Meet Ben McCool at JHU Wed, February 8!

On Wednesday, February 8 beginning at 6:00 pm, JHU Welcomes Back writer Ben McCoool (Choker, Memoir), signing copies of the brand new trade paperback of his Image series Pigs! All EXCLUSIVELY at Jim Hanley’s Universe in Manhattan, Where Fans and Creators Meet!

Gotta support the man. The trade collection has the sweet cover by Jock and an intro by Andy Diggle.

The Small Press Expo has made its 2012 guest list official with the announcement that comics masters Dan Clowes and Chris Ware will both be special guests.

Start lining up now. This year’s SPX will be held September 15-16 in North Bethesda, MD.

The Small Press Expo (SPX), the preeminent showcase for the exhibition of independent comics, graphic novels, and alternative political cartoons, kicks off 2012 with our official announcement that cartoonists Dan Clowes and Chris Ware will be attending this year’s festival as special guests. 

Superstar cartoonist Dan Clowes was awarded the 2011 PEN Center Literary Award for his “Outstanding body of work in graphic literature.” He received the Independent Spirit Award and an Academy Award nomination as writer for the movie Ghost World, based on his graphic novel, and he has published in the New Yorker, Time, Newsweek, and GQ. He was the first cartoonist selected for inclusion in Esquire’s prestigious fiction issue, and he drew the backgrounds for The Ramones’ video “I Don’t Want to Grow Up.” But for cartooning cognoscenti, he is perhaps best loved for Eightball, the ambitious and groundbreaking serialized anthology in which he premiered most of the stories eventually collected in his graphic novels.  The most recent issue of Eightball contained the entire story “The Death Ray”, published in 2011 as a standalone graphic novel and selected by The Onion’s AV Club as one of “The Best 25 Comics of the ‘00s.”

Graphic novelist, gallery cartoonist, strip cartoonist – Chris Ware is one of the best known and most respected independent American cartoonists. He has guest edited McSweeney’s Quarterly and The Best American Comics and published cartoons in the New Yorker as well as the Virginia Quarterly Review. He was the first cartoonist to serialize a story in The New York Times Magazine, and has had his work included in the Whitney Biennial. His graphic novel Jimmy Corrigan – the Smartest Kid on Earth received the Guardian First Book Award, the American Book Award and the prestigious French comics award “L’Alph Art.” Fans are eagerly anticipating Volume 21 of his Acme Novelty Library comic strip series and his new compendium, Building Stories, will be released this Fall from Pantheon.

We may have just thrown out the bones of the Christmas Tree, but it’s not too early to go a’conning again. It’s the return of the church con this weekend in NYC as Big City Dare2Draw, a homegrown organization that puts on life drawing classes for every level of artist, is putting on a show at a midtown church. The guest list is led by Neal Adams, and we expect he’ll fit right into any pulpit they find for him. More info here. And here’s a video of Dean Haspiel talking about the show.

Today at Meltdown

The Comic Book Jones crew really know how to put on a show, so if you’re near by, stop by.

As they say, if we were in Berlin, we’d go to this. Maybe. We have no idea what it is but the invite was too cool not to post.

Just in time for the winter season, we inaugurate our new fireplaces, have hot honey wine and celebrate the get together of finest graphic and illustrative art:

The illustrator Erik Mark Sandberg shows us quite plainly the topics beauty craze and consumer culture, in intensive 
shiny colours, in his solo exhibition “Down by the river”, while we also can admire the increasing diversity of cutting 
edge graphic design by the group exhibition “graphic detour” (with Erik Steinbrecher, Damien Poulain, a.o.).

Erik Mark Sandberg is actually an American artist, based in LA, who has exhibited worldwide. He’s best known for his images of hairy children mixed with startling pop culture tableaux.

You know what, if we were in Berlin, we WOULD go to this.

It’s all happening at Jim Hanley’s Universe. Retrofit Comics is Box Brown’s line of pamphlet/floppies that is bringing the periodical back to the indie comics world. Some releases thus far:

Damn. This is a once in a lifetime chance! Legendary — and we do mean LEGENDARY — artist Jack Davis is speaking at The Strand tonight and is headlining an opening of his art at the Scott Eder gallery tomorrow. Strand info here. Davis will be interviewed by Gary Groth but you must buy either his new art book or a $10 Strand gift card in order to attend.

How often do you get the chance to hear Jack Davis speak about his extensive and influential career? And how often are we able to pair him on stage with our one and only Gary Groth leading the interview?

You can either buy the book or a $10 Strand Gift Card in order to attend this event, but I’m sure you’ve already done that, RIGHT? Both options admit two people.

So, join Jack and Gary for this exciting event Thursday night at 7:00 PM, in the Rare Book Room on the 3rd Floor of The Strand [ 828 Broadway (at 12th St.) ].

TOMORROW, Davis appears at the Scott Eder Gallery: Jack Davis : Drawing American Pop Culture

Opening reception Friday
Dec. 2nd, 2011-6-8pm
Scott Eder Gallery
18 Bridge St. #2i, Brooklyn
Scott Eder Gallery is pleased to present “Jack Davis: Drawing American Pop Culture”. In Person, In his first solo exhibition at the gallery, the iconic artist will present a selection of his ingenious drawings from across his half-century long career. Included are watercolors used on the cover of Time and TV Guide; comic book pages from Mad, Davis’ famously gnarled football illustrations; and a rogue’s gallery of cowboys, hunters and frustrated politicians. Plus a surprise or 2 from his classic Bill Gaines’ 1950’s E.C. comics The Crypt of Terror, and 2 Fisted Tales. This exhibition offers a rare glimpse into the process and career trajectory one of America’s greatest visual commentators.
*Presented in conjunction with The Brooklyn Comics and Graphics Festival- (Dec 3rd)
Opening reception: Friday, December 2, 6 -8 pm. The artist will be in attendance.

Holy crap! MUST SEE.

Davis appears SATURDAY at the Brooklyn Comics and Graphics Festival. But we’ll have more on that in a bit.

Seeing Davis at one of these events is a once in a lifetime opportunity that you will kick yourself over if you miss it. So….DON’T MISS IT.

Kate Beaton and Michael Kupperman team for a night of comedy comics cabaret. Special guests Julia Wertz, Lizz Hickey and Lauren Weinstein according to various things on Google! 7 pm SHARP, Luca Lounge, 13th St & Avenue B, NY NY

More info

Swedish digital artist Kilian Eng is one of the hottest things going in illustration, and he’s getting his first monograph from Floating World Comics — and they’ll be holding an opening to celebrate on December 1st at FLoating World. Alas the artist will not be on hand. The book will be available at the Brooklyn Comics and Graphics Festival on December 3.

Floating World Comics is proud to publish Object 5, the first monograph of illustration and graphic design work by Swedish artist, Kilian Eng. The book features over 60 full color pieces created over the last three years. The book will debut at Floating World Comics on Thursday December 1st and at the Brooklyn Comics and Graphics Fest on December 3rd. The book is limited to 1000 copies worldwide. Ordering info will be available on the Floating World website shortly.

Kilian’s images present alternate worlds where the environment plays a great role. Many of these sequences present visual stories, without any text. This is connected to his growing interest in theatrical mise-en-scène and set design for film. He is fascinated with the details that can create these imaginative worlds; colors and lighting, dimensions and sounds. His inspiration comes from classic and futuristic architecture, surrealism, science fiction, as well as the different elements and shapes in natural and urban landscapes.

View an animated trailer for the book: http://vimeo.com/31901415

Special thanks to Infinity Night and Radio Cosmos Records for providing music used in the trailer.

LISTING INFORMATION:
WHO: Kilian Eng (artist not in attendance)
WHAT: Object 5 book release
WHEN: Thursday, Dec. 1st, 6-10pm
WHERE: Floating World Comics, 400 NW Couch St.

Dixon Place presents:

CAROUSEL FOR KIDS!

Cartoon slide shows by
Chris Duffy
Sam Henderson
Tao Nyeu
Colleen AF Venable
and more!

Hosted by
R. Sikoryak
and
Neil Numberman.

Featuring stories, gags, & audience participation!  For kids of all ages.

Saturday, November 5, 2011
at 2 pm

Dixon Place
161A Chrystie St.(btwn Rivington & Delancey)
NYC

Advance tickets: $5 kids, $10 adults
at the door: $10 kids, $15 adults

Tickets & info:
www.dixonplace.org
(212) 219-0736