Comic Riffs:


Posted at 01:34 PM ET, 05/03/2013

FREE COMIC BOOK DAY 2013: From Annapolis to Australia, Saturday’s big event invites discovery — from comics page to your neighborhood comics shop
By Michael Cavna
Saturday’s big event invites new discoveries — from comics page to your neighborhood comics shop.

By Michael Cavna  |  01:34 PM ET, 05/03/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)

Posted at 02:01 PM ET, 04/18/2013

2013 COMIC-CON EISNERS AWARDS: One judge’s diary notes on the wild, the innocent and the Harbor Drive tussle
By Michael Cavna
2013 Eisner Awards noms: One judge’s diary notes on the wild, the innocent and the Harbor Drive tussle.

By Michael Cavna  |  02:01 PM ET, 04/18/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  san diego comic-con, comic convention, eisner awards

Posted at 07:13 PM ET, 04/09/2013

APPLE vs. SAGA #12: ComiXology blocks sale of Image comic over ‘images of gay sex’; artist Staples reacts [UPDATED]
By Michael Cavna
Apple bans app sale of Vaughan and Staples’s hit Image comic over graphic ‘images of gay sex.’

By Michael Cavna  |  07:13 PM ET, 04/09/2013 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  image comics, gay comics

Posted at 06:44 PM ET, 12/12/2012

BEST QUOTES OF 2012: From A (Avengers) to Z (“Zippy”), the Cartooning Year in Review, through the creators’ choice words
By Michael Cavna
The Cartooning Year in Review, through the creators’ choice words.

By Michael Cavna  |  06:44 PM ET, 12/12/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)

Posted at 01:57 PM ET, 11/12/2012

‘SHATTERED’ ASIAN STEREOTYPES: Comic anthology creators take on race through villainous archetypes
By Winyan Soo Hoo
Comic anthology creators take on race through villainous archetypes.

By Winyan Soo Hoo  |  01:57 PM ET, 11/12/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  jeff yang, parry shen, keith chow, jerry ma

Posted at 07:54 AM ET, 09/14/2012

OBAMA vs. ROMNEY: Whom would the nation’s cartoonists rather satirize? The winner is . . .
By Michael Cavna
Obama vs. Romney: The nation’s top political cartoonists give their preference for the next four years.

By Michael Cavna  |  07:54 AM ET, 09/14/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)

Posted at 05:25 PM ET, 09/09/2012

2012 HARVEY AWARDS: ‘Cul de Sac,’ ‘Hark! A Vagrant,’ Daredevil and Batwoman among night’s big winners
By Michael Cavna
2012 HARVEY AWARDS: ‘Cul de Sac,’ ‘Hark! A Vagrant,’ Daredevil and Batwoman among night’s big winners

By Michael Cavna  |  05:25 PM ET, 09/09/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  harvey awards, baltimore comic-con, richard thompson, kate beaton, mark waid, j.h. williams

Posted at 11:53 PM ET, 07/25/2012

OF BEN BRADLEE AND ‘MARK TRAIL’: How Comic Riffs celebrates its 4th birthday
By Michael Cavna
Ben Bradlee once axed ‘Mark Trail’: How Comic Riffs celebrates its 4th birthday.

By Michael Cavna  |  11:53 PM ET, 07/25/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  ben bradlee, mark trail

Posted at 08:26 PM ET, 07/24/2012

AURORA AFTERMATH: DC delays Batman comic over potentially ‘insensitive’ content; Christian Bale visits shooting victims
By Michael Cavna
Aurora aftermath: DC Comics delays Batman comic over potentially ‘insensitive’ content

By Michael Cavna  |  08:26 PM ET, 07/24/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  batman, dc entertainment

Posted at 11:40 PM ET, 07/17/2012

COMIC-CON 2012 REVIEW: 7 Personal Highlights from San Diego convention floor
By Michael Cavna
San Diego Comic-Con 2012 review: Highlights from the convention floor

By Michael Cavna  |  11:40 PM ET, 07/17/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  san diego comic-con, willian shatner, the hobbit, bill amend, dan piraro, greg evans, lynn johnston

Posted at 02:39 PM ET, 07/15/2012

COMIC-CON 2012: From Downey Jr. to Shatner, Saturday is as big as all imagination
By Tom Racine
San Diego Comic-Con 2012: From Downey Jr. to Shatner, Saturday is as big as all imagination

By Tom Racine  |  02:39 PM ET, 07/15/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  san diego comic-con 2012, robert downey jr., william shatner, david falconer, roger corman, christopher nolan, shane black

Posted at 05:58 AM ET, 07/12/2012

SAN DIEGO COMIC-CON 2012: Preview Night brings out the boldest thing to wear: Pure passion
By Tom Racine
Even Thor doesn’t generate quite this much atmospheric, if not thermal, heat.

By Tom Racine  |  05:58 AM ET, 07/12/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)

Posted at 06:00 AM ET, 05/18/2012

DOODLE 4 GOOGLE: Avast! As contest’s national winner, second-grader gets a day in the sun
By Michael Cavna
Wisconsin second-grader featured on Google’s home-page after winning national Doodle contest for youth.

By Michael Cavna  |  06:00 AM ET, 05/18/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  google doodles, pirate dreams, ryan hoffman

Posted at 12:47 PM ET, 05/11/2012

HERBLOCK PRIZE CEREMONY: Garry Trudeau and Matt Bors, masters of poignant comic timing
By Michael Cavna
Garry Trudeau and Matt Bors prove to be masters of poignant comic timing.

By Michael Cavna  |  12:47 PM ET, 05/11/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  matt bors, garry trudeau, herblock prize

Posted at 12:03 AM ET, 05/05/2012

FREE COMIC BOOK DAY: What comics are you picking up today for #FCBD?
By Michael Cavna
What books will you pick up Saturday, May 5? Feel free to tweet us @comicriffs (#FCBD) or email (comicriffs@washpost.com) with your best gets today.

By Michael Cavna  |  12:03 AM ET, 05/05/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  free comic book day, bpick

Posted at 12:26 AM ET, 04/28/2012

QUOTE OF THE WEEK: ‘Persepolis’s’ Marjane Satrapi, on the profound power of words
By Michael Cavna
“All big changes of the world come from words,” the acclaimed Iranian-born cartoonist/filmmaker tells Comic Riffs.

By Michael Cavna  |  12:26 AM ET, 04/28/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  marjane satrapi, persepolis, chicken with plums, lisner auditorium

Posted at 12:00 PM ET, 04/27/2012

THE COMIC RIFFS INTERVIEW: ‘Persepolis’s MARJANE SATRAPI comes not to bury American culture but to (mostly) praise it [*even if modern Hollywood is incapable of ‘Casablanca’]
By Michael Cavna
Iranian-born graphic novelist/filmmaker Marjane Satrapi (“Chicken With Plums”) shares her views on comics-making vs. cinema, her American prejudices — and why Hollywood will never greenlight another “Chinatown” or “Casablanca.”

By Michael Cavna  |  12:00 PM ET, 04/27/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  poulet aux prunes, satrapi persepolis, satrapi chicken plums

Posted at 10:53 AM ET, 04/12/2012

READERS’ RIFFS: Fans are deeply moved by ‘Candorville’s’ Trayvon Martin cartoons
By Michael Cavna

By Michael Cavna  |  10:53 AM ET, 04/12/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  trayvon martin, darrin bell, candorville, george zimmerman

Posted at 06:23 PM ET, 03/09/2012

THE ‘DOONESBURY’ INTERVIEW: Garry Trudeau says to ignore abortion-law debate would have been ‘comedy malpractice’
By Michael Cavna
Comic Riffs caught up with Trudeau to ask him about how he approached the abortion series, how his syndicate supported the idea — and whether the nation’s comics editors have grown more or less skittish about controversial content on “the funny pages.”

By Michael Cavna  |  06:23 PM ET, 03/09/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  DOONESBURY, Garry Trudeau, Lee Salem, Silent Scream

Posted at 09:35 AM ET, 02/13/2012

THE BOULET INTERVIEW: Inside‘The Darkness,’ the secrets of a great 24-hour comic
By Michael Cavna

By Michael Cavna  |  09:35 AM ET, 02/13/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  boulet, scott mccloud, angouleme

Posted at 12:40 AM ET, 02/11/2012

VIDEO PICKS OF THE WEEK: From Kevin Smith’s ‘Comic Book Men’ to the ‘Ghost Rider’ legal appeal (*plus Avengers, Spider-Man & SFX Gaiman!)
By Michael Cavna

By Michael Cavna  |  12:40 AM ET, 02/11/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  comic book men, neil gaiman, frank miller, heritage auctions, bill watterson, marvel, gary friedrich, ghost rider, amazing spider-man, the avengeers

Posted at 12:53 AM ET, 01/21/2012

STEVE JOBS COMIC: Bio-book’s writer on the sophistication — and simplicity — of distilling a remarkable life
By Michael Cavna

By Michael Cavna  |  12:53 AM ET, 01/21/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)

Posted at 11:59 PM ET, 01/05/2012

MITT ROMNEY GETS OWN COMIC: Bachmann, Paul & Perry also get new bio-books
By Michael Cavna

By Michael Cavna  |  11:59 PM ET, 01/05/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  mitt romney, ron paul, rick perry, michele bachmann, rick santorum

Posted at 01:11 PM ET, 01/03/2012

MOST POPULAR STORIES OF 2011: What topped the year in Comic Riffs
By Michael Cavna

By Michael Cavna  |  01:11 PM ET, 01/03/2012 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  most popular topics 2011

Posted at 06:24 PM ET, 12/31/2011

BEST COMICS OF 2011: Last call for webcomic, strip and book nominations
By Michael Cavna

By Michael Cavna  |  06:24 PM ET, 12/31/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  best comics 2011

Posted at 12:01 AM ET, 12/17/2011

BEST QUOTES OF 2011: From Gaiman to Watterson, the Year in Comic Riffs
By Michael Cavna
From Neil Gaiman to Bill Watterson, here are our favorite witty and poignant lines this year straight from our interviews with cartoonists and other creators.

By Michael Cavna  |  12:01 AM ET, 12/17/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  bill watterson, neil gaiman, art spiegelman, berkeley breathed, jeff smith, roger ebert, richard thompson, david lloyd, susie cagle, sherif arafa, matthew inman, oatmeal comic, james ward byrkit, stan lee, garry trudeau, matt wuerker, joe simon, jerry robinson, vincent zurzolo, craig thompson, mark fiore, ana juan, lincoln peirce, jef mallett, mike luckovich, domitille collardey, julia wertz, dan didio, renae de liz, craig yoe, bob moyer, tom jenkins, sylvain chomet, mike keefe, josh neufeld, lauren redniss, g.b. tran, scott snyder, frank cho, stephen hess, tom toles, nate beeler, peter dunlap shohl, dalia ziada, darrin bell, molly norris, gary groth, r. crumb, roz chast, peter robbins, jean schulz, mike manley, tom wilson jr., kevin rechin, tom brevoort, lynda barry, dwayne mcduffie, kevin rechin, bil keane, eduardo barreto

Posted at 09:35 AM ET, 12/05/2011

OCCUPY GALL STREET: ‘V’ is for Vitriol in Alan Moore vs. Frank Miller war of political words
By Michael Cavna
Alan Moore (“V for Vendetta”) and Frank Miller (“Dark Knight Returns”) trade stinging words.

By Michael Cavna  |  09:35 AM ET, 12/05/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  frank miller, alan moore, david lloyd, occupy movement

Posted at 08:03 PM ET, 11/30/2011

SUPERMAN SOARS! Rare 1938 comic book sells for record $2M
By Michael Cavna
Action Comics No.-1 — featuring the debut of Superman — soars in value after weeks on auction block.

By Michael Cavna  |  08:03 PM ET, 11/30/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  superman, vincent zurzolo, comicconnect

Posted at 12:01 AM ET, 11/26/2011

‘RIFFS PICKS OF THE WEEK: 2011 Pulitzer winner Mike Keefe calls it quits; and five cartoons for your holiday cheers
By Michael Cavna
2011 Pulitzer winner calls it quits; and five Thanksgiving/Black Friday weekend cartoons for your holiday cheers.

By Michael Cavna  |  12:01 AM ET, 11/26/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  mike keefe, denver post

Posted at 11:29 AM ET, 11/22/2011

‘BEST’ COMIC STRIPS OF 2011: An Open Call for Your Nominations
By Michael Cavna

By Michael Cavna  |  11:29 AM ET, 11/22/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  best comics of 2011

Posted at 02:22 PM ET, 11/09/2011

BIL KEANE MEMORIAM: Fellow cartoonists remember the ‘Family Circus’ creator [UPDATED]
By Michael Cavna
Fellow cartoonists share their memories of the “Family Circus” creator.

By Michael Cavna  |  02:22 PM ET, 11/09/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  Bil Keane, family circus

Posted at 02:52 PM ET, 10/29/2011

PICKS OF THE WEEK: From Jobs (Apple’s app satire) to jobs (those whopping D.C. salaries)
By Michael Cavna
Comic Riffs’ picks of the week range from the “Jobs” biography’s look at political satire apps to the Next Media Animation satire of Washington D.C’s “whopping” salaries.

By Michael Cavna  |  02:52 PM ET, 10/29/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  mark fiore, steve jobs, walter isaacson, next media animation

Posted at 10:55 AM ET, 10/19/2011

‘HUNT FOR BIN LADEN’ COMIC: New Bluewater/Simon & Schuster book seeks ‘Jason Bourne’ tension
By Michael Cavna

By Michael Cavna  |  10:55 AM ET, 10/19/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  bluewater comics, simon & schuster, osama bin laden, jerome maida, darren g. davis, james boulton

Posted at 03:27 PM ET, 09/15/2011

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS opens masterful ‘Timely and Timeless’ exhibit today to celebrate comic art
By Michael Cavna

By Michael Cavna  |  03:27 PM ET, 09/15/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)

Posted at 12:01 AM ET, 09/03/2011

ARIANNA HUFFINGTON: Writer of new bio-comic book sums her up in a single word: ‘Survivor’
By Michael Cavna

By Michael Cavna  |  12:01 AM ET, 09/03/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  bluewater comics, arianna huffington, martin t. pierro

Posted at 09:00 AM ET, 08/21/2011

BALTIMORE COMIC-CON: Your 2011 Harvey Award winners are...
By Michael Cavna

By Michael Cavna  |  09:00 AM ET, 08/21/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)

Posted at 06:00 AM ET, 08/20/2011

BALTIMORE COMIC-CON: Real ‘comic-lover’s con’ kicks off today...
By Michael Cavna

By Michael Cavna  |  06:00 AM ET, 08/20/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)

Posted at 06:44 PM ET, 08/17/2011

Michele Bachmann and Mitt Romney will star in new biographic comics
By Michael Cavna

By Michael Cavna  |  06:44 PM ET, 08/17/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)

Posted at 12:43 PM ET, 07/25/2011

COMIC-CON 2011: Recapping the geekfest through the Top Ten Tweets
By Michael Cavna

By Michael Cavna  |  12:43 PM ET, 07/25/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)

Posted at 10:51 AM ET, 07/22/2011

COMIC CON 2011: ‘Hobbit’ fans rejoice; ‘Spider-Man’ meets a stony silence
By Michael Cavna

By Michael Cavna  |  10:51 AM ET, 07/22/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)

Posted at 10:00 AM ET, 07/21/2011

COMIC-CON 2011: From ‘Spider-Man’ to ‘Captain America,’ see the wonders of the Preview Night floor
By Michael Cavna
San Diego’s Comic-Con International — the world’s foremost gathering of comics and entertainment geeks — kicks off with Preview Night.

By Michael Cavna  |  10:00 AM ET, 07/21/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  san diego comic con

Posted at 02:02 PM ET, 07/07/2011

SAN DIEGO COMIC-CON: 20 highlights from just-announced Thursday schedule
By Michael Cavna
Here’s a closer look at the first day of this month’s 2011 Comic-Con International.

By Michael Cavna  |  02:02 PM ET, 07/07/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)

Posted at 07:00 AM ET, 07/05/2011

HARVEY AWARDS: Darwyn Cooke, ‘Gutters’ & Universal lead nominations
By Michael Cavna
Comics honors will be presented at next month’s Baltimore Comic-Con.

By Michael Cavna  |  07:00 AM ET, 07/05/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)

Posted at 10:38 AM ET, 06/29/2011

New Bin Laden comic created to ‘celebrate’ SEAL Team 6 raid
By Michael Cavna

By Michael Cavna  |  10:38 AM ET, 06/29/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)

Posted at 09:00 AM ET, 06/18/2011

THE LINES BEHIND THE LIES: Through fiction, ‘Poseurs’ author Deborah Vankin unveils truths of self-discovery
By Michael Cavna
Vankin is in her hometown this weekend as a guest of the Wizard World Philadelphia Comic Con to promote her “young adult” graphic novel, “Poseurs.”

By Michael Cavna  |  09:00 AM ET, 06/18/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  deborah vankin, rick mays, poseurs, image comics

Posted at 10:52 AM ET, 06/13/2011

MONDAY MORNING ROUNDUP: Of the Tonys, Reubens, Comic-Con and Neil Gaiman himself
By Michael Cavna

By Michael Cavna  |  10:52 AM ET, 06/13/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  tonys, reubens, spider-man, thor, x-men, neil gaiman, jeff parker, clay bennett, robert ariail

Posted at 12:44 PM ET, 06/03/2011

‘RIFFS PICKS: Five Favorite Images of the Week
By Michael Cavna

By Michael Cavna  |  12:44 PM ET, 06/03/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  cul de sac, heroescon, dc comics, wonder woman, cliff chiang, valiant entertainment, tom toles, kate beaton, hark a vagrant, reuben awards

Posted at 01:30 PM ET, 05/27/2011

BALTIMORE COMIC-CON: Stan Lee will be the Guest of Honor
By Michael Cavna

By Michael Cavna  |  01:30 PM ET, 05/27/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  baltimore comic-con, stan lee, marc nathan

Posted at 10:42 PM ET, 05/19/2011

THE ‘COMIC RIFFS’ / WASHINGTON POST PROFILE: ‘Cul de Sac’ creator Richard Thompson faces life’s cruel twists with artful wit
By Michael Cavna

By Michael Cavna  |  10:42 PM ET, 05/19/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  richard thompson, cul de sac, bill watterson, pat oliphant, garry trudeau, lee salem, nick galifianakis, peter dunlap-shohl, chris sparks, mike rhode

Posted at 10:47 AM ET, 05/07/2011

NEWS OF THE WEEK: Free Comic Book Day is here, and Batman’s big sale
By Michael Cavna

By Michael Cavna  |  10:47 AM ET, 05/07/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)

Posted at 08:01 PM ET, 04/07/2011

2011 EISNER AWARDS: Comic-Con announces the nominees...
By Michael Cavna

By Michael Cavna  |  08:01 PM ET, 04/07/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  2011 eisner awards, san diego comic-con

Posted at 11:38 PM ET, 04/02/2011

Video of the Day: ‘GREEN LANTERN’ trailer debuts on WonderCon
By Michael Cavna

By Michael Cavna  |  11:38 PM ET, 04/02/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)

Posted at 08:24 PM ET, 03/30/2011

‘THE GOVERNATOR’: Stan Lee teams with Schwarzenegger for alter-ego comic & TV show [UPDATED]
By Michael Cavna
COMIC RIFFS | Comics great Lee will reportedly draw inspiration from real life for comic book and TV show.

By Michael Cavna  |  08:24 PM ET, 03/30/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  stan lee, arnold schwarzenegger, the governator

Posted at 02:34 PM ET, 03/28/2011

END OF THE LINE: Lloyd Dangle will end ‘Troubletown’ comic in April [UPDATED]
By Michael Cavna

By Michael Cavna  |  02:34 PM ET, 03/28/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  comic riffs, lloyd dangle, tom tomorrow, troubletown, alternative political cartoons

Posted at 01:48 PM ET, 03/27/2011

BOX OFFICE: ‘Wimpy Kid’ sequel KO’s ‘Sucker Punch’
By Michael Cavna

By Michael Cavna  |  01:48 PM ET, 03/27/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  comic riffs, diary of a wimpy kid, jeff kinney, zack snyder, rango

Posted at 11:01 PM ET, 03/23/2011

The ‘Riffs Interview: ‘How to Understand Israel’ graphic novelist SARAH GLIDDEN puts herself on the map
By Michael Cavna

By Michael Cavna  |  11:01 PM ET, 03/23/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  comic riffs, sarah glidden, matt bors, cartoon movement, kate beaton, karen sneider, julia wertz, lisa hanawalt, domitille collardey

Posted at 01:11 PM ET, 03/15/2011

The ‘Riffs Interview: Hark, inspired ‘KILL SHAKESPEARE’ creators strike again with soul, wit
By Michael Cavna

By Michael Cavna  |  01:11 PM ET, 03/15/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  comic riffs, conor mccreery, anthony del col, kill shakespeare, IDW publishing

Posted at 12:49 AM ET, 03/12/2011

The Comic Riffs Interview: ‘MARS NEEDS MOMS’ author Berkeley Breathed buckles in for Hollywood voyage
By Michael Cavna

By Michael Cavna  |  12:49 AM ET, 03/12/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  comic riffs

Posted at 12:48 AM ET, 03/12/2011

STEPHEN KING: Bluewater teams with master of macabre for autobio-comic book
By Michael Cavna

By Michael Cavna  |  12:48 AM ET, 03/12/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  comic riffs, michael cavna

Posted at 10:33 PM ET, 03/11/2011

The ‘Riffs Interview: 12 Secrets of Insanely Viral ‘OATMEAL’ creator Matthew Inman
By Michael Cavna

By Michael Cavna  |  10:33 PM ET, 03/11/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Tags:  comic riffs, michael cavna

Posted at 11:30 PM ET, 03/02/2011

TAKE THE COMICAL CHARLIE SHEEN QUIZ: Who said it first -- Sheen or a big-screen character?
By Michael Cavna
RANDY BISH (via cagle.com): "You have [a] right to kill me." -- Charlie Sheen...OR "Apocalypse Now"? Is Charlie Sheen subtly cribbing from his own scripts? Or perhaps, too, even his dad's? Comic Riffs has been combing Charlie Sheen cartoons and...

By Michael Cavna  |  11:30 PM ET, 03/02/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  General, The Sketchbook | Tags:  Charlie Sheen

Posted at 01:37 PM ET, 01/19/2011

QUICK POST: Anne Hathaway is the new 'Catwoman' for 'The Dark Knight Rises' [UPDATED]
By Michael Cavna
Images: Anne Hathaway and Tom Hardy, below (Getty Images) Every key move of Christopher Nolan's newest Batman project has stirred speculation and scrutiny. So Comic Riffs eagerly awaits "fanboy" reaction to this fresh news: Anne Hathaway has now been...

By Michael Cavna  |  01:37 PM ET, 01/19/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Holly Word, The Holly Word, The Holly Word | Tags:  Anne Hathaway, Batman, Christian Bale, Christopher Nolan, The Dark Knight Rises, Tom Hardy

Posted at 01:30 PM ET, 01/19/2011

'DICK TRACY': Writer-artist Dick Locher hangs up his fedora after 32 years
By Michael Cavna
After three decades, Dick Locher is turning in his badge as storyteller and steward of the iconic comic strip "Dick Tracy." "It's time to move on to other things," Locher, 81, tells Comic Riffs. "It's time to do normal...

By Michael Cavna  |  01:30 PM ET, 01/19/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Comic Book | Tags:  Chester Gould, Dick Locher, Dick Tracy, Joe Staton, Mike Curtis, Tribune Media Service

Posted at 02:30 PM ET, 01/15/2011

TUCSON TRAGEDY: O'Reilly asks: Is Nate Beeler a pinhead or a patriot?
By Michael Cavna
Since last weekend's tragic shooting in Tucson, two polarizing cartoons have particularly stirred debate: One by NYT-syndicated Jeff Danziger, another by the Washington Examiner's Nate Beeler. On Tuesday, Comic Riffs interviewed both cartoonists about their work in response to...

By Michael Cavna  |  02:30 PM ET, 01/15/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Political Cartoon | Tags:  Bill O'Reilly, Jeff Danziger, Nate Beeler

Posted at 03:23 PM ET, 01/12/2011

When DILBERT meets Star Trek: Top 10 'Pon Farr' Guesses
By Michael Cavna
Comic Riffs would have guessed that in the Venn diagram to represent crossover between "Dilbert" fans and Trekkies, the overlap would be almost complete and total -- as in synch as a full eclipse or a Vulcan mind-meld. Comic...

By Michael Cavna  |  03:23 PM ET, 01/12/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Comic Strip | Tags:  Dilbert, Scott Adams, Star Trek

Posted at 10:30 AM ET, 01/07/2011

2011 RIFFY AWARDS: Vote now for Best Comic of the Year...
By Michael Cavna
We put out the call for your nominations. The question: What was the Best Comic (Any Medium) in 2010? Today, having tallied your most nominated comics, we announce the six finalists for the big 2011 Riffy Award. They are:...

By Michael Cavna  |  10:30 AM ET, 01/07/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Riffy Awards | Tags:  2011 Riffy Awards, Cul de Sac, Dilbert, Doonesbury, Jesus and Mo, Pearls Before Swine, xkcd

Posted at 02:30 PM ET, 01/06/2011

THE BEST IN COMICS: Time to vote from these nominees...
By Michael Cavna
In recent weeks, Comic Riffs asked readers to nominate their favorite comics and animations from 2010. From webcomics to feature films, we received hundreds of Riffy Award nominations, from which we've culled the finalists that received the most mentions....

By Michael Cavna  |  02:30 PM ET, 01/06/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  General, General, General, General, General, General | Tags:  Best Comics of 2010, Riffy Awards

Posted at 11:00 AM ET, 01/03/2011

'Riffs in Review: Remembering 10 cartooning greats who died in 2010
By Michael Cavna
From such authentic street bards as Harvey Pekar and John Callahan to Pulitzer-winning political firebrands like Paul Conrad, some cartooning greats died in 2010. Here is what Comic Riffs and others said about 10 of these talents: TV animator...

By Michael Cavna  |  11:00 AM ET, 01/03/2011 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  General | Tags:  Alex Anderson, Alex Johns, Frank Frazetta, Harvey Pekar, John Callahan, Leo Cullum, Paul Conrad, Satoshi Kon

Posted at 12:47 PM ET, 12/28/2010

'DILBERT's' new syndicate: Comic moves to cubicles of Universal Uclick
By Michael Cavna
Universal Uclick has wooed another major comic strip from United Feature Syndicate. After two decades at UFS, Scott Adams's "Dilbert" will move to the offices of the Kansas City syndicate, Universal tells Comic Riffs. Universal Uclick announced in a...

By Michael Cavna  |  12:47 PM ET, 12/28/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Comic Strip | Tags:  Dilbert, Peanuts, Scott Adams, United Feature Syndicate, Universal Uclick

Posted at 12:30 PM ET, 11/22/2010

SAN DIEGO COMIC-CON 2011: Today's registration again delayed
By Michael Cavna
Never mind the San Diego Convention Center. Comic-Con International has now outgrown even its own website. For the second time in recent weeks, the Con has had to delay attendee registration for the 2011 event over systemic problems. Registration...

By Michael Cavna  |  12:30 PM ET, 11/22/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  San Diego Comic-Con | Tags:  San Diego Comic-Con International

Posted at 12:15 PM ET, 11/17/2010

SARAH PALIN & MICHAEL BLOOMBERG power their way to America's comic-book covers [UPDATED]
By Michael Cavna
(Marvel Entertainment) In the wake of the midterms, President Obama is even losing political ground on America's comic-book covers. Back in his halycon days of the inauguration, of course, Obama graced Marvel's Spider-Man (No. 583), a coveted issue that...

By Michael Cavna  |  12:15 PM ET, 11/17/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Superheroes, Superheroes | Tags:  Bluewater Comics, Marvel Comics, Michael Bloomberg, Sarah Palin

Posted at 01:30 PM ET, 11/16/2010

The Riff: 'SOUTH PARK' is sued over video -- but what-what does this mean for parody?
By Michael Cavna
(Comedy Central / Viacom) Comic Riffs speaks not at all as a legal eagle and entirely as an occasional fine-feathered parodist when we say: How in the name of Butters does Brownmark Films -- aka the makers of 2007's...

By Michael Cavna  |  01:30 PM ET, 11/16/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Animation, The Animation | Tags:  Brownmark Films, Matt Stone, South Park, Trey Parker

Posted at 10:30 AM ET, 11/15/2010

BEHIND THE SCENES: See 'Cul de Sac,' 'Pearls,' 'Lio' cartoonists offer peeks behind the creative curtain
By Michael Cavna
RingTales co-founder Michael Fry recently told Comic Riffs that his animation studio would soon feature behind-the-scenes interviews with such cartoonists as Stephan Pastis ("Pearls Before Swine"), Richard Thompson ("Cul de Sac"), Mark Tatulli ("Lio") and Paul Gilligan ("Pooch Cafe"),...

By Michael Cavna  |  10:30 AM ET, 11/15/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Comic Strip | Tags:  Cul de Sac, Lio, Mark Tatulli, Michael Fry, Pearls Before Swine, Richard Thompson, RingTales, Stephan Pastis

Posted at 01:15 PM ET, 11/08/2010

Update: SAN DIEGO COMIC-CON registration set for Nov. 22
By Michael Cavna
To us, it's as big an announcement as who will next wear the Superman suit (with or without the hoodie) or who his next big-screen villain might be: San Diego Comic-Con has now announced that attendee registration for the...

By Michael Cavna  |  01:15 PM ET, 11/08/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  San Diego Comic-Con | Tags:  San Diego Comic-Con 2011

Posted at 01:30 PM ET, 11/05/2010

BEHIND THE ART: Watch two top Washington cartoonists at work
By Michael Cavna
When Comic Riffs speaks to groups -- be they excitable second-graders, jaundiced journalists or pancake-baiting Rotarians -- nothing gets a reaction quite like the sheer and simple act of drawing. It peels back the curtain a bit on process,...

By Michael Cavna  |  01:30 PM ET, 11/05/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Animation, The Animation, The Animation | Tags:  Ann Telnaes, Nate Beeler

Posted at 06:00 PM ET, 11/01/2010

This week in The New Yorker: LEO CULLUM's final cartoon
By Michael Cavna
In the wake of Leo Cullum's passing last week, Comic Riffs noted that the sublime gag cartoonist had seen more than 800 of his works published in The New Yorker -- 819, to be precise. This week, in fitting...

By Michael Cavna  |  06:00 PM ET, 11/01/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Gag Cartoons | Tags:  Leo Cullum, Roz Chast, The New Yorker

Posted at 12:01 PM ET, 10/19/2010

MOVIE POSTER OF THE DAY: Berkeley Breathed talks 'Mars Needs Moms'
By Michael Cavna
The new poster for the Disney film "Mars Needs Moms" has that certain Berkeley Breathed charm. The "Opus" cartoonist, however, tells Comic Riffs that the movie art is entirely the handiwork of Disney -- complete with spaceship designed by...

By Michael Cavna  |  12:01 PM ET, 10/19/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Holly Word, The Holly Word | Tags:  Berkeley Breathed, Mars Needs Moms, Robert Zemeckis, Simon Wells

Posted at 12:30 PM ET, 10/09/2010

STAN LEE announces two new projects at New York Comic Con (MTV heroes, assemble!)
By Michael Cavna
Several weeks back, Comic Riffs put Stan Lee in touch with a die-hard Marvel fan in the Midwest who had created a short tribute video. Lee was so generous with his time with the fan that it prompted this...

By Michael Cavna  |  12:30 PM ET, 10/09/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Geek Buzz | Tags:  MTV, New York Comic Con, Stan Lee, Stan Lee's 7, The Seekers

Posted at 09:30 AM ET, 10/08/2010

'CUL DE SAC,' Or: The Day's Favorite Funnypage Reference to Batman...
By Michael Cavna
Friend of Comic Riffs Richard Thompson really, really knows his comics. Which is why we especially appreciate the second-panel reference in today's "Cul de Sac": Alice saying "Adults are a sentimental lot" is, of course, a wonderful allusion to...

By Michael Cavna  |  09:30 AM ET, 10/08/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Comic Strip | Tags:  Cul de Sac, Richard Thompson

Posted at 11:30 AM ET, 10/05/2010

HILARY PRICE on why her 'Rhymes With Orange' will turn pink this Sunday
By Michael Cavna
King Features just announced that come this Sunday, more than 50 of its cartoons will turn pink as part of its initiative timed to Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Besides the monochromatic hues, the participating strips will feature a pink-ribbon...

By Michael Cavna  |  11:30 AM ET, 10/05/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Comic Strip, The Comic Strip | Tags:  Cartoonists Care initiative, Hilary Price, King Features, Rhymes With Orange

Posted at 11:30 AM ET, 10/03/2010

'Muhammad' does -- and does not -- appear in today's 'NON SEQUITUR' comic
By Michael Cavna
Depending on what newspaper you take, you may or may not see today's "Non Sequitur" comic that's captioned, in part, "...Where's Muhammad?" Some newspapers chose instead to run a Sunday replacement strip featuring the recurring character Obvious-Man. So what...

By Michael Cavna  |  11:30 AM ET, 10/03/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Comic Strip | Tags:  Non Sequitur, Universal UClick, Wiley Miller

Posted at 12:01 AM ET, 10/01/2010

BREAKING: Comic-Con plans to stay in San Diego till 2015
By Michael Cavna
San Diego Comic-Con International will announce Friday that the largest comics convention of its kind will remain in its native city for at least five more years, the San Diego Union-Tribune is reporting. For months, speculation has run high...

By Michael Cavna  |  12:01 AM ET, 10/01/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  San Diego Comic-Con, San Diego Comic-Con | Tags:  San Diego Comic-Con

Posted at 02:15 PM ET, 09/22/2010

'GOOD GRIEF, HARRY REID': GQ satirists spoof midterm elections through the power of comic panels
By Michael Cavna
Political pop quiz: What nationally known colorful character with Midwestern roots gives off a tint even more orange than ultra-tanned Ohio Republican John Boehner? If you said Garfield the cat, congratulations: Your thinking is right in line -- creatively...

By Michael Cavna  |  02:15 PM ET, 09/22/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Political Cartoon, The Political Cartoon | Tags:  Anthony King, GQ Magazine, R. Sikoryak, Scott Brown

Posted at 09:30 AM ET, 09/21/2010

'NEXT GREAT CARTOONIST': 'IMOGEN QUEST' creator never met-a gag she didn't like
By Michael Cavna
Here's today's "IMOGEN QUEST" comic from Olivia Walch, the 21-year-old winner of The Post's "America's Next Great Cartoonist Contest." So, what's the story -- if not the meta-story -- behind today's comic? "I stated from the the beginning that...

By Michael Cavna  |  09:30 AM ET, 09/21/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  America's Next Great Cartoonist, America's Next Great Cartoonist | Tags:  America's Next Great Cartoonist Contest, Imogen Quest, Olivia Walch

Posted at 11:30 AM ET, 09/20/2010

'NEXT GREAT CARTOONIST': Et tu, IMOGEN? Here's the backstory that just 'kills'
By Michael Cavna
Here's today's "IMOGEN QUEST" comic from Olivia Walch, the 21-year-old winner of The Post's "America's Next Great Cartoonist Contest." So, what's the story behind the comic? "Another classical civilization one!" Walch tells Comic Riffs. "I was watching a lot...

By Michael Cavna  |  11:30 AM ET, 09/20/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  America's Next Great Cartoonist, America's Next Great Cartoonist | Tags:  America's Next Great Cartoonist contest, Imogen Quest, Olivia Walch

Posted at 12:01 PM ET, 09/17/2010

'NEXT GREAT CARTOONIST': The five-strip process behind today's 'IMOGEN QUEST' comic
By Michael Cavna
Here are five versions of today's "IMOGEN QUEST" comic from Olivia Walch, the 21-year-old winner of The Post's "America's Next Great Cartoonist Contest." So, what's the story: Why was today's cartoon a five-step process -- from sketch to edit...

By Michael Cavna  |  12:01 PM ET, 09/17/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  America's Next Great Cartoonist, America's Next Great Cartoonist | Tags:  America's Next Great Cartoonist Contest, Imogen Quest, Olivia Walch

Posted at 01:45 PM ET, 09/16/2010

'NEXT GREAT CARTOONIST': See the 'Imogen Quest' comic that DIDN'T make today's paper
By Michael Cavna
THE "UNSEEN" STRIP: THE PUBLISHED STRIP: Here are two versions of today's "IMOGEN QUEST" comic from Olivia Walch, the 21-year-old winner of The Post's "America's Next Great Cartoonist Contest." So, what's the story -- why did the cartoonist reject...

By Michael Cavna  |  01:45 PM ET, 09/16/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  America's Next Great Cartoonist, America's Next Great Cartoonist | Tags:  America's Next Great Cartoonist contest, Imogen Quest, Olivia Walch

Posted at 11:30 AM ET, 09/10/2010

D.C.'s cartoon riches: INTERVENTION and SPX cons kick off this weekend
By Michael Cavna
It's an embarrassment of comic riches in the D.C. area this weekend. One day after SPX guests Richard Thompson ("Cul de Sac") and Keith Knight ("The Knight Life," "The K Chronicles") were speaking at the Politics & Prose bookstore,...

By Michael Cavna  |  11:30 AM ET, 09/10/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Comic conventions | Tags:  Dean Haspiel, Intervention Con, Jaime Hernandez, Kate Beaton, Keith Knight, Raina Telgemeier, Richard Thompson, Small Press Expo DC

Posted at 11:15 AM ET, 09/09/2010

In word & picture, a colleague pays tribute to PAUL CONRAD
By Michael Cavna
(courtesy of Steve Greenberg) Over the weekend, Comic Riffs memorialized towering political cartoonist Paul Conrad, who died Saturday at age 86. Conrad, the three-time Pulitzer winner who proudly was included on President Nixon's "enemies list," was a master at...

By Michael Cavna  |  11:15 AM ET, 09/09/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Political Cartoon | Tags:  Paul Conrad, Steve Greenberg

Posted at 10:30 AM ET, 09/09/2010

'NEXT GREAT CARTOONIST': What what was the vision for today's 'IMOGEN QUEST'?
By Michael Cavna
(click image to embiggen) Here's today's "Imogen Quest" comic from Olivia Walch, the 21-year-old winner of The Post's "America's Next Great Cartoonist Contest." So, just what was Ms. Walch's vision for this strip? Walch simply assures Comic Riffs with...

By Michael Cavna  |  10:30 AM ET, 09/09/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  America's Next Great Cartoonist, America's Next Great Cartoonist | Tags:  America's Next Great Cartoonist Contest, Imogen Quest, Olivia Walch

Posted at 06:30 PM ET, 09/08/2010

ANIMATION OF THE DAY: Stop the presses -- Taiwan TV takes on American newspapers
By Michael Cavna
Well now they've gone and done it. Last month, Comic Riffs suggested that Comedy Central hire the artists who work for Taiwan's Next Media Animation television, whose celebrity-driven, scandal-happy CGI animations make for great campy fun. Well, this week,...

By Michael Cavna  |  06:30 PM ET, 09/08/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Animation | Tags:  Next Media Animation World Edition

Posted at 01:30 PM ET, 09/08/2010

FIRST LOOK: Bluewater Comics unveils BETTY WHITE comic book
By Michael Cavna
Bluewater Comics might be facing a legal threat over its Justin Bieber comic, but that won't delay the publisher from pursuing a bio-book about another celebrity recently boosted by social media: BETTY WHITE. Bluewater has announced that the America's...

By Michael Cavna  |  01:30 PM ET, 09/08/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Comic Book | Tags:  Betty White, Bluewater Comics, Darren G. Davis

Posted at 08:30 AM ET, 09/06/2010

'NEXT GREAT CARTOONIST': Why today's 'IMOGEN QUEST' comic is all Greek to us
By Michael Cavna
(click image to embiggen) Here's today's "Imogen Quest" comic from Olivia Walch, the winner of The Post's "America's Next Great Cartoonist Contest." So what's with all the allusions to ancient civilizations? Is the cartoonist spoofing, say, the very idea...

By Michael Cavna  |  08:30 AM ET, 09/06/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  America's Next Great Cartoonist, America's Next Great Cartoonist | Tags:  America's Next Great Cartoonist Contest, Imogen Quest, Olivia Walch

Posted at 11:15 AM ET, 09/05/2010

UPDATE: Cartoonists finish journalistic journey in Afghanistan
By Michael Cavna
After a month of traveling unembedded in Afghanistan, Matt Bors tells Comic Riffs that he and fellow cartoonists Ted Rall and Steven Cloud are now out of the wartorn nation. "I'm safely out of Afghanistan and en route to...

By Michael Cavna  |  11:15 AM ET, 09/05/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Political Cartoon, The Political Cartoon | Tags:  Matt Bors, Steven Cloud, Ted Rall

Posted at 09:45 AM ET, 09/05/2010

'NEXT GREAT CARTOONIST': The tale behind today's tortoise & hare
By Michael Cavna
(click image to embiggen) Here's today's "Imogen Quest" comic from Olivia Walch, the winner of The Post's "America's Next Great Cartoonist Contest." So, what was the genesis of this "fractured fable," exactly? Of the strip, Walch tells Comic Riffs:...

By Michael Cavna  |  09:45 AM ET, 09/05/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  America's Next Great Cartoonist, America's Next Great Cartoonist | Tags:  America's Next Great Cartoonist Contest, Imogen Quest, Olivia Walch

Posted at 11:30 AM ET, 09/04/2010

'NEXT GREAT CARTOONIST': Walch shares today's 'IMOGEN QUEST' comic
By Michael Cavna
(click image to embiggen) Here's today's "Imogen Quest" comic from Olivia Walch, the winner of The Post's "America's Next Great Cartoonist Contest." Or, or Walch sums up her own life observation to Comic Riffs: "Difficult texts: Still easier than...

By Michael Cavna  |  11:30 AM ET, 09/04/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  America's Next Great Cartoonist, America's Next Great Cartoonist | Tags:  America's Next Great Cartoonist Contest, Imogen Quest, Olivia Walch

Posted at 10:00 AM ET, 09/02/2010

BEHIND THE STRIP: The real story of today's 'IMOGEN QUEST' comic
By Michael Cavna
(click image to embiggen) Here's today's "Imogen Quest" comic from Olivia Walch, the winner of The Post's "America's Next Great Cartoonist Contest." So, we've got two simple questions: (1) Is Jenny going to become a central character; and (2)...

By Michael Cavna  |  10:00 AM ET, 09/02/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  America's Next Great Cartoonist, America's Next Great Cartoonist | Tags:  America's Next Great Cartoonist, Imogen Quest, Olivia Walch

Posted at 10:15 PM ET, 08/31/2010

Bluewater's JUSTIN BIEBER comic book prompts lawsuit threat
By Michael Cavna
Comic Riffs reported last month that Justin Bieber was getting his own comic book, courtesy of the Vancouver-based publisher Bluewater Productions. Now, a Los Angeles attorney is saying: Not so fast. Bluewater publisher Darren G. Davis tells Comic Riffs...

By Michael Cavna  |  10:15 PM ET, 08/31/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Comic Book, The Comic Book | Tags:  Bluewater Comics, Darren G. Davis, Kenneth Feinswog, Revolutionary Comics

Posted at 11:45 AM ET, 08/31/2010

FRANK CHO UPDATE: Oil painting sells at Comic-Con auction for $10K
By Michael Cavna
(Images courtesy of Frank Cho) Some Frank Cho fans at Baltimore Comic-Con wanted Brandy and Dean sketches. For Cho, though, a high point was doing his oil painting. "I finished the painting at the show," Cho tells Comic Riffs....

By Michael Cavna  |  11:45 AM ET, 08/31/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Comic conventions | Tags:  Baltimore Comic-Con 2010, Frank Cho

Posted at 12:30 PM ET, 08/29/2010

The 'Riffs Interview: Comic artist CLIFF CHIANG offers an insider's tour of Neil Young's 'Greendale'
By Michael Cavna
(Images courtesy of Vertigo / DC Comics Comic artist and editor CLIFF CHIANG is accustomed to working in the action stories of Human Target and The Spectre and Green Arrow/Black Canary. So when legendary rocker Neil Young came calling,...

By Michael Cavna  |  12:30 PM ET, 08/29/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Interviews With Cartoonists, Interviews With Cartoonists, Interviews With Cartoonists | Tags:  Baltimore Comic-Con 2010, Cliff Chiang, Dave Stewart, Joshua Dysart, Neil Young

Posted at 02:45 PM ET, 08/27/2010

BALTIMORE COMIC-CON: Has it become the supreme antidote to San Diego?
By Michael Cavna
Hard past the harbor, San Diego was once a dreamboat. Its event, San Diego Comic-Con, was still an ingenue, too young and humble to know just how charming it was. Then worldliness, as it must to all wildly popular...

By Michael Cavna  |  02:45 PM ET, 08/27/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Comic conventions | Tags:  Baltimore Comic-Con, Cliff Chiang, Dean Haspiel, Frank Cho, Jerry Robinson, Marc Nathan, Scott Kurtz, Tom Brevoort

Posted at 09:45 AM ET, 08/26/2010

FAREWELL: His dream shot down, 'MY CAGE' cartoonist has a word for comics fans
By Michael Cavna
Speaking straight from the heart, cartoonist Ed Power has some hard-won words of advice for comics fans: Support your favorite comic strip very, very vocally. The reason for Power's impassioned plea now? Because not enough readers were vocal enough...

By Michael Cavna  |  09:45 AM ET, 08/26/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Comic Strip, The Comic Strip | Tags:  Ed Power, King Features, Melissa DeJesus, My Cage

Posted at 11:01 AM ET, 08/25/2010

VIDEO OF THE DAY: Pulitzer winner collects BP oil for his political cartoons
By Michael Cavna
Steve Breen shared with Comic Riffs last month his tale of Operation Tarball, when he traveled to the Gulf to collect BP oil to use in his cartoons. The San Diego Union-Tribune's Pulitzer-winning political cartoonist recounted how his anger...

By Michael Cavna  |  11:01 AM ET, 08/25/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Political Cartoon, The Political Cartoon | Tags:  BP spill, Steve Breen

Posted at 09:00 PM ET, 08/24/2010

AMC's new 'Walking Dead' trailer: Is it better than the animation?
By Michael Cavna
Comic Riffs is not so quick to question the direction of any series from AMC. When a channel's recent track record for original programming includes such stellar award-magnets as "Mad Men" and "Breaking Bad" -- well, suffice to say...

By Michael Cavna  |  09:00 PM ET, 08/24/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Holly Word, The Holly Word, The Holly Word | Tags:  Frank Darabont, Robert Kirkman, The Walking Dead

Posted at 03:00 PM ET, 08/24/2010

'CHEW' sells out -- and gets this new Tarantino spoof cover
By Michael Cavna
Among "Chew" fans, the spoof cover of "Pulp Fiction" turned out to be one bad mutha. Issue No. 13, featuring the "Pullet Fiction" cover, has already sold out, writer John Layman confirms to Comic Riffs. It sold so well,...

By Michael Cavna  |  03:00 PM ET, 08/24/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Comic Book | Tags:  Chew, John Layman, Rob Guillory

Posted at 03:00 PM ET, 08/20/2010

'MOSQUE NEAR GROUND ZERO': The Eight Most Eye-Catching Cartoons this week... [UPDATED]
By Michael Cavna
In recent pages of The Post, everyone from Charles Krauthammer to Gene Robinson to Michael Gerson to Kathleen Parker has naturally had a say on the Islamic-Community-Center-near-Ground-Zero controversy. Meantime, Comic Riffs has waited for the nation's political cartoonists to...

By Michael Cavna  |  03:00 PM ET, 08/20/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Political Cartoon | Tags:  Ed Stein, Jimmy Margulies, Mark Fiore, Michael Ramirez, Mike Luckovich, R.J. Matson, Rob Rogers, Steve Breen

Posted at 07:01 PM ET, 08/14/2010

THE 'GLEE' CARTOON: Gleeks to get their own comic book from Bluewater
By Michael Cavna
(Courtesy of Bluewater Comics) Lady Gaga and Justin Bieber have already been awarded the comic book treatment. Now, Bluewater Productions announces that the cast of "Glee" will join the Vancouver comic company's "Fame Biography" series. The 32-page book, "Fame:...

By Michael Cavna  |  07:01 PM ET, 08/14/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Holly Word, The Holly Word | Tags:  Bluewater Comics, Glee

Posted at 01:15 PM ET, 08/14/2010

TOP VIDEOS OF THE WEEK: 'Scott Pilgrim,' 'Avengers' & Neil Gaiman
By Michael Cavna
The "Scott Pilgrim vs. the World" onslaught continues, even if the film is thus far faring poorly at the box office. Even Stan Lee tells Comic Riffs that he personally approves this would-be vintage "Avengers" premake, by self-admitted geek...

By Michael Cavna  |  01:15 PM ET, 08/14/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Video Shelf, The Video Shelf, The Video Shelf, The Video Shelf, The Video Shelf | Tags:  Ivan Guerrero, Neil Gaiman, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World, The Avengers

Posted at 03:45 PM ET, 08/11/2010

VIDEO OF THE DAY: Steven Slater 'hits the chute!' on Asian TV
By Michael Cavna
The other day, Comic Riffs offered our modest proposal (yes, we were semi-satiric) in an open note to Comedy Central. The pitch: To add short moments of pure comedy Zen, the Viacom channel should buy up all American cable...

By Michael Cavna  |  03:45 PM ET, 08/11/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Video of the Day, Video of the Day

Posted at 10:01 AM ET, 08/11/2010

ASK 'DOONESBURY': Now's your chance to ask Garry Trudeau a question
By Michael Cavna
"In the past four decades, 'Doonesbury' creator Garry Trudeau has rarely been available for interviews. Now is your chance to interview him." So promises the wording on the "Ask Doonesbury" page, where readers can go to submit their question...

By Michael Cavna  |  10:01 AM ET, 08/11/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Comic Strip, The Comic Strip | Tags:  Doonesbury, Garry Trudeau

Posted at 01:00 PM ET, 08/03/2010

The 'Riffs Interview: New Eisner winner JOHN LAYMAN relishes the success of 'CHEW'
By Michael Cavna
(All images used by permission courtesy of John Layman) When your line of work often involves covering people who openly aspire to be good and great and legendary, you hear a lot of boasts and bravado. Rarely, though, do...

By Michael Cavna  |  01:00 PM ET, 08/03/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Interviews With Cartoonists | Tags:  Baltimore Comic-Con, Chew, John Layman, Rob Guillory, San Diego Comic-Con

Posted at 10:55 AM ET, 08/03/2010

New 'OH, BROTHER!' website hopes to follow in 'Big Nate's' big steps
By Michael Cavna
Comic Riffs recently met with a King Features salesman who wasn't just excited by his syndicate's new comic panel "Oh, Brother!" He also enthused something serious about the comic's dedicated interactive website. Now, that very site is beginning to...

By Michael Cavna  |  10:55 AM ET, 08/03/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Comic Strip | Tags:  Bob Weber Jr., Jay Stephens, King Features, Oh Brother!

Posted at 07:00 PM ET, 08/02/2010

Remembering the writer who helped save 'SUPERMAN'
By Michael Cavna
Comic Riffs is taking a moment to appreciate one of the more oft-unsung superpowers in Hollywood, and particularly the power of Tom Mankiewicz. If he had an ultimate identity among some comics fans, it was as...The Script Fixer. Mankiewicz,...

By Michael Cavna  |  07:00 PM ET, 08/02/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  General, General | Tags:  Superman, Tom Mankiewicz

Posted at 06:30 PM ET, 07/28/2010

'COMIC-CON 2011 Preview Night Already Sold Out.' (*No, we are not making this up.)
By Michael Cavna
"COMIC-CON 2011 PREVIEW NIGHT" ALREADY SOLD OUT No, afraid that isn't an Onion headline. Particularly because it's difficult to satirize something that's already reached the point of presale absurdity. Various outlets are reporting that all 15,000 four-day passes that...

By Michael Cavna  |  06:30 PM ET, 07/28/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  San Diego Comic-Con | Tags:  San Diego Comic-Con 2011

Posted at 12:30 PM ET, 07/26/2010

COMIC-CON 2010 POSTSCRIPT: Is this the new 'Avengers' team -- or the ol' E Street Band? [PHOTOS]
By Michael Cavna
We thought that Marvel lineup with the rock-star charisma and camaraderie looked familar. Perhaps it's just us -- entirely possible -- but when the "Avengers" roster united for the first time for public consumption, stepping to the skirt of...

By Michael Cavna  |  12:30 PM ET, 07/26/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  San Diego Comic-Con, San Diego Comic-Con, San Diego Comic-Con | Tags:  Captain America, Iron Man, Joss Whedon, San Diego Comic-Con 2010, The Avengers, The Incredible Hulk, Thor

Posted at 02:30 PM ET, 07/25/2010

COMIC-CON 2010: ALEX ALBRECHT talks comics fandom, Hall H perils -- & his 'awesome' work history with BP
By Michael Cavna
"I'm more famous for being fired from 'Screen Savers,' " says Alex Albrecht [left]. He just might be the coolest person in the country ever to have worked for BP. "Oh, that's right -- I did do work for...

By Michael Cavna  |  02:30 PM ET, 07/25/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  San Diego Comic-Con | Tags:  Alex Albrecht, Diggnation, Totally Rad Show

Posted at 01:15 PM ET, 07/24/2010

COMIC-CON 2010: 'Cleveland Show's' KEVIN MICHAEL RICHARDSON voices his fandom of Macfarlane, McGruder and The Batman
By Michael Cavna
Flip on any kids' channel, check out whatever cartoon is on at that hour, and you're odds are better than good than KEVIN MICHAEL RICHARDSON, voice actor extraordinaire, has done work for that show. Richardson is perhaps best known...

By Michael Cavna  |  01:15 PM ET, 07/24/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  San Diego Comic-Con, San Diego Comic-Con | Tags:  Aaron McGruder, American Dad, Kevin Michael Richardson, Seth Macfarlane, The Boondocks, The Cleveland Show, The Family Guy

Posted at 12:20 PM ET, 07/24/2010

COMIC-CON 2010: 'iCarly's' JERRY TRAINOR goes 'b-i-g' to voice the new cartoon 'T.U.F.F. Puppy'
By Michael Cavna
(courtesy of Jerry Trainor / Kids Choice Awards) Prior to his panel at Comic-Con today, "iCarly" comic actor JERRY TRAINOR tells us he cannot verbally confirm or deny that he will be the voice of Dudley, the lead dog...

By Michael Cavna  |  12:20 PM ET, 07/24/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  San Diego Comic-Con | Tags:  Jerry Trainor, San Diego Comic-Con 2010, T.U.F.F. Puppy

Posted at 10:40 AM ET, 07/24/2010

COMIC-CON 2010 Interviews: MAD magazine artists 'excited' about TV show for a new generation
By Michael Cavna
MAD magazine legend SERGIO ARAGONES has attended 34 of the previous 40 San Diego Comic-Cons and increasingly, he's found that the convention-going helps introduce MAD to a whole new generation. Now, he's about to get a big boost in...

By Michael Cavna  |  10:40 AM ET, 07/24/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  San Diego Comic-Con | Tags:  Kevin Shinick, MAD magazine, Peter Girardi, Sam Viviano, San Diego Comic-Con 2010, Sergio Aragones, Tom Richmond, Warner Bros. Animation

Posted at 12:27 AM ET, 07/24/2010

COMIC-CON 2010: Will Mark Ruffalo make Hulking news Saturday?
By Michael Cavna
Let the paparazzi and pap media fret over Brad Pitt's Comic-Con no-show. The actor -- make that Actor -- we most hope makes an appearance this weekend is: Mark Ruffalo. Because if Ruffalo shows, that all but guarantees that...

By Michael Cavna  |  12:27 AM ET, 07/24/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  San Diego Comic-Con, San Diego Comic-Con | Tags:  Ed Norton, Joss Whedon, Mark Ruffalo, Marvel Entertainment, The Avengers, The Hulk

Posted at 02:15 PM ET, 07/22/2010

COMIC-CON 2010: Keith Knight talks new books, Nappy Hours & why he won't be on an Angry Black Panel
By Michael Cavna
KEITH KNIGHT used to sneak onto Artists' Alley at San Diego Comic-Con, displaying his 'zines till someone told him to fold up shop. Now, nearly two decades later, for the first time, the acclaimed creator of "The Knight Life"...

By Michael Cavna  |  02:15 PM ET, 07/22/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Interviews With Cartoonists, Interviews With Cartoonists | Tags:  Keith Knight, San Diego Comic-Con 2010, The K Chronicles, The Knight Life

Posted at 11:25 AM ET, 07/22/2010

COMIC-CON 2010: DC's DAN DiDIO talks Superman, Wonder Woman & why he loves fan interaction
By Michael Cavna
As the 41st San Diego Comic-Con officially kicks off today, DC Comics Co-Publisher DAN DiDIO will begin to flash his own type of superpower: Omnipresence. Judging by the schedule and his commitments, he will seemingly be everywhere at once....

By Michael Cavna  |  11:25 AM ET, 07/22/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  San Diego Comic-Con, San Diego Comic-Con, San Diego Comic-Con, San Diego Comic-Con | Tags:  DC Comics, Dan DiDio, Geoff Johns, Jim Lee

Posted at 11:30 AM ET, 07/21/2010

Has COMIC-CON outgrown San Diego? 9 big-time guests tell us where to go
By Michael Cavna
Let the pilgrimage to the land of "Scott Pilgrim" begin. Ten of thousands of people will descend upon San Diego today for the 41st Comic-Con International -- the largest such convention in the world and the granddaddy of all...

By Michael Cavna  |  11:30 AM ET, 07/21/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  San Diego Comic-Con, San Diego Comic-Con, San Diego Comic-Con | Tags:  Berkeley Breathed, Comic-Con International, Dan DiDio, Jerry Robinson, Keith Knight, Kevin Michael Richardson, Olivia Munn, San Diego Comic-Con 2010, Sergio Aragones, Stan Lee, Tom Richmond

Posted at 11:08 PM ET, 07/19/2010

Sam Raimi to direct 'Earp: Saints for Sinners' comic for DreamWorks
By Michael Cavna
Let the Comic-Con Week "revelations" begin. Sam Raimi -- so recently released from his "Spider-Man" directing duties (reportedly over the ol' "creative differences") -- will direct a feature-film adaptation of the still-new comic "Earp: Saints for Sinners," according to...

By Michael Cavna  |  11:08 PM ET, 07/19/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  San Diego Comic-Con, San Diego Comic-Con, San Diego Comic-Con, San Diego Comic-Con | Tags:  David Manpearl, M. Zachary Sherman, Mack Chater, Martin Montiel, Matt Cirulnick, Sam Raimi

Posted at 11:05 AM ET, 07/19/2010

Q&A: Muslim cartoonist offers her thoughts on depicting Muhammad
By Michael Cavna
Comic Riffs reported a week ago that Molly Norris, the Seattle cartoonist whose poster art spawned the recent "Everybody Draw Mohammed Day," has had an execution hit ordered against her -- one that the FBI reportedly is treating as...

By Michael Cavna  |  11:05 AM ET, 07/19/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Interviews With Cartoonists, Interviews With Cartoonists | Tags:  Molly Norris, Sepideh Anjomrooz

Posted at 09:30 AM ET, 07/17/2010

POP FICTION: Justin Bieber gets his own comic book
By Michael Cavna
One creative Canadian moneymaker is about to feature another. And how: Justin Bieber, the Ontario-born pop star, is getting his own comic book -- courtesy of the Vancouver-based publisher Bluewater Productions. "Fame: Justin Bieber" will be a 32-page bio-comic...

By Michael Cavna  |  09:30 AM ET, 07/17/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Comic Book | Tags:  Bluewater Comics, Bluewater Productions, Darren G. Davis

Posted at 09:24 AM ET, 07/15/2010

And the winner of The Post's NEXT GREAT CARTOONIST contest is...
By Michael Cavna
After three months of comic plot twists, the final panel has long last arrived. The Post put out the call in May in search of "America's Next Great Cartoonist," and 500 aspiring comic artists responded. Now that readers, judges...

By Michael Cavna  |  09:24 AM ET, 07/15/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  America's Next Great Cartoonist | Tags:  America's Next Great Cartoonist Contest, Amy Lago, Darrin Bell, Garry Trudeau, Gene Weingarten, Hilary Price, Jerry Scott, Lalo Alcaraz, Olivia Walch, Richard Thompson, Signe Wilkinson, Stan Lee, Stephan Pastis, Tom Toles

Posted at 01:30 PM ET, 07/12/2010

Remembering Harvey Pekar, legendary bard of the 'underground' comic book
By Michael Cavna
Harvey Pekar and Joyce Brabner tell their tale in the film "American Splendor." (John Clifford/Courtesy of HBO/Fine Line) HARVEY PEKAR characterized himself as a flunkie of a hospital file clerk. What he really filed, for decades, were some of...

By Michael Cavna  |  01:30 PM ET, 07/12/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  General, General | Tags:  American Splendor, Harvey Pekar, Our Cancer Year

Posted at 10:00 AM ET, 07/09/2010

LIVE CHAT TODAY: 'Rhymes With Orange's' Hilary Price fields your questions
By Michael Cavna
When Comic Riffs helped launch The Post's "America's Next Great Cartoonist" Contest, one of the dozen cartoonists we were quite pleased said "yes" to our invitation to guest-judge was "Rhymes With Orange" creator HILARY PRICE. Comic Riffs met Price...

By Michael Cavna  |  10:00 AM ET, 07/09/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  America's Next Great Cartoonist | Tags:  America's Next Great Cartoonist Contest, Hilary Price, Rhymes With Orange

Posted at 01:15 PM ET, 07/08/2010

COMIC-CON: Thursday's schedule is here! (Comic Riffs's early picks)
By Michael Cavna
It's here. It's here. After months of speculation and a long-ago sellout, San Diego Comic-Con today has just released its Thursday programming for 2010's event. . Here are a mere 10 promising highlights amid an embarrassment of nerdvana riches...

By Michael Cavna  |  01:15 PM ET, 07/08/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  San Diego Comic-Con | Tags:  San Diego Comic-Con 2010

Posted at 10:15 AM ET, 07/06/2010

SUPER SITES: The Top 10 COMIC-CON Links We're Likin' This Minute
By Michael Cavna
Any day now, the geeked-out behemoth that is San Diego Comic-Con will announce its 2010 schedule. And because of that, thousands upon thousands check the official San Diego Comic-Con website daily, eager for even mere morsels of new information....

By Michael Cavna  |  10:15 AM ET, 07/06/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  San Diego Comic-Con | Tags:  Comic-Con International, Harry Knowles, Joss Whedon, Keep Comic Con in San Diego!, LatinoReview, Morgan Spurlock, San Diego Comic-Con, Stan Lee, Televisionary

Posted at 01:00 PM ET, 06/29/2010

THE RIFF: Is 'SNL' talent blazing a trail for the future of newspaper comics?
By Michael Cavna
Just how far will fans of comics and comedy go to bask in a sense of nostalgia? Michael Arndt, screenwriter of the record-setting "Toy Story 3," recently told Comic Riffs that his film's toy characters -- like the recently...

By Michael Cavna  |  01:00 PM ET, 06/29/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Riffs, The Riffs, The Riffs | Tags:  Beyond the Comics, Fred Wolf, Kirk Thatcher, Michael Arndt, SFGate.com, Saturday Night Live, SeattlePI.com, The Muppets, Toy Story 3

Posted at 09:15 AM ET, 06/27/2010

The 'Riffs Interview: Lincoln Peirce's 'BIG NATE' becomes an 'overnight' best-seller
By Michael Cavna
Jeff Kinney, creator of the publishing phenomenon that is the "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" children's book series, was in the Post newsroom a coupla years ago when he mentioned to Comic Riffs his new interactive website, Poptropica. Today,...

By Michael Cavna  |  09:15 AM ET, 06/27/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Interviews With Cartoonists, Interviews With Cartoonists | Tags:  Big Nate, Diary of a Wimpy Kid, Jeff Kinney, Lincoln Peirce, Poptropica

Posted at 09:05 AM ET, 06/27/2010

The 'Riffs Interview: How the incisive TRACY WHITE made it to 'Eighteen' (A Cartoon Memoirist's Tale)
By Michael Cavna
Comic Riffs first discovered the beguiling work of Tracy White a couple of years ago at the SPX Small Press Expo in suburban Washington. Her animation on Traced.com was nominated for an Ignatz Award, and her storytelling talent was...

By Michael Cavna  |  09:05 AM ET, 06/27/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Interviews With Cartoonists, Interviews With Cartoonists, Interviews With Cartoonists, Interviews With Cartoonists, Interviews With Cartoonists | Tags:  How I Made It to Eighteen, Tracy White

Posted at 07:00 PM ET, 06/23/2010

Readers can help write Superman's new road trip
By Michael Cavna
The troubling news straight from the Daily Planet: DC is snubbing D.C. Then again, Washington shouldn't take it terribly personally that the DC's Man of Steel is bypassing our Nation's Capital. Clark Kent is also bypassing the Big Apple...

By Michael Cavna  |  07:00 PM ET, 06/23/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Comic Book, The Comic Book | Tags:  DC Comics, Superman

Posted at 04:45 PM ET, 06/23/2010

Tony Murphy's comics-newspaper project hits pledge goal
By Michael Cavna
Tony Murphy's message to his comics donors: It's all about you! Murphy, creator of the Washington Post Writers Group-syndicated comic strip "It's All About You," wants to launch "a weekly comic-strip newspaper" called Coffee Talk. And today, Murphy announces...

By Michael Cavna  |  04:45 PM ET, 06/23/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Comic Strip | Tags:  It's All About You, Tony Murphy, Washington Post Writers Group

Posted at 08:45 AM ET, 06/23/2010

The Morning Line: Comic-Con predictions & a big-screen Troll film
By Michael Cavna
THE MORNING QUICKIE From 3-D Simba to animated trolls, our Fave Five Links this morning... 5. COMIC-TRON: Comic-Con 2010 hasn't yet released its full schedule, but the folks at io9 predict just what might take centerstage next month in...

By Michael Cavna  |  08:45 AM ET, 06/23/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Geek Buzz, Geek Buzz, Geek Buzz

Posted at 09:30 AM ET, 06/22/2010

FIRST LOOK: Would you buy a Green Hornet from this man?
By Michael Cavna
Now, in the interest of full disclosure, Comic Riffs is a sucker for a debonair newspaper publisher as much as the next ink-stained writer. That and ever since our days in a dojo, we'd wished we had the moves...

By Michael Cavna  |  09:30 AM ET, 06/22/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Geek Buzz, Geek Buzz | Tags:  Seth Rogen, The Green Hornet

Posted at 10:45 AM ET, 06/07/2010

POST HUNT: When a comic strip stands between you and $2K
By Michael Cavna
Gene Weingarten fairly warned us that his new strip, "Barney & Clyde," would make a conspicuous appearance at yesterday's 2010 Post Hunt in D.C. Hoo-boy, did it ever -- in large, glorious color. A prominently displayed "Barney & Clyde"...

By Michael Cavna  |  10:45 AM ET, 06/07/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Comic Strip, The Comic Strip | Tags:  Barney & Clyde, Dan Weingarten, David Clark, Gene Weingarten, The Washington Post Writers Group

Posted at 05:45 PM ET, 06/03/2010

WEINGARTEN: People who 'critique comic strips are anuses'
By Michael Cavna
"I have decided that people like me, who presume to critique comic strips, are anuses." Such is the self-realization -- perhaps even the tongue-in-cheek epiphany with an, um, surprise end -- of Post Magazine humor columnist Gene Weingarten. As...

By Michael Cavna  |  05:45 PM ET, 06/03/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Interviews With Cartoonists, Interviews With Cartoonists | Tags:  Barney & Clyde, Gene Weingarten, Washington Post Writers Group

Posted at 11:05 AM ET, 05/28/2010

'NEXT GREAT CARTOONIST': Check out the final list of celebrity judges
By Michael Cavna
Wake the kids, text the neighbors. The list of "celebrity judges" for The Post's "America's Next Great Cartoonist" Contest is now complete. Comic Riffs came a-callin', and a dozen top cartoonists generously said yes. Frankly, we don't know quite...

By Michael Cavna  |  11:05 AM ET, 05/28/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  America's Next Great Cartoonist | Tags:  America's Next Great Cartoonist Contest, Darrin Bell, Garry Trudeau, Gene Weingarten, Hilary Price, Jerry Scott, Lalo Alcaraz, Mike Krahulik, Richard Thompson, Signe Wilkinson, Stan Lee, Stephan Pastis, Tom Toles

Posted at 10:45 AM ET, 04/16/2010

Politico's MATT WUERKER accepts the Herblock Prize
By Michael Cavna
Matt Wuerker was clearly moved by the moment. "I was just trying to keep it together up there," the Politico cartoonist told Comic Riffs afterward yesterday. The moment was Wuerker's offering words of gratitude Thursday night as he accepted...

By Michael Cavna  |  10:45 AM ET, 04/16/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  General, General | Tags:  Herb Block, Herblock Prize, Library of Congress, Matt Wuerker

Posted at 06:20 PM ET, 03/29/2010

Ka-ching! SUPERMAN breaks record again with $1.5M comic book
By Michael Cavna
You know Batman couldn't knock down Superman without soon getting clocked himself with a haymaker. At least where the comic-book collectibles industry is concerned. A copy of the 1938 edition of Action Comics No. 1 -- in which Superman...

By Michael Cavna  |  06:20 PM ET, 03/29/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Comic Book, The Comic Book | Tags:  Action Comics #1 Superman debut, Batman Detective Comics #27, ComicConnect.com

Posted at 10:55 AM ET, 03/25/2010

Bluewater's Wonder Woman? MICHELLE OBAMA, Comic-Book 'Superhero'
By Michael Cavna
"Welcome to the gun show, America!" "Michelle Obama would just be learning the full extent of her powers." "One little bug bite and she could be crawling the White House walls and slinging webs at Joe Biden." If the...

By Michael Cavna  |  10:55 AM ET, 03/25/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Comic Book | Tags:  Bluewater Comics, Michelle Obama

Posted at 05:55 AM ET, 03/18/2010

This Just In: Cartooning's 'Oscars' announce the division nominees
By Michael Cavna
Not only is MAD magazine artist Tom Richmond overwhelmed, in disbelief and "suitably humbled." He also is awaiting a "hanging-chad controversy" to emerge. So says Richmond on his "Mad Blog," in acknowledging that he's up for three -- count...

By Michael Cavna  |  05:55 AM ET, 03/18/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Comic Strip, The Comic Strip, The Comic Strip, The Comic Strip, The Comic Strip, The Comic Strip | Tags:  National Cartoonists Society, Reuben Awards

Posted at 10:45 AM ET, 03/17/2010

'CUL DE SAC' in action: Deftly, Richard Thompson is quick on the draw
By Michael Cavna
Forget Wonderland's Alice for a while. Today, our favorite three-dimensional Alice goes by the name Otterloop. "Cul de Sac's" Reuben-nominated creator, RICHARD THOMPSON, recently turned his pen toward drawing a three-minute Alice (and company). And thankfully, someone turned a...

By Michael Cavna  |  10:45 AM ET, 03/17/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Comic Strip, The Comic Strip | Tags:  Cul de Sac, Richard Thompson

Posted at 06:15 PM ET, 03/16/2010

How to save newspapers? Ted Rall has the answer [VIDEO]
By Michael Cavna
A coupla years back, alt-political cartoonist TED RALL told Comic Riffs: "At the end of the day, you still have as many people reading print newspapers in the future." Now, at last, we see how. Even if only satirically....

By Michael Cavna  |  06:15 PM ET, 03/16/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  General, General | Tags:  David Essman, Ted Rall

Posted at 02:05 PM ET, 03/15/2010

The 'Riffs Interview: Artist Mike Manley makes his 'Judge Parker' debut today
By Michael Cavna
"Judge Parker's" new artist debuts today. (KFS) The call came just weeks back. Would Mike Manley be interested in drawing "Judge Parker"? The strip's artist, Eduardo Barreto, had become severely ill, and King Features's comics editor, Brendan Burford, needed...

By Michael Cavna  |  02:05 PM ET, 03/15/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Comic Strip, The Comic Strip, The Comic Strip, The Comic Strip | Tags:  Eduardo Barreto, Judge Parker, King Features, Mike Manley, Woody Wilson

Posted at 06:01 PM ET, 03/11/2010

Coming soon: Senator AL FRANKEN, comic book 'hero'
By Michael Cavna
For its line of political comic books, Bluewater Productions has featured such figures as Michelle Obama, Hillary Clinton and Sarah Palin. In May, the publisher will have an entirely new subject. Why? Because -- as the old "Saturday Night...

By Michael Cavna  |  06:01 PM ET, 03/11/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Political Cartoon, The Political Cartoon | Tags:  Bluewater Productions, Darren G. Davis, Sen. Al Franken

Posted at 11:30 AM ET, 03/09/2010

'Garfield Minus Garfield': Are you listening, Hollywood?
By Michael Cavna
Some days, for the lightest of twisted humor, nothing pleases quite like "the existential angst of a certain young Mr. Jon Arbuckle" in "Garfield Minus Garfield." Comic Riffs has cited "GMG" early and somewhat often, but for the few...

By Michael Cavna  |  11:30 AM ET, 03/09/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  General, General

Posted at 02:24 PM ET, 03/08/2010

Oscars to 'Alice' to 'iToons': The new Comic Riffs podcast is now up
By Michael Cavna
In Sunday night's animation categories, at least, the Oscars went pretty much according to form: The heavy favorite "Up" won for feature film animation. France's "Logorama" (which 'Riffs tabbed as a better-than-even shot to edge Wallace & Gromit) was...

By Michael Cavna  |  02:24 PM ET, 03/08/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Interviews With Cartoonists, Interviews With Cartoonists, Interviews With Cartoonists, Interviews With Cartoonists, Interviews With Cartoonists

Posted at 06:01 PM ET, 03/06/2010

VIDEO: 'Alice in Wonderland': Falling for this special clip
By Michael Cavna
THE META-POST: Through history's looking-glass... As Comic Riffs finally catches Tim Burton's full "Alice in Wonderland" today -- in all its CGI-rich glory -- we can't help but note that the first "Alice in Wonderland" was made more than...

By Michael Cavna  |  06:01 PM ET, 03/06/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Holly Word | Tags:  Alice in Wonderland

Posted at 06:05 PM ET, 03/03/2010

'OBAMA' VIDEO: When 'SNL' presidents unite...
By Michael Cavna
THE META-POST: When "SNL" presidents stage a comedy summit... Because Comic Riffs often traffics in political humor -- and writes fairly regularly about the art of satire -- we offer this meta-post from Will Ferrell and the rest of...

By Michael Cavna  |  06:05 PM ET, 03/03/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  General, General | Tags:  FunnyorDie.com, Saturday Night Live, Will Ferrell, political satire

Posted at 07:30 PM ET, 02/25/2010

BREAKING: Holy Outta-Control! Batman comic breaks record in million-dollar sale
By Michael Cavna
(Heritage Auction Galleries / AP) Well that record didn't last long. Just three days after a Superman issue became the first comic book ever to sell for a million dollars, a Batman comic book sold today at auction --...

By Michael Cavna  |  07:30 PM ET, 02/25/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Comic Book | Tags:  Batman, Detective Comics No. 27

Posted at 07:25 AM ET, 02/24/2010

'Judge Parker' names Mike Manley as strip's new artist [UPDATED]
By Michael Cavna
[Note: This Tuesday-evening post has been updated with more details on Mike Manley and Eduardo Barreto.] On Monday, Comic Riffs noted -- with a tip of the cap to reader "brainiac1077" -- that artist Mike Manley said he was ghosting...

By Michael Cavna  |  07:25 AM ET, 02/24/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Comic Strip | Tags:  Eduardo Barreto, Graham Nolan, Judge Parker, King Features Syndicate, Michael Manley, Woody Wilson

Posted at 07:25 PM ET, 02/22/2010

Call the Daily Planet! Superman comic book sells for record $1M [UPDATED]
By Michael Cavna
[Note: This post from Monday afternoon has been updated.] "This sale is groundbreaking," says a comics dealer who helped conduct the transaction. (ComicConnect.com / AP) It's a story worthy of a banner headline in the Daily Planet. The Holy Grail...

By Michael Cavna  |  07:25 PM ET, 02/22/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Comic Book, The Comic Book | Tags:  Action Comics No. 1, Stephen Fishler, Superman comic book, Vincent Zurzolo, record auction

Posted at 10:45 AM ET, 02/21/2010

OLYMPICS GALLERY: Cartoons from the 2010 Games [UPDATED]
By Michael Cavna
With the images of ginormous dancing bears, towering trees and k.d. lang still dancing in our heads from the Opening Ceremonies, Comic Riffs is beginning to gather cartoons about the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver. Too little snow. Too...

By Michael Cavna  |  10:45 AM ET, 02/21/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Political Cartoon | Tags:  Drew Litton, Martin Sutovek, Mike Luckovich

Posted at 01:05 PM ET, 02/08/2010

Reader picks: What was the funniest SUPER BOWL ad?
By Michael Cavna
[ UPDATED: Comic Riffs will update periodically with posted videos as nominated (by comment or e-mail) by readers -- including 2010 midgame nominees] All Super Bowl fans have their own ways to enhance their viewing of the Big Game. Some...

By Michael Cavna  |  01:05 PM ET, 02/08/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  General | Tags:  Super Bowl commercials

Posted at 09:05 AM ET, 01/29/2010

THE BEST WEBCOMIC: The Eight Burning Questions from readers
By Michael Cavna
After hundreds of comments and e-mails -- and a vote total that exceeded our next-largest poll ever by, oh, nearly a half-million respondents -- Comic Riffs is just rested enough to begin fielding some of your most common questions...

By Michael Cavna  |  09:05 AM ET, 01/29/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Webcomic, The Webcomic | Tags:  Webcomics

Posted at 09:05 AM ET, 01/22/2010

THE BEST WEBCOMIC: It's time to vote on your nominations...
By Michael Cavna
[UPDATE: Check the latest Comic Riffs blogpost Friday at 9 a.m. (ET) as we discuss the major burning questions that arose from readers during this Best Webcomic poll.] Your nominations are in, and what we have on our hands...

By Michael Cavna  |  09:05 AM ET, 01/22/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Webcomic, The Webcomic | Tags:  Best Webcomic of the Past Decade

Posted at 09:05 AM ET, 01/18/2010

MLK DAY: Art to remember the Rev. King by...
By Michael Cavna
At Comic Riffs, I have a small, humble dream: Namely, that every newspaper cartoonist pay tribute to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. today. We're nowhere near that yet, but today, we post some art to honor King's memory --...

By Michael Cavna  |  09:05 AM ET, 01/18/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Political Cartoon | Tags:  The Rev. Martin Luther King

Posted at 08:00 PM ET, 01/15/2010

Last Call for nominations: What's your pick for Best Webcomic?
By Michael Cavna
On Tuesday, Comic Riffs put out the call for nominating your favorite webcomic of the past decade. Well, we've received hundreds of nominated comics -- and now, with four hours to go till the window closes, we issue a...

By Michael Cavna  |  08:00 PM ET, 01/15/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Webcomic | Tags:  Best Webcomic of the Past Decade

Posted at 10:00 AM ET, 01/12/2010

What's your favorite Webcomic? Let the balloting begin
By Michael Cavna
A funny thing happened on the way to the comics forum... Some weeks back, Comic Riffs asked readers to nominate -- and then vote on -- what they thought the "Best Comic of the Decade" was. The nominations were...

By Michael Cavna  |  10:00 AM ET, 01/12/2010 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Webcomic | Tags:  Girl Genius, Webcomics

Posted at 01:15 PM ET, 12/21/2009

Obama's Nobel Act: When cartoonists declare war
By Michael Cavna
With President Obama having returned from Europe in recent days, Comic Riffs digs out from the towering snowbanks of other stories -- from health-care reform to planet-care "reform" to Tiger Woods sports-idol reform -- to spotlight the Nobel Peace...

By Michael Cavna  |  01:15 PM ET, 12/21/2009 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Political Cartoon | Tags:  Ed Stein, Jim Day, Nate Beeler, Nobel Peace Prize, President Barack Obama

Posted at 09:30 AM ET, 12/10/2009

Sarah Palin, hot-selling cartoon character
By Michael Cavna
SARAH PALIN is sparkling big-time sales of not only her memoir, "Going Rogue." The former Alaska guv has also meant serious business for the comic-book company Bluewater Productions. Bluewater says its releasing its fourth printing of its Palin bio...

By Michael Cavna  |  09:30 AM ET, 12/10/2009 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Comic Book | Tags:  Bluewater Productions, Sarah Palin

Posted at 10:05 AM ET, 12/08/2009

Take the 'Riffs Reader Quiz: Test your comical tastes in 60 seconds
By Michael Cavna
So yesterday -- in which Comic Riffs asked what the "Comic Strip of the Decade" is -- commenter "5232news" complimented the comic strip "Agnes" by declaring the title character superior to another sharp-witted, oft-sarcastic little girl marked by her...

By Michael Cavna  |  10:05 AM ET, 12/08/2009 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The E-Mailbag, The E-Mailbag

Posted at 06:25 PM ET, 11/20/2009

Mike Keefe, Matt Wuerker & Ann Telnaes are honored
By Michael Cavna
UPDATE: Mike Keefe responds Friday to winning the award. Over at The Daily Cartoonist, Alan Gardner reports that Denver Post political cartoonist MIKE KEEFE has just won the Berryman Award. So first let us say: Huzzahs, because Comic Riffs...

By Michael Cavna  |  06:25 PM ET, 11/20/2009 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Political Cartoon | Tags:  Mike Keefe; Ann Telnaes; Matt Wuerker; Bill Day; Berryman Award; Michael Cavna

Posted at 11:15 AM ET, 11/15/2009

UPDATE: A new Congressional app for your iPhone? Artist says Apple finally bites
By The Reliable Source
Kerry, McCain & Pelosi (among others), as you may never see them -- thanks to Apple. (Courtesy of Tom Richmond ) UPDATE: MAD artist Tom Richmond tells Comic Riffs this weekend that Apple has just notified him that --...

By The Reliable Source  |  11:15 AM ET, 11/15/2009 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Political Cartoon, The Political Cartoon, The Political Cartoon, The Political Cartoon | Tags:  om Richmond; Ray Griggs; MAD magazine; Congress; iPhone; Apple; Bobble Rep

Posted at 09:05 AM ET, 11/11/2009

Why do so very few comic strips bother to mark Veterans' Day?
By Michael Cavna
In a time of war (or wars) and so soon after the Fort Hood tragedy, it seems especially a pity that so few comic strips bother to even take note of Veterans' Day. No, noting the holiday shouldn't feel...

By Michael Cavna  |  09:05 AM ET, 11/11/2009 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Morning Line, The Morning Line, The Morning Line

Posted at 04:00 PM ET, 11/07/2009

Remembering Comic-Con co-founder Shel Dorf
By The Reliable Source
In this June 29, 2006 picture, Sheldon Dorf holds a Dick Tracy comic book in Ocean Beach, Calif. (AP Photo / San Diego Union Tribune) I met Shel Dorf just once, in the mid-'90s in San Diego, but boy,...

By The Reliable Source  |  04:00 PM ET, 11/07/2009 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  General, General

Posted at 11:05 AM ET, 11/03/2009

Have a favorite cartoonist video? Show us your links
By Michael Cavna
More and more, Comic Riffs is sent video. Or rather, video links. Here's a cartoonist peddling a book. Here's a cartoonist inking a panel. And oh look, here's a cartoonist inking a panel at a comic-con while telling amusing...

By Michael Cavna  |  11:05 AM ET, 11/03/2009 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Video Shelf, The Video Shelf, The Video Shelf

Posted at 10:30 AM ET, 10/29/2009

The next cartoon superstar? Pick your favorite NEW comic strip here
By Michael Cavna
Ah, I love the smell of new talent in the morning. Word comes from Andrews McMeel Publishing, sponsoring a contest by Amazon, that the 10 finalists have been named in the Comic Strip Superstar contest. And I must say:...

By Michael Cavna  |  10:30 AM ET, 10/29/2009 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Comic Strip

Posted at 09:45 AM ET, 10/16/2009

'Riffs Picks: Where Balloon Boy and Other Wild Things Are
By Michael Cavna
THE MORNING LINE: From Blondie's bed-hopping to Balloon Boy's panic-in-the-attic, today's fave cartoons culled from across the mighty mighty Web... 5. DRAWN TO THE FRONT LINES: First off, Comic Riffs applauds the cartoonists who support the troops -- personally. The...

By Michael Cavna  |  09:45 AM ET, 10/16/2009 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Morning Line

Posted at 11:05 AM ET, 10/14/2009

Poll: From Sarah Palin to Michelle Obama--Which Female Icon's Story Would You Most Want to Read?
By The Reliable Source
"FEMALE FORCE" salutes four women leaders. (Bluewater Productions ) A new trade-paperback comic lands today, picturing a foursome you might never see so chummily assembled in real life. The "Female Force" bio-comic series has previously featured these four icons,...

By The Reliable Source  |  11:05 AM ET, 10/14/2009 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  General, General

Posted at 09:00 AM ET, 10/03/2009

'Riffs Picks: From Superman to Letterman, Today's Cartoon Contenders
By Michael Cavna
THE SATURDAY MORNING QUICKIE: From Superman to Letterman, Comic Riffs's favorite five cartoons today, culled from across the mighty mighty Web... 5. IF YOU DON'T GET IT, YOU DON'T GET IT: Every now and again, even the Trained Professional...

By Michael Cavna  |  09:00 AM ET, 10/03/2009 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Morning Line, The Morning Line, The Morning Line

Posted at 09:05 AM ET, 10/01/2009

The E-Mailbag: Will 'Cul de Sac' Move Again -- & Are Comic Rates Being Cut?
By Michael Cavna
Time for a coupla recent inquiries from the Riffs Reader e-mailbag... 1. Commenter "Jam893" asks: QUESTION: "I am hearing of a disturbing trend for cartoonists, their creators and the syndicates. Rate/fee concessions to keep a strip in a paper....

By Michael Cavna  |  09:05 AM ET, 10/01/2009 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The E-Mailbag

Posted at 05:55 PM ET, 09/30/2009

'Family Guy' Satirizes Post Political Cartooning -- But Toles Truly Makes Us Laff
By Michael Cavna
Because we here at Comic Riffs are absolute Pavlovian suckers for anything in pop culture that combines the words "Washington Post" and "cartoon," we laughed at this "Family Guy" aside over the weekend -- even if it bears no...

By Michael Cavna  |  05:55 PM ET, 09/30/2009 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Political Cartoon, The Political Cartoon, The Political Cartoon, The Political Cartoon

Posted at 05:40 PM ET, 09/25/2009

'Cul de Sac' Migrates & Cavna Hits the 'Town'
By Michael Cavna
A meta-post heads-up, since I'd be remiss not to mention it... Comic Riffs has occasionally posted its personal cartoons both fresh and archived on this site, but beginning this weekend, my art will also appear biweekly in the newly...

By Michael Cavna  |  05:40 PM ET, 09/25/2009 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  General

Posted at 07:00 AM ET, 09/25/2009

From Spiders to 'Surrogates': Our Five Fave Cartoons This Minute
By Michael Cavna
THE MORNING LINE: From arachnids to avatars, here are our five fave cartoons for the day, culled from across the mighty mighty Web... 5. THE MIGHTY COMIC HAS CRAPPED OUT: Some syndicated cartoonists tell Comic Riffs they can't use...

By Michael Cavna  |  07:00 AM ET, 09/25/2009 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Morning Line, The Morning Line, The Morning Line, The Morning Line, The Morning Line

Posted at 06:00 AM ET, 09/21/2009

Fave Five: The Cartoons Now Catching Our Eye
By Michael Cavna
From all across the mighty web, here's the Official Comic Riffs Fave Five Cartoons list right now... 5. In a mere three panels and four balloons, this strip from Saturday pulled off the trifecta: It made me (1) laugh...

By Michael Cavna  |  06:00 AM ET, 09/21/2009 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Morning Line, The Morning Line, The Morning Line, The Morning Line

Posted at 09:10 AM ET, 09/15/2009

Love 'Em to Death: Which of These New Films Tops Your Wish List?
By Michael Cavna
After viewing footage of so many vampires and zombies and wounded surrogates (oh my) -- much of it at San Diego Comic-Con -- only two words come to mind when surveying the upcoming slate of fanboy-courting flicks: Bloody hell....

By Michael Cavna  |  09:10 AM ET, 09/15/2009 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Holly Word

Posted at 07:05 AM ET, 08/21/2009

The Trailer Cometh: 'Avatar' Producer Jon Landau Talks Blue Skin & White-Hot Hopes
By Michael Cavna
"Avatar" producer Jon Landau embraces star Zoe Saldana at July's San Diego Comic-Con 2009 (Shea Walsh/AP Images for Ubisoft) For years, mention of writer-director James Cameron's much-anticipated 3-D sci-fi project, "AVATAR" was often followed by two other words: "Game...

By Michael Cavna  |  07:05 AM ET, 08/21/2009 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  San Diego Comic-Con

Posted at 01:05 PM ET, 08/18/2009

On the Lookout: Calling All Links From Your Favorite 'Toons...
By Michael Cavna
Here at the home office of Comic Riffs, we'd like to introduce a new feature called simply THE LOOKOUT, which will be exactly as it sounds: Every day, Comic Riffs will be on the lookout for links to that...

By Michael Cavna  |  01:05 PM ET, 08/18/2009 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Geek Buzz, Geek Buzz

Posted at 11:05 AM ET, 08/14/2009

Handicapping: Just How Well With 'District 9' Do This Weekend?
By Michael Cavna
Incredible buzz at San Diego Comic-Con. Mostly glowing reviews since Comic-Con. And the serious-clout imprint of Peter Jackson as producer. It would be hard for the sci-fi social satire "District 9" to have much more going for it, as...

By Michael Cavna  |  11:05 AM ET, 08/14/2009 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Holly Word

Posted at 09:05 AM ET, 08/12/2009

Keeping Score: Who's NOT Running This Week's 'Tank'?
By The Reliable Source
A Scoring Update From Scuttled Comic-Strips Land... Today's Official Quiz Question: When it comes to comics, what do The Washington Post and the San Diego Union-Tribune have in common? Yes, yes, both newspapers have run my staff cartoons in the...

By The Reliable Source  |  09:05 AM ET, 08/12/2009 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Morning Line, The Morning Line

Posted at 09:00 AM ET, 08/08/2009

Quick Hit: 'Iron Man 2's' Sam Rockwell Discusses His Call to Arms
By Michael Cavna
This time around, Jon Favreau had just a wee bit bigger role to offer Sam Rockwell. Eight years ago, Rockwell played an uncredited hotel clerk in the Favreau-directed "Made." This time out, though, Favreau called on the actor to...

By Michael Cavna  |  09:00 AM ET, 08/08/2009 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  San Diego Comic-Con, San Diego Comic-Con, San Diego Comic-Con

Posted at 04:00 PM ET, 08/05/2009

'Hello, Beautiful': How Long Till 'Obama the Joker' Posters Show Up Outside 1600 Penn?
By Michael Cavna
This morning, Comic Riffs wrote about Heath Ledger's final act of art -- which was not an Oscar-winning performance, but rather an animated short. Still, of course, his Joker creation in "The Dark Knight" will stand as one of...

By Michael Cavna  |  04:00 PM ET, 08/05/2009 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Superheroes, Superheroes

Posted at 01:05 PM ET, 08/05/2009

Quick Hit: 'Iron Man 2's' Don Cheadle Revs Up the War Machine
By Michael Cavna
THE HOLLY WORD: Comic Riffs does A Week-Long Look at "Iron-Man 2"... It's a shame for Terrence Howard that he got bounced from the "Iron Man" franchise, because by the looks of early footage, the super-suited War Machine could...

By Michael Cavna  |  01:05 PM ET, 08/05/2009 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  San Diego Comic-Con, San Diego Comic-Con, San Diego Comic-Con

Posted at 01:05 PM ET, 08/03/2009

Jon Favreau: How the 'Iron Man 2' Director Uses Twitter
By Michael Cavna
I'm not as fascinated by Twitter as much as I am by how artists use Twitter. Many stars, "personalities" and demi-celebs prove themselves clueless at micro-blogging. Then there are those creators, though, who use it to great and smart...

By Michael Cavna  |  01:05 PM ET, 08/03/2009 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  San Diego Comic-Con, San Diego Comic-Con, San Diego Comic-Con

Posted at 02:05 PM ET, 07/14/2009

The Top Five 'SpongeBob' Episodes: We Pick 'Em
By Michael Cavna
As "SpongeBob SquarePants" celebrates its 10th anniversary this month -- marked partly by tonight's VH1 documentary "Square Roots" -- Comic Riffs discussed some of its favorite episodes with creator Stephen Hillenburg and Tom Kenny, the voice behind the sponge....

By Michael Cavna  |  02:05 PM ET, 07/14/2009 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Animation

Posted at 09:30 AM ET, 06/28/2009

Best of the Sunday Funnies: The Eeriest Cartoon You'll Read Today
By Michael Cavna
Rounding up 'Riffs favorite Sunday 'toons... "Pearls Before Swine" cartoonist Stephan Pastis has told Comic Riffs that he typically draws many, many months ahead of schedule. Which makes it all the more poignant -- or just friggin' eerie --...

By Michael Cavna  |  09:30 AM ET, 06/28/2009 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Morning Line

Posted at 05:26 PM ET, 04/16/2009

Here Comes the 'Judge'! Strip to Return to Post's Pages
By Michael Cavna
It's official: After an impassioned response from readers -- not to mention thousands of respondents to two poll votes on Comic Riffs -- The Washington Post has decided to bring back "Judge Parker." The serial strip -- which has enjoyed...

By Michael Cavna  |  05:26 PM ET, 04/16/2009 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  General

Posted at 08:50 AM ET, 03/23/2009

The Showdown Poll: 'Judge Parker' vs. No Chance of Parole
By Michael Cavna
Today, The Post announces its funnypage changes in the print edition. But Comic Riffs readers have had the chance to vote informally for their fave of five dropped Post comic strips -- or to check "none of the above" --...

By Michael Cavna  |  08:50 AM ET, 03/23/2009 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The Morning Line

Posted at 09:57 PM ET, 03/22/2009

This Just In: Post to Drop 'Brevity'
By Michael Cavna
Tomorrow, a Readers' Note in The Post will announce that a sixth feature, the single-panel "Brevity" by Guy & Rodd, will be dropped from the paper's print comics section come March 30. Comic Riffs has previously reported on the...

By Michael Cavna  |  09:57 PM ET, 03/22/2009 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  General

Posted at 11:30 AM ET, 03/10/2009

The Interview (Pt. 2): David Horsey of the (RIP?) 'Seattle Post-Intelligencer'
By Michael Cavna
As his newspaper faces its D-Day sale deadline today, Comic Riffs continues its interview with Seattle Post-Intelligencer editorial cartoonist DAVID HORSEY. Horsey, who has the highly trafficked Web site DavidHorsey.com through Hearst Corp., says he is ensured of keeping his...

By Michael Cavna  |  11:30 AM ET, 03/10/2009 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Interviews With Cartoonists, Interviews With Cartoonists

Posted at 05:50 PM ET, 01/21/2009

Will Batman Capture His Oscar Nod?
By Michael Cavna
Comic Riffs launched last summer with our sights excitedly set on one particular movie release: "The Dark Knight." And in the inaugural 'Riffs poll, more than 5,000 of you predicted (most of you correctly) what "Dark Knight's" opening-weekend box office...

By Michael Cavna  |  05:50 PM ET, 01/21/2009 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Superheroes

Posted at 11:00 AM ET, 01/02/2009

The E-Mailbag: A Last Look-back at the Comments o' the Year
By Michael Cavna
Of the thousands of smart (and smart-alecky) comments made on the Comic Riffs blog this past half-year, a good number of reader reactions especially stood out. Here are a handful of faves amid a stellar field. Happy New Year, --M.C....

By Michael Cavna  |  11:00 AM ET, 01/02/2009 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The E-Mailbag

Posted at 11:00 AM ET, 10/17/2008

The E-Mailbag: YOU May Already Be a "Cul de Sac" Contest Winner!
By Michael Cavna
There once was a furball named Danders... Readers capture the many faces of the Otterloops. (UPS) As "Cul de Sac" celebrated its first birthday in syndication this month, Comic Riffs invited readers to show their short-form poetic appreciation for the...

By Michael Cavna  |  11:00 AM ET, 10/17/2008 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The E-Mailbag

Posted at 11:00 AM ET, 09/29/2008

The E-Mailbag: The Final Smackdown: Which Comic Would YOU Drop?
By Michael Cavna
Comic Riffs inquired and, with wit and passion and indignation, you delivered. Last week this blog took on The Post's print comics, page by page, polling readers about which comic they would drop. Some 1,500 votes later, one thing became...

By Michael Cavna  |  11:00 AM ET, 09/29/2008 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  The E-Mailbag

Posted at 01:00 PM ET, 07/15/2008

The Countdown: The Joker Gets The Last Laugh
By Michael Cavna
The Joker: The head that can't be shrunk. (DC Comics) As we here at Comic Riffs eagerly await Friday's cinematic release of the Batman sequel "The Dark Knight," we are spending this week counting down the top five Joker...

By Michael Cavna  |  01:00 PM ET, 07/15/2008 |  Permalink  |  Comments ( 0)
Categories:  Superheroes