• Jeet Heer vs Michael Chabon: Wow, Jeet can't seem to stay out of the scraps this week. On the heels of his dust-up with Bart beaty last week, his review of David Hadju's 10 Cent Plague for Salon has drawn a lengthy rebuttal from novelist and comics fan Michael Chabon (for good measure, Beaty chimes in as well).

• Chris Butcher posts the 20 bestselling comic books/floppies at the Beguiling from last week.

• Johanna Draper Carlson reviews Hope Larson's new graphic novel for young adults, Chiggers.

• Cameron Stewart is interviewed about his Transmission X webcomic, Sin Titulo, at the Digital Strips site: part 1 part 2 Stewart has just finished work on a new graphic novel for Oni, The Apocalipstix.

• The World Press Freedom Day 10th Annual Awards Luncheon, featuring an exhibition of the winning and runner-up cartoons of the international political cartoon competition on the theme of "Re-writing History", will be held May 2nd, in Ottawa.

• An ad for a car dealership has stirred up controversy and the ire of the Winnipeg police. (see above)

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Zeros 2 Heroes Media is currently producing Gustav Hayes from Winnipeg creator Morgan Jeske. Jeske is working with editors and artists provided by Zeros 2 Heroes Media to bring his comic to life on the page.
"With 'Gustav Hayes' I hold the genre close to my heart. Science Fiction has always appealed to me, more so than Fantasy for instance. My hope is that some people read the book, and decide that they'd like to read more stories like it. In all seriousness, the fact that I'll have had a comic book published, is an amazing event for me," says Jeske on the excitement around his book.
Gustav Hayes centers on a broken anti-hero amidst the post apocalyptic nightmare of a world he is in. Gustav is a former 80's-style pop singer that battles hordes of evil creatures sent to destroy the remnants of civilization. Morgan Jeske is currently working with Zeros 2 Heroes comic editors and artists to produce his very first comic. As part of the agreement, Zeros 2 Heroes Media not only produces Jeske's book, but they will be working to get fan and media driven publicity from his hometown of Winnipeg Manitoba.
"I've been interested in the potential of Web comics for a long time," says Zeros 2 Heroes Editor-in-Chief Paul Dini. "I thought that was a very supportive way to bring new talent into what has generally been a tough business for novices."
Zeros 2 Heroes Media will be providing Jeske with his own online publication as well as putting together a plan to help get the word out to various media sources. The intention is to have not only a piece of professional work for his portfolio, but also to help him launch his professional writing career.
"Morgan's talent and creativity shines brightly in his story I think Gustav Hayes is one of those pieces of work that has potential," says Zeroes 2 Heroes Media Chairman Paul Gertz.
"This cross-platform entertainment opportunity is exactly what we're looking for in terms of our corporate mandate," says Western Region Director Earl Hong Tai of Telefilm Canada. Telefilm Canada plays in integral part in the development of Canadian writers and artists and helping pitches come to life with Canada Comic Creation Nation is another way for them to lend a hand.

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• The Comic Book Bin's Christopher Moshier takes a page from the Overstreet Price Guide and probes the early "Platinum Age" history of DC Comics.

• Winnipeg bouncer creates superhero to protect children, Canadian Shield. (bonus: video)

• International: in a move sure to be reflected on Canadian bestseller lists, VIZ has announced the publication of a new Naruto series, following the adventures of the titular ninja student as a teenager: the launch of the long-awaited new NARUTO manga story arc begins with Volume 28, "which is the first to feature Naruto as a teenager. The volume is expected to hit stores nationwide on March 4 with an estimated retail price of $7.95"

• Free speech and Alberta Human Rights Commission to become election issue after cartoon controversy?

• Robin Bougie and co-conspirators are interviewed on the Inkstuds podcast about the recent launch of Cinema Sewer and Sleazy Slice.

• Lisa Fortuner at the Newsarama blog offers up some compelling reasons for not reading Dave Sim's Glamourama.

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1. The Winnipeg Free Press reports on Lynn Johnston's induction into the Order of Manitoba:

Johnston, 60, rose to fame in the 1980s with her comic strip For Better or For Worse, now seen in over 2,000 newspapers worldwide.
Johnston, who now lives in northern Ontario, said she was "flummoxed" at the recognition.

"I'm ready to move back now," Johnston said, adding she feels a special place in her heart for our province.

"It would be great to call this home," she said.

2. The National Post interviews George Zotti, manager of Toronto comic book store Silver Snail, about what it takes to work for his elite organization:

if you want to work in his Queen West store, you'd better know your She-Hulk from your She-Ra, because Zotti has more questions than the Riddler when it comes to hiring a new clerk.

Do you like manga? Do you like action figures? Do you have a collection? And perhaps most crucial of all, are you a Marvel guy or a DC guy?

"That kind of gives me an idea if they know what they're talking about or if they're just trying to bluff," says Zotti. "Just because you have retail experience doesn't mean you're qualified to work here."

3. The Globe and Mail examines new trends in male-centric homedecorating, where the action figure is king. Interview subjects include Tom Spurgeon and Bart Beaty:

Bart Beaty, a University of Calgary professor who writes about comic books as visual culture, has confined his collection of comics and graphic novels to two areas of his house: The pamphlet-style Batman and Superman comics are in a closet in the basement, but the 3,000 European graphic novels he collected while researching his next book are on display in his dining room.

"We have people over for dinner and they sit there and stare and go 'What the hell is that?' " he said. "But I like the way it looks."

4. Toronto pop culture nerds are flocking to Friday Fright Night at the Bloor Cinema, according to The Globe:

Some horror fans are skeptical of Fright's claim that they screen real prints. But a visit to the projectionist's booth proved the reels were, in fact, real. Three months ago, the cinema acquired new, smaller lamp houses for their projectors, which help to create sharper colour and image.

Steve Manale, a 34-year-old comic-book artist, was one who noticed. "That print was perfect," he said, "I didn't see one scratch or splice."

5. The Globe's James Adams takes the pulse of Raincoast Books on the eve of the publication of the final Harry Potter novel. Raincoast is also a big graphic novel distributor, counting D+Q among its clients. Now that the Harry Potter craze may be winding down, how does Raincoast plan on filling the gaps in its publishing schedule?

As the Potter boom unfolded, Raincoast did expand editorially, buying the Polestar and Press Gang imprints in 2000, while moving more into children's literature (earlier this year it hired Tonya Martin, a New Yorker from Rowling's U.S. publisher, Scholastic, as children's books editor).

It had earlier brought in Joy Gugeler, managing editor for Vancouver's Beach Holme Publishing, to supervise a new Canadian adult-fiction program. But that program was folded last year, and while Raincoast's staff of 130 is almost double what it was a decade ago, the growth has been on the distribution, sales and marketing side.

"Still, you have to think that, had the latest Potter been released later this year, or in the spring of 2008, its suggested Canadian list price likely would be lower than $45, given the lag in price adjustment that seems to occur: in strictly mathematetical terms, the current price is actually a 2004 price"

That is not the case with the Honest Ed's store site, which would mean both the demolition of an iconic building and a jump across Bathurst for the development that has been creeping west along Bloor out of the city core.

Deputy Mayor Joe Pantalone says that the city has not seen a proposal to redevelop the site. But if it does, he thinks redevelopment should not include Mirvish Village, the retail strip of converted houses along Markham Street, which the Mirvishes turned into arty stores and restaurants decades ago.

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Johnston lived in the northern Manitoba community of Lynn Lake, 815 kilometres north of Winnipeg, for six years in the late 1970s and early 1980s. She now lives in northern Ontario.

When she heard she'd been nominated, Johnston said she tried to turn it down.

"I said, 'I think this is wonderful, and I appreciate it, but I think it should go to somebody who lives in Manitoba and has lived all their life and, you know, people would probably complain,' " Johnston said.

"Then, I have a friend who lives in Winnipeg ... and she phoned me and said, 'You know, it's not really about how long you lived in Manitoba. It's mostly about the story line you did on the native community.' "

The story featured in the comic strip saw one of the family's daughters, Elizabeth, travelling to a northern aboriginal community as a student teacher.

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His all-ages series is filled with references to or cameos of the city's recognizable personalities, landmarks, and businesses.

"I'm proud of being from Winnipeg," said Waller, 31, who lives in North Kildonan. "It's my way of giving something back to the city, I guess."

Friend Adrienne Batra, provincial director of the Canadian Taxpayers Federation, is given a starring role as the inspiration and likeness for the character Gen. Batra.

"I'm very excited and honoured Greg chose my name to represent one of his characters," Batra said. "She is so integral in helping Magnitude."

Mayor Sam Katz, Sun city editor Kathleen Martens, and Coun. Russ Wyatt also make cameos.

Transcona City's landscape is dotted with images of Esplanade Riel, Fort Garry Hotel, and Canad Inns Stadium.

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Mark and Chester

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Be in the know, get in the loop with Images Festival's Education Programs!


2006 IMAGES FESTIVAL'S INSTALLATION GUIDE AND HANDBOOK
Ready for download, this map and handbook will allow you to explore installation work and new media projects in Toronto's gallery district at your own pace. A brief summary of the concepts in installation art, pre-visit activities and questions to provoke discussion while visiting the installations are included in this free handbook. Visit www.imagesfestival.com to download your copy.

A GUIDED WALKING TOUR TO THE 2006 IMAGES FESTIVAL'S INSTALLATION PROJECTS:
Saturday, April 15, 1:00 PM to 5:00 PM
Join Toronto artist, curator writer and IF tour guide Sally McKay for a free guided walking tour of the installation and new media projects exhibited in this year's Images Off Screen.

INSTALLATION AUDIOWALKS:
CD-Roms and downloadable mp3's will be available for keen installation art viewers who wish to explore Images Off Screen works at their own pace. Artists discuss their work, motivations and process in this invaluable resource for new and seasoned installation art fans. Cost for CD-Roms is $1; downloadable mp3's (available at www.imagesfestival.com) are FREE.

YOUTH SCREENINGS:
The NFB Mediatheque in partnership with the Toronto Animated Image Society and The Images Festival present a series of youth oriented screenings that serve as a good introduction to experimental film and video for students in grades 10 through 12. All screenings will be presented from April 18-20, @ 2:45pm at National Film Board of Canada's John Street location. Screening Cost: $2.00 per youth with pre-booked group; educators accompanying a group are free. Check the Images website for program details!

ADULT WORKSHOPS:
Sunday, April 16 - 1:00 to 4:00 PM
Trinity Square Video (376-401 Richmond Street West)
Internationally exhibited artist and TSV Artist-in-Residence, Michael Campbell, will discuss the challenges and opportunities for expanding video beyond the single-projection. Space is limited to 10 students. Admission: $25 Trinity Square Video members / $30 non-members Check out www.trinitysquarevideo.com for more details or email aubrey@trinitysquarevideo.com to reserve a space.

Tuesday, April 18 & Thursday, April 20 - 6-10 PM
L.I.F.T - The Liaison of Independent Filmmakers of Toronto (171 East Liberty Street, Suite 301)
Internationally renowned experimental filmmaker Nicky Hamlyn will teach this two-day evening workshop which will include a full Bolex camera introduction, hands-on instruction and group discussion of works created in the course. Admission: $70 for members / $85 for non-members. Workshop fee includes materials. Check out lift.on.ca for more details or email workshops@lift.on.ca to reserve a space.

THE WITNESSED CITY: A PRODUCTION RESIDENCY AT CHARLES STREET VIDEO
Screening time: Thursday, April 13, 8:00 PM
Images Festival and Charles Street Video present Nobuo Kubota and Annette Mangaard's Sounds Kubata Sounds a 10 minute experimental collaboration that chronicles the history of free form sound art in Toronto from the 1960's through to present day. This history is told through the eyes, sounds and memories of Nobuo Kubota who has been, and continues to be, an active member of the sound-art community.

*Nobuo Kubota will also be performing live immediately preceding Susie Ibarra and Lori Freedman in concert Tuesday, April 18, 9pm at The Gladstone Hotel. Tix are $20. Buy your tickets for the Ibarra/Freedman performance online at www.imagesfestival.com

FREE ARTIST TALKS:
For audiences interested in more thorough dialogue about contemporary media art, Images is hosting a series of afternoon discussions with many of the key artists represented at the festival. Of special interest is Images' new "Talk to the Pie" speakers series, an unbeatable combination of totally profound cultural discourse and FREE PIE (while it lasts). All discussion events are free to attend and open for audience questions and comments.

Friday, April 14 - 3:00pm - 5:00pm @ A Space (401 Richmond Street West, Suite 110)
Dutch artist and cultural analyst Mieke Bal in discussion with Canadian film/video artist Mike Hoolboom, creator of Images' Opening Night feature Fascination. Moderated by Lisa Steele

Monday, April 17 - 3:00pm - 5:00pm @ Gladstone Hotel Art Bar, 1214 Queen Street West
Artists Tony Cokes, Steve Reinke, Deirdre Logue and moderator Daniel Cockburn discuss pop music, memory and the body.

Wednesday, April 19 - 3:00pm - 4:30pm @ Gladstone Hotel Art Bar, 1214 Queen Street West
Artists Laiwan, John Oswald and moderator Chris Gehman discuss varied uses of music and sound.

Thursday, April 20 - 3:00pm - 5:00pm @ Camera Bar, 1028 Queen Street West
Artists Vincent Grenier, John Price and moderator Jeremy Rigsby discuss their recent film works.

Thursday, April 20 - 5:00pm - 7:00pm @ Goethe-Institut, 163 King Street West
Guest curator Marc Glöde (Berlin) and Toronto cultural critic, writer and curator John Bentley Mays discuss the historical influence of visual media on architecture and urban planning.
Also...
Saturday, April 15 - 3:00pm - 5:00pm @ Camera Bar, 1028 Queen Street West
Canadian filmmaker Clive Holden (of Trains of Winnipeg fame) introduces and presents a "virtual tour" of his new online multimedia project, Utopia Suite.

Sunday, April 16 - 3:00pm - 5:00pm @ York Quay Gallery, Harbourfront Centre, 231 Queens Quay West
"Timeless" Artist Talk - Guest curator Peter Ride (UK) conducts a walkthrough of the "Timeless" group exhibition, with artists Chris Welsby (Canada), Rebecca Cummins (USA) Jane Prophet (UK), Susan Collins (UK) and Suky Best (UK).

Saturday, April 22 - 2:00pm @ Le Laboratoire d'art, 55 Mill Street, Cannery Building #58, Studio 317
Perte de Signal Artist Talk & DVD Launch. Please note that this launch and artist talk will be taking place in French. Pour de plus amples renseignements, veuillez contacter BRAVO-Sud au
416.861.1853 / bravosud@yahoo.com.

IMAGES ABOUT TOWN:
2006 Images Festival At The Toronto Public Library (789 Yonge St.)
Friday, May 5 - 7:00 PM
The Images Festival presents the 2006 Festival award winners during a special free "Best of Fest" public screening at the Yonge and Bloor Toronto Reference Library's newly renovated Main Stage. FREE!


The Images Festival is made possible thanks to our gracious funders: The Canada Council for the Arts, the Ontario Arts Council, the Department of Canadian Heritage, the City of Toronto through the Toronto Arts Council, Telefilm Canada and The Ontario Trillium Foundation.

IMAGES FESTIVAL - April 13-22, 2006
401 Richmond Street West, Suite 448
Toronto. Ontario M5V 3A8 Canada
T 416.971.8405
F 416.971.7412
www.imagesfestival.com

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JESSICA BRADLEY ART + PROJECTS
Fantasia: Daniel Barrow, Shary Boyle, Cooper
Battersby and Emily Vey Duke
Opening Saturday April 1, 2-5 pm (until April
29)
1450 Dundas Street West (at Gladstone)Toronto M6J
1Y6 416-537-3125
www.jessicabradleyartprojects.com
Noon to 5 pm Wednesday through Saturday and by appointment

Featuring drawings, prints, sculptures and video by Daniel Barrow, Shary Boyle and the collaborative video artists Cooper Battersby and Emily Vey Duke, Fantasia invites the viewer into the personal yet familiar worlds these artists explore. In their work the conflicted, sometimes humourous and often unsettling undercurrents of the inner life are seen in a collision course with the constraints of the social world. The enchanting directness of outsider art and the incisive commentary found in underground comics come to mind. Fantasy and desire infuse the narratives at play in this exhibition with both terror and delight.

Winnipeg-based artist Daniel Barrow is best known for performances in which he narrates his intricate drawings while manipulating them on an overhead projector to create animated sequences. Barrow has accompanied musical performances by The Hidden Cameras with his live projections and last year created a solo event for the Los Angeles Museum of Contemporary Art. He will show a suite of new drawings and collages entitled "Every time I see your picture I cry."

Toronto's Shary Boyle works in several media using imagery that, like Barrow's, recalls the anxieties, longing and bittersweet fantasy worlds of childhood and adolescence where innocence and disturbance meet. Sculptures, drawings and new etchings by Boyle will be on view. A solo exhibition featuring her porcelain figure sculptures is also on view at the Power Plant through May 28, 2006.

Currently living in Syracuse, NY, Emily Vey Duke and Cooper Battersby perform various roles in their critically acclaimed videos described by Cinema Scope writer Jason MacBride as "some of the most witty, charming and yes, sexy, video art this side of Spike Jonze."

Labels: Manitoba, Winnipeg