Michael Cavna remembers Richard Thompson

Richard Thompson: The art of being a smart, humane artist in a vitriolic, wired world

By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs August 29 2016
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2016/08/29/richard-thompson-the-art-of-a-being-a-smart-humane-artist-in-a-vitriolic-wired-world/

Comics Riffs on Laika Studio and Kubo

The rise of Travis Knight, the son of Nike's founder who built an animation powerhouse [in print as A Knight is a rising king of animation, August 22, 2016]

By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs August 19 2016
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2016/08/19/the-rise-of-travis-knight-the-son-of-nikes-founder-who-built-an-animation-powerhouse/

Sept 21: Juana Medina at Library of Congress

Wednesday, September 21, 2016 – 12 Noon- 1pm
I JUANA LIVE IN AMERICA: AN IMMIGRANT'S [CREATIVE] JOURNEY

Award-winning illustrator Juana Medina will discuss her work and her artistic journey as a Colombian artist living in the United States. Medina is an illustrator and author for children's books, as well as a teacher at George Washington University.

Cosponsored by the Hispanic Division and the Hispanic Cultural Society of the Library of Congress.

Location: Dining Room A, James Madison Building, 6th floor
Event is free and open to the public.
Contact: cgom@loc.gov

https://www.loc.gov/rr/hispanic/events.html

Sept 26: Kate Beaton at Hooray for Books

 

Monday, September 26th: We are thrilled to announce that author and cartoonist extraordinaire Kate Beaton is coming to Hooray for Books! If you are a fan of webcomics, then you might already love Beaton's Hark! A Vagrant series. If you frequent our Wednesday Story Times, then you definitely know how much we love her first picture book, The Princess and the Pony. Now, come out to Hooray for Books! as Beaton presents her second and newest picture book, King Baby, available on September 13th. Just as hilarious as all of Beaton's work, King Baby is sure to be a story time favorite that will resonate with everyone who has ever been a parent, aunt or uncle, sibling, or even just seen a baby in action. Pre-order your copy at Hooray for Books! by dropping by or calling 703-548-4092 during regular business hours. You must purchase at least one Scholastic title from Hooray for Books! in order to join the signing line.

 6 pm.

 

1555 King Street

Alexandria, VA 22314

(703) 548-4092

info@hooray4books.com

www.hooray4books.com

Richard Thompson Memorial Celebration photographs

Richard's old friend Bruce Guthrie photographed the service and the 'mingling' before and afterwards. See the pictures at

http://www.bguthriephotos.com/graphlib.nsf/keys/2016_08_27B3_RThompson_Memorial3

http://www.bguthriephotos.com/graphlib.nsf/keys/2016_08_27B1_RThompson_Memorial

Excellent Washington Post story on North Korean cartoonist

Reaching a South Korean audience by finding laughs from North Korea [in print as Artist plays a rough life in North Korea for laughs]

By Anna Fifield
Washington Post August 29 2016, p. A7
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/reaching-a-south-korean-audience-by-finding-laughs-from-north-korea/2016/08/28/24e0cb53-b075-40de-a2a6-cb4305cf4607_story.html

New local comic-con next summer

Kevin Bednarz, owner of the comics shop Comic Logic in Ashburn, Va., has posted a teaser about a new local comics convention aimed for next summer. NOVA-Con is planned for July 2017 at the Ritz Carlton in Tyson's Corner.

Per his Facebook post: "A one of a kind comic/art/pop culture convention. Many more details and announcements to come in the following weeks & months. Stay tuned."

 

Click here to see the teaser trailer for the planned show.

Comic Riffs talks to Trudeau about Trump

Prior to his visit to Politics and Prose bookstore today, Michael Cavna talks to Garry Trudeau of Doonesbury -

'Yuge!'/'Doonesbury' cartoonist Garry Trudeau: 'If Trump wins, I'll miss civilization as we know it.'

By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs August 29 2016
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2016/08/29/yugedoonesbury-cartoonist-garry-trudeau-if-trump-wins-ill-miss-civilization-as-we-know-it/

Gail Rubin remembers Richard Thompson

Cartoonist Richard Thompson Made Us Laugh

by Gail Rubin

A Good Goodbye blog August 26th, 2016
http://agoodgoodbye.com/notable-obituaries/cartoonist-richard-thompson-made-us-laugh/

Before you read that -

The service for Richard Thompson will be held at the National Press Club in Washington, DC, this Saturday, August 27th at 1pm.

IT WILL BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC from 1pm until 2:30 pm, after which there will be a private reception for friends and family.

Sept 2-4: Baltimore Comic Con programming

Baltimore Comic-Con 2016 Announces Panel Programming

BALTIMORE, MARYLAND - August 22, 2016 - The 17th annual Baltimore Comic-Con returns to the Baltimore Convention Center the weekend of September 2-4, 2016. Tickets are available now for General Admission, VIP, and Harvey Awards! As is the case every year, we have received a steady stream of requests for our Panel schedule -- details are now ready for release, and we're really excited to share them with you!

Friday will feature a panel on our 2016 Baltimore Comic-Con Yearbook featuring the cast of Archie Comics, a spotlight on J.M. DeMatteis, and numerous panels featuring some of the industry's largest publishers including DC, IDW, and Valiant Entertainment!

 

Saturday, publisher panels include Marvel, BOOM! Studios, and Archie, spotlight panels on Joe Giella, Al Jaffee, John McCrea, Guest of Honor Kevin Eastman, and media guests Candice Patton, Kristian Nairn, and Sean Astin, and a drawing demonstration from Adam Hughes.

 

Sunday, learn about the connection between music and comics, world building, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, and attend spotlights on Steve Englehart, Howard Chaykin, Soman Chainani, and media guest Hayley Atwell!

 

We also continue our series of cosplay-oriented panels throughout the weekend, featuring topics of interest to both participants and spectators alike.

 

And, of course, don't let your children miss the excitement scheduled for the Kids Love Comics Pavilion!

Continue reading here.

Flugennock's Latest'n'Greatest: "Return Of The Choom"

From DC's anarchist cartoonist Mike Flugennock:

"Return Of The Choom"
http://sinkers.org/stage/?p=2034

Inspired by a scene from Return Of The Jedi in which Han Solo is frozen in carbonite in Jabba's lair, this poster announces a new round of cannabis legalization protest in Washington, DC and the White House on September 24, and calls on the DEA to "release the #Choom" -- to deschedule cannabis and free all prisoners being held for marijuana "crimes".

Needless to say, there's a lot of discontent boiling in the cannabis activist community about the DEA dragging its feet and stringing everybody along for months before finally blowing us off and refusing to remove cannabis from its "Schedule 1" list, alongside heroin. Much of the criticism is also directed at President Sparkle Pony, who claimed he would let science dictate policy and not politics, but has consistently chosen to support the failed Drug War policies which have their roots in the Nixon Administration. (The joke going around the DCMJ office is that the DEA has Obama "frozen, like Han Solo"; the term "choom" refers to Obama's weed-smoking posse from school, nicknamed the "Choom Gang".)

Aug 29: Garry Trudeau at Politics and Prose

Garry Trudeau at P&P
Monday, August 29 at 4 PM - 6 PM

Politics & Prose Bookstore

5015 Connecticut Ave NW, Washington, District of Columbia 20008

Comic Riffs profiles Roye Okupe and YouNeek Studios

He came to D.C. from Nigeria — and created his own African comic-book universe

By David Betancourt
Washington Post Comic Riffs August 24 2016
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2016/08/24/he-came-to-d-c-from-nigeria-and-created-his-own-african-comic-book-universe/
 

The Nerdist likes Tom King's Omega Men, a lot

THE OMEGA MEN Deals in Philosophy the Way Only a Comic Book Can

by Benjamin Bailey on August 23, 2016

http://nerdist.com/the-omega-men-deals-in-philosophy-the-way-only-a-comic-book-can/

Library of Congress on a Charles Dana Gibson' editorial crtoon

World War 1: Bad Romance — Gibson's Chilling Personification of War

by Katherine Blood

Library of Congress Blog August 24, 2016
http://blogs.loc.gov/loc/2016/08/world-war-1-bad-romance-gibsons-chilling-personification-of-war/

Flugennock's Latest'n'Greatest: "Broken Windows"

From DC's anarchist cartoonist...

"Broken Windows"
http://sinkers.org/stage/?p=2030
posted 08.16.16

A couple of nights ago, yet another black youth was killed by police in America -- this time in Milwaukee, touching off a night of rioting which featured the burning of a gas station and the smashing of windows on businesses and cop cars. And as usual, White America and the mainstream media were getting their panties in a twist more about broken windows than human lives.

For those of you who've been living in caves since the 1990s, "Broken Windows" has been a policing institution gifted to us by the likes of Rudolph Giuliani in New York City. Basically a pretext for the establishment of paramilitary police occupations of the poorest -- and blackest -- areas, it was such a hit that "Broken Windows" opened up franchises in pretty much every city in the US, spreading its brand of harassment, profiling, intimidation and brutality.

After observing this form of right-wing "folk wisdom" in action for over twenty years, I can't help but ask: whose windows are really being broken here?

RICHARD THOMPSON MEMORIAL SERVICE

RICHARD THOMPSON MEMORIAL SERVICE
A service for Richard will be held at the National Press Club in Washington, DC, this Saturday, August 27th at 1pm.

IT WILL BE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC from 1pm until 2:30 pm, after which there will be a private reception for friends and family.

Again, the family asks that in lieu of flowers please consider making a donation to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research, either directly or through Team Cul De Sac (https://www.michaeljfox.org/get-involved/teamfox.php).

Fredericksburg's Clay Jones talks to a Costa Rica paper that has hired him

Political Cartoons: An Endangered Journalism Practice

    By Jaime Lopez –

    Costa Rica Star August 21, 2016

    http://news.co.cr/political-cartoons-endangered-journalism-practice/50059/

Interview with Greg Pak (Incredible Hulk, Kingsway West, Eternal Warrior)

by Mike Favila (Guest Writer / ComicsOnline.com Senior Editor)

My neighbor (and Editor-In-Chief) Mike Rhode is taking his daughter off to college for the first time, so I'm taking a second away from my duties at ComicsOnline.com to interview writer Greg Pak for ComicsDC.

If you're not familiar with Greg Pak's work,chances are you probably just haven't been reading the credits that tightly.  I've mostly recently read his stuff for the relaunch of Eternal Warrior through Valiant Comics, but he's the man responsible for the awesomely out there World War Hulk storyline.  I didn't know this until I read his Wiki, but he also created Amadeus Cho.  Not too shabby.

Thanks for taking the time to chat.  Here's a few questions to start with:

What was the genesis for Kingsway West?  Obviously there's been different pieces of fiction relating to the Chinese people in a Western setting, but the fantasy elements are way more pronounced than anything I've read before.  

I first started thinking about about telling a story with a Chinese gunslinger in the Old West over twenty years ago. I grew up in Texas and loved Westerns, and when I learned about the real history of Chinese immigrants in the Old West, I just couldn't stop thinking about it. So this was my dream project when I started film school in the '90s. And after I started writing comics, I worked on different comic book versions of the story, doing a couple of short stories for the OUTLAW TERRITORY anthology with artists Ian Kim and Sean Chen. But I always wanted to do a longer version of the story, and eventually started talking with editor Jim Gibbons at Dark Horse. Jim loved the characters and story I pitched, but asked if there was something more I could bring to the story to push it over the top. And I thought about it for a while, and found myself thinking about fantasy and magic. I'd loved Lord of the Rings and Dungeons and Dragons when I was growing up for some of the same reasons I'd loved Westerns -- that kind of big, epic, outdoor adventure is part of both genres. And the more I worked on it, the more it made sense to merge those genres in a story about a Chinese gunslinger searching for his wife in an Old West overrun with magic.

How did you get together with Mirko Colak?

Mirko and I worked together on Marvel's RED SKULL INCARNATE and Dynamite's TUROK, both books that involved realistic, historically based material. I knew he'd absolutely kill on a Western. He's been tremendous. And I should add that colorist Wil Quintana and letterer Simon Bowland are doing amazing work on the book as well. I'm so lucky and happy!

How did you end up publishing at Dark Horse?

If I'm remembering correctly, I think Mirko had met Jim somehow and made the introduction. As soon as I started talking with Jim, I knew I wanted to do the book there. Jim asked all the right questions to push me to make the book better. Jim since left the company to work for Stela, but Spencer Cushing has taken over as editor and Spencer's been fantastic -- just a tremendous sounding board and advocate and hustler to keep the book on time and make it as good as it can be.

How much of the arc do you have planned out?

I've written all four issues of the miniseries. I've got my fingers mightily crossed -- if the numbers are good enough, we may be able to do a second volume. So if anyone reading is interested, please do ask your local comics shop to order the books for you, or go to KingswayWest.com and pre-order there!

I loved the relaunch of Eternal Warrior, and was impressed with your take on it.  Were you a fan of original Valiant comics?  How did you get involved?

Thanks so much for the kind words! I actually didn't read many of the original Valiant comics -- they came out during a window in time when I wasn't buying a ton of monthlies. But I always loved the concepts. I got pulled on board ETERNAL WARRIOR by editor Warren Simons, with whom I'd done MAGNETO TESTAMENT over at Marvel. I loved working with Warren and was thrilled to have a shot at working with him again. And the Eternal Warrior character was up my alley -- again, as a fan of outdoor adventure and fantasy. I'm particularly proud of the second arc we did on that series, drawn by Robert Gill, in which we jumped a couple of thousand years into the future. Had a huge amount of fun with the worldbuilding there, and I loved the emotional story between Gilad and his granddaughter.

Did you have to coordinate with the other titles launching for Valiant, or did Warren provide a lot of the parameters?

I definitely read the other issues that had referenced Gilad before I started. And Warren definitely kept it on track continuity-wise. He had a great eye on the big picture all the time -- he's just done a tremendous job herding all those books.

As a Filipino, I've always been drawn to the names of the Asian creators (like Whilce Portacio or Frank Cho) that have been on the credits of the comics I read growing up.  It seems like seeing realistic Asian characters portrayed on the page(such as the Amadeus Cho Hulk) is the natural next step.  Do you feel that this is just a reflection of society today, or did that require a concerted effort on the part of comic companies/creators?

I've been writing comics for over twelve years now, and from the beginning, my editors have always supported my working diverse characters into the casts of my books. My very first published comic was the WARLOCK mini in 2004, which starred an Asian American woman named Janie Chin. And artist Takeshi Miyazawa and I created Amadeus Cho eleven years ago, and I was able to write him as a supporting character in the Hulk books and eventually as the co-star of the INCREDIBLE HERCULES series, co-written with Fred Van Lente, for over four years. And over the years I also created S.H.I.E.L.D. Agent Jake Oh and used Suzie Endo in the SILVER SURFER book and created a half-Japanese alternative-world Namor in X-TREME X-MEN and used Sharon (played by Grace Park in the television series) as the central character in the second half of my BATTLESTAR GALACTICA series and wrote a bunch of book starring other people of color. So in my experience, working with the awesome editors I've had over the years, the door has always been open -- I just had to walk through it.

But I also think we're living at a time when more and more people are aware that audiences want more diverse casts and more and more creators of different backgrounds are breaking in and blowing up in all kinds of great ways, which is great. Fifteen years ago, when I was speaking at film festivals with my films, I used to say that in fifteen years the changing demographics of the country would make it a no-brainer to make media with diverse casts. We're in the middle of businesses waking up to that right now, and it's very exciting.

Less related, but also curious: How are you involved with Fresh Off The Boat?  I saw something on your Wiki, but I had no clue that you had a hand in the show.

Oh, I love the show, but I'm not at all involved in its creation or production. I was a lucky participant on a panel discussion about it when it premiered. I'm thrilled it's done so well -- it's time, huh?

The Express on Kubo

Dolby Cinema is the way to see 'Kubo and the Two Strings'

By Kristen Page-Kirby

Express August 19 2016

https://www.washingtonpost.com/express/wp/2016/08/19/dolby-cinema-is-the-way-to-see-kubo-and-the-two-strings/