"Art to Lunch" exhibit and reception at Studio Pause this month

On Saturday, October 24th, award-winning cartoonist Mike Jenkins, who lives in northern Virginia, will be hosting his art reception, "Art to Lunch", from 6-8 pm at Studio Pause in Arlington, VA. For the past year or so, I've been following Mike's daily posts featuring the adventures of young Maggie and her struggles and challenges faced each and every day at school, as she forges ahead on her quest to make it through to another weekend. It is a truly amazing comic art series, and I'm always greatly impressed by Mike's seemingly inexhaustible ability to portray each single day that Maggie faces, in a brand new way. Drawn on brown paper lunch bags, it will be even more of a treat to see these works in person, so mark your calendars and don't sleep on this one!

SPX 2015 podcast

SPX 2015

Comic Books Are Burning In Hell podcast 29 September 2015

http://comicsinhell.libsyn.com/spx-2015
http://traffic.libsyn.com/comicsinhell/spxxxx.mp3

Chris Mautner, Joe McCulloch and a special guest sit down to talk about Bethesda's own SPX Festival. Matt and Tucker didn't go so they aren't here yakking about it. What books did they buy? What did they miss? What did the younger generation have to say?

Oct 12: Library of Congress main reading room open for viewing

Library of Congress Columbus Day Open House

 

Join us at the Library of Congress Columbus Day Open House in the magnificent Main Reading Room.

The Library of Congress is holding its semi-annual public open house Monday, October 12, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. The Main Reading Room is located on the first floor of the Thomas Jefferson Building, 10 First Street, S.E. Washington, DC.

Enter the Jefferson Building through either the upper or lower First Street entrances, or via the U.S. Capitol Visitor Center tunnel.

The Main Reading Room will be open for viewing only, photography is allowed. No reference services will be available.

For more information contact the Visitor Services Office at 202.707.8000 or www.loc.gov.

Comic art at the Library of Congress

Sometimes you walk in and waiting on a table in Prints and Photos are some gems. These are from the Swann Collection.

Original Captain America art by Sal Buscema at the Library of Congress.

Gluyas Williams original art of the Library of Congress at the Library of Congress.

Marie Severin original Hulk art at the Library of Congress.

Oct 19: Warren Bernard's new book on WWII cartoons

"...the book is called Cartoons for Victory, which is about the home front in the United States during WW2, you know, blackouts, war bond drives, rationing, all the privations we civilians did not go through for any war since then. 90% of the cartoons have not been seen since the war and that same percentage of cartoons you cannot find on any of The Internets."

DATE: October 19

TIME: 6:30-8:30PM

PLACE: Busboys and Poets

             234 Carroll St NW

             Washington, DC

METRO STOP: Takoma Park

The Art of Richard Thompson film interview

HFF 2015 Interview: Bob Burnett, Director of The Art of Richard Thompson

By heartlandfilm on September 24, 2015
http://heartlandfilm.org/hff-2015-interview-bob-burnett-director-of-the-art-of-richard-thompson/

Eleanor Davis Acceptance Speech at 2015 Ignatz Awards

SmallPressExpo

 Oct 4, 2015
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kU93ZYzzGpg

Eleanor Davis accepts the Outstanding Anthology or Collection Ignatz for, "How To Be Happy." Award presented by Whitney Leopard.

Cartoons and Cocktails in November

http://www.cartoonsandcocktails.org/index2.htm

Tickets NOW ON SALE through 3 p.m., Thursday, Nov. 19. Tickets will be available in the Holeman Lounge of The National Press Club thereafter.

Plan now to attend the 28th annual auction of editorial cartoons made possible through generous donations of original* cartoon art by prize-winning cartoonists.

Join us Nov. 19 in the National Press Club ballroom for an evening of food, drink and lively bidding. It's a fantastic opportunity for collectors and admirers of cartoon art to acquire new works and help good causes.

*Because some cartoonists are creating their work electronically, their C&C items vary. Some are limited-run prints with original signatures; some are original sketches accompanied by signed prints.

Oct 18-19 Argentine cartoonist Liniers in DC

Sunday October 18 at 6:30pm
An evening with Liniers: Live Painting, Music, and Conversation
Busboys & Poets Takoma
235 Carroll St. NW
Washington, DC 20012
​
Argentine cartoonist Liniers, in conversation with The Washington Post's Comic Riffs columnist Michael Cavna, discusses his two latest books.  In Written and Drawn by Henrietta, the titular heroine shows her cat Fellini—and the reader—how to write and illustrate a spellbinding story.  Macanudo #3 is a collection of Liniers's popular comic strip, translated from the Spanish, which also features Henrietta and Fellini as well as a host of other characters.  This is an all-ages event and will also feature Liniers painting to live music.

Monday October 19 at 10:30AM
Liniers presentation to school children
Politics & Prose 
5015 Connecticut Ave NW
Washington, DC 20008

That darn Mutts

Letters to the Editor

Thank you, 'Mutts,' for a wonderful week of reflections [in print as Thank you, 'Mutts,' for an uplifting week].

Patricia Mensch, Landsdowne

October 3 2015
https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/thank-you-mutts-for-a-wonderful-week-of-reflections/2015/10/02/d1f285c0-66de-11e5-bdb6-6861f4521205_story.html

The Post uses Disney's Beauty and the Beast for satire

Peeple is a terrible idea. As proof, here is Peeple for Disney characters.

By Alexandra Petri
Washington Post October 3 2015
https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/compost/wp/2015/10/01/peeple-is-a-terrible-idea-as-proof-here-is-peeple-for-disney-characters/

Comic Riffs on censored graphic novels

Banned Books Week: How comics are fighting a hail of critical fire

By Michael Cavna October 1 2015
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2015/10/01/banned-books-week-comics-move-more-in-the-cross-hairs-than-ever/

Third (and fourth) Hagenized Grandma Rose paintings unveiled

As revealed last month, a cache of paintings by the mysterious Grandma Rose has been acquired by David Hagen for improving with is patented (pronounced PAY-tent-ed) Hagenizing process. The third in the series has been revealed and will be for sale on Saturday at Civitan flea market in Arlington. It's an early work from 1955.

Here's a preview.

DISCLAIMER: ComicsDC's Mike Rhode provided the paintings to Hagen for free, and is not making any money from his reuse of them (but is enjoying it).



















The fourth was spotted at Civitan on October 3rd:

New Kickstarter from G.E. Gallas launches today

The Poet and the Flea: Ode to William Blake (Volume 1)

by G. E. Gallas

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/868711984/the-poet-and-the-flea-ode-to-william-blake-volume

About this project

THE POET AND THE FLEA (VOLUME 1) is a 95-page graphic novel written and illustrated by G. E. Gallas about the poet-painter William Blake.

BY PRE-ORDERING THE POET AND THE FLEA THROUGH KICKSTARTER, YOU ARE HELPING ME SELF-PUBLISH/PRINT VOLUME ONE AND SUPPORTING WORK ON VOLUMES TWO AND THREE.

Zodiac Starforce #2 out today

ZODIAC STARFORCE #2

They saved the world two years ago, but when a new, monstrous threat arises, can they put aside their differences and become a team again? Hopefully they can; otherwise team leader Emma, who's been infected by an evil magical force, is a goner! Will the Zodiac Starforce reunite and enter the dark realm of Nephos to save their captain, or will a fierce rivalry on the volleyball court tear them apart?

Comic Riffs talks to Jeff Smith about CXC

CXC 2015: 'Bone' creator Jeff Smith is poised to help kick off major new festival on comics landscape

By Michael Cavna September 30 2015
 https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2015/09/30/cxc-2015-bone-creator-jeff-smith-is-poised-to-help-kick-off-major-new-festival-on-comics-landscape/

Former Washington City Paper cartoonist starts a Patreon

Rob Ullman used to illustrate Savage Love for many years (and it was pretty). He had an illustration in the current issue, but it's not the same as seeing his art weekly. You can support him on Patreon now. I just did.

Rob Ullman is creating
Hockey Comics and Art

Illustrator and cartoonist of many swell things, including Atom-Bomb Bikini and Old-Timey Hockey Tales.

https://www.patreon.com/user?u=393206&u=393206&ty=c

Cul de Sac play coming to Encore Stage next summer

June 3-12, 2016

Cul de Sac

Play by Amy Thompson
Adapted from the Comic Strip, Cul de Sac by Richard Thompson

Four-year-old Alice Otterloop and her older brother, Petey, learn about friendship and the importance of being yourself in this world premier play adaptation of Richard Thompson's nationally syndicated Cul De Sac comic strip. When Alice decides to help Petey become more exciting she risks sending Petey further into his shell. With the help other their parents, teachers, and new and old friends the Otterloop children just might be able to learn something from each other. We recommend this production for ages 4 and older.

Friday, June 3, 2016 at 7:30pm
Saturday, June 4, 2016 at 11am and 3pm
Sunday, June 5, 2016 at 3pm
Friday, June 10, 2016 at 7:30pm
Saturday, June 11, 2016 at 11am and 3pm
Sunday, June 12, 2016 at 3pm

Audition Dates and Times:
Auditions: March 14 and 15 from 5:00-8:00 pm.
Pre-Audition Workshop: March 12 from 10:00 am-12:00 pm. The pre-audition workshop fee is $55.
There is no audition fee.
Auditions are in the lower level of Thomas Jefferson Community Theatre (125 S. Old Glebe Rd, Arlington, VA 22204).

Location:
All performances are held at Thomas Jefferson Community Theatre (125 S. Old Glebe Rd., Arlington, VA 22204)

Stephan Pastis: 2015 National Book Festival

LibraryOfCongress

Sep 28, 2015
 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBQrGUDXKV4

Cartoonist Stephan Pastis appears at the 2015 Library of Congress National Book Festival in Washington, D.C.

Speaker Biography: Stephan Pastis used to be a lawyer. Now, he is the award-winning cartoonist who creates "Pearls Before Swine," a syndicated daily comic strip that runs in 750 newspapers around the world. The humorous comic strip's host of friends -- Rat, Pig, Goat and Zebra -- deliver a smart, witty and painfully honest commentary on modern issues ranging from politics to pop culture. Pastis tends to produce his comics at an unusual five to nine months ahead of the deadline. His latest collection is "Pearls Gets Sacrificed: A Pearls Before Swine Treasury." In addition to creating "Pearls Before Swine," Pastis is the author of the best-selling children's chapter book series Timmy Failure.

For transcript, captions, and more information, visit http://www.loc.gov/today/cyberlc/feat...
Click here for a direct link to the transcript.

PR: Captive of Friendly Cove book

Three local creators, Mike Short, Matt Dembicki and Evan Keeling worked on this book; I bought mine from them at SPX.  Mike

For Immediate Release:  Contact: Melanie Roth, Director of Sales and Marketing, Fulcrum Publishing melanie@fulcrumbooks.com  |  www.fulcrumbooks.com   Praise for Captive of Friendly Cove: Featured in The Washington Post's round up of debut books at the Small Press Expo 2015  "A respectful, leisurely paced work of historical fiction."                                                                                                           — Kirkus "The artwork is stunning, giving us a visual of the Island and the people, and what a wonderful way to experience the history and the geography. And the writing is a terrific example of creative nonfiction. The historical and cultural facts are true, but presented in a compelling story."                                                                           — Maryann Writes Blog Fulcrum Publishing is pleased to announce the release of Captive of Friendly Cove: Based on the Secret Journals of John Jewitt by Rebecca Goldfield and Mike Short.  From the creators of the award-winning Trickster and District Comics, comes another graphic novel about adventure and tribal life. After his ship is burned and his shipmates killed, British sailor John Jewitt lived for nearly three years as a captive of the Mowachaht people on the west coast of Vancouver Island. During his captivity, Jewitt kept journals of his experiences and of tribal life. In honor of the 200th anniversary of the publication of those journals, we're pleased to announce the first graphic novel about John Jewitt's life. Follow his adventures as he plies his skills as a blacksmisth, saves his only remaining crew member, and comes up with a strategy to free them both. About the Authors and Contributors: Rebecca Goldfield (writer) is an award-winning writer/producer of  documentary films with a focus on history and science. Her work has aired on National Public Radio (NPR), PBS, The Discovery Channel, and National Geographic TV among others. She was a contributor to the Harvey-nominated graphic novel, District Comics, and is presently developing several graphic novels based on great true stories. Goldfield splits her time between Washington D.C., rural Pennsylvania, and New York City, but still spends a much time as she can in Vancouver, B.C. Connect with her on Facebook.  Mike Short (penciler) lives in Lorton, Virginia, where he watches DVDs with his wife, plays with his kids, chases his runaway dog, or burns the midnight oil drawing comics. He was a contributor to the Eisner-nominated graphic anthology Trickster: Native American Tales: A Graphic Collection. You can reach him on Twitter and on Tumblr.  Matt Dembicki (inker) previously edited and contributed to the Eisner-nominated and Aesop Prize-winning Trickster: Native American Tales: A Graphic Collection. He also served at the helm of Wild Ocean: Sharks, Whales, Rays, and Other Endangered Sea Creatures, and District Comics: An Unconventional History of Washington, D.C., a Harvey Award-nominated anthology that was named as one of the best books of 2012 by the Washington Post. Connect with him on Twitter.  Evan Keeling (colorist) is a founding member of the DC Conspiracy, a comic creator collective founded 10 years ago in Washington DC. Comics he has worked on include Crumbsnatchers, Codename: Fifinella, Xoc: Journey of a Great White, and the Eisner-nominated and Aesop Prize-winning, Trickster. He is currently working on a series of comics about the DC punk scene in the 90s called DC Punk. Evan Keeling lives in Washington, DC with his wife and daughter. You can find out more about him at his website. Upcoming Events: Saturday & Sunday, October 17- 18, 2015                                                                                                             Massachusetts Independent Comics Expo (MICE): University Hall at Lesley University,                                                1815 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA 02140 (Porter Square)  Sunday, November 1, 2015, 6:30 p.m.                                                                                                                            Politics & Prose at Busboys and Poets - Brookland, 625 Monroe St NE, Washington, DC 20017  More Praise from the Captive of Friendly Cove blog tour: "[Rebecca Goldfield and Mike Short] give life to the story and tell it in a clear and compelling way...aided by impressive inks from Matt Dembicki and a gorgeous color palette from Evan Keeling that brings to the page very nicely the beauty of the Pacific Northwest."                                                                   — Michael May's Adventure Blog Have you read a graphic novel? If not, why not try this one or get it for a young adult reader you may know.                                                                                                              — SlingWords Blog Fans of graphic novels and real life stories plucked from the history books should be drawn to read Captive of Friendly Cove: Based on the Secret Journals of John Jewitt.                         — Mother Daughter Book Club Blog Book Information: September 2015 | Trade Paperback | US $25.95 | print ISBN: 978-1-936218-11-0 | 7.5 x 11 | 168 pages | COMICS & GRAPHIC NOVELS | HISTORICAL FICTION  Ordering information: Fulcrum Publishing | 4690 Table Mountain Dr., Ste. 100 | Golden, CO 80403 Toll-free 800-992-290 | fax 800-726-7112 | orders@fulcrumbooks.com   Fulcrum Publishing: Celebrating 30 Years of Thinking Outside. - Based in Colorado and Wisconsin -

Latest Hagenized Grandma Rose painting unveiled

As revealed earlier in the month, a cache of paintings by the mysterious Grandma Rose has been acquired by David Hagen for improving with is patented (pronounced PAY-tent-ed) Hagenizing process. The second in the series has been revealed and will be for sale on Saturday at Civitan flea market in Arlington.

Here's a preview.

DISCLAIMER: ComicsDC's Mike Rhode provided the paintings to Hagen for free, and is not making any money from his reuse of them (but is enjoying it).

Awesome Con's sale featured on ICv2 and The Beat

LEFTFIELD MEDIA ACQUIRES AWESOME CON

'We're Not in a Race to Collect Shows'

  by Milton Griepp on September 30, 2015
http://icv2.com/articles/news/view/32648/leftfield-media-acquires-awesome-con

Awesome Con joins LeftField Media as new con entity grows 

09/29/2015 by Heidi MacDonald

http://www.comicsbeat.com/awesome-con-is-acquired-by-leftfield-media-as-new-con-entity-grows/ 

Awesome Con sold

Awesome Con is reporting that it's sold itself to something called LeftField Media LLC.

I have nothing to add to this press release.

Meet a Local Cartoonist: Chatting with Afrofuturist's J.T. Wilkins

JT with Rafer Roberts' banner

by Mike Rhode  

JT Wilkins was at Small Press Expo this year as part of the DC Conspiracy, and selling copies of his new Afrofuturist comics. He kindly agreed to answer our usual questions.

What type of comic work or cartooning do you do?

 I'm known for Black Dayz, The Afrofuturist, and stuff in Magic Bullet.

How do you do it? Traditional pen and ink, computer or a combination?

I'm a Pen and Ink type of guy.

When (within a decade is fine) and where were you born?

Call me an 80's Child!

Why are you in Washington now?  What neighborhood or area do you live in?

I live in Southeast, but I'm really from Maryland.

What is your training and/or education in cartooning?

Drawing and Sketching got my groove on!

Who are your influences?

Spain, S. Clay Wilson, Crumb, Fletcher Hanks, Wood, Kirby, Beardsley, Ditko, Lee, Kubert, Lynch, Panter, Knight just to name a few.

If you could, what in your career would you do-over or change?

I would have never gone in the military!

What work are you best-known for?

Mostly my Magic Bullet stuff, but my indie stuff stands the test of time.

What work are you most proud of? 

Everything!

What would you like to do or work on in the future?

Anything art-related that would make me happy.

What do you think will be the future of your field? 

Computers world wide!

What local cons do you attend? The Small Press Expo, Intervention, or others? Any comments about attending them?

MOCCA, SPXPO, PIX, STAPLE, BCC, CC.

 

What's your favorite thing about DC?

The Museums!

Least favorite?

Crowds.

What monument or museum do like to take visitors to?

The Smithsonian.

How about a favorite local restaurant?

Anything with seafood.

Do you have a website or blog?

Thinktankrx.com

Mike Jenkins' lunch bag art display through October

For years, cartoonist Mike Jenkins has been drawing on his daughter's lunch bag. Now some are going on exhibit at Studio Pause at 2421 26th Rd. South, Arlington Va. They'll be on display through October.

Oct 22: The Comic Book Story of Beer signing in DC & Baltimore

Oh, the places we'll drink.

The Comic Book Story of Beer will be hitting the road throughout autumn 2015 on a mission of emancipating people from ignorance of and passionless equivocation over the greatest drink in the history of man on this planet.

We, the book's creators, hope to meet you at beer and brewery events, book and comic book retailer signings, comic book conventions, and mass, spontaneous, pro-beer uprisings across the North American continent. And maybe even beyond. Who knows. I've heard Angoulême, France, is truly breathtaking in late January.

Please check back here and follow us on Twitter for updates and ever-more-specific-and-refined information about where and what we're up to.

DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Thursday, October 22, 2015: Book Sales, Signing; Beer. Free and open to the 21+ public.

ATLAS BREW WORKS

2052 West Virginia Avenue NE, Suite 102, District of Columbia 20002

Time TBD

 

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND

Saturday, October 24, 2015: Book Reading & Signing. Free and open to the public.

ATOMIC BOOKS

3620 Falls Rd, Baltimore, MD 21211

Local craft brews will be available at Atomic Books' smashing in-store bar!

Time 7:00 PM

Pea Soup ephemera (UPDATED)

 

Here's a couple of post cards I bought a few weeks ago in Arlington's Civitan flea market, with a nice gag cartoon about making pea soup. The pea soup empire grew well - it still exists!

And here's Pea Soup Andesen's website since I'm posting their cartoon.Their website says about the cartoon: "In the early thirties a cartoon appeared in the old "Judge" magazine. It was one of a series by the famous cartoonist Forbell, under the heading of "Little Known Occupations." The cartoon showed the little known occupation of splitting peas for pea soup, with two comic chefs standing at a chopping table, one holding a huge chisel, splitting peas singly as they came down a chute."

More information on Charles Forbell can be found in Biographical Sketches of Cartoonists & Illustrators in the Swann Collection of the Library of Congress.

Sept 29: Gareth Hinds at One More Page Bookstore in Arlington

http://www.onemorepagebooks.com/events.html

Fall for the Book Illustrators Panel "Keystrokes and Brushstrokes" moderated by Madelyn Rosenberg and featuring Gareth Hinds, Kate Samworth, Rashin Kheiriyeh, Theodore Taylor III

Tue, September 29, 7pm – 8pm

Keystrokes and brushstrokes: Authors and illustrators talk about their processes, both in writing and in art, and their varied approaches for blending art and fiction into books for young people. The panelists will talk about everything from concept to publication and will answer the age-old question of which came first: the text about the chicken or the painting of the egg?

Panelists: Gareth Hinds: Hinds is the creator of critically-acclaimed graphic novels based on literary classics, including Beowulf (which Publisher's Weekly called a "mixed-media gem"), King Lear (which Booklist named one of the top 10 graphic novels for teens), and Macbeth (which the New York Times called "stellar" and "a remarkably faithful rendering"). Gareth is a recipient of the Boston Public Library's "Literary Lights for Children" award. His books can be found in bookstores and English classrooms across the country, and his illustrations have appeared in such diverse venues as the Society of Illustrators, the New York Historical Society, and over a dozen published video games. For more, visit www.garethhinds.com.

Oct 6: Matt Davies in Takoma Park

Matt Davies - Nerdy Birdy — at Takoma Park Library (MD)

Tuesday, October 6, 2015 at 7 p.m.

Nerdy Birdy is a small-winged, glasses-wearing, allergic-to-birdseed guy who just wants to be like the cool birds. When he discovers a whole group of avian companions just like him, however, he thinks he's found the true meaning of friendship— until a new girl arrives and calls everything into question. Ages 4 – 8

Oct 13: Ted Rall in DC

Busboys and Poets 14th & V: Ted Rall - Snowden

Tuesday, October 13, 2015 at 6:30 p.m.

Two-time winner of the Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award and a finalist for the Pulitzer, Rall got his start as a political cartoonist by posting his work on the New York City streets. His venues have become more sophisticated, but in works such as the Attitude anthologies of subversive comics, The Anti-American Manifesto, and others, he shows he's as edgy and outspoken as ever. His latest book profiles Edward Snowden, celebrating his courage in revealing the government's vast surveillance network, and drawing on Orwell's 1984 to show how much is at stake in the new era of digital technology.

Busboys and Poets 14 & V

2021 14th Street NW

WashingtonDC20009

Oct 5: Ben Hatke in town

Ben Hatke - Little Robot

Monday, October 5, 2015 at 10:30 a.m.

In this graphic novel for early readers, a young girl exploring the junkyard near her trailer happens upon a robot as diminutive as she is. After using her mechanical skills to bring it to life, she and her new friend experience a series of small adventures—until an enormous factory robot comes to take Little Robot away. Ages 6 – 9

Politics and Prose

5015 Connecticut Ave NW

WashingtonDC20008

Ben Hatke - Little Robot — at Takoma Park Library (MD)

Monday, October 5, 2015 at 7:30 p.m.

In this graphic novel for early readers, a young girl exploring the junkyard near her trailer happens upon a robot as diminutive as she is. After using her mechanical skills to bring it to life, she and her new friend experience a series of small adventures—until an enormous factory robot comes to take Little Robot away. Ages 6 – 9

Takoma Park Library (MD)

101 Philadelphia Ave

WashingtonDC20912

Sevara novel giveaway on Goodreads.

Enter the Giveaway May the odds be ever in your favor,
The Goodreads Team

Sevara: Dawn of Hope
by Damian Wampler

The Post interviews Dr. Katz (from the cartoon)

Dr. Katz will see you now

By Roger Catlin
Washington Post September 27 2015
https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/dr-katz-will-see-you-now/2015/09/25/13f3509c-5e21-11e5-9757-e49273f05f65_story.html

Dr. Katz Live with Jonathan Katz, Janeane Garofalo, Jim Gaffigan, Tig Notaro and Morgan Murphy at 8 p.m. Thursday; doors open at 6:30 p.m. Tickets: $35. Lincoln Theatre, 1215 U St NW. 202-888-0050 or www.bentzenball.com.

The Post on ‘Hotel Transylvania 2’

'Hotel Transylvania 2' review: Sequel is just enough of a Halloween treat

By Sandie Angulo Chen
Washington Post September 25 2015
http://www.washingtonpost.com/goingoutguide/movies/hotel-transylvania-2-review-sequel-is-just-enough-of-a-halloween-treat/2015/09/23/50a44ee6-6151-11e5-b38e-06883aacba64_story.html

Dracula (voiced by Adam Sandler) welcomes half-human, half-vampire baby Dennis (Asher Blinkoff) into his frightening family — but he's anxious for the kid to show some fangs. (Sony Pictures Animation/AP)

Comic Riffs on SPX

Sketchbook: From creativity to diversity, a line-by-line reflection on Small Press Expo 2015

By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog September 25 2015
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2015/09/25/sketchbook-from-creativity-to-diversity-a-line-by-line-reflection-on-small-press-expo-2015/

Spirit exhibit opens Saturday across from Baltimore Comic-Con

Will Eisner's The Spirit Exhibit Opening at GEM

Scoop September 25 2015
http://scoop.diamondgalleries.com/Home/4/1/73/1012?ArticleID=169097

I love the Geppi Entertainment Museum. It's always got something interesting to see.

Comics Alternative Podcast on SPX

Episode 154: SPX 2015 and the Ignatz Awards

by Derek Royal and Andy Wolverton

  September 23, 2015 

http://comicsalternative.com/episode-154-spx-2015-and-the-ignatz-awards/
http://media.blubrry.com/comicsalternative/p/comicsalternative.com/Episodes/ComicsAlternative-154.mp3

On Location: Talking with Creators at SPX 2015, Pt. 1

  September 24, 2015
http://comicsalternative.com/on-location-talking-with-creators-at-spx-2015-1/
http://media.blubrry.com/comicsalternative/p/comicsalternative.com/Episodes/ComAlt_OnLocation22.mp3

On Location: Talking with Creators at SPX 2015, Pt. 2

  September 25, 2015
http://comicsalternative.com/on-location-talking-with-creators-at-spx-2015-pt-2/
http://media.blubrry.com/comicsalternative/p/comicsalternative.com/Episodes/ComAlt_OnLocation23.mp3

Part 3 appears tomorrow.

Charles Vess reveals Christmas poster for Washington Revels

Charles Vess

I'm getting ready to head out the door to attend the Baltimore Comic Book Convention (Booth # 2314) this weekend but I though that I would upload the finished color painting I just finished for this years Christmas Revels to be held in Washington DC. I'm very happy with this one! - from Charles' Facebook page.

I'll be stopping by and getting whatever I can on Sunday at BCC.

Flugennock's Latest'n'Greatest: "New Hungarian Flag"

New Hungarian Flag
http://sinkers.org/stage/?p=1789

After a brief pause out of respect for the photogenic drowned refugee child, the EU member governments resumed their program of making Syrian war refugees as miserable as possible. Hungary, of course, is keeping to the high standards set by the infamous TV camerawoman by sending police to brutalize refugees. And needless to say, like Claude Rains in "Casablanca", the United Nations is shocked -- shocked -- to discover that Hungary is treating war refugees like dirt.

Mike Flugennock: Political Cartoons

www.sinkers.org/

In Supermansion #1, the Washington Monument suffers

EXCLUSIVE: SUPERMANSION Episode 1 - Groaner's Wild HD (2015) Bryan Cranston Seth Green Superhero

CBR Trailers

Sep 23, 2015
https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=89&v=eDc56F5izvU

http://www.comicbookresources.com - EXCLUSIVE: SUPERMANSION Episode 1 - Groaner's Wild HD (2015) Bryan Cranston Seth Green Superhero Animation

John Gallagher will be at Baltimore Comic-Con with new books

Comics Runs in This Family at Baltimore Comic-Con: John Gallagher Teams with His Children to Debut New Books in Baltimore

  By Kids Love Comics Staff on September 24, 2015
http://www.kidslovecomics.net/comics-runs-in-this-family-at-baltimore-comic-con-john-gallagher-teams-with-his-children-to-debut-new-books-in-baltimore/

Former Washington City Paper author to write Black Panther comic

Ta-Nehisi Coates to Write Black Panther Comic for Marvel

By GEORGE GENE GUSTINES

SEPT. 22, 2015

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/09/23/books/ta-nehisi-coates-to-write-black-panther-comic-for-marvel.html

and The Post has thoughts on this.

Marvel Comics was smart to hire Ta-Nehisi Coates to write Black Panther. Here's why.

By David Betancourt
September 23 2015
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2015/09/23/heres-why-marvel-comics-is-smart-to-hire-ta-nehisi-coates-to-write-black-panther/

Ta-Nehisi Coates, 'Black Panther' and superhero diversity [in print as Black Panther gets the hero he needs].

By Yanan Wang
Washington Post's Morning Mix blog September 23 2015, and Express (September 24): 47.
online at http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/09/23/ta-nehisi-coates-black-panther-and-superhero-diversity/

Personally, and with all due respect to Coates who's a very good writer, I'm not sure about this trend of having to have black creators write black characters. It feels like reverse-tokenism to me, although I'm sure everyone involved has only the best of reasons.