My first talk at the Port Washington Library went pretty well. I did blank out a couple of times, which taught me a lesson for the rest of the talks: don't stray too far from my notes. I also seem to have lost a page of notes about the 1970s revival of Captain Marvel, and had to ad-lib it. There were no kids in the audience, which I guess shouldn't have surprised me on a school day. But the people who were there were a good audience, and they were familiar with all the classic comic strips: Toonerville Folks, Smilin' Jack, Gasoline Alley.
One man asked a question about the European character Tintin, which I mentioned briefly in my presentation. Another said he was a fan of the modern comic strip, Brian Crane's Pickles, which has been running since 1991. It's a favorite of mine, too.
Today's 2pm talk at the Mineola Memorial Library should bring in a more diverse group, being on a Saturday afternoon. I hope they enjoy the show.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Friday, October 16, 2009
The Comics: A Sketchy History
Wow... has it been almost a year and a half since I last posted here? I'll make an effort to do better. (For a while, anyway. ;)
This afternoon, I'm giving the first of four talks this week on the history of comics. Two hours from now, I'll be setting up my presentation in the Port Washington Library. I'm hoping the rain won't discourage too many people from coming.
I'l be repeating the presentation tomorrow at 2pm at the Mineola Library; again next Tuesday, 10/20, at 7pm in the Hillside Library in New Hyde Park, NY; and finally, Wednesday, 10/21, at 7:30pm at the Comsewogue Library in Port Jefferson Station. Only people with valid Comsewogue library cards will be admitted to the last one, but anyone is welcome at the others.
I'll post comments here after each of the sessions, and I'd enjoy reading comments from anyone who attended them.
In the weeks to come, I'll make an attempt to keep this blog more active. I'll be writing short reviews of graphic novels and cartooning books, some old and some new. I'll also comment from time to time on comics-related news, or whatever else crosses my mind. If you've read this far, I hope you'll come back to visit.
This afternoon, I'm giving the first of four talks this week on the history of comics. Two hours from now, I'll be setting up my presentation in the Port Washington Library. I'm hoping the rain won't discourage too many people from coming.
I'l be repeating the presentation tomorrow at 2pm at the Mineola Library; again next Tuesday, 10/20, at 7pm in the Hillside Library in New Hyde Park, NY; and finally, Wednesday, 10/21, at 7:30pm at the Comsewogue Library in Port Jefferson Station. Only people with valid Comsewogue library cards will be admitted to the last one, but anyone is welcome at the others.
I'll post comments here after each of the sessions, and I'd enjoy reading comments from anyone who attended them.
In the weeks to come, I'll make an attempt to keep this blog more active. I'll be writing short reviews of graphic novels and cartooning books, some old and some new. I'll also comment from time to time on comics-related news, or whatever else crosses my mind. If you've read this far, I hope you'll come back to visit.
Friday, May 30, 2008
MoCCA Art Festival 2008
The Museum of Comic and Cartoon Art is proud to announce MoCCA Art Festival 2008, to be held June 7th-8th, 2008, at the historic Puck Building in lower Manhattan.Hours: 11:00am - 6:00pm
Admission is $10 each day / $15 weekend pass (weekend pass only $10 for MoCCA members)
Meet comics and cartoon artists! Four full ballrooms of cartoonists and publishers! Three days of entertaining and educational panel sessions!
Much more exciting info coming soon
Monday, May 12, 2008
Superheroes Fashion and Fantasy
Superheroes Fashion and Fantasy: That's the name of an exhibit running at the Metropolitan Museum of Modern Art now through September 1, 2008. If you're going to be in New York City this summer, check it out.It's a display of superhero-inspired clothing from several of today's top fashion designers. Not much I can add to that, other than to suggest you check out the museum's website for more details.
Sunday, May 4, 2008
National Cartoonists Day
On Sunday, May 5, 1895, readers of the New York World discovered something new and different in their morning papers. Printed in full color was a drawing by artist Richard Outcault, depicting the antics of a rowdy group of street urchins. Prominent among them was a big-eared, barefoot little boy wearing a grimy nightshirt and a mischievous grin.This was the first color installment of the cartoon feature Down Hogan’s Alley, and the lad was named Mickey Dugan, though he soon became known to the public as the Yellow Kid. He was soon to be the first commercially successful cartoon icon.
In 1990, May 5 was proclaimed Cartoonists Day by the National Cartoonists Society, and May 3-9 was designated Cartoon Appreciation Week.
Here are some ways you can celebrate...
- Read the comics pages every day!
- Rent an animated movie!
- Send an e-mail message to the cartoonist that draws your favorite comic strip! (Most newspaper strips have the creator's e-mail address written along one of the panel borders.)
- Write a letter to your local newspaper, telling them which comic strips you enjoy most, and why!
- Visit a comic book shop and try something new!
- Send a cartoon greeting card to a friend!
- Buy a paperback collection of a comic strip you enjoy… or one you never read before!
- Visit the public library and read about the history of comics and cartoons!
- Try drawing your own comic strip or cartoon!
- Recapture your youthful sense of wonder... read the comics with a child!
- Take a cartoonist to lunch!
Boys, boys, let's compromise.
It's INKO de Mayo!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
