May 1-3: Shrek the Musical

....brought to you by the students at Washington-Lee High School in Arlington.  Each show will have an evening performance at 7pm.

Ticket prices for Shrek: $7 in advance and $10 at the door. 

​

Here's the link to order tickets in advance.​

Curls' Carolyn Belefski on Awesome Con

Curls' Carolyn Belefski writes about her Awesome Con experience here.

I'll be interested in seeing her husband Joe's documentary.

A Shared Universe: The Art of Comic Books exhibit at Strathmore

A Shared Universe: The Art of Comic Books
April 12, 2014 - June 8, 2014

Exhibition Hours
Tuesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, Sunday - 10AM-4PM
Wednesday - 10AM-9PM
Closed Monday

It's an American invention and a 20th century institution, yet the comic book encompasses the arc of humanity that runs from prehistoric cave paintings to the graphic novels of the future. Arnold Blumberg, former curator at Geppi's Entertainment Museum, calls the comic book "not just a reflection of our culture—it is our culture." A culture experienced on so many levels, whether it's colored by memories of hiding under the covers with a flashlight and a comic book after bedtime or catching up with digital favorites online. Ever since Superman kicked off the superhero comic genre in 1938, the medium's influence has spread throughout the arts, influencing fine and performing arts as well as pop culture and becoming part of the fabric of human dreams. This exhibit gathers all the elements of the art form, from original pencil drawing and hand inking to graphic design and digital manipulation, and beyond into the new incursions of what comic artist and theorist Scott McCloud calls "the infinite canvas" of web-based comics, games and graphic novels. Step into the world of wonder that's reflected in the comic genre; share it with someone you love. It's just as you remember, and so much more than you can imagine.

Please join us for the following programs, presented in conjunction with the exhibit:

SCREENING OF THE FILM STRIPPED April 27
BEYOND TEXT AND LINE: A STUDY ON THE ART OF COMIC BOOKS April 27

Comics talk and Stripped film today at Strathmore

Beyond Text and Line: A Discussion on the Art of Comic Books Presented by Strathmore Sunday, April 27, 2014 at 2:00 PM Mansion

In conjunction with its new fine art exhibit, A Shared Universe: The Art of Comic Books, Strathmore brings together a panel of experts for "Beyond Text and Line: A Discussion on the Art of Comic Books." Join the colorful conversation moderated by Greg McElhatton, former Executive Director of the Small Press Expo (SPX,) a founding freelancer for Wizard, and a current reviewer on iComics.com. Panelists include: Emily Gillis of Wayward Studios; JD Deardourff, a local comic-inspired artist; Rafer Roberts of Plastic Farm Press; and Monica Gallagher of EatYourLipstick.com.

Stripped Presented by Strathmore Sunday, April 27, 2014 at 4:00 PM Mansion

In conjunction with its new fine art exhibit, A Shared Universe: The Art of Comic Books, Strathmore presents Stripped, a feature film documentary illustrating the lives of the world's best cartoonists. Share in their musings of the art form they love and where it goes as newspapers die.

The Post is consistent in censoring comic strips, decade after decade...

41 years later, The Post publishes spiked 'Doonesbury' Watergate comic for the first time. Here's why…

    By Michael Cavna     

    Washington Post's Comic Riffs blog     April 26 2014

    http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2014/04/26/41-years-later-the-post-publishes-spiked-doonesbury-watergate-comic-for-the-first-time-heres-why/

'Wild Ocean' exhibit at Art-Enables starts May 10

View original artwork at Art-Enables by five artists who contributed to the new graphic novel Wild Ocean: Sharks, Whales, Rays and Other Endangered Sea Creatures (Fulcrum Publishing)

Artwork by: Brooke Allen, Matt Dembicki, Andy K, Steve Loya and Steven Russell Black

Opening reception Saturday, May 10, 1-4 p.m. Plus a free storyboarding workshop led by Matt Dembicki

SPX comic collection cataloged at Library of Congress

Goddess Adriana and the SPX Collection at the Library of Congress

April 24 2014

http://spx.tumblr.com/post/83671418340/goddess-adriana-and-the-spx-collection-at-the-library

Bleeding Cool on Awesome Con

Awesome Con In DC Grows 250% – Will It Be The Next Big Thing?

By Hashim Hathaway

Posted on April 24, 2014
http://www.bleedingcool.com/2014/04/24/awesome-con-in-dc-grows-250-will-it-be-the-next-big-thing/

Intergalactic Nemesis tonight and tomorrow at Artisphere

Pulp pictures and sci-fi sounds [online as 'The Intergalactic Nemesis' brings the noise to Artisphere]

By Maura Judkis,

Washington Post April 25 2014

http://www.washingtonpost.com/goingoutguide/theater-dance/the-intergalactic-nemesis-brings-the-noise-to-artisphere/2014/04/24/0a569f08-c5b1-11e3-9f37-7ce307c56815_story.html

April 26: Cullen Bunn at Third Eye Comics in Annapolis

Saturday 4/26/14 11AM-1PM    at THIRD EYE ANNAPOLIS Click here for event info on FACEBOOK. First 30 in line receive a FREE gift! Signing from 11AM-1PM!

Scoop profiles Marc Nathan

Baltimore Comic-Con Founder Celebrates 30, 15 

Scoop April 25 2014

http://scoop.diamondgalleries.com/Home/4/1/73/1018?ArticleID=147953

Comic Riffs talks to KAL about his latest award

OVERSEAS PRESS CLUB: Sun/Economist cartoonist Kevin 'KAL' Kallaugher accepts Thomas Nast Award as 'a particular honor'

• BY MICHAEL CAVNA

• Washington Post Comic Riffs blog April 25 2014

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2014/04/25/overseas-press-club-suneconomist-cartoonist-kevin-kal-kallaugher-accepts-thomas-nast-award-as-a-particular-honor/

Oprah Winfrey Network recommends March book 1

6 Books You Should Read This Spring

Huffington Post's OWN 04/22/2014  http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/04/22/april-books-new-books-april-2014_n_5169145.html

Qiana Whitted reads comics at the Library of Congress and wonders

How Does What's In Print Affect Comics Studies?

by Qiana Whitted

April 24, 2014

http://www.hoodedutilitarian.com/2014/04/how-does-whats-in-print-affect-comics-studies/

Comic book exhibit opens tonight at Strathmore

Comic books get the respect they deserve in 'A Shared Universe: The Art of Comic Books' at Strathmore's Mansion [in print as, Expanding 'Universe': Comic books get the respect they deserve at Strathmore's Mansion].

BY KRISTEN PAGE-KIRBY

[Washington Post] Express April 24 2014, p. E6

http://www.washingtonpost.com/express/wp/2014/04/23/a-shared-universe-the-art-of-comic-books-strathmore-mansion/

Comic Age on Awesome Con

[Awesome Con 2014] The second one ever, my first time going, and yes, it was AWESOME!

BY: ALEX LUPP - APRIL 24TH, 2014  

http://www.thecomicage.com/2014/04/24/awesome-con-2014-the-second-one-ever-my-first-time-going-and-yes-it-was-awesome/#more-5497

WJLA on Awesome Con

Superheroes abound at 'Awesome Con D.C.'

By Hatzel Vela  April 18, 2014

http://www.wjla.com/articles/2014/04/superheroes-abound-at-awesome-con-d-c--102288.html

April 30: Animezing: Colorful

In the meantime, if you would like to join us for the next installment of the Animezing series, Colorful, please copy and paste the link below into a new browser window.

http://events.constantcontact.com/register/event?llr=hp8rsebab&oeidk=a07e97snpz937e67385

Animezing Series Presented by the Japan Information and Culture Center, Embassy of Japan Colorful Wednesday, April 30, 6:30 p.m. Our Location: JICC, Embassy of Japan 1150 18th St, NW Suite 100 Washington, DC 20036 Driving directions ©201o Eto Mori / Fuji Television Network / Sunrise / Dentsu / Aniplex / Sony Music Entertainment (Japan) / Toho Co., Ltd. All Rights Reserved | Japanese with English subtitles | Not Rated | 126 mins | Directed by Keiichi Hara    Upon reaching the train station to death, a dejected soul is informed that he is "lucky" and will have another chance at life. He is placed in the body of a 14-year-old boy named Makoto Kobayashi, who has just committed suicide.     Watched over by a neutral spirit, Purapura, the soul must figure out what his greatest sin in his former life was, before his time in Makoto's body runs out. He must also unravel the mystery of what led Makoto to commit suicide in the first place, and learn how to appreciate his precious second chance at life.   Note: May not be suitable for children.  Register Now! This event is free and open to the public, but registration is required. Please note that seating is limited and registration does not guarantee guests a seat. Registered guests will be seated on a first come, first served basis. Please contact us at jicc@ws.mofa.go.jp in the event of cancellation. Doors open at 6:00 pm. No admission or re-entry after 7:00 pm.

JICC, Embassy of Japan | 1150 18th St., NW | Suite 100 | Washington | DC | 20036

NPR's Monkey See blog on the Simpsons as Legos

What Do 'The Simpsons' Look Like In Lego?

by LINDA HOLMES

April 23, 2014 http://www.npr.org/blogs/monkeysee/2014/04/23/306140036/what-do-the-simpsons-look-like-in-lego 

Cards, Comics & Collectibles' large Free Comic Book Day event

An Event 30 Years in the Making!!

J.G. Jones, Don Rosa, Todd Dezago, Craig Rousseau, Steve Conley, John Gallagher, Frank Cho, and Free Comics! 

 

 

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

 

  

REISTERSTOWN, MD - April 23, 2014 - On Saturday, May 3 2014, Cards, Comics & Collectibles of Reisterstown, MD will not only be celebrating Free Comic Book Day, but will commemorate an even bigger milestone event - its 30^th Anniversary!

 

This will be the biggest extravaganza held at the store to date, and will feature: appearances by superstar creators J.G. Jones, Don Rosa, Todd Dezago, Craig Rousseau, Steve Conley, John Gallagher, and Frank Cho*; great sales on hardcovers, trade, toys, statues, and modern back issues; and, of course FREE COMICS and MORE!

 

"When we first opened our doors on May 1, 1984, I couldn't even imagine celebrating 30 years," said Marc Nathan, owner of Cards, Comics & Collectibles and show promoter for the Baltimore Comic-Con. "Thirty years seems like such a long time, but it's been an amazing ride that has just gotten better and better every year. From the awesome group of creators who've appeared in the store and at the show over the years, to the loyal customers who come in week after week, I couldn't have asked for a better 30 years in the comic business!"

 

In addition to the dozens of free comics that will be available that day, the first 100 customers will receive a Cards, Comics & Collectibles exclusive Rai #1 (Valiant Comics) variant cover by J.G. Jones. This cover was commissioned exclusively for the 30^th Anniversary and is not available anywhere else!!

 

But wait, there's more!! Every customer who stops by will receive a FREE Baltimore Comic-Con T-Shirt while supplies last! Plus, all weekend long (May 2-4, 2014) get an additional 50% OFF all Hardcovers, Trade Paperbacks, Toys, Statues, and Modern Back Issues!!

 

Come early, come in costume, and come to help us celebrate 30 amazing years of Cards, Comics & Collectibles!!

 

About The Creators:

 

Cover artist extraordinaire, J.G. Jones broke into comics in 1994, working on two issues of Dark Dominion for now-defunct Defiant Comics. Since then, Jones' artwork has graced the pages and cover of such titles as Black Widow, Marvel Boy, and The Avengers from Marvel Comics and Wonder Woman: The Hiketeia, 52, and Final Crisis from DC Comics. Most recently, he provided cover and interior artwork for DC's Before Watchmen: Comedian mini-series.

 

Don Rosa is a writer and illustrator, who is most famous for his work on Scrooge McDuck stories from 1987-2006. His work is highly regarded by fans of Disney comics illustrating the Duck universe. Although he officially retired in 2008, his seminal work on the Eisner-award winning Life and Times of Scrooge McDuck, stands as one of the most popular Disney comics of all time.

 

Writer Todd Dezago began his career in 1994, scripting the adventures of Marvel's Merry Mutants in the pages ofX-Force. In 2006, he moved to The Sensational Spider-Man with artist and frequent future collaborator, Mike Wieringo. In addition to his work at Marvel and DC Comics, Dezago also co-created Tellos (with Wieringo) and The Perhapanauts with artist Craig Rousseau. His most recent work includes the mini-series The Perhapanauts: Danger Down Under from Image Comics.

 

Craig Rousseau started his career in 1997 as a fill-in artist on issue #22 of DC Comic's Impulse. By issues 27, he was named as the full-time artist. After his run on Impulse, DC gave him a shot on Batman Beyond and Harley Quinn, as well as Young Justice, Gotham Adventures, and Detective Comics. Teaming up with Dezago, he co-created The Perhapanuats, which was originally published through Dark Horse Comics, and most recently through Image Comics. His most recent work includes the mini-series The Perhapanauts: Danger Down Under.

 

Award-winning designer, illustrator and cartoonist Steve Conley has worked on such notable comics as Star Trek: Year Four (IDW), Michael Chabon's Amazing Adventures of the Escapist (Dark Horse Comics), and JLA-Z (DC Comics). Conley is also the creator of Astounding Space Thrills and the all-ages series, Bloop,

 

Cartoonist John Gallagher is the award-winning creator of such all-ages comics as Buzzboy, Roboy Red, and Zoey & Ketchup. Beginning his career in 1990, he has worked in nearly every aspect of comics production throughout his career - from writing and illustration to art direction. John is also one of the founders of Kids Love Comics, an organization that promotes literacy through comics and graphic novels.

 

Frank Cho's body of work at Marvel includes such titles as New Avengers, Mighty Avengers, Shanna the She-Devil, New Ultimates, X-Men: Schism,Avengers vs. X-Men, and Savage Wolverine. He is also well-known for his creator-owned series Liberty Meadows and his work on Jungle Girl for Dynamite Entertainment. Most recently, he handled the art duties for the Marvel X-event, Battle of the Atom.

 

* Frank Cho will be appearing from 11:00 am - 1:00 pm only 

 

 

 

 

 

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.

Washingtonian on filming Captain America 2 in Air & Space Museum

Here's What It Takes to Film a Hollywood Blockbuster in the Smithsonian

It took six months of planning and ten hours of filming to produce a few seconds of footage for "Captain America: The Winter Soldier."

By Vicky Gan

Washingtonian's After Hours blog April 21 2014

http://www.washingtonian.com/blogs/afterhours/movies/heres-what-it-takes-to-film-a-hollywood-blockbuster-in-the-smithsonian.php

Censorship of Bechdel's Fun Home in SC covered by The Post

In S.C., it's legislature vs. campus [online as S.C. college production highlights political battle between lawmakers, public universities]

By Rosalind S. Helderman,Washington Post April 23 2014

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/sc-colleges-production-highlights-political-battle-between-lawmakers-public-universities/2014/04/22/d2f357f6-ca0e-11e3-93eb-6c0037dde2ad_story.html

The Post on Awesome Con

How Kickstarter helped Awesome Con DC grow — and why they won't use it next year

    By Andrea Peterson

    Washington Post's The Switch blog April 21 2014

    http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-switch/wp/2014/04/21/how-kickstarter-helped-one-comic-con-achieve-massive-growth-and-why-organizers-say-they-wont-use-it-next-year/

 

Superheroes on the Mall are dressed the part, but can they break a record?

[in print as Dressed for success?! Superheores swoop in on the Mall in an attempt to break a Guiness record].

By Maura Judkis, Washington Post April 19 2014, p. C1, 2

http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/superheroes-on-the-national-mall-are-dressed-the-part-but-can-they-break-a-record/2014/04/18/947f975c-c66a-11e3-9f37-7ce307c56815_story.html

 

Awesome Con draws out D.C.'s nerds and secret superheroes

    By Christina Cauterucci       

    Express April 16 2014

    http://www.washingtonpost.com/express/wp/2014/04/16/awesome-con-guide-dc-convention-center/

 

How two D.C. locals will transform into 'Saga' characters for AwesomeCon

    By Christina Cauterucci       

    Express April 16 2014

    http://www.washingtonpost.com/express/wp/2014/04/16/saga-cosplay-awesome-con-dc/

That darn Mike Peters!

Letter to the Editor

Guns don't cause harm; people do

John Murphy, Vienna

Washington Post  April 19 2014

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/people-not-guns-cause-harm/2014/04/17/11e3f2d0-c4ed-11e3-9ee7-02c1e10a03f0_story.html

CBS Sunday Morning on Mo Willems, including his Kennedy Center show

For kids' book author Mo Willems, childhood is an awful time

CBS News Sunday Morning April 20 2014

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/for-kids-book-author-mo-willems-childhood-is-an-awful-time/

 

Knuffle Bunny is one of the creations of Mo Willems, a best-selling author and illustrator for children, and as Rita Braver discovered, very much a man of the world.

Shelton Drum's original comic art exhibit in Southern VA

"Heroes Aren't Hard to Find: The Comic Art Collection of Shelton Drum" exhibit at the William King Museum, Abingdon, VA, is absolutely fantastic, especially for someone around age 50-60. Shelton bought the art that we all would have, especially Spider-Man pages. Here's a set of pictures I snapped quickly, which don't do the art justice.

Why mention this on ComicsDC? Because local hero Richard Thompson is represented with two Cul de Sac strips.

Caitlin McGurk talks about the Richard Thompson exhibit in Columbus

Virtual Memories – season 4 episode 15 – Hello, Columbus

Gil Roth
Virtual Memories podcast Apr 21, '14
http://chimeraobscura.com/vm/podcast-hello-columbus
http://traffic.libsyn.com/virtualmemories/Season_4_Episode_15_-_Hello_Columbus.mp3

Cullen Bunn at Third Eye Comics in Annapolis

This Saturday at Third Eye Annapolis, the writer behind the DEADPOOL Killogy (DEADPOOL KILLS MARVEL, DEADPOOL KILLUSTRATED, and DEADPOOL KILLS DEADPOOL, as well as NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEADPOOL and DEADPOOL VS. CARNAGE) will be in-store signing from 11AM-1PM and we could not be more amped! 

 

Cullen has also done HELHEIM, SIXTH GUN, and of course, the brand new SINESTRO from DC.

 

Click here for more event info!

Marc Nobleman interviews the illustrator Ross MacDonald

Interview with Ross MacDonald, illustrator of "Boys of Steel"

Mark Tyler Nobleman

April 18, 2014

http://noblemania.blogspot.com/2014/04/interview-with-ross-macdonald.html

I love MacDonald's work.

Animation historian Charles Solomon reviews Cul de Sac

Book Review: "The Complete Cul de Sac"

by Charles Solomon
Animation Scoop blog April 21, 2014
http://blogs.indiewire.com/animationscoop/book-review-the-complete-cul-de-sac

Lumberjanes interview with Brooke Allen's co-creator

Interview: Noelle Stevenson talks about her hit book Lumberjanes

 by Shannon OLeary

04/21/2014
http://comicsbeat.com/interview-lumberjanes-noelle-stevenson/

SL Gallant "Who?!"

My buddy Shannon "SL" Gallant is the artist on G.I. Joe, and he pulled out the stops on this piece of art he did for my Whovian daughter at Awesome Con.

Cosplayers record attempt at Awesome Con on Friday fails

Awesome Con Organizers Attempt, Fail To Set Cosplaying World Record

Eric's Awesome Con Pics, a guest post

My name is Eric and I have been shooting amateur photography for over six years off and on. I normally shoot up in Columbia Height, DC is a private studio (really really small). I completely agree with the the creator of Awesome Con that the DC area has been under served by comic book conventions so in my own little way I hope this support the hometown convention.

I am hoping to make contact with the various convention cosplay attendees so that I can email back their image(s). I snapped approximately 1200 images at the convention and now I am editing it down to one image per cosplayer to post to DeviantArt and Flickr. If you are a cosplayer that would like their respective image emailed to them (or really anything else people would like to communicate about such as Photoshop talk or setting up a shoot) then the best way to contact me is through my email (EricPhotoNow@Yahoo.com).

Below were Friday's Cosplayers (better quality images are at my DeviantArt site).

Bruce Guthrie's Awesome Con photos

Bruce Guthrie has some Awesome Con photographs online.

April 24: Mark Wheatley art on CBS sitcom

Mark Wheatley's Art featured on CBS' The Millers

Rep. Lewis' March nominated for an Eisner award

Roll Call has a short story.

You can meet Rep. Lewis and Andrew Aydin at Awesome Con this weekend.

Awesome Con Newsletter

ZERO days left until Awesome Con! WE OPEN TODAY! Is this email not displaying correctly? View it in your browser. TODAY IS THE DAY...   We are throwing the doors open to Awesome Con at 3:00 pm TODAY and we'll be open until 8:00 pm! Make sure you have your 3-Day tickets and are ready to experience all we have to offer, from comic artists and dealers to table top gaming and video games!  It's going to be a great time!  Tickets for today only (Friday) are $15 and will be available at the door, and tickets for Saturday and Sunday are available, too! Buy them here or at the door! Also, in case you didn't know, we're attempting a GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS® for the largest gathering of people dressed as comic book characters at the U.S. Capitol Reflecting Pool today (Friday) at noon, just hours before the start of Awesome Con 2014 at the Washington Convention Center. So come out in your coolest comic book character costume, or even last year's comic book character Halloween costume, and help us break China's record! To go mobile and plan out your Awesome Con experience, download our Guidebook App here. CAN'T WAIT TO SEE YOU THIS WEEKEND! IT'S GOING TO BE AWESOME!        Awesome Con-cert with Andrew W.K. Get ready to PARTY HARD at a special solo performance by Andrew WK! Locals Rare Candy will be opening the show with their unique brand of video game-inspired tunes, followed by nerdcore rapper, Adam WarRock. You won't want to miss it! Get tickets now!  Saturday, April 19, 9pm Black Cat 1811 14th St NW Washington DC    Celebrity Guests Billie Piper Cary Elwes Sean Astin IronE Singleton Jewel Staite Ron Glass Rob Paulsen Danai Gurira Richard Horvitz Veronica Taylor Phil LaMarr Maurice LaMarche Kevin Sorbo J. August Richards Nicholas Brendon Melissa McBride Comic and Literary Guests George Perez Steve Niles Timothy Zahn Marc Hempel Jim Zub Joe Rubinstein Dario Brizuela Dan Parent The Full guest list is on our website. Countdown to Awesome Con! April 18 - 20, 2014   Friday: 3pm - 8pm Saturday: 10am - 7pm Sunday: 10am - 5pm   Walter E. Washington Convention Center 801 Mount Vernon Place NW Washington, DC

Bleeding Cool talks to Awesome Con owner Penrod

Awesome Con Founder Ben Penrod On Breaking World Records And Getting Big Names This Year

By Devon Sanders

Bleeding Cool April 17, 2014

http://www.bleedingcool.com/2014/04/17/awesome-con-founder-ben-penrod-on-breaking-world-records-and-getting-big-names-this-year/

Comic Riffs on tomorrow's Awesome Con

The Riff: Is D.C. (finally) geeky enough to set a cosplay world record Friday?

    By Michael Cavna     

    Washington Post Comic Riffs blog  April 17 2014

    http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2014/04/17/the-riff-is-d-c-finally-geeky-enough-to-set-a-cosplay-world-record-friday/

Puck, Judge and The Wasp cartoons from local bookstore owner

Andy Moursund, a longtime bookstore owner in the DC area, has Puck, Judge, The Wasp, 1877 - 1910, a set of excellent scans on Flickr of cartoons from the magazines. The images are seriously racist, anti-immigrant and very well done.

Steve Artley's SF Aphelion Arc PREVIEW ISSUE is now available

The Aphelion Arc PREVIEW ISSUE is now available! This special preview edition contains the latest and most complete version of "Exiles of Nod," along with The Nerds' Appendix and bonus material that provides a glimpse at the process in scripting and storyboarding. This 32-page magazine also contains sketches for the new story, "Adam's Eve." You can arrange to purchase your copy by emailing info@aphelionarc.com. 

If you're in the Washington DC area, look for our APHELION ARC booth at AWESOME CON, Washington DC Convention Center April 18 — 20, where we'll have the magazine on sale along with a few other items of interest. http://awesomecondc.com/.