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Not too many comics or graphic novel make Page Six, the NY Posts’s venerable gossip page, but the book party the other night for Marisa Acocella Marchetto’s new graphic novel Ann Tenna (Knopf) did just that! It was also written up on the WSJ society page – an actual event!

The hubbub was about Marchetto’s new book, which follows heartless society gossip blogger Ann Tenna after she’s hit by a garbage truck and has to confront her better self…which one will prevail? Marchetto’s previous gn was Cancer Vixen, about her own real life battle with cancer, and I have to say, she is truly one of the nicest people I’ve met covering the graphic novel world—the book is similarly sweet and good natured…although with plenty of riffs on our fickle obsession with fame and celebrity.

The fete was held at the trendy hangout Da Silvano in the Village, which is owned by Marchetto’s husband, Silvano Marchetto, and it was quite the ‘do with a model in an Ann Tenna Dress, Ann Tenna cookies, and, best of all, Ann Tenna nail wraps and three manicurists to apply them. The Beat took advantage of that.

Among all the media types on display, were also a bunch of New Yorker cartoonists—Marchetto is a contributor—including S. Harris, Sam Gross, Mort Gerberg, Charlie Hankin, Bob Eckstein and Liza Donnelly, and assistant cartoon editor Colin Stokes. I recognized most of these folks because just a few days ago I attended a screening of Very Semi-Serious, by Leah Wolchok and Davina Pardo, a film all about Robert Mankoff and the New Yorker cartoon process and the people who make them. The film will have a limited release in the fall but will be more widely seen on December 7th on HBO. I’m forbidden review it until then but, spoiler, I loved this movie and it was a treat to chat with Donnelly and Stokes (who is one of the stars of the documentary, if a documentary can have a star) a little bit. Donnelley was off to Columbus for the annual Association of American Editorial Cartoonists meeting. Stokes was off to read more cartoons, I suppose. More here, and here. And I even took my own photos — but not one of Marchetto but you can see her above in the spectacular blue sequined dress.

Oh yes, Chip Kidd was also there and he wanted me to remind everyone that his Batman: Black and White show is up at the Society of Illustrators and will have a gala opening October 7!

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Donnelly and Stokes.

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That dress

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People mingle on the sidewalk of a steamy late summer night in Manhattan.

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My snappy nails. Still going strong!