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Saturday, May 08, 2004
baby! congrats to christine norrie on the arrival of her beautiful baby daughter, josephine! everyone at artbomb extends their best wishes and looks forward to the day when we review her first graphic novel, following in mom's footsteps.
  
posted by peter! 3:52 PM EST permalink
Friday, May 07, 2004
new review: up front by bill maudlin
"Bill Mauldin led a celebrity's life back when doing so had a grander and more specific meaning, a combination of accomplishments enjoyed and lives touched. He put together a series of achievements fueled by a natural-felt sympathy for the little guy. Mauldin survived the European Theatre and stood up to Patton; he acted in Hollywood movies and ran for Congress; he fought against romanticizing the War and for speaking plainly on issues of social justice, winning Pulitzers for both expressions of what he felt was right. They had an impromptu parade when he came to Chicago to ply his trade, and he's the only artist other than Charles Schulz to draw anything in Peanuts."
(more from tom spurgeon)
posted by peter! 1:05 AM EST permalink
good grief! in stores this week:
posted by peter! 1:03 AM EST permalink
tangled web: following up yesterday's story regarding outrage over major league baseball's decision to sell out their bases to promote the new spider-man film, the league has announced that they are scuttling those plans. from espn.com: "Spider-Man will not appear on the base paths after all. One day after hearing the public and media outcry following the announcement of the alliance between the league and Columbia Pictures in conjunction with the summer release of Spider-Man 2, Major League Baseball officials and Columbia Pictures executives decided to scale back the promotion... The original plan, as announced on Wednesday, was to have a 6-by-6 inch Spider-Man 2 logo on first, second and third base during interleague games played June 11 to 13. But, on Thursday evening, the two parties jointly announced that the logoed infield bases would no longer be a part of the deal."
posted by peter! 12:54 AM EST permalink
Thursday, May 06, 2004
monica to the rescue: from the pan american health organization: "Monica, the famous comic book character created by Brazilian artist Mauricio de Sousa is acting as the spokesperson for a continental vaccination campaign coordinated by the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). A Monica comic book formed part of the outreach effort for Vaccination Week in the Americas, an initiative that started April 24 with the goal of immunizing 40 million people throughout the continent, from Canada to the Southern Cone. For the vaccine campaign, de Sousa created a special Monica's Gang comic book, 'Vaccination: An Act of Love,' that points out the importance of children receiving their vaccines, in language and with characters aimed at children."
posted by peter! 11:52 AM EST permalink
that old feeling: i've been really enjoying richard corliss's recent comic book profiles on time.com. here's his latest on harvey kurtzman: "One man's saint is another's man cipher; and across the vastness of the internet, I hear you shrug, 'Harvey Who?' In 1993, when Kurtzman died at 68 (on February 21st), the media shrugged with you. Press people probably knew that MAD had welded a permanent smirk on the face of American youth. But Kurtzman had left MAD in 1956, when it was still a precocious kid, barely four years old; then Al Feldstein took over, nursing the magazine to its eminence as the font of comfortable satire. And in his after-MAD, what did Kurtzman create? 'A series of failed humor magazines,' as several obit writers put it. News of Kurtzman's death was tucked away, like a furtive visual gag in the corner of a one of MAD's Brueghelesque cartoon panels..."
posted by peter! 11:48 AM EST permalink
bishop says it with comics: in italy, the bishop of ascoli piceno is using comic books as his mouthpiece, according to this piece from the washington times: "This week thousands of 'comic' books of the life of St. Emidius, patron saint of Ascoli Piceno, Italy, were distributed compliments of the city's bishop. Italians are avid comic book readers. The major newspapers have comic book columns. So when Bishop Silvano Montevecchi discovered that St. Emidius was virtually unknown in the diocese, he commissioned a comic book from a leading comic book creator to tell the 1,700-year-old story."
posted by peter! 11:45 AM EST permalink
raising the bar: the connecticut fairfield county weekly profiles indy publishers fantagraphics and drawn & quarterly: "If you think clever comics end at Dilbert or Mutts, you're settling for less, like ordering grits when you can have filet mignon and lobster for the same price. Seattle's Fantagraphics and Toronto's Drawn & Quarterly are two cases in point. These two publishers, the preeminent imprints for intelligent, groundbreaking comic art (i.e., no superhero junk), are now the equivalent of the Yankees and Red Sox. Both are great teams whose rivalry is healthy for the entire league. And, together, they make North America the reigning world's champion for comic books, cartooning and graphic novels."
posted by peter! 11:41 AM EST permalink
suspended in language: jim ottaviani is interviewed over at the pulse in regards to his upcoming graphic novel biopic on niels bohr: "Nowadays, when you think about atoms, chances are you think of Niels Bohr's model. But beyond that model (which he soon discarded, since it's wrong!) Bohr and his posse figured out so much essential stuff about the way the physical world works that without their discoveries there would be no web or even computers, no space travel, and no hint of so many other things we take for granted today. Better still, he was a Good Guy. His institute, and the spirit of cooperation and inquiry he fostered there, brought out the best in others -- whether they were physicists, biologists, or whoever."
posted by peter! 11:37 AM EST permalink
spider-man nets mlb: from ralph nader to sports columnists across the country, outrage over baseball's latest advert deal to paste spider-man 2 movie promotions on the field bases has been the theme of the day. here's the chicago sports review: "I think that even aborigines and Amish people without televisions and radios will somehow get the word that the new Spider-Man movie is out. Do we really need bases and on-deck circles decked out in the Spider-Man logo? This is yet another craven money-grubbing display from the baseball owners. And it’s just like them. Just as they are able to claim the moral high ground in the steroid testing and punishment debate, then they shoot themselves in their collective feet once again."
the controversy has caused the new york yankees to begin cutting back on the deal.
posted by peter! 11:27 AM EST permalink
Wednesday, May 05, 2004
ted rall's at it again: controversial political cartoonist ted rall has had another comic strip pulled, this time over the death of pat tillman: "A cartoon questioning late footballer-turned-soldier Pat Tillman's credentials as a 'hero' was pulled from MSNBC.com this afternoon. The drawing also brought Ted Rall 110 e-mails in less than 15 minutes... Rall, who risked his life in Afghanistan himself as a visiting cartoonist/writer after 9/11, told E&P: 'The word 'hero' has been bandied about a lot to refer to anyone killed in Afghanistan or Iraq. But anyone who voluntarily goes to Afghanistan or Iraq [as a soldier] is fighting for an evil cause under an evil commander in chief... Tillman gave up millions of dollars,' Rall added. 'To that extent I think he's admirable, but the cause is not. ... He would have been a better person and a better husband if he took the $3.6 million and played football and left the poor and beleaguered people of Afghanistan and Iraq alone.'"
rall apparently was on the o'reilly factor last night to discuss the issue.
posted by peter! 11:14 AM EST permalink
library in the news: the fayetteville observer acknowledges the good efforts of triton high school librarians to use graphic novels to entice kids to read: "More educators are using book-length comics as a way to entice students to read. Graphic novels have been available since February in the library at Triton High School. Librarians at Triton High School hope the books, called graphic novels, will not only attract young readers but foster a love of literature. The library started carrying graphic novels in February. The books have been slow to catch on in other parts of the Cape Fear region, but educators across the country say they can change the way some students view reading. Others question their literary merit and have dismissed them as artsy comic strips..."
posted by peter! 11:12 AM EST permalink
manga ACTION: the japan times takes a look at the revamp of the seminal manga action magazine: "Cults, capital punishment, teenage pregnancies and North Korean abductions may not represent the light fare generally associated with 'manga' comic magazines, but one such publication is hoping its new focus on serious current issues will spark its revival. Katsushi Minoura, chief editor of Manga Action, holds a copy of the inaugural issue of the revived comic at Futabasha Publishers Inc. in Shinjuku Ward, Tokyo. That is the hope of Katsushi Minoura, chief editor of Manga Action, published by Tokyo-based Futabasha Publishers Ltd. The magazine, which was halted in September due to sluggish sales, hopes to got a new lease on life by resuming publication on April 20. Although the original Manga Action, a weekly inaugurated in 1967, was a launchpad for hit comics Lupin the Third, about a thief, and Crayon Shin-chan, which depicts the antics of a precocious kindergartner, more serious topics dominate the revival version."
posted by peter! 11:10 AM EST permalink
blackshirt revealed: filmmaker, comic writer, and artbomber adi tantimedh is interviewed over at popimage and talks about his new book: "Comics are harder to write than films because you have to fill in a lot more specific details, since you're writing still pictures in narrative progression, whereas screenplays are descriptions of continuous action. Other than that, comics are easier on the nerves than movies, because it's really just you and the artist - you don't need loads of money to create a picture of a massive firefight in a warehouse, whereas to do that in a movie takes enormous time, personnel, resources and expense, and there's always a chance of things going wrong, where in the best cases, you have to spend the time to do it again till you get it right, and in the worse cases, people can get hurt. Working on a movie set is a huge amount of responsibility, no matter whether you're an actor, the director or a gaffer."
posted by peter! 11:08 AM EST permalink
refract fest: not sure serbia is high on my vacation list, but oneworld.net takes a look at this week's refract festival: "The Regional Festival of Alternative Culture -- Refract is held annually, at the beginning of May, in Serbia. The Festival covers music, film, theatre, graphic novels and literature. This year, the Festival will be held in five cities in Serbia, from May 5 to May 10. The festival events will take place in Belgrade, Kragujevac, Prijepolje, Zrenjanin and Banatsko Novo Selo, and will include performances, plays, concerts, exhibitions by artists from the region of Southeastern Europe."
posted by peter! 11:02 AM EST permalink
comic writers get all the girls: the usa today looks at the growing trend of filmmakers turning to comic book writing: "The comic book industry, once populated by anonymous, low-paid writers and illustrators, is luring big-name Hollywood talent to write some of its most popular comics. And at least one book is lampooning studios for their portrayal of beloved villains and superheroes. Filmmakers say writing for comic books allows them to flex new creative muscles and become more familiar with story lines they may soon bring to the big screen. They also concede it's the fulfillment of fantasies they've had since they were geeky teenagers..."
posted by peter! 10:59 AM EST permalink
Tuesday, May 04, 2004
herding cats: hopefully, they'll have more luck than previous attempts: "Announced today is the formation and official launch of a progressive new, non-profit trade organization to serve the comic book industry. Named The International Comic Arts Association (ICAA), the organization promises to become the comic book industry’s first large-scale, US-based trade organization and promotional board uniting all aspects of the industry. This member-driven organization is dedicated to strengthening and enhancing the comic industry, increasing the consumer market and improving the public perception of the medium and also serves to provide a wide range of valuable services and benefits to its members." more at comicarts.org.
posted by peter! 11:36 AM EST permalink
fuck communism: the national review on mark millar's superman: red son from dc comics: "Passing over the Queen Mary II-sized plot-holes, it's a brilliant idea, and there is some fun to be had in cameos by Batman (now wearing a fur hat and working as an anti-socialist vigilante) and Wonder Woman, who plays a radical fellow-traveler fighting for women's rights. There's also some terrific artwork of Superman, a hammer-and-sickle emblazoned on his chest in place of the iconic 'S,' wearing a Red Army uniform and encouraging his 'comrades' to throw off their shackles. Unfortunately, there's an unnecessary pompousness to the proceedings. Mark Millar makes no secret of his Leftie views — he changed the storyline, he says, to genuflect on 'unethical American foreign policy' (yeah, right on); Superman the Sov 'is an allegory of George W. Bush and very like America,' you get the picture -- and doesn't bother mentioning the Gulag even as he paints Stalin as an avuncular fellow..."
posted by peter! 11:30 AM EST permalink
vertigo update: at wondercon this past weekend (which i forgot all about), vertigo made a number of announcements, courtesy of newsarama: "Grant Morrison and Cameron Stewart’s Seaguy begins this month, while both We3 and Vinanarama are slated for August and early 2005, respectively. As for We3, a tad more about the three-issue miniseries was revealed, including that it’s a view of The Incredible Journey as only Grant Morrison could imagine it – three ultimate cyborg assassins: a dog named Bandit, a cat named Tinker, and a rabbit named Pirate, armed with missiles, poison gas, state-of-the-art computer technology, rapid fire chain guns and unbreakable exo-skeletons. Described as a 'heartbreaking adventure,' the three issue mini is drawn by Frank Quitely. Dave Gibbons' The Originals is currently slated for October, after being announced eighteen or so months ago. The OGN is set in the future, with 'the Originals' being the coolest gang, the one that everyone wants to be a part of." (more in link.)
posted by peter! 11:21 AM EST permalink
retailer in the news: the los angeles daily news takes a look at the charitable efforts of brave new world comics: "When Atom Freeman started working at a comic book store, he probably didn't think he'd be involved in defending the Constitution. But today, as he and his wife, Portlyn, celebrate the 14th anniversary of Brave New World Comics, their Newhall store, he's doing his part to help artists who find themselves in First Amendment struggles. Part of the anniversary festivities will be auctions of items donated by distributors and others in the comic book industry, with a portion of the proceeds going to the Comic Book Legal Defense Fund. The fund is a nonprofit organization that defends comic creators, publishers and store owners facing freedom of speech challenges."
posted by peter! 11:19 AM EST permalink
Monday, May 03, 2004
new review: usagi yojimbo by stan sakai
"USAGI YOJIMBO has been one of the longest running serials in independent comics. Beginning his creative adventure in 1984, Stan Sakai has written, drawn, and lettered the production himself for the last two decades. There are currently 17 collected volumes and one spin-off, and Sakai is still going. While the story is often episodic and soap operatic, the skeleton of USAGI YOJIMBO is based on the life and myth of Miyamoto Musashi, a 17th century samurai whose life-long journey has been celebrated in novels, comics, and films for hundreds of years -- but none ever quite like this."
(more from jamie s. rich)
posted by peter! 11:12 AM EST permalink
farewell micah wright: i'm getting bored, so this'll be the last post about the micah wright scandal unless something else spectacular happens. over at comic book resources, washington post writer richard leiby elaborates on the assertion in his article that his investigation prompted wright's confession and not the comic book writer's claimed conscious: "'The story Micah Wright is peddling (that he outed himself) is another outright lie,' Leiby told CBR News. 'After receiving the final, conclusive FOIA response in mid-April that proved Wright did not serve in the Army, I called Seven Stories to alert its publisher that I intended to write a story. (I had called twice over the months with similiar reports as they became available; FOIA is a long process. I gave Wright the benefit of the doubt until the Special Operations Command reported no record of him.) Seven Stories' publisher and editor called Wright and made one final demand for documentation of service, based on my request. He had none. The publisher called me either that day or the next to say that Wright had confessed...'"
anti-wright poster contests are popping up all over the place. really.
posted by peter! 10:32 AM EST permalink
Sunday, May 02, 2004
exposed: more on the micah wright situation from the washington post: "Wright, it turns out, is a liar. He never served in the military -- and confessed that last week to his publisher, Seven Stories Press, after we insisted on evidence of his service. Pursuing a tip from real Rangers who'd never heard of Wright, we filed three Freedom of Information Act requests with separate Army commands -- and last month finally confirmed that Wright never served... Seven Stories has canceled publication of Wright's next book, 'If You're Not a Terrorist, Then Stop Asking Questions,' due out in two months. It also will remove from future printings of the first book his detailed and wholly fictional account of parachuting into Panama under fire during Operation Just Cause..."
it's interesting to note that wright posted a follow-up on his forum yesterday claiming that his confession was not prompted by today's washington post story, which is flatly contradicted by the paper above. wright wrote: "The Washington Post is running a story tomorrow, yes. I started this ball in motion last week when I decided that this entire thing was over. I called my publisher and informed them of the truth, and THEY called the Washington Post and informed them. This is not a case of imminent exposure bringing about this confession, this is a case of me stepping up to the plate and admitting what I have done..."
even more curious is the website version of his apology, which was originally backdated to march 15th, but now reads march 25th, after a forum poster noted that army ranger pat tillman -- who is referenced in the apology -- had passed away after the original posting date. this, of course, looks like wright trying to build distance between his apology and the post article, albeit unsuccessfully.
regardless of what you believe, comics writer andy diggle summed up the matter succinctly with this post on wright's forum:
"Well I feel sick to my stomach."
posted by peter! 12:00 PM EST permalink
archives:
11/30/2003 - 12/06/2003
12/07/2003 - 12/13/2003
12/14/2003 - 12/20/2003
12/21/2003 - 12/27/2003
12/28/2003 - 01/03/2004
01/04/2004 - 01/10/2004
01/11/2004 - 01/17/2004
01/18/2004 - 01/24/2004
01/25/2004 - 01/31/2004
02/01/2004 - 02/07/2004
02/08/2004 - 02/14/2004
02/15/2004 - 02/21/2004
02/22/2004 - 02/28/2004
02/29/2004 - 03/06/2004
03/07/2004 - 03/13/2004
03/14/2004 - 03/20/2004
03/21/2004 - 03/27/2004
03/28/2004 - 04/03/2004
04/04/2004 - 04/10/2004
04/11/2004 - 04/17/2004
04/18/2004 - 04/24/2004
04/25/2004 - 05/01/2004
05/02/2004 - 05/08/2004
05/09/2004 - 05/15/2004
05/16/2004 - 05/22/2004
05/23/2004 - 05/29/2004
05/30/2004 - 06/05/2004
06/06/2004 - 06/12/2004
06/13/2004 - 06/19/2004
06/20/2004 - 06/26/2004
06/27/2004 - 07/03/2004
07/04/2004 - 07/10/2004
07/11/2004 - 07/17/2004
07/18/2004 - 07/24/2004
07/25/2004 - 07/31/2004
08/01/2004 - 08/07/2004
08/08/2004 - 08/14/2004
08/15/2004 - 08/21/2004
08/22/2004 - 08/28/2004
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