Monday, November 16, 2009

Fwd: Kal cartoons on M&Ms

Kal writes in with news of an impossible-to-find (let alone preserve) collectible...

I thought you might want to know about a Kal First... my cartoons appearing on a special edition of M&M candies:
http://www.kaltoons.com/wordpress/2009/11/kal-caricatures-on-mms/

Best
Kal

Kevin Kallaugher
kal@kaltoons.com
www.Kaltoons.com



Sunday, November 15, 2009

Saturday, November 14, 2009

Quick Reviews for Comics Due 11-18-09

QUICK REVIEWS FOR COMICS DUE 11-18-09
By John Judy
 
ADVENTURE COMICS #4 by Geoff Johns and Jerry Ordway.  Superboy-Prime meets the Black Lanterns to see who can be more over-the-top creepy.  Plus, a Legion back-up story.
 
AMAZING SPIDER-MAN #612 by Mark Waid and Paul Azaceta.  What if Electro didn't suck anymore?  Watch how Waid does it.  Recommended.
 
BRAVE AND BOLD #29 by J. Michael Straczynski and Jesus Saiz.  Batman and Brother Power the Geek.  Need I say more?  No.  No, I do not.
 
CASPER THE FRIENDLY GHOST 60th ANNIVERSARY HC by Various Creators.  Going back to his first appearance in 1949, this one collects rare and charming highlights from the Friendliest Ghost You Know.  Good stuff for all ages.  Recommended.
 
DARK AVENGERS #11 by Brian Michael Bendis and Mike Deodato.  Molecule Man don't take no mess!  Ow!
 
DARK REIGN THE LIST: AMAZING SPIDER-MAN ONE-SHOT by Dan Slott and Adam Kubert.  Norman Osborn has had it!  Up to HERE! With that darn Spider-Man!  Time to get down to business.  This one's written by Dan Slott so expect the unexpected.  Recommended.
 
DR. HORRIBLE ONE-SHOT by Zack Whedon and Joelle Jones.  The dirty little secret origin of the internet's favorite mad scientist!  Huzzah!  Highly recommended.
 
DRIVEN BY LEMONS HC written and drawn by Joshua Cotter.  A sketchbook from the guy who gave us SKYSCRAPERS OF THE MIDWEST.  A little different for them that likes it that way.
 
FIR TREE GN by Hans Christian Andersen and Lilli Carre.  The story of a fir tree who ends up celebrating Christmas the hard way.
 
FLASH: REBIRTH #5 of 6 by Geoff Johns and Ethan Van Sciver.  Further game-changing by Geoff Johns.  This is awesome.  Flash-fact.  Recommended.
 
GIFT OF THE MAGI GN by O. Henry and Joel Priddy.  An adaptation of the classic tale of giving.  Great gift for the season.
 
HELLBLAZER #261 by Peter Milligan and Giuseppe Camuncoli.  Constantine meets Bollywood and neither shall be unchanged!  Milligan madness!
 
IRREDEEMABLE #8 by Mark Waid and Peter Krause.  Well, the Plutonian sure got a surprise last issue didn't he?  Now it's his turn.  A terrifying story of what would happen if a superman went bad and just kept on going.  Recommended.  Not for kids.
 
JUSTICE SOCIETY OF AMERICA 80-PAGE GIANT #1 by Everybody.  Okay, not quite Everybody, but darn near.  Seven stories about JSAers, old and new.
 
KIDNAPPED SANTA CLAUS GN by L. Frank Baum and Alex Robinson.  Demons kidnap Saint Nick!  Must!  Have!  (And yes, it's that L. Frank Baum.)
 
MIGHTY AVENGERS #31 by Christos Gage, Dan Slott and Sean Chen.  Many super-types gather to beat up on a bad guy.  Amazed no one ever thought of that before…
 
PICTURES THAT TICK SC by Dave McKean.  A graphic brain-bender from the guy who brought you every single cover of SANDMAN among too many other works of genius to mention here.  Gotta look!
 
POWERS ENCYCLOPEDIA VOL. 1 by Bendis, Tim Daniel and Michael Avon Oeming.  A little… okay, a lot of backstory on the POWERS universe, plus a peek into what's coming up.  For Bendis fans new and old alike.
 
SPIDER-WOMAN #3 by Brian Michael Bendis and Alex Maleev.  Skrulls, Hydra, Madripoor, lots of wayward elements of the Marvel Yoo coming together in the context of a Big Fight!
 
THE STAND: SOUL SURVIVORS #2 of 5 by Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa and Mike Perkins.  Larry Underwood meets Nadine Cross and Joe the feral kid.  What better time than now to read a comic about the flu killing the world?  Curl up with a jug of Ny-Quil and enjoy!  Recommended.
 
THE NAM, VOL. 1 SC by Doug Murray and Michael Golden.  Collecting issues #1-10 of this pivotal war series from the late eighties.  Recommended.
 
UNDERGROUND #3 of 5 by Jeff Parker and Steve Lieber.  Bats!  There's a cave full of bats in the dark and our heroes have to cuddle up with those rats with wings.  And their filthy teeth…  Recommended.
 
VICTORIAN UNDEAD #1 of 6 by Ian Edginton and Davide Fabbri.  Sherlock Holmes fights zombies!  Why did Conan-Doyle not think of this?!  Highly recommended!
 
WOLVERINE: WEAPON X #7 by Jason Aaron and Yanick Paquette.  "Wolverine in a nuthouse."  It's the one you've always wanted to read and Jason Aaron writes it good.  Recommended.
 
Also this week: Blue and Violet Lantern/Star Sapphire promotional rings!  For those of you keeping score, we now have available: Orange, Yellow, Blue, Indigo and Violet Lantern Rings.  (Black Lantern rings came out a while ago, before this latest promo tie-in.)  This just leaves Green and Red until we can all have a huge nerd party, chanting the Green Lantern oath and wondering why we can't get a date.
 
 


Friday, November 13, 2009

Thursday, November 12, 2009

PR: Canadian artist Von Allan publishes mental illness graphic novel

Friend of ComicsDC (look for the badge!) Von Allan's got his new book out:


Ottawa, Ontario, Canada (November 11, 2009) – Mental illness remains one of Western society's greatest taboos.  Those who suffer from various mental health disorders often suffer in silence, with very little support from society.  Family members and other loved ones of those afflicted also suffer and are often forced to understand and cope alone.  The loneliness, fear and frustration that this can cause is difficult for most people to understand.  And this isolation can be far worse when you're a child of a bipolar, schizophrenic or otherwise mentally ill parent.  Von Allan, an Ottawa-based graphic novelist, has attempted to shed some light on this subject with the publication of his first full-length graphic novel, titled "the road to god knows..."

"My mom was diagnosed schizophrenic when I was quite young, maybe 11 or so," said Allan.  "She suffered a number of nervous breakdowns as I was growing up, as she battled, often very much alone, a disease that was slowly taking bits of her away.  What I remember most vividly about this time was how confused and powerless I was.  No one talked with me about what was happening to her and my mom was incapable of explaining it to me herself.  I didn't understand and that, combined with what I was experiencing, was really, really scary.  There's also odd feelings of guilt that go with this.  "Did I do something wrong?  Did I somehow cause this?"  I wrote and drew this book to shed some light on a very hush-hush topic and hopefully help others, especially kids but really people of all ages, realize that they aren't alone and that they haven't done anything wrong.  And neither has the person who is suffering from mental illness."

A unique aspect of the graphic novel is its availability in multiple channels.  First, the book can be downloaded as a free PDF eBook on the artist's website.  In addition, a torrent version has been made available via LegalTorrents.com and the PDF is also available on Scribd.com.  The graphic novel is distributed under a Creative Commons Canada licence that grants readers the ability to distribute the online versions of the book for free.  "The toughest thing for new artists is just getting noticed.  Obscurity, as Tim O'Reilly said, is the enemy and not piracy.  By using a variety of online distribution tools as well as more traditional print publishing, I'm hoping people will give the book a try.  And maybe it'll get into the hands of someone who could really use it.  The book is also available through online retailers like Amazon and Barnes & Noble, and can also be purchased in comic shops like Jim Hanley's Universe in New York, Atlantis Fantasyworld in Santa Cruz, Cosmic Monkey Comics in Portland, Strange Adventures in Halifax, and bookstores like Perfect Books in Ottawa and Librarie Astro in Montreal."

"The road to god knows..." is the story of Marie, a teenage girl coming to grips with her Mom's schizophrenia. As a result, she's struggling to grow up fast; wrestling with poverty, loneliness, and her Mom's illness every step of the way.  At the start of the story, we see a scared young girl, uncertain and overwhelmed, but as her mom collapses into a full nervous breakdown, Marie is forced to examine herself and her life and come to a decision:  does she continue to be a child, reacting to what's happening around her?  Or does she take control of her life, come what may?

"the road to god knows…" has an ISBN of 978-0-9781237-0-3, a suggested retail price of $12.95 US/$13.99 CDN and is 148 pages in length.

About Von Allan:  Von Allan was born red-headed and freckled in Arnprior, Ontario, just in time for "Star Wars: A New Hope."  The single child of two loving but troubled parents, Von split most of his childhood between their two homes.  Additional information about the graphic novel can be found at http://trtgk.vonallan.com/.

Contact:

Von Allan
P.O. Box 20520, 390 Rideau Street,
Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.  K1N 1A3
Email: von@vonallan.com
Phone:  613-236-9957

###
--
Von Allan

Quote: "Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try again. Fail again. Fail better." (Beckett)

My original graphic novel, the road to god knows... (ISBN: 978-0-9781237-0-3) is now available at Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Barnes & Noble, and other notable retailers.

the road to god knows... cover

Von Allan Studio
P.O. Box 20520, 390 Rideau Street, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada. K1N 1A3
Phone: 613-236-9957
Email: von@vonallan.com
Web: http://www.vonallan.com
Blog: http://vonandmoggy.livejournal.com


Georgetown Voice on local comic book stores

D.C. Comics: The District’s other bookstores
Author: Chris Heller
Georgetown Voice November 12, 2009

Comic Riffs on San Diego's Kelley-Breen split

The comic strip that ruined a friendship, rankled a newspaper and landed in court. And that was BEFORE being launched.
Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog November 12, 2009

Comic Riffs interviews caricaturist Richmond

A new Congressional 'bobblehead' app for your iPhone? MAD artist says Apple won't bite
By Michael Cavna
Washington Post Comic Riffs blog November 12, 2009

Progress in the Library of Congress' grand scheme of things

On the GN-LIB list for librarians, it's reported As of last month, "Superhero comic books, strips, etc." is now an official LC Subject Heading, and thus is also usable as an LC genre heading.

Unlike Moses, I may get to see the Promised Land.

San Diego Comic-Con founder obit in Post's Metro section

Nelson, Valerie J. / Los Angeles Times.  2009.
Shel Dorf, 78: Artist turned spotlight on cartoonists with Comic-Con.
Washington Post (November 12)

Here's the Times - Sheldon Dorf, Founder of Comic-Con, Dies at 76, By GEORGE GENE GUSTINES, November 12, 2009/

Nov 12: Herblock at Politics and Prose

Haynes Johnson - Herblock
7 p.m. Johnson, who worked with Herblock at The Washington Post, will launch a new anthology celebrating Herblock's life and career. The Post's editorial cartoonist was a protean figure whose career spanned thirteen American Presidents.

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

Onion interviews Schodt on Tezuka

For the forthcoming set of programs, the Onion talked to Schodt the premier Anglo-speaking manga expert on Tezuka, the 'Walt Disney' of Japan. See The "God of Manga," humanized: Osamu Tezuka scholar Frederik Schodt explains the anime pioneer, by Chelsea Bauch, Onion AV Club November 11, 2009.

Veteran's day


In a few minutes (local time), we'll hit 11/11/11 or, the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month when World War 1 ended. This was known as Armistice Day until a second world war led to the change to Veteran's Day in the US. Following the lead of Charles Schulz, who often mentioned Bill Mauldin in Peanuts, we present a sketch the great soldier cartoonist did in a copy of his book The Brass Ring, many years after his World War 2 service.

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Anime Retrospective Celebrates the Legendary Osamu Tezuka




A Retrospective of Osamu Tezuka:
God of Manga, Father of Anime


  
Begins this weekend on 11/13
(click image for details)

Films: Introducing Astro Boy, Marine Express, Prime Rose, Tezuka's Short Films, and The Film is Alive: Osamu Tezuka Filmography
 
Plus, a panel discussion with authors Frederik Schodt, Helen McCarthy, and Natsu Onoda Power!



 

Tea Pot

 1050 Independence Ave. SW
202.633.1000
Metro: Smithsonian

www.asia.si.edu
publicaffairsAsia@si.edu


films | performances | talks | ImaginAsia | membership | shops


 

Nov 11: Metropolis

Metropolis to be screened at the Japan Information and Culture Center, Embassy of Japan.

DC Anime Club in collaboration with Japan Information and Culture Center, Embassy of Japan Present screen Metropolis on
Friday November 13, 2009 6:30 pm at Lafayette Center III (Lower Level) 1155 21st Street, NW Washington, DC 20036 as part of inaugural showing for a new film series based on both Anime (Japanese Animation) and Manga ( Japanese Comics).

Kenichi and his detective uncle, Shunsaku Ban, leave Japan to visit Metropolis, in search of the criminal, Dr. Laughton. However, when they finally find Dr. Laughton, Kenichi and Shunsaku find themselves seperated and plunged into the middle of a larger conspiracy. While Shunsaku searches for his nephew and explanations, Kenichi tries to protect Tima (a mysterious young girl), from Duke Red and his adopted son Rock, both of whom have very different reasons for wanting to find her.
This event is free and open to the public. Reservations are required.

RSVP to jiccrsvpfall09@embjapan.org.

Seating is limited and granted on a first come, first served basis.

For more information please visit the Japanese Information and Culture Center website at

http://www.us.emb-japan.go.jp/jicc/index.htm or visit the DC Anime Club website at http://dcanimeclub.org.


CONTACT: Chris Wanamaker, (202) 262 2083 president@dcanimeclub.org

Weingarten on Our Town continued

Better late than never, I suppose...

Chatological Humor (UPDATED 11.10.09)

aka Tuesdays With Moron

Gene Weingarten
Washington Post Staff Writer
Tuesday, October 27, 2009; 12:00 PM



Our To, WN: So have you had any more time to think about the "Our Town" in the Washington Post Magazine, especially with the "reportage graphique" explanation of 18 Oct.?

Am I wrong to be sticking to my initial assessment of "blech." It seems to be trying to hard to be artsy for the sake of being artsy, which is fine and has a place, but I don't think it's in the Washington Post Magazine.

Also, is it churlish of me to note that the National Zoo does not have any llamas at the Kids' Farm (25 Oct. Our Town)? Those guys are alpacas.

Gene Weingarten: Liz, can we link to the mentioned 'toon, which contains, um, me. Michael Cavna was playfully publicly answering my critique from the last chat.

I'm willing to wait n' see. My problem with this feature is not arts-fartsiness; I think it's a good idea to send a cartoonist to try to record a moment in time in an interesting place, coupled with whimsical commentary. I think this is ambitious, and I applaud ambition.

My problem, so far, is that I think we've proven that not all places offer fodder for riveting observational humor. This is hard; the threshold needs to be high. Let's give it a chance. This past Sunday I liked the speechless speech balloons.

washingtonpost.com: Our Town: Oct. 18 | Oct. 25

_______________________

Fairfax, VA: I find "Our Town" intellectually stimulating. It's like "Where's Waldo" for literate people.

Gene Weingarten: Noted!