I'm back from Charlotte, North Carolina, Center of the Known World and Home to the Friendliest Comics Convention Hosts in the Known Universe. The sign above was one of several in a charming literary-themed park near the hotel where we wandered on Saturday evening. My daughter's name is Charlotte, so I took this photo to show her how widespread her influence is.
There was a free outdoor performance of Romeo & Juliet on the greenspace in the center of the park, and at the park's edge, on College Street in front of the Convention Center, there was a parade of fancy cars from the car show that had shared the Center with HeroesCon. If you stood in the right spot you could watch and enjoy both, though comprehend neither.
We got home yesterday to a sudden storm with a vivid double rainbow, and the news that Cul de Sac is now in the Wash Post every day, in the spot where the late & lamented Single and Looking once stood.
More TK once I catch up on stuff.
And to which GW said today:
ReplyDeleteGene Weingarten: It happened a year too late. This is not just one of the best new strips out there, it is one of the best strips out there. Richard Thompson is a genius.
Amen Brother! It's already in that special tier of comics that few reach... and that's no exaggeration. Richard, I sure wish I could of made it down to meet you at the convention. Alas, I am married with children and could not attend this year.
ReplyDeleteHaving been to Heroes Con with Richard, I can testify that, genius or not, he puts his pants on one leg at a time. His socks and shoes too.
ReplyDeleteAfter e-mailing comics@washpost.com repeatedly to harangue them about omitting the daily "Cul de Sac" from the three-page comics section that makes the Post the envy of all other newspapers, I am elated that they have made the right decision. Congrats! I'm so happy to see your strip in newsprint, the way comics should be.
ReplyDeleteCongratulations! (And it's about time, Washington Post.)
ReplyDeleteHey, Richard
ReplyDeleteTell us more how Bill Watterson came to write the intro to your upcoming book. Spurge's site said Watterson e-mailed you. How'd all that progress? (I can't even imagine getting an e-mail like that!) Spurge also said your 'Richard's Poor Almanac' compilation was one of the 10 most underrated books in the past 12 years. I couldn't agree more--and I got a signed copy with a doodle in it!
Speaking of copies of Richard's Poor Alamanac, Richard sold ~20 copies at Heroes Con and has about 20 left. If anyone knows of a stash, let him know. Or conversely, buy them up and burn them so your copy will be worth more. Especially with the doodle.
ReplyDeleteWhenever I'm having a lousy time with a drawing I'm going to come back here and read these comments till I feel better. So I'll be back every fifteen minutes or so.
ReplyDeleteMatt, we have an old friend in common who very kindly passed along some of my work. Without my knowledge, but I'm sure not complaining.
And jeez, thanks Mike for passing along all my Secrets of Dressing Yourself. Now EVERYBODY will know.
Richard, I don't know if you go back and read comments on older posts, but this seemed like the place to write.
ReplyDeleteI met you (and Mike Rhode, too!) at the Heroes Con and purchased a copy of Richard's Poor Almanac. I'm the guy that came back to bug you while you were minding your business trying to eat a convention center crepe.
I wanted to tell you that Richard's Poor Almanac is the funniest book I have ever read, judging by the number of times I laughed out loud (over 100, I'm sure!). I've been working in the comics field for the past fifteen years living off of fond memories of Charles Schulz and Walt Kelly, but your work came out of the deep blue and completely surprised and delighted me.
I'll be looking into Cul de Sac and trying to locate as many copies of Richard's Poor Almanac as I can for family and cartoonist friends. Your work is a treasure. Thank you for what you do.
I was also fascinated by your mention of your mother's connection to Charlotte, now having hung out at the Romeo and Juliet performance across from the Westin. It sounds like there are many fascinating stories to share....
Hey, thanks for the name check, Harold. I enjoyed talking to you and buying all of the Amelia Rules books from your table. I'll be emailing you about that article we discussed.
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