| ||||||
| ||||||
|
Wednesday, May 19, 2021
PR: NoVa's Sal Buscema on a new comic book for a new company
Tuesday, May 18, 2021
Cavna talks to webcartoonist KC Green
The 'This Is Fine' dog is back. And his creator wants to show he's more than a meme. [ KC Green, "Funny Online Animals"]
That darn Clay Jones
Israel-Palestine Cartoon Sends Clay Jones to Facebook Jail
Monday, May 17, 2021
Flugennock's Latest'n'Greatest: "Mow The Lawn"
"Mow The Lawn"
http://sinkers.org/stage/?p=3224
So, the other day I'm doomscrolling the news from Gaza, and I stumbled over this 8 year-old Truthout article that somebody dug up and tweeted. The callousness of Washington foreign-policy think tanks — and the Israeli general public — is perversely spectacular:
"Israeli hardliners joke about the periodic need to decimate each new generation of Palestinian militants as "mowing the grass," a process underway
again in new bombardments of Gaza. This ugly metaphor has also penetrated the think-tank world of Official Washington, as ex-CIA analyst Elizabeth Murray learned:
In early 2010, one of Washington DC's most prestigious think
tanks was holding a seminar on the Middle East which included a discussion of Israel's December 2008- January 2009 assault on Gaza which killed about 1,300 Palestinians. When the death toll was mentioned, one expert on the panel smiled enigmatically and intoned: 'It's unfortunate, but every once in a while you have to mow the lawn'."
----------
"Likening Palestinians to Blades of Grass", Elizabeth Murray,
Consortium News, in Truthout 11.17.2012
https://truthout.org/articles/likening-palestinians-to-blades-of-grass/
Mike Flugennock, Political Cartoons: http://www.sinkers.org/stage
and follow me on Mastodon at https://mastodon.social/@flugennock
On the passing of comics scholar Tom Inge
Sports cartoons found at estate sale - Christy Walsh and Morris Scott
I grew up in the tail end of the life of the sports cartoon. Bill Gallo was still at the NY Daily News, and the local Bergen Record had a sports cartoonist. By now, the field is mostly gone, but as Eddie Campbell has written about it, in its heyday, it launched the careers of many a cartoonist.
This past weekend I found an original sports cartoon and a pritnted comic strip at an estate sale.
The original cartoon is by Christy Walsh, a failed sports cartoonist. However, Michael Cavna, of the Washington Post, used to be a sports cartoonist himself and he put me on the track of finding out Walsh was the Kevin Bacon of his day and knew everybody. He might have not been a great cartoonist, but he became a fantastic sports agent and syndicator and became a rich man, representing Babe Ruth and others. (UPDATE 5/26/2021: I gave this to the Library of Congress' Prints & Photos division)
 | |
| Blue, All-American First Baseman, 1923 |
Comics historian Steven Rowe tells me "Blue is wearing a cap with what seems to be the letter D.
Since Lu Blue played first base for Detroit in 1923, Blue is indeed likely to be Lu Blue."
The other item is a clipping of a comic strip about the World's Series in baseball by Morris Scott from the Boston Post, October 8, 1913. The New York Giants are facing the Philadelphia Athletics.* I've cleaned the image up; the original is perfectly legible, but yellowed from being displayed for years.
Two crack comics historians helped out with tracking this bit of history. Rodrigo Baeza provided me with the artist identification, and Art Lortie found a couple of the articles that Rodrigo suggested from Newspaper.com. Here's 3 items about Morris Scott, who appears to have died rather young, as well as another comic strip from 1918.
*Rod Beck sent in the following bit of baseball history - "Frank Baker (shown on the back of the elephant) was known as Home Run Baker. The year 1913 was in what is called The Dead Ball Era. Baker led the American League in home runs from 1911 thru 1914 with 11,12,10 and 9 homers respectively. The Philadelphia Athletics beat the New York Giants 4 games to 1 to win the 1913 series."
 |
| Boston Post March 3, 1918 |
 |
| Obituary, BP Dec 5, 1922 |
 |
| "Scott with Squad," BP March 3 1918 |
 |
| Funeral, BP Dec 7, 1922 |
June 4: Miles Morales panel
|
|
|
PR: Baltimore Comic-Con 2021 is a GO!
 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Saturday, May 15, 2021
That darn Jeff Danziger
This picture needed 1,000 words [Jeff Danziger]
Friday, May 14, 2021
Flugennock's Latest'n'Greatest: "Panic Buying"
"Panic Buying"
http://sinkers.org/stage/?p=3220
The Colonial Pipeline hack attack caused gas shortages all around the US, sparking massive amounts of mindless — and straight-up stupid — panic buying, and Israel was no exception — and the US, of course, was happy to sell them all the shit they could burn in Gaza this week.
12x14 inch medium-res color .jpg image, 1.2mb
----------
"More than 100 killed as Israel intensifies Gaza onslaught", Maureen Clare Murphy at Electronic Intifada, 05.14.2021
https://electronicintifada.net/blogs/maureen-clare-murphy/more-100-killed-israel-intensifies-gaza-onslaught
"Government Warns Not To Fill Plastic Bags With Gasoline Because People Are Idiots", Aaron Ryan at Whiskey Riffs, 05.13.2021
https://www.whiskeyriff.com/2021/05/13/government-warns-not-to-fill-plastic-bags-with-gasoline-because-people-are-idiots/
-----
Mike Flugennock, Political Cartoons: http://www.sinkers.org/stage
and follow me on Mastodon at https://mastodon.social/@flugennock
Thursday, May 13, 2021
Cavna takes 2nd place award for Online Blog in NHA contest
Steve Kelley Wins 2021 National Headliner Award
PR: Dead Reckoning Announces Fall 2021 Titles, Including Adaptation of James D. Hornfischer’s New York Times Bestseller
[I'm most excited about my friend Ben Towle's new book]
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Dead Reckoning Announces Fall 2021 Titles, Including Adaptation of James D. Hornfischer’s New York Times Bestseller
ANNAPOLIS, Md., May 13, 2021 – Dead Reckoning will bring you three new graphic novels in Fall 2021. First
up is Four-Fisted Tales by four-time Eisner-nominated cartoonist
Ben Towle, which tells the story of how animals have been used to fight
in the trenches, jungles, and deserts of the world’s battlefields.
Next,
The Jewish Brigade by Marvano follows how the Jewish
Infantry Brigade Group came to fight against and hunt down Nazis who
sought to murder them and their families. Last, but not least, James D.
Hornfischer
along with Doug Murray and Steven Sanders bring us The Last Stand of The Tin Can Sailors.
Out gunned and outnumbered, The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors
brings to life the New York Times bestseller on the Battle
off Samar where a small American task force fought to turn back an
overwhelming Japanese force at Leyte Gulf.
Four-Fisted Tales: Animals in Combat
By Ben Towle
978-1-68247-416-7 | August 18, 2021
Paperback | $24.95
In virtually every military conflict in recorded history animals have fought—and often died—alongside their human counterparts. While countless stories of the men and women who’ve served in the trenches, jungles, and deserts of the world’s battlefields have been told, Four-Fisted Tales: Animals in Combat shares the stories of the animals who fought alongside them.
From Hannibal’s elephants in ancient Rome to mine-sniffing rats in Vietnam and everything in between, Four-
Ben Towle is a four-time Eisner-nominated cartoonist. His previous works include Oyster War; Amelia Earhart: This Broad Ocean (with Sarah Stewart Taylor), which received accolades from The New York Times and Publishers Weekly and was a Junior Library Guild selection; Midnight Sun; and Farewell, Georgia.
By Marvano
978-1-68247-723-6 | September 15, 2021
Paperback | $24.95
In the waning years of World War II, as the tragic plight of the European Jews was coming to light in ever more horrific detail, a Jewish fighting force, known as the Jewish Infantry Brigade Group, was born as part of the British Eighth Army. Leslie Toliver, a racecar driver in the pre-war years, eagerly joined the all-volunteer force for a chance to fight with his people against those who sought to murder them.
Born in Belgium, Marvano, started out as an interior designer. Years later, he began an alternate career as an illustrator, eventually becoming editor-in-chief of the magazine Kuifje, then managing the comics department of Flemish publisher Den Gulden Engel. All the while he published his own comics and went on to write and illustrate dozens of graphic novels over decades, most notably adapting Joe Halderman’s famous novel The Forever War.
By James D. Hornfischer; Adapted by Doug Murray; Drawn by Steven Sanders; Colored by Matt Soffe; Lettered by Rob Steen
978-1-68247-338-2 | October 20, 2021
Hardcover | $29.95
Adapted from the naval history classic and New York Times bestseller, The Last Stand of the Tin Can Sailors pieces together the action of the Battle off Samar, bringing to life a riveting story of heroism against daunting odds, duty, and sacrifice in a way never seen before.
James D. Hornfischer’s gripping account of the battle, based on declassified documents as well as extensive interviews with veterans, is acclaimed as one of the most compelling works of naval history ever published. Hornfischer’s awards include the 2018 Samuel Eliot Morison Award, given by the Board of Trustees of the USS Constitution Museum.
Doug Murray is a comic book writer and novelist. He served as a non-commissioned officer in the Army in Vietnam and was the main writer on the popular comic book series The 'Nam, published by Marvel Comics.
Steven Sanders is an illustrator. His work has appeared in the distinguished SPECTRUM anthology and has drawn a number of comics for Marvel and Image Comics.
Wednesday, May 12, 2021
Steve Conley interviews
Steve Conley 2021
https://www.podbean.com/media/share/pb-7ce5x-10325a0
The Astounding Steve Conley drops by to talk about his latest Kickstarter;"Astounding Space Thrills: Undersea Menace from the Year 3200" and to share his secrets of Kickstarter success! Steve & Geoff talk comics and life in the days when the internet was young! One of Geoff's favorite conversations-at least since the last time he talked with Steve Conley!
Steve Conley : https://steveconley.com
https://astoundingspacethrills.com/kickstarter
https://steveconley.com/the-middle-age/
Geoff Grogan: https://geoffgrogan.com
on Instagram:
@greenscreencomic
https://www.webtoons.com/en/challenge/greenscreen/list?title_no=571704
-------
Spotlight SquadCast Interview with Steve Conley and His Astounding Space Thrills
We got the chance to catch up with cartoonist Steve Conley recently. This is an interview we have been wanting to do for some time and the timing worked out great as Steve is in the middle of a fantastic Kickstarter campaign.
Steve is best known for his multi-award nominated webcomic The Middle Age, but this time around he is collecting and printing his turn of the century webcomic Astounding Space Thrills. The campaign is doing excellent and is something you definitely want to get in on.
Please enjoy this conversation where we talk about the Kickstarter for Astounding Space Thrills, Steve's career, the history and future of The Middle Age, and we throw in a little pop culture etymology for good measure.
Check out the trailer for the Kickstarter campaign below:
What is Astounding Space Thrills about?
According to Steve:
Astounding Space Thrills is a fun, retro-futuristic, sci-fi adventure following hero Argosy Smith as he solves cosmic mysteries. Think of Argosy as 1/3 The Doctor, 1/3 Buckaroo Banzaii, and 1/3 every kid who grew up playing RPGs and video games.
There are very accessible backer reward tiers and so far the campaign is blowing by the stretch goals.
It is an amazing effort that Steve is undertaking by resurrecting and remastering a webcomic that was designed to be viewed on a monitor that used a VGA cable and a computer that required a hard wired cable to a dial-up modem to get to the internet. This is definitely a labor of love and we are looking forward to seeing the final results.
In our conversation, Steve mentioned that he is willing and excited to go back to the world of Argosy Smith if the people want more of it. I say that sounds like a great idea.
What are the important things to know?
The campaign ends on May 26, 2021.
You can find the campaign page here.
Steve's website is steveconley.com.
You can follow Steve on Twitter at thesteveconley.
Don't forget to check out The Middle Age as well. You can find it at Webtoon, GoComics, Tapas, or even in Kindle or Print formats on Amazon.
Steve also has a Patreon page that we highly recommend.