Last year, my buddy Ben Towle and I hosted a Heroes Con panel on Harvey Kurtzman, Mad, and Al Feldstein. For Heroes Con 2009, however, Ben and I are tackling a different subject...
Click to enlarge.
Here's the (ahem) official press release (with the same text as the above image):
A is A+: A Steve Ditko Celebration!
Midnight Sun cartoonist Ben Towle and Thought Balloonist blogger Craig Fischer host an extensive tribute to one of the most creative and enigmatic figures in comics: Spider-Man co-creator Steve Ditko! The first hour will be a screening of Jonathan Ross's provocative BBC documentary In Search of Steve Ditko (2007), featuring interviews with John Romita, Alan Moore, Neil Gaiman, and other high-profile Ditko fans. Following the documentary, two comics legends who worked extensively with Ditko--writer/editor Roy Thomas and artist/editor Dick Giordano--will share their memories of the man and his art. The tribute ends with Ben, Craig and cartoonist/educator Chris Schweizer analyzing their favorite Ditko pages and dissecting Ditko's contributions to comics history.
At Heroes Con 2009! Saturday, June 20, 3pm, Room 213BCD
Should be provocative and fun. If you're planning to be at Heroes Con, join us, and join the discussion about this gifted and idiosyncratic artist. (And thanks to Adam Hayes at Hot Sauce Productions for permission to show In Search of Steve Ditko as part of our tribute.)
Ah, Craig, have a great time! I wish I could attend this. Sounds like a varied and provocative and fun lineup.
Posted by: CharlesWHatfield | June 10, 2009 at 10:46 PM
I have a feeling that Ditko would really dislike your title. Now, if you said "A = A + 0," that would be ok. But "A = A+" is either an incomplete mathematical statement, or stating that the grade A is no different from the grade A+. Which you then could extend to A = A-, A = B, A = F, etc. Ergo, you're a communist. And you're probably trying to take away his hard-earned money.
Posted by: Andrei | June 11, 2009 at 02:33 AM
Thanks for the kind words, CH! I'm eager to read about your MoCCA adventure, though I've already heard that your Kirby presentation was (wait for it..!) sublime.
Andrei: Math was always my worst subject, so I'm not sure if you're calling me a Communist or a grade inflater. (Maybe Ditko wouldn't see any difference?) Either way, I take offense, sir, and I virtually slap your face with my glove! Bah! What else can I expect from an artist whose work is designed to make viewers feel like "man is an incompetent nothing in a world of mystic terrors...all without meaning or purpose"? (That's Ditko on modern art, from BLUE BEETLE #5.)
But seriously: great to hear that ABSTRACT COMICS is rolling out, and I can't wait to get my copy!
Posted by: Craig Fischer | June 11, 2009 at 08:05 AM
Oh, man, now I finally understand what I was trying to say in all those sculptures I made of humanoid forms with holes where their heart should be!
(And thanks!)
Posted by: Andrei | June 11, 2009 at 02:03 PM
I got to see an advance copy of ABSTRACT COMICS at MoCCA and I believe it will be prime Balloonist fodder. :)
I also got to buy Andrei's NAUTILUS, kindly personalized by the author. Yow, it's good stuff.
Posted by: CharlesWHatfield | June 11, 2009 at 06:07 PM