Friday, June 30, 2017

July 4: Big Planet Comics 31st Anniversary SALE!

Wow. I've been shopping there for a long time...


Resist Vol. 2 protest magazine available in the area


RESIST the forces that would divide us
RESIST!


RESIST the normalization of fascism

RESIST! is a free print publication of political comics and graphics where our slogan, "Women's voices will be heard," can come true. It was started after the November 2016 election. Our Summer 2017 issue is now available for free in these comic book shops and bookstores or for order on our websiteThe free distribution of RESIST! is intended as an Independence Day celebration of our First Amendment, our diverse country and of our resilience. Our first issue was distributed at 58,000 copies by teams of volunteers at women's marches nationwide the day after the inauguration. RESIST! is edited and produced by Françoise Mouly, art editor of The New Yorker, and her daughter, writer Nadja Spiegelman. 

WHO'S INSIDE:

RESIST! combines some of the biggest names in comics — Roz Chast, Alison Bechdel, Lynda Barry, Kristin Radtke, Miriam Katin, Cathy Malkasian, Laura Park, Lauren Weinstein, Daniel Clowes, Art Spiegelman and many more — with powerful work by new names, ​some never-before-published.

FIND RESIST! NEAR YOU


DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA

Politics & Prose
5015 Connecticut Ave NW
Washington, DC 20008

(202) 364-1919

MARYLAND


Atomic Books
3620 Falls Rd,
Baltimore, MD 21211

(410) 662-4444

Twilite Zone Comics
18 Crain Hwy,
Glen Burnie, MD 21061

(410) 766-0480


VIRGINIA

Little Free Library of Alcova Heights
3900 7th St South
Arlington, VA 22204

Telegraph Arts & Comics

211A W Main St,
Charlottesville, VA 22902

(434) 244-3210

Meridian Books & Games
61 Court Square, Studio 1
Harrisonburg, Virginia

Hole In The Wall Books
905 W Broad St,
Falls Church, VA 22046
(703) 536-2511

June 30-July 2: BlerdCon


BlerdCon is a new convention in D.C. that includes the usual set-up of celebrity guests, panels, gaming, cosplay, etc. But two things make it different. First, is its focus on “minority nerds” (the convention website says “Blerd” is an acronym for “Black nerd”), though it notes that it is inclusive of all anime, comic books, sci-fi, gaming and cosplay fans. Second, the breadth is really impressive, as it includes all sort of things, like comedy, music and stage combat. Looks like there is something for everyone.

In the comics area, local troupe Art Way Alliance holds a comics-making workshop (“The Power of Panels/Mapping Out Your Comic Story”) on Friday, and later in the days there’s a panel titled “Get Your Comics and Projects Featured in Media Now! (18+).” On Sunday, there’s a panel called “LGBT Responsibility in Comics and Pop Culture.” There are a few more comics-related panel, so check out the program. There's also an artist alley all weekend. 

Three-day tickets are $45. The event is being held at Hyatt Crystal City in Arlington, Va.


Image courtesy of Eric Suggs/Art Way Alliance

Thursday, June 29, 2017

July 9: Neil Gaiman at Wolf Trap

Neil Gaiman


Sunday, July 9 at 8 p.m.

at The Filene Center at Wolf Trap 

"I make things up and write them down" is the way Neil Gaiman describes his varied art. Today, as one of the most celebrated, bestselling writers of our time, his popular and critically acclaimed works (Coraline, The Sandman, American Gods, and The Graveyard Book) bend genres while reaching audiences of all ages. In his live event, he will tell stories and read stories, answer questions, and in his own words "amaze, befuddle and generally delight. It will be fun and odd and not like any other evening with Neil Gaiman." Ticketing for this event is not arranged by Politics and Prose, visit www.wolftrap.org for more information.

Wednesday, June 28, 2017

July 6: '(Super)Hero' opening at Takoma Park, Md.

Takoma Park , Md., will host an exhibit titled "(Super)Hero," from July 6 to September 3, that will include the works of a few local comics creators. The free opening reception will be on July 6 at 8:30 pm at the Takoma Community College. Here's info from the Facebook event page:

"They are bold and bad. They are tough and triumphant.

Superheroes leap from comic book and newspaper pages to save us. The masked and costumed crusaders hail from other planets, while others are homegrown.

But, what is Wonder Woman like behind her shield and Batman beneath his cape? Are they fighters off the clock? What causes their armor to crack?

(Super)Hero looks at the frailties of the people and aliens who vow to battle crime and evil on Earth.

The exhibition features paintings, drawings, and sculpture by Elena Botts, Davd Ross, Linda Button, Gilda Odio, and Nicole Bresner."





July 1: Venus's Comic Shop pre-launch party

The folks at Venus's Comic Shop, a new comics shop opening July 8 at Union Station in D.C., will have a pre-launch party July 1 at Heroic Aleworks in Woodbridge, Va., from 6-10 p.m. The store is named in honor of local comics creator Venus Winston, who passed away of cancer in December. Heroic will donate a portion of the evening's proceeds to cancer research.

July 8: Calling All Teens to Loudoun County Public Library’s Annual MiniCon Celebration

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact: Peter O'Brien ─ 571-258-3465; peter.obrien@loudoun.gov

Calling All Teens to Loudoun County Public Library's Annual MiniCon Celebration

LEESBURG, VA – June 27, 2017.

Teens are encouraged to join the fun at the 8th annual MiniCon event at Rust Library in Leesburg, VA on July 8. The MiniCon program features a celebration of anime and manga, including an art and costume contest.

·         Attendees may participate in fun competitions, learn cosplay techniques, sing karaoke or just hang out with anime-loving friends.

·         Participants may bring their own manga for an all-day manga swap.

·         Entries may be added into the art contest until 2 p.m. that day.

·         From tails to face paint to armor to hoop skirts, cosplayers bringing anime and manga to life should arrive no later than 2:30 p.m. Costumes will be panel-judged for both quality and creativity.

·         Winners in the art and custom contests will be announced at 4 p.m. that day.

The event will run from 1 to 4 p.m. and is free. Rust Library is located at 380 Old Waterford Rd NW, Leesburg, VA 20176.



###










Christiann MacAuley's webcomic in the Library of Congress archive

Christiann writes in, "my website Sticky Comics has been selected for inclusion in the Library of Congress webcomics archive! 


Tuesday, June 27, 2017

July 1: Jerry DeCaire: Artist Signing and Demo at Victory Comics



  • Saturday July 1 2017 at 2 PM - 8 PM



  • Victory Comics
    586 S Washington St, Falls Church, Virginia 22046
Deadpool Illustrator Shows How School Subjects Help to Create a Marvel Superhero!

Jerry DeCaire, illustrator for Marvel's 'Deadpool & the Secret Defenders' and many other popular titles, is now presenting at Victory Comics in Falls Church Virginia this Saturday the 1st of July at 2-8 PM. DeCaire shows how comic art rises to performance art in a unique, live presentation that has been presented to over quarter-of-a-million students since 2013. The artist will also be signing his 2017 book Deadpool & the Secret Defenders; 2015's Deadpool Classic Companion; and virtually any back issue ranging from Wolverine, X-Men, Hawkeye, Thor, Nick Fury: Agent of Shield and other older back issues for Marvel and smaller independent publishing houses. DeCaire's independent ventures include The Phantom , Green Hornet and Kato, Cisco Kid, and comic-book adaptations for popular RPG characters in the White-Wolf line such as Vampire the Masquerade and Werewolf the Apocalypse. The artist's work has been published in 38 countries worldwide and has drawn the attention of 'Fantasy Art Magazine'—China's widest distribution magazine of its genre. Their article focused on Western Artists of which DeCaire was one of several to serve as an exemplar. DeCaire's eight-page spot was entitled 'Why Paint?'—a question referencing the details of DeCaire's line art which stands on its own.

The artist will sign the new Deadpool releases and any and all back issues provided by the store and will have prints and commissioned art available to all who attend.

For the live drawing demonstration, DeCaire's hand will be projected large onto a screen to ensure everyone in the room can see what is happening. The artist speaks in an instructional, easy-to-follow manner while using fractions, geometric shapes, human anatomy, and art as a synergistic approach to drawing. Jerry strongly encourages students to pay attention to their math and science courses because even the artist— who creates a lot of 'fun stuff'— has to think about those important core subjects. Not everyone will be an artist as an adult but everyone must be able to read and to do mathematics. Jerry also adds; drawings can be done one of two ways, the artist can either, 1) ignore the science to create a bad drawing of Wolverine, or 2) pay attention to the science to create a good drawing of Wolverine. The Renaissance master Leonardo da Vinci is quoted as saying, "Study the science of art and the art of science."

DeCaire also talks about the '3-P's:' Position, Perspective and Proportion—what every artist must know to draw a great superhero. But there is a fourth 'P' the artist must know that is shared by the physician: Physique. A physician knows virtually everything about human anatomy, but might not be able to draw a superhero. Why? What the good doctor's missing is found in those magical '3-P's'—those are the domain of the artist! In fact, whatever problem an artist is having with their drawing can be identified by going down the checklist of all four 'P's.'

DeCaire is currently working on a tutorial workbook for aspiring artists, The Art & Craft of the Superhero, and Mythos & Marvels Remastered—a remastered look at the mythological classics such as Thor, Hercules, Pecos Bill, Paul Bunyan, and even Cinderella.

Another personal venture DeCaire is currently writing and illustrating seems to be steering in the opposite direction of science—a philosophy book on consciousness: God's In Men. The artist is collaborating with the esteemed number-one bestseller Eben Alexander whose Proof of Heaven story has been shared on Dr. Oz, Oprah Winfrey, and has also graced the cover of Newsweek Magazine. Eben's story has had quite a global impact and its metaphysical implications has invited considerable controversy amongst the ranks of both theists and atheists. DeCaire will be available for any questions and even criticisms about the idealist philosophy he defends.

DeCaire has a BS Degree from Central Michigan University and has studied art, biology, and education and theology at the graduate level.

Monday, June 26, 2017

July 15: DC Zinefest

The annual DC Zinefest will be held July 15 from 10 am to 4:30 pm at St. Stephen’s Church in D.C. Admission is free.

 

Michael Wenthe's Cartozia Tales story is online

Local author Michael Wenthe has put his fantasy story (written with Isaac Cates) from Cartozia Tales online: http://cartozia.com/minnaig

The Post's weekend catchup - Awesome Con, Adam West, Tom Toles and Disney's theme park

The ultimate fantasy wedding: Wonder Woman weds Deadpool at Awesome Con [in print as Wonder Woman weds Deadpool at Awesome Con]


Washington Post June 25 2017, p. E12

https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/the-ultimate-fantasy-wedding-wonder-woman-weds-deadpool-at-awesome-con/2017/06/22/0205b47e-52b7-11e7-91eb-9611861a988f_story.html


There are already four-hour lines at Walt Disney World's new 'Avatar'-themed attraction. Does Pandora live up to the hype? [in print as Disney's Pandora is a $500 million box of authentic immersion]


Washington Post June 25 2017, p. F1, 6
https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/travel/there-are-already-four-hour-lines-at-walt-disney-worlds-new-avatar-themed-attraction-does-pandora-live-up-to-the-hype/2017/06/08/47185ec8-4c62-11e7-9669-250d0b15f83b_story.html


Adam West, the Light Knight

Benjamin Letzler, Dana Scott Galloway

Washington Post June 24 2017, p. A13

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/adam-west-the-light-knight/2017/06/23/01fa5058-55c7-11e7-840b-512026319da7_story.html


Don't blame Republicans for gerrymandering. It's a bipartisan problem. [in print as It's not just elephants making donkeys of themselves].

William Richards

Washington Post June 24 2017, p. A13

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/dont-blame-republicans-for-gerrymandering-its-a-bipartisan-problem/2017/06/22/427c6ea0-55cb-11e7-840b-512026319da7_story.html

The Middle Ages webcomic on GoComics

The Middle Ages webcomic by former DC'r Steve Conley launched last week. I've been following this through Steve's Facebook page and really enjoying the slapstick humor.

http://www.gocomics.com/news/whats-happening/4021/new-comic-alert-the-middle-age-steve-conley


Laughing Redhead Comics on GoComics

 

Laughing Redhead Comics by former DC'r Teresa Roberts Logan launched today.



__._,_.___










.

__,_._,___

Friday, June 23, 2017

July 7: Animezing!: Robot Carnival

Join us for a free anime film at the JICC!
Join us for a free anime film at the JICC!
JICC Logo
Animezing!: Robot Carnival
A celebration of art, animation, and robots!
Crawling across a desiccated landscape, the Robot Carnival comes barreling its way to the JICC this summer!
A visual treat for the eyes as well as the mind, Robot Carnival is an anthology collection of nine short films, many done by animators before they got their feet wet in directing. From funny to dramatic, artistic to entertaining, each story reaches towards the furthest corners of time and space to bring you a tale of robots, and the people who make them. Whether you have a love for great hand-drawn animation, an appreciation for fine storytelling, or just like robots, this anthology is a must!
Featuring segments from Katsuhiro Otomo (Akira), Koji Morimoto (Mind Game), and more! Music by award-winning composer Joe Hisaishi (Spirited Away, Departures)!
In Japanese & English with English subtitles | Not rated | 1987 | 90 min | Science-Fiction / Action | Various Directors
Registration is required.
Animezing!: Robot Carnival Animezing!: Robot Carnival Animezing!: Robot Carnival
JICC's Film Series: Women in Cinema
Women in Cinema
ANIMATION: ATSUKO FUKUSHIMA
Atsuko Fukushima, from Osaka, is an animator and illustrator. She has worked on such films as Space Adventure Cobra (1982) and The Dagger of Kamui (1985). She did character design for a segment in 1987's Neo-Tokyo as well as the key animation and character design for the opening and ending segments for Robot Carnival. She has also done key animation for Katsuhiro Otomo's seminal film Akira (1988), Hayao Miyazaki's Kiki's Delivery Service (1989), and segments in Memories (1995) and Genius Party (2006). She most recently contributed character designs to the 2014 award-winning film Giovanni's Island.
Please note, this film is unrated and contains scenes of violence. Recommended for ages 13 and older.
You are invited to
Friday, July 7th, 2017
from 6:30 PM to 8:30 PM (EDT)
Japan Information & Culture Center, Embassy of Japan
1150 18th Street Northwest
Suite 100
Washington DC 20036 US
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER
Event venue map
This event is free and open to the public, but registration is required.
In the event of a cancellation, please contact us at jicc@ws.mofa.go.jp.

Doors open 30 minutes before the program. Program begins at 6:30PM.
No admittance after 7:00PM or once seating is full.

Registered guests will be seated on a first come, first served basis. Please note that seating is limited and registration does not guarantee a seat.

The JICC reserves the right to use any photograph/video taken at any event sponsored by JICC without the expressed written permission of those included within the photograph/video.
Facebook Instagram YouTube
1150 18th Street NW, Suite 100 | Washington, D.C. 20036-3838
TEL: 202-238-6900 | FAX: 202-822-6524 |
jicc@ws.mofa.go.jp

© 1981-2017 Japan Information & Culture Center, Embassy of Japan







Scoop on Awesome Con

Thursday, June 22, 2017

Washington Post's Awesome Con cosplay photos

The Washingtonian on Wonder Woman Lynda Carter at the Library of Congress

The Original Wonder Woman Slays the Crowd at the Library Of Congress

The library packed in a huge, adoring crowd for Lynda Carter.

June 22 (today): Big Planet Comics graphic novel book club

Big Planet Comics graphic novel book club June '17


7 PM - 9 PM

Big Planet Comics of College Park
7315 Baltimore Ave, College Park, Maryland 20740

The second meeting of our Big Planet Comics Graphic Novel Book Club! Our theme this month is "Girl Power", coinciding with the release this month of the upcoming Wonder Woman film this month!

This month's picks are:
💥 Princeless vol 1 by Jeremy Whitley and M. Goodwin
💥 I Kill Giants by Joe Kelly and J. M. Ken Niimura
💥 Wonder Woman: The True Amazon by Jill Thompson

Reading all three books is not necessary, so feel free to pick and choose what you are interested in! All three books will be offered at a 15% discount up until the evening of the book club meeting at the U Street DC, Vienna VA and College Park MD locations.

We will begin the evening's discussion with Princeless for younger members who may be attending, and move on from there. Snacks will be provided!

The Post on the new Dr. Seuss museum

From the children's page:

Will Seuss museum be one of the places you go?

Washington Post June 20 2017, p. C8
online at  https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/kidspost/will-the-dr-seuss-museum-be-one-of-the-places-youll-go/2017/06/19/9787ff98-5122-11e7-b064-828ba60fbb98_story.html

The NY Times is more critical:

At the Dr. Seuss Museum: Oh, the Places They Don't Go!

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/06/21/arts/design/dr-seuss-museum-theodor-geisel-political-cartoons.html

Wednesday, June 21, 2017

Comic Riffs interviews the female Car

How Cristela Alonzo influenced her 'Cars 3' breakout character


Washington Post 
Comic Riffs blog June 21 2017
https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/comic-riffs/wp/2017/06/21/how-cristela-alonzo-influenced-her-cars-3-breakout-character/

e-Bay's Spider-Man variant cover comic book

I get a lot of press releases here, and once in a while an off-topic-for-us one catches my eye. As a longtime member of the Grand Comics Database comic book indexing project, I was interested to hear that e-Bay was branding a Spider-Man comic book that would only be available on their site. The internal content of the book is the same as the standard issue; this is just a cover variant.This isn't exactly a new development - Books-a-Million does it for instance. As of this writing, 394 copies, or slightly over 1/10th of the run are sold.

Honestly though, you shouldn't buy this unless you're a collector of Spider-Man, variant covers, John Cassidy, or e-Bay. Variant covers were a significant factor in the last bust cycle of comic book collecting.

Here's the relevant information from e-Bay's PR:



The variant cover features a unique cover design created in partnership between Marvel, eBay and eBay seller My Comic Shop, who commissioned artist John Cassaday to bring the idea to life. An homage to an Amazing Spider-Man cover from the early 1970's, this new limited special variant edition will be available on eBay for $5.99 with free shipping—and just 3,000 copies are being produced.



Evan Keeling's free downloadable minicomics

On Facebook, Evan Keeling notes:
All my Smithsonian and other zine comics are all linked in one place now...
http://etkeeling.tumblr.com/freecomics

More Awesome Con photos online

Photos: Awesome Con 2017

jenn tisdale and Nicholas Karlin

Brightest Young Things Jun 19, 2017

https://brightestyoungthings.com/articles/photos-awesome-con-2017

Former 'The Hill' cartoonist Weyant interviewed

Digital Publishing: Why Newspapers Need to Invest More in Political Cartoons

By: Rob Tornoe

June 20 2017

http://www.editorandpublisher.com/columns/digital-publishing-why-newspapers-need-to-invest-more-in-political-cartoons/

Tuesday, June 20, 2017

Michael Cavna of Comic Riffs talks to Lynda Carter

Before "Wonder Woman" made history on the big screen, it made history on television. We're talking to actress Lynda Carter about the show that turned her into an icon.

Carter played the superhero and her alter ego, Diana Prince, on the TV version that aired from 1975 to 1979.

David Apatoff's new book on Bernie Fuchs



Available and Shipping Now!

The Life and Art of Bernie Fuchs  


If you've already placed a pre-order, your copy is in the mail now and will be arriving soon!

If you haven't ordered yet, this spectacular new book explores the life and work of one of America's most admired and imitated illustrators — 
Bernie Fuchs. This volume is printed in FULL COLOR throughout and features over 300 illustrations. The book is 240 pages long and is filled to the brim with scores of beautiful illustrations reproduced from the original paintings and drawings, as well as rarely seen tear sheets from vintage magazines, photographs, color studies, and more. A complete preview of the book is available here:

PREVIEW THE BOOK HERE

240 pages, 9"x12", full-color on premium low-gloss stock, hardbound with dust jacket. The Standard Edition is $44.95 plus postage.

ORDER THE STANDARD EDITION 


 

To learn more, please visit my website:

http://www.theillustratedpress.com/fuchs.html

Sincerely,
Dan Zimmer, Publisher