Wednesday, July 02, 2014

How Richard Thompson lured Bill Watterson back into the public eye

The Strange and Wonderful Return of Bill Watterson

How the Reclusive Creator of Calvin and Hobbes Rejoined the Cartooning Community

By Shaenon K. Garrity

July 2, 2014

http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2014/07/the-strange-and-wonderful-return-of-bill-watterson.html

Big Planet Comics' JULY 4th SALE!

Tuesday, July 01, 2014

Seeking scans of 5 Cul de Sac strips from the Washington Post

We're seeking scans of 5 Cul de Sac strips from the Washington Post Magazine - 1/9/2005, 10/16/2005, 1/8/2006, 6/11/2006, 1/7/2007. Richard doesn't have the scans and apparently not the originals either. Please let us know if you can help.

Awesome Con grows to Indianapolis, Milwaukee

The founders of D.C.'s Awesome Con, which saw incredible growth this past April over its inaugural year in 2013, have announced plans to expand to other markets. Here's the press release:

"Hi, thanks again for being part of Awesome Con in April! After the amazing success we had in DC, we have decided to bring our brand of comic-con to Indianapolis and Milwaukee this fall, and I hope you will join us!

We will be at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis October 3-5, and the Wisconsin Center in Milwaukee on November 21-23. We want to bring something new and exciting to these markets, and our expected attendance for each show is at least 20,000.

We are going to advertise as aggressively in Indianapolis and Milwaukee as we did in DC. We will be all over TV, radio, print, Facebook, and billboards in those respective cities. We also partner with local PR agencies to make sure the local media knows about us, and as you probably saw in DC, we are very good at getting our conventions in the news.

Please let me know if you have any questions that can't be answered by visiting our website. Exhibitor applications can be found for Indianapolis here and Milwaukee here. We're excited about bringing our brand of awesome to the Midwest, and hope to see you there!"

KAL in Bermuda

When drawing cartoons is serious business

By Jessie Moniz Hardy

Published Jul 1, 2014

http://www.royalgazette.com/article/20140701/ISLAND/140709961

Box Brown story features Big Planet Comics DC in photo

The picture is by John Kinhart and that's Jared at Big Planet Comics DC in the background.

Cranford native Box Brown publishes 'Andre the Giant' graphic novel

Cranford native Box Brown at one of the book signings for his new graphic novel titled 'Andre the Giant, Life and Legend.'

By Frank Mustac / Independent Press
on June 30, 2014 updated July 01, 2014

http://www.nj.com/cranford/index.ssf/2014/06/cranford_native_box_brown_publ.html

Comics Alternative interviews Ben Hatke

Comics Alternative Interviews: Ben Hatke

July 1, 2014 by Derek Royal and Any Kunka

http://comicsalternative.com/2014/07/01/interviews-hatke/

Richard Thompson and 'Cul de Sac' mentioned twice relative to Barnaby

Talking 'Barnaby': An interview with co-editors Eric Reynolds and Phil Nel

by Chris Mautner | June 28, 2014
http://robot6.comicbookresources.com/2014/06/talking-barnaby-an-interview-with-co-editors-eric-reynolds-and-phil-nel/

Barnaby is one of my all-time favorite strips. As is Cul de Sac of course.

Carolyn Belefksi does Cartoon Network's Adventure Time cover

http://www.curls-studio.com/curls/?p=3143 to see it.

Monday, June 30, 2014

Ryan Holmberg's latest article on manga online now

Enka Gekiga: Hayashi Seiichi's Pop Music Manga

BY Ryan Holmberg Jun 30, 2014

http://www.tcj.com/enka-gekiga-hayashi-seiichis-pop-music-manga/

Comic Riffs on editorial cartoonist Etta Hulme

RIP, ETTA HULME, 90: Political-cartooning colleagues salute her as 'trailblazer' and 'friend'

By Michael Cavna Washington Post Comic Riffs June 29 2014

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2014/06/29/rip-etta-hulme-90-political-cartooning-colleagues-salute-her-as-trailblazer-and-friend/

Etta Hulme's self-portrait. (Fort Worth Star-Telegram)

Saturday, June 28, 2014

Dave Lasky at Big Planet Comics

Dave Lasky and Martha Burns were at Big Planet Comics Bethesda this week, with Dave signing his graphic biography on The Carter Family and Martha Burns performing their songs. Since she was performing, I didn't get a chance to talk to him and ask about the book, but I did get the only copy of Oregon Trail they had in the store.

Afterwards I stopped across the street at South Street Steaks and avoided the Misteak Challenge. My Italian sub was just fine though.

Friday, June 27, 2014

Tickets are Now On Sale for the 2014 Baltimore Comic-Con!

Tickets are Now On Sale for the 2014

Baltimore Comic-Con!

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - June 27, 2013 - The Baltimore Comic-Con is happy to announce that tickets are now on sale for this year's show, our premiere inaugural three-day event taking place September 5-7, 2014 at the Baltimore Convention Center in downtown Baltimore.

Tickets that are now on sale include: Weekend General Admissions, and General Admission for Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.

Ticket prices are:

Weekend - $55
Friday - $25
Saturday - $30
Sunday - $25

As always, children 10 and under are free! Additionally, VIP packages are available now, and are a separate purchase from General Admission tickets (which will be required to participate in any VIP offerings).

"This is such an exciting year for us, adding Friday to the weekend," said Marc Nathan, show promoter for the Baltimore Comic-Con. "We know our fans have been anxiously awaiting ticket availability to buy for themselves, family members, friends, students, award winners, and any number of other scenarios we've heard about, and we genuinely appreciate everyone's patience. This is going to be our biggest year ever with a third day and an even larger space in the Baltimore Convention Center, and we're thrilled to have everyone to experience it with us!"

Visit www.baltimorecomiccon.com/tickets/ for more information and to purchase your advanced tickets!

In addition to on-site CGC grading and CCS on-site pressing, this year's confirmed guests for the show include: Marty Baumann (Pixar artist); Jeremy Bastian (Cursed Pirate Girl); Mark Buckingham (Fables); Dave Bullock (Batman Black and White); Greg Capullo (Batman); John Cassaday (Doc Savage); Bernard Chang (Green Lantern Corps); Sean Chen (Amazing Spider-Man); Jimmy Cheung (Infinity); Cliff Chiang (Wonder Woman); Frank Cho (X-Men: Battle of the Atom); Amy Chu (Girls Night Out); Richard Clark (House of Gold & Bones); Steve Conley (Bloop); Jeremy Dale (Skyward); Alan Davis (Wolverine); Rachel Deering (In the Dark); Todd Dezago (Tellos); Tommy Lee Edwards (Star Wars); Garth Ennis (Preacher, The Boys); Ray Fawkes (Constantine); David Finch (Forever Evil); Jose Luis Garcia-Lopez (All-Star Western); Gerhard (Cerebus the Aardvark); Dave Gibbons (Watchmen); Keith Giffen (The New 52: Future's End); Bryan JL Glass (Mice Templar); Michael Golden (The Ravagers); Cully Hamner (Animal Man); Dean Haspiel (The Fox); Fred Hembeck (Garfield); Adam Hughes (Before Watchmen: Dr. Manhattan); Justin Jordan (Luther Strode, Green Lantern: New Guardians); Dan Jurgens (The New 52: Future's End); Barry Kitson (Empire); Aaron Kuder (Action Comics); David Mack (Shadowman); Kevin Maguire (Guardians of the Galaxy); Alex Maleev (Moon Knight); Billy Martin (Vitriol, The Hunter); Ron Marz (Witchblade); Bob McLeod (X-Men: Gold); Tradd Moore (Deadpool Annual); Mark Morales (New Avengers); Dan Parent (Archie, Veronica, Kevin Keller); David Peterson (Mouse Guard); Joe Prado (Justice League); Brian Pulido (Lady Death); Ron Randall (Trekker in Dark Horse Presents); Tom Raney (Incredible Hulk); Ivan Reis (Aquaman and The Others); Budd Root (Cavewoman); Don Rosa (Donald Duck); Craig Rousseau (Perhapanauts); Joe Rubinstein (The Official Handbook of the Marvel Universe); Andy Runton (Owly); Alex Saviuk (Web of Spider-Man); Louise Simonson (Power Pack); Walter Simonson (Thor); Andy Smith (Superman #23.1: Bizarro); Allison Sohn (sketch card artist); Charles Soule (Thunderbolts); Jim Starlin (Thanos: The Infinity Revelation); Ben Templesmith (The Memory Collectors); Peter Tomasi (Batman and Two-Face); John Totleben (Swamp Thing); Herb Trimpe (GI Joe: A Real American Hero); Billy Tucci (Shi); Rick Veitch (Saga of the Swamp Thing); Mike Vosburg (Lori Lovecraft); Mark Waid (Daredevil); Lee Weeks (Daredevil); Bill Willingham (Fables); Renee Witterstaetter (Joe Jusko: Maelstrom); Thom Zahler (My Little Pony); and Mike Zeck (Secret Wars).

In the coming weeks, look for more announcements from the Baltimore Comic-Con. We are looking forward to highlighting our guests, the Harvey Awards, industry exclusives, and programming. The latest developments can always be found on our website, Twitter, and Facebook pages.

Contact Information

Please use the following e-mail addresses to contact the Baltimore Comic-Con:

press@baltimorecomiccon.com - for any general press inquiries or to be added to our PR distribution

promoter@baltimorecomiccon.com - for requesting exhibitor, publisher, and Artist Alley applications

registrar@baltimorecomiccon.com - for inquiries about submitted registrations

harveys@baltimorecomiccon.com - for the Harvey Awards ceremony and banquet

general@baltimorecomiccon.com - for general Baltimore Comic-Con inquiries

About The Baltimore Comic-Con

The Baltimore Comic-Con is celebrating its 14th year of bringing the comic book industry to the Baltimore and Washington D.C. area. For more information, please visit www.baltimorecomiccon.com.

About The Harvey Awards
The Harvey Awards are one of the comic book industry's oldest and most respected awards. With a history of over 20 years, the last 9 in conjunction with the Baltimore Comic-Con, the Harveys recognize outstanding achievements in over 20 categories. They are the only industry awards nominated and selected by the full body of comic book professionals. For more information, please visit www.harveyawards.org.

City Paper reviews Snowpiercer, a Korean film based on a French graphic novel

First-Class Warfare

Snowpiercer
Directed by Bong Joon Ho

By Noah Gittell
Washington City Paper June 27, 2014
http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/articles/46030/snowpiercer-reviewed/

Josh Kramer journalism cartoon in the City Paper

I'm a few weeks late catching this, but it's still relevant.

The Consequences of Smoking Pot in D.C. Depend on Where You're Standing [in print on June 6, as Joint Initiative].

Posted by Josh Kramer on Jun. 5, 2014

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/blogs/citydesk/2014/06/05/the-consequences-of-smoking-pot-in-d-c-depend-on-where-youre-standing/

Teresa Roberts Logan whiteboard animation now online

Innovation vs. Pollution Animation
http://www.storystoremedia.com/990-2/

When our friends at Blue Engine Message and Media wanted a pointed,
rational way to say coal-fueled power plants have a choice to comply
with EPA regulations, they asked us to create an animation in the
"whiteboard" genre. We enlisted popular cartoonist Teresa Roberts
Logan to lend her clever hand to the project.

Written, produced and created by the Story Store Media team.

Southern Maryland comics collectors

June 27, 2014

Comic book, toy fans share passion for treasures

By Jeff Newman Staff Writer

Http://Www.Somdnews.Com/Article/20140627/NEWS/140629302/1075&Template=SouthernMaryland

Dan Nokes who self-publishes comics is included in the article.

Kevin Rechin wins Colorado Book Award

Tumbleweed Wins Colorado Book Award

June 17, 2014 by Marilyn

http://www.rionuevo.com/news/index.php/2014/06/tumbleweed-wins-colorado-book-award/

Kevin's local, even if his co-author isn't.

Thursday, June 26, 2014

July 1 Bonus Screening: From Up on Poppy Hill

Animezing Series
Presented by the Japan Information and Culture Center, Embassy of Japan

Never miss an event! Follow us on Twitter @JapanEmbDC

From Up on Poppy Hill

Bonus Screening: Tuesday, July 1, 6:30 p.m.

Our Location:
JICC, Embassy of Japan
1150 18th St, NW
Suite 100
Washington, DC 20036

Driving directions

Bonus Screening

The setting is Yokohama in 1963, and Studio Ghibli lovingly brings to life the bustling seaside town, with its misty harbor, sun-drenched gardens, shops and markets, and some of the most mouthwatering Japanese home-cooking ever drawn!

The story centers on an innocent romance beginning to bud between Umi and Shun, two high school kids caught up in the changing times. Japan is picking itself up from the devastation of World War II and preparing to host the 1964 Olympics - and the mood is one of both optimism and conflict as the young generation struggles to throw off the shackles of a troubled past.

While the children work together to save a dilapidated Meiji-era club house from demolition, their tentative relationship begins to blossom. But - in a twist that parallels what the country itself is facing - a buried secret from their past emerges to cast a shadow on the future and pull them apart.

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.

Tim King's Grayson featured on Daily Beast

The CIA Spook Turned Comic Book Scribe: Robin Grabs a Gun in 'Grayson'

Rich Goldstein

06.24.14

http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2014/06/24/the-cia-spook-turned-comic-book-scribe-robin-grabs-a-gun-in-grayson.html

Watterson's comic art to benefit Parkinsons research in honor of Richard Thompson

Bill Watterson's return to comics: Pearls Before Swine comic art auctioned for Parkinson's research

The reclusive creator's artwork from the recently finished three-day collaboration with Stephen Pastis on Pearls Before Swine will sell Aug. 8, 2014 at Heritage Auctions, proceeds to benefit the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research

DALLAS – The original artwork for the recent three comic strip collaboration between Bill Watterson, the cartooning genius behind the much-loved Calvin and Hobbes comic strip, and Pearls Before Swine cartoonist Stephen Pastis – taking place in a three day run in June 2014 in Pearls – will be sold at Heritage Auctions on Aug. 8, 2014, with proceeds from the sale benefiting The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research.

"Anytime original Bill Watterson comic art shows up for auction it's a huge deal," said Todd Hignite, Vice President at Heritage Auctions. "His collaboration with Stephan Pastis was an unexpected treat for his millions of fans. Now, thanks to this auction, fans will get to take the original art home while raising money for a great cause."

The collaboration between the two artists came at the suggestion of Watterson and was immediately embraced by an overwhelmed Pastis, who, like some many modern cartoonists, was greatly influenced by Watterson and Calvin and Hobbes. The trajectory of the three strip arc follows Pastis' comic strip alter-ego as he turns the drawing of the comic over to a precocious second-grader named Libby for three days. The results are both wickedly funny and uniquely Watterson, while remaining true to the sharp humor that defines the Pearls Before Swine strip.

At Watterson's request, the artwork is being sold on behalf of Team Cul de Sac, a non-profit charity established by editor/designer Chris Sparks on behalf of Cul de Sac cartoonist Richard Thompson, who is battling Parkinson's Disease – a piece of artwork done by Watterson depicting one of Thompson's Cul de Sac characters sold in 2012 as part of a charity auction to benefit Team Cul de Sac – and the profits from the sale of the original art (Heritage is waiving the seller's fee on the artwork and will also contribute half of the Buyer's Premium) will be donated to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research.

Heritage Auctions is the largest auction house founded in the United States and the world's third largest, with annual sales of more than $900 million, and 850,000+ online bidder members. For more information about Heritage Auctions, and to join and receive access to a complete record of prices realized, with full-color, enlargeable photos of each lot, please visit HA.com.

Small Press Expo Announces 20th Anniversary Guests Charles Burns, Jen Sorensen, Tom Tomorrow and Ben Katchor

Small Press Expo Announces 20th Anniversary Guests Charles Burns, Jen Sorensen, Tom Tomorrow and Ben Katchor

For Immediate Release Contact: Warren Bernard

E-Mail: warren@spxpo.com

Bethesda, Maryland; June 26, 2014 – This year is the 20th Anniversary of SPX, which will be held September 13 and 14, 2014 at the North Bethesda Marriott Hotel & Conference Center. For our 20th birthday, we are pleased to announce Charles Burns, Jen Sorensen, Tom Tomorrow and Ben Katchor to join in the celebration of the comic creators of the alt-weekly newspapers.

They are in addition to the previously announced alt-weekly guests Jules Feiffer, Lynda Barry and James Sturm, as well as SPX first timers Brandon Graham, Emily Carroll, Drew Friedman and Mimi Pond.

Charles Burns completes the final installment of his trilogy that began with The Hive and X'ed Out with the release this September of Sugar Skull. Mr. Burns is renown for his epic graphic novel Black Hole, as well as his work for such periodicals as Raw, The Believer and The New Yorker. Courtesy of Pantheon Books there will be advance copies of Sugar Skull at the show, as well as a special book plate designed just for SPX 2014.

Jen Sorensen is the recipient of the this years prestigious Herblock Award, which is given every year for excellence in political cartooning. She also won the 2013 Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award in Cartoons as well as the 2013 National Cartoonist Society Award for Best Editorial Cartoons. Her political cartoons can be seen in various alt-weekly newspapers around the United States as well as at The Nib and her own web site, http://www.slowpokecomics.com. In addition to her weekly cartoon, she also does illustration work for such clients as the Kaiser Health News, The Dallas Observer, Ms. Magazine, Politico and her current home paper, The Austin Chronicle.

Tom Tomorrow aka Dan Perkins is the creator behind This Modern World, his weekly political cartoon strip that has been running since 1990. He is a two time winner of the Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award in Cartoons, as well as the winner of the James Madison Freedom of Information Award and the 2012 Herblock Award. He is the author of 10 compilations of his cartoon work, as well as a children's book and he created the cover to the Pearl Jam album Backspacer.

Ben Katchor started in the alt-weekly's in 1986 and six compilations out of his award winning work, the latest is the 2013 Hand Drying in America and Other Stories from Pantheon Books. He is an associate professor at Parsons The New School for Design and has taught cartooning all over the world. Mr. Katchor is also works in the theater as a librettist, having won an Obie award for his work on The Carbon Copy Building.

About SPX

Small Press Expo (SPX) is the preeminent showcase for the exhibition of independent comics, graphic novels, and alternative political cartoons. SPX is a registered 501(c)3 non-profit that brings together more than 600 artists and publishers to meet their readers, booksellers, and distributors each year. Graphic novels, mini comics, and alternative comics will all be on display and for sale by their authors and illustrators. SPX also has a two tracks of of panel discussions and interviews with this year's guests that run through both days of the event.

The Ignatz Award is a festival prize held every year at SPX, with the winners chosen by attendees at the show. All works nominated for Ignatz Awards are donated to the Small Press Expo Collection at the Library of Congress, which is the first institutional collection in the United States dedicated to the indie comics field.

As in previous years, profits from the SPX will go to support the SPX Graphic Novel Gift Program, which funds graphic novel purchases for public and academic libraries, as well as the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund (CBLDF), which protects the First Amendment rights of comic book readers and professionals. For more information on the CBLDF, visit their website at http://www.cbldf.org.

Fat Cat cartoons at Politico

Matt Wuerker has a gallery of The Art of the Fat Cat up at Politico.

Big Planet Comics July 4th Sale

20% off everything it says.

Joe Procopio and others featured in Bethesda magazine

Joe is reporting that his Lost Art Books along with other local comics folks are featured in the July/August issue of Bethesda magazine. The article doesn't appear to be online though.

Wednesday, June 25, 2014

Artleytoons' Magic Bullet #9 promo

artleytoons

Artley Design Inc.

www.artleytoons.com

http://artleytoonsonline.blogspot.com/

http://aphelionarc.com

Comic Riffs talks to John Romita Jr.

John Romita Jr.: Drawing Superman? Artist's new gig surprises even himself

By David Betancourt

Washington Post Comic Riffs blog June 24 2014

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2014/06/24/john-romita-jr-drawing-superman-artists-new-gig-surprises-even-himself/

Fantom Comics needs subscribers to come in before move

Today's newsletter says,

Also, please note that all subscriber folders MUST be emptied by our move date of July 19th! We reopen in Dupont Circle on July 23rd, at which point pulls will continue as usual. To be clear: we will continue to pull subscriptions per normal up to the move date, we just need to have the folders cleared out on our move date.

Tonight: David Lasky at Big Planet Comics Bethesda

'90s animation returns

Networks are trying to reel in millennials by capitalizing on their '90s nostalgia. Will it work? [in print as Money in the Memories]
BY LORI MCCUE
[Washington Post] Express June 25 2014, p. 22 http://www.washingtonpost.com/express/wp/2014/06/25/networks-are-trying-to-reel-in-millennials-by-capitalizing-on-their-90s-nostalgia-will-it-work/

The Powerpuff Girls, The Magic School Bus and Sailor Moon return, according to this article.

Porcellino documentary to debut at SPX

'Root Hog or Die,' a documentary on influential cartoonist John Porcellino (King-Cat Comics), is expected to debut at the Small Press Expo in September. Click here to see trailer.

Tuesday, June 24, 2014

More on the Hamanaka elephant gn at LOC

Elephant ivory trade graphic novel discussed at Library of Congress June 24

Marsha Dubrow

DC Art Travel Examiner

June 10, 2014

http://www.examiner.com/article/elephant-ivory-trade-graphic-novel-discussed-at-library-of-congress-june-24

Retrofit, co-published by Big Planet Comics, announces new book

http://retrofitcomics.com/post/89763671512/theth-retrofits-first-book-with-a-spine-is-an

THETH , Retrofit's first BOOK WITH A SPINE is an 80 page epic story of the naieveté of youth, the struggle to survive the circumstances we are placed in and the ways we are influenced by those around us for better or worse. "Theth", or Seth (with a lisp) is made fun of by his peers, criticized by his family and hated by the owners of the local comic shop. In Josh Bayer's unique style we see Theth going to school on the day after John Lennon was shot. All Theth wants to do is read comics but school bullies, home bullies, teachers and weirdoes keep getting in the way. Where can Theth turn to escape from this horror?

80 pages, black and white

Shipping in a few weeks!!