Thursday, January 18, 2018

Batmobile on display in American History Museum

What the Batmobile Tells Us About the American Dream

Fans of DC Comics will go batty for this new installation at the National Museum of American History

smithsonian.com
January 16, 2018
https://www.smithsonianmag.com/smithsonian-institution/what-batmobile-tells-us-about-american-dream-180967846/

Thanks to Bruce Guthrie for the tip.

Wednesday, January 17, 2018

Big Planet Comics Bethesda January hardcover SALE!


40% off already this week. 



Andrew Aydin and Nate Powell are MOCCA guests of honor

I've cut and pasted the parts relevant to this blog, but my friend Liniers and the great Roz Chast and Mike Mignola are also appearing. See the whole thing at https://www.societyillustrators.org/mocca-arts-festival

The Society of Illustrators is proud to share its first round of guest announcements with this year's stellar list of Guests of Honor for the MoCCA Arts Festival, taking place April 7-8 at Metropolitan West in New York City. This year's featured Guests of Honor are:
  • Nate Powell and Andrew Aydin, part of the trio behind the National Book Award-winning MARCH trilogy, a first-of-its-kind graphic novel about the highs and lows of the Civil Rights Movement told through the perspective of civil rights leader and U.S. Congressman John Lewis.
This group of artists exemplifies the limitless aesthetic and social power of comics and cartooning. The MoCCA Arts Festival will take place April 7 - 8th from 11:00AM - 6:00PM at Metropolitan West (636 W. 46th St.) with programming mere steps away at Ink48 (653 11th Ave). They will be joined at MoCCA Fest by an array of Featured and International Guests and exhibiting artists.

Price of admission is $7 per day and will grant attendees access to the Fest including the Exhibitors Hall, on-site Gallery space, and programming. Tickets will be available for purchase at the door. Children under twelve are free. Further scheduling information regarding our Guests of Honor's visits will be available in future announcements.

More information about the Fest can be found here.

About the Guests of Honor:

Nate Powell:
Nate Powell is a New York Times best selling-graphic novelist. He is an alumnus of the School of Visual Arts, having graduated in 2000. His work includes MARCH (Top Shelf), the graphic novel autobiography of Congressman and civil rights icon John Lewis; You Don't Say, Any Empire, Swallow Me Whole (all published by Top Shelf), The Silence Of Our Friends (First Second), The Year Of The Beasts (Roaring Brook Press), and Rick Riordan's The Lost Hero (Disney-Hyperion). Powell is the first and only cartoonist ever to win the National Book Award. Powell's next book, Come Again, will be released in summer 2018 by Top Shelf/IDW.

Andrew Aydin:
Andrew Aydin is the creator and co-author of the graphic memoir series, MARCH, which chronicles the life of Congressman and civil rights icon John Lewis. An Atlanta native, Andrew was raised by a single mother, and grew up reading comic books. After college, he took a job with Congressman Lewis. Today, Aydin serves as Digital Director & Policy Advisor to Congressman Lewis in Washington, D.C. Andrew's other works include the 2016 X-Files Annual (IDW), the 2016 CBLDF Annual Liberty (Image), and an upcoming issue of Bitch Planet (Image), as well as articles for the Atlanta alt-weekly Creative Loafing and the Southern Poverty Law Center's Teaching Tolerance Magazine.
About the Museum of Illustration at the Society of Illustrators
Founded in 1901, the Society of Illustrators and its Museum of Illustration together comprise America's longest-standing nonprofit organization dedicated to the art of illustration. The mission of SI/MI is to promote the art and appreciation of illustration and its history and evolving nature through exhibitions and educational programs.

The MoCCA Arts Festival is a 2-day multimedia event, Manhattan's largest independent comics, cartoon and animation festival, drawing over 7,000 attendees each year. With 400 exhibiting artists displaying their work, award-winning honorees speaking about their careers and artistic processes and other featured artists conducting workshops, lectures and film screenings, our Festival mission accelerates the advancement of the Society's broader mission to serve as Manhattan's singular cultural institution promoting all genres of illustration through exhibitions, programs and art education. The 2018 MoCCA Arts Festival will take place April 7-8th, 2018 at Metropolitan West in New York City with programming mere steps away at Ink48 (653 11th Ave).

Fantom Comics has a tavern license and wants you to talk about it

Monday, January 22 (6:30pm – 9:30pm) – Comics & Cocktails – NOTE: We're having a special Comics & Cocktails at Fantom Comics this week. We have our tavern license! We can now sell beer and wine and we have plenty of dining options around us for people to pick up food and chow down at the store. So this C&C will be – besides the usual socializing, of course – a town hall to decide how we should run these going forward. We want to hear from YOU! So join us for geeky talk, alcohol, BYOFood and a town hall discussion.

Tuesday, January 16, 2018

Emily S. Whitten at ComicMix!



I met Emily Whitten at the DC in DC event this past weekend. She's a local writer and her work can currently be seen at ComicMix at

Feb 6: Emily Carroll at Politics and Prose

Tuesday, February 6 at 7 p.m.


The novel, Speak, a National Book Award finalist, is now available in graphic form, illustrated by Emily Carroll. It is the story of a girl, Melinda, who becomes an outcast at Merryweather High after a traumatic summer experience. Though friendless and withdrawn into isolation, Melinda finds solace in art class. Through art, she is able to come to terms with what happened to her – and is able to find her voice. Compelling illustrations breathe new life into this resonant classic and its powerful message. This is part of the Can We Talk About This event series. (Ages 15+)

This event is in partnership with RAINN (Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network), the nation's largest anti-sexual violence organization. Information about RAINN will be available and customers may choose to donate a portion of their purchases to RAINN the evening of the event.

This event is free to attend with no reservation required. Seating is available on a first come, first served basis.

In the Children & Teens Department at
Politics and Prose Bookstore
5015 Connecticut Avenue NW
Washington DC 20008



 

The Post reviews Black Lightning

'Black Lightning' plays well to its strengths, rather than playing like a token effort [in print as On CW, 'Black Lightning' is oh-so current].


TV critic
Washington Post January 16 2018, p. C1-2
online at https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/tv/black-lightning-plays-well-to-its-strengths-rather-than-playing-like-a-token-effort/2018/01/15/54cceec0-f7d0-11e7-a9e3-ab18ce41436a_story.html

I'm rather tickled to hear that The 100 are the villains. They're from 1970s-era comics where Kirby had Darkseid attempting to take over Metropolis' underworld. Morgan Edge, the owner of the tv station that Clark Kent worked at, was one of his agents as well.

Monday, January 15, 2018

DC in DC 2018 full video

DC in DC 2018


DC Entertainment and Warner Bros. Television Group bring you DC in D.C. LIVE from Washington, D.C. This landmark pop culture event features panel discussions and appearances by the stars and producers from Arrow, DC's Legends of Tomorrow, The Flash, Gotham, Supergirl and Freedom Fighters: The Ray, comic book authors and artists and more! Full Panel Schedule below: 10:00–10:45 a.m. ET - The Art of the Matter: From Sketch to Screen 11:00–11:45 a.m. ET - The Many Shades of Heroism: DC Heroes Through the African-American Lens 12:00 p.m.–12:45 p.m. ET - Wonder Women 2:00–2:45 p.m. ET - The Pride of DC: The Art of LGBTQ Inclusion 3:00–3:45 p.m. ET - The Aftermath: Battle & Trauma in Comics

Sunday, January 14, 2018

DC in D.C. in photos (UPDATED)

IMG_20180112_193520_045
Here's my pictures, unsorted, unedited and barely captioned, theoretically, as Flickr seems to be having a problem arranging them:


20180113_104335
Cress Williams (Black Lightning on Black Lightning)

From Bruce Guthrie:

20180113_104813
Sarah Schechter (executive producer, Arrow, Black Lightning, DC’s Legends of Tomorrow, The Flash, Supergirl, upcoming Titans) - [who was very impressive to listen to]



From Warner Bros. television (I was sitting next to the very professional AP photographer who was hired for this job and enjoyed talking to him):

"DC IN D.C." 2018 PANEL PHOTOS (SAT, JAN 13)

THE ART OF THE MATTER: FROM SKETCH TO SCREEN panel photos: https://www.facebook.com/pg/warnerbrostv/photos/?tab=album&album_id=10156104885198777

Participants include executive producers Greg Berlanti and Sarah Schechter (Arrow, Black Lightning, DC's Legends of Tomorrow, The Flash, Supergirl), Black Lightning executive producer Salim Akil and star Cress Williams, DC's Legends of Tomorrow stars Caity Lotz and Brandon Routh, The Flash star Danielle Panabaker and DC Entertainment's Geoff Johns.

THE MANY SHADES OF HEROISM: DC HEROES THROUGH THE AFRICAN-AMERICAN LENS panel photos: https://www.facebook.com/pg/warnerbrostv/photos/?tab=album&album_id=10156105038773777

Participants include Black Lightning executive producers Salim Akil and Mara Brock Akil with star Cress Williams, Oscar®-winning screenwriter/comic book writer John Ridley, The Flash star Candice Patton, Supergirl star David Harewood, Gotham star Chris Chalk, DC Entertainment comic book artist Denys Cowan and writer Alice Randall, and Black Girl Nerds founder/editor-in-chief Jamie Broadnax.


Participants include executive producer Sarah Schechter (Arrow, Black Lightning, DC's Legends of Tomorrow, The Flash, Supergirl); DC's Legends of Tomorrow star Caity Lotz; The Flash stars Candice Patton and Danielle Panabaker; Gotham stars Erin Richards, Camren Bicondova and Jessica Lucas; DC Entertainment comic book writers Julie Benson, Shawna Benson, Shea Fontana and Mariko Tamaki; and comic book artist Agnes Garbowska.

THE PRIDE OF DC: THE ART OF LGBTQ INCLUSION panel photos: https://www.facebook.com/pg/warnerbrostv/photos/?tab=album&album_id=10156105086633777

Participants include executive producer Greg Berlanti (Arrow, Black Lightning, DC's Legends of Tomorrow, The Flash, Supergirl), Freedom Fighter: The Ray star Russell Tovey and DC Entertainment comic book writers Vita Ayala, Marguerite Bennett, Steve Orlando and Mark Russell.


Participants include former U.S. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy; DC Entertainment comic book writer/former CIA counter-terrorism operations officer Tom King; Gotham recurring guest star J.W. Cortés, a 13-year Marine combat veteran and a police officer with the New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority; comic book artist Mitch Gerads; and DC All Access host Jason Inman, an Operation Iraqi Freedom veteran; and Melissa Bryant, Director, Political & Intergovernmental Affairs, Iraq & Afghanistan Veterans of America.

"DC IN D.C." 2018 SIGNING PHOTOS (SAT, JAN 13)

Black Lightning series stars Cress Williams, China Anne McClain and Nafessa Williams signed for autographs for fans at the Newseum: https://www.facebook.com/pg/warnerbrostv/photos/?tab=album&album_id=10156105083103777
 

Saturday, January 13, 2018

DC in D.C. panels today

Just a quick editorial comment while I'm still at the event. DC and Warner Bros have done a very good job at setting this up. The creators have been articulate, interesting and sincere. I have gotten much more out of the day than I expected.

Bruce Guthrie's photos of Batman cartoon premiere

DC in D.C. day 2 begins now... But first, last night

Last night, the new animated movie Batman Gotham by Gaslight premiered at the Newseum. An adaptation of the 1989 graphic novel, the script was modified to meet the needs of a cartoon rather than a comic book. After the film, the writers and actors answered questions. I believe the panel will be on their YouTube channel.

D.C. in DC - DC President Diane Nelson

Ms. Nelson is having a trivia question prior to the opening of the panels. She is noting that today's events are emblematic of America's values.

DC in DC continues today at the Newseum

SATURDAY, JANUARY 13 — NEWSEUM

10:00–10:45 a.m. The Art of the Matter: From Sketch to Screen Just how do our favorite DC Super Heroes fly from the page to the screen? This behind-the-scenes look at the creative process provides an "origin story" of how some of DC's greatest Super Heroes on the page have evolved into some of TV's hottest Super Heroes on screens all over the world. Join executive producers Greg Berlanti and Sarah Schechter (Arrow, Black Lightning, DC's Legends of Tomorrow, The Flash, Supergirl, upcoming Titans), DC Entertainment's Geoff Johns (Arrow, The Flash, Titans) and others as they trace the explosion of DC's heroes — from ink panels to television and film screens worldwide. Additional panelists to be announced.  Newseum

11:00–11:45 a.m. The Many Shades of Heroism: DC Heroes Through the African-American Lens 2018 will not only bring Black Lightning, a new African-American DC Super Hero to television screens (40 years after the electrifying hero was created), but also a new DC comic book from Oscar®-winning screenwriter John Ridley (12 Years a Slave) and more exciting storytelling featuring African-American characters. In this panel, Black Lightning star Cress Williams and executive producers Salim Akil & Mara Brock Akil will join the acclaimed John Ridley, author and comic book writer Alice Randall (The Wind Done Gone, Earth M), and Black Girl Nerds Editor-in-Chief Jamie Broadnax as they look beyond the super suit to the African-American men and women who are heroes to their community. Black Lightning premieres Tuesday, January 16, 2018, at 9/8c on The CW. Follow Black Lightning on Twitter at @blacklightning. Additional panelists to be announced.  Newseum

12:00 p.m.–12:45 p.m. Wonder Women DC and Warner Bros. Pictures' Wonder Woman took charge of screens in an unprecedented way last summer, toppling the cinematic patriarchy and paving the way for even more super women. DC has been flexing its power with female heroes on television screens for years, including kickass characters on Supergirl, The Flash, Arrow, Gotham and DC's Legends of Tomorrow. Join DC's Legends of Tomorrow star Caity Lotz, The Flash stars Candice Patton and Danielle Panabaker, Berlanti Productions President Sarah Schechter (Arrow, Black Lightning, DC's Legends of Tomorrow, The Flash, Supergirl, upcoming Titans) plus DC writers and artists Julie Benson (Batgirl and the Birds of Prey), Shawna Benson (Batgirl and the Birds of Prey), Shea Fontana (Wonder Woman, DC Super Heroes), Agnes Garbowska (DC Super Hero Girls) and Mariko Tamaki (Supergirl: Being Super) for this super-powered panel. Supergirl and DC's Legends of Tomorrow will rotate through The CW's Monday 8/7c time period in 2018, offering fans 23 consecutive weeks of original episodes. Supergirl returns January 15 for four original episodes, after which DC's Legends of Tomorrow runs from February 12–April 9. Supergirl then resumes April 16–June 18. Additional panelists to be announced.  Newseum

2:00–2:45 p.m. The Pride of DC: The Art of LGBTQ Inclusion — On December 8, history was made with the debut of Freedom Fighters: The Ray, a new animated series on CW Seed, the digital channel of The CW Network, that features the first gay Super Hero to lead a show. The series is produced by Berlanti Productions in association with Warner Bros. Animation and Blue Ribbon Content, the digital studio of the Warner Bros. Television Group. Join The Ray executive producer Greg Berlanti and voice star Russell Tovey for a wide-ranging discussion with DC writers Marguerite Bennett (Batwoman), Steve Orlando (Midnighter and Apollo) and Mark Russell (Exit Stage Left: The Snagglepuss Chronicles) about inclusion for LGBTQ characters. Watch Freedom Fighters: The Ray here: www.cwseed.com/freedom-fighters-the-ray. Additional panelists to be announced.  Newseum

3:003:45 p.m. The Aftermath: Battle & Trauma in Comics — DC's Batman author and former CIA counter-terrorism operations officer Tom King takes on Jack Kirby's Mister Miracle in a new monthly comic book which focuses on a Super Hero who grapples with post-traumatic stress disorder, an issue not often seen in comics and tragically overlooked in the real world. King will be joined by Gotham recurring guest star J.W. Cortes (a 13-year Marine combat veteran and a police officer with New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority), additional comic book writer/artists and thought leaders for a candid conversation about the lasting effects of battlefield trauma. Additional panelists to be announced.  Newseum

6:30–8:15 p.m. Black Lightning Sneak Peek Screening — Cress Williams (Hart of Dixie, Friday Night Lights) stars as the title character in Black Lightning, a new television series based on the first African-American DC Super Hero to have his own stand-alone comic title. The series debuts Tuesday, January 16, 2018, at 9/8c on The CW, but fans can get a sneak peek during this public screening at the Newseum, preceded by a reception. In addition to Williams, China Anne McClain (House of Payne), Nafessa Williams (Twin Peaks), Christine Adams (Marvel's Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.), Marvin "Krondon" Jones III (Harry's Law), Damon Gupton (Bates Motel, Criminal Minds) and James Remar (Gotham, Sex and the City) star. Based on the characters from DC, Black Lightning is from Berlanti Productions and Akil Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television, with executive producers Greg Berlanti (Arrow, DC's Legends of Tomorrow, The Flash, Supergirl), Salim & Mara Brock Akil (Being Mary Jane, The Game, Girlfriends), and Sarah Schechter (Arrow, DC's Legends of Tomorrow, The Flash, Supergirl). The Black Lightning character was created by Tony Isabella with Trevor Von Eeden.  Newseum


For additional info on "DC in D.C.," please visit www.DCinDC2018.com, and follow us on Twitter at @warnerbrostv and @DCComics, hashtag: #DCinDC

Friday, January 12, 2018

New ReDistricted story online

My wife has written her first comic -

The world and all that is in it

Story by Cathy Hunter,
art by Sean Hill and
colors by Evan Keeling

 https://www.redistrictedcomics.com/nat-geo

Many of the men who met on January 13, 1888, to consider forming a geographical society were scientists who roamed far and wide but returned to Washington, D.C., in the autumn to resume their posts at various government agencies, such as the U.S. Geological Society, the Coast and Geodetic Survey and the Navy Hydrographic Office. And although the man who became the newly formed National Geographic Society's first president, Gardiner Greene Hubbard, was not a scientist himself, he proclaimed that "The members of our Society will not be confined to professional geographers, but will include that large number who, like myself, desire to promote special researches by others, and to diffuse the knowledge...  so that we may all know more of the world upon which we live."

Jan 26: Animezing!: The Girl Who Leapt Through Time


Join us for a FREE anime film at the JICC!
Join us for a FREE anime film at the JICC!

Animezing: The Girl Who Leapt Through Time
Journey Through Anime: Celebrating 100 Years
In celebration of the 100th anniversary of Japanese animation, the JICC is presenting a retrospective of landmark animated films!
Winner of Best Animated Film at the Japan Academy Awards and the Mainichi Film Concurs!
After waking up late, flunking her pop quiz, embarrassing herself on numerous occasions, and starting a fire in her home economics class, high school student Makoto Konno figures she's just having one of those days. And just when she thinks she's made it through, the brakes on her bike malfunction putting her on a collision course with a speeding train. The life-ending accident would have been the perfect end to the worst day ever, but the strangest thing happens—she leaps backwards in time.
After unlocking her new ability, Makoto does what any teenager would do. She re-takes tests, corrects embarrassing situations, and sleeps in as late as she wants, never thinking that her carefree time travelling could have a negative effect on the people she cares about. By the time she realizes the damage she's done, she only has a few leaps left to make things right.
In Japanese with English | Not Rated | 98 min | 2006 | Directed by Mamoru Hosoda
Registration is required.

SCREENWRITER: SATOKO OKUDERA

Satoko Okudera's first co-written screenplay, Moving (1993), screened in the Un Certain Regard at the Cannes Film Festival. In 1995, she was nominated for Best Screenplay at the Awards of the Japanese Academy for Gakko no Kaidan. Her first major hit came with the Mamoru Hosoda directed animated film, The Girl Who Leapt Through Time (2006). She went on to write and co-write two other films directed by Hosoda, Summer Wars (2009), and Wolf Children (2014), each of which were awarded Best Screenplay at the Tokyo Anime Awards.
Women in Cinema
Women in Cinema
You are invited to
Friday, January 26th, 2018
from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM (EST)
Japan Information & Culture Center, Embassy of Japan
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
Event venue map
This event is free and open to the public, but registration is required.
In the event of a cancellation, please contact us at jicc@ws.mofa.go.jp.

Program begins at 6:30PM.
Doors open 30 minutes prior to start of program.
No admittance after 7:00PM or once seating is full.

Registered guests will be seated on a first come, first served basis. Please note that seating is limited and registration does not guarantee a seat.

The JICC reserves the right to use any photograph/video taken at any event sponsored by JICC without the expressed written permission of those included within the photograph/video.



© 1981-2018 Japan Information & Culture Center, Embassy of Japan







Feb 25: Disney Live! Mickey & Minnie's Doorway to Magic


https://www.disneylive.com/mickey-and-minnies-doorway-to-magic

EagleBank Arena

Fairfax, VA

Open the door to reveal mesmerizing worlds of unforgettable Disney moments and grand illusions with Disney Live! Mickey and Minnie's Doorway to Magic. Join Mickey Mouse, Minnie Mouse and the comical duo of Donald and Goofy as 25 of your favorite Disney characters surprise and captivate at every turn of the knob! See the Fairy Godmother transform Cinderella's rags into a beautiful ball gown in a split second; the Toy Story gang defy the dimensions of Andy's toy box with the help of the green army men; and the spectacular stage debut of Rapunzel and Flynn Rider as they rise into the sky amidst the floating lanterns. With special appearances by Snow White, Tinker Bell and Aladdin's Genie, you never know what to expect or who might join in the fun. In Disney Live! Mickey and Minnie's Doorway to Magic you hold the ultimate key to unlocking your imagination.

*Please note, as part of the magical experience a safe theatrical smoke will be used and there will be brief periods of darkness. Please do not take photographs, videos, or use recording devices of any kind.

Smithsonian.com on LOC's exhibit on women cartoonists

How Women Broke Into the Male-Dominated World of Cartoons and Illustrations

A new exhibition at the Library of Congress highlights female artists and their contributions to comic strips, magazine covers and political cartoons

Jan 20: Indie Comics Meet-up at Beyond Comics in Frederick

Indie Comics Meet-up

Public
https://www.facebook.com/events/1772572092782710/

Saturday, January 20 at 11 AM - 4 PM

Beyond Comics
5632 Buckeystown Pike, Frederick, Maryland 21704

Details
All are invited to meet, join, hang-out and ask questions with and among many local comics creators. See new comic projects, learn how to make and publish comics and just generally have a great time with some amazing local artists. Attendees include: Andrew Cohen, Carl Yonder, and Michael Cowgill. More to come...

Feb 10: Adrian Tomine at Politics and Prose at Wharf

Cartoonist Adrian Tomine appears at Politics and Prose at The Wharf on Saturday, February 10, 2018 at 6:00 PM to present his New York Times bestselling graphic novel, Killing and Dying, with his stories acting as a stunning showcase of the possibilities of the graphic novel medium, exploring loss, creative ambition, identity, and family dynamics.

RSVP on Facebook!

Politics and Prose at The Wharf
70 District Square SW, Washington, DC 20002
(202) 488-3867

Thursday, January 11, 2018

Flugennock's Latest'n'Greatest: "Jaws 2: This Time, It's Personal"

From DC's anarchist cartoonist Mike Flugennock:

"Jaws 2: This Time, It's Personal"
http://sinkers.org/stage/?p=2372

Just when Jeff Sessions thought it was safe to go back into the water...

As you'll recall a week or two back, AG Jeff Sessions rescinded the Cole Memo, which prevented Federal authorities from interfering with the policies of states which had legalized marijuana.

Much to most everyone's delight, Sessions' action seems to have the opposite effect; Vermont passed a legalization law this week, and Massachusetts is continuing with its plans to begin commercial sales after legalizing this past year.

If the sonofabitch wants a war, he's got one. Bring it.
Free the heads, jail the feds -- as we used to say in the Yippies.

Comic Riffs reviews Cartoon County

'Cartoon County' looks back at when the newspaper comic strip held sway

Washington Post Comic Riffs blog January 11 2018
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2018/01/11/cartoon-county-looks-back-at-when-the-newspaper-comic-strip-held-sway/

Comic Riffs on this weekend's DC in D.C. events

DC in D.C.: The stars of 'Black Lightning' and other DC projects are coming to Washington

By David Betancourt

Washington Post Comic Riffs blog January 10 2018

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2018/01/10/dc-in-d-c-the-stars-of-black-lightning-and-other-dc-projects-are-coming-to-washington/