Alitha Martinez and C. Spike Trotman will be appearing at the MOCCA Art Festival this Saturday and Sunday! Be sure to stop by and purchase Templar, Arizona and Yume and Ever merchandise! Spike will have her own booth at the convention and Alitha will be appearing at the Friends of Lulu booth. Hope to see some of you there!
Sunday Specials: A Conversation about Jackie Ormes
Open Books is an hour-long, Chicago-based radio program on which host Donna Seaman speaks with writers whose work is enlightening and affecting, perhaps beautiful, funny, urgent, profound, or all of the above. Tune in to Open Books: A Conversation about Jackie Ormes and the History of African American Newspaper Cartoonists. Jackie Ormes was the first African American woman cartoonist. An artist of conscience far ahead of her time, she was also an activist and a prominent figure in the Chicago Renaissance. Open Books host Donna Seaman speaks with Nancy Goldstein, author of the first book devoted to Ormes and her work, and with Chicago cartoonist Tim Jackson, whose work appears in the Chicago Defender and other newspapers across the country.
Writing For Rookies #5: New York Comic Con Part 2
This episode of WFR is part 2 of the NYCC interview series. Brandon interviews Cheryl-Lynn Eaton of the Jackie Ormes Society—dedicated to increasing awareness of the work of Jackie Ormes as well was current comic book projects by women of color. Eaton discusses her influences in comics, why there is a need for a Jackie Ormes Society, and her thoughts on what women need to do to increase their profile in the male-dominated comic book industry.
C. Spike Trotman has begun a book drive for the second trade paperback of her series Templar, Arizona!
Templar, Arizona - Book Two: The Mob Goes Wild
Book Two of Templar, Arizona! Like the first volume, The Mob Goes Wild features remastered art, sketches, and author’s notes. 148 pages of the stuff!
Pre-order it now, or order it at your local comics shop through Previews! The order code: MAY08 3931.
There are many other great deals available if you check out the Iron Circus website! And those of you lucky enough to live in the NYC area can purchase your books from Spike in person at the upcoming MOCCA Art Festival.
ECBACC interview with Ormes Society member Ashley A. Woods:
SGV Comic Fest interview with Ormes Society member Bernyce W. Talley:
The Ormes Society would love to welcome you to its online community at Torchbearers! Take a look at our current hot topics!
Torchbearers: Notable black female characters appearing in comics/manga. Race Around The Net: Links focusing on the topic of race and how race influences the world of comics/manga. Ormes Spotlight: Samples of artwork and prose created by Ormes Society members. Ormes Society: Current events involving Ormes Society members. General News: Memorable moments in the world of comics/manga.
Independent cartoonist Mikhaela B. Reid has provided a wonderful write up of the “Having Our Say: Black Women Discuss Imagery” panel, which occurred at the annual East Coast Black Age of Comics Convention. Appearing on the panel were Ormes Society members Cheryl Lynn Eaton and Rashida Lewis as well as author L.A. Banks.
Individuals with an interest in Ormes’ creative work in the toy industry will soon be able to purchase a Patty-Jo doll of their very own! During the 1940s, Ormes partnered with the Terry Lee Company in order to produce a doll for young children based on the character Patty-Jo, a young girl featured in Ormes’ single panel cartoon Patty-Jo ‘n Ginger. Terri Lee Associates has re-introduced the Patty-Jo doll. The new dolls produced will be likenesses of the original dolls designed by cartoonist Jackie Ormes and manufactured by the Terri Lee company. The Patty-Jo doll will be sold exclusively in K-Mart stores beginning in August of 2007. A biography of Jackie Ormes will be included on the box packaging.
The wonderful renditions of Torchy just keep coming! Ormes Society member Nara Walker has contributed a lovely pinup of Torchy Brown to the Ormes Society site. Please click on the thumbnail provided to view a larger version of Nara’s work.
