Canadian Comix News & Culture
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Thursday, October 02, 2008
Thursday: Graphic Poetry or Poetry Comics? Toronto
:: Posted by Bryan @ 10/02/2008 12:14:00 AM 
Pages' This Is Not A Reading Series and Tightrope Books presents the highly anticipated launch of
PAOLA POLETTO & JAKE KENNEDY, eds. — BOREDOM FIGHTERS! and
SEAN STANLEY & KRISTI-LY GREEN — ETCETERA AND OTHERWISE What is "graphic poetry"? Does it combine words and images in a manner unlike its more familiar cousin, the graphic novel? Sandra Kasturi and David Clink will co-host "Graphic Language", a joint launch designed to shed light on such perennial aesthetic riddles. Paola Poletto and Jake Kennedy assembled a collection of graphic poetry, Boredom Fighters. Sean Stanley and Kristi-Ly Green collaborated on a graphic novel, Etcetera and Otherwise . After moderating a group discussion with these four creators, Kasturi and Clink will turn their microphones over to a "graphic poetry slam". The night will end with a "graphic" dance party.
Tranzac Club, 292 Brunswick Ave, Toronto
Thurs, Oct 2; 7:30pm (doors 7:00pm) free Etcetera and Otherwise
words by Sean Stanley
pictures by Kristi-Ly Green
A charmingly illustrated surrealist fable.
A love story.
An erotic journey.
Bookstore owner Otherwise meets the beautiful Etcetera one afternoon when she comes into his store. The two begin on a fantastical erotic road trip that will last 28 days. As Otherwise falls more deeply in love, the mystery of Etcetera grows, culminating in the answer to the most important question of all — "do you love me too?"
Fiction/ ISBN 13: 978-0-9783351-6-8 /$18.95
Boredom Fighters!
Edited by Paola Poletto
and Jake Kennedy
This fantastic collection of eighteen graphic poems brings together the talents of artists and writers such as Christian Bök, Lisa Foad, Stacey May Fowles, Marlena Zuber, Tim Glaze, Gustave Morin, Daniel Scott Tysdal, Sherwin Tija, and Sally McKay. Poetry/ ISBN 13: 978-0-9783351-5-1 /$21.95 For more information about this event or to request review copies, contact Halli Villegas at Tightrope Books, halli@tightropebooks.com.
Check out our brand new revamped website at www.tightropebooks.com
Check out our new blog! Author news, pictures, reviews, and more at www.tightropebooks.blogspot.com Labels: book launches, events, graphic novels, poetry, Toronto
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Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Toronto Comic Jam TONIGHT
:: Posted by dave h @ 9/30/2008 01:16:00 PM From Dalton Sharp:
Hello,
The Toronto Comic Jam is this Tuesday, September 30, (TONIGHT!) from
9:00ish on, in the back room of the Cameron House, 408 Queen St. W., Spadina
& Queen.
B.Y.Own pens. Paper provided.
Also: Charlie's Gallery Live Art Drawing Classes (events happen every other
Thursday) and always start at 8:30 p.m.
112 Harbord Street
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=24085631452&ref=ts#/group.php?gid=18446549707
See you there! -Dalton
www.torontocomicjam.com
It's The Toronto
Comic Jam - Facebook
Labels: comic jams, drawing classes, Toronto
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Sunday, September 21, 2008
Parental advisory : The Bear Stories Signing @ the Silver Snail
:: Posted by max @ 9/21/2008 02:23:00 PM  George Todorovski & Chris Hatzopoulos present The Bear Stories
George and Chris will be appearing Friday,
September 26th from 4 to 8:00pm.
"For fans of Adult Swim, this comic is right up your alley.
The Bear Stories is about a cute, rude, crude bear living in the city.
He can say and do anything he wants because - well, he's a cute cartoon bear! But that doesn't mean that he doesn't get into trouble..."
For more info, check out The Bear Stories official website. For Mature Audiences Only. www.thebearstories.com
George and Chris will also be attending The Word on the Street inToronto. Sunday, September 28th, 11:00am-6:00pm
Labels: adults only, book launches, events, Ontario, Toronto
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Monday, September 15, 2008
Toronto's Dragon Lady : Big September sale till the 28th!
:: Posted by max @ 9/15/2008 01:13:00 PM  Should have posted this sooner, but this way I get to use some nice shots I took...
Dragon Lady's LABOUR DAY BACK ISSUE BLOW OUT!
Dragon Lady Comics' new Big Kahuna, Joe Kilmartin is dedicated to making the store a one-stop comic and illustrated media shop.
They are inaugurating some of the new changes at the store with a massive back stock/issue sale that began Labour Day 2008 - Go and see what they've got, and save some money while you do!
Along with comics they have a substantial vintage magazine and collectible papers collection. And while it may make some of the hard core nerds cringe, the art geek in me drools over them as raw materiel for collage! :)
Whatever it is that turn your crank though, be it glue and scissors, or the more conventional acid free back board and bag, or just the latest comic or grafic novel [not on sale but still cool], there's lots to check out.
So, the details: It began Monday September 1st, and is running till the 28th.
- ALL WALL COMICS (those fancy "high-end" comic books) at 20% off sticker price!
- ALL BACK STOCK (back issue comics, nostalgia materials such as frame-able art prints and vintage advertisements, old nostalgia magazines, the works!) at 30% to 50% off of their marked prices!
Bring your want-lists, your friend's want-lists and anybody else you know who likes the look of vintage memorabilia along with you and take advantage of our desperate need to make room for new stock!
Web site
Facebook page
Labels: comicshoptalk, events, Ontario, sale, shop profiles, Toronto
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Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Sequential Reports: Fan Expo Photos
:: Posted by Bryan @ 8/27/2008 01:45:00 AM 
(Mostly) Canadian Content
As an event partially dedicated to Canadian comics and comics creators, FanExpo 2008 could have been alot worse. FanExpo, billed as "a multi-genre convention" by its organizers, covered over 270,000 square feet at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre this past weekend, August 22-24. Roughly one-fifth of that massive space, accessible through a labyrinthine series of hallways and escalators, was dedicated to comics and cartooning, with space devoted to over 200 artists and writers (the so-called "Artists' Alley"), as well as to publishers, comics retailers, and assorted producers of ephemera.
-As Kevin Boyd notes in his wrap-up, the organizers of the comics show ("Comic Book Expo") made the wise decision this year to integrate all of the creators, regardless of genre ("indy meets pro", as the convention program has it), into one area, which made for a bustling space, with many fans discovering young artists who may have been overlooked in the past. In addition to several big-name U.S. creators like painter Alex Ross and DC editor-in-chief Dan Didio, the convention also featured a large number of Canadian artists who have made a name for themselves in the world of U.S. superhero comics. Alongside these were a huge group of more-or-less independent comics creators, self-publishers, and arts comics auteurs, representing the alternative comics world of graphic novels, minicomics, and fanzines. Jeff Lemire is perhaps the most well-known of this batch, having just won several awards for his Essex County graphic novel trilogy, published by Top Shelf. Lemire was busy sketching and selling artwork throughout the con and I personally witnessed him selling-out of copies of the newly-published final volume, The Country Nurse, around 4pm on Saturday.
-Another sell-out was Benjamin Rivers' very pretty Snow mini. Rivers is a Toronto illustrator and the book he debuted at FanExpo is the first chapter of a longer graphic novel done in his deceptively simple, cartoon-y style.
-It was also delightful to meet longtime Playboy cartoonist Doug Sneyd, perhaps the most successful and enduring of the comics artists present, and a local boy to boot! Doug was selling prints of some of his classic work as well as a book of cartoons called Unpublished Sneyd, dedicated to Sneyd's original Playboy editor, and fellow Canadian, Michelle Urry. Doug also has a blog where his adventures at the con are chronicled in great detail.
-Something of a cross-section of Canadian comics culture was examined at the "Made in Canada" panel Saturday evening, featuring Montreal artist Yanick Paquette, the Toronto comic book creating duo of Stuart and Kathryn Immonen, and the afore-mentioned Jeff Lemire. The panelists talked about their influences and how aspects of their "Canadian-ness" may or may not filter into their work.
Photos:
Michael Cho and Claudia Davila
Stuart Immonen and Kathryn Immonen --see their webcomic here
Cameron Stewart
Valentine Delandro
Ramon Perez and Rob Cloughler
Agnes Garbowska and Francis Manapul
Kalman Androsopsky and Marcus To
Jeff Lemire
Lemire signs the last copy of The Country Nurse
Cliff Chiang
Blake Bell discusses Steve Ditko with Rob Walton
Steven Silver and Ken Wheaton
Doug Sneyd and his significant other/Girl-Friday Heidi Hutson
The Bear Stories' George Todorovski and Chris Hatzopoulos
Ian Daffern and John Lang are behind the Zuda competitor Shock Effect
Hoverboy, a project of Mr. Comics' Ty Templeton and Canadian tv personality Rick Green. I happen to know from experience that the device on his belt is an antique vibrator.
The Bootcamp gang, another Ty Templeton project. The team was hyping its new mini-collection: Sex & Violence, Suffering and Wickedness.
Zen Rankin, promoting his minicomic epic, Action Satisfaction Supreme
Zen Rankin was also selling the best comics-related novelty at the con, cute little stuffed toys of his V.D. Duck character: it has pubic hair and makes a noise when squeezed!
The Durham Comics gang and their new anthology, Blitz
Michael Cherkas (saving a seat for Larry Hancock)
Jay Saobento and Bang Bang Kill Kill, which is also online.
J. Torres and Scott Chantler
Sequential has a brief chat with Ray Fawkes, writer of The Apocalipstix
(thanks to ace photog Stephen Lewis for the Fawkes and Immonen photos)Labels: cartoonists, conventions, events, fanexpo 2008, graphic novels, hobbystar, photos, Toronto
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Tuesday, August 26, 2008
FanExpo 3
:: Posted by Bryan @ 8/26/2008 02:07:00 AM 
More links from this past weekend's FanExpo in Toronto:
Michael Cho writes a short report, including some of the sketches he did for fans.
The Submariner cosplayer that didn't show up in yesterday's photo link is here, wearing a jacket signed by the Smallville cast.
Ty Buttars has been a blogging machine all day, with a short report and video of the Brian Bolland panel, Alex Ross signing, and Keith Giffen signing, among others.
Marvel editor C.B. Cebulski has pics.
BlogTO has a full report with pics and video.
The Fonz wears Lacoste.
Another piece of vaguely Canadian Marvel news: another Wolverine-as-Canadian-secret-agent miniseries.
Some great pics and commentary from the Dead Robot blog.
Dr. Who cosplay.
Photos: Here are the 810 results for the search "fanexpo 2008" on flickr.
Red and Jonny meet Fonzie.
A link to some photos on Facebook, with the only photo of a Wonder Woman I've seen.
Marvin Mariano, sketches, Natasha Elloi, and the Shockstudios crew.
Murtz Jaffer can strike a pose.
3 days of photos.
A fellow Guelphite has some pics, including the one of young Yoda, above.
The ever-dependable Danny Truong has links to 3 sets of his photos.
Best quote: "Joker makeup does not equal joker cosplay, sorry."Labels: conventions, events, fanexpo 2008, hobbystar, Toronto
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Monday, August 25, 2008
Shock Effect production process
:: Posted by dave h @ 8/25/2008 03:18:00 PM Shock Effect, a newly-minted sci-fi comic by Toronto writer Ian Daffern and Toronto artist John Lang, is in competition at DC Comics' publishing competition site, www.Zuda.com, at this link: www.zudacomics.com/node/543
www.Zuda.com is a site where artists submit their work and compete against similar comics, in order to win a publishing contract with publishing giant DC Comics. You can vote for them, offer critcism, leave comments about the comic and offer support.
To promote their effort -and to drive people to their appearance at Zuda and encourage people to vote for them - Ian and John have put up a production blog, which includes a short documentary on their creative process, at www.shockeffect.blogspot.com
Take a look, vote at www.Zuda.com, and consider leaving a comment - it ends Aug 28th. Best of luck, guys!Labels: publishing, Toronto, webcomics
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FanExpo 2
:: Posted by Bryan @ 8/25/2008 01:01:00 PM 
Some quick links to reports and photos from this past weekend's FanExpo in Toronto:
Edward James Olmos charges $60 for an autograph.
A nice little report from a comics fan.
An Australian who really likes Beta Ray Bill has some artist photos, comments, and sketches.
A con virgin posts some impressions.
"Inkygirl"'s flickr photostream (that's her photo of Prince Namor, the Submariner, up top).
Fashion blogger Chloe Tejada has some nice cosplay photos and gushes about her meeting with Edward James Olmos.
A Sheridan student has some photos from a few of the art-themed comics panels.
Was Watchmen a big seller?Labels: conventions, events, fanexpo 2008, hobbystar, Toronto
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FanExpo 1
:: Posted by Bryan @ 8/25/2008 12:10:00 AM 
The 2008 Toronto FanExpo wrapped up yesterday. According to the press kit fact sheet, the organizers expected in excess of 50,000 attendees over the weekend, up 7000 from last year, a number I would not dispute judging from my experiences of the crowd on Saturday afternoon. It was crowded, but not crazy crowded. I can't speak for the areas around the various B-actors, video-game contests and U.S. superhero comics A-listers who merited special event status at the show, as I managed to avoid these entirely. There seemed to be a nice mix of people due to the cross-genre/media nature of the show: lots of families, lots of couples, costumed and in mufti. Look for a full report and photos, as well as Sequential's usual massive list of links to fan reports, video and photos, coming here over the next few days.
In the mean-time, a few links for your browsing pleasure:
- What "mainstream" U.S. superhero comics and related news there was at the show seems to have been largely reported by Comic Book Resources. They also have an interview with artist Pia Guerra, who was not at FanExpo, about a new Dr. Who comic book.
- Many photo galleries are already online, of course, including this one focusing on the horror side of the con (that is, the intentionally horrific Rue Morgue "Festival of Fear", not the everyday horrific spectacle of masses of sweaty people rubbing against each other in a confined space). As well, the ace photogs at the Anime London blog have two separate, cosplay-heavy galleries up, focusing on costumes from Saturday and the Saturday evening masquerade.
(The above photo of Coke Man --he looks sort of like a combination of Iron Man and Marshal Law to me-- is from a Day 3 photo report by blogger "Saku" available here.)Labels: conventions, events, fanexpo 2008, hobbystar, Toronto
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Friday, August 22, 2008
This Weekend: Fan Expo, Toronto
:: Posted by Bryan @ 8/22/2008 06:04:00 AM 
The largest comic book and related media event in Canada takes place this weekend. The Toronto Fan Expo, including the Comic Book Expo, Festival of Fear horror convention, CNAnime anime and manga convention, and the SFX science fiction expo, all under one giant roof, is the culmination of the Toronto summer convention season.
This year's Comic expo marks Kevin Boyd's first full year as organizer. Guests include U.S. painter Alex Ross, DC Comics Vice President & Executive Editor Dan Didio, and UK cartoonist Brian Bolland, as well as a host of others, including, almost inexplicably, The Fonz and astronaut Buzz Aldrin. All this is not to mention a great collection of Canuck comics creators, ranging from Kalman Andrasofszky to Richard Zajac (A to Zed, get it?).Labels: conventions, events, Toronto
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Sunday, August 17, 2008
Andy & Ramon Take The Call Aug 24
:: Posted by max @ 8/17/2008 02:08:00 PM  Co: Facebook
What do you get when you combine a dozen buckets of a acrylic paints, nine canvases, lots of coffee, a couple bottles of rye and a telephone theme...
Stop by and find out.
Type: Music/Arts - Exhibit
Date: Sunday, August 24, 2008
Time: 8:00pm - 11:00pm
Location: Insomnia Cafe
563 Bloor St. W.
Toronto, ON
View Map
http://www.insomniacafe.com
http://www.ramonperez.com
http://www.andybelanger.comLabels: art show, can-con, events, Ontario, Toronto
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Thursday, August 14, 2008
Summer Reading: Danny Truong
:: Posted by Bryan @ 8/14/2008 05:00:00 AM 
2. What is your latest project (ie, what are you hyping)? On September 13, 2008, I will be participating in a 5km charity walk for kidney research called Give the Gift of Life Walk. To help support my campaign to raise funds for the Kidney Foundation of Canada, you can go to my personal fundraising page and click 'Sponsor Me'. 3. Please provide a list of books you have recently read or are planning to read. Current Non-Comic Relate Book: My Honda Owner's Manual - I am trying to figure out what other parts of my car require servicing when I bring in my car for an oil change. 4. Any upcoming events? Besides tons of comic book related events in Toronto, one of my friends is involved in the following upcoming charity events that is comic book genre related. Student Team SickKids & IMAX Present the Dark Knight at the Movies on August 11, 2008. The event will feature The Dark Knight playing on a 90 by 60 ft IMAX screen at the Scotiabank Theatre. The movie will begin at 10:15PM, but reception will occur at 9:00PM in the VIP Lounge. There will also be a silent auction beginning at 9pm. Labels: Ontario, summer reading, Toronto
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Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Summer Reading: Jamie Coville
:: Posted by Bryan @ 8/12/2008 12:47:00 AM 
Our next Summer Reading Survey comes from Jamie Coville. Please send us yours.
1. Name and occupation (contact info/website/publisher's website).
Jamie Coville. Comics Columnist / Historian. CollectorTimes.com and
TheComicBooks.com
2. What is your latest project (ie, what are you hyping)?
Paradise Comics Toronto Comicon and San Diego Comic Con Coverage. Also a Mark Waid telephone interview about Boom! and his more recent written work.
3. Please provide a list of books you have recently read or are planning to read. They don't have to be comic books. (In fact, we would almost prefer they weren't.) Any number of books is fine. Please feel free to comment (ie, Why are you reading these books? What did you think?).
Recently Read:
Monster Vol. 15 - An Excellent Thriller. A must read along side Walking Dead.
Clyde Fans Book 1 - A greatly executed book that makes a very mundane story interesting. I'll get Part 2.
I Killed Adolf Hitler - Short and fun, the story had twists I didn't expect.
Flash: Rogues - Part of a greater story. It was good, but not SO good that I'll actively seek out the rest.
Wonder Woman: Eyes of the Gorgon and Land of the Dead - One of the better Wonder Woman stories I've read.
Upcoming:
The Punisher: River of Blood - Dixon and Joe Kubert on Punisher peaked my interest.
Tales of the Bizarro World - Recently read the 1st Bizarro story,wanted to read more.
Yen Press + Magazine - Mainly for Svetlana Chmakova's latest work, but I'm curious about the rest.
Impulse: Reckless Youth - I liked the character, wanted to read more of him.
Mrs. Tree Case Files Vol 2 & 3 - I read the 1st volume years ago and it stuck with me. Delighted to have found these books.
Plus a handful of comics to review.
Non Comics (but all comic related)
The History of Romance Comics. Not a lot of detailed research has been done in this area, so I'm curious.
The Golden Age of Comic Fandom
Alter Ego #56 (Siegel interview and more)
Alter Ego: The Best of the Legendary Comic Fanzine
Following Cerebus #9
4. Please list any upcoming events/upcoming publications. Your next project?
I'll have a Neal Adams interview up on CollectorTimes.com either next month or the issue after.Labels: Ontario, summer reading, Toronto
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Friday, August 08, 2008
Wright Awards Winners
:: Posted by Bryan @ 8/08/2008 09:10:00 PM  CO: Brad Mackay via facebook.
The envelopes are opened, the drinks are drank, and the 2008 Doug Wright Awards are over for another year. For those of you who couldn't make in person (I'm talking to you CoCo!) here are the winners:
 The 2008 DWA winner for Best Book is:
The Magical Life of Long Tack Sam by Ann Marie Fleming
(Riverhead Books)
The 2008 DWA winner for Best Emerging Talent is:
Essex County Vol. 1 Tales From The Farm & Vol. 2 Ghost Stories by Jeff Lemire
(Top Shelf)
The winner of the inaugural Pigskin Peters Award* is:
Milk Teeth by Julie Morstad
(Drawn and Quarterly)
The trophies were handed out at the Toronto Reference Library, the historic main branch of the Toronto Public Library, in a 90-minute ceremony that featured Lynn Johnston.
Johnston, the ceremony's guest of honour, was on hand to discuss her 32-year career and to be inducted in The Giants of the North, the Canadian Cartoonists' Hall of Fame. The medal was presented to her by Seth.
(* The Pigskin Peters Annual Award for Nominally Narrative Cartooning – or PPAANNC - is intended to recognize progressive works by Canadian cartoonists that are more experimental in nature and/or lack a traditional narrative structure. It is named after a character in the classic Canadian comic strip Birdseye Center, by Jimmy Frise.)Labels: awards, events, graphic novels, Ontario, Toronto
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Tonite: The Doug Wright Awards
:: Posted by Bryan @ 8/08/2008 05:00:00 AM 
The 4th Annual Doug Wright Awards for Canadian Cartooning will honour the career of Canadian cartoonist Lynn Johnston, of For Better or For Worse fame.
Friday, August 8, 7-9 p.m.
Toronto Reference Library
789 Yonge St.
Free admission
Presented with Toronto Public Library, the event will feature:
* A retrospective of Johnston's more than 30-year career
* A moderated Q&A
* A book signing
The 2008 Wrights will also see announcement of the winners of:
* The Best Book trophy
* Best Emerging Talent trophy
* The brand-new "Pigskin Peters" award
The awards are decided by a jury made up of members of the country's arts and culture community, including: author Katrina Onstad, cartoonist Ho Che Anderson, book seller Marc Glassman, writer Mariko Tamaki and Power Plant curator Helena Rickett.Labels: awards, comic strips, comics in libraries, events, graphic novels, Ontario, Toronto
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Thursday, August 07, 2008
Summer Reading: Simon MacDonald
:: Posted by Bryan @ 8/07/2008 03:09:00 AM 
Our next Summer Reading Survey respondent is Sequential reader Simon MacDonald. Please send us your own list.
Here are my answers:
1) Simon Mac Donald, Software Engineer.
2) Nothing to hype as I'm not a writer, just an avid reader.
3) The last 5 books I've read are: The Execution Channel by Ken
McLeod, Gods Behaving Badly by Marie Phillips, A Gentleman's Game by
Greg Rucka, How to Read Superhero Comics and Why by Geoff Klock and
Naruto Vol 8. I keep an update list of my books at
http://www.shelfari.com/SimonMacDonald
4) The next big event I'm attending may be the Toronto Comic Con but
I'm going to the Comic Geek Speak Super Show
(http://www.comicpodcasting.com/cgsss/) for sure in September.
Simon Mac Donald
Blog:
LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/in/simonmacdonald
Shelfari: http://www.shelfari.com/SimonMacDonaldLabels: Ontario, summer reading, Toronto
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Wednesday, August 06, 2008
Tonite: Apocalipstix Launch, Toronto
:: Posted by Bryan @ 8/06/2008 05:00:00 AM From the Beguiling:
APOCALIPSTIX Graphic Novel Launch
Featuring Ray Fawkes and Cameron Stewart
Wednesday, August 6, 2008, 8PM
Revival Bar, 783 College (at Shaw)
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=25642968337
FREE
The Beguiling is proud to present the official Canadian launch party for the new graphic novel THE APOCALIPSTIX by Toronto’s own Ray Fawkes and Cameron Stewart! This rollicking adventure story is set after the end of the world, featuring the last band on earth! Join us to celebrate this book’s release with the book’s authors as well as great music, live bands, door prizes, and much more! The event is All Ages (with wristbands for older folks that might like to imbibe) and totally FREE!
see here for moreLabels: book launches, events, graphic novels, Ontario, Toronto
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Tuesday, August 05, 2008
Summer Reading: Kevin Boyd
:: Posted by Bryan @ 8/05/2008 06:01:00 AM 
Next up in the Sequential Summer Reading Survey is Toronto convention high lama Kevin Boyd. Please send us your own list.
Kevin Boyd,
Associate Director - Canadian Comic Book Creator Awards Association, Comic Book Event Coordinator - Hobbystar, Signature Series Director - Comics Guaranty, LLC (CGC).
Upcoming:
Comic Book Expo @ Fan Expo Canada - August 22-24, 2008
Upcoming sale of the Visions of an Icon: Superman original artwork
Non-Comics currently reading:
You did What? Mad Plans and Great Historical Disasters - Bill Fawcett and Brian Thomsen, editors
Non-Comics recently read:
Apocalypse 2012 by Lawrence E. Joseph
Comments: 2012 is an interesting look at a series of coincidental convergences of environmental and cosmic disasters that experts predict may come to a head around the year 2012, which interestingly enough ties into the end of the Mayan calender (that many feel represents the end of the world). I think I'll hold off on buying property until 2013.
Comics and related on my to read pile:
The Umbrella Academy by Gerard Way and Gabriel Ba
The Starman Omnibus Vol. 1 by James Robinson and Tony Harris
Marvel Masterworks: The Defenders Vol. 1
Whatever comes out on Wednesday
Comics and related recently read (July 16-Aug 2):
Strange and Stranger: The World of Steve Ditko by Blake Bell
The Apocalipstix by Ray Fawkes and Cameron Stewart
Captain Marvel: Secret Invasion by Brian Reed and Lee Weeks
Green Arrow/Black Canary: The Road to the Altar by various
Howard Chaykin's American Flagg! by Howard Chaykin
Absolute Watchmen by Alan Moore and Dave Gibbons
Superman and the Legion of Super-Heroes by Geoff Johns and Gary Frank
Astro City: The Dark Age by Kurt Busiek and Brent Anderson
Coraline by Neil Gaiman and P. Craig Russell
Criminal: The Dead and the Dying by Ed Brubaker and Sean Phillips
Annihilation Conquest Vol. 2 by various
Plus new single issues:
Justice Society of America Annual 1, Superman/Batman 50, Wolverine 67, Ultimate Spider-Man 124, Invincible 51, Justice League of America 23, Brave and the Bold 15, Ultimate X-Men 96, New Avengers 43, Patsy Walker: Hellcat 1 and Glamourpuss 2
Comments: I highly recommend Bell's Ditko book, Flagg!, Superman and the Legion, Coraline and Criminal. Watchmen I re-read on the trip to and fro San Diego and always stands up. Apocalipstix was fun. Astro City, Annihilation and Captain Marvel collections were okay reads, while the Green Arrow/Black Canary trade was forgettable. As for the issues recently read, I'd recommend Invincible (big fan of this book), Wolverine, Glamourpuss. Ultimate Spider-Man and Justice Society of America were okay as well. Pass on the others.
next project?
Comic Book Expo @ Fan Expo Canada on August 22-24
Baltimore Comicon - late September for CGCLabels: Ontario, summer reading, Toronto
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Monday, August 04, 2008
Summer Reading: Diana Tamblyn
:: Posted by Bryan @ 8/04/2008 06:00:00 AM 
First up in our Summer Reading Survey is cartoonist Diana Tamblyn:
1) Diana Tamblyn, cartoonist, web consultant, website - www.speedlines.com
2) My latest comic project is "From Earth to Babylon: The Story of Gerald Bull and the Supergun". This is a historical based work on the life of Canadian Gerald Bull - considered to be one of the most brilliant scientists of the 20th century. His work on artillery led him across the globe, from Canada to the Pentagon, Barbados, South Africa and Iraq - where he ultimately developed the "Supergun" for Saddam Hussein. He was unable to finish it off as he was assassinated in Brussels in 1990.
3) This will be a big reading list because I'm a voracious reader and I'm in the research phase of my project so have been reading a lot of related material: Unholy Babylon: The Secret History of Saddam's War; Golgo 13 - The Supergun - Tako Satto, Guns, Lies and Spies - Chris Cowley; Arms and the Man - William Lowther; Bull's Eye - James Adams; Fist of God - Frederick Forsythe; Three in the Back, Two in the Head - Jason Sherman.
I went into this project knowing next to nothing about the middle east and as a lot of my story takes place there I'm really trying to educate myself about it. Reading all of these books has made me fairly discouraged about the state of the world as even though they all take place about 20 years ago now, all the themes are still very much in evidence today in terms of how the US deals with other countries, what subjects take priority on political agendas and all the back room dealing that goes on.
Comics-wise, I've recently read the following (many of which I picked up at Mocca '08 in NYC): Freddie & Me - Mike Dawson, Street Angel - Jim Rugg and Brian Maruco, Emiko Superstar - Mariko Tamaki and Steve Rolston, Janes in Love - Cecil Castellucci and Jim Rugg, New York Four - Brian Wood and Ryan Kelly, Pride of Baghdad - Brian Vaughn and Niko Hendrichon. Also have re-read The Long Halloween - Tim Sale and Jeph Loeb, and The Killing Joke - Alan Moore and Brian Bolland.
Of all of these I was really impressed with Pride of Baghdad. Street Angel I loved because it was just sheer joy and fun on the page. It reminded me of why I like comics so much.
To still read this month are a mixture of more books for research and some for fun - The Places in Between - Rory Stewart, Paris Kanonen and Project Harp - Gerald Bull and Charles Murphy, In Search of Enemies: A CIA Story - John Stockwell, The Apocalipstix - Cameron Stewart and Ray Fawkes, Strange and Stranger - Blake Bell, When you are Engulfed in Flames - David Sedaris, From the Earth to the Moon - Jules Verne.
4) Upcoming I will have a booth at Word on the Street on September 28th in Toronto. Then on October 23, I will be speaking at MIT to a graduate comparative media studies class along with Jeet Heer and Ho Che Anderson about comics. I am really excited about this and plan to have some artwork from my Bull project to show.
That's it!
D.
(top image: portrait of Gerald Bull by Tamblyn)Labels: cartoonists, graphic novels, Ontario, summer reading, Toronto
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Monday, July 28, 2008
Toronto Comic Jam
:: Posted by dave h @ 7/28/2008 04:26:00 PM Torontonian cartoonists please take note of Dalton's message:
Hello,
The Toronto Comic Jam is this Tuesday, July 29th (TOMORROW!) from 9:00 on, in the back room of the Cameron House, 408 Queen St. W., Spadina & Queen. Sorry for the late notice. The paper is free, but the beer costs money. See you there!
Skyshark and Run With The Kittens are performing up front I believe.
Copies of the latest DTM anthology will be available. www.donttouchme.ca
Thanks,
-Dalton
www.torontocomicjam.comLabels: Ontario, Toronto
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Coming Soon: Strip Stories / Wright Awards Gallery Show
:: Posted by Bryan @ 7/28/2008 12:01:00 AM 
Just in time for next week's Doug Wright Awards comes news of this great gallery show of work by a wonderful selection of some of the best comics creators in the country, including panels from Chester Brown's Louis Riel graphic novel (parts of which have been on display previously). Co-curated by Sean Craig, who has been working with the organizers of the Wright Awards over the past year, the show has its opening reception just two days before the actual awards are handed out (August 7 and 9, respectively) at the Katherine Mulherin gallery. See the Facebook page of the event here.
The Doug Wright Awards for Canadian Cartooning and BOARD OF DIRECTORS, a curatorial project at Katharine Mulherin Contemporary Arts Projects, are pleased to present an exhibition of original work by some of Canada's most recognized and promising cartoonists.
Strip Stories features works by artists who focus on sequential arts and graphic novels, many of whom have either won a Doug Wright Award in the past or have received nominations.
The show also marks the first time Toronto audiences will get a chance to view originals from Louis Riel: A Comic-Strip Biography, Chester Brown's critically-acclaimed graphic novel. Originally published in comic book form, Louis Riel was released as a book in 2003 . Publisher's Weekly hailed it as "a strong contender for the best graphic novel ever."
Alongside Brown will be King cartoonist (and 2008 Doug Wright Award juror) Ho Che Anderson, Lorenz Peter, the 2006 Wright Award Best Emerging Talent winner for Dark Adaptation, and Montreal's Joe Ollmann who won the 2007 Best Book Award for his collection of short stories This Will All End in Tears.
Also included in the show will be Halifax-based artist/cartoonist Ray Fenwick, the mind behind the world's only typographic graphic novel, Hall of Best Knowledge, and 2008 Best Emerging Talent nominees:
Jason Keiffer, for Keiffer#1
Jeff Lemire, for Essex County
Nick Maandag, for The Experiment
Ethan Rilly, for Pope Hats
As well, 2008 nominees for the inaugural Pigskin Peters Award for Non-Narrative Cartooning, Emily Holton (Little Lessons in Safety) and John Martz (Excelsior 1968), will exhibit their experimental and progressive redefinitions of cartoon art.
Strip Stories will consist entirely of works with sequential, narrative or relative qualities. The exhibit presents viewers with a rare opportunity to witness the comics medium outside of conventional mass distribution.
Runs August 7-23.
Opening reception: August 7, 7pm.
Featuring works by
Ho Che Anderson
Chester Brown
Ray Fenwick
Emily Holton
Jason Kieffer
Jeff Lemire
Nick Maandag
John Martz
Joe Ollman
Lorenz Peter
Ethan Rilly
and Doug Wright!
The show is curated by Katharine Mulherin, Erin Stump, and Sean D.B. Craig.
Labels: art show, awards, events, graphic novels, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Toronto
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Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Publishing: The Apocalipstix
:: Posted by Bryan @ 7/23/2008 06:01:00 AM 
Out today, The Apocalipstix by writer Ray Fawkes and artist Cameron Stewart. The first volume in a new series published by U.S. graphic novel publisher Oni Press, the book follows the adventures of an all-female rock band.
THE APOCALIPSTIX, Vol. 1
$11.95
Pages: 144
ISBN: 978-1-932664-45-4
Diamond Code: MAY08 4059
website
A 50-page preview is available here.
See the book profile in the Toronto Star.Labels: comics with music, graphic novels, Ontario, publishing, Toronto
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Monday, July 21, 2008
More Photos: Paradise Con
:: Posted by Bryan @ 7/21/2008 03:12:00 AM 
Jamie Coville has extensively documented last weekend's Toronto convention. That's Sean Ward above.Labels: conventions, events, Ontario, photos, Toronto
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Friday, July 18, 2008
Today: Billy Mavreas Launch, Toronto
:: Posted by Bryan @ 7/18/2008 11:11:00 AM 
Billy Mavreas' Inside Outside Overlap Book Launch
feat. Michael Comeau, Two Pack Fer Sure, DJ Marcus Boon
Friday, July 18th, 8PM
Keep Six Contemporary, 938 Bathurst (N. of Bloor)
FREE
http://www.timeless.org
Booksigning and debate.
Billy Mavreas and Michael Comeau will be expounding, expostulating and marking their metaphysical turf for the launch of Inside Outside Overlap: A Boy Priest and Lifeform the "Cat" Adventure. The new book will be celebrated in a comic-arts smack down at Keep Six Contemporary (938 Bathurst Street) as part of their two-week art show. Montreal underground legend, Billy Mavreas, pits his neo-pagan, sinister cartoons of cute bunny gods against the silk-screened, oil-mongering fundamentalist Hellbertan humans from Toronto's Punchclock hero, Michael Comeau.
Musical guests: Two Pack Fer Sure, DJ Marcus Boon
The show featuring Mavreas' and Comeau's silk screening, rock posters, illustrations, print and sound will run from July 18 to August 3, 2008.
--Labels: book launches, events, exhibits, graphic novels, Ontario, Quebec, Toronto
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Thursday, July 17, 2008
Paradise Con Reports
:: Posted by Bryan @ 7/17/2008 06:01:00 AM 
The Paradise Comicon was held this past weekend in Toronto; by all accounts a smaller version of its former self. Here are some reports:
The lads from the No Reason webcomic had fun.
Ty Buttars has a full report with photos --it's a really cute post that includes the tale of his really young nephew getting artists to draw his favourite video game character.
A nice report from "Cam" at the Comic Geek Speak forums.
Publishing news: Cameron Stewart released his new artbook at the con.
A double review: Paradise Comicon and Wall-E.
The inevitable (do not try to escape!) Jason Truong massive report.
An Agnes Garbrowska sketch.
A short report from Dave Merrill that focuses on the contraction.
Danny Truong brings the sketching news.Labels: conventions, events, Ontario, Toronto
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Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Maximum Linkage
:: Posted by Bryan @ 7/16/2008 02:17:00 AM 
Some links to Canadian-related comics stories:
Sandra Bell-Lundy's Between Friends strip profiled.
The Globe has more on the bitstrips website where you can make your own comic strip.
St. Catharines journalist is in the top 50 of some Stan Lee comic writing contest.
BlotTO profiles "superstar" Sean Ward.
Jeet Heer writes on the history of Batman's gaiety.
What's with this "Graphica" thing? First, the Globe uses it for Nathalie Atkinson's quarterly comics review. Now, the Toronto Star uses it for its review of Blake Bell's new book on Steve Ditko.Labels: links, Ontario, Toronto
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