Venus Winston, October 8, 1981-December 11, 2016

by Mike Rhode & Matt Dembicki

According to her Facebook page, artist and cartoonist Venus Winston passed away last night, from cancer. She was a member of the DC Comics Conspiracy (DCC) and a contributor to the group's Magic Bullet comics newspaper. 

Winston was a DC native, but lived recently in Hyattsville, MD. For an interview with us earlier this year, she noted, "In high school I attended Duke Ellington School of the Arts majoring in Visual Arts. After graduating I majored in Illustration at Rhode Island School of Design. I started making art at age 8 and loved reading comic books. I actually didn't start creating comics till 2010, when I started writing. Before this, I wanted to be a children's book illustrator or animation."  Winston began her "Cooking with Cancer" comic in 2014 as her own therapy. In addition to showing how to prepare food that might help a cancer patient, Winston was in favor of medical marijuana to stimulate the appetite.

Earlier this year, Winston was invited to present on her comic at Dundee University in Scotland this summer for the Annual International Graphic Medicine Conference. While fundraising to attend the conference, Winston wrote, "I lost my ovaries to cancerous Krukenberg tumors and it is my belief I survived by enforcing a healthy diet and mindset within my personal environment. 'Cooking with Cancer' has now grown into a collection of short stories, recipes and informative pieces focusing on my experience with cancer and how food can help beat illness."

Winston told us in September, "In a few months, I'll be self-publishing a children's book I've been working on for years." If her family continues that plan, ComicsDC will attempt to highlight it. Her work can be seen on her websites www.bongyongart.com and www.cookingwithcancer.tumblr.com

We here at ComicsDC send our condolences to her family and friends.

'They Came to See Me Die!' No. 2

The long-awaited continuation to They Came to See Me Die! is now available! OK, not sure it's really long-awaited, but we finally got it printed. It's the story of legendary aviator Lincoln Beachey--and I'm willing to guess you've never heard of him. Too bad. He was quite the guy. But you can learn now about him in our comic (art by Andrew Cohen, story by me). I've attached the first few pages. Email me or ping me on Facebook if you'd like a copy. 

 

My mini-comics collection now at Library of Congress

by Matt Dembicki

On Friday, I loaded up the minivan and brought my minicomics collection to the Library of Congress. It wasn't easy to part with, because these are not just books, but momentos and memories. But in the end, LOC will do a much better job preserving it and allowing researchers and others to find those gems they're looking for. My collection is mostly from 2000 up to present (with a heavy does of Midwest and D.C. area cartoonists) but there are a bunch from earlier decades as well as from other countries. One that comes to mind was a mini done by Kevin Eastman before he did Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.

Cast a Vote for that Occasional Contributor to the ComicsDC blog, aka Steve

Last week, while laying in bed reading, getting ready to fall asleep, I suddenly heard a gleeful squeal from my wife Kris, who happened to be looking at her i-phone with eyes wide open. Barely able to get the words out of her mouth, she managed to inform me that I was nominated in the "best artist" category for the current 2017 Best of Loudoun poll. At first I thought she was being funny, but to my pleasant surprise, there was my name, among about fourteen others. In the past, Kris and I would fill in these polls, and I'd always give Kris my "write-in" vote, as she would also do with me, but this time I found myself on the actual list. I'm not sure what it means to be "best artist", as there is a plethora of great artists in this very large county known as Loudoun, however I am very grateful to whoever it was who nominated me, and found my work worthy enough to be in this poll. If you also find my artwork worthy, and if you've followed my artistic endeavors and adventures for a while, or if you've just found out about it and like what you see, then why not vote for me? A win is definitely a long shot, but it's always so nice to see there are folks who appreciate what you do, somewhere out there. By the way, the pic below is just a screen shot. HERE's the link to vote. It's simple and you can vote from anywhere. Thanks a ton, in the meantime (and apologies for the horn tooting)! -Steve Loya

                                                                                                                                              

Bedtime for Batman's Dahl at Hooray for Books

by Mike Rhode

A few nights ago, author Michael Dahl entertained a group of youngsters wearing their Batjammies at Alexandria's Hooray for Books. Dahl put on his own set and then read the book he wrote that is illustrated by Ethen Beavers. Dahl's story draws a parallel between a young boy getting ready for bed and Batman heading out to fight crime. Beavers did an excellent job with the Batman Adventures animation style. The book is aimed at the very young, and the children in the crowd certainly enjoyed it. Full disclosure - I was the only adult there without young children.

 

Dahl's next book is Good Morning, Superman, but some children starting reading it so I didn't get a glimpse. It's by a different artist though.

And they have autographed Wimpy Kid books for sale still.

Washington Wizards Collecti-Con on Feb. 26

The Washington Wizards are starting a one-day, all-age sports/pop culture/comic book show that will happen a few hours before their game on Sunday, Feb. 26 (10 am to 2 pm). It's $100 for a table (includes 4 tickets to the game). The agreement/applications forms are below.

 

Juana Medina interview in Wash City paper

Juana Medina, Children's Book Scribe

Liz Garrigan

Washington City Paper (December 9 2016): 15-16

http://www.washingtoncitypaper.com/special-issues/article/20846183/the-people-issue-2016#medina

Juana Medina on the Kojo Nmamdi show

Audio should be online tomorrow.

How To Fall In Love With Reading As A Young English Language Learner

Kojo Nmamdi Show Dec 07 2016

http://thekojonnamdishow.org/shows/2016-12-07/helping-young-english-language-learners-love-reading

Learning a new language is an enriching, educational experience for some children and a necessity for others. For D.C. based author and illustrator Juana Medina, learning English in her native Columbia was a requirement she resisted as a child, yet appreciated later as an adult. Medina uses her early experience in her latest book "Juana & Lucas" to both encourage children to learn and to foster an appreciation of diversity in young readers. We talk with Medina and Mary Ellen Icaza of Montgomery County Public Libraries about the role communities have in encouraging young readers of varied backgrounds, and how libraries can make immigrant families feel more at home.

Guests

• Mary Ellen Icaza Public Services Administrator for Community Engagement, Programming, and Learning, Montgomery County Public Libraries
• Juana Medina author and illustrator, "Juana & Lucas" and "1 Big Salad"; teacher, George Washington University

D.C. in new 'Spider-Man: Homecoming' movie?

The trailer teaser for the upcoming "Spider-Man: Homecoming" movie has the webslinger sitting on top of the Washington Monument.

The Post on Krazy Kat's Creator

What was the source of Krazy Kat's comic genius?

By Glen David Gold
Washington Post.com (December 6 2016): https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/books/what-was-the-source-of-krazy-kats-comic-genius/2016/12/06/561381e8-bb1f-11e6-91ee-1adddfe36cbe_story.html 

NPR's comics of the year list includes locals

NPR's Book Concierge

Our Guide To 2016's Great Reads

Showing books tagged Comics & Graphic Novels (31)

Produced by Nicole Cohen, Rose Friedman, Petra Mayer and Beth Novey | Executive Producer: Ellen Silva
Designed by David Eads, Juan Elosua and Clinton King – Published Dec. 6, 2016

http://apps.npr.org/best-books-2016/#/tag/comics-and-graphic-novels

Produced by DC-area types are:

The Caped Crusade: Batman And The Rise Of Nerd Culture
by Glen Weldon

Cook Korean! A Comic Book With Recipes
by Robin Ha

March: Book Three
by John Lewis, with Andrew Aydin, illustrated by Nate Powell

Vision Volume 1: Little Worse Than A Man
by Tom King, illustrated by Gabriel Hernandez Walta

Matt Wuerker's Facebook page is...

https://www.facebook.com/wuerkercartoons/

Comic Riffs on Resist!

Cartoonists are creating a newspaper to protest Trump's view of women

By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog December 1 2016
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2016/12/01/hundreds-of-cartoonists-are-creating-a-newspaper-to-protest-trumps-view-of-women/

March vol 3 is #1 on Paste's best comics list

The 25 Best Comics of 2016

By The Paste Comics Crew  |  December 5, 2016 
https://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2016/12/the-best-comics-of-2016.html?a=1

More on the upcoming Resist! comic

An anti-Trump comics collection edited by the Spiegelman family

By Gabe Friedman
December 2, 2016
http://www.jta.org/2016/12/02/life-religion/an-anti-trump-comics-collection-edited-by-the-spiegelman-family

Clay Jones on the ridiculous Comet Ping Pong problem

Paranoid Pizza

Work in progress: 'Magic Bullet' 14 cover

Sneak peek at the cover-in-progress for Magic Bullet #14 by Wendi Strang-Frost. Deadline for submissions and ads is Jan. 2. 

 

Dec 28: Adults Read YA Book Club - Gene Yang's American Born Chinese

Adults Read YA Book Club Pick

Wednesday, December 28th at 6:30 pm

American Born Chinese by Gene Luen Yang

Three apparently unrelated tales come together with an unexpected twist in this modern fable. In one story, Jin-Wang is the only Chinese American student at his school. He is picked on by jocks and bullies, and to make matters worse, he falls hopelessly in love with an all-American girl. Another strand of this novel tells the tale of the Monkey King, one of the oldest and greatest Chinese fables. A third story involves Danny and his cousin, Chin-Kee. When Chin-Kee makes his yearly visit, he ruins Danny's life and Danny has to switch schools to escape the shame. These three tales weave together in this astonishing novel from Gene Luen Yang.

Hooray for Books 1555 King Street Alexandria, VA 22314 (703) 548-4092 info@hooray4books.com www.hooray4books.com

Dec 7: Bedtime for Batman author Michael Dahl at Hooray for Books

Wednesday, December 7th: We have exciting news! We won a Bedtime for Batman Pajama Party from Capstone Publishing!!! Join us for this very special Bedtime for Batman Pajama Party with author Michael Dahl! When a dark night comes to the big city, one little superhero prepares for a great adventure -- bedtime! This Batman tale will have fans young and old delighting in their bedtime routine. At our Bedtime for Batman party, we will have a story time with the author, milk and cookies, and a superhero-themed craft. Put on your PJs and get ready for some fun! The party starts at 5 pm!

NEW: The first 16 prepaid orders of Bedtime for Batman ($15.99 plus tax) include complimentary superhero pajamas for your child! Sizing and color options limited. For best selection purchase early.

 

Hooray for Books
1555 King Street

Alexandria, VA 22314

(703) 548-4092

info@hooray4books.com

www.hooray4books.com

Art of RT for sale in Singapore

CT Lim found The Art of Richard Thompson in his local bookshop Kinokuniya, in Singapore, and kindly sent me this photo.