Press Release: Team Cul de Sac - The Coffee Cup Challenge

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Team Cul de Sac has been inspired by the ALS Ice Bucket Challenge and is issuing its own challenge with the Coffee Cup Challenge scheduled for October 8, 2014.  

The Coffee Cup Challenge is simple.  We are asking supporters of Team Cul de Sac and the fight against Parkinson's Disease to give up their daily coffee and donate that amount to Team Cul de Sac. Maybe you're not a coffee drinker, but can't start the day without a nice icy Diet Coke or celebrate Half Price Wine Bottle night at your favorite restaurant on Wednesdays, instead of making those purchases, make a donation! It's a small sacrifice that can make a big difference!

We selected October 8 as our challenge day as it is Richard Thompson's birthday.  What a great way to honor a wonderfully talented man by helping the fight against a devastating disease! 

We hope that you will join us on October 8, but putting the coffee down and clicking on the Team Cul de Sac fundraising page and making a donation.  Share with friends and family that you've taken on the challenge with #CoffeeCupChallenge on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Press Release: Small Press Expo Announces 2014 Ignatz Award Nominees

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The Small Press Expo (SPX), the preeminent showcase for the exhibition of independent comics, graphic novels and alternative political cartoons, is pleased to announce the 2014 nominees for the annual presentation of the Ignatz Awards, a celebration of outstanding achievement in comics and cartooning.

 The Ignatz, named after George Herriman's brick-wielding mouse from his long running comic strip Krazy Kat, recognizes exceptional work that challenges popular notions of what comics can achieve, both as an art form and as a means of personal expression. The Ignatz Awards are a festival prize, the first of such in the United States comic book industry.

The nominees for the ballot were determined by a panel of five of the best of today’s comic artists, Darryl Ayo, Austin English, Melissa Mendes, Thien Pham and Whit Taylor, with the votes cast for the awards by the attendees during SPX. The Ignatz Awards will be presented at the gala Ignatz Awards ceremony held on Saturday, September 13, 2014 at 9:30 P.M.

Additional information on the nominees and previews (as available) can be found at http://www.spxpo.com/ignatz-awards.

Once again we want to thank our our friends at comiXology for sponsoring the Ignatz Awards. Information on comiXology and their self-publishing portal Submit can be found at https://submit.comixology.com.

Additional information on the nominees and previews (as available) can be found at http://www.spxpo.com/2014-ignatz-awards.

 SPX will be held Saturday, September 13 from 11AM to 7PM and Sunday, September 14, noon-6PM at The North Bethesda Marriott Convention Center in Bethesda, Maryland. Admission is $15 for Saturday, $10 for Sunday and $20 for both days.

For further information on the Ignatz Awards, the nominees or to request an interview, please contact Ignatz Awards coordinator, Eden Miller, at spxignatz@gmail.com or SPX executive director, Warren Bernard at warren@spxpo.com.
For more information on the Small Press Expo, please visit http://www.spxpo.com.

Outstanding Artist

  • Sam Bosma for Fantasy Basketball
  • Kim Deitch for The Amazing, Enlightening and Absolutely True Adventures of Katherine Whaley
  • Sophie Goldstein for Darwin Carmichael is Going To Hell; Edna II; House of Women
  • Ed Piskor for Hip Hop Family Tree Vol. 1
  • Jesse Reklaw for Couch Tag

Outstanding Anthology or Collection

  • Amazing Facts and Beyond by Kevin Huizenga and Dan Zettwoch
  • The End by Anders Nilsen
  • Eye of the Majestic Creature Vol. 2 by Leslie Stein
  • Sock Monkey Treasury by Tony Millionaire
  • QU33R edited by Robert Kirby

Outstanding Graphic Novel

  • The Amazing, Enlightening and Absolutely True Adventures of Katherine Whaley by Kim Deitch
  • The Boxer by Reinhard Kleist
  • Boxers and Saints by Gene Luen Yang
  • This One Summer by Jillian Tamaki and Mariko Tamaki
  • War of Streets and Houses by Sophie Yanow

Outstanding Story

  • "Brownout Biscuit," Octopus Pie: Dead Forever by Meredith Gran
  • Destination X by John Martz
  • The Grassy Knoll by Nick Drnaso
  • “Jobs,"  Life Zone by Simon Hanselmann
  • “Mom,”  Viewotron #2 by Sam Sharpe

Promising New Talent

  • Luke Howard for Trevor
  • Cathy G. Johnson for Jeremiah; Boy Genius; Until It Runs Clear
  • Nick Offerman for Orange; Onions
  • Keiler Roberts for Powdered Milk
  • Daryl Seitchik for Missy

Outstanding Series

  • The Black Feather Falls by Ellen Lindner
  • Demon by Jason Shiga
  • Powdered Milk by Keiler Roberts
  • Sky in Stereo by Sacha Mardou
  • Towerkind by Kat Verhoeven

Outstanding Comic

  • Blammo #8 by Noah Van Sciver
  • Cosplayers by Dash Shaw
  • It Will All Hurt #2 by Farel Dalrymple
  • Misliving Amended by Adam Buttrick
  • Wicked Chicken Queen by Sam Alden

Outstanding Minicomic

  • The Grassy Knoll by Nick Drnaso
  • House of Women by Sophie Goldstein
  • Never Forgets by Yumi Sakugawa
  • Test Tube #1 by Carlos Gonzalez
  • Up to the Top by Ian Sampson

Outstanding Online Comic

Episode 337: HeroesCon 2014 Wrap Up Part 2

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Seth Peagler and Winslow Drum

This week Adam, Josh, and Shawn continue their marathon discussion of HeroesCon 2014.  They cover mostly Art Auctions, but also attempt to put the finishing touches on Friday.  Shawn talks about non comics things they she purchased, Josh talks more on his Adult Swim sketchbook and Adam talks his commissions.

Runtime 1 hour 8 minutes 34 seconds

HeroesCon 2014: Teaching Comics Forum - Teaching Difficult Texts

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With the increased spotlight on teaching controversial material in schools we thought it would be fun to discuss methods and approaches for teaching difficult comics and graphic novels. Planned topics include: racial stereotypes, violence, and sexuality. That being said, Parental Guidance is suggested as the conversation may steer toward mature content. Panelists include Mike Kobre (Queens University), Andy Kunka (USC), Dana Hayward (HarperCollins Publishers) and moderator Shawn Daughhetee (The School of Hard Knocks).

Runtime 57 minutes 12 seconds

HeroesCon 2014: Indie Creators

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Indie Island shirts by Aaron Conley and Maris Wicks

The DOLLAR BIN’s ADAM DAUGHHETEE sits down with some of the most talented denizens of INDIE ISLAND. Adam will chew the fat with AARON CONLEY (Sabretooth Swordsman), SCOTT C. (Amazing Everything), JIM RUGG (Supermag), BENJAMIN MARRA (Blades and Lazers) and ALEXIS ZIRITT (The Package). Miss this one at your own peril!

Runtime 54 minutes 39 seconds