NC – Funky Winkerbean Signing
May 10, 2013 by Colin Solan
Filed under Comic Strips, North Carolina, Signing and Appearance Profiles
Tom Batiuk signs at Chapel Hill Comics on Saturday, June 8, 2013 from 2:00 until 4:00 pm!
Press Release:
Chapel Hill Comics is proud to announce that as part of our 10th/35th Anniversary Festivities, we will host Tom Batiuk on Saturday, June 8, from 2pm until 4pm, when he will sign The Complete Funky Winkerbean books one and two!
From Comic Book Resources:
For more than four decades, Tom Batiuk’s “Funky Winkerbean” has been a fixture in the comics page of newspapers nationwide. Initially set in high school centered around a group of students and a handful of teachers and employees — including the secretary who actually ran the school and Harry L. Dinkle, the self-proclaimed “world’s greatest band director.” In 1992, Batiuk relaunched the strip, jumping forward in time, something he did again in 2007.
During this time Batiuk has received both praise and criticism for combining dramatic and comedic elements and tackling issues ranging from bullying to teen pregnancy to cancer and death. In 2007, Batiuk was a Pulitzer Prize finalist for “Lisa’s Story,” a story arc in which the character succumbed to cancer. In addition to his work on “Funky,” from 1979-1990 Batiuk wrote the strip “John Darling” and since 1987 has been writing “Crankshaft” for his former classmate Chuck Ayers to draw.
Come meet the creator of one of the nation’s most recognizable comic strips!
Chapel Hill Comics
316 W Franklin Street, Chapel Hill, NC 27516
(919) 967-4439
IA – Free Comic Book Day 2013
April 25, 2013 by Colin Solan
Filed under Comic Books, Comic Strips, Free Comic Book Day, Iowa, Signing and Appearance Profiles, Top Stories
Jason Aaron, Phil Hester, and Eric Gapstur sign at Daydreams Comics on Saturday May 4, 2013 for Free Comic Book Day!!
Press Release:
Free Comic Book Day 2013 is upon us! Come join us all day long for special sales, prizes, and of course, FREE COMICS!
After a successful 2012 event, we will once again be doing a fund raiser for the Iowa City Animal Center this year! Make a donation during FCBD and get free graphic novels – and the more you donate the more free stuff you get!
We will also be hosting the following comic book creators throughout the day. They will be available to sign autographs, do sketches and talk with fans!
Jason Aaron: Acclaimed writer for Marvel Comics and owner of an amazing beard! Jason is currently writing Wolverine & The X-Men, Thor God of Thunder and Thanos Rising. Previous works include Scalped and The Other Side (Vertigo Comics), Wolverine Weapon X, Incredible Hulk, Ghost Rider, Punishermax, Ultimate Captain America and more!
Phil Hester: Professional comic writer & artist for two decades! Phil has worked for various companies over the years and has also created his own characters! Credits include Green Arrow, Wonder Woman, Swamp Thing, The Wretch, Firebreather, Godzilla, Green Hornet, The Darkness, Invincible Universe, Gen 13, Ant-Man, and many more!
Eric Gapstur: Finalist in Amazon’s Comic Strip Superstar contest! He currently working on his own strip comic Belle Plaine as well as honing his comic inking skills. He has a couple Green Hornet covers to his credit, and recently completed a Batman Legends of the Dark Knight story with Phil Hester. Be on the lookout for an upcoming Adventures of Superman story in the near future!
So come out to the shop, and bring your family and friends!
Daydreams Comics
21 S. Dubuque Street, Iowa City, IA 52240
(319) 354-6632
www.daydreamscomics.com
Big Guests, Big Vendors and a Big Film Make the 2013 ANS Sci-Fi and Comic Con a Big Deal
April 19, 2013 by Brian Pate
Filed under Comic Strips, Convention News, Maryland, Movies, Science Fiction and Fantasy, Top Stories
Press Release:
Big Guests, Big Vendors and A Big Film Make the Second ANS Sci-Fi & Comic Con a BIG DEAL!
Preparations are in full swing for the May 11 benefit event showcasing Archbishop Neale School in La Plata.
“Our headlining special guest is the unmistakable Frank Cho,” says event organizer Tom Boone. “This is Frank’s only scheduled convention appearance in the DC area for the rest of the year!” This May, Marvel Comics will be wrapping up a well-received six issue series written and drawn by Mr. Cho called ‘Savage Wolverine’, based on the X-Men hero. More than 20 other comic artists and writers will be attending as well as artists from other disciplines including digital media, sculpting, pyrography and photography.
In addition to artists, more than 20 vendors covering over 80 tables will be selling a wide array of comics, cards, sci-fi, pop culture and entertainment collectibles. “We’re very proud that nearly all of our vendors from our 2012 show have returned and we’ve attracted even more this year,” says Boone. Among them are Cards, Comics and Collectibles, a retail store in Reisterstown and Third Eye Comics, a retailer with stores in Prince Frederick and Annapolis. “We have vendors coming from as far away as Pennsylvania. We’ve cast the net wide to try to get as many unique vendors as possible for our attendees.” Local retailers such as Comics MD and BookNuts Book Shop will also have a presence at the show.
Another first for the event is the screening of films. New York based filmmaker Brian Stillman will be attending the ANS Sci-Fi & Comic Con to present previously unseen clips from his upcoming film, ‘Plastic Galaxy – The Story of Star Wars Toys’. According to Boone, “It’s an incredible documentary that toy collectors and Star Wars fans will love.” Other works include student films from the DAVE School in Orlando, FL, and rare films that have never been commercially released.
Panels and presentations, a staple of comic conventions, will also be a part of this year’s charity event. “How to Make Your Own Comic” will be a panel discussion with artists and creators lead by Chris Rizzo, Creative Director of New York based multimedia group Dark Ink Pictures. The panel will discuss topics such as breaking into comics and writing techniques. “The DIY ethic is strong in comics today. The internet and indie publishing are breaking down barriers and providing young creators with opportunities that were unthinkable as little as ten years ago,” says Boone.
Popular at conventions around the world is the 501st Legion, a Star Wars-inspired costuming group whose local unit, the Old Line Garrison, will be returning to the ANS Sci-Fi & Comic Con in greater numbers this year. The stormtroopers will be entertaining fans of all ages with a charity putt-putt game and plenty of photo opportunities throughout the event. Also returning are the Viking Re-enactors from Southern Maryland’s own Longship Company, with authentic costumes and equipment.
Another highlight of the ANS Sci-Fi & Comic Con is the Silent Auction. “Every penny from admissions, the vendor’s fees and the silent auction goes directly to the operating budget of Archbishop Neale School.” To that end, an impressive array of unique and one-of a-kind collectibles have been gathered for the auction from attending artists including Mike O’Shields and Laura Inglis, to major industry names like John Byrne, Doug Chiang and James Arnold Taylor, and authors Troy Denning and Lemony Snicket.
“All this is just the tip of the iceberg,” says Boone. “We’re screening more films and we’ll have more artists and more presentations. We’re using more space inside the school than ever. We have more food vendors this year, more prizes, more of everything fans go to conventions for. We encourage all of our attendees to make plans to stay for a while!”
The Second Annual ANS Sci-Fi & Comic Con is happening May 11, 2013, from 10am to 3pm at Archbishop Neale School in La Plata, Maryland. Admission is $5 for adults, kids under ten are free. For more information, visit www.anscomiccon.com
About Archbishop Neale School -
Archbishop Neale School is a Catholic elementary school in La Plata, Maryland that has been in continuous operation since 1927, with a two-track system for grades Pre-K through 8 and a curriculum centered on the Archdiocese of Washington graded course of study. We are fully accredited, and our teachers are certified by the State of Maryland in their specific areas. We serve Catholic students from over seven parishes and many non-Catholics as well. For over 80 years, parents have entrusted their children to ANS because they are assured of an excellent, Archdiocesan standards-based academic curriculum that encompasses Catholic faith and values delivered in a safe, caring environment. For more information, visit www.ArchbishopNealeSchool.org
Boston Comic Con 2013 to Continue as Scheduled
April 16, 2013 by Colin Solan
Filed under Animation, Anime, Art Show, Collectibles, Comic Books, Comic Strips, Convention News, Gaming, Horror, Manga, Massachusetts, Movies, Other, Science Fiction and Fantasy, Television, Top Stories, Video Games, Webcomics
Boston Comic Con is happy to announce that the convention will go on this weekend as scheduled! We hope to stand as an example of the resilience of Bostonians in the wake of this horrific tragedy. The many statements of solidarity we have received from fans and guests alike have been very encouraging. We will be donating a portion of the art auction proceeds to the Red Cross for the Boston Marathon victims relief effort. In light of the heightened security in the city we ask cosplayers to not bring prop weapons this weekend.
Boston Comic Con 2013 Guests include: Mark Bagley, Nick Bradshaw, Lauren Cohan, Amanda Conner, Tony Daniel, Colleen Doran, Ming Doyle, Jason David Frank, Ed McGuinness, Mike Mignola, Steve Niles, Carlos Pacheco, Jimmy Palmiotti, Shelli Paroline, George Perez, Amy Reeder, Don Rosa, Craig Rousseau, Tim Sale, William Stout, Bill Willingham, and many, many more!
Tickets are $25 per day or $40 for the weekend and available through Eventbrite at the link!
About Boston Comic Con:
The Boston Comic Con is a 100% independently run comic book show committed to bringing the biggest and best comic creators to New England. Run by fans for fans, Boston Comic Con is not affiliated with any other convention tour or corporate interests. Hosting over 40,000 square feet of vendors selling comic books, toys, posters, trading cards, and other pop culture memorabilia, this is a destination event for geeks of any stripe. Next year’s convention will be held Saturday April 20th and Sunday April 21st opening at 10:00 am each day at the Hynes Convention Center, 900 Boylston Street, Boston, MA. For more information please go to our website at www.bostoncomiccon.com and follow us on Twitter (@BostonComicCon) and Facebook!
BC – Adams Family Signing
April 15, 2013 by Colin Solan
Filed under Canada, Comic Books, Comic Strips, Signing and Appearance Profiles
Neal Adams and his son Josh Adams appear at Golden Age Collectables for a signing Wednesday, April 24th at 1:00pm!
Golden Age Collectables
852 Granville Street, Vancouver, BC V6Z 1K3
IL – On the Grind Signing
April 11, 2013 by Colin Solan
Filed under Comic Books, Comic Strips, Illinois, Signing and Appearance Profiles
George Gant of Hound Comics signs copies of The Worst Day Ever and On the Grind on Wednesday, April 17th from 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM at Graham Crackers’ Lakeview store
Graham Crackers Comics - Lakeview
3162 N. Broadway, Chicago, IL 60647
QC – Are You My Mother Signing
April 5, 2013 by Colin Solan
Filed under Canada, Comic Books, Comic Strips, Signing and Appearance Profiles
Alison Bechdel appears at the Ukrainian Federation on Friday, April 12th at 7:00 PM!
Press Release:
Join us at the Ukrainian Federation as Alison Bechdel discusses her creative process and her latest graphic memoir, Are You My Mother? , in a visual presentation. A Q&A and book signing will follow.
Tickets available for $10 at the link.
$5 off all books at the event.
***
Vendredi 12 avril à la Fédération Ukrainienne, 5213 Hutchison
Soyez des nôtres à la Fédération Ukrainienne pour une présentation donnée par Alison Bechdel à propos de son processus créatif et de Are You My Mother?, son mémoire graphique le plus récent. Une période de questions-réponse suivra, ainsi qu’une séance de dédicace.
Les billets (10$) seront en vente à la librairie dès ce samedi 2 mars à 10h. Un rabais de 5$ sera en vigueur sur les livres de Bechdel en vente le soir de l’événement.
Ukrainian Federation
5213 Rue Hutchison, Montreal, Quebec H2V 4B4
NYC – Zippy the Pinhead Exhibition
March 4, 2013 by Colin Solan
Filed under Art Show, Comic Strips, New York, Signing and Appearance Profiles
Cartoonist Bill Griffith appears at the Society of Illustrators to open a retrospective art exhibition on Wednesday March 20, 2013 from 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Press Release:
“Are we having fun yet?” This non sequitur utterance by the clown-suited philosopher/media star Zippy the Pinhead has become so oft-quoted that it is now in Bartlett’s Familiar Quotations. Zippy has in fact become an international icon, even appearing on the (former) Berlin Wall. Zippy’s creator, Bill Griffith, began his comics career in New York City in 1969.
His first strips were published in the East Village Other and SCREW magazine and featured an angry amphibian named Mr. The Toad.
He ventured to San Francisco in 1970 to join the burgeoning underground comics movement and made his home there until 1998. His first major comic book titles included Tales of Toad and Young Lust, a best-selling series parodying romance comics of the time. He was co-editor of Arcade, The Comics Revue for its seven issue run in the mid-70s and worked with the important underground publishers throughout the seventies and up to the present: Print Mint, Last Gasp, Rip Off Press, Kitchen Sink and Fantagraphics Books. The first Zippy strip appeared in Real Pulp No. 1 (Print Mint) in 1970. The strip went weekly in 1976, first in the Berkeley Barb and then syndicated nationally through Rip Off Press.
In 1980 weekly syndication was taken over by Zipsynd (later Pinhead Productions), owned and operated by the artist. Zippy also appeared in the pages of the National Lampoon and High Times from 1977 to 1984. In 1985 the San Francisco Examiner asked Griffith to do Zippy six days a week, and in 1986 he was approached by King Features Syndicate to take the daily strip to a national audience. Sunday color strips began running in 1990. Today Zippy appears in over 150 newspapers worldwide. There have been over a dozen paperback collections of Griffith’s work and numerous comic book and magazine appearances, both here and abroad.
He became an irregular contributor to The New Yorker in 1994. Griffith’s inspiration for Zippy came from several sources, among them the sideshow “pinheads” in Tod Browning’s 1932 filmFreaks. The name “Zippy” springs from “Zip the What-Is-It?” a “freak” exhibited by P.T. Barnum from 1864 to 1926. Zip’s real name was William Henry Jackson, born in 1842. Coincidentally, Griffith (as he discovered in 1975, five years after creating Zippy) bears the same name. He was born William Henry Jackson Griffith (in 1944), named after his great-grandfather, well-known photographer of the Old West William H. Jackson (1842–1941).
Griffith is currently teaching comics at the School of Visual Arts in New York and is at work on a graphic memoir. He lives and works in East Haddam, Connecticut with his wife, cartoonist Diane Noomin.
Society of Illustrators
128 East 63rd Street, New York, NY 10065
FL – FCBD: Spider-Man Signing
March 1, 2013 by Colin Solan
Filed under Comic Books, Comic Strips, Florida, Signing and Appearance Profiles
Artist Alex Saviuk signs at Collector’s Comics on Saturday May 4, 2013 for Free Comic Book Day!
Collector’s Comics
8627 S. US Highway 1, Port St. Lucie, FL 34952
772-878-9229
PA – Timmy Failure Signing
February 8, 2013 by Colin Solan
Filed under Comic Strips, Other, Pennsylvania, Signing and Appearance Profiles
Meet Stephan Pastis, bestselling author and creator of the wildly popular Pearls Before Swine comic strip, on Thursday February 28, 2013 at 7:00 PM. He will be in-store with his first children’s book, Timmy Failure: Mistakes Were Made.
Barnes & Noble - The Court @ Oxford Valley
210 Commerce Blvd, Fairless Hills, PA 19030
215-269-0442
