Friday Night Lights

You don't need to watch the TV to see these lights next Friday night...

The opening reception for this Sunday Comix exhibit, "Komics @ Kerouac," will be held at (where else?) the Kafé Kerouac (just a few blocks north of Lane Ave.) on Friday, Feb 1 from 7-11p. You can meet the artists, look at their art up close, watch those cartooning fools create a live Comix Jam before your very eyes or just ignore the whole damn thing and get yourself a nice cup of Toni Morrison or Franz Kafka. Free food will be available as well as plenty of beer and booze. (They carry the full line of Great Lakes Beers and they are the only Bar in Columbus that recycles all their Bottles and Cans!)

"Komics @ Kerouac" will feature the framed art work of Matt & Ellen Wyatt, Ray Tomczak, Molly Durst, Andrea "Sam" McEnaney and Max Ink. Their books as well as those of other Sunday Comix members will be available for sale throughout the month of February.

Kafé Kerouac is located at 2250 N. High St. in Columbus, hours are Mon-Fri, 8am to 11pm, Sat, 10am to 11pm, and Sun, Noon to 10pm.

Dave Sim S.P.A.C.E. Exclusive

For those who care...







...and for those who don't know or care what the heck this* is about...

Don't worry, there are plenty of other great reasons to come to this year's S.P.A.C.E.!

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*Okay... for those non-Sim/Cerebus fans (who would like to know what the heck this is about) or if you're just "out of the loop," here's the Secret Project scoop in a nutshell:

After 27 years of self-publishing Cerebus, Dave Sim wrapped it up in March 2004 and took a long vacation. Then, in the spring of 2007, he began working on an unnamed "Secret Project." Much anticipation and excitement was stirred among Mr. Sim's fan base. However, due to a series of unfortunate events, he put the "Secret Project" on hold in July. Less than a month later, he began working on another "Secret Project" which then became known as "Secret Project #2" (and then in December was revealed as being his Glamourpuss comic); thus (ipso facto) making the first "Secret Project" #1! So, in April Mr. Sim's "Secret Project #2" (Glamourpuss) will be available for sale at comic shops and in May, so too will his "Secret Project #1 (the actual title of which is to be revealed at S.P.A.C.E.) be available for sale.

Does that make sense? Go ahead and ask Dave about it when you see him (and the Secret Project #1) at S.P.A.C.E. on March 1.

First OSU 2008 Cartoon Exhibit Announced

Recently posted on the OSU Cartoon Research Library website:


Anne Mergen: Editorial Cartoonist
February 1 – April 11, 2008

Anne Mergen’s editorial cartoons chronicle history from the Great Depression through the Cold War. During that time, she was the only woman in the nation working as an editorial cartoonist.

Mergen was born in Omaha, Nebraska, in 1906. She studied commercial art in Chicago before moving to Miami in the mid 1920s to work as a fashion advertising artist for a local department store. When the Miami Daily News, part of the Cox newspaper chain, hired her as its editorial cartoonist in 1933, she was the only woman editorial cartoonist in the United States, a status that continued until her retirement in 1956. She continued to have cartoons published as late as 1959.

She had a home studio and all of the contemporary press coverage about her career celebrates the fact that she drew her editorial cartoons only after fulfilling her duties as wife and mother to two children. In addition to being published in the Miami Daily News, her cartoons were published in other Cox newspapers including the Atlanta Journal and the Dayton News.

The editorial cartoons in this exhibit range from Mergen’s take on Goebbels’ propaganda to the advent of nuclear power. She was a thoughtful commentator on the events of her time and her work merits wider recognition.

Anne Mergen died in 1994. The cartoons in this exhibition were donated to the Cartoon Research Library by her grandchildren, Matthew Bernhardt and Christine Hoverman. The Anne Mergen Collection at the Cartoon Research Library contains almost 600 original editorial cartoons documenting her work.

Be sure to visit the Library and see the exhibit of Ms. Mergen's work.

The OSU Cartoon Reasearch Library is located in the Northeast portion of the Wexner Center complex, north of the Mershon Auditorium. Entry doors are located underneath the large, white, steel grid that runs north-south (parallel to High St.) at the north end. After entering the building, take the stairs or elevator down one floor. The Cartoon Research Library is located next to the Fine Arts Library.

The Gallery/Reading Room is open M-F 9a-5p. No appointments are necessary to view exhibits in the reading room.

The Ohio State University
Cartoon Research Library
27 West 17th Ave. Mall
Columbus, OH 43210-1393

T 614.292.0538
F 614.292.9101
E cartoons@osu.edu

Parking for the Cartoon Research Library is available at the Ohio Union Garage . The South Campus Gateway garage, located one block east of North High Street between 9th and 11th Avenues, is also nearby. For other parking on campus, search area parking map.

Who the Heck is Mike Lucas?

Mike Lucas is a quiet, reserved man, he is the Sunday Comix Jam Keeper, he is the sticky glue that holds this group together, he is also the the one guy you want to go to if you need to be taken down a peg or two.

Mr. Lucas stopped by the Ink Studio yesterday to help get the Sunday Comix Komics @ Kerouac Comics Jam started. Here are a few photos of the man himself in action:

Interview with Sci-Fi Smith

As posted on PW Comics Week:

After taking a successful plunge into mainstream comics with last year’s Shazam: The Monster Society of project for DC Comics, Jeff Smith is returning to the world of self publishing with his new series, RASL, which debuts in February. But fans of Smith’s long-running and internationally acclaimed independent series Bone be warned: RASL is a departure from kid-friendly material. Planned as a quarterly series, RASL is a blend of science fiction and noir, following an art thief who jumps dimensions to steal famed paintings. Read the "Let’s get ready to RASL" interview here.

Hmmm... It seems the Spring of `08 is the Trifecta of Self Publishing. Mr. Smith's new book is being published in February. Terry Moore returns to self publishing with his comic, Echo, available in March and Dave Sim will be merging onto the road he helped to pave with his "secret project" (which is not so secret anymore), Glamourpuss, to be launched in April.

Also of note, all three of these artists will be appearing in Columbus this Spring: Dave Sim will be at S.P.A.C.E. on March 1, and Jeff Smith & Terry Moore will speaking at the Wex Center in conjunction with Mr. Smith's Bone art exhibit. (More announcement to come regarding the Bone Exhibit.)

Laugh-A-Lot On The High Road

The High Road Gallery at 12 E. Stafford Ave in Worthington announces a show to warm you up and break the monotony of the grey winter weather: “Laughs at Lakeside” : Cartoon and Graphic Arts by Ohio artists. With the cooperation of the National Cartoonists Society Great Lakes Chapter, Steve Boreman is chair of the show. Cartoonists will exhibit framed or matted originals and prints. Artists whose work will be on exhibit include Russell Merritt, Ron Hill, Susan Sturgell, Paul Palnik, Judith Vierow, and Sunday Comixers Matt Wyatt & Max Ink. The show dates are January 30 through February 23.

All are invited to the free Artists' reception on Sunday, February 3rd, from 2-4 PM. “Sunday Comix”, a cartoonists' group, will do a “jam session” during the opening in which all artists are invited to a progressive cartoon, adding their skills to the panels as they are drawn. Mike Patrick will select prizes for entries in the show and awards will be given at the reception.

Three dimensional additions to the show are enamel pins by Susan Hunt and felted vessels by Suzanne Pusecker.

The High Road Gallery is located in Worthington at 12 East Stafford Ave, one block north of 161 off High Street. Gallery hours are 12-4 Wednesday through Friday and 11:30 to 4 on Saturday. Gallery phone is 614-781-6454. Visit www.highroadgallery.org for more information.

SPACE ART

Local painter supreme (and Day Prize winner) Tom Williams has done it once again! Each year, Tom draws a different (and weirder/cooler) variation on the S.P.A.C.E. "Cosmo" character for Columbus' very own Small Press & Alternative Comix Expo. You can check out some of Tom's past SPACE artwork below. (And you can buy it here.) As you walk throughout the city, keep your eyes peeled and snag one of these postcards so you, too can own a piece of history. Heck, grab a few and pass them out to friends & relatives. And lest you forget, buy some (if not all) of Tom's books or even get him to draw you somethin' real purty!

S.P.A.C.E. will happen March 1 and 2, 2008 (Sat & Sun)
10:00 AM to 6:00 PM Sat. & 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM Sun.
Aladdin Shrine Center, Columbus, OH

Admission $5.00 for one day and $8.00 for both

Mid Ohio Con: For Sale

I just found out that Mid-Ohio-Con promoter Roger Price has announced that, after 27 years, he’s retiring and looking for a new owner for the Columbus, Ohio, convention. I've been either an attendee or an exhibitor at Roger's show nearly every year since 1986. I hope to read the good news someday soon that a buyer is found and the torch is passed to someone who can keep this Central Ohio convention alive and well.

Toothpaste... It's What's For Dinner

Drew from Toothpaste for Dinner
Lecture w/Q&A afterwards
Wed Jan 23, 2008 - 7:30 PM
OSU Campus, Campbell Hall - Room 200

Drew, creator of Toothpaste for Dinner, will be stopping by OSU on Wednesday evening to talk about his experience earning a living as an artist and humorist in Columbus. Since 2001, Drew has worked continually on his Toothpaste For Dinner webcomic, which was described by Slate Magazine as "the most addictive comic on the web." In 2006, Drew began his work with Married to the Sea (see below), a collaborative webcomic with his wife Natalie Dee. From the economics of independent vs. mass media, to his pointed views on the worlds of fine art and comics, Drew has wit to spare. Oh, and if you don't already have his book, buy it now.

February Comic Art Gallery Shows

As it has already been mentioned (and this is just a friendly reminder along with promotional art), Sunday Comix members' artwork will on display during the month of February at TWO gallery shows:

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"Komics @ Kerouac" is a Sunday Comix specific show featuring members Matt & Ellen Wyatt, Ray Tomczak, Max Ink and others' framed art on display as well as their books for sale all thru the month of February at the Kafé Kerouac (2250 N. High St. Columbus). Kafé hours are Mon-Fri, 8am to 11pm, Sat, 10am to 11pm, and Sun, Noon to 10pm. The opening reception will be held at the Kafé on Friday, Feb 1 from 7-11p.

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A few members of the Sunday Comix group will also be participating in the National Cartoonists Society, Great Lakes Chapter sponsored show, "LAUGHS AT LAKESIDE" at the High Road Gallery (12 E Stafford Ave, Worthington) from January 30 to February 23. Gallery hours are Wed-Fri, 12-4pm and Sat, 11:30am-4pm. Sunday Comix will be hosting a Comix Jam during the Opening Reception on Sunday, February 3, 2:00 - 4:00 pm.

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P.Craig Russell visits OSU Cartoon Resaerch Library

This video is from Wayne Alan Harold's upcoming profile of acclaimed Ohio comics illustrator P. Craig Russell (DR. STRANGE, SANDMAN, THE RING OF THE NIBELUNG).

Mr. Harold notes:

This is just a rough scene that gets us down there and into the place—there will be quite a bit more in the finished profile, including a tour of the library, glimpses at Hal Foster and Winsor McCay originals, an examination of Craig's original CORALINE art, a surprise appearance by one of Craig's previous publishers, plus (as they say) much, much more!"

Gem City Comic Con

Mark your calendars: the 3rd annual Gem City Comic Con will be opening their doors to comic book readers and gamers on Sunday, April 6th in the Wright State University Student Union from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. As the Dayton Daily News reported last year in an interview with Sunday Comix member Sean Forney, GCCC is "well on its way to becoming one of the region's hottest comic-book gatherings."

This year's guests will include such Ohio artists as Mr. Forney, Eric Adams (Lackluster), David Aikins (Let's Draw Studios), Max Ink (Blink), Dan Davis (Scholastic), Andy Bennett (Panel), as well as special guests Billy Tan (Marvel, Top Cow) & the legendary writer Marv Wolfman (Tomb of Dracula, The New Teen Titans as well as the creator of the comic book character Blade.)

In addition to over a two dozen retailers selling comics, toys and collectibles, the good folks at Bell Book and Comic will be hosting a sanctioned Magic the Gathering tournament (Booster Draft), a Heroclix sealed event and a UFS tournament.

2007 Day Prize Short List Announced

The Short List for the 2007 Day Prize has been announced. What is the Day Prize? As stated in the premiere internet reference source:

Created by comic-book writer-artist-publisher Dave Sim and his collaborator, Gerhard, in memory of Sim's late mentor and self-publishing pioneer Gene Day (née Howard Eugene Day), the Howard E. Day Prize is awarded yearly for outstanding achievement in self-publishing. The prize consists of a $500 cash award and a commemorative plaque awarded annually at SPACE (Small Press and Alternative Comics Expo) in Columbus, OH.

Nominees over the past six years have included such alt comix luminaries as Paul Hornschemeier, Andy Runton, Farel Dalrymple, Matt Dembicki, Pat Lewis and dozens more from all over the United States. I'd like to point out (with a dash of regional pride) that half of the winners of this prestigious award have been Ohio cartoonists and two are current Columbus residents.

Congrats to all the nominees for making this year's Short List! (...and most of all to Craig Bogart--another local boy!)

Lifelike is a Laughing Matter

(Just in case you can't read the above uber cool flyer Tom Williams created...) Local writer Dara Naraghi will be signing copies of his graphic novel, Lifelike (published by IDW) on Wednesday, January 16 from 5-8pm at the Laughing Ogre. He will be joined by 3 of the book's artists Andy Bennett, Tom Williams, and Tim McClurg.

So, what is Lifelike, anyway? Originally published online thru Komikwerks, Lifelike is a series of vignettes showing unrelated snapshots of ordinary life. The series – using an amazingly wide array of artists and art styles – becomes a collected work much more than the sum of its parts: an author’s true narrative vision. From the sentimental to the shocking, the familiar to the unknown, it's all here.

Sunday Comix Happenings

SUNDAY COMIX MEETING:
January 20 | 2:00 - 4:00
Upper Arlington Library | Columbus, OH

The first Sunday Comix meeting of 2008 wlll be Sunday, January 20 at the Upper Arlington Library (2800 Tremont Road Columbus, OH 43221) at 2:00 in the afternoon. We'll be sharing our work, jamming on comics and discussing the year's upcoming activities and conventions (see below). New members and interested folks are always welcome.

Winter Gallery Shows:

Members of the Sunday Comix group will be participating in the National Cartoonists Society, Great Lakes Chapter sponsored show, "LAUGHS AT LAKESIDE" at the High Road Gallery (12 E Stafford Ave, Worthington) from January 30 to February 23. Sunday Comix will be hosting a Comix Jam during the Opening Reception on Sunday, February 3, 2:00 - 4:00 pm.

The cartooning art of Sunday Comixers will also be on view all thru the month of February at the Kafé Kerouac (2250 N. High St. Columbus). Official reception will be at the Kafé on Friday, Feb 1 from 7-11p.

S P A C E
Small Press & Alternative Comix Expo
March 1 & 2
10:00 AM to 6:00 PM Sat. & 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM Sun.
Aladdin Shrine Center, Columbus, OH.

Admission $5.00 for one day and $8.00 for both

The Sunday Comix group, along with individual group members Molly Durst, Mike Carroll, Michael Neno, Ray Tomczak, Kel Crum & Max Ink (not to mention dozens of other local and national cartoonists) will be showing their stuff & sell their wares at this year's premier Mid West Alt Comix Expo. Show your support and see what it is that makes Indie Comix tick.