The Sunday Spotlight – The ‘You Were Always Sexiest When You Were Squirming’ Edition

Welcome once more – it’s Sunday, here’s a spotlight on some news pieces I reckon you’re going to love – it’s The Sunday Spotlight…

Tom Of Finland & Beryl Cook exhibtion – Studio Voltaire, London, 15 May – 25 August 2024…

Little late to this as the exhibition has already kicked off, but couldn’t resist mentioning it – two incredible artists of, as Studio Voltaire puts it perfectly, ‘Fleshy excesses’ – Tom of Finland and Beryl Cook have their works exhibited in London from May to 25 August 2024.

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Here’s Studio Voltaire’s announcement:

‘For the first time, this major exhibition at Studio Voltaire brings together the work of two cultural icons, Beryl Cook and Tom of Finland. Fleshly excesses are explored in pairings that underscore their works as playful and political. In pairing their work, including archival materials which have never been seen by the public, this presentation will provide a significant refocus and reveal interconnected ideas surrounding gender, sexuality, taste and class.? Beryl Cook and Tom of Finland remain profoundly influential within both popular culture and specific subcultures. This major two-person presentation will bring together their work for the very first time, some of which has never been seen by the public, unveiling important and revealing connections between both practices.’

If you don’t know their work, please, please, please go and have a look. But do be prepared for those ‘fleshy excesses’!

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Rob Williams, Pye Parr, and Image Comics’ Petrol Head optioned for film rights…

In the same week as the collection of Rob Williams and Pye Parr’s pedal to the metal explosion of something rather great series Petrol Head gets it’s collection, we also had the news of the title being optioned for film development by Mr. B Films.

Producer Lee Brazier optioned the series for Mr. B Films, who will work with Janice Fidler and Blondel Aidoo of VFX house Rabbit Hole Studios to make Petrol Head the movie or the series happen. Well, maybe… option doesn’t mean finished film after all, but fingers crossed for all concerned. Brazier was exec producer on Yesterday, while Rabbit Hole have worked on plenty of big name films, including X-Men: Days of Future Past.

Oh, and if you missed out of the adrenaline-rush of a comic series and want an idea of what it looks like and what I thought – head here at Comicon and then head out to buy the collection… it looks just like this…

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Toon Books and Bean Sears at ABA Children’s Institute…

American Booksellers Association’s Children’s Institute event happens from June 10th to 12th this year – yes, this very week! If you’re fortunate enough to be there, remember to go visit all the publishers with graphic novels for children. And head to see cartoonist Ben Sears, who will be signing books and sharing a very advanced peeks at his new, spine-tingling book from Toon Books, out in September, Hearing Things.

Aimed at ages 5+, it’s all about Tim, his cat Frankie, his sister Martha, and Tim’s quest to find the spookiest sounds in their neighborhood!

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A Buddy For Life – Beano & Guide Dogs working for the visually impaired…

Missed this one a fair few weeks ago but it’s still relevant and so here it is – one of Britain’s most beloved and longstanding comics, Beano (of which I always type The Beano after years of calling it such), teams up with charity Guide Dogs to create a very special strip – A Buddy For Life, where readers see their fave Beano characters learning all about guide dogs and buddy dogs helping people live with visual impairments.

It was available as a print comic insert in the 1 May 2024 issue of Beano, alongside the first audio comic strip created especially for people with a vision impairment – available here on YouTube.

‘Erbert, Minnie, Dennis and Gnasher discover all about our life-changing support when Erbert reveals to his school friends that he is living with sight loss. Follow them on their journey from Beanotown to Guide Dogs National Centre as they meet two new characters along the way, inspired by real-life partnerships, Hester and guide dog Pickle, and Alex and buddy dog Chance.’

You can read/download the comic and find out much more about the invaluable work done by Guide Dogs here.

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Jack Davis retrospective at Society of Illustrators, NYC, starts 12 June 2024…

To commemorate what would have been Jack Davis‘ 100th birthday, the Society of Illustrators are putting on a huge retrospective starting 12 June 2024.

The retrospective will feature original art from among his most admired works, many for the first time ever. The art on view represents every genre and every phase of Davis’ six-decade career: from EC Comics and Mad Magazine to TV Guide and Time Magazine, from Raid and McDonald’s ads to NASCAR and Super Bowl promotions, from history book illustrations to movie posters.

Curated by Clint Morgan, Robert L. Reiner and Benno Rothschild with the support and participation of Jack Davis III.

‘Jack Davis was quite possibly the most ubiquitous American humor illustrator of all time. Davis was a master cartoonist, caricaturist, and illustrator, and his funny, fast-paced, manic, beautifully rendered work has graced the covers of countless comic books, magazines, and record albums and has also appeared on movie posters, bubble gum cards, and advertisements. A virtual mind-boggling one-man industry, Davis has been called “the fastest cartoonist alive” and “the master of the crowd scene.” It’s astonishing to realize that this quiet Southern gentleman was usually finished with assignments for the day and out on the golf course by 2:30 p.m.’ – Drew Friedman from his book, Heroes of the Comics

Oh yes, couldn’t agree more. Davis was just a giant of comics and illustration. More details here.

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Join Comix Experience’s Graphic Novel Club…

Brian Hibbs’ excellent California store Comix Experience has long been a leader in doing comics retail the right way, but even if you’re not in CA, you can join in the fun with the store’s graphic novel club.

Every month, you get a curated new graphic novel shipped directly to you, plus hand-signed original bookplates. There’s a kids club too, with bonus pins. Each book is a stand-alone volume or first volumes of new series and if you have the book already you can swap it out.

It’s always good to see comic shops do this sort of thing – Comix Experience aren’t the only ones doing it – I know Page 45 in the UK do a fine one as well – but I think I’m right in saying that CE were the first to do it. This sort of thing is a great way to get word out about the best in new and original books plus a perfect way to support the comic shops that actually do great things for the medium.

Find out more here. But here’s a handy graphic to explain it all, plus their June picks…

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And finally… your essential Dr Who review… Elizabeth Sandifer at Eruditorum Press…

We’re all watching the new Dr Who, right? Enjoying it? Not enjoying it? All that’s fine as long as you don’t start bleating about wokeness or some such bollocks to me and just enjoy it (or not) for what it is. Personally, myself and child (well, not so much child anymore but one that grew up on new Who) are generally really enjoying it and look forward to each new episode drop every week. Fascinating to see how Russell T Davies has taken all that Disney money and really gone for it.

Now, I know I pointed you to Elizabeth Sandifer and her really well-thought-out and insightful reviews each week of the new Who episode, but I figured, with another few episodes down, maybe time for another nudge her way. I don’t necessarily agree with everything she says and definitely don’t agree with her ranking of the episodes, but I know each and every review is a great read, well reasoned, intelligent criticism on Who – which is much better than having opinions screamed at you from some jerk on the Internet, right?

Anyway – go check out Eruditorum Press and the individual reviews of the last few episodes – Boom, 73 Yards, and Dot and Bubble.

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Oh, and Sixth has found his people…

On a related note to Doctor Who and Pride Month in general… say this from johannesviii and loved it…