Tuesday, May 12, 2009  
The C-List: TCAF Link Round-Up, Part 3

:: Posted by Bryan @ 5/12/2009 05:59:00 AM


More incredible links about the incredible Toronto Comic Art Festival:

More photos from Dr. Squid, Day 2

JM Douville reports

Ryan's Disneyland Autograph sketchbook

Transmission X's Eric Vedder


Ty Buttars says TCAF 2009 should be called "the Tatsumi show"



TCAF guest and manga blogger Deb Aoki has a full report and photo gallery


TCAF pics


Patrick Kyle of the Wowee Zonk collective on their booklaunch and TCAF show


Webcomicer and TCAF volunteer misidentifies Bryan Lee O'Malley


Kate Beaton was driven towards motherhood at TCAF, apparently

Kevin Boyd of the Shuster Awards blogs his impressions (that's the Dave Sim print the Shuster folks were selling at the show up top)

Photos from the Tugboat Press gang

The Doodlers photostream, including the james Turner Rex Libris action figure

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   Monday, May 11, 2009  
The C-List: TCAF Link Round-Up, Part 2

:: Posted by Bryan @ 5/11/2009 06:28:00 PM
tcaf poster photo

More links from this past weekend's big event, The Toronto Comic Art Festival:

Doug Wright juror and Globe and Mail books editor Martin Levin blogs about the awards

Ron Nurwisah blogs TCAF for the National Post

Torontoist has photos

BlogTO

Re-Love report

Chris Pitzer from AdHouse books has a long post (that's his photo up top)

Scott McCloud's post-TCAF notes: what the master learned and who he met

A very strange report that reads like it has been translated twice by a computer

Vince Chui sums up his experiences

Owl Magazine's Wendy Ding drew pictures for kids

TCAF volunteer Dave Merrill blogs the fest

Brian Evinou photos

Tyler2009's flickr stream

Cartoonist Jonathan Mahood looks back over the weekend

Tatsumi video1

Tatsumi video2

Tatsumi video3

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   Sunday, May 10, 2009  
The C-List: TCAF Blogosphere Wrap-Up 1

:: Posted by Bryan @ 5/10/2009 10:14:00 PM

A summary of links about the recently-completed Toronto Comic Art Festival:

Sequential magazine contributor Jamie Coville has 106 great photos of TCAF!

Matthew Rooney on TCAF Day 1

Peggy Burns blogs TCAF

Jeet Heer reviews Guy Delisle's Burma Chronicles for the Literary Review of Canada

CBC Arts reporter Jessica Wong on the Wright Awards

Behind the scenes with a TCAF volunteer

Cartoonist Evan Munday on the books he got

Screenwriter Oliver Brackenbury blogs about Paul Pope (that's his photo up top)

Jimmy Aquino's day via Twitter feed

Kate Beaton blogs about Day 1 and her Wright Award win

Got Poetry covers the Tatsumi/Tomine/Seth event Friday

"Dr. Squid" has some nice photos --it looks like almost everyone who was at the festival ended up photographed here (albeit with no identification or description) --check out the flickr stream

Here's an excellent flickr stream with excellent notes by Gil Roth!

The 2009 Wright Awards jury, minus Bob Rae (he was a no show at the ceremony too, but the video he sent instead was awkwardly hilarious)

Day 1 report and photos

TCAF from a webcomics fan's perspective: "the internet live"

Paul Pope was there

Shannon Gerard in Now Weekly

A great collection of sketches!

Peter Kenter writes about Doug Wright's love of cars for the National Post

youtube video 1 --crowd walking

youtube video 2 --birdseye view of TCAF

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   Friday, May 08, 2009  
Sequential Pulp in the pixels

:: Posted by max @ 5/08/2009 06:00:00 PM
get the big one for the best art!
Large | Medium | Small


was available in the Pulp at TCAF '09

Comics
- page 1 -
Fiona Smyth
www.fionasmyth.com

- page 2 -
Robot Johnny
www.robotjohnny.com

- page 6 -
Mahendra Singh
justtheplaceforasnark.blogspot.com

- page 10 -
Willow Dawson
www.willowdawson.com

- page 11 -
Danny Zabbal
dannyzabbal.com

& Sean Ward
www.seanward.net

- page 14 -
Salgood Sam
www.salgoodsam.com

Articles
- page 2 -
A Million Mouths to Read: The Jesse Jacobs Interview
By Bryan Munn
sequential.spiltink.org

- page 4 -
The Wright Stuff
By Brad Mackay
bradmackay.com
- page 5 -
Jimmy Frise (1891-1948)
By Bryan Munn
sequential.spiltink.org

- page 6 -
The end of a love story in three parts
By Robin Fisher
www.cartoongal.com

- page 8 -
Web Comic Reviews & Panels and Pixels of the North.
By Jamie Coville
www.thecomicbooks.com

- page 10 -
10 Ways to Get Your Writing Out There
By Jim Munroe
nomediakings.org

- page 12 -
Mr. Trembles: Artist, Exhibitionist, Enigma
By Robin Fisher
www.cartoongal.com

- page 14 -
Two-Way Street: Quebec Graphic Novels Struggle for Acceptance in France
By Bryan Munn
sequential.spiltink.org

- page 20 -
You are about to become a Master of Time.
By Robert Pincombe
www.comicanuck.com

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This Weekend: TCAF

:: Posted by Bryan @ 5/08/2009 06:00:00 AM


The 2009 Toronto Comic Arts Festival

Saturday and Sunday at the Toronto Reference Library
789 Yonge St., Toronto
Free Admission

Come visit with hundreds of cartoonists, writers, and comic book artists as they show their comics, sell comics, and talk about comics!

The show also features the debut of our new magazine, Sequential print edition. Come get a free copy!

As well, the 2009 Doug Wright Awards will be handed out Saturday night across town at the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) at 7pm. Admission is free. Come see who will win the trophies for best graphic novel and best young artist. As well, come see who wins the weirdest trophy in comics, a derby hat named for Canadian comic strip character Pigskin Peters and awarded to the best experimental or avant-garde comic. The event also features the launch of the new book, The Collected Doug Wright.

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   Tuesday, April 07, 2009  
Tonite: Webcomics Talk in Toronto

:: Posted by Bryan @ 4/07/2009 02:25:00 PM
Graphically Speaking: Webcomics!
Tuesday, April 7, 2009 6:30pm - 8:30pm
North York Central Library
5120 Yonge St.
Toronto
416-395-5535

Chris Butcher moderates a panel on the art and commerce aspects of webcomics with a bevy of talented cartoonists who just happen to produce comics partly or exclusively online (not counting t-shirt and coffee mug sales). The panel includes Kate Beaton, Willow Dawson, Emily Horne, Brian McLachlan, and Ryan North.

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Ben Wicks Cartoons Go to York U

:: Posted by Bryan @ 4/07/2009 01:52:00 AM
As Sequential reported back in 2007 a collection of cartoons by the beloved Canadian cartoonist Ben Wicks were the subject of a legal dispute between the Wicks estate and the person who "found" the drawings in a garbage bag.

Now that the family has won the cartoons back, they have decided to donate them to York University. Almost 2,500 cartoons, including signed cartoons Wicks drew in the 60s and 70s for the Toronto Telegram, Toronto Star and Saturday Evening Post, are going to York University Libraries' Clara Thomas Archives & Special Collections.

"This gift is wonderfully generous," says York University Chancellor Roy McMurtry. "Ben Wicks was a close friend, and both his talent and commitment to public service are legendary."

Wicks died in 2000. He was also a tv star and worked with charities devoted to literacy, drug abuse, and human rights.

The collection of cartoons donated to York was mistakenly left behind when a Wicks family member moved homes in the 1990s. The collection became the subject of a legal battle between the family and the home's buyers. The Wicks family was awarded ownership of the cartoons and donated them to York.

"His work is not just a treasure to his family; it is a treasure to Canada," says daughter Susan Wicks. "It was my parents' hope that the cartoons could be shared with as many people as possible, so we are thrilled that an institution such as York University was able to take on this collection for us. York just felt right, like the type of place where my dad would want his work preserved."

"Ben Wicks' cartoons provide important insights on 20th Century events and Canadian culture," says Michael Moir, University archivist and head, Clara Thomas Archives & Special Collections. "The cartoons will be particularly useful for research into Canadian studies, political science and communications."

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   Friday, August 08, 2008  
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.

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   Thursday, May 22, 2008  
Tonite: Hanga to Manga, Toronto

:: Posted by Bryan @ 5/22/2008 02:47:00 AM
Toronto Public Library will present From Hanga to Manga, an exhibition of woodblock prints (hanga), Japanese comics (manga) and rare illustrated books. Japan's rich literary tradition has grown alongside a complementary respect and appreciation for stories told largely or entirely in pictures. The exhibition features a wide variety of these materials from Toronto Public Library's Special Collections, supplemented by loans from the H. H. Mu Far Eastern Library at the Royal Ontario Museum and the Japan Foundation.

The Lecture:

The Man who made 'The Great Wave'
Award-winning novelist Katherine Govier discusses her research into the little known life and mysterious works of woodblock print artist Katsushika Hokusai.

Thurs. May 22nd, 2008, 7 p.m.
Beeton Auditorium

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   Friday, March 14, 2008  
This Weekend: Michel Rabagliati in Toronto

:: Posted by Bryan @ 3/14/2008 01:57:00 PM
Paul Goes Fishing author Michel Rabagliati will be signing in the Toronto Public Library’s Lillian H. Smith Building on College Street.

In Conversation
Saturday, March 15th, 5:00 PM, Free

Slide show, Q+A, and signing

Toronto Public Library
Lillian H. Smith Building
downstairs auditorium
239 College Street, Toronto, ON

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   Tuesday, February 26, 2008  
Freedom to Read: Library users accuse graphic novels of racism, pornography.

:: Posted by Bryan @ 2/26/2008 12:41:00 AM

Report Says Patrons challenge books, videos
by Bryan Munn

Phillip Pullman's The Golden Compass, Dicken's Oliver Twist, and some of the best graphic novels ever published in Canada were among the library materials challenged by Canadian library users in 2007, according to a new survey released February 22.

The Canadian Library Association's 2nd annual Survey of Challenged Materials in Canadian Libraries identified 42 items challenged by patrons. Graphic novels were among the hardest hit by library patron "challenges" but film, video, and internet screening policies were also categories that were subject to scrutiny by the proverbial, overly-sensitive "concerned parents", nervous nellies and other book banning entities. The report was released on the occasion of Freedom to Read Week (Feb 24-March 1).

According to CLA President Alvin Schrader, author of the study Fear of Words: Censorship and the Public Libraries of Canada, not much has changed in the world of library complaints and censorship over the last 20 years. "The reasons given for challenges this past year strongly echo those documented in the mid-1980s. Librarians and public library trustees need to continue to be knowledgeable and articulate about potentially controversial topics and about our core values, freedom of expression and the freedom to receive information. If libraries don't create a safe space in Canadian society for as many voices as possible, nobody else will. This will always be an important policy goal for libraries in Canada."

To the credit of Canadian libraries and their knowledgeable Canadian librarians, most of the complaints did not result in any changes, beyond making sure that the titles were shelved correctly and that patrons were made aware of content and library policies.

The graphic novels identified in the survey form an interesting cross-section of popular works and works by award-winning cartoonists. Indeed, the Canadian comics on the list comprise something of a "Who's Who" of cartooning greats, with books by Chester Brown, Julie Doucet and 2006 Doug Wright Award-winner Lorenz Peter.

Also of note, the classic Tintin adventure, Cigars of the Pharoah. Originally published in 1934 (updated in 1955 and translated into English in 1971), this adventure by Herge takes place in India and Egypt and contains depictions of stereotyped inhabitants of those countries that may appear dated, at the very least. The patron objections to this book also bring to mind the recent controversy over shelving of Herge's Tintin in the Congo.

Below are the graphic novels included in the report, with the patron complaints.

The Monkey King (Dragon Ball Vol. 1) by Akira Toriyama.
Offensive language, age inappropriate
"in the head of the parent -- 'oh a 14 year old can see her underpants...'"

Left Behind: A Graphic Novel of the Earth's Last Days by Tim Lahaye, John Layman, and Jerry Jenkins.
Sexually explicit, offensive language, religious viewpoint, age inappropriate.

The Adventures of Tintin: Cigars of the Pharoah by Herge.
Anti-ethnic, racism, sexually explicit, offesnive language, religious viewpoint, age inappropriate.

Video Girl Ai by Masakazu Katsura.
Sexually explicit, violence, offensive language.

My Most Secret Desire by Julie Doucet.
Sexually explicit, "sexual filth" and "sexual sickness".

The Madam Paul Affair by Julie Doucet.
"Pictures on front & back covers"; "Most dialogue takes place in a bar, or bed"; "feeling sleazy & dirty, like smoking & drinking"; "Julie Doucet has no morals or talent"

The Little Man by Chester Brown.
Pedophilia.

The Frank Book by Jim Wooding.
"sexual vulgarity"; "introduction to sexual deviance"

Chaos Mission by Lorenz Peter.
Drugs, violence, offensive.

ACME Novelty Library by Chris Ware.
Occult, pornography.

Smokey by Bill Peet.
Racism.

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   Tuesday, February 05, 2008  
Tonite: Kazu Kibuishi & Kean Soo, Toronto

:: Posted by Bryan @ 2/05/2008 03:59:00 PM
Hey there folks! This is just a reminder that the editors of the FLIGHT
ANTHOLOGY, Kazu Kibuishi and Kean Soo, will be doing an event tonight
at North York Central Public Library, this evening at 6:30pm. Both
creators will also be signing tomorrow night at The Beguiling, but we
definitely encourage you to head out to the TPL this evening! It's right on
the subway line and it's awesome!


1. TONIGHT: KEEP TORONTO READING: Graphically Speaking with Kazu
Kibuishi and Kean Soo

GRAPHICALLY SPEAKING 2008
Featuring Kazu Kibuishi & Kean Soo
Tuesday February 5th @ 6:30pm
North York Central Library, Concourse Level @ North York Subway Station
FREE

Presented in association with THE BEGUILING and Scholastic Canada

The two co-editors of the fantastic FLIGHT Anthologies, Kazu Kibuishi
and Kean Soo will be in town to debut their brand new graphic novels
AMULET and JELLABY. This event is part of the Toronto Public Library’s
massive Keep Toronto Reading campaign! Both Kean and Kazu will be
interviewed on stage by … me? “The Beguiling’s Christopher Butcher,” in the
vein of last year’s event with Bryan Lee O’Malley. Signing, sketching, and
snacks will follow the event.

This is going to be a very fun event which will actually be of interest
to all-ages, from younger readers captivated by these new graphic
novels right through to adults who loved the FLIGHT anthologies. We’re also
really proud to be teaming up with The Toronto Public Library again
this year, bringing graphic novels to the masses and the masses into our
public library system. If you’re in Toronto, we hope you won’t miss
this event.

Join the Keep Toronto Reading group on Facebook!
http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=19746872808

RSVP to the event on the Kazu & Kean Facebook Page!
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=8322672055

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   Tuesday, January 15, 2008  
James Turner Interview: Comics Reporter

:: Posted by Bryan @ 1/15/2008 12:08:00 AM
Tom Spurgeon interviews Rex Libris creator and Doug Wright nominee James Turner:

I think Rex has become legendary for being text heavy. If one cannot achieve fame, go for infamy and take kickbacks from ophthalmologists.

There are two reasons for its text heavy nature: first, it's about a librarian. Second, it's a reaction against text-light -- screenplay light, in many cases -- comics.

I liked '70s comics with their copious amounts of redundant explanatory text. That's a part of the genre for me.

I also wanted something that people could go back to and look at a second or third time and always discover something new. I have no objection to people skimming the text.

Comics with little text have little re-read value. That's one reason why I was so fond of Mad Magazine: they threw in all sorts of neat extras, from bogus product info to Sergio Aragones in the margins. You could reread a Mad Magazine a dozen times and always come away with value. I liked that. Great accompaniment for a bowl of late night cereal when you're a kid. You don't get that with the mainstream titles, some of which read like storyboards for movies. I could read one all the way through in five minutes while standing in the comic book store. Not that I'd do that, of course. We all know that would be wrong. You'd need several of these comics to last through a single cup of coffee.

Like most revolutionaries I swung the pendulum too far.

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   Wednesday, October 03, 2007  
STAGGER LEE COMES TO EDMONTON Oct 5

:: Posted by max @ 10/03/2007 03:06:00 AM
Author Derek McCulloch makes latest stop in "STAGGER LEE 101" Tour

Co:http://staggerlee.typepad.com/ - see site for full press release...

Award-winning graphic novel writer and former Edmonton resident Derek McCulloch will return to his old stomping grounds this October to pass on a little of what he's learned about the blues in his time in America. On Friday, October 5th, McCulloch will appear first at Happy Harbor comics, where he will sign copies of his graphic novel, Stagger Lee. Later that evening, he will appear at the Edmonton Public Library, where he will give a slide show and lecture on the history and myth of Stagger Lee.

Appearing with Derek is local comic historian and professional reviewer Tim Lasiuta who will be signing copies of his book "Brush Strokes With Greatness - Life & Times of Joe Sinnott" and will be available to talk to fans about other great comic legends. You can listen to Tim's weekly, live comic webcast on World News Radio's COMIC ZONE every Wednesday at 2 pm Pacific!

Friday, October 5th, 4 p.m - 6 p.m. - Signing
at Happy Harbor Comics,
10112 - 124 Street,
(780) 452-8211
7 p.m. - Slide show, reading,
Q&A, and signing at Edmonton Public Library,
Centre Core, Centre for Reading and the Arts,
Stanley A Milner Library,
7 Sir Winston Churchill Square,
(780) 496-7000

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   Monday, June 18, 2007  
Graphic Novels of the Future

:: Posted by Bryan @ 6/18/2007 12:52:00 AM
A few quick links about upcoming projects:

1. Is Stacey May Fowles writing the next Kiss Machine comic book? This interview at blogTO hints that the Toronto writer and Kiss Machine contributor may be penning a graphic novel for Marlena Zuber to draw.

2. Hope Larson has finished her new book which is called Chiggers and has redesinged her website to prove it. Chiggers is scheduled to be published by Simon & Schuster's Atheneum Books imprint.

3. The Lindsay library is thinking about using GNs to increase literacy in boys, according to this article.

4. Sequential's own Salgood Sam has put over 40 pages of his graphic novel collaboration with Jim Munroe behind him. You can read what there is so far of ...Therefore Repent! here. The book's publisher hasn't been announced.

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   Monday, April 23, 2007  
Bryan Talbot Event Reports

:: Posted by Bryan @ 4/23/2007 12:02:00 AM
There are a few reports from the signing by UK graphic novelist Bryan Talbot in Toronto last week. Chris Butcher has a short report with photos provided by a kindly Beguiling customer here. As well, the Four Realities blog has a more in-depth report here. And finally, the Space channel's (and Chester Brown character) Mark Asquith has posted a video interview with Talbot.

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   Monday, April 16, 2007  
Book Club: Sarnia + Comics

:: Posted by Bryan @ 4/16/2007 12:02:00 AM
I'm sure there are many of these, but this one got written up in the Sarnia Observer:

Growing interest in animation, particularly comic books and Japanese cartooning, has prompted the Sarnia Library to launch a new graphic novel and anime club for adults.

"Toronto has a number of anime clubs and some of them have conventions that attract thousands," says Jeff Beeler, a reference librarian interested in the genre.

Graphic novels are collections of comic books that are bound together in book form.
The Sarnia Library owns a number already, including the works of Frank Miller such as "Batman: The Dark Knight Returns."

Anime is primarily animation from Japan. Popular examples feature Astroboy from the 1960s and Ghost in the Shell animated movies from the 1980s.

The anime work of Studio Ghibli is available through the local library, including the feature film "Porco Rosso."

A club dedicated to similar interests is already up and running for ages 18 and under. Beeler said about 10 manga club members meet monthly to talk about Japanese graphic novels.

"We started that in February and have had a number of adults ask if they can join," he said.

Beeler hopes to get the adult club started Monday at 7 p.m. in the Sarnia Library's west room.

If enough join, it will be possible to meet with other anime and graphic novel fans in Sarnia-Lambton, and possibly order some movies.

For more information on either club, call 519-337-3291.

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