Saturday, December 15, 2018
Gypsy Omnibus review
During the late 1990s and early 2000s, Heavy Metal ran six stories by Thierry Smolderen and Enrico Marini. The first of these, titled The Gypsy Star, was an immediate hit and was followed by the rest of the series over almost the course of a decade.
The art was the obvious draw of the story. Realistic, with an obvious manga influence, Marini could provide a cartoon flip to his line when it was necessary. The color scheme usually balanced a very orange red and a cool blue. The sequential storytelling was often clever and made for a compulsively readable feature.
The main character is called The Gypsy in the first series and Tsaigoi thereafter. He drives his eighteen wheel truck across a futuristic highway that spans the world. Sometimes he’s with his sister, sometimes he’s with other family members, and sometimes he’s alone. It’s a Mad Max setup with an unfortunate ethnic label and none of the pesky fuel shortage limitations.
Tsaigoi is an enthusiastic participant in capitalism. All of the stories are about him driving his truck through a problem area and getting caught up in local events, to his dismay. In every case, the stakes of the story are commercial in nature. And when it is called for, Tsaigoi will strap on his guns and take the fight to the people standing in the way of him getting his product to his customers.
Easily the best of these stories is a yarn about a caper in Germany during the final World Cup game between Germany and France. Germany loses badly due to a penalty shot 45 seconds into the game. Much comedy is made from this state of affairs and, in the end, Tsaigoi’s commercial instincts prove to be very very solid.
Tsaigoi is also a lover. I’m happy to report that every one of his sexual encounters (roughly one per story) is consensual. There is one problematic scene with a parapalegic woman, and one of the main characters is introduced by showing him running away from a giant man who wants to rape him. The way the character is drawn, he could be anywhere from a boy to his early teens. For the most part, though, it’s wholesome entertainment.
It is not difficult to find out what issues of Heavy Metal these originally appeared in, nor is it difficult to purchase them. The new Omnibus Edition of the six stories is, however, a much nicer product than the random handful of issues. It’s a hardback edition with a very nice slipcase. The extras are nice as well – a map of the world, showing the route of the highway, along with several pages of production art and sketches. It's the first thing I've seen from Insight Comics and its a handsome debut. The European edition must have recently been published.
The only real flaw in the production of the Omnibus is the title of the introduction. Dan Panosian remembers Gypsy from the pages of Heavy Metal and references a catchphrase saying that the main character utters when he is surprised or frustrated – “Dracu!” Except in the new translation for this edition, Dracu has been printed as Dracs.
Printed together like this, it is easy to see how well Marini’s art matured over the course of the series. The early stories have a sketchier aspect to the line weights, but the later stories are much more confident. The color got better as well – it’s almost as if the technology improved during the same period as the original publication.
Gypsy is a pretty solid action adventure comic. The creators did their best in the later stories to lean into the skid on the problematic name, but they were stuck with it. If you can get past that, you should be able to relax into the ultraviolence and over the top slapstick of it all. And if you can do that, there is a good chance you'll be very entertained indeed.
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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, December 14, 2018
The Post on the business of the Spider-Man animated movie
'Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse' could change the game for Hollywood's two biggest genres [in print as Animated 'Spider-Man' movie could be a game changer].
Dec 15: Mohammad Sabsaaneh art at Palestine Ctr (DC) gathering & live auction!
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Jan 9-10: Brad Meltzer in the area
#2: Meet Brad Meltzer- Washington, DC
- Thursday, January 10, 2019 at 12 PM – 2 PM
- The National Archives, 700 Constitution Ave NW, Washington, DC 20408
Thursday, December 13, 2018
DC's Forensic Sciences Dept does a comic book annual report
For Its Annual Report, One D.C. Agency Got Comically Creative
Dueling Tariff Man comic strips in major metropolitan newspapers
Tariff Man: An Origin Story
Illustrations by Paul Hoppe
The New York Times (December 13 2018
online at https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2018/12/12/business/economy/tariff-man-origin-story.html
Gallery Al-Quds Artist Talk with Mohammad Sabaaneh
Dec 15: Mohammad Sabsaaneh art at Palestine Ctr (DC) gathering & live auction!
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Wednesday, December 12, 2018
Editorial Cartoon by artleytoons
Tuesday, December 11, 2018
New book from Vanessa Bettencourt, formerly of Alexandria
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GW Magazine on Chris Burnhan's Batman
Life After a Dark Knight
Comic book artist Chris Burnham, BA '00, spent two years drawing Batman. It wasn't as glamorous as he imagined, but it led somewhere big: making a comic with 'Walking Dead' creator Robert Kirkman.
Story by Matthew Stoss
Photos by Kent Nishimura
Pat Oliphant at WHHA Holiday Book Fair yesterday
Comic Riffs on Nick Anderson's five-year-long drawing of a Bush obituary cartoon
A cartoonist finally finished his tribute to George H.W. Bush — by working with the paper that fired him
Comic Riffs reviews new Spider-Man animated movie
'Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse' is a stunning animated achievement that lives up to the hype
Jan 16: DC Anime Club To Host Free Screening of Dragonball Super The Movie Broly
CONTACT: Chris Wanamaker, (202) 262 2083 president@dcanimeclub.org
DC Anime Club To Host Free Screening of Dragonball Super The Movie Broly
THIS EVENT IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE.
DC Anime Club will be hosting a free screening of Dragonball Super The Movie Broly on January 16, 2019 7pm at Georgetown 14 3111 K St NW, Washington, DC 20007 in Auditorium 14. Doors open at 6pm. This event will be by Nerds for Nerds. Seating is on a first come first serve basis so please arrive as early as possible. Cosplay(Costume play) is encouraged as long as you do not wear a mask or bring any prop weapons. All Attendees have to do is show up and enjoy the movie.
Station(Blue Line)
This event is free and open to the public.
For more information please contact:
president@dcanimeclub.org.
(202) 262-2083 (phone)
Be sure to follow DC Anime Club on the following sites.
Website: www.dcanimeclub.org
Facebook Fanpage https://www.facebook.com/DCAnimeClub/
Facebook Group page https://www.facebook.com/groups/DCAnimeClub/
Twitter https://twitter.com/DCAnimeClub
Meetup https://www.meetup.com/DC-Anime-Club/
About DC Anime Club:
DCAC was established in 2003 to introduce and educate people in the Washington, DC area about East Asian culture, through viewing and discussion of Japanese animation (also known as anime) and Japanese comics (manga). DCAC is a 501(c)(3) not for profit organization, contributions to DC Anime Club are taxed deductible to the extent allowable under the law.
The club also works to provide a positive, alternative activity to the youth in the area by exposing them to foreign culture, encouraging artistic expression and creativity, and providing opportunities for participation in community activities and leadership.
In addition to our bi-weekly meetings, the club holds an Annual Art Show, an Annual Costume fundraising event, and visits local schools to do presentations on anime. The club also works with the Smithsonian Freer Gallery and DC Asian Pacific American Film Festival on their anime screenings, and has helped locally promote performances for Japanese bands such as Puffy Ami Yumi and Pine am. DC Anime Club was founded by Chris Wanamaker (President), Jules
Chang (Former Vice President) and Craig Vaughn (Vice President) on Saturday June 5, 2003. We have a strong membership that continues to grow -- most of which are teenagers.
Cavna's comics journalism on The Post's first woman journalist
Can you name the first woman hired as a Post reporter? Here's a pioneer's tale.
Monday, December 10, 2018
GW Magazine on Chris Burnhan's Batman
Life After a Dark Knight
Comic book artist Chris Burnham, BA '00, spent two years drawing Batman. It wasn't as glamorous as he imagined, but it led somewhere big: making a comic with 'Walking Dead' creator Robert Kirkman.
Story by Matthew Stoss
Photos by Kent Nishimura
Matt Wuerker on Voice of America
Editorial Cartoons Pack Powerful Messages
Sunday, December 09, 2018
Dec 10: Pat Oliphant at White House Historical Association
December 10th, 11AM – 6:30PM
Featuring Special Guest, "President Thomas Jefferson"
Book Signings with Authors
Food and Drink by Former White House Chef Roland Mesnier, interactive exhibits, music and more!
November 1, 2018 (Washington, D.C.) – The White House Historical Association is pleased to announce its upcoming Holiday Book Fair, a full day of holiday shopping and festivities with 12 authors available to sign copies of their award-winning books. A full range of White House inspired gifts including the 2018 Official White House Ornament, will be available for purchase in addition to books.
Since 1962, the White House Historical Association has published books on the history of the White House—covering topics such as architecture, gardens, fine and decorative arts, food, and presidential families. Authors include former White House staffers, historians, political cartoonists, and scholars from diverse fields.
The 2018 Holiday Book Fair will feature:
· Book signings with award-winning authors
· Special Guest: "President Thomas Jefferson" will share memories and unique insights on his life and history of the White House (as portrayed by Bill Barker of Colonial Williamsburg)
· Former White House Pastry Chef Roland Mesnier will serve his authentic White House Eggnog and discuss creating pastries for significant White House events under five presidents
· Pulitzer-Prize winning political cartoonist Pat Oliphant will sign copies of our recent White House History Quarterly: Political Cartoons and the White House, which features his drawing on the cover.
· Examples of President Obama's presidential china on display and former White House Curator William Allman, author of Official White House China, will be available to answer questions.
· Artist John Hutton will demonstrate "How to Draw the Presidents"
· Raffle of original John Hutton drawings created during the 2018 Easter Egg Roll and as seen in The White House Easter Egg Roll: A History for All Ages
· Jonathan Pliska, Author of A Garden for the President, will discuss his collection of heirloom seeds, which match those purchased for the earliest White House gardens.
· Author Osborne Mackie will discuss examples of a rarely seen artifacts in the Decatur House collection, which will be on display in connection with our recently released book, The Stephen Decatur House: A History
· Artist Peter Waddell discusses his painting, Thomas Jefferson in His Study with the president himself (as portrayed by Bill Barker of Colonial Williamsburg)
· Live music!
WHEN: Monday, December 10, 2018; 11AM—6:30PM
WHERE: 1610 H St., N.W. Washington D.C., 20009
All books are available at shop.whitehousehistory.org
About The White House Historical Association
First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy envisioned a restored White House that conveyed a sense of history through its decorative and fine arts. In 1961, the White House Historical Association was established to support her vision to preserve and share the Executive Mansion's legacy for generations to come. Supported entirely by private resources, the Association's mission is to assist in the preservation of the state and public rooms, fund acquisitions for the White House permanent collection, and educate the public on the history of the White House. Since its founding, the White House Historical Association has contributed more than $47 million in fulfillment of its mission. To learn more about the White House Historical Association, please visit www.whitehousehistory.org.
Thursday, December 06, 2018
Lost Art Books' Mitzi McCoy book on Wordballoon podcast
Anatomy Of A Comic Strip With Brian Collins
December 06, 2018
Tuesday, December 04, 2018
Former local cartoonist Ronald Wimberly in the New Yorker
In His LAAB Experiment, Ronald Wimberly Plays with Dynamite
Monday, December 03, 2018
Kofi Tyus featured in AFRO and exhibits
AFRO Editorial Cartoonist's Work on Display in D.C.
By Renee Foose, Special to the AFRO
Flugennock's Latest'n'Greatest: "...or Democracy Gets It!"
http://sinkers.org/stage/?p=2646
Apropos of nothing, I suppose... just coming up for air after wrapping up a big-ass fun design gig for a friend's cannabis start-up that's launching next year – and seeing all the Donuts on Twitter, bitching about all the Leftists who aren't voting Democratic, and often staying home altogether.
In case you haven't noticed, the smell of 2020 is already in the air – the Left-punching Donut accounts are out punching the Left, the Sanders-punching Donuts are out punching Bernie, and they're all out pimping the Democratic Party because... democracy. Basically, if you're not voting Democratic, you hate Democracy™.
The Donuts are all real gung-ho for the exercise of democracy n'shit, but then when you actually vote your values, like vote Green or Socialist or something – that is, actually participate in friggin' democracy – they get their panties in a twist because you didn't vote for the goddamn Democrat, even though the Democrat in the race also sucked on toast.
12x9 inch medium-res color .jpg image, 786kb
Sunday, December 02, 2018
Comic Riffs on Marshall Ramsey's George Bush obituary cartoon
How this emotional George H.W. Bush cartoon went viral — touching even his family
Rafer Roberts interviewed for PreviewsWorld
Roberts And Norton Team Up For Magical Mayhem In 'Grumble'
Dec 02, 2018