News/interviews/reviews:

• Baltimore Comic-Con, Small Press Expo and #!&%!! turn D.C. into Cartoon Central, Michael Cavna, Washington Post
• College Park considers offering renovation incentives to entice businesses, Daniel J. Gross, Washington Post
• The 3-Minute Interview: Matt Dembicki, Aubrey Whelan, Washington Examiner
• Faux Reals: On the Deconstruction, Mainstreaming, and Redeconstruction of Superheroes, Chris Klimek, Washington City Paper (this one is marginally connected, but I thought it was interesting)
• Cul de Sac ends, Katherine M. Hill, Blast-o-Rama

Kickstarter:

• BLOOP: Part One – Deluxe, Oversized Hardcover

Upcoming releases:

• The Lost Art of Heinrich Kley, Lost Art Books, Sept. 14 (Small Press Expo)
• Remake: 3Xtra, Lamar Abrams, AdHouse Books, December 2012.

Events:

• Through Sept. 8: Fever Dreams of Organic Machines: The Comic Book Art of Rafer Roberts, Common Ground Gallery, Rockville, Md.
• Sept. 8-9: Baltimore Comic Con, Baltimore, Md.
• Sept. 14: Gilbert and Jaime Hernandez, 7 p.m., Politics & Prose, Washington, D.C.
• Sept. 15-16: Small Press Expo, North Bethesda, Md. with local creators Christopher Williams, Josh Kramer (Comics Picayune), Rafer Roberts, Matt Dembicki (and family), Curls Studio, and probably a bunch of other members of DC Conspiracy, Deanna Echanique, Emily Huff, Lamar Abrams, Jamie Noguchi, Ross Nover (or his parents, apparently), RM Rhodes, AdHouse Books, Lost Art Books, interviews by Full Sanction, so many other area people I’m sure I’ve missed (email me and I’ll get you in next week!) and hundreds upon hundreds of other amazing creators and cartoonists. I’ll also be at a dedicated Ignatz Award table for at least a couple of hours on Saturday. Otherwise, you can find me running around all weekend.
• Sept. 15: Justin Jordan Team 7 Launch Party, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Third Eye Comics, Annapolis, Md.
• Sept. 22:Raina Telgemeier signing at Big Planet Comics Vienna (11 a.m. to 3 p.m.) and Big Planet Comics College Park (3 to 5 p.m.)
• Sept. 22: District Comics signing, 7 p.m., at Locust Moon Comics & Movies, Philadelphia, Pa.
• Sept. 22-23:National Book Festival with Raina Telgemeier, Craig Thompson and Hope Larson (comics-related events are on Sept. 23)

Have comic news or events related to the D.C. area to share? Email me! Submit no later than Monday at 9 p.m. for inclusion each Tuesday, but the earlier, the better! More information is here.

News/interviews/etc.

• It’s a bird! It’s a plane! It’s … too much irony in Jerry Siegel bio-drama — Celia Wren of the Washington Post on Theater J’s production of “The History of Invulnerability.”
• Dean Haspiel donates his mini-comic collection to Library of Congress’ SPX holdings
• In the Gallery – Graphic Details: Confessional Comics by Jewish Women
• What hurts you – David Holzel of Washington Jewish Week on Graphic Details
• Gay Couple Renews Vows at Parkville Comic Shop

Debuts and new issues/releases:

• Kindling, illustrated by Deanna Echanique, began June 19.

Upcoming releases:

• Xoc: The Journey of a Great White, Matt Dembicki with colors by Evan Keeling, Oni Press (20-page preview from Oni Press). July 25.
• Mr. Big: A Tale of Pond Life, Carol and Matt Dembicki, Sky Pony Press. Sept. 1.
• District Comics: An Unconventional History of Washington, DC, various artists, Fulcrum Publishing. Sept. 11.

Events:

• Ongoing until June 23: Artomatic, featuring Christiann MacAuley, Ben Claassen III, Urvi Mehta, Jeff Kollins, Sarah Palaszynski, Ivan Collich, Michael Auger and many others.
• Ongoing through June Mark Burrier: Rare Words Exhibition, Flying Dog Brewery, Frederick, Md.
• Through July 8: The History of Invulnerability , Theater J, Jewish Community Center, Washington, D.C. Tickets and showtime information at the link.Theater J offers $10 off tickets to readers of this blog using “DCCOMICS” either online at the Theater J website or by phone at 800-494-8497. The theater also offers a discount to those 35 and younger, which makes $15 during the week and $25 on the weekends. No discount code is needed.
• Through Sept. 2: “Graphic Details: Confessional Comics by Jewish Women” at the Ann Loeb Bronfman Gallery, Jewish Community Center, Washington, D.C.
• Various dates beginning June 17: Create a Comic Book with Matt Dembicki, 7 p.m. at Fairfax County Libraries.
• June 23: Panel on District Comics: An Unconventional History of Washington, DC, featuring Matt Dembicki, Andrew Cohen, Peter Conrad and Brook Allen, 11 to 11:30 a.m., American Library Association conference, Anaheim, Calif.
• June 23: Liz Prince signing at Celebrated Summer/Atomic Books, 1 to 3 p.m., Baltimore, Md. Facebook event page
• June 25: Panel on Books Without Boundaries: Crossover Fiction for YA and Adults, featuring Matt Dembicki, 10:30 a.m. to noon, American Library Association conference, Anaheim, Calif.
• June 30: Landry Quinn Walker and Eric Jones, creators of Danger Club, signing, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Third Eye Comics, Annapolis, Md. First 15 people in line get a special gift.
• July 7-8: Full Sanction at Kids Read Comics Celebration, Ann Arbor, Mich. (I’ll also be there, just hanging out!)
• July 7: Southern Maryland Comic-Con, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Waldorf, Md.

Have comic news or events related to the D.C. area to share? Email me! Submit no later than Wednesday at 9 p.m. for inclusion each Thursday, but the earlier, the better! More information is here.

News/interviews/etc.

• TEAM ‘CUL DE SAC’ AUCTION: Rare Watterson painting sells for $13K (Auction also generated nearly $50,000.)
• “Hit By Pitch,” A New Look at a Sad Day, interview with Molly Lawless
• The History of Invulnerability’ at Theater J by Katie Elizabeth Quinn

Con/event reports:

• Curls Studio on the Team Cul de Sac signing/release party
• Bruce Guthrie’s photos from the Team Cul de Sac signing/release party
• I have a few photos from Graphic Details: Confessional Comics by Jewish Women. I still plan on a post about this.

Kickstarter/Indiegogo:

• Magic Bullet #5 – D.C. area’s comic newspaper. While the campaign has met its goal, there’s still 8 days left.

Debuts and new issues/releases:

• Kindling, illustrated by Deanna Echanique, begins June 19.

Upcoming releases:

• Xoc: The Journey of a Great White, Matt Dembicki with colors by Evan Keeling, Oni Press (20-page preview from Oni Press). July 25.
• Mr. Big: A Tale of Pond Life, Carol and Matt Dembicki, Sky Pony Press. Sept. 1.
• District Comics: An Unconventional History of Washington, DC, various artists, Fulcrum Publishing. Sept. 11.

Events:

• Ongoing until June 17: “Life Unreal: Art by Evan Keeling and Scott White,” Northside Social, Arlington, Va.
• Ongoing until June 23: Artomatic, featuring Christiann MacAuley, Ben Claassen III, Urvi Mehta, Jeff Kollins, Sarah Palaszynski, Ivan Collich, Michael Auger and many others.
• Ongoing through June Mark Burrier: Rare Words Exhibition, Flying Dog Brewery, Frederick, Md.
• Through July 8: The History of Invulnerability , Theater J, Jewish Community Center, Washington, D.C. Tickets and showtime information at the link.

  Theater J offers $10 off tickets to readers of this blog using “DCCOMICS” either online at the Theater J website or by phone at 800-494-8497. The theater also offers a discount to those 35 and younger, which makes $15 during the week and $25 on the weekends. No discount code is needed.

• Through Sept. 2: “Graphic Details: Confessional Comics by Jewish Women” at the Ann Loeb Bronfman Gallery, Jewish Community Center, Washington, D.C.
• Various dates beginning June 17: Create a Comic Book with Matt Dembicki, 7 p.m. at Fairfax County Libraries.
• June 23: Panel on District Comics: An Unconventional History of Washington, DC, featuring Matt Dembicki, Andrew Cohen, Peter Conrad and Brook Allen, 11 to 11:30 a.m., American Library Association conference, Anaheim, Calif.
• June 23: Liz Prince signing at Celebrated Summer/Atomic Books, 1 to 3 p.m., Baltimore, Md. Facebook event page
• June 25: Panel on Books Without Boundaries: Crossover Fiction for YA and Adults, featuring Matt Dembicki, 10:30 a.m. to noon, American Library Association conference, Anaheim, Calif.
• June 30: Landry Quinn Walker and Eric Jones, creators of Danger Club, signing, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Third Eye Comics, Annapolis, Md. First 15 people in line get a special gift.
• July 7-8: Full Sanction at Kids Read Comics Celebration, Ann Arbor, Mich. (I’ll also be there, just hanging out!)
• July 7: Southern Maryland Comic-Con, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Waldorf, Md.

Have comic news or events related to the D.C. area to share? Email me! Submit no later than Wednesday at 9 p.m. for inclusion each Thursday, but the earlier, the better! More information is here.

• Iranian-French author shares culture, Karolina Ramos, GW Hatchet
• Toronto Comic Arts Festival 2012 Questionnaire: Deanna Echanique, Mark Medley, National Post.
• I love this book: ‘Hit By Pitch’, Whitney Matheson, PopCandy.

Debuts and new issues:

• Bamn: Rob’s Adventure — free digital comic by Jay Payne (artist) and Troy-Jeffrey Allen (writer)
• Cartoon Picayune #3 — anthology edited by Josh Kramer. It is currently available online and should be in Politics & Prose and SMASH! soon.
• Starseed — ongoing webcomic that updates Tuesdays and Thursdays by Sarah P. (artist) and R.M. Rhodes (writer).

Upcoming releases:

• Team Cul de Sac: Cartoonists Draw the Line at Parkinson’s, various artists, Andrews McMeel Publishing. Benefit book for cartoonist Richard Thompson. June 5.
• Xoc: The Journey of a Great White, Matt Dembicki with colors by Evan Keeling, Oni Press. July 25.
• Mr. Big: A Tale of Pond Life, Carol and Matt Dembicki, Sky Pony Press. Sept. 1.
• District Comics: An Unconventional History of Washington, DC, various artists, Fulcrum Publishing. Sept. 11.

Events:

• Ongoing until June 17: “Life Unreal: Art by Evan Keeling and Scott White,” Northside Social, Arlington, Va. Artist reception is May 26 from 7 to 9 p.m.
• May 11: Jim Ottaviani and Leland Myrick, creators of Feynman appearance, 6:30 p.m. at American Institute of Physics, College Park, Md. Free and open to the public.
• May 12-13: Curls Studio (Carolyn Belefski and Joe Carabeo) at Asbury Park Comic Con, Asbury, N.J.
• May 12-13: Rafer Roberts at Asbury Park Comic Con, Asbury, N.J.
• May 12: Full Sanction (Rusty Rowley and Joe Mochove) at Winston-Salem Toy and Comic Book Show, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m, Winston-Salem, N.C. Admission is $2 and children younger than 12 are free. Presented by Ssalefish Comics.
• May 18-June 23: Christiann MacAuley (artist profile) at Artomatic, Arlington, Va.
• May 19: Super Art Fest 2012, noon to midnight, Metro Gallery, Baltimore, Md. Benefit for Ulman Cancer Fund. More information on Facebook or at Super Art Fight.
• May 24: Henry & Glenn Forever #1 release party with Ton Neely and Ed Luce, 7 p.m. at Atomic Books, Baltimore, Md.
• Beginning June 7: “Graphic Details: Confessional Comics by Jewish Women” at the Ann Loeb Bronfman Gallery, Jewish Community Center, Washington, D.C. More details to come.

Have comic news or events related to the D.C. area to share? Email me! Submit no later than Wednesday at 9 p.m. for inclusion each Thursday, but the earlier, the better! More information is here.