Thursday, July 24, 2014

Kennedy Center shows this fall

The 2014-15 season of the Kennedy Center Performances for Young Audiences includes two comics-related shows: "The Gift of Nothing" (Nov. 22-Dec. 28), a musical featuring Patrick McDonnell's Mutts comic strip, and "Danny Elfman's Music from Films of Tim Burton" (Oct. 23-25), with music from Batman, Nightmare Before Christmas, Beetlejuice, etc.



Flugennock's Latest'n'Greatest: "Reporting Is Resistance"

"Reporting Is Resistance"
http://sinkers.org/stage/?p=1533

From police assaults on citizens photographing Occupy protests to Al Jazeera reporters' imprisonment by the Egyptian regime, journalists around the world have endured escalating attacks by authoritarian regimes both in the US and abroad.

It's gotten to the point where simply reporting the news is an act of resistance.

________________________________________________________________
Mike Flugennock, flugennock at sinkers dot org
Mike's Political Cartoons: dubya dubya dubya dot sinkers dot org

The Post on Tapman, the superhero dancer

Dancing is Tapman's strength, but production values are his Kryptonite

    By Rebecca Ritzel

    Washington Post July 24 2014

    http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/dancing-is-tapmans-strength-but-production-values-are-his-kryptonite/2014/07/23/b772d550-128a-11e4-ac56-773e54a65906_story.html

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

New home for Fantom Comics

Fantom Comics today opened at 3 p.m. at its new location on P Street at Dupont Circle. On Saturday, July 26, the store will host a grand opening with cake, goodies and a few local creators signing (such as S.L. Gallant of G.I. Joe and yours truly.)

Here are a few pics from today to whet your appetite for Saturday.


Fantom Comics owners Matt Klokel and Dave Bishop


Richard Thompson is on a blogging roll

Richard Thompson is on a blogging roll and has had some excellent posts lately. Read them immediately:

Creating Character

Agreed; The Specific is Funnier Than The General

Small things

Your Unnecessary Magazine Illustration for Today

Art in Illustration


New CAROLYN AND JOE SHOW podcast features Michael O’Connell

Its a Girl!

EPISODE 288

I can't BOlieve they actually did that, it's THE CAROLYN AND JOE SHOW! This week our hosts 
Astray Productions filmmaker Joe Carabeo and Curls Studio Cartoonist Carolyn Belefski, welcome to the studio an amazing guest, an amazing mind and an even amazing fellow podcaster, host of "It's All Journalism" Michael O'Connell! In this fantastic and fun episode Michael O'Connell and the gang have a conversation about the current trends in the comic book and serialized mediums, you know, like killing long loved character, changes in ethnic backgrounds and the switching of the sexes, not only that but we dive into the meaning of what is like to actually collect things you love and why, and why not, and is living life as a challenge good or bad. PLUS MORE, ENJOY!

Bugs Bunny exhibit offered from Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service

A Bugs Bunny exhibit is offered by the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Service. Details here.

Ann Telnaes criticized for political cartoon

Ann Telnaes is reporting on her blog that the Simon Wiesenthal Center got crabby about a cartoon she did, which she said is unsurprising BUT then "However unlike my male colleagues I also am receiving sexually violent and misogynistic threats in response to this cartoon." I call bullshit on intimidation such as this. 

Ann is also a longtime supporter of the free speech group Cartoonists Rights Network International.

Big Planet Comics has Doctor Who special covers

from their Facebook page...

Out today! The adventures of the 10th & 11th Doctors... with a custom cover as they hang out at Big Planet Comics!  
(Uhhhh not due to any strange customers we have, we promise...) 

Big Planet Comics's photo.
We will be having writer Nick Abadzis and artist Simon Fraser for a special event on Thursday, Sept 11!




Hank Steuver on The Simpsons new app

More 'Simpsons' than you can ever watch 

[in print as A 'Simpsons' app: Dreaming the impossible, July 23, p. C1, 5]

By Hank Stuever July 22 2014
FXX is launching "Simpsons World," a new way of getting on demand "Simpsons" content, in October. Credit: Fox

Comic Riffs on Batman Day

For Wednesday's "Batman Day," retailers will offer a free retelling of the first Batman story. (courtesy of DC Comics)

COMIC-CON 2014: DC Comics marks 'Batman Day' Wednesday with national celebration–

and retail sale 

[in print as On 75th birthday, Batman still soars, July 23, p. C1, 9]

By Michael Cavna July 22 2013

Tuesday, July 22, 2014

PR: Exclusive DC Comics Joker Figurines to be Sold at Comic-Con

I'm afraid that I'm a sucker for Schleich's figures. I bought dinosaurs for myself when they started showing up in the US, and then my daughter and I bought a lot of their knights, especially when visiting Rehoboth Beach.  So when I got the following email, I caved and asked for the figure. Which arrived yesterday and is indeed very well done, as I would expect from Schleich. Now I have to decide if I'm going to try to collect the whole series. In the meantime, yes, I've danced with the devil... - Mike



Ever dance with the devil in the pale moonlight?
 
Schleich USA Inc. will sell limited edition Joker figurines during Comic-Con, July 24-27, in celebration of Batman's 75th anniversary.
  • 1,000 limited edition Joker figurines available exclusively at Comic-Con
  • Sold through Toys R Us, at the Entertainment Earth Booth #2343, and Amazon.com in their Comic-Con Geek Boutique
  • Schleich DC Comics product line launching in January 2015
  • One guest will win a gold-painted Joker (the only one of its kind) and the first full set of the Schleich DC Comics line at a Schleich presentation July 27 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.





Bob Staake's commercial

Bob Staake appears every weekend in The Post's Style Invitational contest, and he's a guest at this year's Library of Congress' National Book Festival. He's also just done a commercial for Intel. Click the article to read more:

Bob Staake, TV Star

By Shannon Maughan

Local newspaper launches strip by local cartoonist

Budding local cartoonist Annamaria Ward has her first comic strip published in the most recent edition of the Fauquier (Va.) Times. Check out "Kairos" each week, and visit Ward's Tumblr page to see her wonderful artistic range.


Reprinted with Ward's permission

Bill Watterson’s return to comics: Pearls Before Swine comic art auctioned for Parkinson’s research


For Immediate Release
July 22, 2014

For more information:
Noah Fleisher, Public Relations Director
212-486-3510; NoahF@HA.com

Bill Watterson's return to comics: Pearls Before Swine comic art auctioned for Parkinson's research

The reclusive creator's artwork from the recently finished three-day collaboration with Stephen Pastis on Pearls Before Swine will sell Aug. 8, 2014 at Heritage Auctions, proceeds to benefit the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research; on display through Sunday, July 27, at ComicCon in San Diego

DALLAS – The original artwork for the recent three comic strip collaboration between Bill Watterson, the reclusive genius behind the much-loved Calvin and Hobbes comic strip, and Pearls Before Swine cartoonist Stephen Pastis – taking place in a three day run in June 2014 in Pearlswill be sold at Heritage Auctions on Aug. 8, 2014, with proceeds from the sale benefitting The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research.
 All three comic strips will be on display through Sunday, July 27, 2014, at San Diego ComicCon.

 "Anytime original Bill Watterson comic art shows up for auction it's a big deal," said Todd Hignite, Vice President at Heritage Auctions. "His collaboration with Stephan Pastis was an unexpected treat for his millions of fans. Now, thanks to this auction, fans will get to take the original art home while raising money for a great cause."

 The collaboration between the two artists came at the suggestion of Watterson and was immediately embraced by an overwhelmed Pastis, who, like some many modern cartoonists, was greatly influenced by Watterson and Calvin and Hobbes. The trajectory of the three strip arc follows Pastis' comic strip alter-ego as he turns the drawing of the comic over to a precocious second-grader named Libby for three days. The results are both wickedly funny and uniquely Watterson, while remaining true to the sharp humor that defines the Pearls Before Swine strip.

 At Watterson's request, the artwork is being sold on behalf of Team Cul de Sac, a non-profit charity established by editor/designer Chris Sparks on behalf of Cul de Sac cartoonist Richard Thompson, who is battling Parkinson's Disease – a piece of artwork done by Watterson depicting one of Thompson's Cul de Sac characters sold in 2012 as part of a charity auction to benefit Team Cul de Sac – and the profits from the sale of the original art (Heritage is waiving the seller's fee on the artwork and will also contribute half of the Buyer's Premium) will be donated to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research.

Heritage Auctions is the largest auction house founded in the United States and the world's third largest, with annual sales of more than $900 million, and 850,000+ online bidder members. For more information about Heritage Auctions, and to join and receive access to a complete record of prices realized, with full-color, enlargeable photos of each lot, please visit HA.com.
 Want to get the up-to-the-minute updates and breaking news stories about Heritage Auctions? Get them as they happen at: HA.com/Twitter; Facebook: HA.com/Facebook. To view a complete archive of Heritage press releases go to: HA.com/PR. To link to this press release on your blog or Website: HA.com/PR-2222.

 

Monday, July 21, 2014

July 23: Batman day at 3rd Eye Comics

This Wednesday is BATMAN DAY! Get a FREE Batman 75th Anniversary Comic!

Score a BATMAN mask!

Save BIG with our BATMAN Sale!

We'll be offering up a TON of cool free swag, along with a very special edition of the very first issue of BATMAN ever: DETECTIVE COMICS #27. 

 

This new, special edition is strictly limited, is completely free, and features a brand new re-design by superstar graphic designer CHIP KIDD with a new script by BRAD MELTZER. 

 

In addition, we'll be giving you a FREE Batman 75th Anniversary gift bag with ANY purchase on Wednesday 7/23, while supplies last! 

 

PLUS: with any purchase of a BATMAN graphic novel (softcover or hardcover), we'll give you a FREE Batman mask, each one spotlights a different incarnation of the character's past looks - and you can collect them all, but supplies are limited! 

 

Finally, we'll have some very rad BATMAN 75th anniversary capes available for purchase - these are a very special promotional item, and are very limited, so make sure you get here early to hook yourself up! 

 

And, what's that.. a giant BAT-SALE? That's right, Third Eye Faithful, we'll be offering a special 20% OFF discount on ALL Batman-related graphic novels, and merchandise! 

 

So join us on BATMAN DAY to celebrate one of the most bad-ass characters in the history of comics!

 

Click here for event info!

July 23: Free Batman comic available at Big Planet Comics and Barnes & Noble stores

It's a reprint of the recent Detective Comics 27 story by Brad Meltzer.

Sunday, July 20, 2014

John Held, Jr. artwork on card game

I picked up this card game, Pit, in New Jersey last weekend. John Held Jr. did the artwork. It's copyrighted 1919, which I think may be for the game, not the artwork, but I also think the game may still be sold.
Add a footnote to the Secret History of Comics...

DC Conspiracy exhibit pictures

I was able to see the DC Conspiracy exhibit on Capitol Hill over the weekend. Here are some more photographs.

The latest Magic Bullet comic book came out today.

July 23: Batman day at comic book stores and Barnes & Noble

Click through for the details from Previewsworld:

It's Batman Day on Wednesday, July 23rd!
Get to your local shop for a FREE limited edition of Detective Comics #27 and more!