Wednesday, December 01, 2021

Flugennock's Latest'n'Greatest: "...Or The Virus Wins"

From DC's anarchist cartoonist -

"...Or The Virus Wins"
http://sinkers.org/stage/?p=3348

Remember right after Nineleven™ when the travel industry and retail 
were imploding, and Bush and that bunch were telling everybody to "go 
shopping, or the terrorists win"? Welp... same deal here. The State 
and Capital won't do what needs to be done to keep us safe and to 
eradicate Covid-19, and have chosen instead to go with "herd immunity" 
(a.k.a. "mass death") to serve Capital at the expense of the working 
class and their families.

...and speaking of serving Capital — all the sudden squawking about 
the "supply chain" kinda smelled funny to me from the get-go simply 
because every major US media outlet and their uncle all started 
yelling ZOMG SUPPLY CHAIN almost simultaneously, as if somebody threw 
a switch, not unlike all the screaming about the "labor shortage". My 
suspicions were pretty much confirmed the other day when, while 
catching my daily 15 seconds of MSNBC, they were doing their daily 
Supply Chain Meltdown and one of their "guest analysts" was the CEO of 
Mattel.

Yeah, that's right; that's what this pants-crapping is all about — not 
enough Barbies at Wal-Mart for Christmas.

----------

"Pig Nation", cartoon by Mike Flugennock, 05.31.2002 
http://sinkers.org/stage/?p=254

"Christmas Dies Hard", Amanda Mull in The Atlantic, Dec 2020 
https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2020/12/pandemic-christmas/616925/

"Biden administration ramps up drive to get women 'back into the 
workforce'", Patrick Martin at the World Socialist Site,11.14.2021 
https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2021/11/15/masq-n15.html

"Fourteen consecutive weeks with more than 100,000 cases of COVID 
among US children", Benjamin Mateus at the World Socialist Site, 
11.16.2021
https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2021/11/17/covi-n17.html

"Biden's message to Wall Street: Mass death will not interfere with 
corporate profits", Patrick Martin at the World Socialist Site, 
11.30.2021
https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2021/11/30/pers-n30.html


Mike Flugennock, Political Cartoons: http://www.sinkers.org/stage
and follow me on Mastodon at https://mastodon.social/@flugennock

Moomin Exhibit at National Children’s Museum

 by Mike Rhode

Moomin Animations – Thrills and Cuddles, Minna Honkasalo, curator. Washington D.C.: National Children’s Museum on September 3, 2021-January 9, 2022. https://nationalchildrensmuseum.org/

In 1945, Finnish writer and illustrator Tove Jansson created her Mumintrolls for a children's book. The Moomins look like hippos crossed with the Pillsbury doughboy, but have proved popular enough to make her the Scandinavian equivalent of Walt Disney. She eventually wrote or drew 9 books about them. In 1947 she started a comic strip with the characters, which started appearing in English in 1954. Her brother Lars Jannson joined her on the strip from 1959-1961 and then he took the strip over until 1975 when it ended. Reprints have been published by Canada's Drawn & Quarterly. There have been multiple animated versions of her characters, and that is what this exhibit focused on.

The NCM has had some rough years, closing off and on while searching for new locations. In 2020, it finally wound up just off Pennsylvania Ave, NW in a plaza behind the Reagan building. They had to shut again almost immediately due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but reopened in September 2021 with the Moomin exhibit among others, and are aiming for an attendance of a half million people per year. Note that you have to visit with a child; unaccompanied visitors need to make an appointment, and throughout my tour of the exhibit, I was accompanied by a staff member. The museum is actually largely underground; one enters at ground level and then moves downward through an unfinished concrete warren. The guide is probably necessary for more than the main reason.

The Embassy of Finland has brought over a version of Honkasalo's original exhibit from the Moomin Museum that is completely composed of reproductions. It has several sections - a wall on Jansson's life, stills from various animations, 4 screens showing cartoons, and several activity areas for children. An average American viewer might have no knowledge about the Moomins, in spite of the fact that there have been so many adaptations. This exhibit focuses on animated versions and includes episodes from 1959 (West Germany), 1969 (Japan), 1977 (Poland), 1990 (Japan). Obviously, none of these would be particularly easy for an Anglophone to find, but the 1969 one in particular was surpressed by Jansson, as noted in the exhibit catalog - "She felt that Momin was too far removed from her stories' world and atmosphere. Elements foreign to Moominvalley had been inserted into the tales, including cars, money and weapons. For example, a few episodes show Snork driving around in a car, Moomintroll makes money by busking, and weapons feature in several episodes." "She did not want them to reach international distribution, so they have never been broadcast outside Japan. Today, they are hard to find even in Japan, on account of complicated copyright issues connected with the [1900s series]." The exhibit catalog is unfortunately not available, except for a few copies lying in the exhibit, but I recommend it highly if you can find it.

Jansson has been the focus of recent attention including a documentary, two biographies, and an edition of her letters. The wall on her life is written for children, but includes the basics necessary to have an idea about her as a person and as a creator. To the exhibit's credit, the segment on her life does not shy away from her love of another woman, even though it was socially unacceptable at the time. "A soul mate. Amid the hustle and buslte, Tove meets Tuulikki, the woman who will become her life partner for the rest of her life..." reads part of the panel.

The wall of stills would probably have been of more interest in the original exhibit, as it apparently included some actual artwork by her. Here, understandably, it's all reproductions and screen captures. A fan of the characters might be interested in seeing how they evolved in different animations. There are also some areas for children to draw, hang things on a tree, or take a picture with cardboard standups. There is also a small selection of gifts in the giftshop.

Also of interest from a cartoon perspective are a STEAM-centric exhibits about creating animations featuring SpongeBob and his cast, and another on Paw Patrol. Lastly, I'd like to apologize to the public affairs staff at the Museum for being so delayed in posting this review. They were true professionals who got me into the exhibit days after I wrote to them, and I just didn't get around to writing it for 6 weeks.

All the images, except for "Exhibition space 4" and "Tove Jansson," are courtesy of the Embassy of Finland in Washington, D.C. The two are courtesy of the NCM. The exhibit catalog cover is taken from the copy the staff gave to me. My photographs can be seen here. A version of this review will also appear in the International Journal of Comic Art and on its blog.


Comics Research Bibliography citations update, 11/30/2021

Thank you for 23 years at BICLM, Marilyn Scott!

Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum Blog

November 30, 2021 / Caitlin McGurk

https://library.osu.edu/site/cartoons/2021/11/30/thank-you-for-23-years-at-biclm-marilyn-scott/

 

Book Review - Is Superman Circumcised? by Roy Schwartz

Reviewed by Leonard ("Labe") Rifas

International Journal of Comic Art blog November 30, 2021

https://ijoca.blogspot.com/2021/11/book-review-is-superman-circumcised-by.html

 

Roy Schwartz. Is Superman Circumcised? McFarland, 2021. 374 pp. $45. ISBN 978-1-4766-6290-9.  https://mcfarlandbooks.com/product/is-superman-circumcised/

 

 Do We Need More Heroes? Disney Hopes So.

The Magic Kingdom is betting that it can continue milking popular Marvel, Star Wars and Pixar franchises without souring its audience. That is no sure thing.

By Dan Gallagher

Wall Street Journal Nov. 26, 2021

https://www.wsj.com/articles/do-we-need-more-heroes-disney-hopes-so-11637922624

 

Going to Pieces – Peacemaker Lost and Found

Tom Shapira | November 30, 2021

https://www.tcj.com/going-to-pieces-peacemaker-lost-and-found/

 

A 'Simpsons' Episode Lampooned Chinese Censorship. In Hong Kong, It Vanished.

By Vivian Wang

A version of this article appears in print on Nov. 30, 2021, Section A, Page 4 of the New York edition with the headline: 'Simpsons' Trip to Beijing Is Missing in Hong Kong.

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/29/world/asia/simpsons-hk.html

 

In the wake of Devil's Reign, Chip Zdarsky introduces Daredevil: Woman Without Fear!

Andrew Sumner

Nov 29, 2021

Forbidden Planet TV

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L3Ym5x9vgIo

 

Ep. 39: Look Back, by Tatsuki Fujimoto

November 30, 2021

https://www.mangasplaining.com/blog/ep-39-look-back-by-tatsuki-fujimoto/

 

Ep. 38: RaW Hero vol 1, by Akira Hiramoto

November 23, 2021

https://www.mangasplaining.com/blog/ep-38-raw-hero-vol-1-by-akira-hiramoto/

 

Political cartoonist Jesse Springer on his latest book, "Only in Oregon"

KLCC | By Brian Bull

November 29, 2021

https://www.klcc.org/arts-culture/2021-11-29/political-cartoonist-jesse-springer-on-his-latest-book-only-in-oregon

 

"What We Need Are Poets and Inspiration": Pros From 'Encanto', 'Raya and the Last Dragon' and the THR Animation Roundtable

Creatives behind 'Flee', 'Luca', 'The Mitchells vs. The Machines', 'Spirit Untamed' and 'Vivo' also detail how filmmakers are diversifying their stories both on screen and behind the scenes.

Carolyn Giardina

November 30, 2021

This story first appeared in a November stand-alone issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine.

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/encanto-raya-and-the-last-dragon-animation-roundtable-1235052506/

 

Sipultaneous [Jason Chatfield]

By Anthony LeDonne

POAT podcast November 27 2020

https://anchor.fm/anthony-ledonne/episodes/Sipultaneous-en1tvg

 

Diarrhea on a Yoga Mat [Jason Chatfield, covid-19]

By Anthony LeDonne

POAT podcast August 20 2020

https://anchor.fm/anthony-ledonne/episodes/Diarrhea-on-a-Yoga-Mat-eie9j5

 

Your Foot's in My Wazoo [Jason Chatfield]

By Anthony LeDonne

POAT podcast November 23 2021

https://anchor.fm/anthony-ledonne/episodes/Your-Foots-in-My-Wazoo-e1alvki/a-a6v0oqd

 

Jason Chatfield - Comedic Roles in School Productions

Homeroom with Phil Valentine November 23 2021

https://anchor.fm/phil-valentine2/episodes/Jason-Chatfield---Comedic-Roles-in-School-Productions-e1ahnkg

 

Episode 9: Jason Chatfield

Eric Schmidt and Greg Burmeister

Talking Schmidt September 23 2021

https://anchor.fm/talking-schmidt/episodes/Episode-9-Jason-Chatfield-e17p4gv

 

PROFESSOR COMICS DIED [Kevin Robinette]

RC Harvey

Rants & Raves Opus 422a (November 29, 2021): http://rcharvey.com/archive/rantsraves.html#422a

 

My 1st Interview with Kevin & Mark Robinette, History of there Hunting Days!

"Big John"

Sep 8, 2021

The Comic Book Underground, LLC

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WprQN0k8bZI

 

Part 2: Kevin & Mark Robinette Interview, Hunting for Early Amazing Spider-Man Issues.

Sep 9, 2021

The Comic Book Underground, LLC

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AvHCf1bwbA0

 

Part 3: Continue of my interview with Mark & Kevin Robinette, More Hunting & Amazing Stories

Sep 10, 2021

The Comic Book Underground, LLC

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VmiB9Fer0TI

 

Interview: Part 4 Hunting for Bronze Age Gold, Stories they tell are unbelievably Awesome

Sep 11, 2021

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-3eQF6_YX1A

 

Interview: The Finale, Learn the truth about the Hobby from 2 Men that are still kids at heart!

Sep 11, 2021

The Comic Book Underground, LLC

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LnCj7a_Bx_g

 

Cartoonist Eleanor Davis Gets New York Times Gig

  Posted by D. D. Degg

November 29, 2021

http://www.dailycartoonist.com/index.php/2021/11/29/cartoonist-eleanor-davis-gets-new-york-times-gig/

 

COMIC-CON SPECIAL EDITION AND THE FUTURE OF SDCC

 by Rob Salkowitz on November 29, 2021

https://icv2.com/articles/columns/view/49865/comic-con-special-edition-future-sdcc

 

Cartoonist Drew Litton reflects on nearly 40 year career

9news.com

November 29, 2021

https://www.9news.com/video/features/cartoonist-drew-litton-reflects-40-year-career/73-91125414-269d-4a76-8524-efeebab4cee3

 

Disney's 'Encanto' tells universal coming-of-age story while celebrating Latino culture

Jessica Flores November 23, 2021Updated: November 26, 2021

https://datebook.sfchronicle.com/movies-tv/disneys-encanto-tells-universal-coming-of-age-story-while-celebrating-latino-culture

 

Jerry Palen – RIP

by D. D. Degg

November 29, 2021

http://www.dailycartoonist.com/index.php/2021/11/29/jerry-palen-rip/

 

Jerry Joseph Palen, July 9, 2021 ~ November 25, 2021, Obituary & Services

Jacoby Funeral Home

https://www.jacobycares.com/obituary/Jerry-Palen

 

Joe Sacco

Myself With Others: Adam Shatz with Joe Sacco

November 2021

https://myselfwithothers.squarespace.com/episodes/joe-sacco

 

Luke Cage writer says comic canceled by Marvel, but it might not be dead yet

By Chris Arrant  November 29 2021

https://www.gamesradar.com/luke-cage-writer-says-comic-canceled-by-marvel-but-it-might-not-be-dead-yet/ 

Tuesday, November 30, 2021

Comics Research Bibliography citations update, 11/29/2021

Marvel and Sony Planning More 'Spider-Man' Beyond 'No Way Home,' Says Producer Amy Pascal

Pascal says the studio is looking at a new trilogy, though insiders say no plans are official.

Aaron Couch

November 29, 2021 

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/spider-man-movies-marvel-sony-no-way-home-1235054015/

 

'Spider-Man: No Way Home' Producer Amy Pascal Reveals More About the Historic Film and Confirms Tom Holland's Future as Spider-Man

Erik Davis

November 29th 2021,

https://www.fandango.com/movie-news/spider-man-no-way-home-producer-amy-pascal-reveals-more-about-the-historic-film-and-confirms-tom-hollands-future-as-spider-man-754461

 

Palmiotti & Conner's BOOTY POWPOW, Segura, Moreci, & Kotz's THE AWAKENED among new platform ZESTWORLD's initial offerings

Joe Grunenwald 11/29/2021

https://www.comicsbeat.com/zestworld-new-comics-platform/

 

A New Publishing Platform for Comic Books Will Give Creators a Greater Stake

By George Gene Gustines

Nov. 29, 2021,

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/29/arts/zestword-comic-books-alexis-ohanian.html

 

With 'Encanto,' Stephanie Beatriz Finds Yet Another Voice

By Carlos Aguilar

A version of this article appears in print on Nov. 27, 2021, Section C, Page 2 of the New York edition with the headline: Creating a Voice For Mirabel.

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/25/movies/stephanie-beatriz-interview-encanto.html

 

How 'Maya and the Three,' 'Encanto' and 'Vivo' Animate Latinidad

By Laura Zornosa

Oct. 22, 2021

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/22/arts/television/maya-and-the-three-netflix.html

 

'Beauty and the Beast' at 30: Stars Reflect on Disney Animated Film's Legacy

The voices of Belle, the Beast, Gaston and more speak to The Hollywood Reporter about their memories and what it means to be involved with the acclaimed 1991 movie.

Christy Pina

November 28, 2021

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-features/disney-beauty-and-the-beast-30th-anniversary-cast-interviews-1235052796/

 

Disney+ Drops 'Simpsons' Episode in Hong Kong Because of Tiananmen Square Joke

The 2005 episode features the Simpson family visiting Beijing, where they drop by the landmark, finding a placard that reads: "On this site, in 1989, nothing happened."

Patrick Brzeski

November 28, 2021

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/simpsons-china-censorship-1235053711/

 

Hailee Steinfeld of 'Hawkeye' could become the next big star of the Marvel universe [ion print as A shot at Marvel fame for Steinfeld?]

By David Betancourt

Washington Post November 27, 2021 p. C1, 3

online at https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2021/11/24/hailee-steinfeld-hawkeye-disney-marvel/

 

PROJECT:OBJECTIONABLE (17)

By: Dean Haspiel

November 27, 2021

https://www.hilobrow.com/2021/11/27/projectobjectionable-17/

 

"These are Modern American Family Comics": The Derek M. Ballard Interview By RJ Casey

RJ Casey | November 29, 2021

https://www.tcj.com/these-are-modern-american-family-comics-the-derek-m-ballard-interview-by-rj-casey/

 

Director Rhys Thomas On Why Matt Fraction's 'Hawkeye' Is So Important To The New Series

Mike Ryan

November 22, 2021

https://uproxx.com/tv/rhys-thomas-hawkeye-interview-matt-fraction/

 

It's A bird, It's A Plane: Honoring The Creators of Superman

Arthur Maserjan (mod)

Nov 15, 2021

Combat AntiSemitism and Jewish-American Hall of Fame.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FyOmqiQM0dY

https://www.facebook.com/CombatAntiSemitism/videos/577827363450254/

 

A Sweeping History of American Comics

By Michael Tisserand

    A version of this article appears in print on Nov. 28, 2021, Page 1 of the Sunday Book Review with the headline: Panel Discussions.

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/16/books/review/american-comics-jeremy-dauber.html

 

Ridley Scott and the grand tradition of big-name directors disparaging superhero movies [For acclaimed directors, superhero films are weak]

By Sonia Rao

Washington Post November 18, 2021 : C1, 3

online at https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2021/11/17/ridley-scott-superhero-movies-directors/

 

Klemesrud, Judy / New York Times News Service. 1980.

Female Comic Superheroes: She-Hulk, Dazzler Coming On Strong.

Tennessean (January 16): 33

 

Oni Press Latest To Join Lunar Distribution?

 November 28, 2021

by Rich Johnston

 https://bleedingcool.com/comics/oni-press-latest-to-join-lunar-distribution/

 

The best Marvel Comics stories of all time according to the readers

By Chris Arrant

November 23 2021

https://www.gamesradar.com/best-marvel-comics-stories/

 

 The cutting edge of comics journalism [exhibit]: Steve Duin column

 Nov. 28, 2021

https://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/2021/11/the-cutting-edge-of-comics-journalism-steve-duin-column.html

 

 He Read All 27,000 Marvel Comic Books and Lived to Tell the Tale

By Junot Díaz

A version of this article appears in print on Nov. 28, 2021, Page 1 of the Sunday Book Review with the headline: Panel Discussions.

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/10/12/books/review/douglas-wolk-all-of-the-marvels.html

 

'Encanto' Reaches No. 1, but Moviegoers Are Tough to Lure Back

By Brooks Barnes

A version of this article appears in print on Nov. 29, 2021, Section B, Page 6 of the New York edition with the headline: Despite an Array of New Films, Moviegoers Are Tough to Find.

https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/28/movies/encanto-box-office.html

 

 Panel Borders: Superhuman Creatures [ John Totleben, Josephine Mairead King Edwards]

Alex Fitch

November 4, 2021

https://panelborders.wordpress.com/2021/11/04/panel-borders-superhuman-creatures/

https://archive.org/download/panel-borders-superhuman-creatures/Panel_Borders_Superhuman_Creatures.MP3

 

Mark Ulriksen's "Ever Giving"

The artist remembers how his belief in Santa was shattered when he opened the door and found himself nose to nose with the man himself.

By Françoise Mouly

November 29, 2021

https://www.newyorker.com/culture/cover-story/cover-story-2021-12-06

 

Bone is still a miracle and a mystery to creator Jeff Smith

The genre-straddling comic book epic is still finding new readers, 30 years later

By Susana Polo@NerdGerhl Nov 29, 2021,

https://www.polygon.com/interviews/22589308/bone-comic-interview-jeff-smith-30th-anniversary

 

Bone creator Jeff Smith got his 'dream team' for Netflix animated series

By Susana Polo@NerdGerhl Jul 24, 2021

https://www.polygon.com/comics/2021/7/24/22589309/netflix-bone-animated-series-jeff-smith-update

 

Sophia Glock divulges her secretive life as a child of CIA officers in 'Passport'

Scott Simon

Weekend Edition Saturday November 27, 2021

https://www.npr.org/2021/11/27/1059490213/sophia-glock-divulges-her-secretive-life-as-a-child-of-cia-officers-in-passport