Wednesday, May 23, 2018

The Post on Thanos' grip in Infinity War

A scientist calculated the ludicrous strength of Marvel villain Thanos

by Ben Guarino Washington Post Speaking of Science blog May 18 2018
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/speaking-of-science/wp/2018/05/18/a-scientist-calculated-the-ludicrous-strength-of-marvel-villain-thanos/

Annapolis' Third Eye Comics profiled at TCJ

Third Eye Comics

BY The Editors Timothy Hodler & Tucker Stone,
May 23, 2018
http://www.tcj.com/third-eye-comics/

Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award photos online

Bruce Guthrie has his images up at http://www.bguthriephotos.com/graphlib.nsf/keys/2018_05_22E1_RFK_Awards and you can see Ruben Bolling accepting his award for Tom the Dancing Bug's stellar past year. He starts here and goes through the next 6 images. Ruben then is at the reception here and some pictures with John Glynn of Andrews McMeel Syndicate follow.

As always, the humanitarian and social justice awards are a sobering yet hopeful event.

PR: Naval Institute Press Launches New Graphic Novel Imprint

ANCHORS AWEIGH!
Naval Institute Press Launches New Graphic Novel Imprint

Naval Institute Press, the vaunted publisher of military histories and classics like The Hunt for Red October and Flight of the Intruder, announced today that it is diving into the world of graphic novel publishing.

Launching in Fall 2018, Dead Reckoning will publish full-length original graphic novels and collections of classic comics with a special focus on military and naval history, military and naval biography, general history, and stories of the high seas. With both fiction and nonfiction narratives, Dead Reckoning will expose a new audience to exceptional stories of service both past and present. Whether bringing to life true stories of heroism or plunging into the real-life complexities of
national security through the safe confines of fiction, Dead Reckoning will bring a unique new voice to the established world of graphic novel publishing.

“The audience for comics and graphic novels has been growing for years. As that audience has expanded, there has been a growing demand for a greater variety in terms of the books being published,” said Gary Thompson, lead editor at Dead Reckoning. “From Harvey Kurtzman’s Frontline Combat to Doug Murray & Michael Golden’s The ‘Nam, war stories have represented some of the highest quality storytelling the medium has to offer. We feel now is the time to make military themed comics a vibrant genre again and to introduce a whole new generation of graphic novel readers to the power of these stories.”

The U.S. Naval Institute, of which the Naval Institute Press is the book-publishing arm, has always had a mission to “provide an independent forum for those who dare to read, think, speak, and write to advance the professional, literary, and scientific understanding of sea power and other issues critical to global security.” With graphic novels, the Naval Institute can push forward its mission and achieve its goals of enhancing the understanding of the contributions of the services and keeping alive the lessons of military history for current and future generations. This highly accessible format lets the Naval Institute Press reach a whole new audience for its mission.

“People have an intense interest in history,” said Thompson. “But even the most dedicated history
enthusiasts can miss out on fascinating events because they can only be found in dense academic texts. With Dead Reckoning, we aim to provide a wide array of entry points for historical events all over the world, using thrilling narratives that can put readers in the very shoes of the men and women who serve. Of course, we will also have a number of fiction titles that not only use these historical events as a backdrop but also convey the feeling and experiences of the men and women involved in these conflicts. I’m sure our readership will be a mix of people looking to learn more about particular events and people who are simply looking for entertaining stories in graphic novel form.”

Publishing consultant Sven Larsen believes the launch of Dead Reckoning is a significant milestone in the emergence of graphic novels in the mainstream publishing world. “Graphic novels were once the ‘red-headed stepchild’ of the book publishing industry,” noted Larsen. “Now they’re the fastest growing part of the book business. Seeing a house as prestigious as the Naval Institute Press begin publishing in this medium confirms that the category is here to stay and reminds us that there remains a wide variety of stories still to be told. I’m sure future students of graphic novel history will look at the launch of Dead Reckoning as one of those milestones that’s indicative of the medium ‘coming of age’ and tapping its full potential.”

The new imprint will launch with an initial list of five titles and then expand to 10-12 titles per year in 2019. Subject matter ranges from infamous settings like World War I and the Vietnam War to more recent conflicts like the war in Afghanistan as well as memoirs and biographies. Thompson notes that this is just the beginning for the imprint. “With all of history to draw from, readers will see a tremendous variety of subjects and settings for our books,” noted the editor. “We’re not even limited by events that actually happened. It wouldn’t surprise me if at some point we end up publishing a military-themed science fiction graphic novel or something equally innovative.”

“In navigation, a dead reckoning is a way to figure out where you are by taking a previously known position and then advancing it. That’s what we’re looking to do here—take what readers have previously known and enjoyed about war comics and use that to create what’s next for the genre.”

ABOUT DEAD RECKONING
Dead Reckoning is a publisher of graphic novels and an imprint of the Naval Institute Press, located in Annapolis, Maryland. It publishes nonfiction and fiction with a special focus on military and naval history, military and naval biography, general history, and stories of the high seas. It is committed to publishing new and established talents from the worlds of both independent and traditional comics while bringing the rich complexities of history and military service to an enthusiastic, sophisticated readership. http://www.deadreckoning.org

ABOUT NAVAL INSTITUTE PRESS
The Naval Institute Press is the book-publishing arm of the U.S. Naval Institute. The Institute, established in 1873, is an independent, non-profit, membership association for sea service professionals and others who share an interest in naval and maritime affairs. http://www.usni.org

Tuesday, May 22, 2018

Flugennock's Latest'n'Greatest: "The Last Donut"

From DC's anarchist cartoonist Mike Flugennock:

"The Last Donut"
http://sinkers.org/stage/?p=2519

So, yesterday, Democratic Party hacks Chump Schumer and Nancy Pelosi proudly unveiled a vague, tepid economic reform package called "A Better Deal". It's kind of adorable, really, the way the Democratic leadership is suddenly discovering the crushing income inequality in the US and, in typical lame-ass Democratic fashion, tries to claw its way back to relevance with Left and progressive voters.

And that slogan -- dear god, how many focus groups did it take to come up with that, anyway? "A Better Deal" -- man, that just inspires the living hell out of me.

11x12 inch medium-res color .jpg image, 812kb

Support Team Cul de Sac by donating artwork

Heroescon (June 15th-17th) is right around the corner. Guess what folks, it means it is time for me to ask for more wonderful donations for this years Drink and Draw! Which will be held on the night of the 15th after the shows activities are over for the day. Shelton Drum and the crew will be announcing the location soon over at https://www.heroesonline.com/heroescon/

I met Richard Thompson at Heroescon in 2008. He was diagnosed with Parkinson's a year later and in 2010 we started Team Cul de Sac to raise money for the Michael J Fox Foundation. So far we have raised over $241,000 bucks and I would really like to break the quarter million dollar mark this year.

What can we use? Original published art is always wonderful! We also love any art that you would like to produce for the event that you have been inspired to do this year.

Maybe you have a new book out and would like to send a few copies with sketches in them?

Maybe you want to do a live painting at the event for us?

Maybe your publisher would like to donate other books for us to sale at our booth?

Remember every penny we raise goes to The Michael J Fox Foundation for research. Not a penny goes to the overhead of the operations.

I need donations by 8th of June. Remember to send a business card/ contact info so we can promote you and your donation!

Our address is

Team Cul de Sac
C/O Chris Sparks
54 Herron Ave
Asheville NC 28806

If you have any questions, please email us at teamculdesac@gmail.com

Chris Sparks
www.sparkingdesign.com

teamculdesac.blogspot.com

Monday, May 21, 2018

Ann Telnaes apparently launches a weekly comic strip

DD Degg of the Daily Cartoonist picked up that Ann Telnaes apparently has launched a weekly comic strip named Mo at GoComics - https://www.gocomics.com/mo

Here's the description on the website:

Mo is a weekly comic about two women who work as a waitress and bartender in the shadow of the nation's capital. In a tense political climate with a relentless 24-hour news cycle both women try to go about their daily work day as best they can and deal with the stress in their own ways.

Facts about Mo:
Mo is the waitress. She's usually frazzled, disorganized and just trying to get through the day. She follows the president on twitter, which just gets her more stressed out. She's also an insomniac.

The bartender is the opposite of Mo. Watches the news with a cool detachment. In control, never seems to get frazzled about anything. Which doesn't mean she's not beyond getting angry and she doesn't suffer fools gladly.

Mo

The Bartender

Gaithersburg Book Festival cartoonists in photos

Bruce Guthrie has put his pictures online.

Poe and Van Gogh: Deborah Heiligman, Gareth Hinds: http://www.bguthriephotos.com/graphlib.nsf/keys/2018_05_19K1_GBF_PVG

Graphic Biographies: Michael Kupperman, Julian Voloj:
http://www.bguthriephotos.com/graphlib.nsf/keys/2018_05_19H3_GBF_Biographies

Science Comics Series: Joe Flood, Falynn Koch, Dave Roman:
http://www.bguthriephotos.com/graphlib.nsf/keys/2018_05_19J3_GBF_Science

Space and Aliens for Early Readers: Paul Noth, Jonathan Roth:
http://www.bguthriephotos.com/graphlib.nsf/keys/2018_05_19J5_GBF_Space

May 26: Little Free Library with Avengers theme opens in DC

Little Free Libraries are essentially free-standing boxes with free books in them. You can take a book, but also donate one.

It will be here:

WASHINGTON DC – Launching May 26!
Upshur Recreation Center
4300 Arkansas Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20011

More details here: https://littlefreelibrary.org/readers-assemble-introducing-9-marvel-avengers-themed-little-free-libraries/

New Herblock exhibit at Library of Congress

On Exhibit: Herblock Looks at 1968

May 21, 2018 by Sara Duke
https://blogs.loc.gov/loc/2018/05/on-exhibit-herblock-looks-at-1968/

Sunday, May 20, 2018

Catching up with Sage Stossel for Mother's Day in The Post

She's grown up so much already

Sage Stossel

Washington Post (May 13 2018): B2

https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/2018/opinions/outlook/amp-stories/mothers-day-a-year-can-make-a-world-of-difference-for-a-mom/

Inside Moebius Part 1

by RM Rhodes

There is a vast gulf between the way English speaking audiences and French speaking audiences regard the comics artist Moebius. English speaking audiences know him primarily as “that Heavy Metal guy” who produced a number of visionary science fiction works and eventually drifted off to get work in Hollywood. The books that were translated into English went out of print in the 80s and are his other works are only now starting to show up in English. But there are an awful lot of single images of his floating around on Tumblr.

One of the more famous illustrations by Moebius

To French audiences, Moebius was the artist on Blueberry in the 60s who went by a different name and went on to help found one of the most influential experimental comics companies of the 70s. He drew a phenomenal amount of beautiful work in a variety of different genres. But his most commercial popular work would always be the westerns that he worked on in his youth – the work that he had spent his life rebelling against.

Details like this are important if one wants to get the most out of the recent translation of Inside Moebius, published by Dark Horse in 2018. It’s a beautiful hardback printing of what is essential an autobiographical comic from one of France’s dearly departed comics heroes. Moebius died in 2012, and these began publication in French in the early 2000s, so they are not new, just new to an English-speaking audience.

The Foreword to the first volume of Inside Moebius is written by Isabelle Giraud, his widow, and awkwardly describes the origins of this book in such a way that it would be easy to miss it. The Translator’s Notes in the back of the book provide some of the context, as well. However, what these notes fail to mention is that Inside Moebius is, first and foremost, a metafictional story. As with all metafictional stories, the more references the reader can understand, the better the story becomes.

In 1999, Moebius decided to stop smoking pot after decades of consumption. However, he was worried about a corresponding loss of creativity so he decided to produce a drawing a day for seventy days. He chose the desert as a repeating motif because Desert B sounds like désherber – the French verb for “pulling weeds” or “de-weeding.” From there, the project became known as 40 Jours Dans le Desert B or Forty Days in the Desert B.

From 40 Jours Dans le Desert B

The illustrations that Moebius did during this period are beautiful – among his best work. They show the clean, confident lines of a master who is obviously enjoying himself while he works. They were published in a limited edition collection called 40 Jours Dans le Desert B, which was the obvious title. The subtitle was la stratégie de la démence, which translates as the strategy of dementia.

As beautiful as the books were, the print run was relatively small. Copies of the book go for hundreds of dollars, but Moebius didn’t see that money.

In 2001, Moebius started making diary comics. He had experimented with the form before, in a short story called La Deviation, when he was very clearly enjoying psychedelic narcotics. This is his first extended return.

Moebius diary comics from the early 70s

Inside Moebius is, then, a follow-on to a basically unobtainable product that heavily informs what the reader is holding. The introduction makes a game attempt to provide some of the things to watch out for, but in my opinion, it shirks some of the foundational information that gives an English-language reader the ability to enjoy the depth of the book.

Moebius diary comics from the early 2000s

For example, the story starts with Moebius struggling with a Blueberry script. Other characters of his – Arzach and Major Gruber – show up to laugh at his frustration. If you knew who any of those three characters are, congratulations for being more informed than the vast majority of Americans. A canny reader could deduce that these are fictional characters, but may not have enough contextual clues to pick up on the fact that these are existing properties and not something made up for the sake of the story. Moebius expects that you will know these things, otherwise why are you bothering to read his diary comics?

Blueberry is a character from the western comic by the same name that first brought him to public attention in the 60s and early 70s. Originally written by Jean-Michel Charlier and published episodically in Pilote magazine, Blueberry is arguably Moebius’s best known work and most commercially successful. Most of it is done under his legal name Jean Giraud. He stopped working on Blueberry in 1974 because he wanted to explore the kind of work that he was producing under the name Moebius. In effect, Blueberry is the property that he desperately wants to leave behind.

Unfortunately, we are told that an elder Moebius is struggling with the knowledge that a new Blueberry book will sell more copies than a limited edition art book like 40 Jours Dans le Desert B (although the specific title isn’t mentioned). This struggle becomes the early driver of what could charitably be described as plot.

Arzach is one of the original characters Moebius experimented with when he first started drawing comics that seemed to straddle a line between science fiction and fantasy without really caring that such a divide mattered or even existed.

Major Gruber is the main character from an early masterpiece by Moebius – Le Garage Hermétique, translated into English as The Airtight Garage. Like Inside Moebius, The Airtight Garage was composed in one to three page segments and only had a loose thematic connection holding the episodes together. This makes it difficult to summarize The Airtight Garage, but the art is fantastic. Inside Moebius shows a better degree of control, but its structure is naturally a callback to that seminal work, for those that know what to look for.

From The Airtight Garage

A younger, cockier version of Moebius, from the early 80s, shows up as well. By that point, Moebius had quit high profile jobs to go create a publishing company with his hippy artist friends, dragged into designing movies with (and without) Alejandro Jodorowsky, but had not yet drawn the Silver Surfer for Marvel, which means that he had not yet tried and failed to conquer American comics markets.

These characters mingle with the older Moebius character. They sit and chat and eat dinner together, like something out of a Fellini film. Perhaps not coincidentally, Fellini provided the introduction to the Moebius special published by Heavy Metal in 1982.

One of the most notable things about Inside Moebius is the lack of polish on the art. Moebius was well-known for working in a variety of art styles, switching back and forth between them fluently, sometimes on the same page. Fans hoping to see beautiful psychedelic illustrations are likely to be disappointed. This is Moebius enjoying the looseness of cartooning and not sweating the small stuff. In fact, if you want to learn what a master cartoonist considers to be essential lines on the page, Inside Moebius is a great textbook.

The fact that the original diaries date back to 2001 becomes obvious when Moebius comments on the events of 9/11 and has an extended conversation with Osama Bin Laden (who died a year before Moebius did). Geronimo also shows up to compare and contrast his terrorist methodologies with Bin Laden. Another character from The Airtight Garage makes an appearance as well.

Even if you have more interest in geopolitics than the antics of an old master farting around with characters you’ve never heard of before, the book contains a very entertaining take on what were, at the time, considered to be Very Serious subjects.

If you consider yourself to be a fan of Moebius, this book is an essential work that your library would be incomplete without. Part two is due out in early June. I’m very much looking forward to picking up a copy.

__________________________________________________________

Why is this here? It's a long story. Mike Rhode first introduced himself to me when I first started vending at SPX. Over the years, we've talk to each other at Comic conventions around the DC area and never quite get around to sitting down for lunch.

When I moved to Arlington two years ago, I didn't realize that Mike lived within a mile of my building. Nor did I realize that he lived next door to my girlfriend's friend from college. We also discovered, by accident that we work two buildings away from each other, because we work in adjacent organizations. The world is a very small place, sometimes.

It really feels that way when I run into Mike at the local farmer's market. Naturally, that's when I pitch him article ideas. I'm reading the entire run of Heavy Metal in public (in blog format) because I happen to own the entire run of Heavy Metal. This means that I'm engaged in an ongoing study of the magazine. In addition, I have a diverse and idiosyncratic reading list that tends towards the weird corners of comics history. Sometimes one circumstance or another results in long articles that I don't really have anyplace to put. Mike has been gracious enough to let me publish them here.

In summary: this is an article about comics from someone in the DC area.

Friday, May 18, 2018

Ignorant Bliss 70: Tom King at Fantom Comics November 2017

May 18, 2018 by Julian Lytle

https://soundcloud.com/julianlytle/ig70

http://thejulianlytle.com/podcast/IGxKingFantom.mp3

Here is the recording of the Q&A I hosted at Fantom Comics in Washington DC where I talk to my friend Eisner Award-winning writer Tom King (Mister Miracle, Batman, The Vision, Sheriff of Babylon, Omega Men). We talk about all his works at the time from the current Mister Miracle and Batman to Vision. Enjoy!

Follow my guest on social media:

https://twitter.com/TomKingTK

https://www.facebook.com/tomkingauthor

https://www.instagram.com/tomking_tk/

Amazon Author page – https://www.amazon.com/Tom-King/e/B0066F3XJS/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1524621299&sr=8-1

July 26: Mark Wheatley art on exhibit in Pittsburgh

Mark Wheatley Original Art Show at PulpFest

Scoop May 18 2018
http://scoop.previewsworld.com/Home/4/1/73/1012?ArticleID=212487

Comic Riffs talks to John Cuneo

The New Yorker's cover shows Trump playing golf through the 'swamp'

by Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog May 14 2018

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2018/05/14/the-new-yorkers-cover-shows-trump-playing-golf-through-the-swamp/

The Post on Deadpool

'Deadpool 2' is a study in … kindness? [in print as Kill with kindness: Deadpool fights against despair].

by Kristen Page-Kirby
Express May 18 2018, p. 28
online at https://www.washingtonpost.com/express/wp/2018/05/18/deadpool-2-is-a-study-in-kindness/

'Deadpool 2' is painfully self-referential. And that's why it's absolutely perfect. [in print as Deadpool's pledge: Eviscerating comedy].

by Michael O'Sullivan
Washington Post May 18 2018, p. Weekend 23
online at https://www.washingtonpost.com/goingoutguide/movies/deadpool-2-is-painfully-self-referential-and-thats-why-its-absolutely-perfect/2018/05/14/64ca087c-53f5-11e8-9c91-7dab596e8252_story.html

'Deadpool 2' does not care about your feelings. That's what makes it work.

by David Betancourt
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog May 15 2018
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2018/05/15/deadpool-2-doesnt-care-about-your-feelings-and-thats-what-makes-it-work/

Ignatz Award submissions for SPX due to Dan Stafford by June 1

From SPX's email from Dan Stafford:

I wanted to remind you that all Ignatz submissions MUST be postmarked by June 1, 2018 to be considered for consideration. That gives you two weeks! You can do it!

Here's all of the pertinent info:

1. Send six copies - five for the jurors, and one for the Library of Congress (how cool is that?)
2. Submitted work must have been published between 6/1/17 and 5/31/18
3. You must fill in this submission form (https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1rH-LJhzq8IPHGunH_M1CC1rnI9lhx17frJFDsJsOm-s/viewform?edit_requested=true) to ensure receipt and review of your work
4. All physical copies should be sent to:
Ignatz Awards
c/o Dan Stafford
5010 Quebec St.
College Park, MD 20740

All of our submissions guidelines and rules can be found at our new website, www.smallpressexpo.com

AND - I have a new email address. I am now at dan@smallpressexpo.com, so feel free to reach out with any questions/comments/concerns/compliments.

Thanks, and we can't wait to see everything!

Dan

June 6: Tom Angleberger at Politics and Prose

Tom Angleberger - Star Wars: The Mighty Chewbacca in the Forest of Fear! **In the Children & Teens Dept.

Wednesday, June 6, 7 p.m.
Politics and Prose bookstore
5015 Connecticut Ave NW

Star Wars: The Mighty Chewbacca in the Forest of Fear Cover Image

Star Wars: The Mighty Chewbacca in the Forest of Fear (Hardcover)

By Tom Angleberger, Andie Tong (Illustrator)

$13.99

ISBN: 9781368016292

Availability: Coming Soon—Pre-Order Now

Published: Disney Lucasfilm Press - May 25th, 2018

---

Note that only the writer is coming, but his wife is cartoonist Cece Bell who did the excellent book El Deafo.

About the Authors

Tom Angleberger, author of the New York Times best-selling Origami Yoda series, the Rocket and Groot series, Star Wars: The Mighty Chewbacca in the Forest of Fear!, and has been a Star Wars fan and collector since 1977. Growing up before the dawn of the VCR, Tom listened to Star Wars again and again on cassette tape. His first action figure was C-3PO and his most recent (very recent) was a sandtrooper. He lives in Virginia with his wife, author and illustrator Cece Bell. Andie Tong has worked on titles for various comic franchises, including Tron: Betrayal, Spectacular Spider-Man UK, The Batman Strikes, Smallville, Wheel of Time, TMNT, Masters of the Universe, and Starship Troopers, working for companies such as Disney, Marvel, D.C. Comics, Panini, Dark Horse, and Dynamite Entertainment, as well as commercial illustrations for numerous advertising agencies including Nike, Universal, CBS, Mattel, and Habsro. When he gets the chance, Andie concept designs for various companies, and also juggles illustration duties on a range of children's picture storybooks for Harper Collins. Malaysian born, Andie migrated to Australia at a young age, and then moved to London in 2005. In 2012, he journeyed back to Asia and currently resides in Singapore with this wife and two children.

Thursday, May 17, 2018

NPR reviews Ellen Forney's new book on mental health

In 'Rock Steady,' Ellen Forney Combines Mental Health Advice, Artistry and Wit

May 17, 2018
https://www.npr.org/2018/05/17/609367492/in-rock-steady-ellen-forney-combines-mental-health-advice-artistry-and-wit

May 24: Artist Talk: Tony Lewis, poetry inspired by Calvin & Hobbes

Artist Talk: Tony Lewis

May 24, 2018 | 6:30 pm–7:30 pm

https://hirshhorn.si.edu/event/artist-talk-tony-lewis/

Tony Lewis. Courtesy of the studio. Photo: Mark Poucher.

FREE
Get tickets
We strongly recommend claiming a ticket to ensure your seat. This program is expected to be at capacity.
Questions? Email Hirshhornexperience@si.edu
Hirshhorn Members, email HMSGdevelopment@si.edu

Tony Lewis is part of an exciting generation of artists working to collapse the boundaries between different art forms. He has quickly established himself in the contemporary art world by forming a distinct visual vocabulary that integrates poetry and text with the properties of abstraction. His monochromatic drawings pull from various visual and written sources, ranging from the personal to the political. Separating, rearranging, and erasing text, he shifts the way we read to open up new and unexpected meanings.

His current installation, Anthology 2014–2016, is comprised of thirty-four original collage-poems inspired by his favorite childhood comic book, Calvin and Hobbes, which the artist says was "a literary and artistic savior growing up in the '90s."

Lewis will join the Hirshhorn in conversation to delve into his practice of writing through drawing. He will discuss the inspiration for Anthology and how he deconstructed hundreds of comic strips, reordered them, and ultimately shaped them into poems through a process of erasing, editing, and rearranging dialogue to explore the collaborative nature of creativity and authorship, leaving meaning open to a range of interpretations.

Details

Date:: May 24, 2018
Time:: 6:30 pm–7:30 pm
Event Category:: Artist Talk

Organizer

Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden
Phone:: 202-633-1000
Email:: hmsgevents@si.edu
Website:: hirshhorn.si.edu

Wednesday, May 16, 2018

Tom Wolfe, cartoon collector

The Washington Post published an obituary of Tom Wolfe today. In the print edition of the paper, and in Ron Charles' video commentary, is a picture of Wolfe in his apartment in 1998. On one side of an archway is a cover of Simplicissimus, a pre-WWII German satirical magazine. On the other side is a comic strip, two pages of a comic book, and several caricatures, one of which looks to be Wolfe done by David Levine. You can see the image here -http://wvtf.org/post/listen-legacy-tom-wolfe

If anyone else can figure out the rest of the comics, let me know.

Tuesday, May 15, 2018

Margot "Lois Lane" Kidder obituary in today's Post

Margot Kidder, who played Lois Lane in blockbuster 'Superman,' dies at 69 [in print as Margot Kidder, 69; Actress flew to fame as reporter Lois Lane].

By Adam Bernstein May 15 2018 p. B6
online at https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/margot-kidder-who-played-lois-lane-in-blockbuster-superman-dies-at-69/2018/05/14/918ddebc-5795-11e8-b656-a5f8c2a9295d_story.html

From the Vault of Artleytoons

Given recent events, thought I'd reprise this not-so-ancient cartoon from a few months earlier (click on image for larger view.

See more recent work by Steve Artley at Artleytoons.

Flugennock's Latest'n'Greatest: "Bipartisanship No. 2"

From Mike Flugennock, DC's only anarchist cartoonist:

"Bipartisanship No. 2"
http://sinkers.org/stage/?p=2516

So, anyway, just so we're clear on this... the GOP are worried that defense contractors will lose their jobs if we aren't bombing Syria (or Yemen, or Iran); the Democrats are still "resisting" their weak little asses off, but when it comes to Syria "there's no one more red, white and blue", as ol' Phil Ochs says.

There, done.

Monday, May 14, 2018

Glen Weldon on Fandom Files podcast

Superman's legacy & what superheroes mean to culture, with Glen Weldon

Jordan Zakarin

Fandom Files podcast April 16, 2018
https://rss.art19.com/episodes/ad4634bf-78a1-4bc9-8004-b4bd22cc4d50.mp3

The Fandom Files is joined by Glen Weldon, the author, NPR contributor and all-around geek expert. Weldon talks to us about the history of Superman — it's the Man of Steel's 80th birthday! — and what Zach Snyder got wrong. Plus, we talk about Batman, Star Wars, and the highs and lows of geek culture as pop culture. All this and more in this episode of The Fandom Files! Follow us on Twitter: @FandomFilesSYFY! (Photo from Batman/Superman #14, 2014)

June 26: Scholastic Graphix writer Tui Sutherland at Poitics and Prose

Tui Sutherland - The Lost Continent: Wings of Fire Book 11 ** in the Children & Teens Dept.

Tuesday, June 26, 2018 - 7 p.m.

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

Politics and Prose bookstore

5015 Connecticut Ave NW Washington DC 20008

Sunday, May 13, 2018

That darn Candorville, Mark Trail and Judge Parker

Letters to the Editor

Don't make fun of homeless people [in print as Stripped of everything].

Ann Rudd, Arlington

Washington Post May 12 2018

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/dont-make-fun-of-homeless-people/2018/05/11/0e843184-532a-11e8-a6d4-ca1d035642ce_story.html

'Mark Trail' and 'Judge Parker' have jumped the shark [in print as Next time on 'Mark Trail': Literal shark-jumping].

Melissa Yorks, Gaithersburg

Washington Post May 12 2018

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/mark-trail-and-judge-parker-have-jumped-the-shark/2018/05/11/7014e8e0-5324-11e8-a6d4-ca1d035642ce_story.html

Friday, May 11, 2018

NPR's Monkey See on 'Rocky And Bullwinkle'

New 'Rocky And Bullwinkle' Is Something We Hope You'll Really Like

NPR's Monkey See blog May 11, 2018
https://www.npr.org/sections/monkeysee/2018/05/11/609060876/new-rocky-and-bullwinkle-is-something-we-hope-you-ll-really-like

Spike Trotman, formerly of Potomac, MD, profiled in Chicago

Iron Circus Comics brings diversity to the comic book market

Cheryl V. Jackson
RedEye Chicago April 5 2018
http://www.chicagotribune.com/redeye/culture/ct-redeye-c2e2-iron-circus-comics-20180326-story.html

Josh Kramer on school gun violence in The Nib

An Education in Gun Violence

Josh Kramer

The Nib May 11 2018

https://thenib.com/an-education-in-gun-violence

Thursday, May 10, 2018

Comic Riffs report on Ward Sutton's Herblock address

Herblock Prize winner believes cartoon humor can help bridge a nation's differences

by Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog May 10 2018
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2018/05/10/herblock-prize-winner-believes-cartoon-humor-can-help-bridge-a-nations-differences/

'Washington History' magazine now has comics

The newest issue of the semi-annual Washington History magazine, published by the Historical Society of Washington, D.C., includes a new comics feature called "Another Look" by ... me (Matt Dembicki)! "Combustible" is the inaugural story about Mayor Walter Washington's leadership during the 1968 riots.

Below is a photo of the page as well as one of me (left) and editor Chris Myers Asch at the release gathering Wednesday at the National Building Museum.

Herblock award photos by Bruce Guthrie online

Ward Sutton was presented with the Herblock award last night at the Library of Congress and Bruce Guthrie got photos.

Presentation:
http://www.bguthriephotos.com/graphlib.nsf/keys/2018_05_09B1_SuttonP

Everything else (mostly reception):
http://www.bguthriephotos.com/graphlib.nsf/keys/2018_05_09C_SuttonR

Wednesday, May 09, 2018

Cavna talks to Ward Sutton

2018 Herblock Prize winner is inspired by his forebears — and enraged by Trump

by Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog May 9 2018
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2018/05/09/2018-herblock-prize-winner-is-inspired-by-his-forebears-and-enraged-by-trump/

Comic Riffs on the changing world of editorial cartoons

Here's why 2018 is a huge moment in the history of political cartoons

by Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog May 9 2018
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2018/05/09/heres-why-2018-is-a-huge-moment-in-the-history-of-political-cartoons/

Avengers review by local writer Harrison Blackman

The manipulative storytelling of 'The Avengers: Infinity War'

How formulaic scenes, jokes, and a stunning finish distract from the blockbuster's narrative deficiencies

Harrison Blackman

is a writer from the Washington, D.C. region. He writes often about film, storytelling, and cities. Learn more at www.harrisonblackman.com/.

Apr 28 2018

https://medium.com/@harrisonblackman/the-manipulative-storytelling-of-the-avengers-infinity-war-bd73cd2c32cb

Tuesday, May 08, 2018

William L. Brown's Weekly News Drawing: Irantrum

Local cartoonist/illustrator William L. Brown issues a weekly, wordless commentary.

Monday, May 07, 2018

Hookah Girl out from MD's Rosarium

Now out - The Hookah Girl and Other True Stories! [

Where to find it:

In this current political climate, being a Palestinian is a hazard. However, there are common grounds where East meets West. The Hookah Girl is a semi-autobiographical graphic novel of a childhood as a Christian Palestinian in America. Told in short stories and with narrative ranging from growing up in a refugee family to how to roll waraq (stuffed grape leaves), this book is an account of living in two seemingly different cultures that actually aren't very different at all.

Keep an eye out for our creators at these events!

TCAF - Rosarium will be tabling, and Whit Taylor will be there! May 12-13th, Toronto

May 26th, 7pm, Bluestockings Bookstore in NYC, Marguerite Dabaie will be reading from The Hookah Girl and Other True Stories

Rosarians in the wild!

We presented at the Westover Branch of the Arlington Central Library on "Beyond Marvel and DC: Comics and Graphic Novels"! Thanks for the opportunity, Arlington Library!