I’ve been following the Orphan Works Act and it looks like it’s making good speed through the House.  Over a Cagle’s blog, he’s posted a stirring story from Michiko Stehrenberger, a cartoon illustrator and character designer who took on a big tobacco company who used her work illegally. Because of current copyright law, she was able to win, but if the Orphan Woks Act were in effect she would have never had a chance.

On the surface one would wonder why the Vietnam Veteran’s of America would ever give an unapologetic anti-war activist, Garry Trudeau an award, but last week, Garry received the President’s Award for Excellence in the Arts for his work to support the soldiers who have little control over where and when they are deployed around the world.

The Portsmouth Herald has an interesting write-up on husband-wife creators of On a Claire Day. Carla Ventresca and Henry Beckett’s feature was launched in April by Creators.

The Republican (no, really, a newspaper in Massachusetts called the Republican!), has picked up the Pajama Diaries while Cathy is away on vacation and The Chronicle-Telegram (Ohio) has picked up the Sunday version.

The Republican (no, really, a newspaper in Massachusetts called the Republican!), has picked up the Pajama Diaries while Cathy is away on vacation and The Chronicle-Telegram (Ohio) has picked up the Sunday version.Meanwhile, Terri Libenson, Pajama Diaries creator, is getting a favorable write up about her balancing working as a writer for American Greetings, comic stripper, AND work from home mother of two.  The Chronicle article also has tidbits on her goals for the strip.She was also a guest on the Washington Post’s Meet the Artist live chat last Friday.Pajama Diaries was launched back in April by King Features.

Detroit News editorial cartoonist, Henry Payne has collaborated with a local first-time author Joe O’Connor to create a book called “Where Did Daddy’s Hair Go? The book, published by Random House Children’s Books is about an inquisitive boy and his bald father.

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution editorial cartoonist Mike Luckhovich is taking a vacation and the editorial board is running a contest called “Think you can do better?” wherein they invite readers to submit their own editorial cartoon for a chance to appear on the editorial page.

Here’s what I’ve been able to come up with as a list of who to expect at this year’s San Diego Comic-Con:

The Portsmouth Herald has posted the results of their comic survey with 502 respondents. The article did provide the score for all of their features, but this is what I’ve put together based on what numbers were given (ordered by positive number of votes). The score after the feature title is positive/negative votes.

Over on Daryl Cagle’s blog, he’s posted a very stirring reminder of a current bill making its way through the House that makes it easier for companies to reprint an artists work without proper compensation if the artist can not be identified.  As Daryl explains it:

The venerable Herbert Block, best known as Herblock will have his own exhibit with the Library of Congress. The exhibit that opens today is small but only a preview of a much larger exhibit that will open up in 2009 to commemorate his 100th birthday. 

Steve Moore, creator of In the Bleachers is an executive producer and co-creator of the upcoming movie Open Season that hits the theaters on September 29th. While Steve is no stranger to animation (he’s created animation shorts for ESPN and a children’s television series), this is his first feature film.

Disney Theatrical Productions has announced that they will be making a musical based on Jules Feiffer’s book The Man in the Ceiling.  The music and lyrics will be done by Andrew Lippa.

Over on Mike Lynch’s blog, he’s posted several photos and the background story on Bill and Bunny Hoest’s creations, The Lockhorns and Howard Huge.  Last month, I was fortunate enough to snap a few photos of the studio where The Lockhorns (as well as a Howard Huge) is produced.Did you know The Lockhorns was originally titled The Lockhorns of Levittown?

How many cartoonists can draw the final cartoon without first penciling a draft? Is it something only editorial cartoonist are known to do?