The Sunday Spotlight — Get Yer Comics News Here
by Richard Bruton
Another Sunday rolls round, which means it must be time for The Sunday Spotlight, Comicon’s round-up of at least some of the comics-related news this week…
As always, a reminder that this is my Sunday Spotlight and I make no apologies for the news being stuff that I saw and liked — but it’s all good comics stuff and it’s all worth you checking out.
So, with that said… shall we?
Cartoon Museum’s Young Cartoonist Award 2023…
Cartoonist under 18? Or 18-30? Well, get your entries in as London’s Cartoon Museum’s Young Cartoonist Awards 2023 are now open to applicants. They’re looking for the best new young cartoonists to provide 1-3 panel original cartoons (not comics!)
The awards are in their 28th year, originally known as the Mel Calman Young Cartoonist Competition, in memory of The Times cartoonist and Cartoon Arts Trust founder. They changed into the Young Cartoonist of the Year’ competition in 2001, with Martin Rowson recruiting judges from national newspapers. Previous winners include Nick Edwards, who went on to win an Emmy for his work on Uncle Grandpa in the US; New Yorker cartoonist Will McPhail; and political cartoonist Matt Buck.
The competition awards two age categories – U18 and U30, plus a special prize given to the most surreal cartoon, the Woodcock Prize, which is given in memory of the late surrealist cartoonist Kevin Woodcock.
More details right here.
Dave Shelton’s Ants…
The insanely talented Dave Shelton, author and comic maker (Good Dog Bad Dog, A Boy and a Bear in a Boat, Emily Lime) has a thing on his socials (Facebook, Twitter) called bad ant puns. It is a load of fun.
TMNT get their own manhole in Dover…
Well, here’s a weird way to celebrate someone … Dover, New Hampshire has unveiled a manhole cover decorated by Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles co-creator Kevin Eastman, along with a historical sign on Union Street.
Whilst Eastman comes from Massachusetts and co-creator Peter Laird comes from Maine, their connection with Dover comes with the first location of their Mirage Studios where they created the Turtles some 40 years ago. Which makes me feel incredibly old and reminds me that I really should have invested in multiple copies of those first few TMNT for my old age.
Get your Toth merch…
There are plenty of knock-offs out there in comics land, but there’s only one official store for merchandise of all things Alex Toth — The Alex Toth Store, run by his family, who say this on the site…
‘This site is dedicated to our father, the late cartoonist Alex Toth, who has left his presence behind within the wonderful body of work he created. This site will not only enable friends, family and fans to own something fun with his work and name on it, but also help to continue the large project of archiving his original works. Ultimately, the family is also dedicated to one day creating a scholarship in his name. Thank you for your interest! Dana Palmer, Carrie Morash, Eric Toth, Damon Toth.’
Currently limited to t-shirts, postcards, journals, mugs, and prints — but damn, they’re good-looking t-shirts, postcards, journals, mugs, and prints.
Latest Phoenix Comic online event – James Stayte and Gorebrah’s Introduction to Barbarian Cooking…
Love the idea of these Phoenix Comics workshops and the next one comes from James Stayte — ‘Learn to Draw the Strangest Meal You Can Imagine with James Stayte.’
Happening on Saturday 18th November at 10.00 GMT, a 60-minute online workshop to draw-along with comic artist James Stayte, featuring Gorebrah from The Phoenix comic. Suitable for ages 7 and up. Details here.
Beano at V&A Dundee — plenty of merch to sit under the Christmas tree…
Yes, it’s getting closer and closer and there’s always that annoying panic over what to get someone. Well, if they love comics, and Brit comics in particular, there’s a fine chance that they’re going to love some of these bits of Beano merchandise from the V&A Dundee shop. Prints, postcards, t-shirts, bags, mugs… plenty to choose from.
Burlington Non-Fiction Comics Festival… 18 November…
Interesting concept — a specifically non-fiction comics festival happening in Burlington, Vermont. Guests include Vermont Cartoonist Laureate Tillie Walden, Keith Knight of the K Chronicles and there’s a keynote presentation with Stephen R. Bissette and Rick Veitch, Hey Kids, Vermonters in the Comics!
More details at their site.
