Blog Post
Meet Children's author & illustrator, Mark Crilley!
by erin
For many children meeting the author of a favorite book can be a life-changing experience! Mark Crilley, the author of the recent comic book release, Brody's Ghost Vol. 1, will be doing a special visit at the Ann Arbor District Library on Sunday November, 21 from 2:00-3:30 PM at the Downtown Library.
Mark Crilley was raised in Detroit and attended Kalamazoo College where he met children's book writer/illustrator (and 2001 Caldecott award winner) David Small. David’s example inspired Mark to pursue writing and illustrating professionally. Mark’s first series of books featured, “ Akiko” The first in the series, " Akiko on the Planet Smoo", was published in 2000; the tenth, " Akiko and the Missing Misp", hit stores in 2008. Mark also wrote the Billy Clikk books and the four-volume manga series " Miki Falls.” Miki Falls has been optioned for film development by Paramount Pictures and Brad Pitt's Plan B production company. Volume two of his newest series, Brody’s Ghost, will be released in January of 2011.
Join us for a high-energy, educational, hilarious and interactive afternoon. From telling stories and drawing characters attendees will be inspired by Mark’s creativity, talent and enthusiasm! The Vault of Midnight will be selling Mark’s books and Mark will sign these (and any personal copies that fans bring with) after his talk.
Blog Post
Happy Birthday Masashi Kishimoto!
by darla
Today, November 8, is the 36th birthday of Japanese Manga artist Masashi Kishimoto, creator of the hugely popular Naruto series. Naruto, for those not familiar with this collection, is the ongoing story of teen ninja Naruto Uzumaki and his adventures. For those not acquainted with the cultural phenomenon of manga, check out materials like Manga! Manga! : The World of Japanese Comics or go straight to a prime source like the magazine Shonen Jump: The World's Most Popular Manga.
Blog Post
Promethea
by breaking_glass
Alan Moore is well-known for his graphic novel epics such as Watchmen and From Hell, both of which have also been adapted into films. However, lately I have been reading Alan Moore’s Promethea – which has only recently been on my radar, even though it’s about ten years old now.
Promethea begins with the story of college student Sophie Bangs, who is seeking information about the literary goddess arch-type Promethea for a research paper. Sophie Bangs discovers more about Promethea than she bargained for and is literally transformed into the goddess – the newest incarnation of Promethea. Moore incorporates historical literature, occult symbolism, feminist themes, and references to the writings of Aleister Crowley, just to name a few. In combination with the gorgeous artwork, the series is very unique and beautiful. Rarely do I purchase books any longer since I check out most materials from the library, but Promethea is a collection I would love to own. Highly recommended.
Blog Post
November Comic Artists Forum
by K.C.
Looking for fresh ideas for your next comic or graphic novel creation? Do you enjoy drawing while listening to other cartoonists discuss their favorite drawing techniques or the latest trend in comics? Join this monthly forum. Bring your favorite drawing tools and enjoy a few hours of drawing, learning and sharing.
Guest artist this month will be Jim Ottaviani who is the author of many graphic novels about scientists ranging from physicists to paleontologists to behaviorists. His most recent is T-Minus, a book about the science and engineering of the space race. Other cool science graphic novels by Jim in the AADL collection include:
Bone Sharps, Cowboys, and Thunder Lizards
Dignifying Science: Stories About Women Scientists
Fallout: J. Robert Oppenheimer, Leo Szilard, and the Political Science of the Atomic Bomb
Suspended in Language: Niels Bohr’s Life, Discoveries, and the Century He Shaped
Two-Fisted Science: Stories About Scientists.
Comic Artists Forum | Sunday, November 7 | 1:00-3:00 PM | Malletts Creek | Grade 6-Adult
Blog Post
More October's Books to Film
by muffy
The Social Nework, considered by people in-the-know as perhaps, the best film of the year, is based on Ben Mezrich's The Accidental Billionaires : the founding of Facebook, a tale of sex, money, genius and betrayal - a fast-paced, inside look at a story of fortune gained and innocence lost, and how a company that was created to bring people together ultimately tore two friends apart.
In 2003, Eduardo Saverin and Mark Zuckerberg were Harvard undergrads and best friends looking for a way to stand out among the university’s elite and competitive student body. Then one lonely night, Zuckerberg hacked into the campus computer system to pull off a prank that crashed Harvard’s network. This stunt almost got him expelled, but it also inspired Zuckerberg to create Facebook, the social networking site, and their small start-up quickly went from college dorm room to Silicon Valley. But different ideas about Facebook’s future tested their relationship that eventually spiraled into out-and-out warfare.
Opening this weekend is Red, a star-studded espionage-thriller, based on the graphic novel by Warren Ellis (writer) and artist Cully Hammer.
Paul Moses ( Bruce Willis) retired -- until the CIA, his former employer decided he was too dangerous to live. When a kill team interrupts his solitude, he changes his status from green to red. As the bodies pile up, the men who set this ruthless killer back into action feel safe in their Langley offices without realizing that Moses has a different plan.
Blog Post
October's Books to Film
by muffy
Now a Focus Features film, teen novelist Ned Vizzini's It's Kind of a Funny Story is a "whimsical coming-of-age story".
Craig Gilner sees entry into Manhattan's Executive Pre-Professional High School as the ticket to his future. At his new school, Craig realizes that he isn't brilliant compared to the other kids and soon sees his once-perfect future crumbling away. The stress becomes unbearable. One night, he nearly kills himself.
Craig's suicidal episode gets him checked into a mental hospital, where his new neighbors include a transsexual sex addict, a girl who has scarred her own face with scissors, and the self-elected President Armelio. There, isolated from the crushing pressures of school and friends, Craig is finally able to confront the sources of his anxiety.
Ned Vizzini, who himself spent time in a psychiatric hospital, has created a remarkably moving tale about the sometimes unexpected road to happiness. For a novel about depression, it's definitely a funny story.
Based on the graphic novel** by Posy Simmonds Tamara Drewe (trailer) is loosely inspired by Thomas Hardy's Far from the Madding Crowd. It delightfully skewers modern mores and manners with great wit and understanding for the foibles of humanity.
At a bucolic writers' retreat run by Beth and Nicholas Hardiman, where Dr. Glen Larson, an American professor and struggling novelist, is staying. An ambitious young Tamara Drewe, mourning the loss of her mother, has returned to her family home nearby. A bookish girl not so long ago, Tamara is now a gossip columnist at a London paper and undeniably sexy. She quickly has every man in the vicinity falling at her feet. Meanwhile, long-suffering Beth sees to the needs of the writers while managing the farm, the household, and the many affairs of her husband, a best-selling detective novelist.
** = starred reviews
Blog Post
October Comic Artists Forum
by K.C.
Looking for fresh ideas for your next comic or graphic novel creation? Do you enjoy drawing while listening to other cartoonists discuss their favorite drawing techniques or the latest trend in comics? Join this monthly forum. Bring your favorite drawing tools and enjoy a few hours of drawing, learning and sharing.
Our guest artist this month will be Jono Balliett, comics professional. He’s the creator of Smedley and other comics like Shipwrecked.
Comic Artists Forum | Sunday, October 3 | 1:00-3:00 PM | Malletts Creek | Grade 6-Adult
Blog Post
September Comic Artists Forum
by K.C.
Looking for fresh ideas for your next comic or graphic novel creation? Do you enjoy drawing while listening to other cartoonists discuss favorite drawing techniques or the latest trend in comics? Join this monthly forum. Bring your favorite drawing tools and enjoy a few hours of drawing, learning and sharing.
Guest artist this month will be Denver Brubaker creator of Tales of a Checkered Man.
Comic Artists Forum | Sunday, September 12 | 1:00-3:00 PM | Malletts Creek | Grade 6-Adult
Blog Post
International Read Comics in Public Day!!
by anned
This Saturday, (August 28--the birthday of Jack “King” Kirby), join fellow comic book enthusiasts in dispelling a stigma. Read a comic book in a public setting—a park bench, a beach, a bus, your local library. Let strangers see you reading a piece of sequential art. Let the world know once and for all that Comics is not a genre, it's a format—there's something for everyone.
You can find comics to read in public at AADL.
Blog Post
Comics Digital Workshops for Teens and Adults
by K.C.
Cartoonist Jerzy Drozd will teach you how to use Adobe Photoshop Elements to clean up your art, fill in line work with colors and halftones, create cool lettering, prep the finished page for printing, and more. Jerzy will provide one of his scanned comics pages for instruction but you can also bring your own comics page (scanned or unscanned) to work on.
Register at any information desk at any location or call 327-8301.
Comics Art Digital Coloring 101 for Teens Gr. 6-12 | Tues. August 17 | 1-3 pm OR 4-6 pm | Downtown 3rd Floor Computer Training
Comics Digital Coloring for Adults and Older Teens Gr. 9-12 | Wed. August 18 | 3-5 pm OR 6-8 pm | Downtown 3rd Floor Computer Training