Thursday, November 21, 2019
P.S. Magazine ended as printed comic in 2017, ends as digital comic book in 2019
by Mike Rhode
While looking for information on military educational comic books, I went to a couple of websites for the P.S. Magazine, the Will Eisner-created longtime Army preventive maintenance publication.
While looking for information on military educational comic books, I went to a couple of websites for the P.S. Magazine, the Will Eisner-created longtime Army preventive maintenance publication.
The Army said that they ended publication of the print version in 2017:
"A World War II publication, Army Motors, which used a few cartoon characters to discuss maintenance problems, became the model for a new publication. In June 1951, the first issue of PS Magazine was published using the cartoon format. The Army technical bulletin transitioned to an all-digital format in June 2017, publishing its 775th edition -- the last to run in print."
The Defense Visual Information Distribution Service (DVIDS) says that the electronic issue version will end this month with #804:
" Effective 1 Nov 2019, PS will cease publication of its monthly, illustrated magazine and move to a fully-online information resource. To read PS Magazine after 1 Nov 2019, visit www.psmagazine.army.mil. A quarterly compilation of articles appearing on its website will be made available on DVIDS."
Currently issues from 1999-2019 can be downloaded at the magazine's site at https://www.logsa.army.mil/#/psmag
Historical issues from 1951-2018 can be downloaded here.
Historical issues from 1951-2018 can be downloaded here.
Wednesday, November 20, 2019
Fluggenock's Latest'n'Greatest: "Next Year's Model"
From DC's anarchist cartoonist, Mike Flugennock:
"Next Year's Model"
http://sinkers.org/stage/?p=2873
Here's a fun factoid for you: at least 70% of Earth's lithium reserves are in Bolivia — you know lithium, the stuff that's in the batteries in your phone, your laptop, your trendy electric car...?
Quite a happenstance for the US-backed fascist coupmongers there, huh?
----
"Bolivia, with huge untapped reserves, gears up for soaring lithium demand", Agencie France-Presse, 09.14.19
https://news.yahoo.com/bolivia-huge-untapped-reserves-gears-soaring-lithium-demand-013650510.html
"Bolivia's lithium boom: dream or nightmare?" Open Democracy, 12.21.15
https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/democraciaabierta/bolivia-s-lithium-boom-dream-or-nightmare/
"After Morales ousted in coup, the lithium question looms large in
Bolivia" Popular Resistance, 11.18.19
https://popularresistance.org/after-morales-ousted-in-coup-the-lithium-question-looms-large-in-bolivia/
http://sinkers.org/stage/?p=2873
Here's a fun factoid for you: at least 70% of Earth's lithium reserves are in Bolivia — you know lithium, the stuff that's in the batteries in your phone, your laptop, your trendy electric car...?
Quite a happenstance for the US-backed fascist coupmongers there, huh?
----
"Bolivia, with huge untapped reserves, gears up for soaring lithium demand", Agencie France-Presse, 09.14.19
https://news.yahoo.com/bolivia-huge-untapped-reserves-gears-soaring-lithium-demand-013650510.html
"Bolivia's lithium boom: dream or nightmare?" Open Democracy, 12.21.15
https://www.opendemocracy.net/en/democraciaabierta/bolivia-s-lithium-boom-dream-or-nightmare/
"After Morales ousted in coup, the lithium question looms large in
Bolivia" Popular Resistance, 11.18.19
https://popularresistance.org/after-morales-ousted-in-coup-the-lithium-question-looms-large-in-bolivia/
Rosarium's Bill Campbell interviewed at More to Come
More To Come 399: Bill Campbell Interview
PW Comics World: More To Come 11/15/2019
This week on More to Come, Calvin Reid interviews Bill Campbell, founder/publisher of Rosarium Publishing and an author in his own right. They discuss Rosarium's list of graphic novels and science fiction, and its diverse list of authors; and Campbell's efforts writing 'Baaaad Muthaz' (with art by David Brame), a new graphic novel inspired by 1970s black American pop culture; as well as the issues facing black publishers in independent publishing.
Al Goodwyn's editorial cartoon newsletter
A new issue of Al Goodwyn's editorial cartoon newsletter has come out. It's really an email product, but you can see it here.
Tuesday, November 19, 2019
Nov 23: Jared Krosoczka in Leesbburg for 1book 1community finale this Saturday
Loudoun County Public Library | 102 North St. NW, Leesburg, VA 20176
On the passing of longtime Baltimore Sun cartoonist Mike Lane
Dan Rodricks writes about his editorial cartoonist colleague.
https://danrodricks.com/2019/11/18/on-the-passing-of-cartoonist-mike-lane/
Monday, November 18, 2019
Disney streaming warns against its own animation
Disney Plus warns of 'outdated cultural depictions' in some films. That's not enough, experts say. [in print as Disney Plus warnings of bias, bigotry: Sufficient?]
Washington Post November 18, 2019: C1-2
The Post talks to Watchmen's Looking Glass
'Watchmen' actor Tim Blake Nelson reflects on the 'unspeakable trauma' of Looking Glass's youth
Washington Post November 18, 2019
11/21-24: Gareth Hinds at NCTE in Baltimore
| from his newsletter: ALSO next weekend, in Baltimore, is the fabulous National Council of Teachers of English annual conference -- my favorite show of the year! Alison and I will be there all weekend, and I hope some of you will too. Here's where and when to find me: Thursday 11/21 at 9:30am - panel on re-imagining the classics with Madeline Miller (Circe) and David Elliott (Bull) - get there bright and early for this one, it's going to be great! Session # A.38, Room 347. Fri 11/22 - Sun 11/24 - Exhibit Hall, Booth 734, pretty much all weekend, except for lunch breaks. |
Sunday, November 17, 2019
Flugennock's Latest'n'Greatest: "The Bible Returns to the Palace"
From DC's anarchist cartoonist, Mike Flugennock -
"The Bible Returns To The Palace"
http://sinkers.org/stage/?p=2868
Judging from the torrent of racist, religious fundamentalist howling coming from Bolivia's new imaginary president, it looks as if the US-backed fascist junta in Bolivia are using the same standard procedure as when the Spanish first showed up — steal the land, plunder the resources, slaughter the indigenous people and claim that god is on your side.
-------------------
"'The Bible returns to the Palace,' says the new self-declared president of Bolivia, Jeanine Áñez, in a shot against indigenous communities." Waleed Shahid @_waleedshahid on Twitter 11.13.19
https://twitter.com/_waleedshahid/status/1194658741054050305
"What do we know about Jeanine Áñez Chávez?" Buenos Aires Times, 11.16.19
https://www.batimes.com.ar/news/latin-america/what-do-we-know-about-jeanine-anez-chavez.phtml
"The Bible Returns To The Palace"
http://sinkers.org/stage/?p=2868
Judging from the torrent of racist, religious fundamentalist howling coming from Bolivia's new imaginary president, it looks as if the US-backed fascist junta in Bolivia are using the same standard procedure as when the Spanish first showed up — steal the land, plunder the resources, slaughter the indigenous people and claim that god is on your side.
-------------------
"'The Bible returns to the Palace,' says the new self-declared president of Bolivia, Jeanine Áñez, in a shot against indigenous communities." Waleed Shahid @_waleedshahid on Twitter 11.13.19
https://twitter.com/_waleedshahid/status/1194658741054050305
"What do we know about Jeanine Áñez Chávez?" Buenos Aires Times, 11.16.19
https://www.batimes.com.ar/news/latin-america/what-do-we-know-about-jeanine-anez-chavez.phtml
Cavna reflecting on Peanuts reflections
Examining the many facets of 'Peanuts,' a comic-strip gem [in print as Examining the many facets of a comic-strip gem].
Republicans stealing from the Simpsons... again
First the candidate... now his defense....
One of the defenses of Trump is — literally — a TV-cartoon joke [in print as One GOP impeachment talking point is - literally - a cartoon joke I wrote]
That darn Mark Trail, Mutts, and Beetle Bailey
The abominable dragon
Johannah Barry, Falls Church
Washington Post November 16 2019
Good breeding in 'Mutts'
Lydia Maggiora Walter, Alexandria
Washington Post November 16 2019
An entrenched problem
Robert Baylor, Fairfax
Saturday, November 16, 2019
Tamba, Child Soldier
by RM Rhodes
One of the appeals of the French comics industry is the sheer variety of genres that are available on offer. English-speaking comics publishers like NBM have been translating comics originally printed in French for decades for exactly this reason. For its part, the English-speaking audience has responded well what the French call Reportage - comics based on real events that straddle the line between non and fiction. Books like Tamba, Child Soldier by Marion Achard and Yann Degruel.
The creators deliberately chose to not identify a single nation in this book because the practice of using children as soldiers is so widespread that people could identify it pretty much everywhere. To that end, the story's visuals rely on the cultural similarities across the continent, presenting an anonymized landscape filled with generic people for the main characters to wander through. This is a good thing.
The story that the main characters tell is horrific - the book's title lets you know exactly what you're going to get. The art does a great job servicing a harrowing story, which starts with the main character telling his story to a tribunal of some kind. It's easy to tell the flashbacks from the interrogation because the flashbacks use a full color palate, while the interrogation panels have a muted, monochrome color.
Given the weight of the subject matter, having such clear, non-challenging art that communicates scene transitions so subtlety really allows the experience of the main characters take center stage and just exist. The life of a child soldier is heavy enough that it needs no extraneous embellishment, which might have been a temptation in more commercial-minded hands. Fortunately, the French language comics industry is robust enough that not everything has to meet a hypothetical set of arbitrary requirements merely to be considered by the marketplace.
Both the writer and artist are white, which is interesting because they managed to produce a book with almost no white characters. In fact, the only white people in the entire story are silent, unnamed Non-Government Organization (NGO) workers, who are referenced as the bellwether for how dangerous things really are. They show up on half a page near the end of the book, barely have faces and, if you blink, you might miss them.
Marion Achard was a circus performer and wrote several novels before writing this graphic novel. Yann Degruel, the artist, is well known for his children's books, which makes him an interesting choice to illustrate a book about child soldiers.
If you have a deep and abiding interest in the issue of child soldiers, this is absolutely the book for you. There are a trio of short essays in the back of the book about the topic, with URLs for sites that will give you more information. If you are even marginally interested in the issue, this book will absolutely convince you it should be addressed.
Tamba, Child Soldier by Marion Achard and Yann Degruel will be published by NBM in December 2019. https://nbmpub.com/
__________________________________________________________
ComicsDC received a free review copy of this book from NBM.
One of the appeals of the French comics industry is the sheer variety of genres that are available on offer. English-speaking comics publishers like NBM have been translating comics originally printed in French for decades for exactly this reason. For its part, the English-speaking audience has responded well what the French call Reportage - comics based on real events that straddle the line between non and fiction. Books like Tamba, Child Soldier by Marion Achard and Yann Degruel.
The creators deliberately chose to not identify a single nation in this book because the practice of using children as soldiers is so widespread that people could identify it pretty much everywhere. To that end, the story's visuals rely on the cultural similarities across the continent, presenting an anonymized landscape filled with generic people for the main characters to wander through. This is a good thing.
The story that the main characters tell is horrific - the book's title lets you know exactly what you're going to get. The art does a great job servicing a harrowing story, which starts with the main character telling his story to a tribunal of some kind. It's easy to tell the flashbacks from the interrogation because the flashbacks use a full color palate, while the interrogation panels have a muted, monochrome color.
Given the weight of the subject matter, having such clear, non-challenging art that communicates scene transitions so subtlety really allows the experience of the main characters take center stage and just exist. The life of a child soldier is heavy enough that it needs no extraneous embellishment, which might have been a temptation in more commercial-minded hands. Fortunately, the French language comics industry is robust enough that not everything has to meet a hypothetical set of arbitrary requirements merely to be considered by the marketplace.
Both the writer and artist are white, which is interesting because they managed to produce a book with almost no white characters. In fact, the only white people in the entire story are silent, unnamed Non-Government Organization (NGO) workers, who are referenced as the bellwether for how dangerous things really are. They show up on half a page near the end of the book, barely have faces and, if you blink, you might miss them.
Marion Achard was a circus performer and wrote several novels before writing this graphic novel. Yann Degruel, the artist, is well known for his children's books, which makes him an interesting choice to illustrate a book about child soldiers.
If you have a deep and abiding interest in the issue of child soldiers, this is absolutely the book for you. There are a trio of short essays in the back of the book about the topic, with URLs for sites that will give you more information. If you are even marginally interested in the issue, this book will absolutely convince you it should be addressed.
Tamba, Child Soldier by Marion Achard and Yann Degruel will be published by NBM in December 2019. https://nbmpub.com/
__________________________________________________________
ComicsDC received a free review copy of this book from NBM.
Friday, November 15, 2019
PR: Tomorrow! Metal writer Scott Snyder & Darth Vader writer Charles Soule sign at Third Eye Annapolis!
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