Lansing City Pulse March 19,2014

http://www.lansingcitypulse.com/lansing/article-10002-graphic-history.html

March 26: Scooby-Doo Live! Musical Mysteries at Warner Theatre

Scooby-Doo Live! Musical Mysteries

Warner Theatre, 6 pm.

Tickets ordering here.

Scooby-Doo and the Mystery Inc. gang have been called upon to help solve an epic mystery. It appears a trouble-making ghost is haunting a local theatre and Shaggy, Fred, Daphne, Velma and Scooby-Doo are off in the Mystery Machine to solve it!

Filled with wacky new characters and hilarious antics, SCOOBY-DOO LIVE! Musical Mysteries has young audiences on the edge of their seats the moment the lights go down.

Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse in new National Archives exhibit

The National Archives has a new exhibit opening on Friday called "Making Their Mark: Stories Through Signatures."  It's an interesting collection of artifacts that feature signatures.  Included in the exhibit are things like Hitler's marriage certificate, Michael Jackson's patent for moonwalking shoes (who'd have guessed), John Wilkes Booth's calling card for Andrew Johnson, Julius and Ethel Rosenberg's kid's note to Truman asking him to spare their parents, letters from Johnny Cash and Katherine Hepburn, FDR's request for more money to help deport Japanese during World War II, etc.  Also included is a patent infringement claim from Walt Disney against Van Beuren Corporation for ripping off his Mickey and Minnie Mouse characters.  As the sign says:

Mickey and Minnie vs Milton and Mary:
Few cartoon characters are more recognizable around the world than Mickey Mouse and his girlfriend Minnie Mouse.  This early copyright infringement case came just a few years after Mickey and Minnie Mouse had been copyrighted and trademarked.  Walt Disney won his case against the creators of Mickey and Minnie look-a-likes Milton and Mary.  The defendants, the Pathe Exchange and Van Beuren Corporation, were barred from ever using Milton or Mary in another animated film.

Other photos from the exhibit are on www.bguthriephotos.com/graphlib.nsf/keys/2014_03_18C_Signatures

--
Bruce Guthrie
Photo obsessive
http://www.bguthriephotos.com

__.

Post's Comic Riffs blog causes criticism of Zunar in Malaysia (and he criticizes back)

CARTOON OF THE DAY: Malaysian artist on the lost jet — and his government’s ‘weak’ response to it

BY MICHAEL CAVNA

Washington Post Comic Riffs blog March 18 2014 

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2014/03/18/cartoon-of-the-day-malaysian-artist-on-the-lost-jet-and-his-governments-weak-response-to-it/

Malaysian cartoonist Zunar slammed over Washington Post comic strip

BY SIRA HABIBU 

MALAYSIAN STAR MARCH 19, 2014 

HTTP://WWW.THESTAR.COM.MY/NEWS/NATION/2014/03/19/ZUNAR-WASHINGTON-POST/

Statement in English: I defend my cartoon in Washington Post

Zunar

2014-03-19

http://www.zunar.my/news/statements/defend-cartoon-washington-post/

Andrew Aydin on Martin Luther King and the Montgomery Story

The Comic That Inspired A Movement

February 2014
http://www.diamondbookshelf.com/Home/1/1/20/835?articleID=144716

Rafer Roberts' X-O Man-o-War page online

Rafer Roberts' X-O Man-o-War page is online.

You can see the whole PR here.

New sketch blog at Washington Post

Drawing D.C. Together

A Journal of Urban Sketches

by Richard Johnson

Here's his first post.

Comics panel at Telegraph April 13

Telegraph in Charlottesville, Va., is hosting a comics panel April 13 ( 3-5 p.m.) about independent publishing and what drives illustrators to create. Participating cartoonists include Warren Craghead III, Jared Cullum, Andrew White (who lives in the D.C. area)  and Dustin Harbin. According to Telegraph, the “panel will discuss each artist's different approach to comics form, their publishing choices, and the respective comics scenes that they hail from.” Panelists will also have books and new works available for sale all weekend.

Lalo Alcaraz interview on Comic Riffs

Note the film was last night...

Q&A with LALO ALCARAZ: ‘La Cucaracha’ creator gets a national closeup tonight on Ovation

By Michael Cavna

Washington Post Comic Riffs blog March 16 2014
http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2014/03/16/qa-with-lalo-alcaraz-la-cucaracha-creator-gets-a-national-closeup-tonight-on-ovation/

Moving story of a local autistic child who communicated through Disney movies

Reaching My Autistic Son Through Disney

By RON SUSKIND

A version of this article appears in print on March 9, 2014, on page MM20 of the Sunday Magazine with the headline: Animating Owen.

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/03/09/magazine/reaching-my-autistic-son-through-disney.html

Animating Owen

By Roger Ross Williams March 7th, 2014

http://www.nytimes.com/video/magazine/100000002755397/animating-owen.html

 

Roger Ross Williams, the Academy Award-winning filmmaker, spent time with Ron Suskind and his son, Owen, who has autism, to show how they learned to communicate using dialogue from Disney movies.

 

Greg Benton sketches still available at Big Planet Comics Bethesda

Last month I reported on Gregory Benton's visit to Big Planet Comics in Bethesda. I was there yesterday, and the store still has six copies of B+F with large original illustrations in them. They look like this one. Get one before they're all gone!

Comics art show in Frederick, Md.

The 505 North Art'iques Gallery & Studio in Frederick, Md., is featuring a new comics art show March 21-April 11 with an opening reception on March 21 from 6-9 p.m. It will feature work by local cartoonists Matt Rawson, Andrew Cohen, Rafer Roberts, Jason Axtell, Teresa Roberts Logan, Stephen Loya, Danielle Corsetto, Martin Graff, Laura McClure and Monica Gallagher.

Time to submit for the Ignatz Awards

The Small Press Expo is now accepting submissions for its Ignatz Awards. Submissions are open to all independent creators and publishers, even if you are not exhibiting or attending SPX.
All Ignatz nominees will automatically be sent for preservation in the SPX Collection at the Library of Congress.
Categories are:
•Outstanding Artist
•Outstanding Anthology or Collection
•Outstanding Graphic Novel
•Outstanding Story
•Promising New Talent
•Outstanding Series
•Outstanding Comic
•Outstanding Minicomic
•Outstanding Online Comic
Send six copies of work published between June 1, 2013 and May 31, 2014 sent to:
SPX Ignatz Awards
c/o Big Planet Comics
4849 Cordell Ave.
Bethesda, MD 20814
USA
Links to comics eligible for the Outstanding Online Comic category should be emailed to spxignatz@gmail.com.
All submissions must be received by June 7, 2014.
Full guidelines are available a. All questions should be sent to the Ignatz Award coordinator, Eden Miller, at spxignatz@gmail.com.

Big Planet Comics Bethesda featured

SBW: Big Planet’s World Keeps On Turning

by Aaron Kraut | March 13, 2014 

http://www.bethesdanow.com/2014/03/13/sbw-big-planets-world-keeps-on-turning/

Pictures from Smudge Expo

Santiago Casares

G.E. Gallas

Kevin Rechin

Matt Dembicki, Mike Rhode and Matt's original ComicsDC art

ComicsDC artwork over Mike's desk

Photos from CARTooons second exhibit at University of District of Columbia

CARTooons second exhibit at University of District of Columbia. Curated by Teresa Roberts Logan and featuring Andrew Cohen, Michael Auger, David Hagen, Carolyn Belefski, Matt Dembicki, Steve Artley and Rafer Roberts.

Missed it - John Kascht at National Portrait Gallery in 2011

How does he DO that?: The Secrets of Drawing a Face [John Kascht].
Wendy Wick Reaves
National Portrait Gallery's Face to Face blog (April 7, 2011):
http://face2face.si.edu/my_weblog/2011/04/how-does-he-do-that-the-secrets-of-drawing-a-face.html
and https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpUE-oMpjNE